Yes, this time it is Lunar Harmony. This work is the second part of the small experiment I'm doing and hopefully, after this one, I'll have what I need to know going forward. Unlike my other Lunar Harmony works, this one will be a multi-part. Normally, I don't like doing them because I feel like the quality suffers when I do, but I'm taking a chance here.
Enjoy.
Luna was dreaming, she had to be, nothing else could explain what was happening. Then again, her dreams tented to be far more outlandish than this. There wasn't even any pudding!
"Hello?" Luna didn't mean it to sound so much like a question but it came out that way, regardless.
"Hi." Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived himself was standing before Luna, all the while the poor flustered boy was trying introduce himself and rubbing the back of his neck.
Luna couldn't deny, when she sat down in this particular often-avoided hallway to read, this was not something she would have imagined happening. It hadn't even made it onto the mental list.
"Ugh…" Harry groaned, sitting on the bench beside her and covering his face with his hands. "Can we start over? Hello, I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you."
"Luna Lovegood." Luna cautiously took the offered hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, too."
"Now that that's out of the way, I had something I wanted to ask you, Luna."
Luna didn't trust her voice, and was still expecting the punchline of the latest joke at her expense. Of all possibilities, the next words out of his mouth were… only partially unexpected.
"Would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Luna's first reaction wasn't to angrily storm away, and rant about another boy using such a cruel joke on her. In truth, she'd exhausted most anger and emotion in general dealing with times like this. Instead, she just inwardly sighed and accepted the inevitable mockery that was sure to come.
Harry wasn't the first to ask that question, but the result had been the same every time. If she said yes, they'd laugh and ask if she really thought they were asking her before ridiculing her for being so foolish. Phrases like 'how did you make it into Ravenclaw' tended to be thrown in by that point. If she said no, they'd still laugh and the phrase would instead be something along the lines of 'just as well, who'd want to go with Loony'.
It was a no-win scenario, just like they wanted. Saying no, and ignoring whatever was said afterward, had become her default response, and Luna didn't see that changing today.
Whatever reply Luna might have formed never made it out when she saw Harry's eyes. They just seemed so… genuine. This wasn't the look of another practical joker, Luna had seen that far too many times, this was more like…
Sweet Merlin! Was a boy seriously asking her to a dance? Harry Potter himself, no less!
It took Luna far too long for her liking to recall that, yes, Harry asked her a question, and it was rude to sit there starring at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Why?" Luna said weakly. Nobody had ever asked Luna Lovegood to anything, no one had ever wanted to even be around her, save her beloved daddy. The thought of someone actually asking her and meaning it, let alone wanting her around, was… was… Luna didn't know what to call it!
"Well…" Harry looked away, much to Luna's chagrin, while he seemed to be gathering his thoughts. "I don't really know that much about you, I've seen you around the castle, but didn't even know your name until recently."
Understandable, they were in different year groups, different houses, too. It didn't surprise her that he wasn't aware she existed. At least Harry had a legitimate reason, unlike most of Ravenclaw that preferred to pretend she didn't exist until their latest joke needed a victim.
Apparently, while Harry's not knowing her was no big deal to Luna, Harry himself didn't share this sentiment.
"Not… not that I think you're not noticeable or anything! It's just I… umm…" Harry groaned again, his slowly reddening face once more being hidden behind his hands while he asked his next question to whom Luna assumed was himself. "Why's this so difficult?"
"Perhaps because you are overthinking things?" Luna tried to help. Regardless of his reasons, just from what she'd experienced in these last couple minutes, she'd already found an answer to the boy's previous question. "And yes, by the way."
"Yeah… I wouldn't want to go with me ei… wait, what?" Harry's head shot up so quick, Luna briefly wondered if his brain had been sent bouncing around in his skull.
"I said, yes, I would go with you." Luna repeated. "But I'm confused. Why me? You just said you didn't know me."
"You seem nice." Harry explained. "I haven't heard a bad word about me from you that I can recall, which is more than I can say for most in this school all year. Not even the other Gryffindors. And you also aren't wearing one of those stupid badges."
Those badges. Just seeing them often made the soft-spoken and mild-mannered Luna's blood boil. She'd dealt with bullies long enough to despise them with every fiber of her being. It didn't matter if the target was no longer her, a bully was a bully and deserved their comeuppance.
While not as satisfying as seeing the bullies themselves punished, Luna did great satisfaction out of burning one of those badges when they started handing them out. As well as the second, and the third. Pity they'd caught on that she hadn't just been 'misplacing' them, or who knows how many she would have managed to destroy.
"And before you ask…" Luna spoke just when Harry's mouth opened. "I know enough about you to you know you don't deserve how this school is treating you. And no, I don't mean the boy-who-lived, I mean Harry. This school doesn't deserve someone like you."
While Luna flew under the notice of the students, most of the time, Harry was far too high profile of a person for such a tactic. As a result, Luna knew a lot more about the boy than he could have about her.
Which made it all the crazier this school could so quickly forget the kind-hearted, brave, and humble Harry Potter that had been attending school here for the last several years. The boy who jumped on the back of a troll to save a girl he barely knew, the same boy who battled a basilisk with a sword and won, the boy who could stand up to dementors. These were just some of the major things Luna knew about, who knows what else she didn't know about. If anyone deserved to be a little braggy, it was Harry Potter, but did he? Of course not! It wasn't his way.
Did all of that mean anything to these people? Hearts and minds were indeed fickle things.
Harry started to counter but no words came from his mouth. Luna suspected he was someone who had difficulty accepting praise, and it seemed she was spot on.
"Great." Harry blew an audible sigh of relief as he stood and moved to leave. "I guess I'll leave you to your reading."
Harry made it two steps before he stopped and twirled on his heel back to face her.
Harry mumbled something to himself before Luna found those emerald eyes on her again. "Got any plans at the moment?"
"Right now?"
Harry nodded.
"Not really." Luna was only being half-truthful. She'd planned to read for a while longer before going on one of her regular quests to search for her missing possessions. She couldn't really afford to lose anymore.
Seeing as how Harry was already being nice enough to politely invite her to the Yule Ball, Luna didn't really want to bother him with a personal problem she could take care of. A champion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament had far more pressing issues to deal with.
"In that case…" Harry seemed to hesitate. "Fancy a walk?"
"To where?" Luna was already bookmarking her page and stowing her book away.
"Any place you'd like to go?" Harry shrugged. "I just wanted to chat and learn a bit more about you seeing as how we're going to the ball together. So far all I have is you're blonde, a Ravenclaw, and… that's all I've got."
Luna had just picked up her bag when she froze.
A person wanted to learn more about her. Not for some thinly veiled attempt at playing another joke on her, but rather a genuine desire to get to know her better. Nobody in many years had ever said something of this sort to her.
Maybe…. just maybe… Harry might like to be friends?
Luna would not cry, she refused to allow her torturers the satisfaction since her first year. These tears, though, were forming for a completely different reason. Either way, the tears still tried to form, mercifully unnoticed by Harry. She didn't want to be bursting into tears in front of a perspective new friend and making herself look bad. Then again, from what Luna knew about Harry, he probably wouldn't hold it against her.
Who knows… he might even give her a hug?
It took every ounce of Luna's willpower not to cover the remaining distance between herself and the raven-haired boy and throw her arms around him in thanks. While Luna might not have much experience having friends, even she knew this wouldn't be acceptable behavior so soon.
Harry had given Luna something of an odd look when she leaned her shoulder into his arm while they walked, but a beaming Luna was too excited and happy to care. Especially seeing as how he wasn't pushing her away or throwing her off.
"So… Harry cleared his throat. "What were you reading?"
Luna made another promise to herself that she wouldn't let her trepidation show, but it was a close thing. Luckily, the Ravenclaw was quite skilled at masking her emotions into a perfect illusion of peace and stoicism. Anyone looking at Luna would see her standing there in her customary dreamy daze and smile, complete unknowing of the maelstrom of emotions beneath the surface of the blonde's countenance.
"You okay?" Harry whispered down to the blonde on his arm for precisely the third time in the last ten minutes alone. Not that Luna was keeping track of her new, and best, friend looking out for her, not at all.
"Perfectly fine." Luna tilted her head back so her smile was pointed up at Harry.
Harry said nothing, but his arched eyebrow practically screamed 'I know you're lying'.
It had been a week since Harry asked Luna to be his date to the Yule Ball, and now, here they were, at the gates of the great hall, waiting on the signal to make their entrance.
Thank Merlin the other champions and their own dates were all in front of them, with their backs to Harry and Luna. The downside to this, however, was the fact that Luna had multiple sights that practically beat into her sense of eyesight that she didn't belong here.
Oh, sure, Luna doubted she'd be the only third-year present, but that wasn't what concerned her. Rather, it was her state of dress, or lack thereof.
While Fleur gray number was truly eye-catching, and would have a number of boys and girls both drooling over the part veela, this wasn't a surprise to Luna. Being one of the champions, she was supposed to attract attention. No, what concerned Luna was the other two females before her.
Extravagant dresses, exquisite and probably expensive jewelry, flawless makeup. This was certainly only a preview. There was no telling how many other girls in the ball proper would be just as dolled up, if not more. Luna was not a vain girl, never had been, but these girls were leaving her feeling woefully self-conscious. An odd feeling, seeing as how she'd never felt it before.
For the hundredth time, Luna glanced down at herself, and could only frown.
While she did wear a dress, the blue article was, unlike its wearer, totally plain. In fact, it wouldn't look out of place walking down an ordinary day in Diagon Alley. Definitely not appropriate for a ball.
The only reason she even had it, was because her daddy insisted every girl needed at least one proper dress. You never knew when you might need one, and he felt it paid to be prepared. This year would actually be the first time she'd had a reason for it, two of its fellows had to be donated to charity because she'd outfrown them before they could be worn.
Luna was just grateful she still had said dress. It hadn't occurred to her until right before the ball that she might have nothing to wear, but luckily her tormentors hadn't made off with it yet.
As for jewelry, Luna didn't own any, save her radish earrings and necklace of butterbeer corks, both of which she was wearing. Again, these were terribly out of place, unlike the silver and gold she saw gracing the other girls.
Don't even get her started on makeup. While Luna could think of numerous reasons to paint one's face, the other girls had gone overboard in their attempts to make themselves more pretty. Something she felt was ridiculous. Most of the girls, and Luna counted herself in on that, were already attractive, so why cover that up?
Luna didn't belong here, she knew that. Truth be told, the only reason she was even here in the first place was because the nice boy on her arm asked.
Upon thinking about Harry, Luna's lips lifted a little further. If only she could have met him back in her first year, year-group or not. Kind hearted and loyal people like him were in short supply these days, and she might have saved herself several friendless years.
Oh, well. The past could not be changed, but that didn't mean she couldn't be friends from here on out.
The sight of a giggling Cho Chang with Cedric had Luna's smile morphing back into a frown. Why did she have to be one of the champion dates? If anyone didn't deserve it, she definitely ranked high on that list.
"They only said I had to lead the first dance." Harry was perceptive to catch onto the fact Luna was distressed, even if he didn't have details. Still, it was more than most people in her life did. "Soon as that's done, say the word and we're gone."
"You're a champion. You should be enjoying the ball." Luna whispered back. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
Harry starred at her for a long minute before speaking again.
"You know what?" Harry shook his head. "Forget I said that. The second you say you're uncomfortable, we'll leave, dance or no. Say the word and we'll go right now."
While Luna was certainly uncomfortable already, feeling Harry beside her was the reassuring rock the silver-eyed girl clung to, while his arm was the literal rock she clung to. "Won't you get into trouble for that?"
"Yup." Harry answered with no hesitation, but his eyes burned with a fire that left Luna with a weird sensation in the pit of her stomach. "But I don't care. You're my friend, Luna, and only here because of me. You matter far more than some silly ball. And besides, what's the worst they can do? Boot me out of the tournament? I was forced into it, anyway?"
Harry had looked away halfway through, so he completely missed the wide-eyed stare of awe that lit up Luna's face. While they'd spent a lot more time around each other in the last week, he'd never actually said he was her friend until now. Him speaking the words had Luna's insides doing backflips.
At least until the rest of his words caught up with her brain, and at that point, Luna thought her heart might burst right out of her chest. Its quick pounding was certainly doing a number of her poor ribs.
Luckily, her willpower was also strong enough to squash the unladylike squeal she wanted to screech out from the rooftops. Although, her pillow later was going to have to endure some abuse. It would understand.
It was in that moment that Luna decided she didn't care. All thoughts of the other girls attending the ball forgotten, Luna decided this was going to be a pleasant evening for Harry James Potter. How, she had no idea yet, but she would start by not letting her own insecurities interfere.
Luna was about to voice her own reassurances as Harry had done for her, but she noticed her date's eyes were focused elsewhere. Luna didn't have to look to already know what that was.
A laughing Hermione Granger stood beside Viktor Krum in the second of the four pairs.
Before they even started talking the week before, Luna already knew the other girl had been one of Harry's best friends until recently. Harry was tightlipped about it, one of only a handful of things he refused to talk to Luna about, but he did at least tell her the gist.
Apparently, the two had some kind of big fight, one of their only ones in the history of their friendship and hadn't spoken since. Harry wouldn't say about what, but he did admit it was over something silly and stupid.
It didn't take a genius to notice how pained Harry looked every time Hermione was mentioned. He desperately wanted to talk to her, but something was holding him back.
From the way Harry was looking at them, Luna couldn't help but wonder if Viktor Krum was someone involved in their spat.
Luna didn't get the chance to chase that line of thought further since the chime announced it was time for the champions and their dates to enter.
"Still up for this?" They had just started the walk when Harry whispered to her again. If they were going to flee, this would be their final chance to do so.
Luna looked up at him, lips raising in a brilliant smile. It was easy, seeing as how, with Harry, she didn't have to fake it.
"Always."
The ball was actually going swimmingly, much to Luna relief. Not that she had that high of standards to meet, but still, it had been mostly pleasant so far. Barring the stares she and Harry received, but that was an average day for them both at this point.
The other guests seemed content to give the pair a wide berth so they'd been able to avoid any possible fights or unpleasant conversation, much to Harry's relief. Luna was unperturbed, after all, she had the best conversation partner beside her. One that was even willing to dance with her!
Luna had already lost count of the number of times she'd hugged herself and squealed in joy tonight. The first couple times, Harry had to ask her if she was alright, but after that he'd just roll his eyes and give her a smile that did strange things to Luna's insides.
He'd even called her adorable!
The food was great, the company even more delightful. Luna was having a fantastic night, and could only hope Harry was having one as well. At least he seemed to be, right up until his eyes would again find Hermione.
Sensing this was something her new best friend needed, Luna decided it was time to take action.
"Why don't you ask her for a dance?"
"No." Harry was quick to refuse. "Bad idea. Very bad."
"You not an awful dancer." Luna reassured. "I know from experience."
"That's not the problem…" Harry's voice shook a little.
Looking at Harry, and back at Hermione, Luna knew this was it. The brunette witch was alone, leaning on a table after another round of dancing. Harry wasn't going to get a better chance, and Luna had promised herself to make this an evening he would enjoy. While he might not thank her, Luna knew this was what he needed.
"Luna! Where are we goi…" Harry started when Luna seized his hand and started making her way to her target, his voice died when he saw what that was.
While Harry was physically larger than her, and more than capable of literally picking the waif of a girl up, Luna knew he wouldn't pull away. While he was resisting, he wouldn't yank away for fear of hurting her, at least not while she had an iron grip on his hand.
Hermione remained unaware of her guests until they were right in front of her face.
"Hello, Hermione!" Luna cheerily greeted the other girl.
"Hi." Hermione returned the greeting, smiling politely. "You're… Luna, right?"
"The one and only." Luna half expected Hermione to mistake her name and call her Loony, but as usual that wouldn't have bothered her. "And you know Harry, here."
Hermione's eyes turned to the boy when something caught Luna's eye. There was a flash of something in Hermione's face when the girl caught sight of Luna and Harry's entwined hands. It was something Luna had seen on others many numerous times, but not something she dreamed directed at herself.
Jealousy.
Interesting…
"Hey… Hermione." Harry cleared his throat, apparently his own eyes found the frills of Hermione's pink dress very fascinating. Not that Luna could blame him. For Merlin's sake, the girl looked gorgeous normally, but tonight she was absolutely radiant.
Luna might have spent a little time starring herself, but right now, she had a mission.
"Hey, Harry." Hermione wanted to say something else, but for reasons Luna could not fathom what. She didn't miss the hurt look Hermione wore, though.
These two had been the best of friends since their first year and every year after. Yet, now they stood there awkwardly like two people who couldn't speak the same language. Something was fishy here, and it wasn't the buffet table.
"I was having a fascinating conversation with Harry here," Luna elbowed Harry lightly in his side, "When he mentioned how lovely it would be if he could join you on the dance floor."
The duo's next actions were almost comical. Hermione's eyes went so wide, they threatened to pop right out of her skull. While Harry's head lifted in Luna's direction so fast, the blonde was worried it might fly right off his neck.
"I said I'd be happy to let you borrow him for a bit." Luna headed off any arguments from the boy before he could have a chance to voice them.
"I… I don't see any problem with that." Hermione stammered, her cheeks turning crimson. "It is a ball."
"I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving Luna all alone." Harry quickly tried to escape. "She's only here for my sake and I'd hate to feel like I abandoned her…"
Hermione's face fell until a visitor made his presence known.
"Noble of you." The thick accent of Viktor Krum reached Luna's ears. "I do not mind vatching out for the lady for a few moments. I promise, she shall come to no harm with me."
Just when Luna thought her plan was going down in flames, she was saved by the Bulgarian man's arrival. Knowing better than to look a gift unicorn in the mouth, Luna jumped on the offer.
"That would be perfect." Luna beamed. While a stranger, Luna knew nobody would physically attack her in a place like this, not to mention, it wasn't like Harry would be far. She was still a little nervous, but this was more important.
After all, what was the worst Krum could do? Insult her? Laugh at her? Ha! The boy would need far more than luck if he thought something like that could even make a dent in her emotional armor.
"How about it, Harry?" Hermione nervously bit her lip, hand outstretched. "Fancy a dance?"
Harry wanted to run away, Luna could see that a mile off, but it wasn't in his nature to flee. Not from Hermione, at least. Gryffindor or now, Harry was no coward.
"Okay." Harry took in a shaky breath before taking the girl's hand.
While her teeth remained firmly in her lip, Hermione's entire face lit up like the sun as she led Harry over to the dance floor.
Taking Hermione's place leaning against the table, Luna watched the scene before her unfold. She wasn't sure if it was good luck or bad, but the music chose that moment to slow down. Luna just wished she could hear what the two were saying.
Luna was so distracted, she didn't notice the raiding party making their way toward her until they were in attack range.
"Well, what do we have here?" Luna felt her blood run cold as she heard the unmistakable voice of Cho Chang. "Loony Lovegood at the Yule Ball?"
"Hello, Cho." Luna was impressed her voice remained steady. "How is your evening?"
"Going great." Cho smiled sweetly, but Luna had seen that look far too many times, and it still made her sick. "Until we saw you in that shabby dress of yours. Honestly, the fact that they even let you in the door…"
To Luna's confusion, all the color drained from Cho and her henchwomen's faces. If Luna didn't know better, she would say they were about to faint from sheer fright.
Cho had made a horrible miscalculation when she approached. She was far too accustomed to her victims, especially Luna, being alone, thus making them easy pickings. Tonight, Cho had made the mistake in not noticing that Luna was far from alone.
"Your words are poison." Viktor spoke slowly, each syllable dripping with venom of its own while his foreign accent lent an extra air of menace.
Luna looked over and almost had to do a double take. It was certainly fortunate that looks really could not kill, because if they could, the glare Viktor affixed Cho with would have annihilated most of the room.
"You bring shame to this school." Viktor took a step forward, placing himself between Cho's gang and Luna. "Pity we are not in Durmstrang, I vould happily show you the folly of your vays. Now leave, before I lose my patience."
Cho and her cronies retreated so fast, one would be forgiven for thinking they were fleeing a barrage of curses.
Luan could only watch in shock before managing to find her voice. "I… thank you."
"It vos no bother." Viktor's mighty glare disappeared and his face returned to his customary expression. "I assured your boy I vould vatch out for you, and I am a man of my word."
Viktor's comment of 'your boy' sent Luna's mind whirling to places regarding Harry she hadn't even been daring to go all night. Unfortunately, that door was opened in her mind, and she didn't think it was going to close any time soon.
"Still." Luna smiled at her impromptu rescuer, while trying to distract her mind from thoughts she shouldn't be having. "Until today, only Harry has ever stood up for me. It means a lot. And Harry really isn't my boy."
"Really?" Viktor eyebrows raised ever so slightly. "My apologies, I assumed."
"If… you don't mind my asking…" Luna hesitated. "Why did you think that?"
Hermione did her best to contain her joy when the music shifted into something more suited to a slow dance than the faster paced one from moments ago. Maybe luck was on her side after all.
"Harry, slow dancing is literally some of the easiest dancing there is." Hermione tried to calm the boy when he seemed to start panicking. "Here, like this."
Hermione couldn't help giggling at the squeak Harry made when Hermione seized his hands and put them on her waist. Her own finding their proper place on his shoulders.
"Relax." Hermione could feel the tension in the boy's muscles. "It's just me, and I know you know how to dance."
"Your toes are going to say otherwise, soon." Harry managed to croak out, his eyes avoiding hers.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Hermione brushed off Harry's concerns. Hermione wasn't worried alright, the cushioning charms she'd casted on her shoes would see to that. It paid to be prepared.
"Okay, Potter." Hermione put on her best authoritative voice, the same one that usually got Harry and Ron to listen. "I have you in my clutches, and you can't escape. Now spill."
"Spill wh…"
"Don't you start with me." Hermione snapped, a bit rougher than she intended. "Don't you dare."
"I…"
"I thought I was your friend." Hermione promised herself if she got into this position, she would keep a calm and level head, the sniffle that escaped betrayed her inner turmoil.
"You are!"
"Then why the bloody hell have you been avoiding me?" There it was, Hermione finally voiced the question that had been gnawing at her all week. Pity she couldn't keep the hurt from leaking into her voice. "Please… just… talk to me…"
It had been a lonely week. Hermione missed Harry considerably, but had been wracking her brain trying to figure out what was going on. If there was something she'd done, or hadn't done, it was beyond her. Not even asking the other members of Gryffindor bore any results.
Not helping was Ron's repeated comments about how they were better off without such a cheating glory-hound. Hermione had exercised restraint at first, but even her patience had limits. After one too many rounds of Ron's complaints, Hermione finally snapped and clocked the redhead with the heaviest book she had available.
The ten points she lost their house and a detention had been more than worth it.
After that, Ron didn't want to be around her, anymore. The comment about being fed up with helping the ungrateful git with his homework might have contributed. Actually, it wasn't just Ron, most of their house shared the same sentiment.
Truth be told, Hermione didn't really care all that much at the time. Not having to interact with other people gave her more mental time to work on her important project.
Namely, figuring out why Harry didn't want her around.
Well, tonight, all her questions were going to get answers, even if she had to wring them out of Harry with her bare hands.
"Talk to me…" Hermione almost begged, her hands sliding down to rest on Harry's chest. "Please…"
"Wouldn't you rather be spending time with your boyfriend?" Harry tried to step away, but Hermione's hands balled into fists in his robe wasn't about to let that happen.
"Boyfriend?" Hermione's brow scrunched up in confusion. "Since when have I ever had a boyfriend?"
"Mr. tall dark and…" Whatever Harry was about to say, he trailed off before his eyes went wide in alarm. "Luna!"
Hermione followed the boys gaze and saw Luna chatting with Cho and a group of her fellow Ravenclaws. "Harry, what's the… hey!"
Harry tore himself free, nearly literally ripping his dress robes in the process, from her grip and was heading back to the blonde when Hermione saw the look of fear on Luna's face. Whoever these girls were, they were most certainly not friends.
"They're the ones picking on Luna." Harry growled, he must have assumed Hermione was following. "I knew I shouldn't have left her…"
Harry abruptly stopped when Cho's group were sent scrambling away by an angry Viktor.
"See?" Hermione smiled, her hand going to Harry's arm. "I wouldn't have left anyone like that if I wasn't sure they'd be safe. Viktor has been nothing but a perfect gentleman."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Harry weakly pulled his arm away, much to Hermione's hurt, although not as hurtful as his lack of trust in her had been. "I can see why you like him."
The knut finally dropped for Hermione.
"Harry James Potter. You look at me, right this instant." Hermione might have been making a command, but her hand seized the boy by the jaw and forced his green eyes to meet her brown. "I'm going to set the record straight, right now. Viktor is not my boyfriend."
"What?" Harry didn't look away this time. "I thought…
"No, you bloody idiot!" Hermione punched him none too gently in the stomach.
"Ow… that… hey!"
Hermione wasn't in the mood to listen and punched him again, all the while repeatedly calling him an idiot. Fortunately, the music had shifted into something faster and more upbeat, the ball around them camouflaging the pair from prying eyes.
"I only went with him because he practically begged me to get the que of girls wanting to be his date off his back." Hermione punctuated her words with occasional pokes of her fingers. None of which could be called gentle. "And because a certain someone didn't ask me and I stupidly thought this might be a way to get the daft moron to notice me! Honestly, I should have known this was way too subtle! Merlin! How could I be so stupid?"
"Kinda hard for someone not to notice you…" Harry muttered but it was still not the words Hermione wanted to hear. His next ones were better, but still not it. "And since when have you ever been stupid? You're the smartest one in this room!"
"Thanks." Hermione's voice softened for a moment at the compliment, right before she remembered why they were here in the first place and her train of thought resumed its previous course. "Apparently not, because even after all this, you still haven't noticed!"
Hermione's brain finally managed to wrangle the reins back from her mouth, but it was too late, the words had already escaped their prison to cause mayhem. Judging by the dawning look on Harry's face, he hadn't missed them.
Right, if Harry could be denser than two-inch-thick steel, it was time for a different approach. It was time to take a page from Ron's book, as appalling as that thought was, and be as crude and blunt as a wrecking ball.
Reaching up to grasp hold of Harry's cheeks, Hermione violently pulled his lips down to hers.
Next part to follow when I get to it, hopefully soon.
Something else, what is it with the Harry Potter fandom? Normally, but not always, I struggle to make a work 2,000 words without heavy padding, but Harry Potter is completely different. The words just flow better on every story and, well, the word count on my Harry Potter works speaks for itself. I just find that fascinating.