a/n: school is such a mess. i haven't posted in so long,,, this is a tragedy

muggle!au :)

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chaser 2, qlfc forum, puddlemere united

season eight, round eleven

main prompt:
Never Have I Ever (S6)

optional prompts:

11. (emotion) surprise

14. (word) unnecessary

15. (object) piano

word count: 1985

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Hermione was walking down the street with her hands bunched up in the pockets of her winter coat when she heard the shouting. She'd been on the way to the coffee shop down the street, but now, she hurried towards the sound. As she got closer, she heard the voices.

"Luna the Lesbian!"

Hermione internally decided that she should probably get away from here. Homosexuality was not an accepted thing in the conservative town she lived in, and definitely not at the religious private school she attended. Definitely not something her parents accepted, either…

She kept going towards the sounds, though. She wasn't sure why.

As she rounded the corner, she was greeted by the sight of a group of giggling girls and boys, all circling Luna Lovegood. Looney Lovegood, they always called her, and now, it seemed, they had taken on calling her Luna the Lesbian. Hermione watched as Luna found a crack in the circle and darted through it. She seemed so small, so helpless… Hermione could've sworn that she saw a few tears glistening on her cheeks.

She had no idea what came over her at that moment, but something did, and she felt the need to go to her. To do something. She was, by no means, a bystander, and she stood by that. She and Luna were friendly; they'd done a project together a few years ago. Friends stood up for friends, didn't they?

Hermione ran to catch up with her. "Are you okay?" she asked as she finally did so, panting, out of breath.

Luna remained silent, though she did slow down some. "Why are you still talking to me?"

Hermione was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, well, I mean that… after what they said, why are you still talking to me?"

"Well, it's not true, is it? They just make up rumors. Bunch of blonde bimbos," she spat. Luna was quiet, and Hermione hesitated before saying, "Luna… is it true?"

"Yeah." The response was so quiet that Hermione could barely hear it.

Blood roared in Hermione's ears, so loud that she barely registered her surroundings. Barely registered looking into Luna's eyes for the longest, briefest, of moments. Barely registered suddenly leaning in and kissing her.

It felt like eternity, but then the blood stopped roaring and she heard voices nearby. Hermione was the one to pull away. Her eyes were wide, frightened, and her heart pounded so fast, so fast, so fast…

She ran.

Hermione was eating lunch in the school cafeteria with her two best (and only) friends, Harry and Ron. She hadn't spoken to (or even seen for more than a second or two) Luna since the kiss, and she didn't plan to for quite a while. Fuck standing up for people. She could lose everything if people found out… the few friends she had, the teachers who loved her studious attitude, her parents…

She was so lost in her thoughts that she barely noticed when Lavender came up to her table. "Hey, Hermione."

Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat. "Oh! Hi, Lavender." Why is she over here? she wondered.

Her question was almost immediately answered as Lavender thrust an elegant-looking invitation into her face. "You're invited to my sweet sixteen birthday party." She smiled sweetly. "Be sure to bring a swimsuit! Sorry, Harry, Ron. I know you've love to come, but it's girls only." She giggled, then pranced away.

Ron stared after her in wonder, and Hermione stared down at the invitation that had somehow found its way into her hands. She wasn't sure why she'd gotten invited, but she wasn't about to turn down an invitation from the most popular girl in school. She still hated the two bimbos with a burning passion, but maybe if she went, they would stop bullying her every chance they got.

And maybe they would stop bullying Luna, too…

Hermione arrived at the sleepover a few minutes early, with her sleeping bag tucked under one arm and a bag her mom had knitted herself under the other. She stood awkwardly on the sidewalk for a few moments before mustering up the little courage she had and going up to the front door, then ringing the doorbell.

A few moments after she did so, Lavender opened the door with a wide smile. "Hi, Hermione!" She ushered the brunette inside. "You can put down your things in my room; some of the other girls are already up there. Oh, and you can put your present on the table over there." She pointed to an ornate dining table through a Greco-Roman style archway."

Hermione marveled at the architecture around her as she followed Lavender's instructions. How rich were Lavender's parents, exactly?

"We're just going to stay in my room for a while," Lavender said as she led Hermione up the stairs. "We might go to the mall later, but we are going to watch a movie outside tonight. Maybe in the hot tub or something."

They emerged onto the second floor hallway and Lavender led her through a brightly decorated door into what seemed to be her bedroom. A few girls were already sitting on the plush carpet floor, giggling and talking amongst themselves. Hermione couldn't help but feel as if this was all a dream; after all, her and Lavender had engaged in a game of mutual hatred for so long… Why was she here?

After a few minutes of chatter that Hermione had no idea how to engage in, Lavender cleared her throat to draw everyone's attention. "Let's play Never Have I Ever," she announced. "I'll go first. Never have I ever… been fifteen today!"

Many of the younger girls groaned as they put a finger down.

"Alright," Lavender said with a grin. "Sue, you go next!"

"Okay, um…"

The game of Never Have I Ever was generally uneventful for the next few minutes. Hermione actually felt herself growing comfortable around these girls she had despised for so very, very long…

Then, it was Parvati's turn to ask the question.

"Never have I ever… kissed a girl," Parvati said.

Hermione blanched. Oh, god…

She would just lie. That's alright.

The circle of girls glanced around at each other, barely suppressing their laughter.

"What was the point of asking that question?" Isobel asked. "It's not like we're like Lesbian Luna."

The other girls broke out into laughter.

"What about you, Hermione?" Parvati asked. "Have you ever kissed a girl? I've seen you hanging out with Luna…"

Hermione shrugged nonchalantly. "No. I don't talk to her that much, anyway. Just because I hang out with her doesn't mean I like girls." The words felt sour in her mouth, and she felt the need to cleanse it. This was not her; she was not acting like herself, and she was ashamed of that. "Besides, I don't get why you guys are so obsessed with bullying her, anyways. It's so unnecessary. She's a year below us. She really doesn't matter that much, does she?"

Parvati rolled her eyes. "I know you wouldn't understand. Didn't you get a B in Bible Studies? 'You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.' Leviticus 18:22. As followers of God, we just want to help others. We can fix the abominations if we try hard enough, and then maybe they'll go to heaven with the rest of us. It's not bullying. All we're doing is trying to save her from hell." She paused. "Besides, if you don't talk to her that much, anyway, why does it matter?"

Hermione smiled and shrugged. "It doesn't." Words, curdling as they rung between her teeth.

Parvati studied her for a few moments. "Good."

Fay, who, like the rest of the girls, had been quiet this entire time, cleared her throat. "Is it my turn now?"

"Yeah," Lavender said with a quick smile.

Hermione felt her heart slow a little; she was calming down. Had she evaded Parvati?

She wasn't sure.

The rest of the sleepover passed too slowly for Hermione's comfort. After playing a few other games and gossiping a bit, the girls went down for dinner, cake, and presents. True to her promise, they later went outside to first swim, then, after changing into their pajamas, watch a movie in the backyard. Hermione didn't pay much attention to the movie; her thoughts were occupied with images of Luna…

"Hey! Hermione." A voice tugged at her consciousness, and Hermione felt herself leaving dreamland as she opened her eyes. She squinted against the bright light and propped herself up on one elbow.

"What time is it?" she croaked.

"Like, midnight. The rest of the girls are already inside, but I saw you out here, so…" Padma, who was the one who had woken her, trailed off.

"Thanks," Hermione said, accepting Padma's hand and standing.

"Of course."

Hermione had just finished rolling up her blanket when Padma broke the awkward silence.

"Um, Hermione?"

"Yeah?" Hermione pushed a lock of hair out of her vision and looked up.

Padma cleared her throat awkwardly. "So, um… the other day, I…"

Hermione felt her heart speed up a little. Correction: a lot. "Yes?"

"I saw you and Luna."

Hermione's throat constricted. Oh, God. "What?" She tried to act nonchalant. Maybe she was just bluffing… did Parvati have it out for her or something?

"No, it's okay," Padma said quickly. "I just wanted you to know that… well, I don't hate you for it. The rest of them—" she gestured in the general direction of Lavender's house "—might, but I don't. I won't." She took a deep breath. "I don't, because I'm… too."

Hermione gaped. "What?" she said, her voice barely audible.

"Yeah. Um, I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone. Parvati… well. And my parents…"

"No, of course," Hermione said, still reeling from this new information. Padma wasn't straight?

There was someone at her school who wasn't straight? And who was okay enough to admit it?

Padma smiled at her. "Okay. Well, if you ever need anything, don't be afraid to come to me, alright?"

"Yeah." Hermione watched as the other girl made her way into the house. She felt herself break into a smile.

Hermione took a deep breath as she walked down the hallways, down to the music hallway. She knew Luna would be there; she often was.

Sure enough, as she entered the serene calm of the music hall, she heard the faint sounds of piano playing from one of the classrooms. She peeked in, and there was Luna: sitting on the piano bench, her lithe fingers dancing upon the keys, her eyes closed, that beautiful smile gracing her features.

When the song came to an end, Hermione stepped deeper into the room. "That's a beautiful song."

Luna, apparently caught by surprise, nearly jumped out of her seat. "Oh! Hermione… what are you doing here?"

She chose her words carefully. "I… wanted to talk to you about what happened the other day." Hermione hesitated, then continued. "Do you want to go somewhere more private?"

"Yes," Luna said quickly. She slung her bag over her shoulder and stood. "How about up the mountain trail?"

"That sounds good."

They walked there in near silence, exchanging a few awkward words every so often. Eventually, they made it and stopped in the shade of a tree.

Luna was the first to speak. "So… you kissed me the other day."

Hermione opened her mouth, closed it, then decisively opened it again and spoke. "Look, um, Luna, I like you. A lot. But… we can't…"

"I know," Luna interrupted. "I get it. It's okay, Hermione." She smiled dreamily. "I like you too."

Hermione felt her heart skip a beat. "You do?"

"Of course. How could I not?"

She blushed. "Um… Can I kiss you?"

"You didn't ask the first time," Luna teased. "Yes, of course you can."

She leaned in, their lips met, and Hermione felt so very complete in that moment.