Thanks again for the reviews. The things in this chapter happen in the same day. Edited.
Stepping through the portal and into the common room, Hermione sent furtive glances around the room and finally came to rest on the figure of Ron, who was reclining on the couch and staring moodily into the fire. Shaking her head at him, she marched over and let her heavy bag fall to the floor with a thud. She stood there, waiting, until she finally let out a huff of air and pushed Ron's legs off the couch and put her own feet up; she was much shorter than Ron.
She watched him for a few minutes, and when it became clear he wasn't going to start their conversation she poked his thigh with her foot. "Ron," she said softly. "Are you okay?" Ron shrugged half-heartedly and Hermione sighed. "I'll understand if you don't want to talk about it"
"He kicked me off the team Hermione." Ron said shortly, still gazing at the fire.
"No he didn't Ron." She told him. "I was talking to Ginny; he didn't kick you off. And if he did he'd have no reason to. You're a good Keeper." Ron looked at her for the first time. "All I wanted to do was have some style of my own, you know? But he was acting like such an ass..."
Hermione let out a little laugh. "Remember how all the other captains were Ron? The stress of managing a team could get to anyone, so I could understand why he would be so worked up about your performance."
"Yeah, but he got so pissed while we were eating this morning too." Hermione lowered her gaze to the fire and cleared her throat. "Yes, well, we deserved that." Ron looked taken aback. "What? Why, what did we do?"
"Well…we were mean to Luna, for one. We shouldn't have; she went to the Department of Mysteries with us. And…we were teasing him about her."
"So?!" Ron nearly yelled. "He just might…you know, have feelings for her." Hermione said quietly. Ron snorted and shifted on the couch.
"Why would Harry have feelings for Luna? I mean come on Hermione; he could have nearly any girl in the school!"
She angrily jabbed him in the thigh again. "Yes well, Ron. Maybe he isn't as shallow as some people." Her foot poked him again. "There's more to a girl than just a face, you-!" Ron had grabbed her foot to keep her from attacking him with it. "I know, Hermione. It's just…he's so bloody confusing."
She smiled sadly at him and they looked in each other's eyes for a few seconds longer than was normally permitted for friends. He looked away, blushing and silent. She did, however, notice that he didn't move his hand from her foot, and she didn't bother to stop him. She promised herself that she would dwell on why this made her so happy later when she was in bed; for the Fat Lady had just gave way to many loud students.
Hermione quickly moved her legs away to make room; Neville quickly filled the space, his eyes darting around nervously. "What's wrong?" She asked; Ron had gone back to watching the fire and wasn't paying them attention. Neville's eyes met hers and he began talking under his breath. "Bumped into Professor Snape…made him spill potions…" Hermione spent the rest of the night consoling Neville and reassuring him that Snape wouldn't try getting revenge on him while he was sleeping. The frightened teenager finally walked up the stairs and Ron followed him with a wave. "Goodnight, Ron." She said quietly as the tail end of his robed disappeared.
It must have passed midnight when she closed her eyes for a rest; she had just finished updating her 'to buy for' Christmas list. She heard the portrait opening, sleepily telling off whoever had just come in. She kept her eyes closed as footsteps paused by her couch, trying hard to keep the illusion that she was sleeping. The person carried on and she cautiously opened one eye, not surprised to see Harry's retreating back.
Standing in the freezing cold with splinters of wood in her hands and her wand between her teeth, Luna thought of how there was nothing else she would rather be doing. Or, actually, there might have been a couple things she would rather be doing, like celebrating the demise of Lord Voldemort. But of course, that wasn't happening right this instant, so she was content for the moment.
She took out a bottle from her robes and began pouring its contents into the wooden box she had just constructed. After this, she stood back and examined her handy work. All that was needed now was to hang it from a tree branch. Luna stood at the edge of the Forest, ankle deep in the snow that had fallen earlier this evening. She picked up a sturdy cord from the snow and tied it to the box; it would hold for the winter. A crunching in the snow alerted her of another presence; she removed her wand from her mouth and smiled at the newcomer. "Hello Harry. I've just finished, so you're just in time."
The boy smiled at her and picked up the wooden box. "Any branch is fine?" he asked, the cold giving his pale cheeks a bit of color. Luna nodded and said "Yes, but it doesn't need to be too high."
He nodded and after slinging the rope over his shoulder, began climbing the nearest tree. Luna watched his progress, holding back her urge to tell him not to fall seeing as how it wouldn't do much good if he actually did.
Harry shimmied across a branch at about three times the height of Luna and secured the rope to it. "Alright?" She called up to him.
"I'm fine," he told her as he moved cautiously backwards. When he was about halfway down, his foot slipped on a patch of moss and he lost his grip to fall on his back in the snow. She rushed over to him and grabbed his hands, helping him stand up. To her relief her let out a small laugh and looked back at the tree. "Y'know, that was a bit exhilarating." She started to laugh when his thumb brushed a spot on her hand that had a splinter in it. He noticed her wince and turned her hands over. "You have splinters in your hands," he said.
"Ah…A price I was willing to pay," she told him, watching his frown grow. "Fragmento," he murmured, and the splinters removed themselves from her skin and dropped into the snow. She beamed at him when he looked at her and he smiled back. She had the urge to close her fingers around his, but didn't want to feel the rejection when he would surely remove them. He let her hands go and started walking back towards Hogwarts, turning around to wait for her when she didn't follow.
She reached his side and they walked together, admiring the snow-covered grounds as it shone in the moonlight. After a few minutes of silence, he cleared his throat. "So, er-is your feeder really going to work?" Somewhat grateful for him starting a conversation, she nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes. Last year something-I think it might have been a pixie-left me a gift."
"That's nice," he said. "What was it?" She smiled fondly as she remembered. "A crown of winter rose blossoms. I've dried them; they're still in my trunk."
The rest of the walk was spent in silence, but she rather liked the comfort of it. She felt a bit disappointed when they reached the Entrance Hall and they turned around to face each other. "Thanks for helping me."
"No problem, I'd do it any time." He smiled before turning around and going in the opposite direction she needed to go in. She headed back to the Ravenclaw dorms, wishing they had got to spend a few more minutes together…
Well…I didn't really change anything in this one besides my ramblings. Good thing. I expect Harry and Luna's relationship would be a more easy and natural thing (well, duh, since any thing between Harry and Cho is doomed.). Harry and Cho had things in common, but she wasn't in the position to help him with dealing with Sirius' death. Plus, I always thought that she might have made Harry feel a bit uncomfortable, with his nervousness and all. They (harry and luna) just seem to be a bit more on the same page, that's all. Review and I will bake you a pie.