~Fuel To Fire~

"What are you thinking about?" Luna asked him. They were standing at the edge of the river. It was the summer after the battle for Hogwarts and Luna was visiting Harry in London. He had decided not to go back to Hogwarts and took the Ministry's job offer as an Auror.

"I was actually contemplating whether or not I wanted to try crossing the river," he said. "It's cold but I don't think it gets very deep."

Luna cocked her head and leaned closer to the water. Harry grabbed her arm so she wouldn't fall in headfirst. She gave him a wry smile and pulled him along with her into the freezing water. Goosebumps rose on her flesh when the water was up to her ankles and he sucked in a quick breath.

"On second thought I'd rather remain on this side," he said.

"Not me. It looks lovely there; just the spot where Nargles would hide!" Her eyes were lit up with curiosity and excitement. She pulled out of his grasp, her arm sliding out of his grip in a way that left his hand buzzing from the warmth of her skin.

Damn this woman. He would follow her anywhere.

"Let's not," he said in a last attempt to persuade her. It was too late — she was already too far away from him to care. She had rolled her pants up but they were already near soaking. When she stumbled a bit on the slippery rocks beneath Harry felt his pulse speed up.

"Be careful!"

"Hurry—before they're all gone!" she said over her shoulder, completely unconcerned. Harry cursed again under his breath and started wading over to her. The water really was frigid. How was she not reacting to it?

They were nearing the middle when suddenly Luna gasped and pitched forward. Harry was right in that it wasn't that deep (maybe four feet) but he had trouble making his way over to her quickly in the current.

"Luna!" For several terrifying seconds he could not make out her blond hair beneath the water but then she broke the surface sputtering and flailing wildly about.

"Luna!" Harry hoisted her to standing position by the armpits and fought against the current to steady both of them. As soon as his hands were on her Luna fell against his chest and, shivering, said: "This is nice."

Her breath tickled his neck. The water was no longer cold.

It dawned on him: "You did that on purpose!"

"Yes." She didn't even try to deny it! "I missed you terribly."

Instead of annoyance Harry felt a warm glow of endearment in his chest. He had noticed how snuggly she had been with him ever since their confession three months ago. It seemed she hugged him every chance she got - even going as far as making excuses or opportunities such as this one to get his arms around her.

"Harry?" She looked up at him with her beautiful, silver eyes. She brushed a strand of hair that was plastered to the side of his face, "You're—" she swallowed.

"-completely drenched," Harry finished for her. In his desperation he had splashed around enough to soak his hair. It was dripping all over his face and down the back of his neck.

Luna nodded. She was still shivering, still looking at him with those eyes.

And then his lips were on hers.

It wasn't their first kiss or their second, or even their third. Those kisses had been quick and chaste; experimental. This kiss was far from chaste. Her nails dug into his shirt and her head bobbed as he kissed her with such ferocity it was a wonder they were able to remain standing. She tasted of sun and of blueberries and of a heat that spread to the various parts of his body. His hands were on her shoulders, on her waist, on her face, in her hair. The water rushed past them and through them and their bodies were so close he felt dizzy. When they parted for air Luna dusted kisses along his jawline and he pressed his lips against the soft skin of her temple. They kissed again and his heart ached at the intensity of it.

Finally, she drew back and Harry realized she was still shaking. It was partly from passion but mostly because the temperature of the water was starting to take its toll. Together they pushed against the current to shore and squeezed the water out of their shirts. They never did make it to the other side of the river. Instead, they had crossed a different kind of bridge and a few months later made their relationship official by getting engaged.