Hermione's heart was pounding as she made her way up to the astronomy tower where she knew Luna would be waiting for her. That night it was her first stop on her patrol.

She slowed as she got closer to the top going through what she was going to say one last time before she saw the other girl. When she reached the top of the stairs she smiled at the breathtaking blonde, all her practiced words forgotten.

"Luna" Hermione said softly so as not to startle the other girl.

"Hmm?" she responded sounding rather dazed. "Isn't it beautiful? I enjoy evenings most of all. Everything is so peaceful. It's my favorite time I think"

"You're like a firefly. You're drawn to the night" Hermione giggled "My firefly." She added softly to herself. "Will you walk with me while I patrol?"

"That is what I agreed to." Luna smiled. They began to walk down the stairs. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Everything," Hermione replied quite seriously.

Luna couldn't help but giggle. "Everything is a lot of stuff for one evening walk. Maybe we should narrow it down a little."

"Alright, how about us." Hermione said blushing.

"Us?" Luna questioned.

"You and I." Hermione pointed at Luna then herself, "Us."

"What about us?"

"For starters…" Hermione paused. "Could there be an us?" She blushed.

"Us." Luna repeated dumbly at a loss for words. When Hermione frowned she realized she was going to miss her chance if she didn't say something. "I would like that very much."

"Really? That's Gr…" Luna cut Hermione off before she could finish.

"I would like more than anything for there to be an us. But there are some things I need to take care of before I can feel comfortable with it."

Hermione's face fell. "Oh." She looked down at her feet. "But you… you like me? Right?" she asked shyly.

"More than anyone." Luna said honestly. "And I don't want there to be anything in the way of our possible happiness together which is why it can't happen yet."

"Can you tell me?"

"Katie." Luna frowned. "Katie and I have been in a relationship for three years, I just recently sent her a letter telling her…" She paused unsure of whether she wanted to disclose the fact that she more than liked Hermione. "That I was not able to be with her any longer because I wasn't in love with her and it wasn't fair for me to string her along. The letter I got earlier was from her. It seems she didn't accept what I said as fully or easily as I had hoped."

Hermione looked down at her feet. "So… You're still with Katie then?"

"I don't know exactly where we stand. I've agreed to meet with her soon and talk about it. I can't be with her anymore. But I can't start a relationship with you until I know that she accepts it's over between us."

"I see." Hermione frowned. "If that's the case then why'd you kiss me before?"

"Because I've liked you for quite awhile now and I was excited. You'd held my hand most of the match." Luna sighed. "I feel rather awful about that actually. I kissed you even though I knew you were in a relationship, and even though I didn't know where things were with Katie."

"Don't feel too bad. I kissed you back." Hermione blushed. They were nearing Ravenclaw tower. "It was nice. Besides we all make mistakes sometimes."

"You're very kind." Luna smiled.

"I really like you."Hermione shrugged "That makes it easy to be kind." Hermione stopped in front of the entry to Ravenclaw's common room. "I'll wait for you to be ready okay?" She kissed Luna on the cheek "Goodnight my Firefly."

"Hermione wait."Luna said shyly when the older girl turned to leave. She pulled her close and kissed her slowly. "Goodnight. And thank you. I imagine it will be much easier to handle things with Katie now that I know how you feel."

Hermione blushed as Luna turned away.

Luna smiled. Was there any way I could've resisted kissing her again? Knowing that she likes me to? Luna shook her head knowing the answer. As she headed towards her bed she realized that she wasn't going to worry about the looming conversation with Katie anymore.