Harry flew into Orchard's Gate, a very large smile on his face. He'd spent most of the morning with Sirius, talking about what had happened while he'd been gone. Three days. Sirius said it felt like he'd only been gone for three days. It was amazing. Harry couldn't think of a better way for things to have happened. In essence, the veil had held Sirius still during those eight years, and during the entire war. He'd been kept from getting hurt, the war passing by like nothing for him, and now he was back. Sirius was back.

More than just Sirius being back, he was free. He'd been cleared of all charges after he'd died. Almost died. Didn't die. He was free to do whatever he pleased.

Sirius is alive.

"Luna?" Harry shouted, a happiness in his voice that hadn't been there in years. "Luna, you here?"

Luna was straightening her room when she heard someone call her name. She abandoned the project and made her way up the stairs, to find Harry practically quivering with excitement as he searched the upstairs rooms for her.

"Harry, goodness." This was definitely a change from his normal, stressed out attitude. "Did you find a thesphilite or something? I don't think I was this excited when we found proof of the snork ack-"

Harry cut her off, placing both hands on either side of her head. He kissed her, walking them backwards until her back was pressed against the wall. His fingers threaded into her hair, unable to hold the small noise of contentment as he pressed his body against hers. After getting over his shock about Sirius, still carrying a little of it around with him, the first thing he'd wanted to do was run to Luna and tell her. He wanted to share this with her more than anyone else.

Luna put her hands on his shoulders and held on for dear life. Not that she was complaining, but most of their encounters were on the gentle side. He always seemed to hold some part of himself back from her. Today he wasn't.

Her hands skimmed up and down his back, just enjoying the sensation of having him under her hands, when he finally pulled away and flashed her a huge grin. He looked so happy that she couldn't resist the urge to kiss him again. This was how she imagined he would look on their wedding day. Or when she told him that they were going to be parents.

Yes, she admitted to having those sorts of thoughts about him. They hadn't talked about it, but that was where she assumed this was going. She loved him.

Harry pulled back long enough to rest his forehead against hers, breathing a little heavy. "He's alive," he said, darting in to press his lips against hers again. "Sirius. He's alive. He's alive!"

She stiffened in confusion. Sirius? How was that even possible? Her mind went over the facts. Sirius had fallen into the Veil eight years ago. The Veil was instant death. Harry had seen it happen. Harry had mourned him.

"How? Harry... He went through the Veil. How can he be alive?"

Had he checked to make sure that it was Sirius? That it wasn't some zombie, or someone playing a cruel prank? That this wasn't a Liberi plot to throw him off balance?

"I don't know," Harry said quickly, taking a step backwards, the grin still plastered on his face and giving no sign of going anywhere. "I just... Justin was down there and they called me in. There were all these dead bodies and he said Sirius was there. I thought he meant Sirius' body but it was him! I touched him. It was him, Luna, it was him!"

Feeling lighter than he had in years, the idea of having Sirius there, Harry rushed forward towards her again, laughing. He wrapped his hands around Luna's waist and spun her. There wasn't much room in the hallway, but he managed it.

Luna giggled, her hands clasped around his neck. His joy was infectious, burning away her confusion and doubts. There was no way that this could be a bad thing. Not when it made him so happy.

"Is he alright," she asked when he set her down again.

"Confused, of course, but he's alright. He has to be declared not dead, which is a bit odd, but he's alright. He's fine. It doesn't look like he's aged at all." Harry couldn't help another laugh, his neck stretching to kiss her again. "I want you to meet him. Really meet him."

Luna nodded. She'd never actually met Harry's godfather before. She'd caught glimpses of him during the battle, but that was all.

"Of course. Though, it might be better to let him settle a bit first. He's been... Away for eight years. I'm sure that things are going to be overwhelming. The world has changed." She pressed her forehead against his chest and breathed in his scent for a moment before continuing.

"Is he going to move back into Grimmauld Place? Have you even had a chance to discuss details like that?"

Harry laughed. "Oh, Gods, Sirius would hate that. He hates that house. It's his family's house and he was basically locked up there for an entire year. No. He won't want it back, though I'd give it if he asked."

She nodded once again and pulled him into the kitchen. Once he was seated at the counter, she started the tea.

"What happens next?"

"I don't know," Harry said, that grin still on his face as he watched her move around the kitchen. "I mean, I haven't touched the money he left to me so he'll be getting that back. Then I suppose he'll find people and talk to them. Remus. Tonks." Harry laughed loudly, his body shaking with it. "I can't wait to see Snape's face when he hears Sirius is back."

Luna couldn't help the giggle that escaped at the image that filled her mind. Snape's face, twisted up as if he were sucking a lime.

"I'm happy for you, Harry," she told him as she stood behind his stool and wrapped her arms around him. She held him for a moment before moving to pour the tea.

"If he needs any help, I'll be glad to do whatever's needed."

"I know," Harry said with a smile. The fact that she was offering to help Sirius, having never really met the man, filled Harry with something he hadn't felt for someone else since Ginny. His heart started hammering in his chest a little bit harder than it had before.

"I love you."

He was sure that he'd be horrified at saying those words aloud tomorrow, or whenever he didn't feel like everything was right with his world, but at that moment he was full of <i>something</i>, something that wasn't going to let him hide his feelings anymore due to fear. He loved Sirius. He loved Luna. He was overwhelmed at having them both in his life, and how he felt about each of them was simple. Saying he loved them should be simple. It <i>was</i> simple, he just hadn't been able to realize it before today.

Luna blinked at him as she set the tea pot down.  Surely she had misheard that.  She'd known his feelings, of course...  But he'd actually said the words.  It was all she could do at the moment to stand and blink at him.

He was starting to look nervous when she finally overcame her shock and launched herself at him.  Her momentum knocked him from the stool and they both landed on the floor with a thump.  She plunged her fingers into his hair and kissed him for all she was worth.  She only pulled back when he made a little moaning noise.

"Oh, Gods, Harry.  Are you alright?  I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.  But, you said it and I still can't believe it.  You said it!"

She kissed him again before smiling down at him.

"I love you, Harry James Potter."

"Good," he breathed, letting out the breath he'd been holding. "Good." Harry knew it was probably a bit sudden, and he hadn't come to Orchard's Gate with proclamations of love on his mind, but he was happy. For the first time in a long time, Harry was happy, and he knew it had a lot to do with Luna. "Good."


[Summary: Harry tells Luna about Sirius.  Declarations are made (FINALLY!).]