I Learned Your Pulse

"I just want... well, I don't kn-know what I want -"

"And I thought that I'd have a chance at being better than you for once," said Harry, shaking his head slowly, pitying himself.

"On the bright side, you get to see Ginny while we go to Herbology," said Hermione cheerfully, tactfully changing the subject.

"He does?" asked Ron, confused.

"We're going to walk right by her, Ron. Look, here she comes."

And she was indeed coming. She was bouncing toward them, Luna at her side, glancing happily at her glinting ring finger every other second while Ginny's eyes remained on Harry, who's pace quickened subconsciously. As the two lovers met with each other in the sunlight that Hermione had just escaped, they embraced, but did not kiss; Ron, however, still looked uncomfortable.

"Professor Sprout's in a good mood," said Ginny, releasing Harry and giving his hand a squeeze. "She seems eager for your class."

"Probably just for Neville," said Harry, smiling serenly at his girlfriend, who smiled back.

"Maybe," said Luna dreamily. "I know I am."

Ron burst out laughing.

It took Hermione a minute to understand, but then she blushed as she did. Harry seemed to have understood at the same time; they both looked at each other and chuckled. Ginny looked disapprovingly at her brother.

"Really, Ron? Must you make everything perverted?"

"She said it, not me," defended Ron immediately. Harry stopped laughing.

"Ooh, here he comes now," said Luna, pointing to Neville as he strode around the corner towards Herbology, a look of highest anticipation etched on his face. He seemed momentarily stumped as to why someone was pointing at him, but then he saw it was Luna.

"Luna!" Neville called, rushing towards her.

Unfortunately, he, beign Neville, no matter how much more awesome he was now, tripped over his own feet, sending his Herbology supplies flying.

"Windgaurdian Leviosa. Easy there, Longbottom."

And no other hand than Draco Malfoy's was holding Neville on his feet and levitating his supplies into his arms once more.

Everyone but Hermione looked in shock as he walked toward Herbology as if nothing had happened.

"We'd better get going," said Luna eventually. "And why were you all staring at Draco? It's not like you haven't made friends with the other Slytherins, or Slytherin prefects, at least."

Harry looked uncomfortably at his feet, the forest, the greenhouse - anywhere but Luna and the rest of the company, but especially Luna. Ginny shrugged, plase, and Ron simply look abashed such a qustion was not answered automatically.

"He's Malfoy," Ron said, as if that answered everything.

"Yes," Luna said, pointing to the corner where Blaise, Astoria, Millicent and Marcus had appeared. "And so are they."

"They didn't try to kill Dumbledore," said Ron harshly.

Luna was still unphazed. "Neither did Draco, really."

"Neither did -!" Ron sputtered. "He tried to -"

"Stop, Ron. Holding grudges won't help you pass the class."

"Not all I care about is the class, Hermione," said Ron, his voice sharp, glancing icily her way.

She was immediately on the defensive. "That's not all I care about, either!"