-1Flowers

They say that flowers can speak for you with their own special language. When I was younger I always thought that that saying literally meant that flowers could speak vocally. For a while, I would always just stare at flowers waiting for them to speak to me in a language only I would understand. It wasn't until Dad found me talking to flowers did he have to explain to me what that saying actually meant. This was when our little flower messages came to be. Before I went to Hogwarts, Dad would give me a flower as a sort of secret message depending on their meaning in the language of flowers. If he had to leave me for a few days during the Summer, he would give her a purple hyacinth, the 'I'm sorry' flower. I never really liked seeing that flower in my room because I then knew that something was cancelled. When Mom died, I couldn't bear seeing those purple hyacinth. I still feel a pang of sadness whenever I see one. One day when I came down with the flu that lasted for weeks, Daddy would leave a flower by my bed. The flower he left was usually a yarrow, quite a strange name, the flower of healing and health. Yet the chances of using flowers as a secret message began to fade once I started Hogwarts. I guess I should have seen it coming. I wouldn't be able to see him every day. But every time I wake up in the Ravenclaw Dormitory, I always check if there is a flower for me. Maybe that's one of the reasons why some of my dorm mates call me 'Loony Lovegood'. I usually search through my drawers, trunks, anything that is my territory in search of a flower. Some of the girls simply ignored it, which I found it quite fine. But then there were the other girls who simply looked at me as if I were some deranged monkey.

One day in my 6th year, I was surprised to see an azalea1 greeting me. I hadn't expected to see flowers by my bedside during those dark times. Harry, Ronald, and Hermione had not returned to Hogwarts. I didn't know why, nor did Neville. Ginny knew though, and it wasn't until we had asked where they were did she tell us. I didn't want to say anything, but it sure did hurt me to know that Neville nr I was informed. I felt rather abandoned. I suppose it happens though. I just hope it won't happen again. When Ginny told us, Neville got rather pale. I, on the other hand, was completely calm. Though I did care greatly for Harry, I would not act as dramatic or weepy as Ginny made it appear. Oh you didn't know that I cared greatly for Harry Potter? Well, not many do. I first started to like Ronald, but it wasn't until I realized he liked Hermione did I start to like Harry. Actually, I started to like Harry around my 4th year near Christmas. It was during the last DA meetings before Christmas. I didn't realize that I liked him until we were under the mistletoe. Too bad he didn't kiss me, it would have been nice. When he jumped out of the mistletoe, I simply started to talk about nargles in order to hide my disappointment in my heart. As time went on I tried my best to be platonic but I guess I did drop a few hints. Well, maybe I didn't but I believe I did. When he had asked me to go to Slughorn's Christmas Party in my 5th year, I was rather pleased.

Oh yes, the mysterious azalea. Well, as you can imagine I wrote to my Father in one of my questions asking, 'Did you happen to leave me an azalea by my bedside?' I wasn't surprised to find out that he didn't, though I began to wonder who. For a moment, I wondered whether or not I should think it could be Harry. Well, I suppose it could be somehow though I highly doubted it. Still, I had the azalea at my bedside. Then the next day, I was greeted by a blue salvia along with the azalea. Still I could not think of someone. Thus, I simply accepted the flowers and hoped this sender would reveal himself to me one day. I had no clue that I would have to wait two years to find our who the flowers were coming from. Two years! I never expected that! And for those two years, I received a flower each day. Sometimes I went on for days with the same flowers. Other times I was greeted by a bouquet. Either way, I had no idea how these flowers greeted me.

One time, I was given a variegated tulip2 which caused me to smile. Many people said that to me. Daddy always told me I was granted this beauty from Mom. Sometimes I saw a viscaria and would laugh. How could I dance with someone if I didn't know if there person was there or where they were? Sometimes there were irises, rose leafs, snowdrops, or pine when events in the paper were pretty bad. I wasn't surprised. Though I was at times surprised at seeing palm leaves instead of flowers once in a while3. As each passing day went, each flower brought a smile to me. I suppose it was something I was grateful for. Somehow, having those flowers caused me to smile more and feel as if someone cared about me. Not many in Hogwarts liked me very much. Most just didn't like me for being 'strange.' I guess they had never heard of the word unique.

The day after Harry had vanquished Voldemort for the final time, I wasn't surprised to see a nasturtium and palm leaves. Though I did see Harry during the summer for Harry's triumph occurred at the end of the school year, nothing of what I had hoped would occur. He didn't kiss me, nor did I find out who had given me flowers. Even when I moved into my own apartment, I was still greeted by a flower daily. To tell you the truth, I wasn't bothered by this. One day, when I told Ginny of the flowers still at my bedside in my apartment she got rather bothered.

"You still get them?" She asked as she sipped her coffee.

"Yes," I answered.

"Did you ever find out who gives them to you?"

"No."

"Did you ever try to find out?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any idea who might have sent these flowers?"

"Not a clue. I've checked with all but one."

"Who?"

"I won't say," I said rather calmly.

"Oh come on Luna. I promise I won't tell!"

"Oh fine," I said, "Harry Potter."

At this, Ginny's eyes grew wide, "Oh? Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. I just think he could have done so since whenever Harry had destroyed a horcrux, there was a palm leaf or a nasturtium."

"You could have thought it was Ron," Ginny answered back trying not to look rather bothered by my accusation. I suppose she still cared about Harry, though I thought she had a strange in showing it. She dated two boys during our sixth year and three in our seventh.

"Ginny, Ron obviously loves Hermione."

"Yea, but still…"

I simply smiled and sipped my tea. I didn't want Ginny to be angry about my flowers. She was one of the few people I talk to now that we've graduated Hogwarts. Although whenever we see Harry in Diagon Alley, I couldn't help but notice how Ginny tried to have Harry's attention solely on herself. I didn't mind. Yet the flower I was granted had no indication of Ginny at all. I suppose Harry began to notice how little of a chance he's been given to speak to me. Thus, when I got an owl from him asking me to meet him in Hogsmeade I was rather pleased.

I came into Hogsmeade on that sunny day with a sundress with jeans underneath. I don't remember what Harry was wearing, but I remember it was rather nice. It was sunny, and we were in the Three Broomsticks. We talked about anything that came to us. Ginny, what we were doing now, anything that popped into my head. Harry asked about The Quibbler, and I told him that my Dad was still editor and that it was doing well. Somehow, in the midst of our conversation, I told him of the flowers. Well he didn't seem surprise. I suppose he might have heard about them from Ginny.

"Did you like them?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who gave them to you?"

"No."

He didn't say anything about the flowers, though as days went by I saw more invitations to meet somewhere from Harry. Still, he would ask that question every single outing. 'Did you ever find out who gave them to you?' 'No,' would always be my response. I didn't understand why he tried to hide his smile when I answered. One day though, I understood. He came knocking on my apartment door one day. That day, I was not greeted by a flower by my bedside. I was rather sad at seeing that not a flower was in sight. When I answered the door, there was Harry Potter with a single red rose in his hand. Before I could even say anything, I felt his lips pressed upon mine. It was rather nice. A bit unusual, but quite nice. Mom was right. Kissing isn't so bad. Oh, you didn't know that Harry was the first boy to kiss me?

Once we pulled away, I couldn't but smile.

"Now do you know who sent you those flowers?"

"Yes Harry, I do."

Fin

1 Azaleas means 'take care of yourself for me' in this situation.

2 Variegated tulips means beautiful eyes.

3 Palm Leaves - victory and success. Harry would send Luna palm leaves whenever he won a battle, found and destroyed a horcrux.