Sorry for the *counts fingers* 5? Month break, I just need to sort things out a bit and truthfully I forgot about this story. I've been working out things for an ATLA Fanfic and then I got inspiration the other day for a one-shot for Aang and Katara and had to dot it down. Then I've been trying to do more of my own original story and just the other day I got a massive inspiration and I'm starting to think that my new original story might be complete before my old original story. But it's the school holiday's here and I'm determined to get this chapter up! Next chapter Ginny and Harry will officially be together but just for this chapter I thought I would put a bit of Neville/Luna bonding for Harry seeing as he doesn't spend much time with them (or from what I've written anyways).
Harry was standing on Liam's side of the room talking to him. They had stroked up a detailed conversation about Quidditch, when Ron walked in.
'All better?' Harry smirked.
'Yes.' Ron muttered throwing his yolk covered t-shirt at Harry's face. Harry screwed up his face in disgust and threw it back at Ron who caught it and dumped it at the end of his bed.
Harry clapped Ron on the back of his head as he went around to his bed and pulled out his things from his trunk.
'I'll be back.' Harry said as he went out the door to go down to the bathrooms to get washed.
He came back up a few minutes later after running into a few Slytherin's who were hovering around the seventh floor, Harry avoided them by going down a different corridor.
Harry changed into his robes for Slughorn's party, which he thought was going to be fun. He didn't know how he knew but he just had a good feeling about it.
Walking down to the Grand Entrance with Ron next to him who was in arm with Hermione; Harry met up with Luna who seemed to have chosen to wear a bright blue dress with nice frills hanging off the hem at the bottom. She'd seemed to have a cork necklace around her neck as well and two white feathers in her hair.
Harry walked up to her and smiled saying she looked great.
'Thanks, you look great too Harry,' She looked at Hermione and Ron who were standing still beside Harry. 'Having a good day?'
'Mmm, can't complain.' Ron replied nonchalantly, looking anywhere but at Luna's bright dress. He seemed distracted and was looking anywhere but at the gang of friends around him.
'Well we better . . . go.' Harry said, smiling slightly at Luna and grabbing her arm.
Harry walked back up the marble staircase and headed on his way towards Slughorn's office, Hermione and Ron following behind him and Luna.
Harry got to Slughorn's door and knocked, he could already hear chattering people from inside and began to wonder how many people were actually in there.
When the door opened he hesitated for a fraction of a second before he got pushed aside by Ron.
'Don't just block the doorway mate.' Ron grinned as he pushed past Harry, Hermione's hand still in his as he dragged her inside Slughorn's office.
'If you need a moment I understand.' Luna's voice appeared beside him, 'there's a lot of Wrackspurt's around here.' And she made a swatting motion with her hands.
'No, I'm fine. Thanks though.' He smiled reassuringly.
Luna smiled back at him and nodded her head in the doors direction. 'Well then let's go.'
Harry walked in and took in the vast amount of room that was there for them. There were so many people he had never seen before and so many he had. Most of them were either from the DA or were a part of the Ministry.
Harry pretended to pay no attention to some of the Ministry workers who gave him a double take when they looked at him. He walked among the crowd, glancing here and there to see if he could find Hermione and Ron again.
He tried his luck by the food table but Ron wasn't there (for once).
'Sorry for dragging you around.' Harry apologized to Luna. 'You can go meet up with someone else if you like.'
'No, I'm quite happy here with you.' She smiled and looked Harry in the eyes, her head was tilted a fraction which gave him the impression that she might be seeing something he couldn't.
'Hello Neville.' Luna said dreamily, taking her eyes from Harry and staring over his shoulder.
Harry turned around just as Neville walked over to them. He looked quiet smart in a new set of robes and his smile was filled with a hint of humour.
'Hello Luna, Harry.' He smiled and nodded to Harry after awkwardly hugging Luna.
'Nice to see you again Neville.' Harry said.
'Same.' He said pleasantly.
There was a moment of silence that wasn't really silent; all the people behind them were supplying the absent of talk between the three of them.
'Ginny over here!' Luna called, waving her hand in the air a bit too enthusiastically, which drew a few eyes from some Ministry workers grouped together. They frowned at her but then noticed Harry's harsh stare at them. They quickly turned their gazes away; some of them looking embarrassed of getting caught by him.
Ginny was behind Neville, dressed in a long green dress and a glass of some sort of yellow drink in her hand. Harry and her met eyes for a brief second before she smiled and joined them.
'Having fun are we?' She said with a hint of humour in her eyes.
'Yes.' Neville replied, watching people walk by. There was a brief pause of silence.
'Yes it certainly does look it doesn't it?' Ginny said sarcastically as she swirled her drink around in the glass and then took a sip. She looked around herself then asked no one in particular 'Where's Ron and Hermione?'
'My money's on Ron being near a food table somewhere.' Harry said absentmindedly, his eyes looking over Ginny in her dress before moving away when he noticed Neville observing the two.
'Is Ron really that predictable?' She said dryly.
'Yeah, pretty much.' Neville said, giving an awkward smile. He probably thought that Ginny would punch him for being honest. She didn't though; she just smiled sweetly at him.
'Maybe Ron should get a new hobby? He could join the duelling club.' Luna said.
Ginny snorted into her drink. 'Nah Ron wouldn't be able to handle it, Quidditch, studying, following Harry around and his alone time with Hermione.'
'True.' Luna said. 'Is that drink nice?' She inclined her head to the one in Ginny's hand.
'Yeah, it's okay. Can't beat butterbeer though. . . I don't think anything can.' She smiled and her eyes flickered towards Harry for a moment before she looked down at the contents of her drink in her glass.
'Can you show me where you got it?'
'Sure,' Ginny glanced at Harry for a short moment before instructing Luna, 'This way.'
Luna followed and together they got consumed by the party guests.
Harry and Neville stood together for a moment; the silence between them was a little awkward as both didn't know what to say. 'Umm.' started Harry.
'Yeah, umm.' Neville replied.
'How's um, life?' Harry fumbled out.
'Being an Auror is a bit tougher than I thought it would be.' Neville said, shrugging.
'Oh yeah!' Harry exclaimed 'You're an Auror, but why then do you hang around at Hogwarts?'
'Usually it's just to use the library for research.' Neville shrugged. 'Though seeing faces I haven't seen in a while isn't a bad bonus.'
'What type of research do you have to do?'
'Oh Harry, stuff we haven't even heard of. Maybe Hermione has considering she's read the entire library three times over but not even Hogwarts teachers taught us this stuff during class!' Neville laughed.
Harry chuckled, 'Sounds interesting.'
'Maybe when you finally graduate from Hogwarts you can come and join me. I would gladly share my desk with you.' He smiled.
'I would like that.' Harry replied grinning back.
'I'll just have to move all the potted plants taking up the room on my desk.' He smirked.
Harry sniggered. 'It's nice to know that the plants have the best place in the office.'
Neville laughed again and together he and Harry walked around the room, catching up on lessons and what's it like working in the Auror Department.
Hermione and Ron walked over from behind a crowd of guests, a glass of champagne in their hands each.
'It's nice to be old enough to have this.' Ron grinned.
'Agreed,' Said Harry taking a seat in one of the green couches available and taking a drink off the low table in front of him, feeling relieved as it went down his dry throat.
Hermione sat in another chair opposite Harry, Ron sitting on the arm of it. Neville stayed standing, looking around and smiling at the people who passed by and acknowledge him.
'So Neville, are you still interested in Herbology?' Hermione asked.
'Yes, I was saying to Harry a while ago that I have an entire forest on my desk.' He joked.
'There aren't any spiders in your forest are there?' Ron asked, taking a big visible gulp. Harry knew Ron was referring to their time with Aragog in their second year, which, looking back now, kind of seemed funny.
'Maybe just some tiny house ones. Nothing big.'
Ron sighed slightly with relief. Hermione was in her chair trying not to smirk, hiding behind her glass. But Harry could see the tightness around her eyes as she watched him, trying to keep a straight face.
Harry, in an act to make her loose the straight face, crossed his eyes.
But that didn't seem to have worked. Ron though, seemed to have seen it, 'Harry, what are you doing?'
'I was um, checking to see if there was food on my nose. I remember touching something sticky over on one of the tables.' Harry covered.
'There's nothing on your nose besides your glasses Harry.' Ginny said, coming up behind Harry and taking a stand next to Neville. She had a few snacks in her hands which Ron seemed to eye.
Not a moment later though, Luna came up behind them saying that she'd just run into one of the editors from the Daily Prophet and they wanted to know what her father was running in his next issue of The Quibbler .
'What'd you say?' Hermione asked.
'I said he was running an article about some Hinkypunks and Gytrases forming an alliance down south to try and take over a town.'
There was a pause, 'That's not true though of course?' said Harry.
'Of course not.' Luna said coolly, smiling a small smile and taking a sip out of her drink.
Everyone let out a laugh and a few moments later Slughorn came up to them, a small orange hat on his head that held a very small orange feather. He greeted them all, smiling from beneath his moustache and asking them how they were enjoying themselves.
They all replied with genuine smiles and thanks for inviting them to attend. Slughorn just waved a hand, saying it was nothing and continued on his way around the room; saying hello to people and chatting to them in his buoyant manner.
Ginny had sat down on Hermione's other chair arm, while Neville had taken Harry's. Luna was still standing, swaying a little to the music in the background.
'Luna, do you want my chair? You've been standing for quite some time now; your legs must be hurting.' Harry asked.
'No thank you.' She replied politely and continued her swaying.
Harry didn't try to persuade her; when her mind's set, her mind's set.
He enjoyed the rest of his night though, sitting in the chairs with Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna for company. They talked about important things like the future and careers, but they also talked about nonsense like food and muggles and for some reason earwax. Harry couldn't quite remember how they got to that topic, something though to do with Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans.
It was entertaining though to watch Hermione and Ron blush and avert their eyes at one another when someone mentioned kids and future plans. Harry noticed that Luna was also observing their behaviour, but remained silent, swaying to the music.
When the party was at an end, Slughorn waved everybody out, shaking hands with them at the door and also commenting on certain things. He'd already said his farewells to the non-Hogwarts students as they Flooed to their destination from his fireplace.
Harry shuffled through the door, smiling at Slughorn on his way to the start of the stairs. Luna was beside him smiling but her eyes were looking heavy and she seemed to not be completely there (more than usual). Harry was under the impression that she was going to fall asleep real soon and if so, she would sleep like a baby for the rest of the night.
Harry placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her steady as she seemed to sway a little and was dragging her feet across the ground.
'I'm taking Luna back to Ravenclaw Tower; I think she's going to drop anytime soon.' Harry murmured to Hermione as she and Ron walked beside them.
'Okay, meet you back in the Common Room.' And she, Ron, Neville and Ginny all walked past on their way to their warm comfy beds while Harry took Luna in the direction of Ravenclaw Tower.
Harry made his way up the familiar spiral staircase once again with the company of only Luna beside him. 'I had. . . great fun,' yawn, 'tonight Harry.' Luna murmured. Harry reached the aged door and knocked once and watched as the eagle's beak opened and out came the sing song voice: 'Everything moves around me yet I do not move myself. What am I?'
Harry thought for a second frowning in deep thought then said the first thing that came to his mind that he thought would be correct: 'The sun?'
'Well said.' Replied the eagle and with that it opened.
Harry stumbled inside, tripping on one of Luna's feet. He searched around to see if he could find a Ravenclaw girl anywhere that could take Luna up to her room.
'A Gryffindor in Ravenclaw Tower, now that just isn't right . . . Luna?' A girl's voice called from across the room. She stood up from the table she had been working on and walked over to Harry. She had dark hair and brown eyes which looked concern for Luna. 'Is she sick or something? Has she been hurt?' The girl's voice was laced with unease.
'No, she's just very tired. Do you mind taking her up to her room; it would be very helpful seeing as well. . . I can't go up there.' Harry said, looking at Luna once again before the girl nodded her head and Harry took his hand off her shoulder, a little hesitant because the girl was so small.
'You better leave before someone else see's you here. I don't think being the Harry Potter would get you very far when it comes to being in another house's common room.' She pointed out.
Harry nodded his head 'See you tomorrow Luna.' And quickly made his way towards the door, 'And thank you!' Harry called back, looking over his shoulder.
The girl nodded her head once and began the accent to the girl's dorms, Luna swaying a little beside her but still standing on her two feet. Harry hoped Luna got a good night rest and that she had enjoyed herself tonight.
Harry made his way around the castle corridors with no problem, passing a few portraits that were asleep and snoring.
Harry walked through the portrait of the Fat Lady after saying the password and was relieved to see that everybody else had gone to bed except for Ron and Hermione who, much to his already damaged eyesight, seemed to have made themselves at home and were snogging on the couch.
Harry tried to make his presence unknown but Hermione seemed to have noticed him. She pushed Ron off her so fast that he fell on the floor with a loud thud! Ron spun around slowly to see why Hermione had pushed him away, rubbing his sore bum while at it then going a deep red colour.
'Harry, we didn't hear you come in.' Hermione said, trying to pat down her messy hair.
'Well that was obvious, don't stop on my account! Just continue on what you were doing before once I'm out of the room.' Harry made his way to the stairs to the boy's dorms then stopped, looking at Ron, 'Next time, be more alert. I don't want to have to end up picking my eyeballs off the dirty floor once they've dropped out of my head. And make sure you don't get caught when McGonagall does random checks.' And with those words of advice, Harry made his way up to his dorm, changed into his pyjamas and fell asleep on his bed. His dreams filled with images of Ginny in her green dress were interrupted by the creak of the door as someone made their way through it.
Harry lifted up his head and turned his neck around to the door. Ron was frozen still with a guilty look on his face, halfway through the door.
Harry rolled his eyes and plopped his head back down onto its pillow, sighing as he tried to get back to sleep.
'Hey Ron?' Harry whispered as Ron changed into his pyjamas and pulled back his sheets.
'Yeah?'
'You're going to pay tomorrow.' Harry grumbled into his pillow.
'For what?'
'One: waking me up. Two: letting a horrific image of you and Hermione downstairs slither into my mind for a fraction of a second there.'
Okay, so this chapter is done!
I would just like to answer a question someone asked I think it was 2 chapters ago? I would write down the chapter then, in a hurry to post it, forget to answer it. So, now that it's fresh in my mind I should answer it. No you don't just have to throw a Galleon into the water in the Memorial Room. It can be any type of coin, Galleon, Sickle or a Knut. It's just that Harry, being who he is; he just randomly pulled out a coin from his pocket that just happened to be a Galleon.
Also, to the person who suggested it, I think it actually would be very Hermione-ish if she would ask for the elves that died to have their names on the walls. If it's okay with you, I would like to see if I could put that in a chapter somewhere ^_^
Ps. This Author's notes are getting long but I just want to say that I'm looking for a beta :)
Don't forget to R&R!
pps. The next chapter probably won't take as long seeing as I already had it planned out ages ago xD