A/N: Here's another chapter for you guys' enjoyment! We do hope you like it and please leave a review when you're finished so we know what you are thinking- what you like and what you don't ;)
Happy reading!!!
It was nearly midnight when Harry finally made it back to the flat. He was knackered from another marathon session of training. A couple of his fellow trainees wanted to go to a pub afterwards, but he'd begged off. He hadn't seen much of Hermione in the past week. She'd started classes and spent most of her time at school or in the library. He'd only seen her in passing and as a result hadn't yet had the chance to break the news to her about her birthday.
He opened the door slowly and was relieved to see the lights were still on inside the sitting room. He was even more delighted to see Hermione lying on the couch wrapped in a blanket and fast asleep. She'd obviously been waiting up for him and the sight of her lightened his mood considerably.
He slipped his cloak off and walked slowly over to her and softly kissed her forehead.
"Harry..." she mumbled as her eyes cracked open. "Hi..." she whispered.
"Hey sleepyhead," he said softly.
"What time is it?" she asked, a smile on her face as her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Almost midnight," he said yawning.
"Mmm and you're just getting home?" Hermione asked, planting a lazy kiss on the corner of his mouth as Harry lifted her up.
He nodded as he carried her toward the bedroom. "And I get to do it all again tomorrow at the arse crack of dawn."
"Awww...." Hermione hugged him tighter. "What if I don't let you go? I miss you Harry."
"I miss you, too," he said, setting her gently down on the bed. She leaned in for a kiss, but he pulled away.
"What?" Hermione asked. "Harry!"
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I'm afraid it's not going to get any better, Hermione. I've got three more years of this."
Hermione sighed. "We'll make it work out Harry." she reached out for him and he fell onto the bed next to her, both of them still fully clothed.
He caressed her cheek with his hand. "I don't know what I did to deserve you," he whispered.
Hermione leaned into his palm. "Because I love you and you love me so much," she replied softly, leaning in again. This time he didn't move away when she kissed him, wrapping his arm around her waist instead.
"There's something else," he said breathlessly. "There's something else I need to tell you."
"What?" she asked, kissing down his neck while her fingers ran repeatedly through his hair.
He gently pushed her away and sat up. "If you keep doing that, I'll never be able to tell you this."
"What is it?" Hermione finally saw the serious look in his eyes. "Harry tell me!" she insisted when he paused.
"It's about your birthday," he began.
"What about it?" Hermione had actually forgotten about it due to her busy schedule.
"We've got tactical manoeuvres that weekend," he said quickly.
"Oh..." Hermione looked down. "Well... you've got to do what you have to Harry. It's okay," her voice was slightly downcast and Harry lifted her chin.
"No, it's not," he said softly. "It's not okay."
"It's your training Harry," Hermione replied. "That's more important than some silly day."
"Nothing is more important to me than you," he said, cupping her face in his hands and gently kissing her.
Hermione responded eagerly, his touch something she had been missing during the past week. "I love you so much Harry," she whimpered softly when his hands began to brush over her body.
"I love you," he said huskily, positioning himself on top of her. He began to trail warm kisses down her neck.
Hermione arched her back as Harry's fingers slid under her shirt and began to pull it up over her head. She knew they both needed sleep but she needed him more at that moment than anything else.
Harry brought his mouth back to hers and they exchanged slow, lazy, drugging kisses. Their clothing was pulled away and thrown to the floor as Harry's hands cupped her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers while they continued to kiss.
Hermione let out another whimper as Harry's fingers pushed inside of her. "Need all of you Harry, please," she begged.
He removed his fingers and stroked her cheek. "I love you," he said again, his voice barely audible as he pushed his way inside her.
She moaned in pleasure as they made love until they were both trembling from the extent of their passion. Harry pulled up the sheet over their naked bodies as Hermione curled up in his arms.
"Harry?" she asked as she was about to drift off.
"Hmm?" He asked.
"It doesn't really matter about my birthday Harry I swear." Hermione yawned. "I even forgot about it until you reminded me."
"Are you sure?" Harry didn't even open his eyes; he was far too exhausted.
"Positive." Hermione answered. "Just come back to me and we'll… celebrate another time…" she was nearly asleep by now.
"Okay," Harry mumbled. "I'll…make it… up to… you… later…." He barely finished his sentence before they both fell into a deep, satisfied slumber.
*** *** ***
Ron sighed as his mother began yet another tirade on how he should have taken better care of his sister. "Look Mum, I can't control what Ginny does okay? Why don't you find her and ask her why she did what she did? All I did was help everyone see the truth. Otherwise she'd still probably be living with Malfoy and they'd be stealing things for their bloody palace." he snapped.
Molly, however, didn't seem to hear a word Ron said. She was doing what she normally did when she was upset, which was cook. She was stirring a bowl of cookie dough and tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her only daughter. "I just wish she'd contact us," Molly said morosely. "I'd feel so much better if I just knew where she was."
"She's fine Mum," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, if she cared about us she'd contact us. Even I want to see her again to know if she's fine. But it's up to Ginny!"
Molly nodded. She looked at her son and felt her anger subside somewhat. She knew it wasn't Ron's fault, but she'd needed someone to blame. He seemed like the likely candidate. Percy had pretty much deserted the family a few years back and now it seemed as if Ginny was doing the same. She didn't want to alienate Ron as well.
"The first batch of cookies should be ready soon," she said, the tone of her voice much softer than it had been before.
"All right," Ron got up to use the loo. He was almost out the door when he suddenly turned around and hugged his mother. "I am sorry Mum. I know this is hard on you. I wish it hadn't happened at all."
This set Molly off to crying again and she collapsed in ragged sobs against her youngest son.
"Mum," Ron rubbed his mother's back much like she had when he was younger- like when Fred and George turned his teddy bear into a spider- as she cried. "Come on Mum... I know it's Ginny... sooner or later she'll come back to us."
"Do you really think so?" she managed to choke out between sobs. "You don't think your father or I pushed her away, do you? Perhaps we were too lenient with her."
"I don't think you were." Ron replied as Molly finally pulled away. "The freedom we had at Hillsdale just went to her head is all." he grinned goofily at his mother. "Look at me- I went there and I'm doing just great."
Despite herself, Molly couldn't help laughing. "You are a good boy, Ron. I know we don't say it nearly enough, but your father and I are really proud of you."
"Thanks," Ron said, kissing her cheek. "Luna's coming over in just a bit."
Molly smiled and led the way back into the kitchen to check on her cookies. "I like that girl, Ronald. She's got a good head on her shoulders. And I think she keeps you on your toes."
"She sure does Mum," Ron affirmed.
"You know I'm convinced if Ginny had associated with you and Luna and Harry at that resort, things would have turned out quite differently," Molly said. "The moment I saw that Malfoy boy I knew he was just like his father."
"Well it wasn't for lack of trying," Ron said honestly. "She fancied Harry but he saw Hermione and it was just like there was no one else for either of them after she helped him and Cho out. And I didn't even know anything was going on with her and Malfoy until later on in the holiday or I'd have put a stop to it before then."
Molly smiled wistfully. She'd always secretly hoped that someday Harry would see Ginny as more than a little sister, but obviously that was never going to happen. From what she heard, Harry was quite happy with this girl. "You need to tell him to stop by," Molly said. "I haven't seen him since you lot left for Hillsdale. I want to meet this girl of his...make sure she's good enough for our Harry."
"She is," Ron replied. "I honestly feel as if we've known her for years not just a few months. Harry's absolutely over the moon for her as she is him."
"Good," Molly said. "You tell him to bring her by or he'll have to answer to me." Just as the timer to the stove went off, the front doorbell chimed.
"I'll get it," Ron shoved his chair back and ran down the hallway. "Hey!" his face lit up as he saw his girlfriend standing at the door.
Luna beamed back at him. She kissed him quickly on the cheek and looked past him and into the house. "Is it safe to come in?" she asked. She knew how tense things had been lately at the Burrow between Ron and his mother.
"It's fine," Ron replied. "We've actually just been talking civilly," he lowered his voice. "I think she finally realised what happened wasn't my fault."
"About time," Luna said with a grin as she stepped into the house.
Ron grinned as he closed the door behind her. "How was work?" he asked, winding his arms around her waist.
She couldn't help smiling as she thought about her job. Writing had always been a passion of hers and to get paid to do something she loved was like icing on the cake. "Great," she said happily. "I'm going to have two articles in next week's issue."
"Hey fantastic!" Ron whirled her around before kissing her. "We'll have to celebrate!"
She squealed with delight. "What did you have in mind?"
"Maybe my mum can make us a great dinner or something," Ron thought of his funds.
Luna's smile faded a bit. "Why don't we go out for dinner? Cho told me about this great Italian restaurant that she and Neville went to last weekend. It sounds fantastic."
"I... don't know. I don't really have a lot of pocket money." Ron lied.
Luna giggled. "You don't have to pay all the time, Ronald. I'm quite the liberated female, you know. I don't mind treating you every once in awhile." She'd meant it as a joke, but she saw the stricken look on Ron's face and her laughter quickly died.
"I don't want you to pay for things we do," Ron said. "Especially if we're celebrating..."
"I don't mind," she said quickly. "I want to do it."
"I don't," Ron replied firmly. "We'll go out... we'll just have to eat in the rest of the week though," he thought quickly about getting an advance from Fred and George.
Luna shook her head. "No, it's okay. You obviously don't want to go out. I'm certainly not going to force you."
"Well... if you don't want to go out then we can just stay in," Ron brightened back up.
Luna looked at him wondering what was going on with him lately. He'd been like this ever since they'd returned from Hillsdale. Whenever she suggested going out, he'd make up some flimsy excuse or sulk until she relented. Now that she thought about it, the only places they'd been to had been her flat, the Burrow, and Harry and Hermione's. "Actually," she said softly. "I'm quite tired. I think I might just go home and take a nice long bath and call it an early night."
"We don't have to do that," Ron said. "My mum's just made some cookies."
"I'm not that hungry," Luna said, grabbing her bag. "Tell your mum I said hello." She didn't kiss him goodbye as she made her way toward the door.
"Luna!" Ron said. "Why are you leaving?"
Her hand froze on the door knob. She didn't turn around. "I told you I was tired," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're mad at me," he said.
She dropped her bag to the floor again and slowly turned around to face him. "Mad at you?" she asked rounding on him. All the anger Luna had been holding back came spewing forth and she didn't think she'd have been able to stop herself if she'd tried. "Mad at you? Why on earth would I be mad at you? You obviously don't want to be seen with me in public. Why on earth would that make me mad?"
"I don't care about being seen in public with you," Ron replied, crossing his arms. "Why would you think that?"
Luna rolled her eyes. "Oh, I don't know! Being as your idea of taking me out since we've been back is taking me out to dinner at your best friend's flat? Every time I suggest going out for a meal or going out dancing, you shoot me down. I thought we were past this, Ron. You said that you felt bad for the way you treated me at Hogwarts. But, you know what? You haven't changed a bit. You didn't want to associate with me then and you certainly don't want to do it now!"
"I... but..." Ron's jaw fell open and his mind went completely blank.
Luna wanted him to tell her that she was wrong, but he obviously didn't know how to come out and tell her that her first instincts about him had been correct.
She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she wasn't about to cry in front of him.
"Go ahead and spend your life listening to what other people say, Ron. Go ahead and dictate your life to fit what other people think. I hope you'll be happy. By yourself," she added coolly.
"Luna..." he said weakly as she turned and slammed the front door behind her.
Molly came into the sitting room just then and looked at her son. "I thought Luna was here, Ron. Where did she go?"
"I don't know," Ron said miserably. "I think we just...broke up…"
*** *** ***
Gordon Devereaux smiled at the pretty brunette sitting opposite him and marvelled again at how the mousy, bushy-haired girl he'd known years ago had grown up into a pretty, confident woman.
He hadn't believed his luck when he'd seen her in that book shop a couple of weeks ago. She had taken him by surprise in more ways than one. They'd rekindled their friendship as classes had begun and he'd finally talked her into sharing a cup of tea with him after their Advanced Charms class was over.
"So what did you do with yourself all those years after you left Beauxbatons?" Hermione asked.
"Durmstrang," he admitted. "My father went there, of course. He wanted me to carry on the tradition so I transferred. After that, I travelled around a bit. Of course, my folks weren't too crazy about that."
"I'll bet they weren't," Hermione smiled as she took another sip of tea. "But I am definitely glad to see you. Everyone else doesn't seem as serious about these subjects as we are."
He laughed. "We always were kindred spirits about stuff like that, weren't we?"
"Without a doubt," Hermione agreed. "After you left in third year I had to study all by myself!"
He took a sip of his tea and smiled warmly at her. "I'm back now. You never have to study by yourself again."
"You can't imagine what a relief that is to my ears," Hermione joked. "What time is your next class?"
"Eleven," he said, checking his watch. "How about yours?"
"I've not got one until three," Hermione replied. "I think I'm going to head back and try to catch Harry for lunch."
"Oh," Gordon said, trying to not look disappointed. "I won't keep you then."
"I've still got a few minutes," Hermione replied. "Harry won't get back until at least eleven."
He looked at her as if he wanted to ask her a question, but couldn't quite find the most tactful way to say it. "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to," he began, "but I've been dying to know how you hooked up with Harry Potter of all people."
"Oh," Hermione laughed. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me," he said resting his elbows on the table.
"Well... this past summer holiday my family went to this place called Hillsdale. Harry was working there as a dancer..." Hermione told him an abbreviated tale, leaving out the parts about Draco and Ginny. "And well... after he and my dad got to know one another he grudgingly gave his blessing and Harry and I moved in with one another." Her cheeks grew pink as she thought about her boyfriend.
Gordon stared at her in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me! Robert Granger let you move in with some bloke you'd only known a couple of months?"
Hermione gave him a look. "My father really had no choice in the matter. I love Harry and he loves me. I fully intend on marrying this man someday, whether it be sooner or later."
Gordon frowned. "Hermione, I didn't mean to upset you. I was just surprised. From what I know of your dad, he's always been protective of you. I was just surprised is all." He gave her his best charming smile and hoped that his chance with her wasn't over.
"Oh he is protective," Hermione assured. "But he also realises I'm not a small child anymore."
"He's not the only one," Gordon said, and then blushed. He hadn't meant to be so forward with her, but he couldn't stop himself.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione cocked her head to the side curiously.
"Just that you're not that teenage girl I remember," he quickly covered. "We've all grown up."
"That's very true," Not that Hermione was really looking per se, but she couldn't help that Gordon had filled out rather nicely. Nothing could tempt her away from Harry though. "I think I'd better get going, it's almost time for your class." she said, drinking the rest of her tea.
"Yeah," he said wistfully. "And you don't want to keep that lucky man of yours waiting, do you?"
"Definitely not," Hermione laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow Gordon."
He nodded and watched as she collected her bag and cloak and headed out of the coffee shop. He'd definitely have to work hard to win her away from Harry Potter, but he'd never backed away from a challenge before. And he wasn't about to start now.
*** *** ***
Harry had invited Neville over for lunch during their break from training and then his friend had gone and gotten Cho. He hoped Hermione would come home as well and not stay with that annoying Gordon bloke for the entire day. "What are you guys hungry for?" he asked, looking in the pantry.
"Anything sounds good to me," Neville looked at his girlfriend.
"You guys are going to think this is crazy, but I'm dying for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," Cho said with a sheepish smile.
Harry gasped. "You mean... Cho... you don't want anything that will make the rest of us sick?"
"Did I just hear you ask for something NORMAL?" Neville asked in disbelief.
"And here I was thinking the two of you would tease me for wanting something that kids eat," she said trying to look affronted. "Just make my damn sandwich, Harry and shut it."
"Right away," Harry saluted her. "Look at this Neville, the waitress ordering the customer around."
"And use grape jelly please," she said enjoying this a little too much. "And if it's not too much trouble could you cut the crusts off, too?"
Neville laughed at Harry's expression as they all heard the front door open and close. "Hi, everyone," Hermione said breezily, coming into the kitchen. She kissed Harry's cheek as she passed by him and took a seat beside Cho at the table.
"Good morning to you too," Harry replied. "That's all the greeting I get?"
"Do you want to disgust our guests with public displays of affection when they are about to eat lunch?" she teased.
"Please don't," Neville said.
"Potter, no snogging until you finish making my sandwich," Cho said, snapping her fingers. "Chop. Chop."
Hermione started laughing at him. "Thanks Cho, now even my girlfriend thinks I'm a fool," Harry slapped peanut butter onto the bread.
"She's finally catching on then," Cho said with a laugh. She turned to Hermione. "It's good to see you, Hermione. Since these two started their training, we don't get to hang out as much."
"I know," Hermione admitted. "Real life rears its ugly head. Makes you sort of wish for the lazy, hazy days of Hillsdale, huh?"
"More than you know," Neville said, his hand sneaking on top of Cho's and winding their fingers together.
Cho beamed back at him. She stared lovingly into his eyes for a moment before an idea came to her. "Hey!" she said excitedly. "I just had an idea!"
"What's that?" Neville asked.
"I'm dying to get out for a night on the town," Cho said with her eyes gleaming. "We could go out dancing to some club. Admittedly, I probably wouldn't be able to kick up my heels as high as I normally do, but I'd love to get out there and listen to some great music. What do you think?"
"That sounds like a great idea," Harry said. "We do have this weekend free!"
"That'd be fantastic," Hermione chimed in. A part of her wished it would be next weekend that Harry had free instead. Next weekend was her birthday. But, she'd meant it when she told him she didn't really mind. It would have been wonderful to have him there with her on that day, but it couldn't be helped.
"Well let's do it then," Harry said happily.
"We can see if Lavender and Seamus want to join us, maybe even Ron and Luna will come," Neville added.
Cho nodded and they made plans to go out this Saturday for a night on the town. Neville said he'd send Ron and Luna an owl and Hermione excused herself to go and give her cousin a ring to see if Lavender would go. Cho couldn't help noticing that Hermione looked a little upset about something.
"Is everything okay?" she asked Harry, keeping her voice low so Hermione couldn't hear.
"She's upset about us missing her birthday," Harry replied in the same low voice. "I was hoping maybe you and Luna could plan her something to keep her mind off the fact that we'll be gone?"
"As if you even have to ask," Cho said before taking a bite of her sandwich. "So Mr. Smooth, what are you going to get her for her birthday?" she asked conspiratorially to Harry.
"I already have it," Harry grinned. "And you'll have to wait and see it once I give it to her."
"Not even a hint?" she asked, sulking. "Come on! I won't tell her."
Harry scoffed. "Yeah right," he said. "Like the time you promised you wouldn't tell Ron about-"
Just then Hermione came back into the room. "Tell Ron about what?" she asked.
"Nothing," Harry replied. "Just making fun of Cho's idea of secret keeping," he took a large bite of sandwich as Hermione sat down next to him.
"I can keep a secret!" Cho retorted. "I kept quiet about you two, didn't I?"
"For once," Harry said with his mouth full.
Hermione laughed along with the others, but she couldn't help but feel somewhat like an outsider. The three of them, especially Cho and Harry, had memories of things, events, and people that had nothing to do with her.
Harry reached over and grabbed her hand. "How were classes today?" he asked.
"Great," she said with a slight smile. "I would have been back sooner, but Gordon asked me to join him for some tea. They have the greatest shop near campus. They have the best blueberry scones."
"Who's Gordon?" Neville asked.
"An old schoolmate from Beauxbatons," Hermione explained. "He's going to University, too. We have loads of classes together." She didn't notice the look of annoyance that passed over Harry's face, but Cho did.
Harry shrugged. "He's all right."
"He's brilliant," Hermione said. "He has this photographic memory. He can remember everything he reads."
Neville and Cho stifled their laughter at the annoyed expression on Harry's face. "Does he go by the name Superman at night?" Neville joked.
"He's just really smart, Neville," Hermione said quickly. "I was always jealous of how easy it all seems to come to him. I used to get a little thrill whenever I made better marks than he did."
"I'm sure I give you a bigger thrill," Harry cut in.
Hermione smiled at him. "In more ways than one," she said softly. She scooted her chair closer to his so she could rest her head on his shoulder.
They ate together, laughing and talking about that weekend. "We'd best get going," Neville said. "I have to drop Cho off at the doctor's office before heading back to training."
"I need to stop off at home first," Cho replied.
"Home?" Harry's head shot up. "Where is home Cho?"
Cho froze. She pushed back from her chair and slowly got to her feet. Pretending she hadn't heard Harry's question, she gave him a peck on the cheek. "We don't want to be late," she said to Neville.
Harry stood up. "Cho..." he began warningly.
Cho glared at Neville. "You told him, didn't you?"
Neville sighed and was about to open his mouth when Harry cut him off. "I made him tell me Cho. How could you not tell us you were living at The Leaky Cauldron?" he snapped and Hermione gasped.
"Maybe because I knew you'd react like this," Cho suggested. "It's okay, Harry. I'm fine."
"No you're not," Harry said, looking to Hermione for agreement.
"The rooms at The Leaky Cauldron can't be all that comfortable for you, Cho," Hermione reasoned. "Wouldn't you be more happier in a place surrounded by friends who would take care of you and make sure you're okay? Harry and I have an extra room that we were just going to use for an office, but we could let you have it."
"No," Cho said firmly. She gave Hermione a grateful smile. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm fine where I am."
"I agree with them," Neville interjected quietly. "What if something were to happen to you and the baby? You know those rooms are soundproof. What if you fell? At least here there are people around who can hear."
Cho sighed heavily. "Have you three forgotten that I am a dancer? I am graceful by nature. The way you three talk you'd think I was tripping over my own two feet. I'm not going to fall."
"But you don't know that," Harry insisted. "Please Cho... please come stay here with us. At least until Neville gets you three your place to live."
Cho would have liked nothing more than to take them up on their offer, but she didn't want to feel like a burden to them. Harry had already done so much for her.
"You're not a burden," Harry began in a softer voice, knowing exactly what she was thinking.
Cho looked from Harry to Hermione and then to Neville. "I never could turn you down," she said to Harry. "Those green eyes get me every time."
Harry grinned and Hermione squealed and hugged Cho.
"We outnumber him now," Hermione said linking arms with Cho.
Harry and Neville laughed. "After training is over today we'll get you moved into here," Neville said happily.
"Did you hear that Harry?" Cho teased. "Just when you thought you'd finished moving...you get to help me move in."
*** *** ***
Ron looked at the front door to the small cottage that housed The Quibbler and exhaled heavily. He'd never been good at making up with someone. He always did something to screw it up and make the girl even madder than she'd been before.
He looked down at the single red rose he held in his hand. It was a bit cheesy and he had no idea if Luna even liked roses, but he had to start somewhere. He said a silent prayer that this would work as he stepped inside the office.
Luna purposely buried herself in a story about a herd of doxies that seemed to have mated with gnomes. A co-worker had taken pictures and she was in the midst of writing the article.
One of the doxy-gnomes looked like Ron; at least it did to her. She couldn't stop looking at the picture, her finger running over it continuously. She missed him, even though he'd been such a prat lately.
Ron had never been inside the office before. It was much larger inside than it looked from the outside. He didn't have much time to reflect on the office or its decor, however, because he immediately spotted Luna. "Don't screw this up," he mumbled quietly to himself as he walked toward her desk.
Luna heard a cough and looked up, expecting to see her father. Instead, it was the very person that had been plaguing her thoughts all day long. "Hello Ronald," she said formally, trying to decide whether or not she was happy to see him.
He gave her a slight smile as he stood in front of her desk. He held the rose behind his back. "Hi," he said and then frowning when she immediately went back to work on her article. She certainly wasn't going to make this easy on him. "I, um, have something for you," he said weakly.
"What is it?" Luna asked quietly as her heart began to beat faster.
He pulled the rose from behind his back and held it in front of her. She didn't make a move to accept it, but he took it as a good sign that she didn't take it and throw it in his face. "On my way here, I passed a florist and I stopped in," he said nervously. "You would have laughed at me because I was standing in there and I couldn't remember what your favourite flower was. Hell, I don't even know if you have a favourite flower. So, I just took a chance with the old standby...one perfect rose."
"It's lovely," Luna finally took it, her fingers brushing his. "Thank you Ronald."
"You're quite welcome," he said relieved.
Luna summoned a glass vase and put the rose inside and set it to the side of her desk. "How are you?" she asked, her tone still cool.
"Okay," he said, absently beginning to kick her desk with his foot. "I'm actually on my way to work. Fred and George are doing inventory tonight and...Well, I'm doing inventory, the two of them will probably be trying out their latest invention."
"That's nice," Luna looked back down at her article. "Well... thanks for stopping by."
His heart sank. So much for the romantic reunion he'd envisioned. But, he wasn't about to give up that easy. "There's something I sort of wanted to ask you," he said nervously.
"What?" she asked, her tone tired.
"Harry stopped by this morning on the way to his training session and he told me that everyone's going dancing this Saturday and wanted to know if we wanted to go along and I was just thinking if you weren't busy and I wasn't busy----which I'm not---and," his voice trailed off and he again cursed himself for sounding like a bumbling fool.
Luna gave a rather derisive laugh. "So now you've decided you don't mind being seen with me in public?" she asked. "Thanks but no thanks Ronald. Now if you'll excuse me-"
Ron watched as she pushed back from her chair and grabbed her article. He put a hand on hers and looked at her. "Please, Luna," he said softly. "It's not what you think. It's never been about me not wanting to be seen in public with you. You've got it all wrong."
"Do I?" she asked, pulling away from him.
"I love spending time with you," he said sincerely. "This summer you and I barely spent two minutes apart. You remember that, don't you?"
"We were staying in the same place," Luna replied. "It would have been hard to avoid one another."
Ron sat down on the edge of her desk and groaned in frustration. "I haven't been avoiding you, Luna! We've hung out every night since we've been back. So what if we haven't gone out to restaurants to eat dinner. That's not what being in a relationship is about. It's about spending time together. That's what we've been doing!"
"I know that Ronald," Luna said. "But a girl, even a girl like me, likes to be treated to a night out once in awhile. Not every night. But just once in awhile." she gathered her parchment in a neat stack. "Besides that, it doesn't help when a girl's boyfriend is obviously ashamed of her." she swept past him so once again he couldn't see her tears.
"Luna!" he called after her. "Come on, don't be like this!"
Luna ignored him as she went into the back room, finally letting her tears free. "Just go away Ronald! It's over!"
"Luna!" Ron said, knocking on the door insistently. "It's not over! Come on!"
"Just go away," she repeated, trying not to let her sobs show through her tone.
He shook his head and sank against the door. "Alright, Luna, you want me to leave you alone? I will, but just for now. Because I'm picking you up on Saturday night and you and I are going dancing with our friends. I'm not taking no for an answer, Luna Lovegood."
"I'm not going!" she called back.
"Yes, you are," he retorted.
Luna pulled open the door and Ron fell at her feet. "You listen to me Ronald Bilius Weasley," she began.
He looked up at her sheepishly and quickly scrambled to his feet. She looked quite flustered and without even thinking Ron took her hand and pulled her abruptly to him.
Luna's gasp was smothered as he kissed her fully on the mouth. "I am not going," she said weakly as Ron brushed away a few tearstains.
"Yes, you are," he said softly.
"Why?" she asked, still clinging to him.
"Because I love you," he whispered.
Luna stared at him. "Do you really?" she asked softly.
"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," he said, resting his forehead on hers.
Luna smiled tearfully. "I love you too Ron," she hugged him tightly.
"So, I guess this means you are going then?" he asked, not even trying to hide the happiness he felt at her words.
"All right," Luna agreed, brushing his red hair out of his eyes. "But only if you'll buy me a drink."
"Water is free, isn't it?" he asked cheekily. Luna narrowed her eyes at him and he began to laugh. "I better get to work soon," he said, suddenly noticing that Luna's co-workers were watching the two of them and probably had for quite some time. "I think we have an audience," he whispered.
Luna looked at her fellow employees and smiled dreamily. "We'll be right back," she said pulling Ron back into the little storeroom and shutting the door behind them. "Where were we?" she asked.
"Right about here," he said before engaging her in a long, slow kiss.