"So guys, you all know what to do?" Harry asked anxiously, his green eyes staring at them desperately.
"Yes Harry. For the 5th time, we all know what to do. Don't get worried mate. Ginny is an expert on acting and she will easily convice Luna." Ron's voice contained the merest hint of brotherly pride and reassurance.
"If you say so Ron. Ok, let's go to our places now." They nodded and headed to their designated areas:Harry and Neville in the forest; Ron and Hermione outside Hagrid's cabin and Ginny outside the great hall.
"In three, two, one....showtime!" Harry whisperred.
Covered in sweat and tears, Ginny dashed through the great hall and scanned her eyes until she saw a familiar blonde with a treacle tart on-hand. She made a mad dash to the fair-haired woman until she reached her.
"Luna, I d-d-desperately need your h-help," Ginny stammered, her tone distressed.
"What is the matter Ginny?" Luna asked. Her dreamy look was now turned into full concern.
"Luna! I can't find Neville! Please help me! It's like this. We were playing in the Forbidden forest. And then, I dropped my necklace somewhere. So, we split our ways to cover more area. I told him that if we couldn't find it in 15 minutes, we would go back outside Harid's cabin. Now 15 minutes have passed and then I went outside Hagrid's cabin since I couldn't find it. It's been 30 minutes since I was waiting and Neville hasn't come out yet!" Ginny launched herself forward and shed tears.
"Oh yes Ginny! I will help you! Let's go now before the Nargles and Wrackspurts come to him first!" The two dashed to Hagrid's cabin and saw Ron and Hermione waiting for them.
"I had to ask everyone I trusted for help!" Ginny said sadly. "Okay, everyone's here, why don't we –"
"– Ginny, where's Harry?" Ron asked blankly.
"I – I couldn't find him. And I didn't have much time on my hands to look."
"True," Hermione agreed with a nod. "Okay, guys, here's what we'll do. Luna and Ginny'll go together. Ron and I'll partner up. If you find Neville, shoot two green sparks. I'm sure you have your wands ready. Find Ginny's necklace, shoot one green spark. Any dangers, shoot a red. We'll meet back here in 30 minutes, got it?" All three nodded.
"Beware of Nargles and Wrackspurts, Ronald and Hermione." Luna reminded, before going off to the left side of Hagrid's Cabin.
"Yeah, sure Luna." Ron answered.
Luna and Ginny were the first one to go inside the Forbidden Forest. Luna didn't know that Hermione and Ron were following them.
"This is going to be fun, I tell you Hermione." Ron smiled.
Deeper and deeper in the forest they went. Every nook and cranny they saw, they searched for Neville and the necklace until Luna heard a quaint voice.
"Ginny, I found your necklace. Ginny!"
It must be Neville, Luna thought. "Ginny, I heard Neville's voice! Ginny!" Luna beamed.
But Ginny was nowhere in sight. Luna looked worried but decided that she will find Neville for her. Luna went to the place of where he heard Neville's voice until she reached a different place of the forbidden forest. It was covered with clean cut grass, different floweres and a large smooth boulder. There, Neville was standing and shouting.
"Ginny, I found your necklace. Ginny?"
"Oh Neville! It is you! Ginny was so worried!" Luna bounded towards him and gave him a big hug. "We should shoot green sparks now because I found you Neville!" Luna said gleefuly.
"No need, Luna. I'm fine. Guys, Luna's here now!" Neville smiled.
"What are you talking about Neville?" Luna was puzzled. Neville just smiled and slowly took away Luna's arms from him. SLowly, Ginny, Hermione and Ron started coming out behind the trees. At that, Neville slowly walked towards the lot and behind him, a smiling Harry Potter showed himself and walked towards her.
"Hi, Luna." Harry beamed. He combed his hair whilst walking and stopped when e was a few feet away.
"What's going on here?" Luna was now confused.
"We're really sorry Luna but we're just so sick of Harry moping around all the time. You'll understand it later when Harry explains it." Hermione carefully picked out her words and then gave her an assuring smile.
"I'm sorry Luna but you two have too really fix this." Ginny approached her and hugged her quickly. The 4 then bade goodbye to their friends.
"Bye, mate! We'll be waiting for you at the common room. Oh yeah, and Luna, it was all Harry's plan. Not us." Ron gave them a two thumbs up and slowly, they faded away through the trees and foliage.
"You want to sit down?" Harry asked.
"Sure." They sat down in the soft grass facing each other.
"Luna, before you say anything, I just want to tell you again that I am really really sorry for what I had said. I did not intend to hurt you at all." Harry pleaded.
"If you really didn't mean it, where did it all come from?" Luna questioned him.
"Uhm, I guess it came from my stress and self hatred. I regret that I didn't save Sirius....do you forgive me now?" Harry was hoping to see her usual smile and he was not failed. Slowly, a huge smile appeared on Luna's face.
"Okay, I forgive you. In one condition." Luna beamed.
"Thank you! Thank you! thank you!" Harry hugged her and she returned it too. The hug seemed to last for minutes until Harry broke away, feeling strangely warm and calm.
"So uhm, thanks again.... So, what is the condition you want?" Harry asked and went by his side.
"I want to start all over again." Luna smiled with her dreamy voice.
"Sure. Hi I'm Harry Potter. The boy who lived and marked for death." He stuck his hand out and smiled.
"Luna Lovegood. Loony to the rest of Hogwarts and to the wizarding world." Luna shook his hands with glee.
"Are you hungry?" Harry asked
"Famished." Luna said with her dreamy voice. Slowly, they stood up and walked through the forest hand in hand and went to the kitchen. When they reached the kitchen and asked the elves for some food, the elves were happy to oblige.
"Anything for Mr. Potter and her love." One of the older house elves croaked and eyed their hands. Harry looked at their hands was surprised and he broke away.
"Oh no! We're just friends." Harry reasoned. The elves just smiled and started to cook food. The two eagerly ate the food and bade goodbye to the elves. Harry escorted Luna not knowing that between their journey that they were walking hand in hand. They reached the Ravenclaw tower and Luna took away her hand. Harry suddenly felt the breeze of cold air in his hand.
"I'll go on from here now Harry. Good night!" Luna smiled and went inside the tower.
"Good night Luna." Harry smiled and went away holding his hand trying to feel warm.
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