If you want me to wait
I would wait for you
If you tell me to stay
I would stay right through
If you don't wanna say
Anything at all
I'm happy wondering
The party continued well on into the night. Each couple managed to get a bit of alone time as well as time together. Someone along the way had spiked the butterbeer and as a result, some were quite drunk.
Harry had more than his fair share of drinks. Feeling brave, he summoned up the courage to tell Hermione how he felt. It's now or never, he thought.
"Hermione, I need to tell you something," he started.
"Ok Harry. What is it?"
"I love you." There, he'd done it!
"I love you to Harry, that's why we have been best friends for so long," Hermione was hoping he wasn't going to get all sappy on her. She had already heard enough of that from Ron.
"No, Hermione. I. Love. You. Listen, please?"
She was shocked. Was he actually telling her that he was in love with her? Oh Merlin, I hope this is not the alcohol talking, she thought.
"Ever since the moment I saw you, I knew we were destined to be together. Not just as friends, but something more. I don't know exactly when I fell in love with you, but it's happened and I can't and won't stop it." He took a deep breath, and continued.
"My life changed the day I found out I was a wizard. It was as if everything was rearranged. The things I thought I knew were no longer true and there was this whole other world waiting for me. It only gets stranger and stranger as time goes on. I mean really, how many people do we know that have battled mountain trolls, play chess on a chess board that's come to life, rescued escaped convicts from Azkaban, captured unregistered Anamagi in a small glass jar, and fought a group of Death Eaters at the ministry of Magic? But through it all you stood by me. I trusted you when my life depended on it. I needed that and I think you did too. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am glad I found you. I want to be with you and around you all the time. I want to be the one to hug you when you are scared. I want to be the one to celebrate your victories. I want to be the one you dream about. And I want you to be there for me after I finish Auror training."
Harry stopped speaking and looked expectantly at Hermione.
Tears were shining in her eyes.
"You have always been that to me Harry. I love you too. I think I always knew it was you." She trailed off and looked deeply into Harry eyes.
"Harry if you want me to wait, I will wait for you."
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Ron was feeling good. He had quite a bit of spiked butterbeer and was only now starting to feel its effects. He was
having trouble standing and since the party was starting to wind down, Luna thought she should probably try to get Ron
to his room.
She glanced toward where Harry and Hermione were deep in conversation. She watched as Hermione with tears in her eyes slowly moved towards Harry and kissed him. She smiled to herself. It's about bloody time, I can't believe Harry did it and Ron is too completely pissed to notice, she thought.
She struggled to get Ron on his feet.
"Luna," Ron slurred.
"Yes, Ronald"
"Luna."
"Yes, Ronald"
"Hey Luna!"
"Ronald! What is it! You have called my name three times!! What do you want?"
"Doyouwannaknowsomething?"
"What?" She was starting to get annoyed.
"Doyouwannaknowsomething?"
"Ok Ronald, what is it? What do you want to tell me so badly?"
"I love you Looney"
"I know Ronald and I would much rather you call me Luna."
"No Looney I mean it. I love you."
"Ok Ronald. Up we go. Time for bed. You are entirely too pissed to be trying to have a serious conversation and more importantly, you're getting on my nerves."
"No Loon-Luna, really I want to tell you something."
"Fine Ronald, whatever you want."
"Luna, I am being serious here," Ron said with a hiccup.
"Ok Ronald. Go on. What is it you need to say?"
"Will you stay with me tonight? Please Luna, please say yes."
"Oh dear, I don't want to get in trouble."
"Please Luna. I think I drank too much and I need you to take care of me."
With a sigh Luna helped Ron to his room.
The reached the boys dormitory and Ron stumbled in the door. It only took them 20 minutes to get there because he kept insisting that he get a drink of water. Or tell Hermione and Harry that he loved them. Or tell Malfoy not to break his sister's heart.
"Thanks Luna for helping me. How did I get so pissed in the first place?"
"Spiked butterbeer, now lay down."
"Luna, there really is something I want to tell you."
"OK Ronald, I'm listening."
"Luna, I love you. And I love you for loving me. When I was a little kid, never in a million years did I think I would find such happiness. I never had a plan for the future, but when I met you, I couldn't get you out of my mind. I couldn't forget you. I want to be with you always. Forever. I can't picture my life without Luna Lovegood. Everyone needs someone that they can trust and for me, that person is you. I guess what I am trying to say, is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Do you think you could do that?"
"Oh!" Luna was a little stunned that all this came out of his mouth. "I think you had a little too much to drink and you need to go to bed before you say something you might regret in the morning."
"Luna, no, I don't have regrets. You taught me that. I am being serious. After I finish Auror training and you take over the newspaper world, what do you say we make a go of it?"
"Ron, I haven't finished school yet, I can promise to spend the rest of my life with anyone."
Ron looked disappointed. "What if I ask you again in the morning? When I'm sobered up?"
"Well, uh, I don't know Ronald. Let's sleep on it." She climbed into bed with him.
Ron smiled, "Does that mean you are staying?"
Luna sighed. He was pretty irresistible with those big puppy dog eyes.
"If you want me to stay, I'll stay right through"
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Draco and Ginny watched from the couch in front of the fire as Luna tried to drag Ron up the stairs. They were still laughing about how Ron came over and told Ginny that she better not break Malfoys heart or she would have him to answer to. They both knew he intended it to be the other way around, but it still made them laugh.
"I can't wait to tell him what he said tomorrow!" Ginny said with a laugh.
"Yeah that'll be priceless!"
There was an awkward silence. They looked at each other and each started to talk at the same time.
"Draco..."
"Ginny…"
"No you go first," Ginny said.
"Are you still worried about my father?"
"Wasn't expecting that!" Ginny said. "I guess I am. I mean, how could I not be?"
"I won't let him hurt you. Even if it means I have to join him and…you know, I will. Just to protect you. There is no reason you should be in danger just because you are my friend."
"Oh, ok." Ginny was confused. She really cared for him and she knew deep down he felt the same way. Why then, she wondered was he acting like they were just pals?
They sat in silence for a while longer. The common room had long grown quiet. Ginny thought that perhaps Draco had fallen asleep.
"Draco," she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Are you awake?"
"I wouldn't be answering you if I weren't."
"Oh yeah, right. Can we talk?"
"Sure. What do you want to talk about?"
"Us, this thing we have, whatever it is."
Draco gulped. "What about us?"
"Well, earlier, you said I was your friend."
"You are my friend, my very best friend. In fact, probably my only friend."
"Draco, I like you. I like you a lot more than as a friend. I had kind of hoped you felt the same way."
He knew that was coming. He didn't know what he should say.
"Ginny, you have to believe me when I say I have never met anyone like you before. Nothing in this world can compare to how I feel about you. It's bad enough that my father already knows that you and I have a relationship. He has probably already run off to tattle to You-Know-Who. You and I both know what that means Ginny. It's the end of you, the end of me and certainly the end of whatever lies in the future."
"Do we have a future? You father wants you to run off and join the Death Eaters. My family certainly doesn't think you're the greatest catch in town. I won't let your father or You-know-who get in the way of my feelings for you. You don't have to say anything. In fact, don't. Don't say something so I get my hopes up, only to have them dashed like a child whose balloon drifted away. Don't make me feel guilty for loving you." Ginny said, with tears in her eyes.
He sighed loudly and moved closer to her. Wrapping her in his arms, he felt her relax.
"If you don't want to say anything at all, I'm happy wondering."
***
A/N: As always thanks to H_HrFan for the beta-ing (is that a word?). RJ(and Sarah tooooooo!), thanks for keeping your promise ;-) And see, now you get a shout out! Woot! Mrs Potter91, thanks for the review ! SlapTheWhiteFerret-hoping you didn't perish while awaiting this chapter! And thanks to those who read but didn't review, I appreciate all the hits I got on this first attempt at writing fanfic. I promise, it'll only improve from here. I have a new story brewing, but we'll see what comes of it. Have a great day (or evening) everyone!
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