Title: Quite Certain

Author: 2NiteItBeginz

Pairing: Harry/Luna

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, we would all rejoice, because Sirius wouldn't have died. Then again, maybe we wouldn't rejoice... look, the point is I'm not J. K. Rowling. OK?

Warnings: OotP spoilers, language, um... maybe more as the story progresses, I'll change the rating accordingly! There might be a bit of Hermione bashing, but I haven't decided how much left. Let me know what you think in a review!

Summary: Harry is quite certain Luna is a genius. Others would beg to say otherwise.

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"That bitch."

Almost everyone in the room's eyes widened (Luna merely raised an eyebrow) at Neville Longbottom's choice of words after they told him of Hermione's previous words. They had known he had gained confidence since the Department of Mysteries debacle, but they hadn't realized it had progressed this far.

"Nev," Harry began with a frown, "Maybe she had a po-"

"That's bullocks and you know it, Harry! She had no right to say that, and it isn't true besides! You can blame any number of people for what happened, and even if you couldn't, she had no reason to say any of those things to Luna! I can think of loads of people who're probably beating themselves up over it," Neville snapped uncharacteristically.

"Oh, really?" Harry challenged, "I've got me, Voldemort, me, Lestrange, and me! I don't know about you, but I doubt they're beating themselves up about it!" As he said the last in a strangled shout, he threw himself down on the couch the Room of Requirement provided for him.

"People who could blame themselves?" Ginny began, "Like, if we hadn't gotten separated from you guys, we would've stood more of a chance?"

"Or," Neville added, "If I hadn't been so stupid as to get my nose broken, I could've helped you fight."

"But that's not-" Harry tried to shift blame desperately.

"Or," Luna began quietly, but with a voice that demanded attention, "If I had been more capable, we could've bought more time for the Order of the Phoenix to arrive."

"But it wouldn't make any difference!" Harry burst out slightly hysterical, "He still would have come; he still would've died, and it would've still been my fault!"

"Ah," Ginny said knowingly, "Now we get to the point of the matter. Harry, do you blame, let's say...Tonks?"

"What? No, why would I?" Harry asked confused.

"If she'd been stronger, she'd have been able to beat Bellatrix, who then wouldn't have moved on to Sirius," Luna challenged, catching on to Ginny's point and playing Devil's Advocate.

"It's not the same-"

"How about Sirius himself?" Neville finally caught on, knowing he was stepping into dangerous territory, but also knowing Harry needed to hear this, "Harry, he was too cocky," he said, ignoring Harry's outraged look, "He stopped to gloat in the middle of a duel with one of You-Know-"

"Voldemort," Luna said reproachfully.

"All right, V-V-Voldemort's top Death Eaters."

"SO HE DESERVED WHAT HE GOT, DID HE!" Harry knew this was beginning to turn into another Dumbledore episode, so he made a visible effort to calm himself before he started throwing things again.

"Nonono," Ginny said hastily as she sensed the conversation taking a turn for the worst, "The point, Harry, is that yes, while some blame may be placed on your shoulders, (gently, of course, there's too much there already) you can't say it was your entire fault."

"Right," Luna asserted, "And if you start feeling that sorry for yourself again, I'll hex you myself."

"I've no doubt you would," said a suddenly mischievous Harry, "And in the face of such a formidable opponent, I may just run like a Slytherin, sod my Gryffindorishness."

Ginny was the first to start laughing, then Neville. Luna was laughing hard as she wrapped Harry in a hug, and whispered in his ear.

"I know you're still hurting, but I'll do anything I can to help. I'll even postpone the search for the Snorkacks. That's how much you mean to me."

"And that, my dear," Harry replied with a twinkle in his eye and his voice in a whisper as well as he pulled back, "Is what makes you a genius...Well, maybe not a genius, but something close to it."

And while she was trying to maintain the outraged look on her face without breaking into a grin, he leaned down, and kissed her.

As they slowly broke apart, Luna looked into his eyes with a serious look on her face.

"You have a very odd idea of what makes a person a genius, but I'm not complaining."

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A/N: Reviews were mixed, some people thought Herms was too bitchy, others thought she was just right; one person e-mailed me to say she wasn't bitchy enough! I don't really like this chapter, but I don't know why. What do you think? Is it too sappy? Is the story too angsty? Should I change the genre? It doesn't seem that humoristic now...suggestions? Now seems like a good place to end the story, but I'm asking you guys what you think. If the story does continue, what should the next chapter be about? Thanks SO much for the reviews, you guys people are awesome! Now, two things- a.) Giving an option- people who think Herms should be better, I could do an alternate version of the story starting after the second chapter. Next thing- b.) I have a story in the works which will be basically a parody of some of the stranger pairings in HP fanfiction. I already have a Honks story, and a Harry/Bellatrix chapter done. Note- Is there a term for Harry/Bellatrix? Anyway, the question is, would anyone be interested in this story? Please let me know in a review! Anybody have a better idea for the chapter title? I don't know if this one's up to par.