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The breeze coming through the open window in the Ravenclaw tower smelled of grass and sunshine, and was pleasantly warm on Colin's face. He and Luna were studying for their upcoming O.W.L.S, and they agreed Ravenclaw tower was a much better location for this activity than the Gryffindor common room, where a spitball throwing contest was currently taking place, or the library, where someone had unleashed one of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes Portable Swamp's likely hoping to delay the OWLs by delaying the total student bodies' ability to study for them.
Colin and Luna had finally gotten together this spring, after months of shy glances, stuttering, blushes in the hallway, and all of their friends getting fed up with neither of them being willing to make a move. Eventually their friends had the bright idea to work together, roped in Colin's brother Dennis and set up a not-so-intricate, yet inescapable plot, that would force the two together in a catalystic way where they'd HAVE to admit their feelings for each other.
Under the premise of having a picnic with his friends to relax after the Quidditch final (Gryffindor won, of course), Colin was lured down to the lake only to discover Luna had also been brought out under similar subterfuge by her friends. Before the two could start in with their awkward pauses and lack of any true ability to flirt properly, they were promptly pushed into the lake.
Dennis, who still had a close friendship (A/N: WINK!!) with the Giant Squid after their rather dramatic meet-cute on his first day at Hogwarts, had no trouble getting the Squid (who's name, it turned out, was George) on board. George had seen so many confessions of love take place in front of his lake, but so rarely got to take part in the planning of these momentous events! And he was such a romantic at heart.
So, with the cast assembled, the plan locked down, and everyone aware of the parts they played, the crew got to work on plan #LuninLove
~~~
The water was shockingly cold as it splashed onto and over Colin's face. He instinctively shut his mouth and eyes as he landed sideways in the water, not quite a bellyflop, but definitely not a cannonball. Water soaked into his clothes and robes, shoes and socks, weighing him down. Suddenly, Colin's eyes shot open, as he remembered Luna had gotten pushed in as well. He looked around for her, but though he'd felt the second splash of her entering the water, she was somehow nowhere in his immediate vicinity.
Colin tried not to panic as he spread his gaze further, opening his eyes wider, doing his best to see through the murky water. Suddenly: there. A flash of blonde hair, drifting in the water further below. Colin started swimming towards her. Was she sinking? How had she gotten that far down already? Was she carrying the whole extended family of her pet rock around in her pockets again?
Colin's effort was being hampered by his robes dragging in the water behind him, and his heavy water-logged sneakers. He took them off, and pushed deeper.
As Colin got closer to her, he saw something strange. A large, pale, fleshy tentacle was wrapped around Luna's waist, seemingly dragging her down to the depths. Colin was immediately struck with a mix of confusion and anger. How dare George drag another student back to his lair while he was dating Dennis. And with Colin right here as a witness! And also, Colin thought he remembered Hagrid saying that Squid's mated for life. Was George different because of how much magic he had absorbed over the years? But it's not fair that the Giant Squid gets to have *a second* mate while his current mate was still alive, when Colin had been trying to work up the nerve to tell Luna how he felt since last year!
Colin swam harder. Thankfully, Dumbledore had spelled the lake last year so that any human who swam in it could automatically breathe underwater without needing to sneak Gillyweed from Professor Snape's potion stores (since Snape was unwilling to make it available for use). This effort was spearheaded by Dennis, so his visits with George could be more comfortable, but once Harry Potter signed his petition, most of the school got on board and Dumbledore was forced to make the change. Coincidentally, the number of student drownings had also dramatically decreased after the spell was cast, making Hogwarts Board of Directors very happy.
Colin estimated he must be at least 10 meters underwater when he finally reached Luna and grabbed her hand as Luna also reached out for him, and tugged. There was some resistance, but the Squid must have felt guilty for cheating on Dennis, for he released Luna without much preamble.
Colin maintained his grip on Luna's hand, and swam with her back to the surface of the lake. Once they broke the surface, they took a minute to catch their breath.
"Luna, are you alright? I can't believe George would try to take you like that!" Colin said.
"Oh I'm more than alright, I haven't had an adventure that fun in quite a while. I think the Giant Squid must have smelled the baby snorkak's I was playing with this morning. They are a delicacy for giant squid, you know."
Colin grinned, and realized he and Luna were still holding hands.
"Listen, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for awhile and I've been really nervous but I want you to know, I really like you. Would you go out with me?" Colin shot out, all in one breath.
Luna smiled. "Colin I'd love to. I quite fancy you as well. Now someday we'll be able to tell our children that your brother and his mate helped set us up." Colin looked quizzically at her.
"They what?"
"Well of course," Luna said calmly, "Didn't you realize that's what George was doing? And I'm sure he wouldn't have come up with that plan on his own."
"Oh," said Colin, sounding a little lost, "I hadn't thought about it that-"
Suddenly Luna and Colins' friends and Dennis, jump out from behind the large oak tree next to the lake, cheering.
"Haha, yes!"
"KNEW that would work! Good job Dennis!"
"Glad you finally got your nerve up, Creevey!"
"Luna and Colin, swimming in the lake, K-I-S-S-I-N-G"
Luna replied "Actually, haven't kissed in the lake yet"
"Well, I guess we can fix that" Colin blushed, and leaned in. They shared their first kiss, soaking wet, knee deep in the slippery algae beds along the lakeshore.
THE END