6

The following morning Harriet had awoken with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. She wasn't sure whether it had been a dream or reality but whatever it was, it was amazing. She was halfway through changing when there was a knock on her door. "Just a minute," she called out as she rushed to finish getting dressed. When she had finished she went over and opened the door to find Hermione standing on the other side. "Good morning Hermione!"

"Don't you good morning Hermione me! Where were you last night? I came back from the dance and you weren't in your room. I waited up for a bit but you never showed up. I was beginning to get worried," she stated as she entered Harriet's Room. Harriet motioned for Hermione to sit on the bed and took a seat next to her before recapping the events of the previous night, including the words of Professor McGonagall. Hermione's face went through a wide range of motions before settling on relief and excitement for Harriet.

"See? I told you that you should have asked her to the dance," said Hermione in her know-it-all voice with a smile. "Yeah. Yeah. I guess you were right," replied Harriet, "I was just nervous and scared that's all. Plus I'm not ready for the whole formal thing."

"I still think you'd look beautiful," replied Hermione, "Oh and speaking of formals it was nice of you to loan Ron your dress robes. It was a pleasant surprise from his usual formal attire." "Well I don't exactly think they'd fit…," Harriet replied gesturing to herself. Hermione then proceeded to recap their events of the night at the formal. Apparently Ron was quite the gentlemen. Well at least as much as he could be. They danced and talked and it was a magical night for them as well. Ron even kissed her goodnight on the cheek. "Speaking of Ron we better get going. I'm sure he's waiting for us."

With that they both left the room, closing the door behind them, and headed down to the Gryffindor commons where Ron was indeed waiting for them. "Blimey. Now that you're a girl you take just as long as Hermione," Ron said to Harriet. "It's nothing Ronald. Just a little girl talk," replied Hermione with a smile, "let's get going or we're going to miss breakfast." The three of them left the commons and headed to the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron were trying to be secretive about it as they held hands on the way but Harriet noticed. She didn't say anything though. She was excited and it must've shown because Ron commented, "Slowdown will ya? I'm sure there will still be food when we get there. You'd think she hadn't eaten in days." "That's not why she's excited," Hermione whispered to Ron. Harriet felt her ears turn red at the comment. Ron looked a little confused but went with it.

Upon reaching the Great Hall Harriet's eyes quickly scanned the Ravenclaw table until she saw the one she was looking for. Her eyes met Luna's and they both smiled. Hermione pretty much had to drag Harriet out of the doorway and to their table. Harriet sat where she could see Luna. To say she was happy was an understatement. It hadn't been a dream after all. Ron sat across from her and it took him a minute to figure out what was going on. He followed Harriet's gaze to their destination and it wasn't hard to figure out what she was staring at, even for him. "Blimey, you really do have a thing for her. You've got it bad mate." Of course, Harriet barely heard him as she was in her only little world only to be brought out of it by fingers snapping in front of her face followed by a "Hello? Hello? Earth to Harriet. Are you there?" She turned and looked at Ron, "Huh? What? Sorry. I was somewhere else."

"Obviously," replied Ron with a tone of sarcasm.

"Leave her alone," Hermione said, "Besides you were the same way last night."

Ron acted surprised like he had no idea what she was talking about. "What? Me? Never!"

"Really," replied Hermione, "So that wasn't you who asked me to the dance? That wasn't you who borrowed Harriet's dress robes? That wasn't you who acted like a gentleman last night and brought me a drink? That wasn't you who…." Hermione trailed off and blushed without finishing the sentence.

During breakfast they continued talking and joking with one another with Harriet occasionally stealing glances at Luna across the way. "Uh-oh Harriet," came Hermione as she nodded towards the Slytherin table, "you've got another interested party and he looks none too happy at the glances you've been exchanging with Luna." All three of the turned and looked towards Slytherin and saw the face of Draco Malfoy who looks like he just drank sour milk and was wearing his normal grumpy pout face. Apparently even he could figure out there was something going on between Luna and Harriet and he was not pleased.

"Eh. Forget him," replied Ron, "It's none of his business anyway, the git."

"That's right," came Hermione, "It's not. You just go on being happy. It's not like he has a shot with a girl like you anyway."

Hermione blushed and Ron pretended to gag at the last comment. "There's nothing special about me," replied Harriet, "I'm just like everyone else."

"Yeah except for the fact you defeated You-Know-Who," came Ron

"And the Basilisk," chided Hermione

"And won the Tri-Wizard cup"

"And saved Ron during it"

"Alright! Enough. That was the old me," interrupted Harriet

"It was still you," retorted Hermione, "Just because you're a girl now doesn't mean you didn't do those things."

"If you say so Hermione but everyone treats me like I'm a completely different person." At the moment a yellow paper butterfly flew over and floated in front of Harriet. She held out her hand and it landed and transformed into a note with her name on it in a flowing cursive.
Before she could even open it she could smell the light flowery perfume on it that she recognized from the night before and her heart skipped a beat. She carefully opened the note.

Meet me in the courtyard after breakfast? ~Luna~

Harriet folded up the note and tucked it into her pocket. She looked across to Luna who had once again met her eyes and nodded her acknowledgement with a smile on her face.

"Do I even have to ask who that's from," inquired Hermione.

"It's from Luna if you must know and she wants me to meet her after breakfast."

"Moving kinda quick aren't ya mate," came the questioning voice of Ron.

"You're one to talk. I heard about last night," replied Harriet.

Both Ron and Hermione turned red at the comment. Ron turned to Hermione, "You told her?" Hermione shrugged, "like I said earlier, girl talk. I didn't think she was going to bring it up at breakfast."

"Sorry. Just kinda slipped out," replied Harriet. She finished her breakfast and glanced up to see that Luna had already left, "anyway now that I'm done with breakfast I shall be off. Don't want to keep Luna waiting. I'll catch up with you guys later" With that she got up and left the Great Hall. She headed towards the courtyard, almost running in her excitement.