Will You Ever Return to Me?

Chapter 11.

Megan stood quietly for a few moments, waiting for the Longbottoms to disappear upstairs. Then she turned. "Harry," she asked, "I don't want to insult your friends, but... is she crazy?"
Harry looked at her. "Luna Lovegood--" He laughed, and, at Megan's prompt look, said, "I still have trouble thinking of her as a Longbottom--is... unique. She's very perceptive, and she states facts bluntly--even when--perhaps especially when--stating these facts do not put her in the best light. A lot of times, you have the urge to pity her--and that's a mistake. She doesn't want anyone's pity, and she won't adjust to anyone else's standards."

"But--"

"You asked if she was crazy. Luna believes in... unconventional things. As I said, she won't accept anyone's standards of truth but her own."

"We all have quirks, Megan. Whether it's strange taste in food, in sports, or belief in odd creatures--"

"Odd? Firewizards? Harry--"

"The best thing you can do is show Luna that whatever you think of her ideas, you appreciate her as a person. The worst thing you can do is jump into an argument with her over it. Luna is a brave woman, and, once you accept her, a very loyal friend. I'm sure she is a loving wife and will be a wonderful mother. But all of the these things don't change her, and if they did, she wouldn't be Luna."

"So you don't believe her--"

"Put it this way... in my fifth year, the larger public put the idea that Voldemort had returned on par with theories about Heliopaths, Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, and Firewizards. Luna was one of the comparatively few who believed it, and, of course, people dismissed it. but it helped me immensely. Snorkacks don't exist, and Voldemort did, but I'd rather have it been the other way around."

Megan laughed. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay. I was far worse to her at our first meeting. There's nothing wrong with Luna except that most people think there's something wrong with her."

"So what do we do now? We go back, since we found nothing? And then what?"

"I'm going to continue my studies with Professor Clarence," he said. "If you'd like, I'll continue teaching you."

"Of course I'd like that!" Megan said excitedly. She rushed to hug him.

The hug lasted longer than it should have... and then it didn't stop.

"Megan," Harry said.

"Shh... I really like you, and I wanted to come along to keep you safe--"

"Keep me safe? Megan, I--"

"I never thought you were the arrogant type, Potter," Megan said, relaxing in his arms. "You are a skilled wizard, but you can't do everything yourself. Since you are rejecting Neville, Luna--apparently all your friends, that leaves me."

"Megan, we can't date. You--"

"Why not?"

"We have a teacher-student relationship."

"Of our own choice. It's different from being in school."

"Megan..."

"Why not, Harry? Is it because of Ginevra--"

"Leave Ginny out of this! If I wanted to date her right now, I could!" Harry couldn't believe that he actually said that to Megan. But he did, and moreover, he believed it.

"All right. But don't tell me you don't think me attractive, and that you don't like me. That won't fly--" she grinned-- "seeing as you're still hugging me."

Harry let go. "There."

That didn't turn Megan away. "You should know that I don't like it when excuses are offered instead of reasons. You've crossed that line awhile ago."

"'I don't want to' is not a good reason?" Harry asked.

"It is," Megan admitted, "provided that it's true. Look, I'm not expecting a marriage proposal, I'm not asking for commitment. We can make it a one-time thing and see where that leads us. If you or I don't like it, we'll quit at that and go back to the 'teacher-student relationship."

"That may not be easy."

"Nothing worthwhile is easy. What do you say?"
Harry was surprised once more. Megan was absolutely right, and she had forced his thoughts on Ginny out of him, so he couldn't hide behind that. Nor did he want to lie to her.

He smiled. "Has anyone ever told you you run off your mouth too much?"

"A lot. Why?"
"Because you do. But I like you for it. It's a date, Megan."

She chuckled. "Thanks," she said, and kissed him. "Goodnight, Harry."

"Goodnight, Megan," he said as she headed upstairs. He sat down. His life had taken another surprising turn. Will those ever stop? Probably not, he concluded.