Disclaimer: The characters and their world are the property of J.K. Rowling, various publishers and Warner Bros. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: My special thanks to aliceravenclaw and John Adams for all her help in beta reading this story and keeping me on character with Harry and the gang. Also for their many suggestions that made this story better than it would have been..

CHAPTER 2: A SUMMER OF ENCHANTMENT

Harry felt a slight bump and opened his eyes to find himself in the middle of a wide, green meadow. A great expanse of wild grasses and colorful wild flowers that extended out to where it met a line of enormous trees. Where the meadow ended a great dark forest of ancient Oak trees began.

"Luna, it's beautiful. But where's your house?"

"Well turn around, silly."

Harry turned around and saw the strangest house he had ever seen, or ever would see. It looked, more than anything, like a very large mushroom. The house was two stories high and was topped with a large rounded thatch roof. It was built of stone, with heavy oak beams and large leaden glass windows. It looked very, very old; as different from modern houses as day was from night. Somehow, however, the old house looked rather warm and inviting.

Immediately in front was a large flower garden; but like the house itself, it too was rather strange. All the houses of Privet Drive had straight, uniform flower beds, neatly separated by fences and hedges. But here there were no fences, no hedges or boundaries of any kind separating the garden from the meadow. The colorful masses of garden flowers just seemed to merge into the grasses and wild flowers of the meadow.

"Are you ready, Harry?"

"Absolutely."

As he reached down to pick up the handle of the trunk Luna pulled out her wand and called "Wingardium Levosa," and the trunk rose gently into the air.

"You can't use magic, Luna, you'll get yourself in trouble," Harry declared frantically.

"It's alright, Harry," Luna said with a smile. "The magic that protects this forest blocks the Ministry from knowing anything. I've been using my wand since I was nine."

"I didn't think you could get your wand until you were eleven."

"Well normally that's true, but Mr. Ollivander and my father are friends, so I was able to get mine a little early."

"I see," Harry said with a grin. "It's nice to have friends in high places."

As they walked up the path leading to the front door, the trunk and Hedwig's cage floating behind, Harry noticed a doe and her fawn peacefully nibbling on some Delphiniums. The doe raised her head in brief acknowledgement of their presence, and then returned to her breakfast. Harry was amazed at just how unafraid they were, but then he noticed that Luna was frowning.

"I just never seem to plant enough Delphiniums. The deer love them so much, and I don't want them to do without."

Harry smiled to himself, that was just so Luna.

The front door magically opened as they approached, and Harry followed Luna into the house. The entryway had polished plank flooring and leaded glass windows that allowed the morning sunlight to flood into the room. Harry looked around the room and then glanced up the stairs that faced him, and was shocked to see a pair of large shining eyes staring back at him. Suddenly a dark form bounded down the stairs in two leaps and Harry saw in horror that it was an enormous black wolf. He was just reaching for his wand when Luna dropped to her knees and called out: "Grimmy, come here girl!" The great wolf bounded forward, lay down in front of the young girl, and rolled over on its back. Luna sat on the floor and scratched the wolf's stomach while it wagged its tail like a puppy.

Looking up at Harry, Luna frowned when she saw the look of fear on his face. Reaching up she grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him down to his knees.

"This is Grimmy. She won't hurt you. She's my baby." Then addressing the enormous wolf she said, "You are my little one, aren't you?" In response the wolf wagged her tail even faster.

Luna soon had Harry scratching the wolf's stomach, and a friendship was made. Harry was never allowed a pet as a child, and now realized what he had missed.

As Luna took Harry up to his room he asked her how she had even gotten a wolf as a pet.

"When I was little, Daddy and Mum took a vacation to Sweden. We found her there. Her family had been killed by hunters. We couldn't leave her to die, she was just a baby. So she became mine."

It all made perfect sense, if you were Luna.

Like the rest of the house, Harry's bedroom had an old-fashioned beauty to it; with polished oak paneling, a large four-poster bed, and a warm fire burning in the fireplace. As Luna left him to get settled she told him that her room was next door, and that she would leave her door ajar in case he had any more nightmares. He looked around the cheerful room, and then out the window at the meadow below. It extended like a peaceful sea to the distant land, which was the dark green forest. He thought to himself, 'I think I'm going to be very happy here.'

After an early lunch, Luna showed Harry around the house, and at the end of the tour Harry concluded that Luna's ancestors must have been very interesting witches and wizards in their own right. Her great uncle, Cornelius Shaw, was fascinated with all aspects of astronomy, and had a fully equipped observatory built in the attic under a retractable thatched roof. The laboratory in the cellar, which had belonged to Luna's mother, was complete enough to even make Professor Snape green with envy. And the library of her great grandmother, Elspeth Shaw, surpassed even Hogwarts in its collection of books on ancient magic.

"Hermione would give her right arm to get into this library," Harry remarked in awe.

"Oh, I don't think she should do that," Luna said dreamily, "she might need it."

Harry gave his friend a knowing look followed by a wide grin. "Come on Luna, don't give me that. I know you too well now." Harry had come to realize that Luna's dreamy exterior was really just a mask to cover a very acute mind.

At first Luna frowned at him slightly, but then she smiled shyly and shrugged her shoulders.

It was clear that this family had a passionate love of nature. The paintings on the walls were all meadow and woodland scenes, and were striking in their beauty. Harry was surprised when Luna told him that she had painted several of them herself, and that painting had always been a hobby of hers. In the weeks that followed, Harry would watch her as she painted, and he never tired of it. He would sit in the soft grass of the meadow, or on a rock by the fast flowing stream, and watch Luna create her own unique magic with paint and brushes. Her paintings brought him a unique perspective on nature that he never had before. Luna endowed each of her works with the intense love she felt for her home and nature in general; and Harry could feel it.

That night Luna cooked roast beef and oven browned potatoes for dinner, which the two ate in the living room in front of the fireplace. Harry was amazed at what an excellent cook the young girl was. She explained that after her mother's death she had taken over all the cooking and housekeeping responsibilities. "It was either that or starve," she said jokingly, as she cleared away the dishes.

Over the fireplace was the portrait of a beautiful young woman in flowing white robes. Harry got up from where he sat and looked up at the woman, who smiled down at him. She had beautiful silver eyes and long sandy-blond hair. He saw courage and kindness in her face, but the thing that made her so beautiful was her smile; a smile which her daughter had inherited.

"That was my Mother, Harry." Luna whispered.

"She was very beautiful." Harry declared. "You look very much like her."

Luna blushed sweetly and Harry found himself wondering if Luna wasn't even more beautiful than her Mother.

They settled down in front of the fire and talked long into the night. Harry found it easy to talk to Luna, as if they had known each other all their lives. And when he went to sleep it was with a sense of peace he had never known on Privet Drive, or even at Hogwarts.

- o -

The next morning Harry awoke to the smell of bacon cooking. He went downstairs to find Luna tunelessly humming as she worked at the stove. He packed away a rather large breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs and toast. Luna appeared immensely pleased at this testament to her culinary abilities.

After breakfast Luna suggested a walk in the forest. As they strolled along the tree shaded paths Harry slipped his hand into hers. She smiled up at him shyly and Harry's stomach did a series of flip flops. He smiled back at her as she led him deeper into the wondrous green realm.

He was more than a little surprised by the number and variety of the animals that he saw, and by the fact that they showed no fear of humans. He was certain that Harmonie had told him that some of these species were extinct, but here they were. When he asked Luna why the animals showed no fear she told him that it was an enchanted forest, the animals had no fear of humans because they had never been harmed by them. When he asked her exactly what she meant by "enchanted," she said mysteriously that this forest was under the protection of a guardian. Harry still didn't really understand, but let the matter drop.

When the day grew warm they stopped by a crystal clear pool at the foot of a small waterfall. The water looked cool and refreshing. Luna suggested that a swim might be nice, and she promptly transfigured them a couple of swimsuits.

"I didn't realize you were so good at transfiguration," Harry said, quite impressed. "This isn't going to disappear as soon as I get in the water, is it?" He asked warily, holding up his suit.

Holding up her own suit, Luna giggled, "I don't think so, but I'm taking the same chance you are."

"Where do we change?'

"Those are your bushes," she said, pointing at a large Holly bush, "and those are mine," she jerked a thumb behind her.

Harry was rather surprised when she emerged from behind the bushes; Luna really looked quite fetching in the simple one-piece, blue suit that she had made for herself.

After a refreshing swim, during which their suits did not disappear, they lay on a small sandy beach and enjoyed the warm summer sun.

"I used to come here often when I was younger, but I never had anyone to share it with. It's nice to share it with you Harry."

"Didn't you have any friends you could share with?"

"No…after my mother died they just stopped coming," she said with a trace of regret. "I guess they just didn't know what to say, and their parents thought that we were a little odd anyway."

Harry suddenly realized what a lonely child Luna must have been, and his heart ached for his friend. "Well I don't think you're odd; I think you're wonderful." And he leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

She turned, looked at him and smiled shyly.

Harry seemed to loose himself in her deep silver eyes and mumbled, quite unintentionally, "You're so beautiful." Then he blushed at his own words.

Luna blushed sweetly and whispered, "So are you, Harry." She slipped her hand into his and he felt a rush of happiness just lying next to her.

They spent the rest of the day lying on the little beach by the pool; enjoying the warm sun and the peace of the forest. And as they walked back to the house later that evening, Harry sensed that something had changed in their relationship. He had never really been comfortable with girls before, his relationship with Cho Chang was a nightmare that he still remembered. His experience at the Yule Ball had also been less than positive. But with Luna it seemed different; with her it felt so easy and natural. He didn't fully understand his feelings yet, but he realized that she had become quite important to him in a very short time.

That evening, after dinner, Luna took him out to a hill near her house. They lay on the soft grass under an old apple tree and watched the sunset beyond Ottery St. Catchpole. Harry's life had always been too busy to simply watch clouds float by, but now Luna insisted he do just that. It took a little while for Harry to start using his imagination, but soon he was pointing out clouds that looked like dragons, and sailing ships, and all manner of things. He was surprised at how good he felt, watching the pink and crimson clouds slowly turn to shades of lavender and grey, and drift across the sky. Luna was sharing one of her treasures with him, and he knew it. As they walked back to the house, in the gathering darkness, Harry put his arm around Luna's back and pulled her closer. She put her arm around his waist and laid her head against his shoulder. He heaved a sigh, if only this could last a little longer.

In the days that followed they took many long walks, talking about things so personal that they never imagined telling them to another soul. There was something magical about this forest that encouraged such confidences; and by this time Harry and Luna had developed an absolute trust in one another.

She told him how lonely she had been as a child, without the friendship of other children. When her mother died her father had immersed himself in work, not realizing the grief she was going through. Other children in the neighborhood already considered her odd, and stopped coming to see her completely. Her only friend and confidant during those difficult years was Grimmy. She had hoped that school would be better, but once again she found herself an outcast. The members of her own house shunned and ridiculed her. She would never allow them to know how much it hurt her, but it did. Harry held her in his arms as she spoke, and silently resolved that no one would ever hurt Luna again.

He in turn told her what it was like to grow up in a family without love, where he was subjected to constant abuse and torment. He told her how he was locked up in a cabinet beneath the stairs for the first eleven years of his life. How he was not allowed to have friends, because his relatives told people lies that poisoned their minds against him. And as he spoke, silver tears poured down Luna's cheeks, and she hugged him tightly.

Near the end of his second week at "The Meadows," for that is what Luna called her home, Harry decided that there was one last secret that he needed to tell her about, his most terrible secret and the one that caused him the greatest anguish.

"There's something else, something I haven't told anyone about, but I want to tell you. You know the prophecy about me that was destroyed at the Ministry? Well Professor Dumbledore knew what it contained; he was there when it was first made. It said that I have to kill Voldemort or he has to kill me, we can't both live. I either have to be murderer or victim; and the whole wizarding world hangs in the balance. How can I do this, Luna?" He asked imploringly, as tears threatened.

"You can do it, Harry, I know you can. You're stronger and braver than anyone I know; and I feel so much safer knowing that our destiny is in your hands." And then, with a faraway look in her eyes she added, "And when that time comes, we'll face him together."

"No! I don't want you to be there, Luna. If he kills me, he'll kill you too."

"If he kills you everything will be lost anyway, and I would want to die fighting at your side. If we die, then we'll go through the veil together. You can meet my mother and I can meet your parents." Then in a very serious tone she added, "I'll never let you be alone again, Harry."

Her courage, lack of fear, and her trust in him gave him the strength and resolve he needed. 'How can she understand me so well?' He wondered. His real fear had always been loneliness. But then, he thought, if anyone could truly understand loneliness it was Luna.

That night, watching the sunset from their special place under the apple tree, Harry thought about how much his life had changed since he had come to stay with Luna. She had helped him over- come his fears and anxieties, and had brought him a peace he had never known. In the days that followed, as he learned more and more about her, she became more than a friend to him; and by the end of summer he couldn't imagine his life without her.

Harry would long remember that evening in the forest. He lay next to Luna in the soft grass, holding her hand, and watched the last rays of daylight disappear into inky darkness. All the sufferings of his life, his troubled past and uncertain future, faded away in this moment of complete bliss. His soul was finally at peace. He looked over at Luna, as she peacefully looked at the stars, and he understood for the first time what love really was, and how his Father must have felt about his Mother. He leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek. She looked over at him and smiled, then moved closer and laid her head on his chest.

- o -

About a week later Luna's father came home. Harry and Luna were in the kitchen happily preparing supper when they heard the front door open. A moment later a smiling, grey haired man came into the kitchen.

"I thought I smelled supper cooking, my timing couldn't have been more perfect."

"Dad!" Luna squealed, and ran into his arms. Harry could see her holding him tightly, and he was holding her just as tightly, kissing the top of her head. He could see real love between father and daughter; in one respect at least, Luna was a very lucky girl.

Still holding his daughter, Edward Lovegood reached out one hand to Harry. "Harry Potter, I presume? It's very nice to finally meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Lovegood."

"I hope you haven't found the country life too boring after the city. I myself grew up at Diagon Alley, and I know the quiet takes a little getting used to."

"It's been wonderful; I've never enjoyed anyplace so much."

Luna and her father seemed particularly delighted by Harry's remark. Turning to her father she asked "Well…did you find them?" Luna's ability to change subjects on the spur of a moment never ceased to amaze Harry, but her father seemed quite used to it.

"If you'll both step outside I might have something interesting to show you."

There on the front porch were eight large wooden crates. Mr. Lovegood opened the front of one and gently pulled out a small brown and white creature that resembled a rather plump rabbit with a crumpled horn in the center of its forehead. He handed it to Luna and she cradled it in her arms, gently stroking its fur. Harry thought about how very sweet she looked holding the Snorkack. Harry was delighted that Mr. Lovegood had found the Snorkacks; now perhaps people would understand that there was nothing odd about Luna or her father.

After a good supper, and a quick magical cleanup, the three went into the living room and settled in comfortable chairs in front of the fireplace. As Edward Lovegood related the story of his search for the Snorkacks, which must have been quite demanding at times, Harry could see Luna's eyes shining with excitement. Her excitement became his excitement, and he wished someday he might go on such an expedition.

"You were right about the Lainioalvan River, Pumpkin. That's where I found them, about 90 kilometers north of Lainio."

Then, turning to Harry, he said. "She has a natural instinct for such things. I thought we would find them further south, but she always thought they would be in that wild country up by the Finnish border."

"So the next issue of the Quibbler will announce that you've found the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"

Luna and her Father exchanged glances and Luna nodded her head slightly. "No, Harry, the next issue of the Quibbler will report that after an extensive search, no evidence of the Crumple- Horned Snorkack could be found."

"But why?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused.

"If their existence was known, every magical zoo in the world would want them. The few remaining Snorkacks would be put on display, and in a few years they would indeed be extinct. By settling four of them here, and four in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts, we give the population a chance to recover. Once that happens we can reintroduce them into the wild and they will have a chance to survive on their own."

"But why publicize your search for them?"

"We publicize the search for rare animals so our subscribers can help us with tips and sightings. And sometimes we are lucky enough to find them. They are brought here until their numbers recover. Not everything is as it appears, Harry, not even the Quibbler."

"Speaking of which, there's something else I want you to know about the Quibbler and myself," he continued, taking Luna's hand. "I'm a member of the Order, Harry; I have been since the first war against Voldemort." He took a deep breath and continued. "We use the Quibbler, and its contacts, to gather and disperse information on Voldemort and his activities. Most people don't take us seriously, but there's a great deal of important information buried in our pages if you look carefully. Only Professor Dumbledore and a few Order members know this; if Voldemort ever found out, my life, and possibly Luna's, would most certainly be forfeit."

"Does Professor Dumbledore know you are telling me this?"

"Yes, Harry; he does. I had a long talk with him the night Luna went to get you. He realizes that this fight is as much yours as it is ours, and he believes that he was wrong in keeping so much from you. He knows that you are almost an adult, and need to be treated as one. I think from now on you'll notice a major change in his treatment of you."

Later that night Luna led Harry out onto the front porch. They sat in an old porch swing and watched the stars in the clear night sky overhead.

"I also have a confession, Harry," she began shyly. "At school I'm not exactly what I seem."

"So I've noticed. But why do you act so…"

"Loony?" Luna finished.

"NO! I would never say that!" Harry answered fiercely. "But why do you act so differently."

"I am different, Harry. I've always been different; it's part of who I am." Luna said softly. "There's nothing wrong with being different, the important thing is to be true to yourself. At school I sometimes play up that difference. Not all supporters of Voldemort come from Slytherin House. There are people in Ravenclaw House who think they're better and more worthy than everyone else; they believe that Voldemort would share power with them once he took control. Nobody pays any attention to me; they simply think I'm crazy, and just disregard me. Sometimes I'm able to hear things that I can pass on to my Father, and he can pass to the Order."

"But it must be so lonely and isolating."

"It is rather lonely, sometimes" Luna answered sadly, "but if I can help defeat him it will be worth it."

Harry marveled at how brave she was, fighting her part of the war all alone. Who was this courageous girl, Harry wondered, and why had he never noticed how special she was. He wondered about how differently his life might have turned out if he had met her in his second year, instead of his fifth. But it wasn't too late, he was sure of it.

As she got up to go into the house, Harry reached out and took hold of her hand. She turned and looked at him questioning. Gently he pulled her into his arms, and cupping her face with his hands, and whispered, "I love you, Luna Lovegood." Her eyes widened in surprise as he gently raised her face and leaned in towards her. A second later his lips met hers, and a wave of pure electricity flowed through his body.

Luna immediately returned the kiss, leaning in closer to him and wrapping her arms around his back. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his untidy hair and deepened the kiss. Harry's hands moved to the sides of her neck, his thumbs stroking her jawbone. The kiss drew to a slow, passionate close. It lasted only a few seconds, but it was deep and achingly sweet. They stared at each other with a shared sense of wonder, and then, smiling slightly, leaned in to kiss again. Her lips were soft and sweet, and tasted like cinnamon. Harry thought that he would love to spend the rest of his life simply kissing Luna Lovegood. But once again the kiss came to a close, and once again they separated.

Green eyes locked with silver ones. Words weren't necessary. Luna laid her head on Harry's chest and he closed his eyes and held her tightly. He thought to himself how perfect this moment was and how he never wanted to let her go.

Later, as he walked Luna to her bedroom door, he thought how fortunate he was to have found her. He gently kissed her good night and told her again how much he loved her.

- o -

The next day Luna said she had something very special she wanted to show him. Harry could see she was somewhat apprehensive about it, but nevertheless took his hand and led him out the door. As they walked out towards the forest Harry noticed angry storm clouds gathering overhead, and heard a distant rumble of thunder.

"Maybe we should make it tomorrow; it looks like there's a storm brewing." Harry suggested tentatively.

"I know, that will make it perfect," Luna declared in delight.

She drew him deeper and deeper into the forest as the storm gathered overhead. As they crested a low rise Harry found himself looking down into a shallow valley, crowded with fern and wild roses. The winding trail, now flanked by a sparkling brook, crossed the valley floor and led towards a low bluff. As the trail began to rise Harry heard the low rumble of thunder and felt the first raindrops, and he began to worry about getting soaked. It was at that moment that he saw the dark entrance to a cave directly in front of him. It was really quite pretty; the brook disappeared into the cave entrance, which was flanked by colorful red and pink wild roses.

Taking his hand, and giving him a mysterious smile, Luna led him through the wide entrance and into the cave. Almost immediately Harry could sense something remarkable, a strange presence the like of which he had never felt before. It was not the least bit frightening, but felt somehow gentle and benevolent. It was truly a magical feeling. And why not, for if ever a place was magical, it was this cave. The interior walls were a blend of white and rose quartz, the floor a thick carpet of soft green moss, and the only sound was the gentle babbling of the brook as it flowed out from the depths of the cave.

"What is this place?" Harry asked in complete awe.

"It's called the 'Rain Cave,' Harry. A thousand years ago it was the home of the family of wood nymphs that protected this forest, and it still holds some of their magic. When I was a little girl my mother brought me here on rainy days to feel the magic, and to understand my place." Then, after a long pause, she added, "I was born here Harry, just as my mother and grandmother were born here; just as my children must be born here. The magic of this cave and this forest is a part of us; it's our strength and our legacy, our past and our future. It's who I am, Harry, it's what I am." Luna said these last words in a whisper, her eyes imploring him to understand.

Harry realized Luna was telling him something intensely personal, part of what made her special and unique. It seemed to touch on Luna's heart, perhaps on her very soul. He didn't really understand it, but somehow it made him love her all the more. He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her close. She snuggled into his chest and whispered "I love you so much, Harry."

And then it started. The cave walls around them began to sparkle. "It's starting!" Luna exclaimed. "Sit down Harry." As they settled themselves on the soft moss of the cave floor, Harry could see that it was now raining quite hard outside. He could also feel something, and strangely, it felt like…love. The walls were now sparkling brightly and the entrance was covered by a cascading sheet of falling water. The cave itself was warm and comforting, and seemed to be almost alive. And then he heard it. From the walls around him seemed to emanate the soft sound of murmuring voices. He didn't understand what they were saying, but they brought him a sense of peace and incredible joy. He looked at Luna lovingly; he knew she was sharing something very precious with him.

They spent all afternoon in the cave; lying on the moss, watching the rain, and listening to the voices. That evening, as they walked back to the house hand in hand, neither of them spoke; they no longer needed words.