"You shouldn't blame yourself for Cedric's death, Harry Potter."
Harry looked up and found Luna sitting in a tree with her eyes closed, and her face turned upwards. Harry thought it was strange that she knew it was him passing by. He put the thought out of his head and asked her, "Why shouldn't I, if it weren't for me insisting that Holly and I share the cup with Cedric, he wouldn't have ended up in the graveyard. If I had been quicker, Wormtail wouldn't have killed him."
"Harry, did you know that the cup was a portkey?"
"Well, um no, but it's still my fault."
"No, it isn't, you and Holly were only noble Gryffindors. Had you known that it was a portkey, you would never have let him touch it. And you didn't know what was going to happen when you landed. No one could have expected that man to kill Cedric, Harry. You can't blame yourself."
Even though Harry still did, his guilt had was now a little less with someone outside his family telling him that it wasn't his fault that Cedric was dead. Harry sighed and looked up at Luna, "What are you doing?"
"Enjoying the world, Harry."
Harry smiled and decided to join Luna in the tree. When he reached Luna, they sat there in silence swaying in the breeze listening to nature. Harry was so caught up in the beauty if everything that he almost didn't hear Mrs. Weasley calling him for lunch, "You better go, Harry, before Mrs. Weasley becomes cross with you."
"Right," Harry paused for a moment, "Luna, why don't you join us for lunch? I'm sure it won't be a problem."
Luna's eyes lit up, "I would love to, Harry."
They climbed down from the tree and made their way back to the Burrow. Upon entering the back door with Luna, the twins gave Harry a wink, and Harry glared at them but didn't say anything. Ginny hugged her best friend and escorted her into the dining room, where everyone sat down for lunch.
After lunch, the boys played Quidditch with Ron and Neville as the Keepers while Ginny and Luna talked, "So you like Harry," Ginny said.
"I've always liked Harry; he's a likable boy."
Ginny rolled her eyes, "That's not what I meant, and you know it."
Luna blushed, but didn't say anything; she just kept watching the boys play.
"Because he likes you too, you know," Ginny said, without looking at Luna.
Luna stared at Ginny, "He does?" Luna asked with a hopeful tone.
Ginny's head snapped towards Luna, "I knew it, you do like Harry. "
Luna blushed.
"Why haven't you done anything about it, Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Because I thought that you liked him, and I would rather have my best friend than a boy."
"I admit, I did like Harry, but when I went to the Yule Ball with Neville, I realized that what I felt towards Harry was more hero worship. What I feel for Neville is real; I truly care for Neville. So if you want to pursue Harry, you don't have to worry about me."
Luna stared at her friend wide-eyed then hugged her fiercely. She never thought that she would get a chance to be with Harry, but now there was some hope. Harry was on his broom circling the Pitch, searching for the Golden Snitch when he spotted Luna and Ginny talking under the tree. He watched Luna for a bit and thought that she looked so beautiful with the sun reflecting off her blonde hair.
Harry wondered what the girls were talking about when he saw Luna lung at Ginny and hug her, "Hey Harrikins, stop gawking at the girls and pay attention," Fred yelled at him.
Harry shook his head and went back to searching for the Snitch. The boys played for several hours until finally, Harry caught the Snitch. After that, they all went inside to have dinner. Molly insisted that Luna spend the night, much to the delight of both Ginny and Harry. Molly sent a Patronus to Luna's father, letting him know that Luna would be spending the night at the Burrow.
So the following morning, when everyone came down for breakfast, Ginny made sure that Luna and Harry sat next to each other so that they could get to know each other a bit more. When they sat down next to each other, Harry and Luna blushed when their hands' touched, reaching for a piece of toast.
"Oh, um, Sorry, Luna."
"It's alright, Harry," Luna said shyly.
Fred, George, Ginny, and Neville gave each other knowing looks, Ron was oblivious to what was going on, he was already stuffing his face with eggs and sausage. Harry and Luna served themselves breakfast and began to eat; they would glance at each other when they thought the other person wasn't looking at them. After breakfast, Ron and the others went upstairs to get ready for the day. Ron was going to go to Lavander's house while the others were going to go swimming at a nearby lake. The boys went and changed into swimming trunks, and Ginny lent a swimming suit to Luna. While they were getting ready, Mrs. Weasley packed a lunch for them.
Harry and the others walked down to the lake. When they got there, they placed the picnic basket in a secure place while the twins cast a stasis charm on it. They got undressed and dove into the lake. They splashed around and raced to the center of the lake. Overall they had a grand time. In the afternoon, the teens got out of the lake and had lunch. While they were having lunch, they discussed what they thought the following year would be like.
"It's going to be brutal. I hear the OWL test is hard." Neville said.
"It is, Mate," George answered.
"But don't worry, it's only going to determine what career you choose in the future," Fred chided.
Neville swallowed thickly.
"Don't listen to them, Nev, you're going to do fine," Ginny said to her boyfriend and kissed him on the cheek.
They continued to talk for the rest of the afternoon about what jobs they thought they might like to do. Everyone was surprised when Harry said that he might want to be a healer instead of an Auror, "I'm not surprised, Harry. You've been through a lot as it is. Why would you go looking for more violence in your life," Luna said.
"Exactly," Harry answered.
"And Holly? What does she want to do?"
"What do you mean what does she want to do," Fred asked.
"She wants to get married and raise her own Quidditch team with Krum," George said with a laugh.
Everyone else laughed, "No, really, what does Holly want to do?" Ginny asked.
"She wants to be a healer too," Harry answered.
As the sun was going down, the teens packed up and headed back to the Weasley house, where Molly was already making dinner. They greet Arthur, who had arrived an hour ago and were told that Bill was coming over for Sunday dinner and that he was bringing Fleur as well. The teens went upstairs to shower and change; then, they headed back down for dinner. By the time Harry made his way downstairs for dinner, everyone was already seated. Ginny made sure that the only seat available was next to Luna.
Once Harry arrived, Molly served dinner. The Weasleys, Harry, and Luna served themselves and began eating. As they ate, the men started talking about Quidditch and how well the teams were going to do this year. At the same time, Fleur talked to Ginny and Luna. The whole time that they were talking, Fleur and Bill held hands. Ginny smiled at seeing her oldest brother so happy. She and Neville looked at each other, and Neville leaned over and kissed Ginny on the cheek.
Harry looked on and smiled. He wished that he could do that to Luna. During the summer, he and Luna had been writing letters to each other, and now that he was at the Weasley house and was getting a chance to spend time with her, Harry realized that he was developing feelings for the petite blonde sitting next to him.
Harry glanced at Luna, their eyes met, and Harry felt his heart skip a beat. He smiled at Luna, and she blushed prettily. Harry turned back to his food and began eating again. He suddenly had a bold idea; slowly, Harry held Luna's hand underneath the table. Luna looked at Harry and blushed. She squeezed his hand, and he smiled at her. They continued to hold hands underneath the table.
After dinner, Harry and Luna helped Molly clean up. When they were finally alone in the kitchen, Harry took Luna's hand, "Are you going home tonight?"
"I think I better. I need to help my father with his next edition of the Quibbler," Luna said.
"Would you mind if I walk you home?"
Luna smiled at Harry, "I'd like that, Harry."
Harry and Luna left then the kitchen and went into the living room so that Luna could say goodbye to everyone, "I'll see you all tomorrow, I have to get home and help my father," Luna said.
"I'm going to walk Luna home, guys, I'll be back in a little bit."
"Do you want me to come with you, Harry," Ron asked with a hopeful look on his face.
"NO!" Gred and Forge said at the same time.
"Harry can go by himself," Ginny added.
"Oh, okay," Ron said.
Harry gave Ginny a grateful smile, then he and Luna left. They walked down the lane, talking and holding hands. As they got closer to Luna's house, their pace began to slow, neither one of them wanted the evening to end. Harry stopped in front of the tree where he had seen Luna earlier, "Is there something wrong, Harry?"
"No, Luna, I only wanted to tell you how much I like you."
"I like you too, Harry."
"No, Luna, I like you more than just a friend."
Luna blushed, "So do I, Harry."
Harry's mouth fell open, "You do?"
"Yes, but I thought you liked Ginny, so I didn't want to say anything."
"No, Ginny is like a little sister to me. I've always liked you too, Luna," Harry assured Luna.
Harry started rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the ground. He suddenly looked up, his emerald eyes making contact with Luna's blue, "Um, Luna, would you be my girlfriend?"
Luna smiled brightly at Harry, "I would love to be your girlfriend, Harry."
Harry smiled and hugged Luna. When they pulled apart, Harry cupped Luna's face and leaned in to kiss her. They stood there kissing when suddenly the air grew colder, and the field of flowers around them started to freeze. Harry stiffened when he felt the cold. He looked up and pulled out his wand, "Luna, run, get to your house and shut the door."
"What's going on, Harry?"
"Luna! It's the dementors! GO NOW HURRY!"
Luna didn't waste any time; she took off at a sprint towards her house without looking back. Two dementors descended on Harry and instantly attacked him, but Harry was ready for them. He had his wand out and quickly shouted, "Expecto Patronum!"
Instantly, Prongs lept from his wand and charged the dementors. The dementors screeched at being confronted by Harry's Patronus and were knocked over and sent fleeing into the night. Prongs cantered back to Harry and stood in front of him, "Thanks, Prongs."
The stag nodded then faded away. Suddenly, Harry heard a series of pops of people apparating around him, looking around, Harry noticed that Bill, Fleur, and the Weasleys had arrived, "Harry, we saw your Patronus from the house, what happened?"
"I was attacked by two dementors."
"And Luna?" Fleur asked.
"I told her to run to her house and shut the door."
At that moment, Harry was nearly tackled as Luna crashed into him, hugging Harry fiercely, "Harry, are you alright."
"Yeah, Luna, I'm okay, you?"
"I'm fine, Harry."
"Good."
Arthur put his arm around Harry's shoulder, "Come on, Harry, let's get you home, Bill and Fleur will take Luna home."
Harry nodded, but before he walked away, he kissed Luna on the lips, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Luna blushed, "Okay, Harry."
The twins grinned at each other after Luna walked away with Bill and Fleur.
They arrived at the Weasley house and explained to Molly what happened, and she got a cup of tea ready for Harry. But as she was making the tea, a letter flew in through the window. Suddenly the letter began to speak.
Dear Mr. Potter.
The Ministry has received intelligence that at 8:23 this evening, you performed the Patronus Charm. As a clear violation of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. You are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hoping you are well,
Mafalda Hopkirk.
Harry stood there and watched the letter tear itself apart. He couldn't believe he had just been expelled. Arthur put a hand on Harry's arm, "Don't worry, Harry, we'll sort this all out."
Harry numbly nodded; he had to send a letter to his parents and Holly.