Strange Can Be Good

HarryxLuna

Rated T

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling

Strange Can Be Good

Chapter 8: Mr. Dark, Handsome, & Not So Tall

A week had gone by since Harry had last seen Luna, and he really wanted to see her again. But he didn't know what he could do to see her again. Usually it was just coincidence when they did meet up, or Luna would send the occasional letter to request a visit. But as of late, Luna had been busy with her research and didn't really have time to meet with Harry alone.

It seemed that she could spend time with him when James and Albus were involved, but never alone like they used to when they were teenagers. Maybe he was just being paranoid; Luna wasn't like that. Maybe it was that every time she had a spare moment, Harry did as well and he spent that time with his boys. But this time he wanted to spend time with her like they did back in school. Would it be considered a date? Possibly, but he didn't really care. He had deduced he had some form of feelings for Luna that surpassed friendship and he wanted to feel them out.

Harry sighed as he sat in the Hogs Head Inn, having a glass of Firewhiskey at the bar. After he gulped down what he drank, he sighed and stared into the cup of brown liquid. He didn't notice Aberforth Dumbledore standing in front of him until the man cleared his throat. Looking up he gave the wizard a small smile before saying, "Hello, Aberforth."

"Something on your mind, Harry? Is it the divorce still?" Aberforth asked him.

Shaking his head, Harry answered, "No, I'm over the whole thing by now. It's, it's something else."

Aberforth nodded and refilled another customer's glass before turning back to his deceased brother's ex-student. The boy, well man, no longer looked weary as he had when he was still married to the Weasley girl. Instead he looked a bit more youthful, though still looking somewhat older than he really was. However it was clear that something was bothering him, or at the very least occupying his mind greatly.

The older wizard sighed before saying, "Tell me what is on your mind, Harry."

Harry hesitated to say anything but gave in and nodded. Taking a deep breath he said, "I've been thinking of spending more time with Luna."

"Luna? You mean the ditzy blonde girl that was sprouting some rubbish about Nargles, always spoke in a cryptic manner, and everyone made fun of her?"

"Yes, that would be her. And please don't make fun of her either."

"I wasn't, just making sure I had the right girl in mind. Now, you want to ask this girl out; what is stopping you?"

Harry flushed a little from Aberforth's blunt reply before saying, "I don't want to ask her out on a date, per say. It's more so just that we, you know, hang out as friends."

Aberforth looked at the younger wizard quizzically before saying, "But you like her, though."

"Aberforth-

"Harry, it is normal to want to seek new companionship after a divorce. Or not if you want to live a bachelor's life, but you have children so it is different. And truthfully, even when I would see you with the Weasley girl, you would still seem to be alone in a way. You could say that you both weren't connecting like you should have been; it was probably what led to the downfall of your marriage, but that is beside the point. My point being is this: if you feel a connection with that ditzy girl and want to pursue your friendship into something more, then do not be afraid to do so. Ask her and be honest; I highly doubt she will say no. If anything she probably feels for you as well."

Harry stared at Aberforth before looking back down into his Firewhiskey. Maybe the man was right about Luna. Maybe he was right about him. Hell, maybe he was just right about the whole situation in general. But he knew one thing, and that was he would never know if he didn't try. Laying money on the bar he thanked Aberforth before leaving the Hogs Head and Apparating back to his house.

Entering his home he could hear James, Albus, and Ron all laughing in the living room. Walking into the room he found his children playing Wizards Chess while Ron was a referee of sorts. Ron looked up at his best friend's arrival and waved to him. James and Albus told him hello before Albus called his next move, having his bishop destroy one of James' pawns.

"Good job, Albus," Ron said ruffling his black hair before turning to Harry. "Hey, mate. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I think I finally figured out what I was pondering for a week now. Oh, and thanks for watching the boys for me," Harry answered.

Ron waved the thanks, glad to be spending time with his nephews. He still couldn't believe that his sister would just up and leave her own children behind, but he didn't really even know what had been up with Ginny leading up to the divorce. But ever since it happened, he noticed that Harry seemed to be livelier in some aspect and wondered what it could be. He had asked Hermione about it, and she had just smiled and said that he was basking in the light of the moon. Needless to say, Ron did not understand what his wife meant by that.

Harry went upstairs and changed his clothes into something more presentable for when he asked Luna out before combing his slightly longer hair and heading back downstairs. When he walked back into the living room, the other three occupants looked at him and smiled.

"You sure do look nice, dad," James said. Ron nodded and asked, "What's the occasion?"

Harry gave a nervous chuckle and said, "Well, I'm going to go and ask Luna out."

Ron looked surprised for a moment before smiling and telling him good luck. James smiled as well and waved at him before turning back to back to the chessboard. However Albus frowned and walked over to his dad, frowning up at him with his arms crossed. Puzzled, Harry knelt down next to his six year old and asked him what was wrong.

"Daddy, you can't ask Luna out on a date," Albus said.

"And why not, son?" Harry asked, wondering why Albus was so against the thought. However the answer he got in return made him smile and chuckle in amusement.

"Because I'm going to marry Luna when I grow up!" Albus declared.

James laughed and said, "Luna will be an old lady by the time you are grown, Albus. Let dad have her."

Albus turned to his older brother and began to yell at him, James taking the bait and yelling back. Harry and Ron looked at each other before each grabbing a boy, holding them before they could get physical with each other. Once they had calmed down, Harry said, "Now I want no fighting from you two while I am gone. If Ron tells me that you have been fighting, you are both grounded for a week."

Harry turned to his youngest and said, "Now Albus, I don't mean to upset you by wanting to go out with Luna, but don't you think it would be better for her to be with someone her own age?" When his little look-a-like nodded, he said, "And besides, you will meet someone one day that will be just for you. It doesn't matter who they are, just as long as they loved you and you love them."

Albus nodded and hugged his dad before returning back to the chessboard. Ron smiled at him and said, "Harry, just before you go, quick question. What makes you think that Luna will want to go out with you, or even likes you more than a friend anyway?"

Harry shrugged and replied, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"If it helps any dad, Luna told me once when you weren't around that she already had a crush on someone," James said.

"She did? Who is it?" Harry asked, suddenly concerned that what he was about to do would be for naught.

"Well she didn't say a name, but she said the person she liked was dark and handsome, but not so much tall. And if you think about it, you fit those things. Uncle Ron always said that you were on the short side, but you are a bit taller than mum, and taller than Luna. So it's probably you," James said with a grin.

Harry stared at his son for a while rolling over what he had been told in his mind. Luna liked someone dark, handsome, and not so tall. If he thought about it, he did fit that description. So did Seamus Finnigan, but he was already married. Then that meant it had to be him!

With a smile he bid his sons and Ron goodbye before leaving his home, Apparating to the Lovegood home to find out where Luna lived, and possibly ask her out. And even more, hoped she would say 'yes'.