Chapter II: Sonnet for the Sleepless
[AN: Thank you for all that have read and reviewed, it truly helps when you're writing in the Harry Luna Genre. I know it's one of the lesser loved fields, when compared to Harry/Ginny or Harry/ Hermione, but all of your reviews make me feel better about writing a story for two people that had a lot of potential. Just as a friendly warning, this does contain Deathly Hallow Spoilers to the 9th Degree...so do be careful if you haven't finished it. I hope you enjoy the update, and I will update again soon.
Harry and Luna pushed through the set of double doors, fighting their way through the crowd of people exiting the concert for the Weird Sisters. Harry held on tightly to Luna's mitten clad hand and turned into pressing darkness once they were outdoors. Harry felt Luna twitch in the darkness and automatically tightened his grip on her, he wasn't about to lose her mid-way.
As the familiar scenery came into focus Harry loosened his grip on Luna. The Muggle streets of London were deserted at this time of night, and only the noise of their breathing filled the night. Harry pulled Luna forwards a bit, past the barriers of the Fidelus Charm, and noticed her cautious smile falter, and she was transfixed as buildings eleven and thirteen pulled apart, and in their void, a house appeared.
The two teenagers walked up the stairs, the cold concrete resounding with the clicks and clacks of their footsteps. Harry took his wand and nonverbally magicked the door open, a satisfying click was heard and wafts of freshly made dinner greeted their noses. Harry whispered into Luna's ear, careful to speak ever so softly, as not to disturb the silent portrait in front of them.
"After Sirius died, this is what I was left. My friend, Kreacher, will have dinner ready for us. Do you like Shepherds Pie?" He asked, leading her past the finely decorated hallways, that shone with a renewed brilliance of Kreacher's adoration.
She nodded vaguely, and smiled after a moment, clearly thinking of something amusing. "You know, when I was a girl, I asked my mum once if it was made with actual Shepherd. But yes, I do enjoy it, so long as there's no Shepherd on top." She nodded and grinned, a beautiful sight.
Harry felt himself coming to laugh, and couldn't help himself as he sped along the corridor, determined not to wake Sirius' mother.
"Harry, why is that portrait covered up?"
"Sirius' mother doesn't like guests, and ya know how mothers can be, never can get rid of them."
"Have you tried Abelcoxy Droppings? They've been known to remove even the toughest spells. Even Wrackspurt bleedings." She said, as she hung her teal colored robes on the hanger next to the troll leg stand.
They walked, hand in hand, into the warm and cozy kitchen, where they saw the hunched back form of Kreacher bustling to and fro, a Christmas Bonnet wrapped around his head.
"Good Evening, Master Harry." The House Elf croaked, bowing low and extending his arms gracefully behind himself. "And a pleasant evening to you Miss. Kreacher is always happy to serve the guests of Master Harry, such an honor it is."
"You do remind me of Dobby, he was a good elf too. He died though, I felt awful for him." Luna said, patting Kreacher on the shoulder, earning her a smile from the House Elf.
"And Kreacher did his part to help in the war as well, we mustn't forget to honor him." Harry smiled, which caused Kreacher to beam.
"Shall I get your dinner, Master?" The House Elf started towards the stove, levitating two bowls and silverware to the table, motioning for the two to have a seat as he prepared their meal.
Luna sat opposite of Harry, and brought her napkin to her legs. "Harry, it was so nice of you to invite me over, I know we haven't had much time to talk since you were appointed to the new trials at the Ministry. Is Kingsley still embarrassed over his new Patronus?"
"You have the most uncanny knack for making me laugh, yes he is still troubled by it. The Lynx was far more impressive than the Boston Terrier."
"Any thoughts on why it changed?"
"Well ever since Ron nearly killed Kingsley using a faulty Permanent Patronus charm, he's been kind of nervous. I'm guessing Kingsley's new Patronus is just a reminder of how scary a little dog can be…given the right circumstances!"
Luna was the one laughing now, and Harry wanted to dance in the light of her eyes all evening. Kreacher pardoned himself as he bustled over with two steaming plates of Shepherds' Pie, and a side of radishes which he specially prepared for Luna.
The two ate heartily, and despite Harry's continued requests, Kreacher wouldn't sit with them - Some of the old honor systems just wouldn't go away.
The dinner was exquisite, Honey Mead was served, with a generous helping of Graham Pudding. Luna twirled her dessert in midair trying to have Kreacher taste some of his marvelous makings, but to no avail.
They excused themselves from the table and went into the drawing room, where a well stuffed couch was waiting for them, in front of a magically roaring fire. The portraits of fallen Order members smiled down at them happily. They sat and stared up at the faces they knew so well. Alastor Moody was gazing down at them, both eyes still intact, and flashing a frightening grin. Luna waved at Professor Lupin and Tonks who were embracing each other tightly. Fred was jumping around his portrait, eagerly looking for something mischievous to do. And in the most impressive portrait of all, were the two men Harry missed most from the Second War.
Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape were sitting at a table, in rapt conversation, but they gave pause to wave down to Harry and Luna.
"Harry, he really did care for you I think. Look at how Hermione treated Ronald, and they're together now. Even though I think Hermione has lowered her standards. Do you think Ronald has ever worked up the courage to formally ask her out?"
"Blimey, no. He's still scared to." He sat down with Luna on the couch and placed his hands in hers.
"But you weren't scared to, were you Harry? You weren't scared to ask me out, were you?" Her grey eyes met his, and held firm.
Harry felt slightly nervous as she addressed him, he had never felt this way with Ginny. It was refreshing, knowing that someone has such a hold on you, he thought. "I was for a bit, you know. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that we can't put things off. Look at all of our friends we lost…they might have had hundreds of things they wanted to do…but they sacrificed them all for the greater good. I don't want to insult them by living in fear."
"It was such a brave thing you did Harry, you were so fearless, I was proud to call you my friend."
"I miss them, God do I miss them. Do you think they're still talking about Collin?"
Luna laughed as a lonely tear danced across her rosy cheeks. "Mr. Voldemort, Oi Mr. Voldemort! Can I get a picture?" She mimicked, laughing and crying at the same time. "No, I'm sure he didn't die like that, he would have gone out fighting. He was good fun, there wasn't a braver friend we could have asked for Harry."
"I feel bad, I never got to tell him how proud I was of him."
"He knew, Harry, I'm sure he knew. He wouldn't have fought for us if he didn't believe in the cause."
Harry felt comforted by Luna's kind words, and thought of the happier memories he had of Collin Creevey. Harry embraced Luna and stroked her long locks of hair. He pictured for a moment his future with her. What would it mean for him, not as the boy who lived, but as the boy who loved? He imagined, as he always had, what his life would be like years from now. Cho sure hadn't made a lasting impression in his imagination of his life. Ginny was more profound, but he couldn't seen her as more than a high school love - unless she made some real changes to how she viewed him.
Luna, however, he could see them spending many a happy Christmas together, Kreacher too. The house felt warm with Luna inside it, Harry entertained the thought of turning Regulus' old bedroom into a guest room…maybe even a child's' bedroom…but that was surely getting ahead of himself! He scolded his mind as he came back to himself.
"Luna, thank you for being my friend."
"You were mine when nobody else would be, Harry."
And together they rose, as Kreacher played a slow song by The Hobgoblins , "A Sonnet for the Sleepless" -to Luna's immense pleasure, and they danced around the floor. Kreacher felt his face twist into a smile and his heart felt light. "So nice, that Master has someone to make him happy." The House Elf croaked, as he looked out lovingly at the portrait of his old Mistress.
And the hours passed, as they danced through the night and into their new romance. The kiss that came was one to be remembered for all their lives, for they felt any lesser time would stain it's memory. And as the night carried on, they too carried each other onto the couch, and it was there that they intertwined their bodies and slept- dear friends.