He tried to tell himself that the reason his stomach was turning was because he hadn't eaten anything and he was hungry. He was lying to himself. Harry's stomach was in knots because the last time he'd seen her, he'd been unable to control himself. Literally. He'd seen the embarrassment on her face. It had most likely matched his own. Yet, she still owled him for lunch. He was a little surprised.

Mac had said it was because she was his friend. Maybe that was it. She was his friend and could overlook something completely and utterly mortifying because their friendship was stronger than that. Their friendship. He tried not to be disappointed when he thought about that. He was so very worried about ruining the easy friendship he had with Luna by over-thinking things. He wasn't going to push, afraid of what might happen to them if he did.

He raised a hand to knock on the door before letting the arm fall to his side. They were friends. He'd been here hundreds of times. He didn't need to knock. He turned the knob and pushed the door open. "Hello? Luna?"

She jumped a little at the sound of his voice. She had been expecting it, of course, but somehow that made it more startling. Like one of those Muggle scare films where you know the monster is about to jump out and you flinch anyway when it does.

"In the kitchen," she called and busied herself with cutting up the tomato. It would be less awkward if she had something to focus on. "I hope sandwiches are all right. I made chicken salad and there's everything you need for either a club or a BLT. Crisps in the cabinet and butter beer. I thought casual might be best."

Damn! She hadn't meant to bring up their last meal together. Not even obliquely.

"Alright." Harry made his way down the hallway, the smell of bacon reminding him of breakfasts at Hogwarts. He hadn't been able to catch breakfast very often, as he'd always tried to sleep as late as he could, but the scent brought back good memories. "It smells great," he said, making his way towards the cabinet to grab the crisps she'd mentioned. "Have a good week?" Other than the horrible night on Monday?

"It was OK. Stopped by and saw Mac and Penelope Clearwater on Wednesday. I hadn't seen Penelope in years. Did Ron or Gin or one of the other Weasleys tell you about her and Jack? I didn't get to meet him, but that's OK. I'm invited to enough Weasley functions that I'm sure I will eventually."

She carefully arranged the tomato slices on a plate and washed her hands before moving on to the lettuce. "Would you mind toasting some bread?"

"Sure," Harry said, casting a glance towards the ceiling. He assumed Ginny and Malfoy were probably upstairs. "How's Gin doing?"

"Fine I suppose." Why was he asking? He swore that he had no interest in Gin that way, not anymore. Had he lied? "She's gone to work already. Breezed through with barely a hello."

Harry turned to look at Luna with wide eyes. "She went into work today?" Is she nuts? Malfoy let her go after everything that happened?

"Yeah. Why wouldn't she?"

Blinking, Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "With everything that happened last night with Crabbe." He could tell she had no idea what he was talking about. He set the bag of crisps on the counter slowly. "Ginny, Dean, Natalie and Malfoy went out last night and got attacked by Vincent Crabbe. They... he was killed." Yes, there was a lot more to that story than he was saying, but he actually wasn't sure how much he could say. Or, how much Ginny would want him to say.

"Is she... Was she hurt? Were any of them hurt? Rowena, why didn't she tell me?" She abandoned the lettuce to look at him for the first time, noting that he looked tired. It must have been a long night for him.

"Surprisingly, none of them were too badly hurt. Physically, that is. It looked like Gin healed them pretty well after everything happened." He frowned, leaning on the counter and looked at her, concern on his face. "Gin wasn't... she didn't look right. She was the one... she was holding a knife and apparently he fell onto her. I don't think she's taking it well." The fact that she'd gone into work this morning also didn't bode well. He knew when she got upset that she threw herself into work, and if she did it the morning after...

"Oh, Merlin..." Ginny was a healer. To have taken a life, even by accident, would devastate her. "That must be why Draco rushed out of here earlier. I thought he just had an appointment or something. Why would she go to work?" It was a rhetorical question. Gin buried things, that's how she dealt, or more correctly, didn't deal. Not until someone forced her to. Hopefully Draco could find her and shake some sense into her. If not, Luna would try to deal with it when Gin came home.

"Because she's Ginny," Harry said, like it made perfect sense. "If Malfoy went after her, I'm sure she's alright." He grimaced. Had he really just said that? He grabbed the crisps and opened the bag. "She'll be back, I'm sure. Eventually. The best thing, as much as it's hard, is to wait for her to come to us about it."

She nodded and turned back to the lettuce. "You're right, I know. But she's my best friend and I can't help but worry about her." It was pointless to rehash the same subject again, so she switched the topic to lunch. "What kind of sandwich would you like? And did you bring a movie or are we going to pick one from Gin's collection?"

"I couldn't come up with anything movie wise, so we'll be pilfering." He moved to stand beside her, grabbing the bread and toasting it with his wand. "BLT is fine with me." He reached out to grab pieces of bacon, freezing when his arm brushed hers. He turned and moved away, "I'll grab some plates."

Her arm tingled where he'd brushed against her. It was an interesting sensation, one she had deemed only possible in cheesy romance books.

"Thanks." She started putting together the sandwiches, piling extra bacon on Harry's because she knew he liked it that way. "What type of movie do you feel like watching? My only requirement is nothing too serious. I want to be entertained, not introduced to some Muggle social problem."

"I'm fine with anything, really." He really didn't care what they watched. Being in a darkened room with her sounded fine to him, even if he knew nothing would happen. He wasn't going to push, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy the idea of her sitting next to him. "Did we want to eat downstairs, then?"

"Sure. It's a little more relaxed than eating at the island, and from the sounds of it, you could use some relaxation." She grabbed a couple of butter beers out of the ice box before handing one to him and grabbing up her own plate. She carefully made her way down to the recreation room as her plate was overflowing with crisps. Once there, she set her plate and bottle on one of the end tables and proceeded to the shelves of DVDs. "We have Monty Python, if you're in the mood for a comedy. Or the sequel to the movie we watched last time, if you feel like sticking around for three hours. Something called Ice Age that appears to be drawn and Spy Kids II. A few older movies that all claim to be Star Wars. Do you suppose they're really about stars fighting?"

Harry snorted as he set his plate on the table. "Um... not so much. We can watch Ice Age. I find cartoons to be rather relaxing. Call me a child." Truth was, he'd never gotten to watch cartoons at Privet Drive. Dudley had hated them, and they always watched what Dudley wanted. Cartoons had become a hidden desire for him after that.

"Ice Age it is." She set the DVD up and joined him on the couch. She didn't sit right next to him, despite what she really wanted. Instead she sat far enough away that she could cross her legs "Indian style" and her knee barely brushed his thigh. She settled her plate in the cradle of her lap and popped a chip in her mouth. "This type of animatation is done with machines, right? How do they do that?"

"I'm actually not sure. I think they do it with computers." She looked over at him, and Harry grinned after popping a crisp in his mouth. "It's a machine that can do lots of things. It can send notes through wires, people talk on it... they can make really good pictures and animations on them." He bit into his sandwich as the previews started across the screen.

"Talk on a machine and send notes through wires? Sounds hinky to me." Nevertheless she turned towards the TV and watched first the previews, then a short film. The movie began in earnest with a funny squirrel-looking creature chasing an acorn. Within moments she was struggling not to spit her food across the room.

Harry had finished his food long ago, absently picking crisps off her plate when he'd finished the ones on his own. The movie was funny, and it was nice to just forget about everything for a little bit. The room was dark, as it was in the basement, and the glow of the television was just enough to cast soft light on her face. Whenever he caught himself looking, however, he forced himself to look back on the screen. It didn't matter that he loved the sound of her laugh.

She wasn't eating her crisps simply because he was. And it was good to see him eat. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he snagged one after another. He finished at the same time that she took her last bite of sandwich. "Would you like more crisps? I can pop up to the kitchen and bring them back. Take the plates and grab more butter beers."

"No, no, I'm fine." He didn't want her to leave. Selfish, but he didn't. He sat back against the cushions now that he was done eating, getting comfortable to watch the rest of the movie. He hoped she did too. It seemed like they were going to ignore the embarrassment that had happened Monday night, which was perfectly fine with him. If they never spoke about it again, he'd be good.

Luna nodded and set her plate aside. She concentrated on the movie and found herself relaxing for the first time since before their dinner. She'd been so upset over the debacle that she'd been full of stress. Now, in the darkened room with Harry sitting companionably beside her, she felt her stress ease away.

She didn't even think about her actions as she curled her legs to the side and rested against Harry. It was the normal movie watching position for the two of them.

Her hair, the smell of it, how it felt against his neck... he couldn't help but notice it. He'd have to be dead not to. He could tell she was comfortable, and that made him more comfortable. Her relaxing helped him relax. This time, everything was so different then it had been on Monday. Maybe it was because Dobby had tried to make it so formal. Harry just wasn't a 'sit at the dinner table with candlelight' type of guy. He was a 'get a sandwich, share some crisps, and watch a movie' type.

She giggled as the on-screen animals went on a series of ice slides, fumbling to keep the human toddler safe. It really was a funny movie and she was glad that Harry had chosen it.

"Do you think life back then was anything like this?" she asked. "Oh, I know the woolly elephants didn't actually talk, but all the different creatures?"

"I wouldn't even know where to begin to even think about that," Harry said, grinning at the screen. He leaned down and brushed at a crumb that was on her leg, coming dangerously close to her ear as he did so. He couldn't help but take a large breath, breathe in her scent. He sat back against the cushions, hoping she hadn't noticed, or, if she had, chose to ignore it.

She closed her eyes as he brushed her leg and breathed in her ear. Oh, if only he would do such things with purpose. "How do they portray our world? Do you know?" It was almost a babble as she tried to calm her racing heart.

"You mean the people who made the movie?"

"Not necessarily this movie. Any movie. Do they think magic is imaginary? Have they even thought of the possibility of a wizarding community? I really don't recall ever seeing any mention of magic in any of the movie's I've seen, other than the ring one we watched. And that was obviously set in a fantasy world, even if that Gandolf bloke was a dead ringer for Dumbledore."

Harry laughed. "The magic they show in the movies and TV... it's not our magic. It's always fantasy. I don't think I've ever seen a movie where magic was just a part of everyday life like it is for us. Everything really is magic. Extraordinary. Special."

"You mean magic isn't extraordinary and special?" she asked, turning slightly and smiling at him. His irises had almost disappeared in the dark room, leaving only a thin green ring around the pupils.

Harry turned to look down at her, blinking with how close she was to him, her face mere inches away from his. "There are some things that I consider extraordinary and special."

If she leaned up just a bit, her lips would connect with his, he was so close. Could she? Should she? He wasn't drawing away or acting uncomfortable with their proximity. She leaned forward slightly, willing to take a chance, when Harry reared back away from her, his gaze darting up to the ceiling. She blinked in confusion, belatedly realizing that she had heard the door slam and could hear raised voices over her head.

"Looks like Draco found Ginny."

Bloody buggering fucking shite! "Yeah." He looked down at her, realizing the moment had passed and growing angry that Malfoy had been partly to blame for it's loss. "We should..." He moved, standing and grabbing their plates. Fucking ferret arsehole git!

"Yeah, I suppose we should. Will you... We haven't finished the movie." She followed him up the stairs, silently lamenting Gin's timing.

"We'll have to-" Harry began as they made it to the top of the stairs.

"I said I'm fine," Ginny hissed, blinking when Harry and Luna came up from downstairs. She was momentarily speechless. Her and Draco hadn't made it farther than the landing. "Hi."

Harry looked between them both, his face in a frown because they were fighting and because of what they'd interrupted. "Hi."

Draco was frowning. He looked from Harry to Luna. "We interrupting something? If so, and it's what I think... oh thank the gods."

Luna scowled at Draco. "No, we were just having lunch and watching a movie. An animatated... No, animated movie about prehistoric beasties rescuing a human baby. It's quite funny. There's sandwich makings if either of you are hungry." She made her way into the kitchen and deposited the butter beer bottles in the trash before turning back and taking the plates from Harry. "BLTs, club sandwiches, and chicken salad."

Ginny threw a glare to Draco before following Luna into the kitchen.

This left Harry in the entryway.

With Draco.

Who was glaring at him. "Right." Harry spun on his heel and followed the redhead and Luna into the kitchen.

"I'm fine," Ginny was saying to Luna.

"She's not fine," said Draco, walking into the kitchen behind Harry.

"I'm dealing with it, alright?" Ginny looked over at Luna. They would need to talk. She knew Luna would want the details, and she knew Harry couldn't give them to her.

Luna knew that to Gin "dealing with it" was the same as "ignoring it". But she also knew when not to push, and this was definitely the time. "Chicken salad for Gin," she said, toasting more bread. "What would you like, Draco? Harry, could you be a dear and put on the kettle? I think tea will be needed."

Be a dear... put a tea kettle on. He frowned as he moved around the kitchen. If they hadn't come in, I wouldn't need to be putting the kettle on so Draco can have tea with his sodding sandwich. He slammed a bit through the kitchen, getting the kettle out and filling it with water.

Ginny sat at the island, watching Luna begin to make her a sandwich. "I'm not hungry." Luna sent her a glare that made it clear this was not a discussion.

Harry turned and leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for the water to boil.

"I could have fixed my own sodding tea," Draco mumbled.

"That may be," Luna replied. "But I like doing things for people. Harry's not fixing the tea, he just set the kettle to boil. Sit down, please. Both of you. At the island. No snapping at each other." They looked at her with identical expressions of disbelief. "Yes, I know it's hard, but you can both be civil for half an hour. I'll buy you both a dozen of Hannah's special biscuits if you behave."

"Is that supposed to be incentive for us? You do know what gets brought to mind when you say Hannah and special biscuits, right?" Even as he said this, he moved to sit down like she'd said.

Draco snorted. "Right then. Because I want to shite out my insides."

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about?" Luna asked as she placed milk and sugar on the island. She returned with two plates, chicken salad for both of them, since Draco had never answered her. "Sit, Ginny. And eat." Once Ginny was sitting next to her boyfriend, Luna turned back and added tea leaves to the boiling water.

Ginny stared at the plate in front of her, her hands remaining in her lap as she looked back up at Luna as she moved around the kitchen.

Harry leaned forward on the island. A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention and he turned from where he'd been looking at Luna's arse, to see Ginny looking at him with a small smirk at the corner of her mouth. He glared at her before sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest again.

Draco's mouth was hanging open. In horror. Potter had been checking out Luna's arse. Ginny elbowed him.

"Sorry, I have lost my appetite," Draco said, pushing his plate away. "Let's just say you do not want to get on Hannah's bad side. Her special bikkies have a bit of a kick to them. There are at least three people that I know of who have suffered her biscuit wrath."

"Hannah..." Surely Luna was misinterpreting what they were saying. Hannah Abbott was that sweet Huffle who never said a wrong word. Right? "You must be jesting." But the two of them were agreeing on it. "Gin?"

Ginny shrugged. "She's devious in Huffle ways."

Harry smiled at the look on Luna's face. She honestly never thought the worst of people. She always tried to think in optimistic terms. She was one of the few people he knew that could do that. Hannah was another, but he had the feeling that Luna could never send anyone digestive upsetting biscuits.

"I never would have expected that," she said. "Both of you," she pointed to both Ginny and Draco. "Eat. I can almost guarantee that neither of you have done so today."

Looking down at the sandwich, knowing Luna wouldn't let up, Ginny reached out and tore a corner, putting the bread in her mouth and looking up at Luna with a small smile.

"Chew."

Frowning, hoping Luna hadn't notice the lack of chewing, Ginny swallowed what was in her mouth. She only hoped her stomach stopped doing the seizing thing it'd been doing all morning. She didn't want to throw up. Again. Thus the not eating.

"Hannah has a habit of surprising you. She'll send you dosed biscuits, but they'll still come in a pink tin with a smiley face."

Luna did notice the way Ginny was eying her sandwich and mentally slapped herself for being stupid. She'd had an upsetting night and didn't want to eat. Forcing something like a sandwich on her was a recipe for disaster. She snatched the plate away, literally taking the sandwich out of her friend's hand before she banished it to the sink. Then she started bustling through the kitchen, getting out the frozen chicken noodle soup Mrs. Weasley had sent over the last time either of them felt under the weather. Mrs. Weasley had said that it was always good to have extra available for those times when you just needed comfort food. And this was definitely one of those times. Within moments the soup was heated to a comfortable temperature and had replaced the plate.

Draco was frowning. He held his sandwich in both hands and hunkered down with it - as if to protect it. "If I don't eat fast enough, will she do that to me as well? I'm not really a fan of soup."

Harry watched as Ginny stared at the cup of soup. "Gin, did you sleep last night?" She looked over at him. "I'll take that as a no." Harry turned a concerned face to Luna.

"Take your food upstairs, the both of you, and relax," Luna said decisively, ignoring Draco's comment. "And once you're done eating, go to sleep. You," she pointed to Draco. "Make sure she stays in bed for the rest of the day." She ignored Harry's grimace as he no doubt thought about how that task would be accomplished. He was so predictable at times. "You can't be any more stubborn than Daddy was when he was sick, Gin, and I out lasted him. Even Healers need time to recover. Up you go."

"Yeah. I am pretty tired." Ginny stood, pushing away from the island, throwing a small smile to both Harry and Luna. "I'm sorry we ruined your date." She turned, leaving the soup on the counter as she started upstairs.

Frowning at her choice of words, and knowing it very well might have turned into something rather date-like, Harry turned to look at Draco. "She's not ok. She might need to go see Maggie."

Draco just nodded once. He knew who Maggie was. He took his sandwich, polishing it off in a few bites, and followed Ginny.

Luna frowned down at the cup of soup before snatching it up and placing it in the ice box. "Maybe she'll eat it later. At least Draco ate. He'll be better able to take care of her if he has food." She felt the need to move, to clean. Nervous energy that she barely reigned in. "I'm sorry our movie was interrupted. Thank you for coming over."

She took a deep breath and placed a fleeting kiss upon his cheek. "And thank you for rising above your schoolboy rivalry with Draco, even if it was only for today. Hearing you two argue would have made her feel worse."

He looked a little dazed as he blinked over at her. "I don't really want to rush you out, but I think if they have the house to themselves things might be a little easier. So... I'll see you sometime this week for lunch again? Look at your schedule and owl me when you're free."

"Alright." Harry knew he'd frozen, but he couldn't help it. She moved away and he could still smell her. "I'll do that. Thanks for feeding me." He nodded, more to himself, before turning, a grin breaking onto his face as he made his way through the front door.



Summary: Harry and Luna have a comfortable lunch. Draco and Ginny appear and the two boys manage to behave around each other. Which is the bigger miracle?