AN: Post Deathly Hallows. Hermione doing her seventh year without Harry and Ron. Oh, but Luna's there.
Disclaimer: I don't own. If I did, I wouldn't be posting such fics on this site but riding on a train to yet another interview and book signing.
Frst stab at a Harry Potter fic and it's very fun to write. Enjoy.

The Lovegood Charm

Tuesday The First

Chapter I

The silence of the corridor made Hermione squirm uncomfortably. Ever clank from the enchanted armor, each whisper from the groggy portraits, the faint tap, tap of Mrs. Norris paws caused the brunette to look up from her book, pause holding her breath, or swivel her eyes heart hopeful that Harry and Rom would appear around a corner. It drove her mad each night she sat on the steps to the astronomy tower to study after Madame Pince shooed her from the library. Hermione would then venture to her room, place on her night clothes tossing her robes over them, and head out keeping eyes fixed forward as to not glance at the spot the trio use to sit together in the common room and make a dash to the tower.

It was getting more and more ridicules as time went on. Her sleep was becoming evermore irregular as her mind raged on thoughts of what Ron and Harry could be doing out catching dark wizards and running shops. True, Harry did send a letter from time to time and she’d sneak to see Ron on Hogsmeade trips, but it wasn’t enough to suffice.

Having lived a life of danger and risk ever since she’d entered the wizarding world eighteen years ago, being stationary and working on studies without needing to worry about Voldemort planning an attack on Hogwarts or brewing elaborate potions beneath the professor’s noses, Hermione couldn’t quench the thirst that reigned ever so violently within her.

After confiding in Ginny, the only one left that could relate even the tiniest bit to her woes, the redhead simply laughed and remarked that it wasn’t so bad without them or the danger. Of course Hermione retorted claiming that Ginny, being in quidditch, was still able to experience some thrill flying on a broomstick which was a sleek Orion Jetstream given to her by Harry upon hearing the red head became captain of the Gryffindor team. Yet only getting her kicks from the books she dove into halfheartedly these days only put Hermione in an even deeper slump.

“Bloody portraits.” Hermione grumbled as one gave a mighty snore that had caused her to jump to her feet, retract her wand, and drop her book of Endangered Magical Creatures which in turn began squawking and whooping until the coves shut but the ghastly racket soared down the corridor.

“Keep it down will you! Shouldn’t you be in bed? Why it’s that Granger girl. Didn’t expect to see her snooping around the castle after hours.” A trio of witches tied to a stake for burning began adding more ill comments as the brunette made her way down the steps.

It was when she stepped foot on flat ground when a clatter from above froze Hermione in her step. If it hadn’t been from past experiences she’d suspect it was just a couple of owls messing with the telescopes or even the old wizard in one of the pictures had fallen out of bed. It was also from past events that she’d run and retrieve the boys but now, feeling all the more reckless, Hermione charged back up the steps, ignoring the insulting witches, and opened the door to the roof of the astronomy tower, wand clenched so tight in her hand it may not leave it again.

Seeing the flat clear, she stepped out into the crisp fall night, the hint of winter present on the wind. A shuffle off to the side forced Hermione to jump behind the massive stone stargazer peeking around the corner to see what had made the fuss. A person, a woman the brunette concurred by the high tone hum, was fumbling with a fallen telescope that had obviously caused a chain reaction when it fell since six other lay on its side. It took a moment before Hermione recognized the cheery tune emitting from the unnamed figure. One she’d heard countless times in the library searching for books, in Bill and Fleur’s sea cottage the year before and at various DA meetings. The figure then straightened up, waves of silky blonde hair illuminated by the moonlight swam down her back standing out sorely from her black robes. To Hermione’s surprise, the girl turned around placing wide twinkling blue eyes on the spot the brunette was hiding.

Then, in a voice so sweet and serene it would cause cavities to even the daughter of dentists, Luna said “Don’t worry about helping me. Its my mess so ill clean it up.” she spun around bending to erect the next scope. “Though I could use the company. The Twilight Pixikits didn’t turn up tonight and I was hoping they would. I had a tea party set up and everything.” Peering over Hermione spotted a tiny table with tiny teacups set up for four.

“They are fond of tea,” The blonde continued now down to the last two instruments. “But maybe they prefer passion berry to peppermint tea. Yes. I shall try that.”

Unable to keep her curiosity silent, or by the fact she was still hiding after Luna already addressed her, Hermione stepped into the open gazing upon the girl with utmost disbelief and bafflement. Luna peered over her shoulder right at the brunette forming a pleasant grin on her lips.

“Hello Hermione.” She said as if meetings on a roof in the dead of night were a normal occurrence. “Have you come to find the Twilight Pixikits as well? Ormaybe to catch a breath of fresh air.” Done tidying up her spill Luna pulled herself to full height, which now matched the brunette’s.

It took great effort for Hermione to not voice her real disappointment of not being faced by a rouge death eater and to revere to the other reason that had drawn in her eyebrows. “What are Twilight Pixikint?” she asked. The question seemed to excite the Ravenclaw who bounded over closing the chasm between them.

“They’re little pixie like creatures with butterfly wings and goat horns who only come out during the night.” Luna wiggled her fingers indicating that she wanted Hermione closer and, with slight reluctance, she leaned offering her ear. Hot air touched her the side of the brunette’s neck as Luna began to whisper, her lips brushing her ear. “If you ask them to tea they’ll grant you a wish.”

With the blonde out of her bubble, a chill ran down Hermione’s spine as the night breeze washed away the warmth Luna had been giving. Scrunching up her nose Hermione said, “I’ve never heard of such a creature.”

The blonde shrugged as she made her way to the tiny table and took to a tiny chair. “They’re very rare. Daddy says they’re almost all gone.”

Hermione clutched her book tighter in her hands. She’d read it cover to cover twice and not once did it mention a Twilight Pixikits. “I don’t believe they ever existed. There hasn’t been a mention about them in any magical creature book I’ve read or in any of my studies.” She had said without second thought and regretted it right away. It was she who stumbled upon Luna’s festivities and had no right to shoot the blonde down in such a situation.

“Maybe,” Breathed the girl without any inclination of offense dropping three large sugar cubes into her tea them began to stir. “Though tonight is going rather well.” Stunning blue eyes turned on Hermione like a spotlight the young Ravenclaw’s stare soft yet extremely concentrated that made Hermione uncomfortable. “Maybe they did show and heard me make a wish on a stars. That may explain why a sugar cube was missing.”

No longer under the force of Luna’s gaze, Hermione let out the breath she had drawn in to state that maybe the blonde had merely dropped the sugar cube or even used it without realizing. Surely she hadn’t counted out how many cubes there were. But then the Gryffindor had to remind herself to whom she was conversing with knowing that Luna Lovegood could very well know how many hairs were on her head.

In order to humor the young girl, and perhaps to make up for her rude remark of disbelieving in such fanciful creatures Hermione decided to ask, “What were you wish-“

“Would you like to join me for tea?” Luna piped before the brunette could finish. She was slightly taken aback by the interrupting seeing as it came from the blonde. “It would be a waste to just throw it out.”

“Yes, all right.” Hermione forced on a smile and moved over to the table ignoring the enthused claps Luna was giving.

Sinking into one of the small chairs, her knees bumped the table causing all the glass to shake and the tea to slosh around but, fortunately, none spilt out onto the blue and white plaid tablecloth. Hermione glanced over to see how the other girl managed to sit at the table finding she had crossed her legs tightly so her knees weren’t in the way. Unfortunately, Hermione’s legs were far longer then Luna’s, regardless of them being the same height, and resorted to awkwardly bending them sideways in an unladylike fashion.

Peering up, she was grateful the blonde hadn’t been watching her awkward performance but was distracted by the pouring of hot tea into their cups, the sweet smell of peppermint morphing wonderfully with the damp leaf stench in the air.

“Sugar?” Asked Luna holding up the tiny saucer of sugar cubes, little dollhouse like tongs in her hand.

Hermione nodded. “Uh, two should do it.”

“Wonderful number,” Luan commented as the cubes landed in the brackish liquid with a satisfying plop. “The Quadilan Kelipus would be happy you decided it.” The brunette bit her tongue to keep her from lashing out that the animal did not exist either but allowed Luna continue, her sharp eyes full of seriousness and appreciation as she went on. “They like twos and the number’s multiples as well.”

“But didn’t you use three in yours?”

With a tiny gasp, the blonde took another cube and plopped it into her tea. “There, now the Kelipus is doubly pleased with us.”

The delightful smile that etched itself on Luna’s face drew an equally amiable one to Hermione’s that she quickly hid behind her teacup. Silence fell upon the two as they regularly refilled their cups (they were rather small and the tea was gone in three gulps) listening to the strange, ghoulish noises coming from the Forbidden Forest. With each cup, warmth flooded into Hermione straight down to her toes. She had to admit, even though she wasn’t stunning enemies or destroying Horcruxes, being out on the roof with Luna Lovegood way after hours having a tea party made a pleasant change. She was breaking the rules, and it felt good.

Eyes now bored with staring out over the grounds, Hermione took to look over at Luna who was peering happily at the sky, the half moon reflecting beautifully her gemstone eyes, long, wavy blonde hair blowing in the breeze, her posture, though straight, very relaxed and tranquil. The brunette scrunched her nose, eyebrows bending inward.

How someone could be so at peace with themselves, content on the many wonders that filled their imagination, living day one step at a time, irked Hermione almost to a point of envy. Why she couldn’t be that way, she did not know. She remembered the ways Harry would look at Luna and see his eyes gloss with comfort upon seeing her when at times she’d show up, they’d screw up in the corners ready for whatever blow the brunette would shoot. Even Ron would get a sort of ease about him in Luna’s present and shared a great deal of laughs.

“You miss them don’t you?” The voice was as pure as silver bells strung on the garland at Christmas time. Large sapphire eyes were yet again on her like a searchlight that found its prey. “Harry and Ron?”

Under that gaze, Hermione couldn’t hold any jealousy but an intrigued fascination started to creep on her. “I suppose so. More then I thought I would.”

“Yes. I suspected.” Luna breathed gulping the last of her tea. “You haven’t got that spring in your step like you use to. And you spend an awful amount of time by yourself and on the stairs.” Her eyes shifted to catch Hermione’s expression at mentioning this but kept right on looking up at the clouds.

Refusing to comment on this observation, she asked, “Do you come up here a lot, then? You know, to look at Twilight Pixikittens?”

Luna chuckled a piccolo noted chuckle. “Twilight Pixikits. And yes every now and then. I have seen you, if that’s what your wondering.” She turned to face Hermione whose cheeks dotted red. “Sorry that I didn’t invite you. It looked like you wanted to be alone.” She frowned.

“No, it’s alright you didn’t.” She said somewhat glad that she hadn’t been asked to join a nightly watch on stupid creatures. “I did want to, be alone that is.” Which happened to be quite true though she longed for the company of two people no longer around.

A smile replaced the frown as Luna retracted her wand from under her robes and began twiddling with it in her fingers. “Well I’m glad you came up tonight.” Her eyes turned full force onto Hermione’s brown ones, intenseness in them the Gryffindor had never seen before. It spoke so many volumes, showed so many emotions it caused her heart to flutter in her chest. “It’s what I had been wishing for some time now.”

With a flick of her wand, the tea set was gone and the table shrank to a doll sized one that she pocketed and walked away barely making a sound as she traipsed down the stairs.

Stunned, Hermione rose from the chair that disappeared once she left it, gaze settled on the spot the Luna had just occupied. She should’ve been satisfied with getting the answer to the question the blonde had interrupted before, but she only felt a fit of anger and bewilderment settle in at the unanswered question as to why Luna was wishing for this in the first place.

And as she turned to follow the steps of the whimsical Ravenclaw, she wouldn’t believe that the tiny creature with butterfly wings and goat horns sitting atop a telescope she caught glimpse of in her peripheral vision was anything more then a figment of her imagination.

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This was to be a oneshot. But now it must continue.

Till Next Chapter

..Tuesday The First..