Disclaimer: (Hmm, I remembered!) I don't own any characters in this chapter. That stinks. But I love this chapter! I double-spaced it between paragraphs like someone asked me too, tell me if this is better.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

            He paced back and forward outside, waiting for Luna. He'd been waiting twenty minutes and she still wasn't there. He looked at his watch. Oh. It was only 11:55. Maybe he shouldn't have run all the way here.

            He tried to stop pacing and started fidgeting instead. No good. He went back to pacing and checked his watch every thirty seconds. 11:56 . . . 11:56 . . . 11:57 . . . 11:57 . . . 11:58 . . . 11:58 . . . 11:59 . . . 11:59 . . . 12:00 . . . 12:00 . . . 12:01 . . . 12:01 . . .

            "Hello, Harry." She smiled at him.

            Harry looked at her. Her smile. She was breath taking. This wasn't the dazed I-have-no-clue-what's-going-on-and-I-can't-even-hear-you smile she wore around most people. This was a genuine here-I-am-I'm-glad-to-see-you smile. He couldn't think of a response to "Hello, Harry". This was bad. This was very bad.

            She smiled again. "Do you want to go inside and get something to eat?"

            "Yeah," he choked on the word. "Er, yeah. Sounds great." Harry realized for the first time since she said hello that she was dressed in Muggle clothes. She wore a white blouse with puffy sleeves and a jean skirt. Her hair was brushed smooth and she wore the choker (she'd had her hair like this every day since the last time they'd gone to Hogsmeade together, and she hadn't taken the choker off since he gave it to her). She looked gorgeous.

            She opened the door and held it up for him as they walked in. The place was crowded, but not too crowded. Most couples didn't think this was a very romantic place to go for Valentine's Day.

            They got a table, drinks, a couple of burgers, and a plate of fries.

            "I heard about the Quibbler. And the fires."

            She didn't respond or change expressions.

            "Is your dad okay? They didn't go after him too, did they?"

            "No. He's fine."

            "Do you know why your father's magazine was targeted?"

            "Because he prints the truth, whether people want to hear it or not."

            Harry nodded. Close enough. "I got you something," Harry said.

            "Really? You didn't have to."

            "I wanted to." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the box.

            She stared at it for almost a full minute before slowly undoing the ribbon, carefully opening the box, and unfolding the pale blue tissue paper. She lifted up the earrings. "They're beautiful."

            Harry anticipated her leaning over and kissing him on the cheek like last time, but she didn't. She leaned over and gave him a hug instead. He was slightly disappointed. Stop it! he thought to himself. She let go and sipped at her drink, Harry couldn't remember what it was called.

            Harry didn't know about her, but for him, things were getting a little tense. He didn't know why. Why was it so hard to keep everything normal? "Hey, are you ever going to tell me how you hexed Zacharias and Malfoy?"

            "No, we've all got our secrets. You've got too many of your own for me to be the one to start telling."

            "That sounds familiar."

            "I told you the same thing the last time you asked about it."

            Harry was quiet for a minute. He remembered his earlier words to Ginny. His eyes lit up and he smiled, "I'll tell you what, let's get out of here. It's too stuffy. And I'll make a deal with you. I'll tell you anything you want to know, but you've got to tell me everything I want to know."

            She smiled again. "Deal." She stuck out an ink-smeared hand and he shook it.

            They got up and left. Walking through the village and out where the trees were. He almost took her hand, but hesitated. They stopped under a tree (not the same one as before) and sat down. Harry knew they'd both be doing an awful lot of talking, and he didn't want to be overheard. "Go."

            "Are you still having nightmares about the Department of Mysterious?"

            He took a deep breath thinking, I'm sixteen and I'm still having nightmares. "Yes. Since you started talking to me about them and helping me, I'm hardly having nightmares at all anymore."

            "What was the last nightmare you had?"

            "Last night. I saw the Quibbler burning."

            She nodded. "I suspected you did. And before that?"

            "I saw everybody I cared about die."

            "Who?"

            "My mum, dad, Sirius, Ron's parents, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George, Ginny, Dumbledore, Tonks, Moody, McGonagall, and Lupin." He took another breath. "And you."

            "How did I die?"

            "Decapitation." He shuddered at the memory of her head rolling at his feet. Blood-smeared hair . . .

            "Do you really speak Parseltongue?"

            "Yes."

            "What's the whole truth about Sirius?"

            "He was my godfather; my dad's best friend next to Remus Lupin. He was supposed to be my parents' secret-keeper when they went into hiding. But everyone knew how close he and my parents were. He was best man at their wedding. So, last minute he convinced them to switch to Peter Pettigrew."

            "Why not Lupin if they were such good friends?"

            "Somebody was leaking information. They thought it might be him," Harry said bitterly. "So they switched to Peter. He was the one who told. He killed my parents by betraying them. Sirius blamed himself afterwards because he was the one who told them to use Peter. I don't think he ever forgave himself. Anyway, the story is that Peter hunted him down and I'm sure you know the rest. But the truth is, he hunted out Peter as soon as he realized what had happened. They met on that Muggle street like the story says, Peter shouted Sirius's betrayal before cutting off his finger, transforming himself into a rat, and blowing up the street." He laughed mirthlessly. "Did I mention he and Sirius and my dad were all Animagi? A rat. A dog. And a stag." He stared at the sky. "Anything else?"

            "How do you really feel about all the Boy-Who-Lived business?"

            He picked up a twig and snapped it. "I hate it. Famous for being alive. It's stupid."

            "What about all the fighting against him?"

            "Fighting?" he said bitterly. "What have I accomplished? I stayed alive. That's all I've been doing since I was born. In fact somebody called me that today."

            "What did you say?"

            "I told them that I had a name and it wasn't 'Boy-Who-Lived'. Sheesh. Doesn't anybody use names? I'm sick of all this 'Boy-Who-Lived' and 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' business. It's ridiculous."

            "Why did Cho break up with you?"

            "Because, she had issues and I wasn't ready for a girlfriend."

            "Care to explain?"

            "Not really. But I will. She was too confused and busy mourning the death of her last boyfriend. Besides, we didn't have much in common outside of Quiditch."

            "Are you ready for a girlfriend now?"

            "I don't know. I guess it'd depend on who it was. Cho was needy and I didn't have time for that. She cried a lot and I didn't have patience for that."

            "What do you think of Ginny and Hermione?"

            "They're like sisters to me. I love them. I can't imagine dating either of them, obviously, but I care loads about them. I can't imagine Hogwarts without them. I would have flunked out ages ago without Hermione. She nags a lot, but she means well and the truth is, she's usually right. Don't tell her I said that. Ginny? She's great. She's tough, witty, cheeky, but she's also my best friend's little sister. I don't care how old she gets, she's always going to be Ron's little sister to me."

            The questions continued, some of them surprised Harry, others didn't. She asked for the true stories behind the Sorcerer's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. She asked how it felt when he first found out he was a wizard. She asked about life at the Dursleys. She asked what exactly his problems were with Snape and Malfoy, as well as dozens of other questions. He answered all her questions truthfully and fully. Not hiding anything.

            After about two hours, maybe three, Harry didn't care how long, she stopped questioning.

            She had long since stretched out on the grass and was now leaning up on her elbows. "Wait, I've got one more. What are you thinking right now?"

            "I'm thinking, 'wow, I just spilled out my heart and soul and almost everything I've ever thought to this gorgeous, crazy girl who actually managed to sit through it all without falling asleep'. I feel better than I have in a long time. So now it's my turn?" he asked.

            "Yep. Go." She yawned.

            He had a whole lot of questions. Most of them were the whys behind the crazy things she did. "Why do you wear radishes in yours ears?"

            "My earrings? My mom. She told me that magic was like the rest of life. It didn't always work the way you expected it to, but there was always a chance. A growth. The expectation of waiting for something new. Why radishes? Why not? A dandelion would die to quickly."

            "Why do you keep your wand behind your ear?"

            She sat up. "Count to three and say draw."

            "One, two, three; draw!"

            She hit the tip of her wand and it flipped off her ear and into her opposite hand, pointing it directly at Harry's heart. "Understand?"

            "Yeah. Next question. Why do you wear Butterbeer caps around your neck? I've never even seen you drink one."

            "My dad. After my mom died, it was tough on both of us. We always made sure that at least once a week we went out together to talk. We didn't want silence or distance between us. So we sat in a little pub and talked and drank Butterbeers. The ones on the necklace are from the first couple months."

            Sentimental value. "The first day Ron, Hermione, and Ginny joined you and me with the tutoring thing, how come you made us all lie down? You didn't make me do that the week before when I was meditating."

            "I sensed a lot of tension in the room that night. Especially from one of you in particular. I thought it would help loosen muscles."

            "Oh, you mean Hermione."

            "Actually, I meant you."

            "Me?"

            "Yeah."

            He blinked. Unexpected. But he had been worried that night about Hermione and Luna. "Why do you always act so . . . dazed and inattentive when there's other people around? Why do you want them to think you're crazy?"

            She blinked. "Battle strategy. Never underestimate an opponent. I'm teaching them a lesson. I may not get top marks but my O.W.L. scores will blow the rest of them out of the water. If somebody underestimates you, they usually don't realize their mistake until it's too late. Besides, I like being me. I don't have to be them. Just me."

            "What do you mean?"

            "I'm happy with who I am. I sing completely off key, but I'll sing louder than anybody. I'm not very good at dancing, but if music starts playing, just try to stop me. I don't care much about my appearance." She laughed. "I could walk through the school completely naked and never bat an eye about it once." She laughed again. "I'm me. That's all that matters to me. Being honest with myself. Not trying to be something I'm not. I don't fuss about the little things, like when the other kids at school take my things. They're childish. They're idiots. Honestly, who cares what an immature idiot thinks of you anyway?"

            "You've got a point there."

            "Where'd you get those Muggle clothes? They look nice on you." He shifted himself and leaned his back against the tree.

            "My father made me a reporter. I went undercover for a week over the summer as a Muggle. It was a lot of fun actually. To see how the other half lives. Those without magic. And to get their opinions on magic."

            Harry reeled through questions and she answered. Finally, they'd been talking for quite sometime. He asked, "What is your life goal?"

            "What?"

            "What do you want out of life? Some people want money, or fame." He already had both and wanted neither, he just wanted to survive. "What do you want?"

            "I want for nothing. I want to be content. To be happy. And I am, Harry. I am. I know who I am; I like and accept who I am. Anybody searching for more than that is wasting their time. They'll never be satisfied, Harry. Never." Her eyes looked a little wet. "Don't you understand it, Harry? That's the secret to life. The only secret there is! Be content. Be happy. Be yourself. What do you want out of life?"

            "So far? To survive it long enough to enjoy living it. But right now, everything you just said sounds pretty good." He laughed.

            She picked up one of his hands and started playing with his fingers. He didn't mind.

            "Okay, one last question. What are you think right now?"

            She didn't drop his hand, but she looked into his clear green eyes.

            He stared back down into her deep, blue-gray ones, almost lost in them. The eyes that haunted him since the summer before; she didn't blink.

            "Well, I'm thinking that today has been very educational. We know more about each other than we did this morning. I think I understand you a little better. I'm fairly sure you understand me better. I'm glad I came. I'm glad you're here. I'm remembering the last time we were. I wish I could kiss you."

            "Then why aren't you?"

            "Because, I've gotten the impression that you don't want me too." She smiled a little sadly.

            Harry had been wrestling indecision for some time now. Ever since Christmas time. No, before that even. But his mind was firmly made up now. No going back. This was it. Now or never.

            He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. She looked up at him again with her big beautiful eyes and he kissed her gently on the mouth. Her lips were delicious and he continued kissing her. Soft and smooth. Her mouth was so warm. Connected at the mouth to Harry, Luna had shifted until she was sitting next to him, rather than lying down on the grassas they continued to kiss.

            Suddenly, Luna ran her tongue against his lips softly, barely touching. Harry nearly shivered. He ran his tongue against her lips, brushing them lightly. She let her tongue pry open his mouth (not that it took much prying) and enter. He continued to kiss her sweet lips, with his arms around her. Harry wasn't sure how long they sat there, just consumed in that single, wonderful kiss. It could have been ten minutes; it could have been an eternity. Both of his arms rested tightly but comfortably around her. Naturally. Possessively. He never wanted to let her go. Never. Finally, and ever so slowly and reluctantly, their faces came apart (they needed more air) and they stared in each other's eyes. She put her head on his shoulder and gave a small sigh, placing her arms around him. It felt right. As if this was how they were supposed to be. Together.

            Harry heard a snicker and leaned down to whisper to her, not showing any sign of alarm in his face. If someone was there, he wanted to catch him or her, not scare him or her off. "Did you hear that?"

            She nodded against his chest.

            Harry looked around as much as he could without being to obvious.

            She whispered, "Does Dumbledore still have people following you?"

            "I don't . . ." he started. Then he grew very angry and pointed his wand at the direction the snicker had come from, still holding on to Luna with one arm. "Accio invisibility cloak!"

            An invisibility cloak suddenly appeared and flew to Harry's hand. Harry caught it and let his hand fall back to its place, still holding the wand and cloak. Fred was left looking highly embarrassed.

            "Hey, mate, what's happening?"

            "Shouldn't you be spying on your own brother?" Harry asked angrily. "He's on a date too." There he'd said it, now it was a date.

            "Nah, you're more interesting. You're my brother too, an honorary Weasley." He was trying to pass this all off lightly, as usual.

            Harry let go of Luna now and folded his arms across his chest. She had sat up straight now, sitting and watching the confrontation silently. "So Dumbledore decided it wasn't safe for me in Hogsmeade?"

            Fred shrugged. "Hogsmeade, Quiditch practice, you're almost never alone."

            "What? Does someone spy on me during my Legilimency lessons too and walk behind me between classes?"

            Fred glanced at Luna, who made no reply. "Actually, no. He thinks you're well-protected enough during your Legilimency lessons."

            Harry glared at Luna. "Did you know about this?"

            "No idea."

            "So you've just been standing there the whole time we were talking and kissing?"

            "Nothing I could do about it, mate. Hey, I'd let you have your privacy, but Dumbledore's right. You have to be kept safe."

            "What if I fall down the stairs and break my neck? What then?"

            "I'll be there to catch you," said Luna, in her usual dreamy voice.

            "Lose the act, Lovegood, I was actually paying attention some of the time."

            "I think we should send him packing," said Luna. "It's not nice to spy on people."

            "I think you're right, Luna," said Harry.

            Fred couldn't even get another word in. They immediately commenced with as many curses, jinxes, and hexes they could think of. Later, when they went back to Hogwarts, Harry said the password to Dumbledore's office and the stone gargoyle sprang aside. Harry and Luna went up the stairs, carrying Fred. They laid him down on the top steps and knocked on the door. Harry placed a note on top of Fred's chest and they walked away holding hands.

            Harry knew he'd write a note to Fred later, apologizing, but right now he didn't care. He was satisfied with the fact that Luna was now his girlfriend and he'd paid back Fred and Dumbledore for spying on him (Harry was sure it would take even Dumbledore a little while to undo everything). Harry smiled. No secrets now. He'd told Luna the Prophecy. He knew she'd never breath a word of it to a soul. Everything else he told her earlier had made him feel cleansed and lighter, but this topped it. He wasn't going to have to go through this completely alone. He could talk to her.

            This was officially his best Valentine's Day ever.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

hehe. I love this chapter! I don't think there's going to be a lot of kissy scenes like that. None of my fics will ever go above PG (I like to keep my life PG). If anybody doesn't like Harry/Luna, don't shoot me, I warned you in my profile about what ships I sail! What did you think? Next chapter soon. I think I'll talk about Ron and Ginny's Valentines Day.