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The world seemed far brighter and more lovely every morning that Luna woke up. It wasn’t just because the war was over; no, there was someone else who made her life a far happier place. And she couldn’t wait to share that with her best friend.
Hermione had told her many times that she deserved more. She deserved to be with someone who wanted her, who wanted to kiss her properly and often. It was something that Hermione had forced her to believe. It was something that she had finally accepted; however, she knew that it was something that she would have denied if it had not been for the Muggle-born witch twisting her arm.
Now, though, all she wanted was to run across the hill that lay between the house where she had grown up and the Burrow where Hermione resided with the Weasley family. A lot had changed in the year following the end of the Second Wizarding War. A lot of families had experienced loss since the second rise of You-Know-Who, and the Grangers were just one of those families that had been lost. Luna figured that the loss that Hermione had experienced by a flick of her own wand was the reason that she was so adamant about how Luna should be properly treated.
The only thing that was stopping Luna from racing across the hill was the fact that it was a Wednesday, and every Wednesday Hermione made her own way across the hill and sat silently in the garden outside of the house that the Lovegoods called home. She would sit there until eventually Luna eased herself down next to the older witch and lay her head upon her shoulder. She never knew what to say, but she wanted Hermione to know that she was there for her.
Today, however, that would change. The routine they had fallen into over the course of the summer would finally be broken. Finally, Luna would have something to say to the girl she called her best friend. Today was the day that she would admit that she had finally found someone to love. Someone who treated her right, who treated her with the respect and love she deserved.
Luna was loath to admit it, but she almost missed her friend approaching over the hill, pushing through the morning mist like a ghost floating across the earth. It was always a breathtaking sight, one that reminded her of the magical world that she lived in. Well, that was one of the magical things in the world that reminded her of how much they should treasure everything around them. The other thing, well, that was the proper and romantic kisses that she frequently received from the man who held her heart as though it was the richest of treasures.
“Luna.” Hermione’s voice called to her as she approached the front steps of the Lovegood residence, pulling her from the magical thoughts that she was having about her life. The voice wasn’t harsh; in fact, it was full of awe and caring wonder. “You seem happier today,” the young Muggle-born woman commented just as she stopped next to the blonde who was sat on the front steps of the house, a cup of lukewarm coffee warming her hands.
“I am, ‘Mione, you were right. Love, kisses, and being treated properly was exactly what I deserved,” Luna gushed as she held out a second cup for her friend to take. She didn’t always enjoy bragging about her love, especially not when she had held Hermione in her arms as she sobbed over a broken heart. She had never wanted to increase the pain that her friend felt, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “He is perfect. He is a gentleman who knows what he is doing, he kisses me often and properly. One day, ‘Mione, you will find your own true love.”
“Thank you,” Hermione whispered as she rested her head upon Luna’s shoulder. A sense of peace settled over them as they sat there.
This was what Luna could offer her friend, and whilst she wanted to make her way inside to her true love, whilst she longed to accept one of his chaste kisses, she could wait and sit quietly with her friend. The world would eventually start turning again, but for now, it was paused on its axis and the two could just sit and take in the morning songs from the birds.