Of Hearts
“Tell me again how the swooping move is supposed to surprise the other team,” Luna requested, enjoying the echoing quality of her voice with her head on top of Ginny’s chest, listening to her steady heartbeat.
Ginny stroked surprisingly gentle fingers through Luna’s long locks. “Well, you see, the dive is called a feint and seekers only attempt it if they are very good and very confident in their skills. You feint when you see the snitch, but you dive in a direction that the snitch is not in. It’s a very tricky move because the seeker has to divert all their attention away from the snitch in order to trick the other team’s seeker. Seekers usually react on instinct. If one starts diving, the other is likely to follow just to ensure they don’t miss a chance to try catching the snitch. Once the seeker who is feinting is sure the other seeker has bought their fake, they then swiftly change directions back towards where the snitch was. The hope is that all this happens quickly enough that the seeker doesn’t loose the snitch. However, if that can’t happen, the other use of the feint is when the other seeker is closer to the snitch than you are and you just want to draw them away from the snitch until it’s too late for them to catch it.”
One of Ginny’s favorite things was quidditch, so one of Luna’s favorite things was watching her qpp play and listening to her talk about quidditch.
~
Harry looked haggard and worn. The lines on his face were more pronounced than usual, the bags under his eyes bigger, and there was a good tangle of wrackspurts circling him.
Luna immediately got to work on a cuppa. Harry preferred firewhiskey, but Luna didn’t like to overindulge when it came to alcohol. Besides, tea was more calming.
“I know you don’t like to, but it helps to talk about it,” she said gently.
Harry rubbed a hand over his eye, then dragged it down his face. “Just. I just don’t understand how anyone can continue to sympathize with Death Eaters,” he said.
Luna added extra honey to his tea and sat it in front of him. “Harry, I know you don’t want to hear it, but there are other ways of helping than being an auror. You’re very good at it, but it’s not the only thing you’d be good at. And another job would be nicer to you.”
Harry ignored his tea. He groaned and lowered his head into folded arms. “Not you, too, Luna. Please.”
“Okay,” she replied simply, scooting her chair closer to rub gentle circles on Harry’s back. Too much fighting this week. He wasn’t ready for this fight. She’d sit back and just let her best friend talk and do things his own way.
Luna started humming, an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her.
~
“Oh! And I think you’d like this one,” Neville chattered on, more animated than usual. He led her to a pale purple plant with large, round leaves that waved gently with the air currents. “Sedatis ut folium, better known as the Tranquiliseed. I was awarded one to help bring them back from the brink of extinction. Using its essential oils or brewing it is supposed to result in an immediate calm for any who smell its sweet fragrance, but some are calmed just by watching its dance.”
Luna reached out a hand over the plant but didn’t touch it. She felt mesmerized. “It’s beautiful, Neville. And you were trusted to help bring it back from extinction. Oh, Neville - congratulations.”
Neville placed a friendly hand on her shoulder, warm and comforting. These walk throughs of Neville’s growing greenhouses were a regularly scheduled event for Luna and Neville. Luna loved how confident and happy Neville was around his plants, and she knew her bestie really needed someone to talk about his work to. Luna was happy to volunteer.
~
Luna and her datemate, a wonderful nonbinary muggle whom she’d met while hanging out in a coffeeshop to escape the magical world, laid curled up together, a blanket between them and the grass as they watched the stars above.
“I believe that one’s supposed to be a lynx, but it’s always looked more like a thestral to me.”
“What’s a thestral again?”
“They’re beings of death. Skeletal winged horses. Very sweet, family-oriented, and hard workers.”
“Hm. I dunno. Looks more like a leaping kangaroo to me.”
Luna giggled. “Maybe it’s all three. Maybe it’s endless possibilities.”
Her datemate squeezed her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “I like that,” xe whispered. Luna nuzzled into xyr neck. This was always the best way to end her day.
~
Because Luna is asexual, but that hasn’t made her capacity for love any less than anybody else’s.
Asexual Awareness Week HP Fandom Challenge
Day 1: Post about your favorite/long-held ace/spec HP character headcanons.
~Hufflepuff Mod