Embracing Kindness

Hermione's grip on Harry's arm tightened, but they both heard the voice of their favorite Goddess of Love, "Oh let him sniff," She said in a voice filled with mirth, "she got ripped off buying that stuff. Nothing even close to a love potion in the bottle. And yes Hermione, the perfume he gave you at Christmas was something similar that Ginny bought. Supposed to intoxicate you with the essence of the young man and have you fall in love with him over time. She found an ad in the back of Witch Weekly for the products. Nice advertisement but a rip off for gullible young witches."

"Essence of Ron?" Hermione thought. "No wonder it smelled horrible," And it was at that moment she realized the conflict she had felt about Ron was gone. Seeing him there with her husband, "I am really starting to like that phrase," She thought. There was no comparison between the depth of love she felt for Harry and the tolerance she might still have for Ron.

"Well dear, that's the difference between a soul mate and well Ron," Miranda said. "I'm afraid Ron might end up like Severus Snape since he can't put anyone else ahead of himself."

When Harry smiled at what Miranda had said, Ginny presumed it was the invitation to smell her perfume and she knew she had him. Harry bent closer and took a deep breath and immediately wished he hadn't. He had to choke back the tears that threaten to overwhelm him from the scent. Looking up at Ginny he said, "It's an interesting smell Ginny. It's definitely you," Then to his wife, "Well it does smell very unpleasant."

Ginny smiled knowingly. She gave a quick glance and smirk at Hermione before returning her eyes back to Harry. "Thank you Harry; would you like to have breakfast with me? We can talk all about how my ex-boyfriend is now seeing your ex-girlfriend. I mean Michael and Cho are an item now."

"Thanks for the invitation Ginny, but my girlfriend and I," Harry started as his arm slipped around Hermione's waist, "Will be having breakfast together."

Ginny's ire flared again and it took a minute to choke it back down. "It didn't work," She thought irritably. "Maybe I didn't wear enough."

Ron was still trying to figure out what had happened; yesterday he was on top of the world. He was the Gryffindor Quidditch hero and he was sure Hermione would see how important Quidditch was compared to books. "Especially since Ginny had said the perfume would make her fall for me," He thought.

"Shall we dine with Luna, love?" Harry asked as he spotted the dirty-blonde hair of his friend sitting alone at the Ravenclaw table.

"Sure," Hermione replied and the two of them turned to the Weasleys, "Ron, I am glad you're now seeing me as a girl, especially since I've been one all my life. Now if you will excuse us, we will be eating with Luna this morning."

"Looney?" Ron asked. "Why would you eat with…" his voice trailed off as Harry and Hermione had turned and started walking toward the Ravenclaw table. Ron's jealousy flared and he grabbed Harry's arm. "Just had to steal my girl didn't you Harry?"

"Your girl?" Hermione asked as she whirled back to face Ron while her eyes flashed dangerously. "Since when have I EVER been your girl?"

Ron's attention was still on Harry as he ignored Hermione, "You knew I fancied her."

Harry couldn't even bring himself to be angry at his friend. He just stared at the hand that held his arm until Ron released him. Once Ron had done so, he turned his gaze to look his old friend in the eyes. "Ron the only person you seem to fancy is yourself," With that he turned and taking Hermione's hand in his, walked away.

As Harry and Hermione walked away, they heard the two youngest Weasleys whispering heatedly, and the words "You said" and "Mine" came through loudly from Ron.

"So she had started even before the summer?" Harry thought. "Stay on your toes love."

"I will," Hermione replied. "I should have been more suspicious of that perfume, but growing up, giving cheap perfume was a joke in our house. It meant you waited until the last second and only some late night store selling cheap stuff was open. It seemed so like Ron that I didn't think he wasn't out shopping the night before," She looked back at the Weasleys and noticed the glare Ginny was giving her as she continued to argue with her brother. "Was she ever my friend, or was I just a way to get to Harry?" She wondered.

Harry and Hermione finished the trek to the Ravenclaw table and sat down on either side of their friend. The few Ravenclaws who remained at the table were all looking at the two of them curiously. As Harry sat down his eyes found the one particular person staring the hardest. The dark-haired Cho Chang had an expression written on her face that was easily understood. It was an expression that said "I knew it," Cho turned to the boy sitting on her right, whom Harry recognized as Ginny's old boyfriend and kissed him, and then she turned and looked back at Harry. Harry just shrugged his shoulders at her and turned his attention back to Luna and Hermione.

"Hello Harry, hello Hermione," Luna said in a serene voice. She was currently arranging the food on her plate into an elaborate mess that seemed to fit no pattern or reason.

"Good morning Luna," Harry said.

"Is there something you needed?" Luna asked as she positioned a slice of bacon diagonally across her plate and then put strawberries on either end of it.

"We just wanted to eat with a friend," Hermione replied smiling.

"Friends are nice, but isn't Ronald your friend? Shouldn't you be eating with him?"

"We prefer your company this morning Luna. He is having trouble accepting that Harry and I are together," Hermione replied. "He thinks I belong to him."

"Ah, well it was obvious that you two are together, why else would you have kissed earlier unless Wrackspurts have invaded your minds?" Luna said. "Daddy showed me how to make a Wrackspurt draining funnel if you need one."

"No, I'm pretty sure that we don't have Wrackspurts Luna," Hermione said remembering her promise to herself not to comment on the imaginary creatures Luna mentioned. "But thank you."

"Why would Ronald think you are his?" Luna asked. "Owning people isn't allowed."

"I mean he thinks because he fancies me; I automatically should fancy him back."

"Oh well that is silly," Luna replied. "Seems he is suffering from Wrackspurts. Maybe I should offer a funnel to him?"

"He and his sister just need to accept that we are together."

"Ginny fancies you too Hermione?" Luna asked with dreamy voice.

"Uh...no. She likes Harry," Hermione replied.

"Yes, that is more likely."

"A real friend would be happy for us," Harry said. "They would accept our relationship."

"Friends accept you for who you are Luna," Hermione said while internally grimacing at the same time as she remembered that it had taken the battle at the Department of Mysteries to start accepting Luna, and even then she hadn't appreciated the friendship as much as she should have. "And don't presume they own you."

"That's true I suppose. I've never had friends," Luna said.

"Yes you have Luna, for several months now," Hermione said, "And for a couple of years."

"If you ever need company or anything Luna," Harry started, "We're here for you. We are your friends."

Luna felt a sense of warmth overcome her as she thought of the word "Friends."

"Now I heard," Harry's voice dropped to a whisper, "That people have been taking and hiding your belongings. Is there anything we can do to help?"

"No, it'll show up before the end of school," Luna replied. "It always does."

"It still doesn't give people the right to take your belongings Luna," Hermione said.

"They just think I'm odd," Luna explained as she looked at Hermione with those misty eyes, "They call me Looney sometimes."

"Not to us they won't," Harry declared.

"Well if you need to borrow anything to wear because something you need is missing, let me know," Hermione said.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," Luna said and all through breakfast Luna's smile increased in size as she occasionally glanced at Harry and Hermione.

....

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