Chapter XV: Moonstruck

Luna picked the rose from the growing plant and smelled its fragrance. It had the mixture of the sweetness of a rose and the tangy aroma of blood. She was baffled of how a plant could exist and radiate perfection.

From the blood of her friend and something she could not understand, the rose symbolized their union. But what did that union mean?

After berating Harry one last time, Cho returned to the infirmary leaving them alone in the quiet common room with only the sound of a heartbeat pulsing throughout the room. She could hear it quite clearly for it was her heart that was beating that loud.

Why wouldn't her heart stop pounding? It wasn't like that a while before. And why was she having immoral thoughts about her and Harry? It was like being that close to him had an effect on her.

True, he had changed. And from what she saw, he changed for the better. Aside from physical attributes, she could see his personality change. Though still with faults, she liked him just the same.

Devoted, kind, considerate, impatient, madcap, impulsive, loving, dedicated, vengeful, remorseful... few words that could describe Harry Potter and somehow, it all appealed to her.

"Why?" she asked looking at the flower. "Why are you sad? Beauty and perfection but also lonely and sad. Your thorns prick but you radiate endless sorrow. The sweetness of your scent is tainted by the bitterness of blood.

"You do not wish to be beautiful. What is beauty when one is alone?" Luna sighed as she looked at the plant growing out of the table. She made a mental note to procure a flowering pot from the botany wing. Something as rare as the flower should be nurtured.

"Talking to plants now, Luna?" Harry asked as he sat on the couch facing the fireplace. It was almost noon and the fire had been doused that morning.

Luna frowned. The more things change, the more they stayed the same as one said. And Harry was as dense as ever. He really did not understand metaphors very well. That much did not change.

He would take a lot of work.

"Plants have souls, Harry," Luna said as she walked towards him. "Or rather they have spirits." Harry looked at her confused as where their conversation was headed. "They can sense people's feelings and mirror it with their own."

"I don't believe it," Harry said quietly as he smiled at her.

"The Whomping Willow was angry when you hit it with Mr. Weasley's car," Luna argued. "And the Mandrake shrieked in pain when being pulled out of the ground."

"Magic made them alive," he said.

"Nature made them alive, Harry. They are magical creatures just like you and me. Magic makes them express their feelings to us. As of this rose," she sniffed the flowed and smiled sadly. "This rose carries the sorrow of one being and the beauty of another." Harry knew that what Luna was talking about had sense the problem was it would take him awhile to figure it out.

For a few long moments, silence was their language. Neither wanted to say what they wanted to each other. Neither had the courage to lose each other again.

"To found what had lost yet was too far too reach," Luna finally sighed. "Why did you leave, Harry?"

"I had to," he said sullenly. "I was a danger to others and myself. And what happened earlier was proof of that."

"I will not remind you or berate you, Harry. You're doing fine all by yourself," Luna said with a sad smile. "You will not forget if you keep reminding yourself of your incompetence."

Harry was shocked to hear her speak like that. She was always giving him encouragement but now... He was looking at a side she rarely shows.

He looked at her with a confused frown but her gaze was calm.

It scared him to see her like that. This was the only other person other than Jäger that frightens him. But Harry feared Luna for a completely different reason.

He was afraid that she would leave him.

"And if you say that it's all your fault one more time, I'll borrow Jäger's gun and finish what he started earlier," Luna had a look of defiance that told him he would really do it. And Harry could only do one thing.

He laughed.

Luna frowned as she crossed her arms in the indignation she was feeling.

"You doubt me?" she asked as Harry held his stomach.

"No," he tried to stifle the laugh but he failed. It took him a few moments to really get it out of his system but he did.

"I have every confidence that you would carry out your threat," he said as he breathed.

"The why are you laughing?" she asked.

"The total idiocy of the thing," he said. "Instead of kind words or a set down, you threatened me. I never knew you had it with you."

"You've been gone a long time, Harry," Luna said sullenly. "A lot had happened."

"I could see that," he smiled. "It's a full moon tonight."

"Are you saying that I am a lunatic?" she asked in jest making Harry laugh.

"Maybe," he said. "But we can argue about it tonight at Hogsmeade. Dinner?"

"But I have nothing to wear," Luna smiled as Harry took her hand and kissed it.

"We'll think of something," he promised.

...

Hermione stirred as the light of the moon caressed her face. As she opened her eyes, she saw a silhouette of an angel with its wings covering her as if protecting her from harm. Smiling, she stirred only to be awakened by a comforting voice.

"The night is young, My Lady. There are experiences to be... experienced."

"Not that good with words are you?" she asked as she opened her eyes. What she had thought as an angel was hardly one at all. Although with the candlelight, his face looked serene.

"Alas, my poetry days are over," he sighed. Hermione giggled as she sat up.

"You were a poet before you were a hunter?" she asked with a smile.

"I was a poet before I was anything," he said quietly. "Before the deaths. Before the hunt."

"I'm sorry," she said as she looked away. "It must have been hard all those years."

"It was and still is. This conversation is depressing. Care to change the subject?" smiling, Hermione agreed.

"So, where's Luna, or shouldn't I asked," Jäger laughed as she said her question. It was almost musical and she couldn't believe he was capable of laughing like that. But deep inside, she knew he could.

"Apparently, Lady Lovegood had dinner arrangements with Mister Potter," he said in a tone that was less that compliant.

"You opposed to this?" she asked curiously.

"Quite," he said but nothing more.

"Then why did you let them go?" she asked teasingly.

"The lady... bribed me into it," he said shyly.

"I never thought that you would accept bribes," she smiled.

"This one's different," he said. As he lifted a hand, she saw the most beautiful rose she had ever seen. A combination of black and red mirrored the depth of her soul.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. Jäger smirked as he looked at the rose.

"Not quite," in two steps he was already beside her. Gently, he placed the rose behind her left ear and tucked it within her hair. "Now it's beautiful."

Hermione flushed. He was so near that she swore she could hear his heart beat at the same rhythm as hers.

"Thank you," she managed to say. His face was so close that she could feel his breath tickling her. She was certain he was about to kiss her. Those lips were so inviting that she was tempted to sample them.

But she steeled herself. It was too soon. She was not ready to feel the touch of a man and not from this man for that matter. She inched back until she was lying down again but that did not help matters. He looked so seductive looking at her in sweetness.

Brushing her hair from her forehead, Jäger then leaned and kissed it gently. Stiffening, Hermione looked at him in wonder.

His kiss, even though affectionate, shocked her. She hadn't realized that a kiss could affect her so. It was like a current of electricity coursed through her body and when he stood, the heat from his touch lingered making her blush.

"You must be hungry," he said as he walked towards the end of the bed. "May I have the pleasure in inviting you to dinner? The night is young and beautiful to be spoiled indoors."

"Of course," she smiled. "But I have nothing to wear. I must get back to my flat in London..."

"I anticipated such an occasion," he said. "In Cho's office is a change of clothing. You'll find that it'll suit you well."

"Then I accept," Hermione sat up and jumped out from the bed. "Let me have a moment to get ready."

"We have all the time in the world," Jäger smiled and bowed. Giggling, Hermione returned in a curtsy and they both found themselves in good mirth. "Call me and I shall be there." With that he left the infirmary.

Hermione sighed as she shook her head. She must be insane in agreeing to this dinner. The man was dangerous.

And her heart was at the most danger.

With a sigh, she walked towards Cho's office to change.

...

Jäger leaned on the Infirmary's door waiting for Hermione's summons. He couldn't believe he kissed her. Albeit it was only on the forehead, he couldn't control himself.

Hermione was one dangerous woman.

And he was in danger of falling for her.

"That was not a good move," a ghostly voice berated making Jäger sigh. "She's engaged."

"To that vegetable?" he frowned. "He won't even notice."

"That 'vegetable' happens to be my..."

"Do not remind me," he growled. "And I don't think you're that comfortable with the two lovebirds in Hogsmeade." The specter sighed and floated towards him.

"Touche," she said. "I want them to be happy. But you know what I mean. Hermione's heart is..."

"As fragile as the finest crystal," he finished for her. "I sensed that. Is there something you're not telling me?" but the ghost was silent. "You've known her since your eleventh year. What happened?"

"I do not want to discuss it," she said sullenly. "It's too painful. Even for me to relive."

"I'm sorry," he said serenely. "And besides, it's only dinner."

"The last formal dinner I had, I had gotten engaged to my beloved," the ghost smiled.

Jäger looked at the ghost with ire. But then, he sighed and looked at the ceiling.

"You really know how to make a guy conscious," he said.

"All part of being a woman," the ghost said and kissed his before she disappeared.

All Jäger could do was ponder on when women had gotten complicated.

But he knew the answer in an instant.

They were always complicated.

And men are dense. To that fact, he conceded.