H/L Fic - A Different Light
A Different Light
Rated: G
Pairing: Harry/Luna
Word Count: 1581
Summary: Harry realizes that he can see just fine in the darkness.
“I think I’ve had too much Champagne.” Ron held his head in his hands and groaned.
“Awww, ickle Ronniekins can’t hold his drink?” Ginny smirked, swirling her bottle of Butterbeer in the candlelight.
“You should’ve kept better track of how many glasses you’d had,” Hermione said reprovingly, but gently rubbed his back.
“I know…” Ron said miserably, shooting a look at Ginny before slumping in his chair. “My head is swimming and my mouth feels like cotton.”
“Maybe a Chartreuse-throated Rillawig flew into your mouth,” Luna speculated as she gazed at the fairylights winking from the bushes. “They’re awfully thick this year.”
Ron groaned again while Harry smiled, saying, “Probably just a little too much wedding celebration, Luna.” He’d grown accustomed to her unusual perspectives on everyday happenings.
“Hmmm,” she hummed, shifting in her chair and smoothing her silvery dress robes. “If you’re sure…”
“I have to admit, Fleur looked gorgeous,” Ginny sniffed, looking over at Bill and his new wife dancing happily together. “But now she’s taken our eldest brother away from us.”
“You sound as though you’ll never see him again,” said Harry, giving her an odd look.
“Well…I know that won’t be the case, but it feels strange, I guess,” Ginny replied, “he being the first of us to marry and all. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.” She looked around. “Wonder which one of us’ll be next?”
“Next for what?” A voice broke in. Fred and George had suddenly appeared at the table.
“Marriage,” Ron spoke up, wincing as he did. “Ginny’s wondering who’s going to be married next.”
“Heavens!” Fred looked at this twin in mock fright. “She’s already marrying us off.”
“Sounds like Mum,” George answered and then went into a perfect imitation of his mother’s voice: “Oh, come over here, dear. I want you to meet this lovely young lady.”
Ginny swiped at George with her free hand. “I’m not trying to marry anyone off! Just wondering who will be the next of us to fall.”
“Well I’ve an idea who’d like to be the next one to fall.” Fred waggled his eyebrows at Ginny, then cut his gaze meaningfully to Harry.
Hermione frowned and gave the slightest shake of her head to Fred, who looked confused but took the hint and closed his mouth.
Harry seemed not to notice this exchange as he looked around the Weasleys’ side yard at the remains of Bill and Fleur’s wedding reception. Most of the guests had gone, and much of the wedding party was now sprawled in chairs, exhausted. Harry felt tired but relatively content. He was far away from the Dursleys’, with his friends for a while, and it had been a good day.
“I’d better start for home,” Luna said, breaking the silence and rising from her chair. “Dad will be expecting me before too long and it’s getting dark.”
“Thanks for coming, Luna,” Ginny said as she rose to give her friend a hug.
“I had a wonderful time,” Luna answered softly. “I hope you feel better soon, Ron.”
Ron nodded. “Thanks.”
“It was good to see you, Luna,” Hermione said, also standing to give Luna a good-bye hug.
“You, too, Hermione. Take care of Ron.”
“I’ll walk you home, Luna,” Harry said to everyone’s surprise, including Luna’s.
“Well…thank you, Harry,” Luna said, a smile curving her lips. “That would be nice.”
“So, what’d you think of the wedding?” Harry asked as they started down the path through the woods.
“I thought it was lovely,” Luna answered, lifting the hem of her robes just a bit so that they wouldn’t skim the ground as she walked. ‘I hope mine will be as beautiful.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Harry returned, not knowing what else to say.
“Have you ever thought of your own wedding?” Luna asked, her luminous eyes fixed on Harry’s.
“Er, not that I can remember,” Harry frowned in thought. “I don’t guess it’s something that’s crossed my mind.”
“Are you afraid to think of things like that?”
Harry chuckled at Luna’s bluntness and gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Dunno. Maybe.”
They came to a silvery stream and walked alongside it in silence for several minutes. The moon had risen, illuminating the woods around them with her pale light.
Luna’s steps gradually slowed and Harry realized she had stopped to look into the night sky.
“The moon is very brave, don’t you think?” Luna said softly.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Harry answered, also looking up at the sky.
“She’s brave, shining her face regardless of the surrounding darkness.”
Harry looked and realized how small the moon actually was, compared to the vast expanse of the inky night sky.
“Luna, why aren’t you in Gryffindor?” he asked before he could stop himself.
Luna’s gaze was still on the moon. “Oh, I asked the Sorting Hat to put me in Ravenclaw. I thought I might be accepted there, but I was wrong, of course. Why do you ask that?”
Harry searched to find an answer. “It’s just, well, I’ve seen your bravery and I wondered. You must be very smart if the Sorting Hat chose to place you in Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor, given your courage.”
Luna turned to Harry, her eyes shining. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.” She slipped her hand into Harry’s and led him further down the path, guiding him around the tree roots that were thick over their way in some places.
Harry didn’t quite know what to do. He found that he liked the feel of Luna’s small hand in his. The soft warmth of it comforted him and he laced his fingers through hers, stealing a glance at Luna’s face as he did. She looked ethereal in this light, with her silvery robes and flowing hair, and seemed to glide serenely through the darkness.
A hundred thoughts scattered through his mind, none of which made enough sense to sort into words. So they walked in silence for a while. Soon the lights of Luna’s home could be seen twinkling through the trees and their steps slowed.
Luna stopped suddenly and turned to face Harry. “I won’t be seeing you at school this year, will I?”
Harry turned to her, flummoxed and momentarily at a loss for words. “How’d you know that?” Harry finally asked.
“I could just tell from the things you didn’t say…and I know you’ve bigger things to accomplish.”
Harry didn’t know how to respond, so he nodded.
“I’m sorry for that.” Luna said softly, her eyes filled with concern.
“Me, too.”
“Harry…will you send Hedwig to me sometimes? Let me know how you are?” Luna took a step closer to him.
“’Course.” Harry was surprised to hear his voice sound a bit frayed around the edges, and he cleared his throat.
Luna smiled. “Good. I guess I’d better go inside or Dad will worry.”
“Goodnight, Luna,” Harry said, wondering at the pull he suddenly felt towards this girl.
“Goodnight, and thanks for walking me home,” Luna said as she turned and began to walk toward her house.
Harry watched her make her way through the trees, then, before he knew he was going to do it, he hurried and caught up with her.
“Wait,” Harry breathed as he grasped Luna’s shoulders and turned her towards him. “Wait. I…”
Her eyes questioned his, then a smile shone briefly on her face as Harry leaned toward her, gently brushing her lips with his. He felt her soft hand glide through his hair then rest on the nape of his neck as she pulled him closer, their kiss deepening.
Not too long after that, a door opened, and a beam of yellow light cut a slice out of the darkness.
“Luna…” a male voice called out.
Harry and Luna broke apart. “I’ll be in soon, Dad,” she called back.
“All right, just checking on you,” her father responded.
“I’m fine.”
The door closed and Harry and Luna were once again covered in silvery light as they met each other’s gaze.
“I liked that very much,” Luna said dreamily, touching her fingertips to her lips.
“Me, too.” Harry gathered her close in his arms.
“I’ve really got to go,” Luna whispered sadly into his shoulder.
“I know…”
“I won’t be seeing you soon, will I?” Luna asked.
“Probably not.” Harry answered, gliding his hand up and down her back.
“It won’t be as interesting at Hogwarts without you,” Luna said. “But I’ll see you as soon as I’m meant to, I’m sure.”
Harry nodded, but Luna wasn’t finished. She slid her hands into his hair and gently turned his head to look at the moon. “Remember to always keep your face to the light. The darkness can’t overcome it, no matter how hard it tries.”
“I’ll remember.” Harry turned and pressed his lips to Luna’s forehead. “You’d better go.”
She nodded and, with a last smile, continued down the path to her home. When she reached her door, she gave a small wave, which Harry returned. He stood for a moment before shoving his hands into his pockets. He turned back toward the Weasleys’, walking through the peaceful, moonlit forest.
Author’s Note: The idea for the lines about the bravery of the moon was taken from The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.
Rated: G
Pairing: Harry/Luna
Word Count: 1581
Summary: Harry realizes that he can see just fine in the darkness.
“I think I’ve had too much Champagne.” Ron held his head in his hands and groaned.
“Awww, ickle Ronniekins can’t hold his drink?” Ginny smirked, swirling her bottle of Butterbeer in the candlelight.
“You should’ve kept better track of how many glasses you’d had,” Hermione said reprovingly, but gently rubbed his back.
“I know…” Ron said miserably, shooting a look at Ginny before slumping in his chair. “My head is swimming and my mouth feels like cotton.”
“Maybe a Chartreuse-throated Rillawig flew into your mouth,” Luna speculated as she gazed at the fairylights winking from the bushes. “They’re awfully thick this year.”
Ron groaned again while Harry smiled, saying, “Probably just a little too much wedding celebration, Luna.” He’d grown accustomed to her unusual perspectives on everyday happenings.
“Hmmm,” she hummed, shifting in her chair and smoothing her silvery dress robes. “If you’re sure…”
“I have to admit, Fleur looked gorgeous,” Ginny sniffed, looking over at Bill and his new wife dancing happily together. “But now she’s taken our eldest brother away from us.”
“You sound as though you’ll never see him again,” said Harry, giving her an odd look.
“Well…I know that won’t be the case, but it feels strange, I guess,” Ginny replied, “he being the first of us to marry and all. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.” She looked around. “Wonder which one of us’ll be next?”
“Next for what?” A voice broke in. Fred and George had suddenly appeared at the table.
“Marriage,” Ron spoke up, wincing as he did. “Ginny’s wondering who’s going to be married next.”
“Heavens!” Fred looked at this twin in mock fright. “She’s already marrying us off.”
“Sounds like Mum,” George answered and then went into a perfect imitation of his mother’s voice: “Oh, come over here, dear. I want you to meet this lovely young lady.”
Ginny swiped at George with her free hand. “I’m not trying to marry anyone off! Just wondering who will be the next of us to fall.”
“Well I’ve an idea who’d like to be the next one to fall.” Fred waggled his eyebrows at Ginny, then cut his gaze meaningfully to Harry.
Hermione frowned and gave the slightest shake of her head to Fred, who looked confused but took the hint and closed his mouth.
Harry seemed not to notice this exchange as he looked around the Weasleys’ side yard at the remains of Bill and Fleur’s wedding reception. Most of the guests had gone, and much of the wedding party was now sprawled in chairs, exhausted. Harry felt tired but relatively content. He was far away from the Dursleys’, with his friends for a while, and it had been a good day.
“I’d better start for home,” Luna said, breaking the silence and rising from her chair. “Dad will be expecting me before too long and it’s getting dark.”
“Thanks for coming, Luna,” Ginny said as she rose to give her friend a hug.
“I had a wonderful time,” Luna answered softly. “I hope you feel better soon, Ron.”
Ron nodded. “Thanks.”
“It was good to see you, Luna,” Hermione said, also standing to give Luna a good-bye hug.
“You, too, Hermione. Take care of Ron.”
“I’ll walk you home, Luna,” Harry said to everyone’s surprise, including Luna’s.
“Well…thank you, Harry,” Luna said, a smile curving her lips. “That would be nice.”
“So, what’d you think of the wedding?” Harry asked as they started down the path through the woods.
“I thought it was lovely,” Luna answered, lifting the hem of her robes just a bit so that they wouldn’t skim the ground as she walked. ‘I hope mine will be as beautiful.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Harry returned, not knowing what else to say.
“Have you ever thought of your own wedding?” Luna asked, her luminous eyes fixed on Harry’s.
“Er, not that I can remember,” Harry frowned in thought. “I don’t guess it’s something that’s crossed my mind.”
“Are you afraid to think of things like that?”
Harry chuckled at Luna’s bluntness and gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Dunno. Maybe.”
They came to a silvery stream and walked alongside it in silence for several minutes. The moon had risen, illuminating the woods around them with her pale light.
Luna’s steps gradually slowed and Harry realized she had stopped to look into the night sky.
“The moon is very brave, don’t you think?” Luna said softly.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Harry answered, also looking up at the sky.
“She’s brave, shining her face regardless of the surrounding darkness.”
Harry looked and realized how small the moon actually was, compared to the vast expanse of the inky night sky.
“Luna, why aren’t you in Gryffindor?” he asked before he could stop himself.
Luna’s gaze was still on the moon. “Oh, I asked the Sorting Hat to put me in Ravenclaw. I thought I might be accepted there, but I was wrong, of course. Why do you ask that?”
Harry searched to find an answer. “It’s just, well, I’ve seen your bravery and I wondered. You must be very smart if the Sorting Hat chose to place you in Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor, given your courage.”
Luna turned to Harry, her eyes shining. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.” She slipped her hand into Harry’s and led him further down the path, guiding him around the tree roots that were thick over their way in some places.
Harry didn’t quite know what to do. He found that he liked the feel of Luna’s small hand in his. The soft warmth of it comforted him and he laced his fingers through hers, stealing a glance at Luna’s face as he did. She looked ethereal in this light, with her silvery robes and flowing hair, and seemed to glide serenely through the darkness.
A hundred thoughts scattered through his mind, none of which made enough sense to sort into words. So they walked in silence for a while. Soon the lights of Luna’s home could be seen twinkling through the trees and their steps slowed.
Luna stopped suddenly and turned to face Harry. “I won’t be seeing you at school this year, will I?”
Harry turned to her, flummoxed and momentarily at a loss for words. “How’d you know that?” Harry finally asked.
“I could just tell from the things you didn’t say…and I know you’ve bigger things to accomplish.”
Harry didn’t know how to respond, so he nodded.
“I’m sorry for that.” Luna said softly, her eyes filled with concern.
“Me, too.”
“Harry…will you send Hedwig to me sometimes? Let me know how you are?” Luna took a step closer to him.
“’Course.” Harry was surprised to hear his voice sound a bit frayed around the edges, and he cleared his throat.
Luna smiled. “Good. I guess I’d better go inside or Dad will worry.”
“Goodnight, Luna,” Harry said, wondering at the pull he suddenly felt towards this girl.
“Goodnight, and thanks for walking me home,” Luna said as she turned and began to walk toward her house.
Harry watched her make her way through the trees, then, before he knew he was going to do it, he hurried and caught up with her.
“Wait,” Harry breathed as he grasped Luna’s shoulders and turned her towards him. “Wait. I…”
Her eyes questioned his, then a smile shone briefly on her face as Harry leaned toward her, gently brushing her lips with his. He felt her soft hand glide through his hair then rest on the nape of his neck as she pulled him closer, their kiss deepening.
Not too long after that, a door opened, and a beam of yellow light cut a slice out of the darkness.
“Luna…” a male voice called out.
Harry and Luna broke apart. “I’ll be in soon, Dad,” she called back.
“All right, just checking on you,” her father responded.
“I’m fine.”
The door closed and Harry and Luna were once again covered in silvery light as they met each other’s gaze.
“I liked that very much,” Luna said dreamily, touching her fingertips to her lips.
“Me, too.” Harry gathered her close in his arms.
“I’ve really got to go,” Luna whispered sadly into his shoulder.
“I know…”
“I won’t be seeing you soon, will I?” Luna asked.
“Probably not.” Harry answered, gliding his hand up and down her back.
“It won’t be as interesting at Hogwarts without you,” Luna said. “But I’ll see you as soon as I’m meant to, I’m sure.”
Harry nodded, but Luna wasn’t finished. She slid her hands into his hair and gently turned his head to look at the moon. “Remember to always keep your face to the light. The darkness can’t overcome it, no matter how hard it tries.”
“I’ll remember.” Harry turned and pressed his lips to Luna’s forehead. “You’d better go.”
She nodded and, with a last smile, continued down the path to her home. When she reached her door, she gave a small wave, which Harry returned. He stood for a moment before shoving his hands into his pockets. He turned back toward the Weasleys’, walking through the peaceful, moonlit forest.
Author’s Note: The idea for the lines about the bravery of the moon was taken from The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.