Missed Chance

The Great Hall hummed with laughter and chatter, the warm glow of floating candles casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. The scent of roast chicken, pumpkin pasties, and treacle tart filled the air, but Luna Lovegood barely noticed. She sat at the nearly empty Ravenclaw table, absently stirring her soup with a spoon, her large, dreamy eyes fixed on the Gryffindor table across the room.

Harry Potter was laughing, his head thrown back, his glasses slightly askew. Ron was grinning beside him, nudging him with an elbow, while Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled all the same. Ginny sat close, her auburn hair catching the candlelight as she leaned in to say something that made Harry laugh even harder.

Luna felt a small, quiet warmth in her chest. He looks happy. That was good. Harry had always been kind to her—never called her "Loony," never sneered when she mentioned Nargles or Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. He had been her first true friend, even if they weren’t particularly close.

A breeze drifted through the open windows, carrying the faint scent of the Forbidden Forest—damp earth and pine. Somewhere above, an owl hooted softly. Luna tilted her head, listening, before turning her gaze back to Harry.

It must be nice, she thought, to always have people around you. To never eat alone.

She took a small sip of pumpkin juice, the sweetness lingering on her tongue. For a moment, she imagined herself sitting beside them—joining in the laughter, being part of the group. But the thought didn’t bring sadness, only a gentle longing, like the distant call of a bird she couldn’t quite see.

Harry’s laughter rang out again, bright and warm.

And Luna smiled.

The first time Luna realized she liked Harry Potter, truly liked him, was when she saw him holding Cho Chang’s hand in the corridors of Hogwarts.

It was a crisp autumn afternoon, the castle walls bathed in golden light, leaves crunching underfoot as students hurried to their next classes. Luna had been floating along, humming softly to herself, when she spotted them—Harry, his dark hair tousled by the wind, smiling in a way she had never seen before. Cho, her dark eyes shining, her laughter like the tinkling of a silver bell.

Something sharp twisted in Luna’s chest.

Oh.

She blinked, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. It wasn’t jealousy, not exactly. It was more like… realizing she had been standing in the sun without noticing, only for the clouds to roll in and steal the warmth away.

She didn’t say anything. She never did.

When Harry and Cho broke up, Luna found him sitting by the Black Lake, his knees drawn up to his chest, his expression stormy. The water lapped gently at the shore, the scent of damp grass and pine filling the air. Without a word, she settled beside him, her bare feet brushing the cool earth.

"You look like a crumpled Blibbering Hummingbird," she said after a while.

Harry snorted, despite himself. "What’s that?"

"Small, sad, and a bit lost," she replied, tilting her head. "But they always find their way home."

He looked at her then, really looked at her, and for the first time, Luna felt seen.

They started meeting by the lake every evening for weeks. Harry talked—about Cedric, about Voldemort, about how everything felt too heavy sometimes. Luna listened, her fingers tracing patterns in the dirt, her voice soft when she offered words like little lifelines.

And then, one day, Harry didn’t come.

Luna still watched him, of course. She always did. She watched him in the Great Hall, Ginny pressed against his side, her fingers laced with his. She watched him on the Quidditch pitch, Ginny cheering louder than anyone, her red hair like a flame in the wind. She watched Ginny shoot her sharp, sidelong glances, her lips curling in a way that wasn’t quite a smile.

Hogwarts was always alive with sound—the soft rustle of leaves by the lake, the distant chatter of students on the grounds, and the occasional creak of ancient castle stones as if Hogwarts itself sighed under its own weight. But for Luna Lovegood, it had never felt so quiet.

She sat beneath a beech tree near the Black Lake, her knees drawn to her chest, watching Harry Potter laugh with Ginny Weasley. The sunlight danced across the water’s surface, reflecting shards of gold that seemed almost cruel in their beauty. Luna tried to focus on the way the breeze carried the smell of fresh grass and damp earth, but even nature couldn’t distract her from the dull ache settling deep within her chest.

Harry looked happy—truly happy—with Ginny. Their laughter echoed through the air like music, light and carefree. He smiled wider than Luna had ever seen him do before, his green eyes crinkling at the corners when Ginny whispered something into his ear. They were perfect together—so perfectly matched that it made Luna feel invisible.

She didn’t hate Ginny. How could she? Ginny was fiery and bold, everything Luna wasn’t. And Luna wanted Harry to be happy; she really did. But happiness often came wrapped in pain, especially when you loved someone who would never love you back.

"Hey, Luna," a voice called softly behind her. She turned slowly, unsurprised to see Harry standing there, though he rarely sought her out these days. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his expression uncertain.

"Hello, Harry," she said, her voice airy but tinged with something unspoken. She patted the ground beside her, inviting him to sit. For a moment, he hesitated, glancing over his shoulder toward where Ginny stood talking animatedly with Hermione Granger. Then he sighed and lowered himself onto the grass next to her.

"How’ve you been?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Oh, I’m fine," Luna replied, her tone dreamy as ever. "I saw a Crumple-Horned Snorkack last week. Well… maybe it was just a Niffler. Hard to tell sometimes."

Harry chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You’re one of a kind, Luna."

Luna tilted her head slightly, studying him. There was an earnestness about Harry, a vulnerability hidden beneath layers of bravery. She wondered if he knew how much she admired him—not just for defeating Voldemort or being the Boy Who Lived, but for simply *being*. Even now, sitting here with her instead of Ginny, he showed kindness. It only made her heart hurt more.

"You seem happier lately," Luna said after a pause, her voice softer this time. "Ginny makes you smile a lot."

"Yeah," Harry admitted, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "She does. I think… I think I might be in love with her."

Luna swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. "That’s wonderful, Harry. You deserve someone who makes you feel like that."

"Do you really think so?" he asked, looking at her curiously.

"I do," she said firmly, though inside, she felt like breaking. She focused on the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore, letting the rhythmic sound steady her breathing.

Days turned into weeks, and Harry spent less and less time with Luna. Whenever they crossed paths, Ginny would shoot Luna looks—sharp, pointed glares meant to remind her of her place. Luna didn’t let it show, of course. She wore her usual serene smile, pretending not to notice.

Harry never noticed.

Luna told herself it was fine. She was happy for him. Harry deserved joy—he deserved love. But sometimes, when she sat alone in the Ravenclaw common room, the firelight casting long shadows on the walls, she pressed a hand to her chest and wondered why it ached so much.

The wind howled outside, rattling the windows like a restless spirit. Somewhere in the distance, an owl cried out, lonely and mournful.

Luna closed her eyes and breathed.

And the world moved on without her.

⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅

The halls of Hogwarts shimmered with the soft glow of enchanted fairy lights, casting a golden hue over the marble floors. The air smelled faintly of spiced wine and honey cakes, mingling with the excited chatter of students preparing for Professor Slughorn’s annual Christmas party. Luna stood in front of the mirror in her dormitory, smoothing down the fabric of her silvery dress. It wasn’t anything fancy—she had sewn it herself—but it sparkled faintly under the light, catching every movement like moonlight on water.

She felt nervous but happy. This was her first real invitation to something special, even if Harry had asked her out of desperation or pity after his breakup with Ginny. Whatever the reason, she chose not to dwell on it. For tonight, she would simply enjoy being someone’s choice—even if it was just as a friend.

It didn’t matter that his voice had been hesitant, his eyes flickering away when he said, "Er—Luna? Do you maybe want to go with me?"

He had asked. That was enough.

When she arrived at the common room where Harry waited, she saw the flicker of surprise—and maybe discomfort—cross his face. She smiled brightly anyway, twirling once to show off her dress.

"You look lovely, Luna," he said kindly, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice.

"Thank you, Harry," she replied softly, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Shall we go?"

As they walked toward the Great Hall, whispers followed them. Pansy Parkinson sneered openly from across the corridor, Lavender Brown giggled into her hand, and Padma Patil whispered loudly enough for Luna to hear: “What is she wearing?”

Luna could feel Harry stiffen beside her, his cheeks flushing red. He glanced at her apologetically, but she didn’t need him to defend her. She’d grown used to mockery long ago. Still, it stung more than usual tonight because this moment mattered to her.

“Ignore them,” Harry muttered, his jaw tight. “Your dress is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Luna murmured, though she couldn’t stop the heat rising in her own cheeks.

Inside the party, the atmosphere buzzed with laughter and music. Garlands of holly hung from the ceiling, and the scent of mulled cider filled the air. Luna tried to immerse herself in the festivities, sipping gingerly at her drink while Harry chatted awkwardly with other guests. But no matter how hard she tried to focus on the warmth of the room or the sweetness of the cider, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone was watching her—or worse, laughing at her.

Midway through the evening, Harry excused himself abruptly, muttering something about needing fresh air. Luna nodded understandingly, telling herself he’d return soon. Minutes stretched into an hour, and when she finally realized he wasn’t coming back, her heart sank.

She left quietly, slipping out of the crowded hall unnoticed. The corridors were eerily silent now, the only sound the echo of her footsteps against the stone floor. Her silvery dress seemed duller somehow, its magic fading along with her hopes for the night. By the time she reached the Ravenclaw tower, tears blurred her vision, though she refused to let them fall completely.

The next morning, the Great Hall buzzed with post-party gossip. Luna entered hesitantly, clutching her books tightly to her chest. As she made her way to the Ravenclaw table, her eyes drifted involuntarily toward the Gryffindor side.

And there they were—Harry and Ginny, sitting close together, their heads bent in quiet conversation. Ginny leaned forward suddenly, pressing her lips to Harry’s cheek, and Luna froze mid-step. The pieces clicked into place instantly: Harry hadn’t needed fresh air last night—he’d gone to find Ginny.

Why did I think he’d see me differently?she wondered bitterly. He’s always loved her. Always will.

But as much as it hurt, Luna resolved to bury her feelings deeper than ever before. If Harry wanted happiness with Ginny, then so be it. She wouldn’t stand in his way—not when all she’d ever wanted was for him to be happy.

Still, as she stared blankly at her plate, she couldn’t help but imagine what might have been if things were different. What if Harry had stayed by her side last night? What if he’d looked at her the way he looked at Ginny?

The answers didn’t matter anymore. Love, she decided, wasn’t always about getting what you wanted. Sometimes, it was about letting go.

Outside, snow began to fall gently, dusting the grounds in white. Through the window, Luna watched flakes swirl lazily in the wind, each one unique yet destined to melt away unnoticed. She sighed softly, wrapping her arms around herself.

Just like her love for Harry, she thought—the kind of thing that existed quietly, silently, until it disappeared without a trace.