Hermione could feel Luna's tears soaking through the material of her shirt, and it caused her to wrap her arms more tightly around her friend. As Luna poured out her story in between strangled sobs, Hermione allowed her gaze to wander briefly before settling on the ornate crown molding above her.

"Everything was so wonderful in the beginning; I thought we fit so well together. We had a shared history and both of us suffered so much during the war. . . It seemed to fall into place so nicely."

Luna took a moment to sniffle into a wadded mess of tissue, giving Hermione space to notice a crack in the ceiling. It began at a joint in the molding and was slowly working its way across the length of the room.

"But after a while, it stopped being about feeling and just became . . . habit. We weren't really talking, just going through the motions we both thought were needed to justify falling into bed. At first I guess I didn't think anything of it because, well, the sex was unbelievable and I thought that passion would hold us through anything."

Hermione felt her cheeks flush a brilliant crimson as Luna started to detail just how passionate things had been between her and Neville. The brunette let her eyes trace the crack's path to the corner of the room where the paint peeled wildly and signs of water damage started.

"When he asked me to marry him, I felt like I had to say yes, that it was expected that we would be together. So many people thought we were a perfect fit, and I didn't have the courage to say otherwise. That was, until you came home."

Caught off guard by her sudden involvement in the story, Hermione's gaze jumped back to Luna's, an expression of confusion on her face.

"When I saw how you and Ron were together, my heart broke. I felt terribly selfish, but I wanted someone to treat me the way Ron treats you. You can see how much he adores you in everything he does, and watching the two of you together. . . I want that Hermione. I want someone I can trust enough to let down my guard the way you do with Ron. I don't want to worry that they'll be frightened off by my search for crumple horned snorcacks, I want to share that with them. And, well, Neville isn't that person for me. . . "

"Oh Luna, I'm so sorry! I wish you would have told me it was bothering you. I would have—"Hermione was cut off as Luna placed a single finger over her lips.

"You would have what, lied? Hidden the joy you and Ron have together? Forced down your love yet again in order to make someone else happy?" Blond hair flew as Luna vigorously shook her head. "No, Hermione, that's not right and you know it."

Hermione shifted uncomfortably on the plush seat, "But you're hurting. . ."

Unexpectedly, Luna smiled, "You've misinterpreted me, Hermione. Yes, I am sad, but not about Neville and I—he agrees with me that our getting married would have been a mistake. He wants to stay in Britain and grow plants for the rest of his life," Here, Luna made such a disgusted face that Hermione could not help but laugh with her. "I want to travel! The world is so much more than this magical corner of Britain, and so are my dreams!"

"But, Luna, then why are you crying?"

A slight hiccup sounded and Luna's eyes began to fill with tears once more, "Because I'll have let you all down! Fleur had such a lovely idea tonight and she included me as family and now I've gone and messed that up!"

Before the blond could dissolve back into sobs, Hermione grabbed her hands. "Luna, that's total nonsense! You've messed nothing up; you've just changed the order round a bit. Of course you are still included and no one is going to be mad at you. We want you to be happy more than n anything else, so don't be foolish."

Luna took a hiccupping breath, "You mean, I'm still family even if I don't marry Neville?"

"Oh Luna, you have always been family," Hermione said firmly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Luna's ear. "We all adore you. And truthfully, I've considered you family ever since that night at Shell Cottage. . .

Hermione sat awake in the dark, her fingers incessantly running over the new scar on her neck. She was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted from the day's events. Some small part of her brain kept rotating through them as she felt the taught new bit of skin: Torture at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. Waking to find Ron sobbing at her bedside, his head down on the duvet and his bloodied hands desperately clinging to one of hers. The joy of being safe juxtaposed with the incredible loss of Dobby. She replayed the day over and over in her mind, fingers running over the healed skin, as if expecting it to open to match the depth of her pain.

"I always have difficulty accepting how easily magic repairs flesh as well, I think it skips a vital step where the soul is healed as well." Luna's quiet voice jerked Hermione out of her reverie. The blond girl had a blanket wrapped tightly around her, and the moonlit room made her look slightly less haggard than daylight had.

"Luna! Why are you up?" Hermione winced as she spoke, her voice rough and pitchy after all the screaming she had done.

Luna sat delicately at the edge of the bed, "I knew you would be awake, and thought you could use someone other than Harry or Ron to talk to. Whisper, it will be easier on your voice." As Luna gently pushed Hermione's hair off of her forehead, Hermione felt so comforted that the words began to tumble out. The torture, the months long search, how hurt she had been when Ron disappeared, all of it spoken in rapid fire pace to a confidant she had never expected. When she had finished, Luna came forward and pulled her into a comforting huge.

"Yes, you certainly needed to do that. Now, I don't know quite what to say to a lot of what you just told me, so I won't bother. However, you may want to re-evaluate your thinking about Ron. Maybe, just maybe, he is as afraid as you are. After all, you have both been so focused on protecting Harry and helping him, you've let your own feelings be pushed aside, and I imagine he doesn't know how to bring it up to you. You know, sometimes these things go better when the girl takes some initiative. Don't put aside your feelings, Hermione. When the right moment comes, be a true Gryffindor and go for it!"

With those words, Luna left Hermione. For some reason the brunette now found it easier to slide into sleep, the scar on her neck no longer demanding her attention.

"I never told you before, but that talk was part of the reason I finally kissed Ron. You are always family, Luna. Now tell me, while he's growing plants, where is it your dreams are taking you?

The change in Luna's demeanor was immediate. The tears dried up and her face came alive as she began to talk about South America and snorcacks. Hermione smiled at her friend, an idea beginning to slowly take form in her own mind.

Ginny tossed a stack of tissue paper into the bin while Hermione banished excess cardboard boxes. The two friends were going over the previous night while sorting through gifts in Ginny's flat.

"I wondered where the two of you had gone. I would have come after you, but that was right as the other part of Fleur's gift started. . . "Hermione laughed as the Weasley blush obliterated Ginny's freckles. She and Luna had left the bathroom to discover the dance floor emptied with the exception of Ginny and seven Muggle male strippers. Each had props and "costumes" to represent a Quidditch position. The seeker had been a wiry man with messy black hair, and his costume consisted primarily of gold glitter body paint, much to the Hen Party's amusement. "Oi, shut it! Or I'll make sure she gets you the entire adult line from George and Percy!"

Hermione couldn't stop her giggles. "Just because Fleur had Madam Malkin make you a series of outfits based on Harry's fantasies and just because one of those outfits looked like a set of Head mistress' robes does not mean I have any—OOF!"

Hermione was forced to stop talking as Ginny tossed a pillow at her. The two friends dissolved into mutual laughter.

After several moments, Ginny regained enough composure to take a sip of her tea, "Honestly, do you think Luna's all right?"

"Once she started talked about her plans," Hermione's voice softened to a contemplative tone, "she seemed more like herself than I have seen her in ages. She was finally going after something she had always wanted. . . "

Ginny quirked an eyebrow at the older witch, "I know that tone, what are you thinking about, Hermione?"

Idly turning her wand over in her hands, the brunette tilted her head to the side, "Well, how well do you think Ron would take to the idea of moving?"

A/N: I live! The story lives! Rejoice! But in seriousness, I know it has been ages. What can I say but Real Life sucks some times? However, as the summer months are upon us, expect more updates! I hope you are all pleased by what you have found here. Leave a review, they're better than cookies! Glomps Hugs and Pygmy Puffs, UD