Posy In His Pocket
Picnics and Interviews
"Neville?" Luna asked softly, her eyes crusty from sleep and her voice raspy. She's still wearing a faded pink nightdress, through it is well past noon.
"I have marshmallow crumpets and lemon pie." Neville declares, brandishing his picnic basket. He grins at her momentarily dumbfounded expression.
"Oh... Well. Yes." She stops and looks at him, "I don't suppose you have ginger ale?" She queries not so casually, leaning against the door frame as she does.
Grinning once more, Neville nods proudly. Luna's face lights up and she reaches for the basket. Neville pulls it out of her grasp.
"Only if you come with me." Luna steps out of the front door, a small frown marking her face. "Er... Dressed would be nice." Neville blushes, and stares fixedly above Luna's head.
"Hmm... Very well." She turns and not so gently closes the door in Neville's face. He steps back as it nearly squashes his nose then ruefully smiles.
"So..." Neville begins, not wanting to say anything but feeling he has to. He hates this. "You. Harry. Um... what happened?" I don't think I could have mangled that any worse, he thinks almost hopefully, it will have to get better.
Her lips are pursed and her eyes don't mean his. "I... think that Harry," she pauses, in a breathless manner over his name. "Is still not ready." She sighs and munches on a crumpet.
Neville was proud of the crumpet. Food cures all. Luna sighs again. Or maybe not, he reconsiders. "I thought..."
"As did I. Maybe, he just doesn't see me as a romantic interest. Maybe, he just doesn't like, or love me in that way."
"I don't know. Harry doesn't have that much experience with girls. He liked Cho, but things were, well, difficult. You and Ginny came at a very bad time for him. It's not your fault but, with the way the War was going, he couldn't see how you could be safe and in love. With Harry Potter at least. Harry being who he is, he just can't be normal like the rest of us. He's famous. I don't think I could handle being him."
"Yes," Luna's head is bowed. "He is famous isn't he, Neville? Yes, he is. Maybe..." Luna smiles, slightly devilishly. A hand covers her mouth.
He looks at her suspiciously. "Luna? What are you planning?"
Laughing, she grabs another crumpet. "Nothing, Neville, nothing. Hmm... the crumpet appears to have lice, Amazonian Bubble Lice, you can see their tracks here... and here."
"Er... Is that a good thing, or a bad thing, Luna?"
"Good! They're yummy!" She takes a big bite and grins, showing a mushed up mouthful of food.
The letter arrived with a bang. The bang was caused by the owl slamming into his window. Harry looked up, then at the owl, which was now attempting to resume flight. Harry sighed, he had told Hermione that the windows were too clean.
The owl delivered the letter and snatched the owl treat out of Harry's hands, before eyeing it suspiciously. It soon gobbled it up however and was flying away.
The parchment was a pale dyed green, soft to touch. Harry unrolled it, eyebrows rising as he did so, a warm blush covering his cheeks as he reached the end of the letter.
To Mr Harry Potter,
We journalists at the Quibbler, wish to inquire about an interview. Mr Potter, the world needs to know the answer to our questions.
The Editor, Luna Lovegood
"You came then."
"I am sorry, for not replying sooner, but - " Harry began, still not attempting to look into her face before he was interrupted.
"Nonsense! Twitter twat, Harry!" She was angry, really angry, Harry realized.
"I really am - " He started again but was once more his words were cut off.
"Sorry? Harry, you just leave me, after I tell you that I lo - like you and you don't even have the courage," he flinched, "To give me an answer." She raised her chin and glared at him.
"You, I mean, Luna I did want to say something, anything and I would have!But my throat closed and I couldn't." He hung his head and stared helplessly at the floor.
Steeling herself, Luna barracked herself against soothing him and backing down. She couldn't, it would ruin the whole purpose of having this conversation if she gave up now. "Harry, I realize what you went through but you weren't the only one who went through battles." She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a heavily corded scar. "They'll never be able to get rid of this. We all paid in blood and pain."
"What do you want me to do, Luna?" Harry asked, still looking pitiful.
"I want you to tell me your feelings, about me," she added. "Then we can work from there."
He shaking, "I do. I've never admitted that to any one apart from Hermione and Ron and never in that way," he smiles weakly and she smiles back.
"Are you dating now?" Ron asks, sipping his beer, while looking over his shoulder. It's an odd thing and feeling nervous about Ron's question, he asks one for himself.
"Why so anxious? You've been like that ever since we ordered our drinks," Harry waved his hand at the empty mugs in front of the two old friends.
"Um. I'm not supposed to drink." Ron said, sheepishly grinning.
Harry frowned. "Why? You're not allergic to alcohol are you?" He sounded incredulous.
"No... " Ron looks away. "It's just that I sort of promised to Lavender that while she was pregnant that I wouldn't drink, since you, she can't."
"Ah... She's going to murder you if she finds out I hope you realize," Harry said, leaving off, 'and she will find out.' he took a gulp of his drink.
"Maybe. I hope not." He raised his head and gave Harry a determined glance. "Harry. Tell me."
He have in. "I think so. I told her about my feelings. But we haven't been on a date yet. I haven't asked her yet. Do you think I should have?"
Ron gave him a flat look, clearly showing that he had learnt something about girls since their Hogwarts days. "Yes Harry, I think you should have. You better do something romantic," Ron waved his hand about, "I don't know. Flowers? Chocolate? Lavender likes roses, but," Ron frowned, "I don't think that Luna is that kind of girl."
"Yeah... So I will have to ask her."
"Well she did admit that she had feelings for you first, that takes courage, mate." Harry nodded at Ron's words. "So it's up to you now to do something, as a couple, a date."
"A date..."
Ron grinned. "Sounds scary doesn't it? I know I was shaking when I asked Lavender to marry me. I didn't sleep for three days before and I passed out once she said yes. It wasn't what she expected."
"I don't suppose it was," Harry murmurs dryly, nursing his drink.
AN: Very late update. Am very sorry to those who were waiting. Next chapter I shall try to bring out quicker.
Disclaimer: Strangely I do not own HP.
