Author Note: This was a strange little idea I had come to me. Harry starts out with Luna, just after taking her to Slughorn's party. Then he will eventually wind up with Hermione when Luna manages to get the two of them to get their heads straightened out about how they feel towards each other. Until then Luna will teach Harry about love.
…...
"Thank you Harry for escorting me back to the Ravenclaw dorm Harry." Luna sighed.
"You're welcome Luna. I'm sorry I ruined your evening at the party." Harry said glumly.
"It is understandable Harry. You are under a lot of pressure and have a great many unresolved emotions about various things. I did not mind." Luna smiled briefly at him.
Harry looked at the petite blonde walking beside him, "Thanks Luna I guess I do."
"Would you like to go someplace and talk? Or at least sit and quietly exist? I would not mind if we did not end the night yet." Luna softly suggested.
"Sure Luna. I wouldn't mind." Harry said. He actually didn't want to go back to the Gryffindor common room. Ron would probably be snogging Lavender in front of everyone, asserting his male prowess. Meanwhile Hermione would be in a storm as she had spent the evening fending off Cormac's advances and would not be happy to see the Ron and Lavender display. Which meant either another fight between her and Ron or she would take it out on everyone around her.
Luna led Harry to the top of the Astronomy Tower. Technically it was off limits unless there was a class but no one ever paid attention to that rule, like many others in the castle.
After casting a warming charm on each other the two stood at the railing looking out into the moonlit night. The lights of Hogsmeade twinkling in the darkness on the far side of the lake a cluster in the vast sea of night.
"It is quite pretty up here. I sometimes like to come here and think about nothing." Luna sighed.
"Yeah it is nice." Harry agreed as they stood quietly side by side for several long minutes. Neither of them said anything just standing close to each other in silent contemplation. Harry felt a great deal of stress bleeding off of him. Eventually he turned to look at the girl next to him.
She seemed to glow slightly in the moonlight, her hair like fine spun silver and her skin like porcelain. He chuckled softly to himself as Hermione's books must be rubbing off on him. He sighed when he thought of his brown haired friend. How he was angry at Ron for ignoring her feelings and wondered what would happen if he tried to talk to Hermione about it.
As angry as she was right now Harry would probably get his head bit off so he sighed again.
"Are you practicing the Yoga technique of deep breathing? Padma has taught me some about Yoga. She says I have a natural flexibility." Luna asked suddenly causing Harry to smile.
"Sorry no. I was thinking."
"Oh. Well extra oxygen does help cool the brain so that you can think more. I sometimes stand on my head to get more blood to go to my brain for the same reason but if I did that now I would show you my knickers and I do not think that you are ready for that yet." Luna said practically.
Harry choked on some air when she said that. She gently patted him on the back until he began to breathe again. Hermione had never even mentioned knickers much less showing them to anyone.
"Is the concept of seeing my knickers that unpleasant Harry? I'm sorry."
"No. No not unpleasant just. Uh. Just sudden. I'm not used to girls talking to me about their knickers." He managed to choke out after several seconds.
"Oh. I suppose Hermione never talks about her knickers. She must wear them, most girls do. Although Padma has told me Parvati sometimes goes without."
Harry felt like he was going to get a nosebleed if this conversation continued."Right. That's uh nice to know." Harry would be thinking about this every time he saw Parvati now.
Luna looked at him with her head tilted in her funny way before saying, "I suppose. I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
"No Luna. I just. I've never actually talked to you very much so I'm not used to you."
She turned back towards the darkness, "Oh. I suppose you think I'm very odd too. Most people do."
"I don't think you're odd. You're just different." Harry said quickly.
"Too many people equate the two." Luna said sadly.
Harry leaned over the railing with a long sigh, "I know."
They stood silently for a bit longer while Harry thought. He liked Hermione, he was used to Hermione, but she liked Ron and he didn't want to lose either one of them as friends if things went wrong. Unfortunately their own budding relationship was so tumultuous he wondered if he would lose one or the other at some point.
Glancing to his right where Luna stood quietly, unassuming, patiently. She did not pressure him to do anything, she did not yell or shout like Hermione did. She did not fly into a rage like Ginny did. She just quietly sailed through all of the troubles like a majestic ship. The one time he had gone on holiday with the Dursleys they had seen a sailing ship go by Brighton harbor and Harry had been so impressed by it. Luna reminded him of that.
"Luna. Would you, er that is if you want to. Would you be my girlfriend?" He quickly stammered out.
Luna turned to look at him, her silvery blue eyes luminescent in the light. "Why? What about your feelings for Hermione?"
Harry wondered if she could read minds or something but said, valiantly trying to hide the hurt in his voice, "I'm not. She isn't. Hermione doesn't feel that way about me she likes Ron."
Luna raised her eyebrow before nodding, "That is not going to end well."
"Maybe but they're my friends and if I interfere I might lose them both."
"I understand not having enough friends that you would risk losing any." Luna sighed, "Unfortunately we lose people in life no matter how hard we try to hold onto them."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. He was about to apologize to Luna when she spoke again.
"I will be your girlfriend Harry." Luna smiled as she took his hand, "If you do not mind being seen in public with me."
"I won't mind that Luna. You're not someone to be ashamed of being seen with." He honestly meant that.
"That is one of the nicer things someone has said to me." Luna said happily.
…...
The two of them were walking back to the Ravenclaw dorms when Professor McGonnagal intercepted them.
"Good evening Professor." Luna said smiling happily.
"Good evening. Mr Potter, Ms Lovegood. You are aware it is two o'clock in the morning and Professor Slughorn's party ended several hours ago?"
"Yes ma'am. Luna and I were just talking." Harry said quickly.
The older woman looked at their joined hands and Luna's smile. "Is that all?"
Luna sighed, "There was some kissing, but Harry and I did not touch any inappropriate parts of each other."
Harry blushed bright red when she said that. Minerva managed to suppress a smile, "Well say good night to Ms Lovegood Mr Potter. I will ensure she returns to the domain of the Ravens safely."
"Yes ma'am." Harry turned to Luna and very aware of the Professor's gaze gave Luna a chaste hug and kiss on the cheek.
The two females watched Harry turn and go down the corridor. Luna sighed once he had rounded a corner and vanished.
"So you and he are dating now?" Minerva asked gesturing towards the corridor they needed to travel.
"For now. Only until Hermione realizes that she loves Harry as much as he loves her." Luna said matter of factly.
Minerva looked at the Ravenclaw with a curious expression, "That is a rather interesting attitude to take."
"It is what Harry needs until his path takes him out of the darkness. Harmony will win in the end, but only after they have traveled through pain, and fire, and darkness." Luna said with a strange quaver in her voice as her face held a blanker than usual stare.
"Ms Lovegood?" Minerva asked with some trepidation, the young girl's mother had taken some turns into the realm of a seer on occasion.
"Yes Professor?" Luna replied acting like she had not said anything.
"I believe you will be able to find your way from here?" Minerva said as she considered what sounded like a vision.
"Yes ma'am. Goodnight." The blonde said skipping off happily.
Minerva wondered if she should discus this with Albus or allow the youngsters to sort this out for themselves. She went on her rounds debating to herself.
…...
The next morning as the Gryffindors left their tower they met Luna standing quietly in the corridor.
"Blimey Luna. Whater you doing here?" Ron exclaimed.
Taking Harry's hand she said, "I was waiting for my boyfriend."
Ron looked at Harry who shrugged and smiling leaned over to kiss Luna on the cheek.
"Well at least we can hope the two of you will be more discrete than Ron and loose lips Lavender." Hermione choked out.
Ron growled, "Hey now. Don't be talking about my girl like that!"
"Well don't try and taste her tonsils at every opportunity. And where is she right now anyhow. Usually the two of you are like moss on a rock." Hermione sniffed walking on the other side of Harry and Luna.
"She had some girly stuff to do with Parvati. They'll be down in a few minutes. I thought you'd know since you share a dorm with them."
"I do not pay attention to either of them." She huffed, "Aren't you going to wait for her?"
"Nah. I wanted to talk to Harry about this." He said waving at Luna and Harry.
"What is there to talk about Ron? Its none of your concern who someone dates or has feelings for." Hermione declared angrily.
Harry began to feel trapped in the middle of an argument between Vernon and Petunia. They did not happen often but when they did even Dudley ran for cover.
"Look guys." Harry began but Ron and Hermione had dug their claws into each other too tightly to listen to him.
"Oh what do you know about feelings? You read about them in a book did you?" Ron huffed angrily.
Hermione shrilly laughed, "Oh that's rich coming from someone with the emotional range of a teaspoon."
Luna stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled loud enough that the paintings covered their ears, it echoed down the corridors causing every student to freeze in place and stare. "Enough please. You are disturbing my digestion and I have not even eaten yet."
Ron and Hermione both looked at her abashed and said, "Sorry Luna."
"Thank you. And Ronald there is nothing that you need to speak with Harry about concerning us. Harry asked me to be his girlfriend for his own reasons which he is not obligated to explain to you. To either of you or anyone else. Is that clear?" Luna spoke in her normal soft voice but it held a cold steel firmness in it.
Ron blinked several times trying to process what just happened before nodding slowly. Harry just shrugged at him and walked on with Luna holding his hand.
Ron turned to Hermione and asked in a subdued voice, "What just happened?"
Hermione watched the black haired boy and blonde haired girl walk and skip down the corridor happily holding hands with a shocked and slightly sad expression, "I think Harry is realizing there are more people in this school than us."
Ron's reply was cut short as his girlfriend latched onto his arm with a squeal.
…...
They were sitting on the train later that day. Ron was off with Lavender in a compartment while Harry and Luna sat with Hermione in another compartment. Luna sat next to Harry with a calm smile on her face as she shared copies of the Quibbler with him.
Hermione tried to find a way of starting a conversation but failed. She knew Harry was happy, or at least looked like he was as they would talk about some aspect of the magazine's articles. At least they were not pawing all over each other in a wanton carnal display like Ron and Lavender were doing.
The last prefect patrol she had made she found Ron with Lavender astride his lap kissing and grabbing each other. The curtains of their compartment wide open and two third years peeking in at them. She had pulled the door open after chasing the other students off to give Ron and Lavender a piece of her mind before turning and stomping off.
She sat slumped in the compartment listening to Harry and Luna talk softly. She was grumpy, frustrated and confused. Confused by why she was caring so much about Ron when he obviously didn't care about her. She stared out of the window wondering why she didn't just talk to Ron if she liked him that much. What was holding her back from reaching out to him. Although he could just as easily make the first move. Apparently he had no problem doing that with big boobed Lavender. Her chubby bottom was quite comfortable on Ron's lap it seemed.
Hermione glanced over at Harry and Luna as she giggled at something Harry had said. Luna giggling was still a concept Hermione was wrapping her head around. She was happy Harry had asked Luna to be his girlfriend. He deserved happiness. Didn't he? If she was happy for him why did she feel such a heavy weight in her stomach looking at Luna and him sitting so close together.
She turned back to stare out of the window until the rocking of the car and the warmth of the compartment caused her to fall asleep. She woke up an indeterminate amount of time later with her head against the window. Her cheeks felt damp like she had been crying in her sleep from a dream she couldn't remember.
"Hello. We are almost to London." Luna said.
Hermione looked around and noticed the two of them were alone in the compartment, "Where's Harry?"
"He went to speak with Ron about the plans for Christmas break." She replied calmly, "It is rather fortunate you woke when you did as I would like to talk to you alone."
"What about?" Hermione was confused as she had thought she was at least trying to be supportive of her and Harry.
"When you and Ron fight it hurts Harry. He does not want to say it to either of you as he is afraid that he will lose your friendship, something he desperately needs and wants."Luna's soft voice held a tone of dire reproachfulness.
Hermione felt like she had been slapped. She didn't realize she had been hurting Harry but Ron vexed her so much. She had really only become friends with Ron due to Harry in the first place. Now he had grown on her some and had become sort of cute. Physically at least, although Harry had grown nicely as well. She shook her head to refocus her thoughts. "I didn't realize that."
"Even though you are quite intelligent you can be rather oblivious to a great many things." Luna nodded in agreement.
Hermione frowned, she did not want to get into a fight with Luna as that would make Harry upset no doubt. Malfoy had seen the two of them holding hands and sneered something rude Harry had not heard clearly almost starting a fight until Luna cleared her throat causing Harry to just scowl at Draco and move on. She had a feeling that if they had not gone to the train in mid morning that Harry would have hunted Draco down to have a discussion with him away from Luna.
"It is true." Luna said looking at Hermione's frown. "Why do you like Ron?"
"Excuse me? What makes you think I like Ron?" Hermione defensively replied.
"I do not think that. Harry does." Luna explained.
Harry thought Hermione liked Ron. Was that why he asked Luna to be his girlfriend? She had treated Harry like a close friend, someone special to her, did he think that she didn't like him like a potential boyfriend. A small voice in the back of her head asked, what had she done to make him think he stood a chance with her. Had she really ever given him even the slightest hint she liked him that way. Did she really like Ron? Why was her mind all confused right now she struggled to focus her thoughts as Luna stared at her.
"If you have to think about why you like someone do you really like them?" Luna calmly asked.
Hermione had no real answer to that question as she turned to stare out of the window at the London suburbs.
…...
Harry woke up the day he would be taking the knight bus to Luna's house. He was excited and nervous as this was another wizarding household he had never been to before. Luna said her father was nice and would be happy to meet him which also made him nervous. Meeting the father of your girlfriend according to Seamus was always a big deal and this would be the first time Harry hadever gone through that.
The fact they lived not far from the Burrow and it would be a quick walk to join the Weasleys for Christmas dinner was a bonus. However he would be staying at the Rookery as Luna said her home was called. Which also made him nervous as he did not exactly know how to act. Staying over at the Burrow there was always something going on but with Luna and her father it was a new circumstance.
Still it was better than here with the Dursleys. Especially as Marge would be coming and since she didn't remember the last time she was nasty to Harry he had no doubt she would needle and push him until he got angry again and something bad happened.
The knight bus left him at the end of a narrow lane with a post box on the end of it that said Lovegood. Walking down it he had gotten only a few feet when he was met by Luna.
"Hello Harry." She said with a smile, hugging him warmly. She hugged more gently than Hermione did but with the same degree of warmth and happiness it seemed like to Harry.
"Your night went well?" She said taking his hand as they began to walk again.
"Well enough. But how did yours go?"
"I spent much of it preparing the guest room for you to stay in, unless you would like to sleep with me." She said.
Harry took a deep breath as he tried not to over react to that phrase. "Sleep with you?"
"Well yes. I did not mean have coitus, otherwise I would have said that. I am not ready to have full penetrative sexual relations yet."
Harry was still having trouble wrapping his head around her frank and unfiltered comments but at least it was just the two of them so he wasn't as uncomfortable.
"Were you hoping we would have sexual relations? I'm sorry, although I suppose we could snog and perform other acts of gratification." She said thoughtfully.
"Uh. We've been dating for a little over two days Luna. Should we be considering that right now?"
"I don't know. I have never been in a relationship before. I would not be opposed to seeing what it would feel like to be gratified by someone else. I have only self-gratified. Do you do that?"
"Uh you mean masturbate?" He asked trying not to laugh at how strange the conversation with her was.
"Yes. I have been doing that for several years now."
Harry shrugged saying, "Yeah. I have too."
"Do you fantasize about anyone when you do so?" Luna asked pointedly.
Harry thought about the times he had fantasized over someone. Cho had been one source of mental stimulation but Hermione had become a star in his fantasies a few times as well. Especially recently.
"Sometimes. Can we discus something else?" Harry asked. The thoughts involved had caused another portion of his anatomy to become rather aware and awake.
"I'm sorry is this making you uncomfortable?" Luna asked, "I suppose the thought of mutual gratification is stimulating for you, I know I am."
Harry almost dropped his overnight bag when she confessed that. She looked at him worriedly.
"Are you alright Harry? We are too far from the water for a gulping plimpie to have grabbed you."
"Uh no. It was just. I was surprised." he squeaked out.
Luna smiled at him, "Surprising that I am aroused by you physically or that I get aroused?"
"Uh the first one." He had no doubt that she would get aroused, he guessed, but the idea he did that to her was a bit.
"I do not see why you would be surprised by that. You are a rather handsome male. The idea of being pleasured by you is not an unpleasant one."
Harry had no idea how to reply to that so stood staring at her until she reached up to pull his head down so she could gently blow into his ear.
"Sorry you seemed to have a rather large infestation of Wrackspurts. They like to huddle in the ears so sometimes you have to blow them out gently."
"Oh uh thanks." Harry still didn't know what to say but being polite was always a good idea. They began to walk again saving him from having to find words. One nice thing about Luna was she did not seem to expect people to constantly talk to her.
They had reached a tall building that looked like a chess piece sitting in the middle of a large clearing. There were two wings jutting out from the base that Harry could see while to the east was a copse of woods. A field and orchard sat on the other two sides away from the lane that would no doubt be shaded in summer.
"This is a nice looking home Luna." Harry said grateful for a distraction.
"Thank you. Father built it for mother when they got married as my uncle inherited the ancestral home in Ireland." She said opening the door.
Entering carefully Harry saw the center circular room was a comfortable carpeted living room with couches and chairs arranged so people could sit and chat easily. A stairway ran up at the side of the room while three arched doorways led out into other wings. A stairway ran down into a basement on the side with the stairs.
"The kitchen and dining room are that way, the guest room and bath are through there and that was mother's lab. We do not go in there anymore." She sad with a slight bit of sadness.
"Oh okay. Uh where's your father?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Father is in Dublin and will be back tomorrow. He was meeting with some old friends over the solstice festival." Luna said unconcerned.
"So we're on our own?" Harry said nervously. How would her father feel about that.
"Father knows you are coming here today Harry. He is not upset about that as he said he trusts you, and more importantly he trusts me." Luna smiled at him.
"Oh okay. That's good to know." Harry said with a little bit of relief.
"So let's get your things put in the guest bedroom then." Luna said showing him the way.
"Uh yeah." Harry said following her.
Revew Responses:
LadyKirsten: Thank you. I'm glad you liked.
DennisUD: I am glad you liked the added bits. Its one of the many thigns I work on as my mind flitters from idea to idea like a butterfly in a hurricane. Including ttrying to get the ones screaming at me in my head out like this one.