Author Notes: I tried writing something different this time.
You CAN consider it as a sequel to one of my other Harry/Luna one-shots "It's Never too Late". The reason I didn't post it as a second chapter is that this story's can stand on its own feet as an independent one-shot as well.
"They are close, aren't they?" Ginny said with a sad little smile, fondly looking over to the couple at the balcony.
"A bit too close, if you ask me." Rolf said through gritted teeth, his eyes still trying to process the sight in front of him.
Harry and Luna were standing side by side on the balcony, their elbows touching. Luna's streak of blonde hair was running through the long slender fingers of Harry's right hand as she rested her head on his shoulder. Their backs were towards him, so Rolf couldn't make out their faces – but he was sure both of them were smiling up at the glowing orange sky overhead.
Ginny's eyes turned onto him. Gently keeping down her cup of tea – made by Harry - on the table, she locked her hands together before beginning, "Look Rolf. There is something you should know."
Rolf scratched his head. "What?"
"Actually, um… um…" Here, she took a deep breath before continuing. "Harry loves Luna." She finished lamely.
The words sounded icy in his ears, but the effect it had on him was the exact opposite. Every drop of blood running through Rolf's veins started boiling. His heart was pounding so powerfully against his ribs that Rolf feared it would tear them apart. But even in the midst of all this, the foremost emotions dancing in his heart were anger… pure, spiteful anger for Harry and betrayal from Luna, his wife.
Harry loving Luna? A joke, probably – scratch that, probably not. In any other situation, Rolf would have shook off that phrase as a joke, a rumour at the most. But now, the sight of Harry and Luna – his Luna, standing right there, so close to each other, spoke volumes of the truth in Ginny's words. And it also explained why the two had run off from the table so soon to stand in the balcony… together!
He never realized he had stood up from his chair. Towering over a terrified looking Ginny, he shouted, "You know it is my wife you are talking about!"
"I know." Ginny said, staring right into his angry eyes. A few moments of silence followed.
"I know." She repeated in a dangerously low whisper.
Deciding that summoning Luna and storming out of Harry's house would probably be a very bad idea, Rolf sat back down. However, he didn't forget to groan in disgust as he did so.
"Aren't you angry?" Rolf confronted her with the essential question. If he was honest, the sole reason he asked that was that he was trying was to bring Ginny onto his side so that they could join forces in rebuking Harry together.
Ginny looked startled. "Why should I?"
"Ginny…" Rolf began with gritted teeth. "Doesn't it sting your heart to see your husband being involved with another woman?"
Ginny just stared at him for a few seconds. Rolf waited patiently. Finally, a tear leaked out of her left eye. She finally seemed to have come back to her senses, Rolf remarked to himself smugly.
He was about to utter some consoling words to the crying girl sitting opposite him when Ginny did something he couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams: she laughed. A bit sadly perhaps… but she did laugh.
"No, Rolf." She replied on recovering from her hysterics. "It doesn't."
"May I ask why is that?" A flabbergasted Rolf asked. Was this Ginny he was talking to at all, or was it someone under Polyjuice? Rolf narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Yes, it did hurt me quite a lot at first." Ginny began in a low tone, putting a hand over her heart. "Knowing Harry loved her. I still remember how I shouted at him and even asked for a divorce. We didn't speak for days afterwards."
"What made you change your mind, then?"
Ginny shot a brilliant smile at him. "I think the most important thing I realized was that Harry wasn't involved with Luna in any way, at least not the way you are insinuating. It isn't like he doesn't love me."
Rolf widened his eyes in surprise. "You just told he loves Luna."
"Yes, but he loves me too."
"Did Harry himself tell you he loved Luna?" Rolf asked, his outrage having been entirely washed away by a huge tide of confusion.
"Yes." Ginny said. "He himself told me that about a couple of years ago."
"And still you aren't angry with him?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, not anymore. Fortunately, I did manage to see through my rage all the good things."
"How can anything be good in here?"
"Harry never cheated on me." Ginny firmly declared. "He knew he loved Luna, still he compromised his commitment to our marriage. He doesn't dwell on what he lost. He doesn't behave like a stupid sad moron all the time. He tries to, and succeeds, in keeping me happy. And to be honest, that is all I want from a husband."
"I see." Rolf said thoughtfully. "No offense, but why didn't he marry Luna if he loved her? I met Luna many years after your marriage."
"Good question, Rolf." Ginny smiled. "Let's just say he realized it on the night before our marriage."
"And still he didn't call off the wedding?"
"No, he didn't." Ginny replied softly, his face shining with pride. "That's why I think he's such a great man, Rolf. He never hurts anyone, even if it means hurting himself. Hermione always said it was his 'saving people' thing. I disagree. I call it his kindness. And that's why I love him so much."
A brief silence ensued as the words sunk deep inside Rolf, right into his heart.
"I am still finding it hard to believe he loves you." He posed his final question. "I mean-" Rolf started explaining when Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Just look at the two of them over there!"
Ginny leaned forward before speaking, "I will tell you something he told me – something that washed away all the anger and doubt from my mind." She stated, her voice wet with emotion.
Rolf frowned. "And what is that?"
Ginny gulped, a tear shining in her eye. "He told me that…. while he loves me with all his heart, he loves Luna with all his soul."
"Look Harry!" Luna screeched into the sky. The pale orange evening expanse was just starting to darken into the night sky, revealing the first stars beaming high above them. "It's a shooting star!"
"Where? Where?" Harry asked hurriedly. You simply just can't afford to miss seeing a shooting star.
"Right there." Luna said, her finger tracing a line in the air. Harry followed its direction. When his gaze finally landed on the spectacular sight, he gasped.
In the quiet, velvet expanses of the now pitch dark sky, a solitary shooting star painted a fleeting masterpiece across the celestial canvas. A luminous streak, like a cosmic brushstroke, etched its path through the inky darkness, leaving a trail of brilliance in its wake. The surrounding stars, though numerous and steadfast, seemed to bow in deference to the ephemeral visitor.
The air was hushed, as if the whole universe held its breath in awe of the majestic entity. The radiant tail of the shooting star sparkled with ethereal hues—shimmering blues, purples, and soft greens, a palette borrowed from dreams and woven into the fabric of the cosmos.
Harry could hear the sound of wonder and longing ringing in his ears while at the same time filling his broken heart up to the brim.
He had almost given up hope of ever seeing Luna in this lifetime. But today, at 6 o'clock, his whole world suddenly turned bright when he opened the door and came face to face with none other than Luna – his long-lost friend, Luna – his Luna, accompanied by her husband, Rolf Scamender, was it? He was so so happy to see her after all these years. He had missed her terribly.
Out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw Luna closing her eyes. Smiling, Harry followed suit and made a wish.
"Well, what did you wish for?" were the first words that greeted him when he opened his eyes.
Harry shrugged. "Nothing."
Luna moved a bit closer to him and tightly clutched his hand in her own. "I wished for something." She whispered into his ear.
"What is that?" Harry exclaimed out like an excited child.
Luna just kept smiling up at him for sonic moments. Harry thought he could almost drown in those beautiful blue eyes of hers. "I wished we will get to be together in our next lifetime." Luna leaned forward and choked into his chest, bringing him out of his reverie.
Harry laughed heartily before running his fingers through her soft, silky blond hair. The smell was nice, and the touch even nicer.
They just stood there, holding each other and savouring their time together, each immersed in their own thoughts.
"I did wish for something, you know." Harry finally declared, earning a surprised scowl from Luna. "And now that I think about it, it's really the thing I want the most."
"Tell me. Tell me, Harry! What is that?" Luna squeaked, her feet on the verge of leaving the floor, her misty voice ringing in his ears like the most wonderful piece of music on this planet.
The smile that she encountered on Harry's face could've outshone the combined bright of all the stars in the universe.
"I wished that you get whatever you wished for."
I appreciate your feedback, both positive and negative, as long as it is constructive. If you liked it, I would recommend you giving a try to "It's Never too Late" as well.
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Thank you for your time and take care!