Can't Fight the Moonlight

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters appearing in the series of 'Harry Potter' films, created by author J.K. Rowling. Original characters are copyrighted to the original author (Rupert). This series is posted to Girls Loving Girls with full permission of the author. No copyright infringement is intended or implied.

Feedback: Every author in his or her own way makes it a point to ask for feedback when posting a story, well me I don't usually. But there are several reasons as to why a reader should consider taking the time to give it. The simple fact is that giving some form of feedback is truly the most important thing a reader can do after reading and enjoying a story. Hopefully in the process providing that author with at least one viable reason as to what you liked about the story. This small amount of time spent will no doubt inspire the author to write more and possibly at a quicker pace, knowing that they have a fan base who are waiting on their next works. So thanks for the feedback and please keep it comin.

Summary: None

Original Airdate: April 28, 2009 @ 9:00 p.m.
(following an ALL NEW 'Pinch Me)

Story Codes: no sex

”Sgrmf, I’ll never understand how you could get me to agree to this.” Draco muttered.

“I get what I want whenever I really want something.” Luna answered happily.

“Just keep your promise of never ever telling anyone about this.” Draco pleaded.

“Ohh, calm down. What’s wrong with picking flowers?” Luna laughed.

Hermione watched the exchange with a certain degree of amusement. Seeing Draco flustered and completely subjugated by Luna was something Hermione wowed to never forget. Just as had been decided yesterday they had spent the day fixing up Draco’s living quarters. Thanks to a combination of magic and Luna’s surprisingly skilled carpentry it now looked pretty decent. Both Hermione and Draco had worked in tense silence while Luna kept chattering about everything that crossed her mind. Luna’s good mood made it impossible for Hermione to remain sulky as she had planned and she had actually enjoyed the day. Still, not a word had been exchanged between her and Draco.

When everything was done it was late in the afternoon and Hermione had really wanted to go home and spend some alone time with Luna. Luna however had other plans. She wanted to finish their work by decorating Draco’s place with flowers. Through sheer enthusiasm for the idea she had convinced both Draco and Hermione to join her in picking flowers. Of course London in November didn’t provide much in the way of flowers, so instead they had opted for a meadow in Australia. Draco, strapped of his power to apparate on his own, had to travel by holding on to Luna. Hermione had to really restrain herself not to mention how pathetic he was strapped of even this power.

“Don’t you think we’ve got all we need by now?” Hermione asked, tentatively looking down into her basket.

The basket was filled with all sorts of flowers, most of whom Hermione had no idea what they were called. She wasn’t too familiar with the Australian flora, but made a mental note to herself that this would be something she could discuss with her mum later on. She had after all lived a year in Australia.

“Hmmm, I think we will need just a few more to make this perfect.” Luna answered.

She started to gaze out over the meadow and then she suddenly saw something she liked in the distance. She set off, leaving Draco and Hermione far behind her. For the first time they were alone, without Luna acting as a buffer. Hermione didn’t quite know how to react and Draco more than anything tried to avoid her gaze. With him looking away it was quite surprising to hear him speak.

“I’m sorry you know.” Draco said barely above a whisper.

“What?”

Hermione had heard him, but she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing. Draco slowly turned around, finally daring to look Hermione in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, for well….everything.”

Hermione simply stared at him. She didn’t quite know how to deal with this. It was not something she had expected.

“Not that it matters, you have no reason to ever forgive or trust me.” Draco went on.

“Draco, for once you’re right. I cannot forgive you, nor can I ever trust you. Luna has a bigger heart than me; you should ask her forgiveness instead, she might be able to give it.” Hermione answered coldly.

“Yes, I really should.” Draco mused.

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. It was early morning local time and there a beautiful sunrise in the horizon, but between Hermione and Draco there was only coldness. While she did appreciate the gesture, Hermione still felt an intense dislike for Draco and she knew that it would not go away for a long time. Despite this Hermione’s curiosity overwhelmed her and she just had to ask a question that had been on her mind since the day before.

“The Proclaimers? Why?”

Hermione was referring to the group behind the song Draco had butchered last evening in the street.

“Do you really care?” Draco asked tentatively.

“This I gotta know.” Hermione answered and actually managed a very weak smile.

“Aww, I didn’t I’d ever tell anyone, but it’s not like I can sink any lower.” Draco sighed.

“Come on, spill it.” Hermione demanded.

“Ok, this whole situation, me, you and Luna picking flowers, me being completely broke and pathetic, me almost throwing up in front of you, none of these things are remotely as embarrassing as what I’m about to tell you. Just promise not to laugh ok?”

“Ok, I promise.” Hermione agreed.

“It was back when I was 12 or something like that; I was out walking in the village near Malfoy Mansion. I wasn’t supposed to, but I felt like having some fun. Well anyway I walked past a house and this song was blaring out through an open window on the first floor. Now, I really couldn’t have cared less if it wasn’t for the fact that I saw these incredibly cute girls in the garden. They were perhaps a few years older than me and well they were dancing and miming like crazy. I kinda think they were high or something, but I didn’t understand that back then. And they were both so gorgeous that I just couldn’t help myself. I just stood there and stared at them like an idiot.”

A small giggle escaped Hermione.

“You promised not to laugh.” Draco muttered.

“I’m sorry, please go on.”

“Ok, then. Well, while I stood there of course they eventually saw me. I wasn’t even hiding, I just stood there on the street. So, these girls dragged me into the garden and made me dance around with them. I really felt ridiculous, but they were so hot I just couldn’t do anything else. I hate to admit it, but I really liked it, even though they were muggles. I was just a mess of hormones. After that I never saw them again, but the song kinda stuck. I couldn’t get it out of my head even if I wanted too.”

“That is so cute.” Luna said as she suddenly appeared with a whole bunch of flowers in her hand.

“Yeah, whatever, just don’t tell anyone.” Draco muttered his cheeks red with embarrassment.

“So are we done here?” Hermione asked Luna.

“Yes, I think we are.” Luna answered.

They all apparated and landed in Diagon Alley. There eyes were not adjusted to the darkness and they had no time to react when something suddenly emerged out of the darkness. With an angry scream Ron knocked Malfoy to the ground and started to viciously pound on him.

“Stay the fuck away from them you filthy little ferret!” Ron screamed in anger.

Luna was the first to react. She grabbed hold of Ron from behind and tried to pull him off. At first Ron just kept hitting Draco, but then he stopped and turned to Luna.

“Why are you trying to stop me?” Ron asked in confusion.

“He hasn’t done anything? We’ve just been picking flowers.”

“You weren’t supposed to tell anyone!” Draco complained in a high pitched voice.

“Ohh, shut up. She’s trying to help you!” Hermione admonished.

Ron slowly got up with a very confused look on his face. Draco was bleeding from his nose and while Luna tended to that Hermione dragged Ron to the side.

“Look, we found him drunk here in the Alley yesterday. He’s out of Azkaban, but with no wand or any magic powers. I would have been perfectly happy ignoring him, but Luna really wanted to help him. So, we fixed his apartment and then Luna wanted to pick flowers for his place so we went and did that.” Hermione summarized.

“Wow, Luna has really got you whipped hasn’t she?” Ron said with a smirk on his face.

“Yep, she sure has. I don’t think there is anything she couldn’t convince me to do.” Hermione admitted and looked lovingly at Luna.

“Well, I’m sorry about the misunderstanding then.” Ron said.

“What?” Hermione uttered in surprise.

“I said I’m sorry.” Ron clarified.

“That is actually…well very mature and level-headed of you.”

“Yeah, I guess I’ve kinda matured since we spilt up. I mean don’t get me wrong, beating the crap out of Malfoy was very fun, but it really isn’t needed if he isn’t dangerous.”

“Ron, I gotta tell you I’m impressed. And the fact that you wanted to protect me from Malfoy was very noble.”

Ron shrugged and turned just little bit red from receiving praise.

“Wait, this isn’t some scheme to win me back is it?” Hermione asked.

“No, no, no. I’m just trying to be a good friend here. Honestly you were completely right. We weren’t meant to be.”

“Well, I’m glad you say that, because there is nothing that can tear me away from Luna.”

“I can see how happy the two of you are. I mean look at you. That silly happy smile on your face says it all.”

Just then a newly recuperated Draco and Luna came over.

“Hermione, I’m going to help Draco with the flowers. I’ll be home as soon as we’re done. You two should do something fun and become friends again.” Luna suggested.

“Yeah, we were just working on that.” Hermione answered.

“Good, well see you later then.” Luna said and gave Hermione a quick kiss before leaving with Draco.

“Hey, Hermione, I want to show you something!” Ron said with an eager smile on his face.

“Ok, what?”

“It’s in the shop.” Ron said and enthusiastically dragged Hermione along to the joke shop.

Like every shop it was closed by now, but Ron of course had keys and led Hermione through the empty shop and back to the storage room.

“Ok, ready for this? I’ve made my very first own invention. I’ve been studying up on how all the things in here work and now I’ve finally invented my own thing. “

“That’s great. I knew you had it in you.”

“No you didn’t, not even I did, but anyway here it is now. I give you Living Cereal!” Ron said and held up a box with what looked like perfectly ordinary cereal.

Ron took out a bowl and poured some cereal into it. Then he went over to a refrigerator and took out some milk.

“Observe this.” Ron said as he poured milk over the cereal.

At first nothing happened, but then suddenly a frog appeared in the bowl and then another one. Every little piece of cereal turned into a frog and they all started to jump around, trying to find a way to the nearest lake. Hermione wasn’t scared of frogs, but she wasn’t exactly fond of them either.

“Wow, that is really……well disgusting.”

“Yeah, I know. Exactly what I was going for.” Ron said with a happy grin.

“One problem though, how are you going to get rid of all these frogs?”

“Uhhh, didn’t really think about that.” Ron admitted.

“Well, you could implant in them the knowledge of where to find the nearest lake. That way they will leave all on their own.” Hermione suggested.

“Yeah, that’s perfect. Let’s send them to the nearest park.”

Ron waved his wand and then opened a window. All the frogs dutifully jumped out of it.

“I’ll have to give all the frogs we send out that kind of information, otherwise we might get complaints from customers about houses infested with frogs.”

“Yeah, I think so.” Hermione said with a laugh.

From there on the discussion veered into old times. During their time as a couple there had almost always been tension and irritation in their interaction. It was always a struggle to find something they were both interested in and they could never jus relax and just enjoy each other’s company. Now however that was all changed. Ron was relaxed and easygoing and that mood quickly spread to Hermione. For the first time they could simply spend time together as friends without any drama or any looming threat on the horizon. Hermione filled Ron in on her life with Luna, while Ron enthusiastically explained all the ins and outs of the shop. Still, it was getting late and Hermione eventually had to leave, but not without a promise to Ron that she would come into the shop more often. As she left the shop she found Luna waiting outside.

“Ohh, hi. How long have you been out here?” Hermione asked.

“Not long.”

“Why didn’t you come in?”

“I thought you needed some time together. I really don’t want to be responsible for breaking up your friendship.”

“That’s so sweet of you Luna, but don’t worry about that. For the first time I feel like Ron really is my friend again.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too, but what I’m really happy about is that I have you.” Hermione said sincerely.

“I know.” Luna said with a smile and closed the distance between their lips, starting a kiss that became the beginning of a very long and satisfying night.