(Slightly edited as of 4-19-05) Hello! This is another short piece written for the 30 Kisses community on LJ. (The theme was candy, and each theme must somehow involve a kiss, any kind.) I was inspired by this doujinshi by a very talented artist, which you can see here: http / hp. velharthis. com / imagepages / candyafternoon .jpg (Just take away the spaces.) Enjoy!

---

Harry Potter lazily walked along the beaten path from Hogwarts Castle to the village of Hogsmeade, somewhat bored. It was a sunny Saturday when all the third-years and above were allowed to visit Hogsmeade for the day, and because of that slimy git Draco Malfoy, Harry was alone for this trip.

Yesterday’s Potions class had started out ordinarily enough; Snape made snide remarks to Harry a couple times and took away some house points from him for no real reason; Malfoy sniggered the entire time, whispering insults across to the next table, where Harry was sitting with his classmate Neville, each of them attempting to concoct a Sickening Brew. Ron and Hermione, Harry’s best friends, were sitting at the table behind him, and could hear every word Malfoy said.

Ron, not being one to let Malfoy get away with such things, made a move to throw a goat hoof at him, which he needed to grind into powder for his potion, but was stopped by Hermione. After all, the two were prefects—it wouldn’t look good to get into trouble, plus Hermione hated to see one of her friends break the rules, prefect or not. It was when Malfoy nastily whispered “Mudblood” in Hermione’s direction did Ron snap. He grabbed the goat’s hoof and violently threw it right at Malfoy, where in hit him right on his blonde head. However, in his haste, Ron had knocked over Hermione’s Sickening Brew, and as she had been about to yell, “No, Ron!” she got a mouthful and promptly passed out, her face going red in the process. While Snape coolly informed Ron that he had had lost fifty points from Gryffindor and had been given a detention, Harry and Ron carried her out the door and to the hospital wing. A few moments after their arrival, Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, announced that Hermione had a fever of one-hundred and five.

Though Hermione was now awake, her fever still had not gone down and she also got violently sick from time to time, having to throw up in a bucket Madam Pomfrey put beside her bed for this purpose. She was going to be in the hospital wing for a few more days, and Ron, feeling especially guilty, had decided to keep her company until she got better. Harry had also wanted to stay with her, but today, Ron and Hermione had waved him off, saying if anything he could bring them back some sweets from Honeydukes that they could share when Hermione was better.

So Harry had obliged, and here he was, in Hogsmeade, by himself. A short boy on the High road who was holding what seemed to be Chocolate Frog cards in one hand and a frosty bottle of butterbeer in the other caught Harry’s eye, and he suddenly found himself to be extremely thirsty. He figured he could make a quick stop into the Three Broomsticks, and have himself a drink before heading to Honeydukes.

He swung open the rusty-hinged door of the pub and stepped inside. A couple ofpeople waved to him and he returned their greetings before heading up to the bar, where he ordered a bottle of butterbeer from the landlady, Madam Rosmerta. He was so distracted, anxiously thinking about being able to get a good long drink into his body, he didn’t realize who he was sitting next to.

Luna Lovegood looked up from her chocolate soda and stared at the messy-haired boy who sat down next to her. “Hello, Harry,” she said, absent-mindedly stirring the soda with a straw.

Harry’s head jerked up and he looked around hastily before his eyes settled on the pale-haired and pale-eyed Luna. “Oh,” he breathed, a hand at his chest, “you scared me for a moment there.”

Luna propped her chin on her fist, her blue eyes boring into Harry’s green ones. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

Harry gave a slight smile. “It’s all right.” Madam Rosmerta brought his butterbeer and he thanked her. He took a very long swig of the sweet drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his thirst satisfied for the moment.

Luna took a sip of her soda. “Where are Ronald and Hermione?” she asked, spinning around on her stool. “You’re rarely without them.”

“You haven’t heard?”

Luna shook her head, and Harry was resigned to tell her the whole story. “I don’t like that Malfoy character,” she told Harry, after he had finished. “I don’t like his aura.”

Harry decided not to go any deeper into the subject of auras and simply nodded. The two sat together awhile longer, and the talk turned to school, amongst other things, and after a while Harry found that he was actually having a good time. Luna was interesting, he decided, so far having learned that Luna’s favorite dessert was pudding, she had two Jumperfish and a dog at home, and that her favorite subject in school was Herbology. Harry’s first thought upon hearing this was that maybe Luna and Neville should get together, as they both enjoyed Herbology so much, but felt a tight knot forming in his stomach at the notion.

On second thought…Harry shook his head. The knot in his stomach did not loosen, which disturbed him.

“Harry? Are you okay?” Luna was spinning on her stool again.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Harry answered, feeling stupid.

“Good. I thought you might have had an Umgumber in your ear. They eat your memories, you know,” she told him seriously, placing a hand on his knee, as his shoulder was a bit too far for her to reach.

Harry laughed. “No, I was just thinking about something.”

“What?”

Harry shook his head again. “Noth—“

“Harry?”

Harry stopped and looked behind him. Cho Chang and a group of her friends had entered the pub, and they were all eyeing Luna Lovegood with extreme distaste. Cho had broken up with Michael Corner last month, and seeing Harry, who was as good as her ex(ex)-boyfriend, enjoy himself with Loony Lovegood of all people, when she had no one herself, was sparking waves of intense jealously within her.

Harry immediately felt an upsurge of anger at Cho’s reaction to Luna. “Hello,” Harry said, trying to keep the resentment out of his voice.

“Hi,” said Cho. “Is this your girlfriend?” She raised an eyebrow at Luna, who was watching this exchange with mild interest. Her hand still had not moved from Harry’s knee. Cho’s friends giggled.

Harry was about to answer no, but changed his mind. What business was it of Cho’s anyway? “Would it matter if she was?”

“Well,” said Cho, sounding bored, “It would, seeing as she’s Loony Lovegood.” Cho’s friends laughed harder.

“Oh really?” said Harry loudly, standing up and grabbing the attention of the pub’s other patrons. He couldn’t believe Cho could be so shallow, and remembering the fact that he used to have a huge crush on someone like her only added to his anger.

“Well, I’ll tell you something. Luna is smart, and sweet and real, and she doesn’t bloody cry all the time, which is more than I can say for you, Chang,” Harry said icily. Not knowing what he was going to do next, Harry took Luna by the chin and kissed her fervently. Cho’s expression inferred that someone might have dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. Eyes roving around the silent pub, as if daring anyone to make a rude comment, Harry took Luna’s hand. “Let’s get out of here, Luna.”

“Okay,” agreed Luna, jumping off the stool and looking utterly non-plussed.

Harry led the way, and they found themselves walking down the main road, where most of the shops were. Several thoughts were racing through Harry’s mind, and he didn’t hear the first time when Luna asked if he would like to stop in Honeydukes for some candy.

Vaguely, Harry agreed, and Luna took him inside the shop. It almost felt as if he were in a dream; he moved automatically, picking out a selection of sweets he knew Ron and Hermione would enjoy and paying for them, while Luna, who had already finished shopping, waited. Afterwards she led him out of the shop and to a bench a bit off the main road. From a paper bag she removed two large pinwheel lollipops, and after unwrapping them, offered one to Harry.

Harry sucked on the lollipop, his mind a bit clearer, the reality of his actions having sunk in. “I’m sorry.”

Luna, who had been spinning her lollipop round and round with interest, stopped and turned to Harry. “For what?”

Harry didn’t look at her. “For… kissing you like that.” His insides squirmed. “I shouldn’t have done that without your permission.”

“I don’t think most kissers ask for permission first,” she said absently, placing a forefinger on her cheek.

Harry stared at the cobblestoned street. “No, really, Luna, I…” He didn’t know what else to say.

Luna took a lick of her lollipop. “Harry, did you kiss me just to spite Cho?” she asked him with a frankness he hadn’t expected so soon right then.

Harry opened his mouth to say yes, but stopped himself. Did he kiss Luna just to hurt Cho? He thought about it. His words had hurt Cho enough, and he had known this as he watched the look on her face when he spoke to her so harshly. He really hadn’t needed to kiss Luna. He remembered the knot in his stomach that had appeared when he contemplated Luna and Neville together, and the way he felt when he spoke to her.

Harry sensed his ears getting hot, and the feeling spread to his cheeks. “…I don’t know, Luna,” he told her, ignoring his thoughts for the time being.

For some reason, Luna smiled. “Okay Harry.” She went back to her lollipop, but paused in mid-lick. “How do you like it?”

“How do I like what?” said Harry, puzzled.

Luna tapped his lollipop with her own. “Your lollipop. It’s violet-and-blueberry flavored, I thought you’d enjoy it.”

“Oh.” Harry looked at the blue swirls that made up his treat. “Yes, I like it very much. Thanks, Luna.”

“You’re welcome, Harry.” She licked her lollipop a bit more. “You know, you just seemed like that flavor, I could feel it in your aura.”

Harry grinned. “Really? Well, what flavor are you, then?”

“Why don’t you guess?” Luna asked with large eyes.

Harry sucked thoughtfully on his lollipop, watching Luna, and the way her hair changed colors between blonde, gold, red, and orange as the sun set. He realized they’d have to go back to Hogwarts for dinner would start soon, but wasn’t too keen leaving just yet.

It was funny, he thought as they both watched the sun sink beyond the horizon. Luna was starpeach-lemonberry-chocolate flavored.

---

Thanks for reading! And don’t forget to review!