Harry woke early the morning of the Hogsmeade trip.
"Nnng . . ." groaned Ron. He rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing awake so early, Harry? It's a Saturday."
"I've got a lot to do in Hogsmeade."
"But it's still Iearly/I!" he protested.
"You don't have to get up yet." Harry tied his shoes.
"I'm awake anyway," he grumbled. "But let's not wake them." He pointed to the three still sleeping youths in the dorm. "At least somebody'll get to rest."
"Let's get going then," Harry said.
Down in the common room, Hermione and Ginny soon came and they all went down to the Great Hall.
"What are you so busy doing today?" Ron asked Harry, as he shoveled food in his mouth. Never mess with Ron before he ate in the morning: he might kill you.
"I've got some shopping and I've got too meet somebody for lunch," he said, nervous.
Hermione grinned. "Lavender and Parvati were telling me. You've got a date with Luna today, Harry. Where are you taking her? Madam Puddifoot's?" she smirked.
Harry felt like smacking her on the back of the head, but decided to be content with kicking her under the table.
Ron paused in his eating. "Harry's got a date with Looney? I thought Seamus and Dean were Ijoking/I!"
"It's not a date," Harry said through gritted teeth.
"Then why are you going out with her today?" asked Neville, sitting down on Ginny's other side.
"Luna helped me with something for something for the Hogwarts Potions Guild." Harry put emphasis on the name of the false club.
Neville got the message. "Yeah, she's good, isn't she?" he said admiringly.
"Yeah," Harry said softly. He mentally shook his head. "Anyway, I'm going to thank her for her help, treat her to lunch, and maybe get her a present."
"Like what?"
"A necklace that isn't so tacky like the one she wears all the time."
"Good idea."
Harry got up and left the table and went out into the entrance hall. Ginny met him a few minutes later. "What took you so long?"
She teased, "Wouldn't want people to think you were two-timing Luna. Besides, I had to talk to somebody, my life doesn't revolve around you."
He punched in the arm for the Luna comment, but not too hard. "Come on. We better get going."
"Right."
When they reached Hogsmeade, Ginny led him to a little jewelry shop. After much contemplation and some advice from Ginny, Harry picked out a darling choker. It was made with dark blue, almost black, beads and in the center was a golden-yellow crescent moon of some type of metal or material that Harry wasn't familiar with.
The jeweler first handed it to Ginny, thinking the necklace was for her but Ginny promptly answered. "Gift wrap please, it's for a friend." The jeweler put the necklace in a little box with iridescent tissue paper and tied it with a ribbon. Harry paid and walked out of the store with the box in his pocket.
Ginny said, "Just curious, but Hermione helps you a lot too. With all your work. You ever think about showing her some appreciation? She feels so . . .used sometimes."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh."
"Let's stop in here." They went inside another store and brought back out a book Hermione had expressed interest in and a card. "Thanks, Ginny. Hermione's one of my best friends. I don't want to lose her over something stupid. Ron and I should appreciate her more. I've got some time before I've got to meet Luna. You've been such a big help today. Let me treat you to some chocolate."
Inside, they ran into Lavender and Parvati. "Harry and Ginny! Where's Looney?"
"I thought you had a date with her today. What are you doing here with Ginny Weasley?"
"I don't have a date with Luna today," he said.
"Oh. So just a date with Ginny?"
"No. I'm not on a date with Ginny either. She's helping me with my Christmas shopping."
Lavender looked disappointed and Parvati thought he must have been lying. Parvati said, "I'll talk to you later, Ginny. Come on, Lavender."
Harry paid for their candy and walked out.
"It's quarter 'til twelve. Aren't you meeting Luna soon?"
"Yeah. I told her to be at the Three Broomsticks at 12."
"You better get going then. I'm meeting somebody at Madam Puddifoot's."
Harry's eyes widened. "Who?" Ron would probably skin the guy alive.
She hesitated. "Neville."
"Neville?"
"Yeah. He really is a sweet guy. I've had my eye on him for a while." She threw her head back and laughed. "He certainly grew up a bit this past summer. Taller, and he lost the baby fat look in his face. Goodbye!" she gave a little wave and hurried off.
Harry shook his head. Ginny and Neville? Ron would definitely skin him alive. He stood outside the Three Broomsticks, waiting for Luna.
Her approach was silent and he didn't know she was there until she said, "Hello, Harry."
"Oh! Hi, Luna. Let's go inside." He held the door open for her and noticed the clothes she was wearing. Her robes were all black, high to the neck, with buttons going down the front in a straight line about three quarters of the way across her torso. And for a wonder of all wonders, her hair actually looked as though she'd brushed it for once.
They ordered and Luna asked, "Why did you want to see me today?"
"To say thank you for all the help you've given me this semester."
She nodded.
"And I wanted to give you this to say thank you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box.
"You didn't have to get me anything."
"Consider it a gift from a friend saying 'thank you'." He pushed the box toward her across the table.
She blinked but didn't touch it. "You didn't have to get me anything," she repeated.
"If you won't consider it a gift from a friend then think of it as payment for your tutoring me," he was getting annoyed.
"A friend." Slowly she undid the ribbon and opened the box. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She leaned across the table and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Harry was mildly surprised, this sort of thing had happened once before. But that was Hermione giving him a kiss on the cheek at Kings Cross after their fourth year. This was slightly more surprising. He said the first thing that came to mind, "This isn't a date."
"I know," she said, placidly. "You know, you really don't need anymore Occlumency lessons beyond the lessons Delano is going to keep giving you. The three of you are more than caught up."
"Three? What about Ginny?"
"Ginny never needed my help. You know she was just there to keep Hermione and I from killing each other."
"So, I guess that's the end of the lessons?"
"Not necessarily. Occlumency is for defensive purposes. If you want to beat him (there was no need to specify which "him" she was referring to) you need offensive magic too. Legilimency is offensive and I can teach it to you."
"You'd do that?"
"Yes."
"Wow. Thank you."
"So you want to?"
"Absolutely." Legilimency, that would certainly be interesting. And useful too.
They sat in silence, eating for a while. They got up and went outside, walking nowhere in particular.
"I had an ulterior motive, you know," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"An ulterior motive in offering you Occlumency lessons."
"What was it?"
"To get to know you better. You're an interesting person."
"So are you." He wondered just where this conversation was going.
"I know today isn't a date. I know some of the other girls thought that it was."
"Oh."
"But, I think you're something else, Harry. I can't really quite define what you are." They paused under a tree.
"You're kind of confusing me," he said.
"So? I really hope you don't mind this."
Before Harry realized what was happening Luna leaned close and kissed him, her lips on top of his. Harry was surprised at the warmth of Luna's lips and put an arm around her without realizing it. The kiss lasted perhaps a minute and a half.
They broke apart slowly and Harry let go of her. A minute and a half of kissing could leave you with a fair amount of saliva in your mouth. Harry wasn't sure whether he was supposed to swallow or spit.
"I'll see you later, Harry." She grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eye and walked back down the path they'd come.
He just nodded, and spit as soon as she was out of sight. It hadn't been a bad kiss at all, quite the contrary; he just didn't want that much moisture in his mouth when he had so much thinking to do. He sat down. He couldn't believe it.
Luna Lovegood had kissed him. What had she done that for?
Well, that was a stupid question. He smacked himself in the forehead. It was time to review the facts.
Luna knew today wasn't a date. He'd made sure of that. But she'd obviously made some sort of an effort to look nicer. Her hair had been brushed smooth. And she admitted that the real reason she'd given Harry Occlumency lessons, or at least part of the reason, was because she liked him. Hadn't she said that? Yes, she had said that.
Girls were so confusing! What was he going to do? He could ignore the whole scene; he could forget it happened. But he didn't really want to forget it. What was he going to do?
He sighed and began the long walk back to Hogwarts.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ha, I'm a Harry/Luna shipper if you can't tell. But I am definitely going to keep Harry on his toes. He can never have a normal love life, you know! Then again, he can never have a normal Ilife/I. Tell me what you think. Next chapter will go up when I get reviews. So here's a little preview for the next chapter.
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"You'll never guess who I saw snogging in Madam Puddifoot's!"
"Who?" asked Harry.
"It was Weasley!"
"Ginny?"
"Not Ithat/I Weasley," she giggled.
"Nnng . . ." groaned Ron. He rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing awake so early, Harry? It's a Saturday."
"I've got a lot to do in Hogsmeade."
"But it's still Iearly/I!" he protested.
"You don't have to get up yet." Harry tied his shoes.
"I'm awake anyway," he grumbled. "But let's not wake them." He pointed to the three still sleeping youths in the dorm. "At least somebody'll get to rest."
"Let's get going then," Harry said.
Down in the common room, Hermione and Ginny soon came and they all went down to the Great Hall.
"What are you so busy doing today?" Ron asked Harry, as he shoveled food in his mouth. Never mess with Ron before he ate in the morning: he might kill you.
"I've got some shopping and I've got too meet somebody for lunch," he said, nervous.
Hermione grinned. "Lavender and Parvati were telling me. You've got a date with Luna today, Harry. Where are you taking her? Madam Puddifoot's?" she smirked.
Harry felt like smacking her on the back of the head, but decided to be content with kicking her under the table.
Ron paused in his eating. "Harry's got a date with Looney? I thought Seamus and Dean were Ijoking/I!"
"It's not a date," Harry said through gritted teeth.
"Then why are you going out with her today?" asked Neville, sitting down on Ginny's other side.
"Luna helped me with something for something for the Hogwarts Potions Guild." Harry put emphasis on the name of the false club.
Neville got the message. "Yeah, she's good, isn't she?" he said admiringly.
"Yeah," Harry said softly. He mentally shook his head. "Anyway, I'm going to thank her for her help, treat her to lunch, and maybe get her a present."
"Like what?"
"A necklace that isn't so tacky like the one she wears all the time."
"Good idea."
Harry got up and left the table and went out into the entrance hall. Ginny met him a few minutes later. "What took you so long?"
She teased, "Wouldn't want people to think you were two-timing Luna. Besides, I had to talk to somebody, my life doesn't revolve around you."
He punched in the arm for the Luna comment, but not too hard. "Come on. We better get going."
"Right."
When they reached Hogsmeade, Ginny led him to a little jewelry shop. After much contemplation and some advice from Ginny, Harry picked out a darling choker. It was made with dark blue, almost black, beads and in the center was a golden-yellow crescent moon of some type of metal or material that Harry wasn't familiar with.
The jeweler first handed it to Ginny, thinking the necklace was for her but Ginny promptly answered. "Gift wrap please, it's for a friend." The jeweler put the necklace in a little box with iridescent tissue paper and tied it with a ribbon. Harry paid and walked out of the store with the box in his pocket.
Ginny said, "Just curious, but Hermione helps you a lot too. With all your work. You ever think about showing her some appreciation? She feels so . . .used sometimes."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh."
"Let's stop in here." They went inside another store and brought back out a book Hermione had expressed interest in and a card. "Thanks, Ginny. Hermione's one of my best friends. I don't want to lose her over something stupid. Ron and I should appreciate her more. I've got some time before I've got to meet Luna. You've been such a big help today. Let me treat you to some chocolate."
Inside, they ran into Lavender and Parvati. "Harry and Ginny! Where's Looney?"
"I thought you had a date with her today. What are you doing here with Ginny Weasley?"
"I don't have a date with Luna today," he said.
"Oh. So just a date with Ginny?"
"No. I'm not on a date with Ginny either. She's helping me with my Christmas shopping."
Lavender looked disappointed and Parvati thought he must have been lying. Parvati said, "I'll talk to you later, Ginny. Come on, Lavender."
Harry paid for their candy and walked out.
"It's quarter 'til twelve. Aren't you meeting Luna soon?"
"Yeah. I told her to be at the Three Broomsticks at 12."
"You better get going then. I'm meeting somebody at Madam Puddifoot's."
Harry's eyes widened. "Who?" Ron would probably skin the guy alive.
She hesitated. "Neville."
"Neville?"
"Yeah. He really is a sweet guy. I've had my eye on him for a while." She threw her head back and laughed. "He certainly grew up a bit this past summer. Taller, and he lost the baby fat look in his face. Goodbye!" she gave a little wave and hurried off.
Harry shook his head. Ginny and Neville? Ron would definitely skin him alive. He stood outside the Three Broomsticks, waiting for Luna.
Her approach was silent and he didn't know she was there until she said, "Hello, Harry."
"Oh! Hi, Luna. Let's go inside." He held the door open for her and noticed the clothes she was wearing. Her robes were all black, high to the neck, with buttons going down the front in a straight line about three quarters of the way across her torso. And for a wonder of all wonders, her hair actually looked as though she'd brushed it for once.
They ordered and Luna asked, "Why did you want to see me today?"
"To say thank you for all the help you've given me this semester."
She nodded.
"And I wanted to give you this to say thank you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box.
"You didn't have to get me anything."
"Consider it a gift from a friend saying 'thank you'." He pushed the box toward her across the table.
She blinked but didn't touch it. "You didn't have to get me anything," she repeated.
"If you won't consider it a gift from a friend then think of it as payment for your tutoring me," he was getting annoyed.
"A friend." Slowly she undid the ribbon and opened the box. "It's beautiful. Thank you." She leaned across the table and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Harry was mildly surprised, this sort of thing had happened once before. But that was Hermione giving him a kiss on the cheek at Kings Cross after their fourth year. This was slightly more surprising. He said the first thing that came to mind, "This isn't a date."
"I know," she said, placidly. "You know, you really don't need anymore Occlumency lessons beyond the lessons Delano is going to keep giving you. The three of you are more than caught up."
"Three? What about Ginny?"
"Ginny never needed my help. You know she was just there to keep Hermione and I from killing each other."
"So, I guess that's the end of the lessons?"
"Not necessarily. Occlumency is for defensive purposes. If you want to beat him (there was no need to specify which "him" she was referring to) you need offensive magic too. Legilimency is offensive and I can teach it to you."
"You'd do that?"
"Yes."
"Wow. Thank you."
"So you want to?"
"Absolutely." Legilimency, that would certainly be interesting. And useful too.
They sat in silence, eating for a while. They got up and went outside, walking nowhere in particular.
"I had an ulterior motive, you know," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"An ulterior motive in offering you Occlumency lessons."
"What was it?"
"To get to know you better. You're an interesting person."
"So are you." He wondered just where this conversation was going.
"I know today isn't a date. I know some of the other girls thought that it was."
"Oh."
"But, I think you're something else, Harry. I can't really quite define what you are." They paused under a tree.
"You're kind of confusing me," he said.
"So? I really hope you don't mind this."
Before Harry realized what was happening Luna leaned close and kissed him, her lips on top of his. Harry was surprised at the warmth of Luna's lips and put an arm around her without realizing it. The kiss lasted perhaps a minute and a half.
They broke apart slowly and Harry let go of her. A minute and a half of kissing could leave you with a fair amount of saliva in your mouth. Harry wasn't sure whether he was supposed to swallow or spit.
"I'll see you later, Harry." She grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eye and walked back down the path they'd come.
He just nodded, and spit as soon as she was out of sight. It hadn't been a bad kiss at all, quite the contrary; he just didn't want that much moisture in his mouth when he had so much thinking to do. He sat down. He couldn't believe it.
Luna Lovegood had kissed him. What had she done that for?
Well, that was a stupid question. He smacked himself in the forehead. It was time to review the facts.
Luna knew today wasn't a date. He'd made sure of that. But she'd obviously made some sort of an effort to look nicer. Her hair had been brushed smooth. And she admitted that the real reason she'd given Harry Occlumency lessons, or at least part of the reason, was because she liked him. Hadn't she said that? Yes, she had said that.
Girls were so confusing! What was he going to do? He could ignore the whole scene; he could forget it happened. But he didn't really want to forget it. What was he going to do?
He sighed and began the long walk back to Hogwarts.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ha, I'm a Harry/Luna shipper if you can't tell. But I am definitely going to keep Harry on his toes. He can never have a normal love life, you know! Then again, he can never have a normal Ilife/I. Tell me what you think. Next chapter will go up when I get reviews. So here's a little preview for the next chapter.
PREVIEW * FOR *
NEXT *
CHAPTER * *
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"You'll never guess who I saw snogging in Madam Puddifoot's!"
"Who?" asked Harry.
"It was Weasley!"
"Ginny?"
"Not Ithat/I Weasley," she giggled.