The third time Harry and Luna go out as friends flows as naturally and seamlessly as the first two. He has no nerves as he dresses that morning, or as he lets Fred in to babysit with Hermione, or even as he Side Along Apparates with Luna to the closest wizarding establishment to his favourite zoo. Why would he, when he's put his life in her hands on more than one occasion and she's done the same to him?

He knows the animals won't be as fantastical as the creatures she works with on a daily basis, but they'll be new to her, and he knows she'll find that interesting. Just like he's intrigued by new Quidditch plays and Teddy's fascinated by facts relating to wolves, this is her passion.

'Here we are,' he says as they walk through the front gates, tickets in hand. 'The Dursleys only let me come once, but I've brought Teddy loads of times. His favourites are the snakes, oddly enough.'

It's only fitting, Harry supposes, given his own encounter with the boa constrictor back before he learnt about magic. He bites down on the urge to tell Luna the story; the unfortunate side effect of coming here is not being able to discuss anything overtly magical.

Later, maybe.

For now, he enjoys watching the way Luna's awestruck gaze darts between the enclosures and the other families and couples, taking in everything in that quiet, observant way of hers. Fortunately, this zoo is one of the more animal-friendly ones; she'd hate how confined the enclosures get elsewhere.

'Muggle clothing is so bright and varied,' she says, quietly enough that nobody can overhear. 'It's refreshing after all the black robes.'

That's the first time he's heard a witch or wizard react like that, but it makes sense. Luna's fashion is so out there by wizarding standards, but a lot of it would just appear quirky in Muggle circles. He nods. 'I can take you to a Muggle clothes shop sometime if you like. Or better yet, Hermione can. She'll have a better idea of where to find things.'

'That sounds fun.' She eventually hones in on one of the exhibits. Hanging ropes loop between towering trees in a continuous obstacle course of bark and fabric, and small animals swing through the treetops with graceful dexterity. 'They look like demiguises.'

'Yeah.' Harry tilts his head to the left. After spending the past several years comparing magical things to their Muggle equivalents, it's odd to hear someone genuinely doing the opposite. 'They're called monkeys.'

'Monkeys,' she echoes, sounding out the word slowly before repeating it again, this time more confidently. 'Let's go there first.'

Over the next few hours, they wander through the zoo, stopping at each and every exhibit. The only information Luna knows about animals comes from her Muggle-born friends, so Harry recounts everything he remembers from primary school, and they fill in the gaps from information on the displays. By the time they leave several hours later, bellies full of hot chips and cheeks sore from smiling, Luna knows more about animals than most Muggles, and she's fallen utterly in love with the unique colouring and physique of the giraffes.

Harry isn't ready for the day to be over, and from the way Luna lingers, she isn't either. But he promised Teddy he would take him to Diagon Alley for the afternoon, and if there's one thing Harry's adamant about after his own messy childhood, it's that he will always keep his word.

'I've enjoyed these not-a-dates,' he says. 'I'm busy next weekend, but would you be free the Saturday after for a real one?'

Her smile widens even further. 'I can be.'

'Great. I'll owl you to arrange a time and place.' Grinning broadly back at her, he feels like a fool, but he doesn't care. It's just the two of them, no judgement, and there's no need to feel self-conscious or embarrassed about how he feels.

Fleetingly, Harry thinks that Ginny would approve. She always seized life with both hands, refusing to waste any opportunity given to her. Even if she can't be here to see it, she would want them both to be happy and not to waste their own lives.

Her memory brings no pain. It's the first time he's been in a relationship — a not-relationship — a sort-of-relationship — without being hounded by the invisible leash of guilt.

He wants to lean in and kiss Luna, but it's too soon for that. She wanted this outing to be just as friends, and he won't ruin that, even if they've been flirting between the line of friends and more all day. 'I had a really great time today,' he says, hoping she can read into it all the things he isn't quite ready to verbalise.

Her eyes sparkle, and when she says, 'Me too,' he's sure she has.