Author Note: This is the next chapter of Talking in the girls room. I am collecting these minor chapters as part of an overall story called Little Talks.

===xxx(begin)

Hermione and Luna walked out of the bathroom with Hermione's arm still around the petite blonde's shoulders. Once in the corridor Hermione checked her watch and decided they had enough time to find Harry before their final class of the day. He had begun to hide in the Astronomy Tower or various disused parts of the castle as girls had begun to pursue him. Hermione thought it was slightly ironic that the person who had stood up to Death Eaters, a professor turned werewolf and a hundred other things that tried to kill him had no idea how to deal with the feminine half of the population.

Soon Hermione and Luna found him in the Astronomy Tower leaning over the railing, the cold wind making his hair ruffle, and his robes flutter. Hermione cleared her throat to get his attention causing Harry to spin with his wand out. Both girls stood still, letting him recognize who it was that had snuck up on him.

"Hello Harry. You should probably keep better situational awareness." Luna calmly said in her soft voice.

Harry chuckled, "Yeah I should. I guess I got lost in my thoughts."

Luna nodded as she approached him, "I have that happen sometimes. It once took me an entire day to find my way out of a particularly happy memory I had one time."

Harry nodded in a happy confusion then froze as Luna put her small arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest.

Luna held the hug for only a moment but stepped back, "I'm sorry Harry but you appeared to need a friendly hug. The interaction of people's aura when they care about each other has very beneficial qualities to ones emotional state."

Harry laughed lightly and said, "Thanks Luna. I guess you're right."
Hermione stepped up and gave Harry a hug as well. Harry returned it more awkwardly but smiled.

"Thanks guys. So are you okay Hermione?"

"Yeah Luna pointed out a few things and I think I'll be a lot better." Hermione smiled. "How about you?"

"Oh that's good. I still have to find a date for tonight's Slughorn thing. But other than that I'm fine." Harry openly lied about his emotions.
"I'll be happy to go with you Harry." Hermione said.

"Didn't you already ask Cormac?" Harry asked in confusion.

Hermione huffed in annoyance, "Oh yeah. I did."

Luna spoke, "I could go with you Harry. It would allow Hermione to let Cormac know she did not like him and had only asked him to try and make Ron jealous since he has been trying to get into Lavender's pants."

Harry and Hermione both looked at Luna. Hermione was blushing as she had put into words what Hermione had been feeling and denying.

Harry though asked, "You'd want to go to the party with me?"
"Well yes, Hermione can go to the next one since she'll be your girlfriend."
Harry shook his head like he was trying to get Luna's words to fit. "Uh. Could you explain that?"

"Certainly Harry." Luna said with a smile.

Hermione laughed then said, "Well Harry. Luna and I were talking and she pointed out that you and I would be a better fit than certain others."
Harry furrowed his brow as he looked from one girl to the other. "Look I'm not sure how I feel about anything right now."

"I know Harry. You are mourning the loss of your godfather. Plus you have garnered the attention of a lot of hormonal teenage females due to the sudden celebrity the battle at the Ministry caused. You should probably watch out for love potions." Luna stated.

Harry stared at her for a moment then frowning said, "Great thanks for giving me something else to worry about."

"I know it is very irresponsible of the Weasleys to promote rape and date rape." Luna agreed.

Hermione earlier this day would have defended the Weasleys but on consideration remembered her mother and dad talking about the date-rape drugs going around and warning her about them. Was there really that much difference between a love potion and muggle drugs, she couldn't see any. "Isn't that illegal?"
"Not entirely. It is in a gray area of recreational potions. Father has a large file of abuses though which the Wizengamut refuse to look at." Luna frowned.

Hermione growled, "Great another reason to cut ties with those assholes."
Harry chortled, "Language Hermione. And what do you mean they promote Rape? The Weasleys are good people."

"Harry a love potion does not actually create love. It causes a person to feel an intense happiness and desire to perform coitus with the person the potion is attuned to. If I gave Hermione a potion attuned to Professor Snape she would strip her clothes off for him in the middle of the Great Hall professing that she wanted to have his love child." Luna stated with only the slightest emotional inflection.

Harry's brow immediately glowered as he considered her words. Hermione gagged a little bit at the scenario Luna presented. "You're joking." he snapped out.
Luna shook her head. Hermione bit her lip but remembered a morning several years ago, "Uh Harry. Molly was joking about having given Arthur a love potion she had brewed back in school. She laughed it off as just a fun little game but still. A love potion clouds your mind and takes your free will away, sort of like taking advantage of a drunk person. Its morally wrong."

Harry leaned back against the railing, "And the Weasleys promote these things?"

"Didn't you see them in their shop?" Hermione asked.

"I wasn't paying attention. Ron wanted me to look at their joke wands and I was talking to the twins about, business issues." He had been pulled aside by the twins and given an update on how their shop was going. They thanked him profusely again for the galleons to start the shop. Harry thought about them selling love potions and wondered if he could get them to stop. He doubted it as getting the twins to stop anything usually required application of heavy force. Harry's thought on love potions made him remember what Dumbledore had shown him about Tom Riddle aka Voldemort's mother. How he believed she had used a love potion to seduce Voldemort's father.

"Harry?" Hermione asked gently as she touched his arm. "Are you okay? You zoned on us."

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was thinking. Did you know Dumbledore thinks Voldemort's mother used a love potion on his father?"
Both girls shook their heads, "We haven't been privileged to be part of your secret training." Luna said.

Harry scoffed, "Some training. All we do is sit and watch some memory and then talk about what happened in it. Dumbledore says he wants me to understand Voldemort , but I don't see why he has to stretch it out over so many months. We've been doing this since I got back to school."

"As the headmaster has his own plans I cannot determine why he is doing that." Luna says. "However we need to return to our original reason for finding you and that is to get you to accept Hermione as your girlfriend, among a few other things."

Harry stared at Luna for several long seconds before repeating what she said, "Accept Hermione as my girlfriend?"
Luna nodded, "Yes. That was our primary purpose although there are several other things we need to discus with you."

"Why do I need a girlfriend?" Harry asked grumpily. "And I thought Hermione liked Ron?"

"Well you need someone you can trust, who cares about you for who you are and not what you are. Someone willing to help you succeed simply because it is the right thing to do. Although I suppose if I misread you that badly and your sexual proclivities lean more towards males we could work to find someone appropriate for you as well."
Harry blushed before shaking his head, "NO. I like girls Luna. Just I. Hermione help." He appealed to his best friend.

Hermione took a deep breath, "Harry I'd like to be your girlfriend. You've seen all the girls trying to get your attention. Most of them are only interested in you now that you're famous. And as for Ron. I thought I liked him but I took some second thoughts about his behavior and attitudes and I don't think I'm as fond of him as I once was."

"Have you told him that?" Harry frowned.

"Not yet but I was wanting to wait for a moment when he wasn't trying to taste Lavender's breakfast." Hermione said disgustedly. "That may take some time."

"Great so now that I'm popular you'll throw Ron over for me too?"

"Harry I am not like all the other girls. I actually care about you and don't care if you're famous or not. I like you, not your fame." Hermione cried out. "And I'm not throwing Ron over. He's moved on to be with Lavender because she puts out. I don't at least not for him."
"And there are those like Ginny that have ONLY ever been interested in you because of your fame." Luna pointed out. "As for Ron he has a rather complicated personality that should be the subject of its own discussion so we should not drag him into this consideration of Hermione as your girlfriend."

"Ginny likes me. We have a lot in common." Harry defended Ginny, he ignored the comment about Ron for now. "I think I was leaning towards asking her out."

Luna shook her head, "What do you have in common?"

Harry pulled back affronted, he and Ginny had loads in common. He thought. "Well we both like Quidditch, we both uh, well we both have been possessed by Voldemort, we both like to fly, we both. Uh well. Okay well maybe there isn't that much right now but we can grow."

"And you are comfortable with her temper? A temper that causes her to lash out with a bat bogey hex to the face for anyone that angers her too severely? You are comfortable with her reacting that way?" Luna asked pointedly.

Harry frowned, "I'm sorry but Hermione has a temper too you know. Just because Ginny has a temper doesn't mean much."
"Harry I recognize I have a temper but I try to control it far more closely." Hermione said.

"Oh like when you punched Malfoy, and your constant harping about my using the Half-Blood Prince's book?" Harry crossed his arms triumphantly.

Hermione looked abashed, "Okay. Malfoy deserved it and don't tell me you haven't considered it yourself. As for the book maybe I'm a bit jealous, but I'm sorry Harry, some of those spells and modifications seem a bit suspicious."
"Well nice to hear you admit you're just jealous." Harry smirked.
Hermione started to defend herself then seeing Luna looking penetratingly at her admitted, "I'm not just jealous I'm worried about you hurting yourself or someone else with something you don't understand. Plus those are not approved course work modifications."

"Slughorn doesn't seem to care. He's a Slytherin he probably would think it's a good idea to use the book to get ahead. Very cunning."

Hermione frowned then tilted her head in thought in a fair approximation of Luna Harry thought. "Results oriented studies."

"Yeah sure whatever that is." Harry frowned

Luna looked between them blankly then said, "You have a book that has experimental modifications to spells?"
"Potions actually, although there are some spells in it too." Harry corrected.

"Perhaps if the two of you sat down and analyzed the spells and modifications together instead of you hoarding the book and you being so competitive." Luna pointed out to Harry and Hermione respectively.

Both individuals looked around awkwardly before chuckling, "She has a point." Harry said.

"True. I'm sorry Harry, and you're right I guess Slughorn isn't too concerned with how you do the job."

Harry sighed and said, "Okay. But still you and me as boyfriend and girlfriend? Do you really think that's a good idea?"
"Yeah, why not?" Hermione said.

Harry tried to think of some reasons, "Well you'll be targeted and in danger."
Harry frowned when Hermione and Luna glanced at each other with a giggle. "We knew you would say that." Hermione explained, "Harry I've been your friend since first year, I'm a muggle-born, and I've already been attacked multiple times just for that. How would openly being your girlfriend change anything?"

Harry opened his mouth and then closed it as he could not argue with what she said, "Okay so you make some good points. But still. I mean." He spun around. His shoulders heaving up as he withdrew into himself, "I'm not a good boyfriend material."
Hermione came up and put her arm around him. He flinched and stiffened briefly before he eventually relaxed into her. "I'm not a great girlfriend material. I have a temper and I can still be a bossy know it all. I have my own emotional problems and social awkwardness. That and I'm not entirely good looking, I'm at best mostly average."
Harry inhaled deeply but he didn't argue. Hermione thought he might be trying not to cry. "I said that because I'm not perfect, you're not perfect. I'm not looking for perfect. I'm looking for good enough to make me happy and that I can trust. I know you Harry. You're the bravest, most decent, most honorable person I know. Even with the flaws and rough edges."

"I don't know how this will turn out. I can't guarantee you a happily ever after." Harry whispered barely audible. "You deserve a happy ever after."

Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know you can't guarantee that, Harry. Nobody can. But even if we only have a day or a thousand days, or a thousand years, as long as we're together it'll be the happily ever after I need."
Harry's arm slid up Hermione's back to rest awkwardly at first then more confidently around her waist. He leaned his head on top of hers softly. Luna watched the two of them join together happily. Phase one of her plane had been completed. She quietly left, the two of them communing together as they would need some alone time to affirm their feelings. Not that they seemed to know she was there, which was not a problem for Luna.

Harry and Hermione relaxed together, not saying anything just being with each other. Their breathing soon relaxed and became in sync as they snuggled together.

Harry eventually chuckled as he turned within the warm half circle of Hermione's arm to pull her against him in a tight embrace.

"What's so funny?"
"Everything. Nothing. All of it. How long you've been my friend and I never." He stopped talking as he exhaled through his nose.

Hermione laid her head against his chest and said, "Well sometimes you don't see whats right under your nose."

"So how long have you. How long have you had feelings for me?" He asked.

She pulled back so she could look into his deep emerald eyes. "I guess first year. Watching someone jump on a trolls back to save you kinda gets a girl thinking." She teased causing him to roll his eyes. "Honestly though. I don't know. I don't think I really realized it until Luna started talking to me about things but I've always liked you Harry. I've always cared about you. I just don't know when it slipped over the line into loving you."

Harry frowned faintly, "I'm not sure what love is. I don't know if I can."
Hermione brushed his hair with her hand, "I know. I'm not going to push you." When he raised his eyebrow at her in doubt she admitted, "Okay. I'm going to try not to push you. Only just remember you're not alone."
Harry smiled, "Right. Not anymore." He bent down and caressed Hermione's lips with his own. She felt a thrill go through her as she responded.

===xxx===xx

Luna was walking down the corridor when she ran into Ginny. She slowed as the red head looked grumpy.

"Have you seen Harry?" Ginny demanded snippily.

"Yes I have." Luna admitted.

"Well where is he?" Ginny angrily demanded, "I was wanting to talk to him."
"When I left him he was busy. When I see him tonight at Slughorn's Christmas party I will let him know you wanted to speak with him if you have not done so by then." She flipped her hair back like she had seen others do.

Ginny's face fell then she scowled at Luna. Luna took a half step backwards to prepare to defend herself as Ginny's ear tips had begun to turn red. A common Weasley physical manifestation of their temper. "You're going to Slughorn's party with him!" She declared more than asked.

"Well yes. He would have gone with his girlfriend but she was already going with McLaggen." Luna said as she slid her hand to her wand.

Ginny's eyes narrowed, "Harry has a girlfriend?" she asked in a even dangerous tone of voice.

Luna never blinked but said, "Yes."

"Who is it?" Ginny demanded coldly.

"You do not seem to be very supportive towards Harry's feelings. If anything you are acting dangerously jealous."

"Luna I'm not jealous. I just want to make sure Harry isn't getting trapped by some ignorant little hussy." She articulated through clenched teeth.

"Well that's good to hear. However I would not describe Hermione as ignorant or a hussy." Luna said putting her hand on her wand just in case.

Ginny looked at Luna in a slowly growing confused shock. "Hermione is Harry's girlfriend? What brought that on?"

Luna shrugged, "I believe Hermione realized she felt very deeply about Harry and he realized he felt similarly towards her."

"That's crazy. Hermione doesn't care about Harry like that. She's just his friend." Ginny snarled.

Luna looked displeased. Which Ginny did not seem to notice. "Many times friendship can grow into something more. That is actually the best way for love to bloom."

"Love? Hermione doesn't love him. I know. She would have told me. I'm her best friend." Ginny sniffed haughtily.

"Really? I had not noticed that. Then perhaps as her friend you should speak with your brother so he stops abusing Hermione."
"What. Ron doesn't abuse Hermione. She's the witch that sent the birds after Ron just because he was with HIS girlfriend." Ginny victoriously stated.

"Ron is only using Lavender for two things, to try and make Hermione jealous and to get a cheap thrill." Luna countered. Ginny's voice had begun to get a bit hysterical again.
"Ron is NOT that shallow." Ginny waved her finger in Luna's face.

Luna looked at the finger curiously then looked into Ginny's eyes with an unspoken question.

Ginny dropped her hand, "OH you're so frustrating to argue with. You know that?"
"Are we arguing? I did not think there was anything to argue about?" Luna calmly said.

"Okay fine. But Harry will be staying at the Burrow over Christmas. So we'll get this sorted out." Ginny harrumphed and then stomped off. "You'll see."

Luna felt she should warn Harry and Hermione tonight as that sounded very ominous.

===xxx(Review Responses carried over from Visits to a Magical World)

Starie78: Well here it is. Not exactly the normal story format, but then not exactly the normal story.

Jadesabrexiv: I'm not sure about that book as I do not recall it. Usually I'm pretty good at post-apocalyptic or apocalyptic literature but I've never heard of that one. As for this story yeah Ginny is not going to take things very well. Not sure she goes full fledged nuclear blast but at the very least she might pull a few kilotons...

Phyxius5150: Yeah that's pretty much a good synopsis of this.

Dennisud: Thank you for the idea again. Yeah the light siders may not be as outright racist or bigoted as the blood supremacists but they are still not very inclusive with their attitudes. I'm not sure who will or will not show up as of yet. I kinda want each chapter to be focused on a specific conversation or two with certain people. As for the second kernel it'll have to go into the notebook. I'll need to think on it.

Sparky40sw: Wow! Glad to see you keeping a positive attitude. Keep up the good efforts and bless you. Thank you for the kind words and compliments. I try my best is all.

IdlemanRPG: I guess. Thank you for the compliment. And yeah the Weasleys are definitely not as tolerant as they like to promote themselves. The phrase hypocritical comes to mind.