Disclaimer: I will never own Harry Potter. If I did, that Epilogue would never have existed.

A/N: Thank you for all those wonderful people who keep on reviewing this story and to those who added this story as one of their favorites. Special thanks to Eldar-Melda, pawsrule and happylady for the continuous support since the very beginning. Enjoy. :)

Chapter 15: Luna "Love Good"

As much as I loved Ronald Weasley as a brother, I couldn't help but say that he was a right damn git especially when choosing places where we could talk and relax. Blimey, why did he have to choose a wizarding café in the middle of Diagon Alley? It was full of people who kept staring at you like you were loony! There were so many good places to choose from and I would have preferred to go to a muggle café or even a restaurant. Batty, these people were. Just as you finally succeed on telling yourself to let them be, one move and you would catch their attention again. If Ron didn't get his arse down here after his break was over, I would hex his bollocks.

The sound of the café was also quite unnerving that my cheeks were beginning to have involuntary twitches. Waiters were busy running around, serving customers with their respective orders. People were chatting, their voices were sometimes distinct. Women gossip and men talk about work or quidditch. It was a very fine day to be back in wizarding Britain again. The air was lively of course, but it didn't do anything to appease my mood. I shifted in my seat, determined on minding my own business as I concentrated on what I planned to do afterwards. I just succeeded in closing my eyes and again, flashes of green light echo in my sight.

I sighed.

As much as I want to move on, forget, or whatever bollocks that I could do, there were times that I could still see their faces in the Great Hall. I could still see Fred's ghostly smile echoing through my mind or Remus and Tonks' bodies that were down the tables. Even in death, they were still together. I could see how the fighters fell as they tried to defend the castle, their heroic stance while fending off Death Eaters and how they fell with a simple flicker of a wand. How much, how much longer –

"Why the long face Harry?" Stunned, I saw a gleam of blonde hair and a very eccentric person took a seat beside me, her gray, dreamy eyes accompanied by a wide smile. She was wearing a bright orange dress topped with dirigible plum earrings, her butterbeer cork necklace hung around her neck.

"Luna? What are you doing here?" Her brow arched and she took the menu from the table.

"I am waiting for father. He owled the Headmistress and asked if she could allow me two days to return home. We are a bit preoccupied with moving and such. So, do you want to tell me why the wrackspurts are bothering you?"

I smirked, same old Luna. "Oh, it's nothing, really. I was just having a bad day with the Ministry and all. Each department has so much work to do, help with rebuilding and stuff."

Luna arched her brow. "I agree with you there. The Ministry is in chaos right now, even if Kingsley is doing a good job, rebuilding the ministry is just plain difficult and the wrackspurts are really enjoying the mess of confused people. So, have you returned to Hogwarts?"

I shook my head. I had been in that bloody office in France for months now that I suddenly realized how I wanted to return to someplace familiar. "Well, I would be returning after a week or so, and I hope I would be out of another Auror office soon. I am dying to get out of any office right now, always full of paper works for me while most of the Aurors are going out on the fields."

True enough, it was hard to delve into the paperwork cases of Aurors. The last months were extremely fantastic. The Ministry was still in a hard bind, rebuilding and all after the war. Kingsley was doing a great job and all but even that was not enough to reform a Ministry ravaged by war in a short amount of time. Most ministry employees and higher officials had to restructure the order and some laws had to be destroyed or reconsidered. Aurors were being sent in missions to capture Death Eaters and investigate cases. Most of their trainees and even soon-to-be Aurors who were not sent on field work had to suffer the ridiculous amount of paperwork just because almost all of the available ones were out on missions. Other departments were also having a hard time, people were still scared, scared of whatever remnants of the old world of Voldemort's were still looming around. "Well, Hermione wouldn't mind to just splurge into paperwork. What happened to your arm? It's ghastly!"

Luna eyed me suspiciously as I looked at another bandaged left hand that was tied in a sling. "Er – to tell you the truth, I was part of the investigation team in a French case. Because of this injury, they set me off to do awful paperwork."

I have been out of Hogwarts for a long while. Work was hard, annoying, boring and all. . .but it helped me do something other than remembering that war and the people who died for the cause.

"Hermione will go batty when she sees that arm. Have you happened to see Ronald yet? He has some news for you."

"Well, that berk was the reason why I am going all mental trying to pass time here."

"Ohhh, things never change somehow. Maybe he's still trying to catch a blibbering humdinger! He promised me he'll try to catch one."

"Er –– really?"

"Yes. I was present at a famous Weasley gathering last Christmas, you see. And good to see that Ronald and Hermione still make time to strengthen their friendship too! But the thing got worse so it's a good thing Mrs. Weasley is there to help them."

Gobsmacked at what Luna said, I went to look at her always-so-calm features, my food long forgotten. "I see. So you mean they made Mrs. Weasley go all nutters in stopping their row?"

"Oh, yes of course. Well Harry, I wanted to ask you a favor."

"What favor?"

"It seems that Hermione is pushing herself to the limits lately, she always looked so worn and tired. So please talk some sense into her?"

"Er – why me? She'll just hex my bollocks!"

"Ronald said you could. And trust me, you are the only person that Hermione listens to."

For a moment, everything seemed silent. I tried to speak but no words came out of my mouth. How in the world am I going to do what Luna asked? Hermione had always been the level-headed one and I am always known for my narked temper. I am really worried. Luna was eccentric but she could always speak something with sense.

"She has been complaining a lot about you guys forgetting about her just because you are out of Hogwarts, must be the wrackspurts infecting her mind too."

"I'll see to it that I will visit her first when I return. Hey, I sent her letters mind you, even when I don't reply on time. Prongs was also a bit angry about being so idle."

But most of our letters had been all about NEWTS and work after all. During my time as a Junior Investigator, my job was to check for wards and disable them before finding out if I could match some magical signature with the spells used. But things got nasty when a very strong spell was used and knocked all Aurors. I never told her about the difficulties of work, I wouldn't want to bother her that much when I knew she was preparing for her NEWTS. If there was one thing that hadn't change about her, it was her desire to give her best in everything she did and I didn't want her to worry about my state or anything I am doing that could alert her mind.

I scratched my head in confusion and looked at Luna's direction.

"That will be great then. You should consider asking her on a date to make up for the time that you weren't there!"

Sometimes, I didn't know if Luna was just joking or if she's a real loony. "What? Ridiculous Luna!"

But she ignored me as a waitress went by and she gave her order. "One glass of pumpkin juice please, and make it a little warmer. Thank you." The waitress nodded at her and left while she shifted her attention back to me with a lop-sided grin.

"Oh but it's not ridiculous at all Harry. After all, you like her." Heat rose to my cheeks and I swear that Luna was smirking at me because she saw me blush.

"She's my best friend, course I like her."

"Rubbish. I am a Ravenclaw, you know? And as much as you try to deny what is in front of you, you cannot deny what your eyes tell the world."

"W-w-what?" The waiter arrived with the pumpkin juice that she ordered. She took a sip and her dreamy eyes seemed to pierce through me.

"You fancy her. I always see the two of you near the lake and there is something, a glow in your eyes when you are with her."

"What do you mean?" I tried to sound indifferent.

"Are the wrackspurts trying to make your brain fuzzy again?"

"Why are you saying this Luna?"

"Well, you haven't looked happy at all after the war but when I saw you with Hermione, I could see the gleam returning to your eyes."

A little grin suddenly erupted from her face as she moved closer to me and whispered something in my ear. "Don't worry. Nobody saw the two of you except me."

I sighed.

"Ahh well Harry, I guess you haven't been aware that you were not yourself in most occasions, especially so when the war ended."

I flinched. Was it that really that obvious? And Luna already knew about Hermione so as much as I'd like to panic and deny that what she said was not true, I just couldn't find it in me to tell her that she was mistaken. Merlin! Was I that obvious? I hope that Luna was right and that we were not seen by any other people we knew. Sighing again, I slumped in my chair and tried to think of what to say. Silence just followed afterwards. I took a deep breath. "Look, I don't want anyone to know about what we talked about so please don't tell a single soul, not even Ron."

"All right, whatever you say Harry. At least I know that you're not denying that fact."

I looked at the distant horizon, how the shops in Diagon were now busy tending to customers, how everyone was busy with their own businesses. And then, it reminded me of how I spent the time here with the two of them a few years ago, when all was not yet destroyed by a madman's desires.

And then it clicked. With my unseeing eyes brought back to the reality of the present, I stared as many things fell on me all at once. "I think I have always loved her, deep inside. It was always there. I just never knew how to acknowledge the feelings because it has been a part of who I was."

When I looked at Luna, her eyes were solemn, something that was not usually seen with her. I put my hand on her shoulder and tried my best to produce a smile. "I'd care not to mention it to anyone, if I were you. My words and feelings get on my nerves that even I couldn't believe that I am capable of showing it that much."

And then, she laughed. It was honest, true. "It's difficult to believe that only one person could let you open up and say that much. That may be the reason why other girls couldn't even win your heart the way that Hermione could."

"Well, people see me as Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, what do you expect?" I snickered and had to keep my emotions and my bitterness on check.

People were very fickle-minded, that was one thing I could never deny after staying this long in Magical Britain. One moment, they were glorifying you, not that I like it one bit, but the next time, the lot would like to throw all kinds of ghastly things on you and you would be left believing that the only right thing in this world were the people you love.

Luna's eyes seemed uninterested from what I said and was gazing on something. "There are still people who love you and they will want you to trust them, so start planting some trust on the people who deserved them."

With a smile, she then stood up and waved at a newcomer that I didn't even notice. There was something different about him. He seemed to be glowing. His fiery red hair grew in every direction and his bright blue eyes matched the colors of his dark robes and blue shirt. He looked younger than when I last saw him.

"Hello, Ronald. So nice of you to drop by." I looked at my back only to see Ron flash a huge grin. I stood up and gave him a manly hug while flashing an equally huge grin myself. "I missed you, mate. Mum went a little barmy when I told her that you would not join us for Christmas or any other events until you were asked to return."

"I missed you too, Ron. How are things back at the Burrow?" Ron moved towards Luna's direction and gave her a hug before filling in the empty chair beside her. After a while, he started pondering on my question, very much relieved as he sat down comfortably on the chair.

"Things are still the same I suppose, although, Mum and Dad are always at the Ministry. You know, stuff. Bill and Fleur have gone off for a vacation somewhere."

Ron stopped to signal the waitress and started pointing here and there at the menu. I pitied the poor, gobsmacked waitress. "I guess it's time for some nash."

Ron nodded and took the food I have left and dug in. Silly Ronniekins. "How's school, Luna?"

"School's fine, Ronald. I still find some time to hunt for creatures of magic. Did you catch your share of blibbering humdingers?"

"Ahh, that's something that I haven't accomplished yet. Nasty little critters refused to get caught! Don't mind it, I will catch one and I will owl you straightaway!" Ron laughed while a tinge of pink covered his ears.

"That is very nice of you. Of course I will do my share of the work and reward you with the tastiest of food." Ron looked at me with a don't-mind-what-I-just-said look that I couldn't help but smirk. After eating, he glanced at my direction again.

"Where was I mate? Right, must continue. I am still working at the shop. George started some of his experiments again and I am trying to help him develop some useful enough pranks. Hermione went all mental with that one. Silly, that girl is. Don't even know how to joke around."

Just hearing her name made my heart skip some beats. I missed her. I missed the times we were at the lake, talking about nonsensical stuff. "Mate?"

I snapped out of my reverie and stared at my best friend before pondering that I am still at café and the two were looking at me with worried eyes. "Huh? Sorry, got lost there."

"Did you know George was now dating Angelina? It even took them quite a while to even notice that they fancied each other. It was expected, really. Especially because they have grown close, very close mind you. And did you know that Hermione was going super mental because NEWTS were already coming? Not to mention that her letters are much worse than an actual screaming howler every time I reply late? Merlin, that woman needs so loosen up!"

I laughed. Typical Hermione was trying to fit her time for both her NEWTS and scolding us to boot! But then again, I knew how much stress she was on. "I guess she does. Try not to anger her that much; you know what happens when you do."

"You have to be ready to face a living howler when you get back to Hogwarts mate. I will not be surprised if she cast her bloody birds of death on you when she sees you."

And just like a savior, Luna lowered her glass of pumpkin juice before I could even think of scolding Ron. "I have to go now, father is already waiting outside the shop." She stood up and nodded at both Ron and me, kissing Ron on the cheek before turning towards the direction of the door.

"Oh, and Harry? Tell me if you want to talk about it." I tried to blink many times while comprehending what she just said. Honestly, that girl.

Then, just when I thought about telling Ron something, I laughed. "Why do you look like a tomato, mate?"

A few days later, I was finally back on the familiar Hogwarts ground. I went straight away to the Headmistress' office to give her the letter about the people who would be visiting Hogwarts for the students' exams. Before I left, I noticed that it was not the same office that I saw months ago, the trinkets and treasures that the two previous Headmasters had were put away and the room was now warmer and much more comfortable to be in. It really fitted Professor McGonagall, actually.

There was a yell and a loud clunk as the door opened to reveal the Headmistress, her stern gaze thrown away as she smiled. "There you are, Mr. Potter. I thought you were back in your room."

"Hello, Professor, it's good to be back."

She looked at the parchments at the table and my scrawny handwriting that addressed the parchments to her. "Is this the list of the people who will give the exams?"

"Yes. Kingsley also told me that he'll come with the heads of every department so that they can orient students who will want to keep a job at the Ministry."

"Ahh yes, it was my request that they give the students some appropriate explanation of the world outside of Hogwarts based from the idea that Ms. Granger told me."

"I didn't know."

"You've been away for quite a while after all. Did you enjoy your stay in the French Ministry? I never thought that McGovern would send your squad there."

I snickered. Marshall McGovern was the new head of the Auror Office. Apparently, he was Kingsley's superior when he was still an Auror. Strict and very withdrawn, the bloke was always a good pain in the arse when he gave orders. There was never a time that we didn't fight about the missions. "He wanted us to look onto the different cases of escaped Death Eaters who fled to France. The reason he didn't want me near any Death Eater cases in England was because I might be foolish enough to get myself into danger because of me being rash and all."

"Right good point he got there, Potter. There wasn't news of any of the escaped Death Eaters here in England after you left. No one caught even a sight of them." She eyed my arm while pondering on the news. "Where did you get that injury?"

I looked at my injured arm again. "Well, we were lucky to find a source who told us that a dodgy person was found living in an abandoned house but while I was checking for some wards that they put on the house, we didn't know that one bloody nutter entered without permission so we were blown by the wards."

"I'm terribly sorry for what you experienced."

"It's all right, the wound has already healed and the arm is back to its healthy state. I just couldn't remove the sling and bandages yet because the healer would hex me to oblivion if I did."

For what seemed like hours of silence, I heard the Headmistress laugh which made me open my mouth in surprise, gaping like a fish out of water. "I am glad you seemed to know how to listen to orders, Mr. Potter. If you'll excuse me, I have work to do with Professor Sprout."

Getting the parchment at the table, she strode into the office and took something out before turning into me. "And before you go to the Great Hall, I'll advise you to go to the Ancient Runes classroom and look for Ms. Granger. That girl needs to be taught the meaning of relax."

I smiled as she left. Gathering my knapsack, I went to look at the sleeping portraits before heading towards the direction of the said classroom.

I found Luna in the Great Hall while I tried to locate the classroom. Having nothing to do, she helped me and we talked while waiting outside. We talked about the missions, the trip she had with her father to buy some furniture and Hermione. Somehow, I felt safe while telling Luna some of my feelings. I told her a brief summary about how I first felt it and how it never faded after, how Ginny and I achieved our closure after the war and how Hermione spent her vacation helping me take care of Teddy. I blabbered on and on while she listened intently. Finally, after what it seemed like ages, classes were finally over and Luna said her goodbyes, telling me that she doesn't want to bother the reunion. Smiling gratefully, I waited until the only girl inside was the bushy-haired girl with chestnut brown locks who seemed to be so focused in packing all her belongings neatly.

I waited until the Professor left before covering her eyes with my hands. She winced at the contact and tried to stay silent for a few minutes before both hands tried to find out who I was. I laughed silently, dodging her every action.

"Honestly, you can just tell me who you are and not bother to play such silly games!" she said. Amused by her reaction, I finally let her go and put my hands on my pockets.

And I was greeted by a bone-crashing hug and a squeal.

"I missed you." She broke the hug and examined me carefully, as a bright smile never left her seemingly tired face.

"You should've. I haven't seen you in months! I mean look at you."

I could honestly tell myself that many things changed during the months that I was in France. Daily drillings made my body lean and muscular and I've grown a little taller. The little stubble in my chin was still evident in my features, so as the darker-than-ever rings underneath my eyes. "Yeah well, tell my boss to give me a holiday next time. And about this arm, don't worry, my healer is just taking precautions but everything is as good as before."

I gave her a warm smile and observed her features. "Look at you though, why do I feel like you have not been taking care of yourself again?"

Hermione bit her lower lip, thinking of a response. Somehow, I felt that I won't get everything I wanted to hear. Her warm, chocolate eyes were solemn but there were dark circles in her eyes. She looked so tired and fragile in a way, like she was trying to do everything on her own. "I've been trying to finish studying for NEWTS so I can study some more. Haven't got much sleep because of it."

"Is that all?" I sighed. You couldn't really give some sense to a stubborn Hermione. "I won't push you to give me more decent explanations but I want you to take care of yourself and get enough rest all right? I'll be the one to go mental if something bad happened."

"You've been talking to Ron haven't you? Honestly that daft git! I told him not to push this issue any further!"

"You can't blame Ron, he's just worried about you." She rolled her eyes, indicating that she didn't want any further bickering.

"All right, I will try. I think I have studied enough to let me have decent NEWTS. You two are very demanding!"

I cocked my eyebrow and laughed at her. "I will insist that you, Ms. Granger, sleep in my room later so that I'll be able to see if you WILL follow my advice. I'll sleep on the couch." Seemingly up for more protests, I put my index finger in her mouth to stop her and gave a smirk. "I won't allow you to protest."

"T-t-that's totally absurd Harry! You really think I will sleep in your room?"

"Well, why not? I mean, we certainly fall asleep on the couch together sometimes when we were in Grimmauld Place, surely it's not a new experience. And also, you're required to be my date this Saturday, allow me to take you out to Hogsmeade so that you can have a change of scenario."

I winked at her and rejoiced at my clever play even if my heart was beating rapidly on my chest. I thought of this plan for a while now, especially because Hermione needed to freshen up and load off her stress. I am certainly teasing her on the date part but who cares? For as long as I could take her out, I wouldn't mind if it would become a real date. Imitating my friend in the Auror office, I did a gentlemanly gesture. "So, would you allow me to take you out my lady?"

Hermione blushed and tried to squeak jumbled, unintelligible words while nodding as she tried to hide her did-you-hit-your-head expression. I smirked at her and kissed her cheeks, rendering her speechless with my un-Harrylike actions, Luna's fault.

With that, I pulled her out of the classroom and into the Great Hall for lunch, all the while hiding my very embarrassed face at my rash actions and the smile of satisfaction that lingered on my lips while I held her hand.

A/N: Well, thank you very much for reading this story. I am very happy with the reviews too. Please take your time and review once you've finished. :)