Harry made his way through the peculiar yard. He’d decided to make a trip to the Lovegood house to visit Luna. Even though he was trying his best to get her father out of Azkaban, the ministry was working slowly, and she’d been by herself for weeks since the war ended.
He almost made it to the front door of the house, before he heard a small, “Harry!” He turned in the direction of the noise, seeing the small blonde head poking up from the other side of a strange garden.
“Hello Luna.” He waved politely, and made his way over to the garden. Luna popped up from her seat, and gave him a big hug. He chuckled slightly, and hugged her back, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m trying to fix the garden for dad. He loves this thing, and it hasn’t been tended to for weeks. I can take a break since you’re here.” Luna smiled sweetly up at him.
Harry shook his head. “No reason for a break, I have been known to work in a garden or two.” He shrugged, sitting in front of the mess of a garden. “There are some beautiful plants here.” He nodded.
“Thank you.” She said with that familiar happiness gone from her voice, it was still high and airy, but not at all as happy as it was supposed to be. She was lonely, and she was sad.
Harry gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and then conjured himself up some gloves. Working on weeding the garden. They worked in silence for a while, and then moved more into small talk.
“What are your plans now?” Harry asked with a smile. He didn’t know quite yet what his own plans were, but he thought Luna may know.
Even through the hardest parts of war, she’d kept her whimsy spirit and beautiful smile. It was nice to have a friend like Luna, she reminded Harry that there was always a brother side to things.
“When dad is home safe and sound I’m going to travel, find creatures, and simply enjoy life without chaos.” She didn’t return the question, she knew he’d heard it enough.
Harry used a little magic on the garden, making the flowers that had been dying bloom once more. Harry picked an oddball, handing it to Luna. She smiled cheerily at him, “thank you Harry, it’s lovely.”
“Would you like to have a picnic? I brought a basket along, I didn’t want to assume but..” Harry was cut off by Luna grasping his hand, giving it a squeeze similar to the one he gave her earlier.
“I’d absolutely love that Harry, thank you.” She gave him another smile. She liked being around Harry, smiling was easier. Though she didn’t feel pressured to smile around him all of the time.
Luna was always on the positive side, she could always find happiness within the darkest moments, but even she carried burdens. Burdens not many people understood, Harry always had though.
Harry summoned the picnic basket he’d left sitting near the apparition point. “I brought sandwiches and lemonade and some treacle tart. I also brought you some butterbeer cupcakes, I know they’re your favorite.”
Luna smiled watching intently as he pulled each item out of the basket, “that was very kind of you Harry Potter. Thank you.”
He handed her a sandwich and a sideways grin as they settled in to eat. Making small talk and picking at pieces of grass as they enjoyed their sandwiches.
“I am working on getting your father out Luna, I hope you know that.” Harry said earnestly, as the topic once again came up.
“I know, and when the time is right he will be free, and his garden will be as perfect as the day he left it.” She smiled more sadly this time, and Harry didn’t blame her. Her mother was dead, and her father in Azkaban, she had to be lonely.
“We should do this more often.” Harry commented as he refilled her glass of lemonade, he picked a particularly green piece of grass flicking it at her jokingly as he did so. She only chuckled in response and swiped the grass off.
“We should, you’re a delight to hang out with. Me and Neville are going to lunch soon, I’ll send you and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione an invite once I have the date.”
“That would be fun, I haven’t seen Neville since the funerals. Would be nice to see him in a more casual, less emotionally destructive setting.”
“I’m sure he will be delighted to see you, he always thought you a good friend of his. His tribute to you during the final battle was very beautiful.”
Harry thought back to that moment and nodded in agreement, the words Neville spoke of him flowing freely through his mind. “He works pretty good with a sword too.” Harry winked, the joke falling flat of course. No one was quite ready to joke about war times yet.
“Well anyways, let’s have dessert.” Harry said awkwardly, handing her the cupcake he brought her, and then cutting himself a piece of treacle tart. Taking a giant bite and making Luna giggle.
She took a bite of her cupcake too, and in return Harry got his own giggle when icing went on her nose. “What’s so funny.” She chuckled, taking some icing on her finger and wiping it on Harry’s nose.
“Oh hell.” He laughed pretty hard. Harder than he had in awhile. They continued smiling at each other as the laughing died out too.
A few minutes later, after Harry was all packed up they were hugging. “Alright well you let me know when you all want to do that lunch okay? In the meantime I’ll work to fight the ministry. I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thank you Harry, you’re a good friend. I will keep in touch.” The girl smiled politely back, before watching Harry walk back to the apparition point and disappear.
She walked back to the garden, taking a happy look over the work they’d done. She was glad to have a friend like Harry Potter, not because of his name, but because of his heart.