Keep Your Day Job

Keep Your Day Job

Chapter Two

Harry lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling and thinking. Everyone had been acting very strange tonight, and he couldn't figure out why. He heard Ron come in, mumbling something under his breath. No doubt it has to do with Hermione, Harry thought. He smiled. Those two are so oblivious, he thought. They're right under each other's noses and they can't get their act together! Harry's smile faded as he began to wonder if there was anyone who was right under his nose he wasn't noticing, someone he should be with. He knew who he wanted to be with...but no, that wouldn't happen. That couldn't happen. He couldn't ruin his friendship with Ginny by acting like a prat and snogging her. No, he'd already almost made that mistake this summer. He thought back on that night. He and Ginny had been sitting beneath a particularly large maple tree in the Weasley's backyard. He was talking about Sirius, and when he looked up into Ginny's eyes, he saw that they weren't filled with pity, like most people's eyes were when he talked about his godfather. No, her large brown eyes were filled with something else--concern and something deeper...and Harry had the impulsive urge to kiss her. He almost did, but then caught himself and stood up so abruptly that he hit his head on a low branch. Ginny had laughed excessively at this, and Harry, although quite embarrassed, laughed too. Harry couldn't help but smile at this memory. He still got that urge to kiss her quite often--actually, now that he thought about it, he got the urge to kiss her every time he saw her. But he knew that it wouldn't happen. He didn't want his hormones to ruin his relationship with one of the most important people in his life. Pushing the thought of her out of his mind, he began to think of whom else might be right under his nose...Parvati? No, she was with Dean...Lavender was with Seamus... Luna? He'd always liked talking to Luna, even if she was a bit...bizarre. She could relate to him better than anyone when it came to Sirius, and although she wasn't as great of a listener as Ginny, she always had words of comfort and encouragement for him. Ginny was always telling Harry how handsome Luna thought he was. Maybe she fancied him? And she was quite pretty...maybe Luna was just what he needed to take his mind off of Ginny.

* * *

Ginny, satisfied with the result of her first matchmaking attempt, continued to create situations in which Luna and Harry could be alone. Much to Ginny's dismay, Luna remained as placid as ever. However, Harry seemed to be developing interest in Luna. Ginny noticed that he definitely began talking about her more. She was quite pleased with herself. Two weeks passed quickly, and soon notices appeared on the bulletin boards announcing the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term, on the first of November. The school was buzzing with gossip of who was going with whom.

"You know, before last year I never realized what a frenzy a Hogsmeade weekend creates," Ron said, throwing his practice robes on the floor and collapsing on his bed.

"It seems to be much bigger deal now that we're older," said Harry, changing into a fresh shirt.

"Yeah, it's almost as bad as that bloody Yule Ball," Ron said with a hint of disdain.

"Nothing is as bad as the Yule Ball," Harry said, and they both laughed, Ron quite nervously. "Uh, about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip...who're you going with?" Harry asked guardedly.

Ron stared at him blankly. "You and Hermione. Probably Neville and Luna as well. Ginny can't go, she wants to study," he replied.

"Yeah, about that...I'm going with Luna," Harry said, picking at a thread in his shirt.

"Yes, I just said that. You and me and Hermione and Neville and Luna."

"No, I mean I'm going with Luna," Harry said and eyed Ron anxiously. Ron's expression remained blank. "She asked me to go with her today before practice."

Comprehension dawned on Ron's face and his eyes widened. "You're going with Luna?" he said incredulously.

"Yeah, I know, it's quite surprising," Harry said, "but I agreed to go with her. She's really attractive, you know. And I think maybe she and I could--I don't know--hit it off?" he stated this last sentence in question form, as though he was convincing himself as well.

Ron stared at Harry stunned for a moment. "I just never thought it would actually work," he muttered disbelievingly.

"You never believed what would work?" Harry asked.

"Oh--uh, nothing, it's just...strange. Never would have guessed, eh?" Ron said quickly, smiling at his friend.

"Yeah, well sometimes they're right under your nose," Harry said, staring at Ron significantly.

"Right...uh, I need to find Ginny," Ron said, running hurriedly out of the dormitory. Harry watched him leave. Why has everyone been acting so strange lately?

* * *

Ron crashed down the stairs into the common room, looking around frantically for his sister. He spotted Hermione sitting in an armchair with her feet tucked under her, pouring over her homework.

"Hermione!" Ron cried. Hermione looked up startled, dropping her quill. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you--have you seen Ginny?"

"What Ron, what's the matter?" Hermione said worried.

"No, nothing, I just need--GINNY!" Ron shouted at his sister, who he had just spotted coming down the stairs. Ginny shrieked and fell backwards slightly.

"Ah, what Ron? Why are you screaming?" she said, steadying herself on the banister.

"You've really messed it up now!" Ron said, walking towards her. "You've screwed yourself over completely!" Ron's voice rose, and the other students in the common room turned to witness another famous Weasley row. Hermione stood up to stand next to Ginny, staring at Ron quizzically.

"Ron," Ginny hissed, "what are you talking about?"

"You think you're some incredible matchmaker--well guess what, it worked!" Ron said, his face reddening. "Harry and Luna are going to Hogsmeade together this weekend!" The steady hum of gossip filled the room at this comment.

"Ron, be quiet!" Ginny hushed her brother. "Why are you yelling? This is good news!" Ginny said, obviously pleased. "I thought I was going to have to work harder on Luna, because she didn't seem interested," but Ron cut her off.

"Good news!" he shouted, but after poisonous glares from Ginny and Hermione, he lowered his voice and leaned towards them. "Good news? Ginny, what're you doing?"

Ginny stared at him, angry and confused. "What," she whispered, "are you going on about?"

"Ginny, even I can see that you like Harry!" Ron said. Blush crept up Ginny's cheeks. "What are you playing at?" he asked.

"Ron..." Hermione began threateningly.

"No, Hermione, just let me talk to her." The anger left his face, and his voice softened. "Ginny, I just don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to make a mistake."

"Make a mistake?" Ginny started in a shaky voice. "Ron, I know what I'm doing. And I really don't need to be lectured about this, especially by you! You're so emotionally-impaired that you can't even realize that you're in love with Hermione!" She turned on her heel and rushed up the stairs. Ron just gawked at where she stood, mouthing words soundlessly. He slowly turned to Hermione. She was staring at him with shock and embarrassment on her face. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed her mouth quickly and followed Ginny up the stairs. Ron continued to gape at the stairs for a few moments, then turned and fell heavily into a vacant armchair. All the students in the common room, who hadn't been able to hear the whispered part of the argument, stared at Ron with searching expressions.

"Oh, sod off!"

* * *

Hermione banged on Ginny's door. "Ginny, I'm not stupid! I just saw you go in there!" She pounded on the door louder until Ginny angrily swung the door open. Her hair was frazzled and her eyes were red and puffy. "Oh, Ginny," Hermione said, enveloping her friend in a hug.

Ginny hugged returned the hug, and then stepped backwards. "It's okay," she said, sniffing. "He just makes me so mad," she said through gritted teeth.

"I know, me too," Hermione sighed.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm so sorry!! I didn't mean to say that to him, I was just angry! It was a completely thoughtless thing to do!" Ginny said, watching Hermione for a reaction.

Hermione seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, and then she replied, "No, you're right, he's emotionally-impaired. I wouldn't say he's in love with me though--even though I wish he were." Ginny stared at her, speechless. "Oh, what're you staring at, Ginny?" Hermione snapped. "So I like him. Don't tell me you didn't know."

"Well, yeah I know you like him--I just didn't expect you to admit is so willingly," Ginny said, a smile creeping onto her lips.

"I've had a few years to think about it, and your little, uh, outburst tonight got me thinking some more..." Hermione said slowly.

"And...?" Ginny smiled.

"And, I think maybe I should do something about it."

A look of astonishment replaced Ginny's smile. "Are you joking?"

"No, it seems the logical thing to do," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "I like him, I'm almost positive he likes me--and, to be honest, I'm sick of waiting for him to do something about it." Hermione looked at Ginny's smiling face and stammered quickly, "But it was just a thought, probably won't actually do anything about it, forget I mentioned it." She brushed some hair into her face to hide her red cheeks. Ginny began to squeal excitedly, but stopped after Hermione gave her a belittling glare.

"Wow, this is so unexpected," Ginny said. "I thought I was going to have to step in and work some of my matchmaking magic."

Hermione laughed. "Ginny, thanks, but I don't think I'll need your magic."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing!" Hermione laughed, but then became serious again. "Ginny, do you think that maybe..."

"What?"

"Maybe you are making a mistake?"

Ginny's face contorted in irritation at Hermione's question. "I'm sticking with this! I want Harry to be happy, because I care about him..." Of course, Ginny meant this last statement in a purely platonic manner, but just hearing the words she was so afraid to say come tumbling out of her mouth made her face soften. Her face became pensive. "You know what angers me the most about Ron?" she said softly.

"What?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Sometimes--and when I say sometimes, I mean very, very, rarely--sometimes the stupid git is right," Ginny sighed. Hermione looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"Oh, don't give me that look! You fancy Ron!" Ginny smiled. Hermione blushed.

"Now that I think about it, I have no idea what I'm going to do," Hermione said. "Maybe I could use one of your dazzling matchmaking plans..." Hermione ducked as Ginny threw a pillow at her head.

* * *

Ron quickly apologized to Ginny the next day, but he chose to pretend as though Ginny's outbreak didn't happen, and treated Hermione no differently. This didn't bother Ginny and Hermione greatly--they were both preoccupied with their own thoughts. Before they knew it, the day of the Hogsmeade trip was upon them. Harry paced back and forth across the common room, anxiously flattening his hair. Ginny looked up from her notes and watched him thoughtfully. They both turned as Ron noisily barreled down the stairs. "Where's Hermione?" he asked, breathless.

"She's waiting for you and Neville in the Entrance Hall," Ginny said.

"Yeah, well Neville has a stomach ache. Said he ate too much candy at the Halloween feast last night. So it looks like it's just me and her." Ron said, not quite succeeding at concealing the nervousness in his voice. Ginny and Harry exchanged knowing smiles.

"Have fun!" Ginny waved cheerfully as Ron walked uncertainly towards the portrait hole. He mumbled something in response. Harry chuckled at his friend and continued his hair-flattening attempts.

"It's useless Harry. I'd give up if I were you," Ginny said, smirking at him.

"Yeah, well look at your hair," he said in mock disgust. Ginny gingerly patted the top of her head, fully aware that she hadn't brushed it yet that day.

"But it doesn't matter what my hair looks like, because I don't have a hot date today," Ginny laughed as he threw her a hard look. He slid into the seat next to her at the small table.

"It's not a hot date. It's...well, actually, I'm not sure what it is," he said.

Ginny smiled at him. "Well, whatever it is, Luna will surely be floored by how unbelievably gorgeous you look today. Especially your hair."

Harry laughed. "Thanks, Gin." He smiled at her. She looked so cute today. She wore one of Ron's worn Chudley Cannons tees, and her unkempt hair was sticking out on one side. Before he knew what he was doing, he reached his hand out and smoothed her hair down. She cleared her throat.

"Well, you'd better go, Luna's probably waiting."

"Oh, er, right." He kicked himself mentally. Bloody hormones. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"No, if I don't study now, I'll put it off until the last moment," Ginny said, gesturing at the stack of homework in front of her. "Now, shut up and go!" she said, ushering him out of the portrait hole. "Go, and have fun with Luna!" Harry shot her a lopsided smile before the portrait hole closed between them. Ginny turned her back to the wall and sunk down to the floor. Pulling her knees to her chest, she sighed. I probably won't get any homework done today, she thought. Not with all these distracting images in my head. Harry and Luna strolling through Hogsmeade. Harry laughing at one of Luna's jokes. Harry smiling at Luna. Argh! No, this shouldn't bother me! I'm the one who wanted this to happen! I should be happy for them. I am happy for them, she thought. But she still couldn't shake the unsettled feeling in her stomach. It's just my eleven-year-old self, subconsciously trying to make me jealous, she reassured herself. That's it, that's all it is, she told herself. But I still have to do something to get him out of my head... Ginny thought for a moment then rushed back to the table and pulled out a piece of parchment. She bent over and began to write furiously. Reasons I Hate Harry Potter, she titled her list. She chewed on the end of her quill thoughtfully...

* * *

This isn't so bad, Harry thought as he watched Luna pay for her candies at the Honeydukes counter. In fact, this is quite good comparatively, he thought, shuddering at the memory of his horrid date with Cho last year. I bet I could even work up the courage to hold her hand, he told himself, but then quickly changed his mind as Luna smiled and walked towards him. "Er, want to go get some butterbeer?" he asked quickly.

"That sounds lovely," she said calmly. They walked in comfortable silence towards The Three Broomsticks. As they passed the hill where the Shrieking Shack stood, Harry paused and looked at it reflectively.

"Where I first met Sirius," he said, nodding his head in the direction of the Shack in the distance. "Well, where I first met him in his human form," he laughed slightly. Luna placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled comfortingly. Harry smiled back, and they continued on towards The Three Broomsticks. When they arrived, they managed to squeeze through the crowd to a vacant booth in the back. A smiling Madam Rosmerta brought two butterbeers to their table, and winked at Harry before she walked back to the bar. Harry blushed slightly. "Er, Luna," he began, but she interrupted him.

"Harry, I asked you to come with me today, because I needed to check something."

"Okay..."

"And judging by how...nervous you've been acting today, I'm pretty confident that you think you fancy me," she said, completely nonchalantly.

"Er..."

"And I won't deny that there is quite a fair amount of chemistry between us," Harry blushed furiously at this, "and I also considered that I might fancy you. After all, we relate to each other well, and I do have fun with you. But I just don't see this working." She ignored the baffled look on Harry's face and continued. "I just don't think I could date a boy who's always thinking about someone else." Harry continued to gape at her. "Harry, I know you fancy Ginevra," she said.

"Ginny?" he cried defensively.

"Yes, it's quite obvious."

"But, Ginny and I--no, it's not like that," he said.

"Then what is it like?"

"We're not, uh, romantically interested in each other. We're friends," Harry answered confidently.

"Harry, would you say I was your friend?" Luna inquired sincerely.

"Well, yes. Of course."

"But you were romantically interested in me, or at least you thought you could be, and that's why you agreed to come with me today."

"Er..."

"And Neville and I are friends, but I'm romantically interested in him."

"Really?"

"And Ron and Hermione are romantically interested in each other, and they're best friends," she added.

"Yes, but Ron and Hermione are different."

"How?" Luna asked.

"Well," he thought for a moment, "they're just...meant to be together." He immediately blushed when he realized how corny this statement sounded.

"Yes, that's true. But, I still think you fancy Ginevra," Luna said calmly.

Harry stared at his bottle of butterbeer for a moment, deep in thought. Luna had so many crazy ideas...but she was also incredibly insightful. Harry knew that he definitely was attracted to Ginny, but it was nothing more than that. Was it? He looked up at Luna and said, "Sometimes...I think maybe...I might...fancy her." Wow, he thought. It feels good to actually admit it. Luna smiled at him serenely. "But that doesn't mean anything will happen!" he sputtered hastily.

"Yes, you're right, nothing will happen if the both of you keep denying your feelings for each other," Luna said intelligently. "And I'm surprised, Harry, that you of all people allowed Ginevra to sway your emotions in my direction."

"What're you talking about?"

"You allowed her--pardon me for saying it--but her crazy attempt to set us up to affect your feelings for her."

"Her crazy what?" All this serious talk from Luna was beginning to make Harry uneasy. "What are you talking about?"

"You know, her little scheme to get us to like each other," Luna said coolly, sipping her butterbeer calmly.

"She's been setting us up?" Harry asked disbelievingly.

"Harry, haven't you noticed how strange everyone's been acting over the past month?" Luna set her butterbeer down to stare at Harry questioningly with her large silvery eyes.

"Well, yes, but..."

"And all the little hints she's been dropping. And how she always finds an excuse to leave us alone," Luna continued.

"Oh..." Harry's eyes grew larger as he grasped the idea, but then his face fell slightly. "Well, if she's been trying to make us like each other, that just shows she doesn't fancy me."

"Harry, like you, Ginevra's not ready to admit her feelings for you, since she seems to agree with you that you're 'just friends'. And especially not after being rejected by you before."

"I was twelve!"

"Yes, but one rarely forgets a rejection, particularly when it's from someone you truly care about. That's why she's been setting us up. She's proving to herself that she doesn't care for you. And if she doesn't care for you, she can't be rejected by you," Luna said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"That makes no sense."

"Trust me, it does. Even Ronald knows it, and from what Hermione tells me, he's not exactly perceptive when it comes to these matters."

Harry buried his face in his hands. "Oh, gosh. Ron figured this out and I didn't?" He looked up at Luna. "You and Hermione really should get together and write a book about this stuff."

"That would take all the fun out of it," Luna said dreamily. Luna really is loony if she thinks this is fun, Harry thought. "But you know what you're doing wrong?" she added.

"No, what?"
"You're letting your head make all the decisions," she said wisely. "I'm positive that every time you thought you fancied Ginevra, you talked yourself out of it, even if in your heart it felt right. And you talked yourself into liking me, even if in your heart you knew you liked Ginevra."

"Not making any sense again..."

"You came up with rational reasons not to like her," Luna said.

"Well, yeah, there are a dozen reasons: we're friends, she's Ron's sister..." he paused. "There are more reasons, I just can't think of them now."

"That's your problem. Don't think. Sometimes being rational takes all the fun out of life," she said. Harry knew that if there was one person who could testify to this statement, it was Luna Lovegood.

"Luna, you just may be right," Harry said.

"I know," Luna said evenly.

"And I'm sorry, about, uh," Harry gestured at the two of them.

"No, Harry, don't be sorry. Wouldn't have worked anyways. Besides, I fancy Neville," she said. "I know he doesn't seem the reasonable choice, but like I said,"

"No, Luna. I think that might be the most reasonable thing I've heard you say all day," Harry said, grinning. Luna gave him a wistful smile.

"I think you're learning, Harry."

"I think I am too. Uh, so..."

"So, why are you still here?" Luna said. "Go find Ginevra."

"Right. Thanks, Luna!" He said quickly. He dashed out of The Three Broomsticks, but when he reached the door, he turned back to look at Luna. She was staring dreamily at her butterbeer, humming distractedly. Of all the conversations I've had with Luna, Harry thought, this has to be the strangest. And that's saying something...