AU where Luna goes with the Golden Trio to look for horcruxes. Ginny and Harry have never dated in this universe.
The locket weighed heavily on Harry, sinking into his spirits and leaving him in a dismal state. Ron and Hermione were worried about him, he could tell, but had begun to keep their distance from him. They wanted to give him space—he knew that—but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were avoiding him because he was a drag.
With Luna, it was different. She treated him the same as she always had, chatting with him about nargles or what-have-you whenever the fancy struck her. And for whatever reason, hers was the only presence capable of soothing Harry.
One day, he found Luna outside, attempting to sketch boxes of chalk on the soft earth.
He smiled. "Are you trying to play hopscotch?"
"Jumpjims, actually. But it takes two to play."
"Well, will you teach me?"
Luna nodded, beckoning him to her side.
She had drawn what looked exactly like hopscotch squares, but with Luna, nothing was exactly as it seemed.
"You stand on one end," she said, "and I'll stand on the other. I'll ask you a question about me, and if you get it right, you can jump forward. If you don't, you stay where you are. Then you can ask me a question."
"Who wins?" asked Harry.
"The person who first makes it to the other," said Luna, reaching her square. "Are you ready?"
"I think so."
"Why did I come with you on this trip?"
Harry thought about this. "Because you wanted to help us look for horcruxes. And because we're your friends, and you care about us."
Luna smiled. "That's right."
Harry hopped forward. He tried to think of a good question to ask, but he wasn't quite sure what to say.
"How have I been feeling lately?"
"You feel sad, because of the horcrux that's on you," said Luna. "I think you feel lonely, too. But sometimes, like now, you're at peace."
Harry nodded, and she jumped forward.
"So if I get this right, I could win," said Harry, noticing the single square between them.
"Yes," said Luna. "So, tell me, Harry: am I in love with you?"
She'd caught him off guard. Harry had often wondered whether he might be in love with Luna, but he'd never stopped to consider the reverse. Maybe that was because Luna was so hard to read, even now, giving him that same soft smile, the barest traces of a blush on her cheeks.
Harry plucked up the courage to guess: "Yes?"
Luna averted her eyes, still smiling. "Congratulations, Harry. You've won."
Harry hopped onto the square that had separated them. But there was still distance between them, and it was starting to become intolerable.
"Do I get a prize?" asked Harry.
Luna's eyes met his. "What would you like to have?"
Harry said nothing, reaching out to cup her face in his hands. Luna reached up, holding his hands there gently.
Harry closed the distance between them, kissing her softly. Like she was delicate. More than that, really…like she was hallowed. Someone to be approached with reverence. And in that moment, Harry felt more happiness than he thought the horcrux would ever afford him.