Carridwen

"Tell me, Tell me,

What makes you think that you are invincible?

I can see it in your eyes that youre so sure.

Please dont tell me that I'm the only one thats vulnerable...

Impossible." - "Vulnerable" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus



Harry sprawled lusciously across the thick, authentic Indian rug of the cozy living room. He always found sleeping on the floor much more relaxing after a stressful day in the heavy London fog.



Behind him was the cushioned wicker couch that centered the living room of his flat. It was fitted with soft down cushions and pillows; it resembled a large bird's nest turned on its side, suspended by chains and functioning as a large rocking chair of sorts. It was one of the many eclectic pieces around the room, including the numerous oil paintings adorning the tapestry covered walls, the disco ball in the center of the room enchanted to reflect the amount of sunlight outside rather than mirror reflections, and the several elongated ottomans that acted as seating around the small fireplace.



He felt his breathing evening out and heard a sudden click of movement from the kitchen, barely having time to register a thought before his flatmate sashayed across the black oak floors.



"Breakfast?" the blonde inquired dreamily, sitting on the carpet next to him and setting a tray of food in her lap.



Harry chuckled and sat upright, basking in the warm afternoon glow from the orb above him, "Isn't it a bit late for breakfast, Luna?"



"But breakfast is the most important meal of the day," she countered, and Harry began to notice the smudged mascara underneath her eyes and the faintest trace of tears.



"Oh, Lu," He took her small form into his arms and embraced her, "Lu, what's wrong?"



After the war's end, Luna Lovegood had found herself at a loss for a career, having chosen not to finish her degree at Hogwarts and feeling the inability to achieve her desires by working for her father's newspaper, The Quibbler. She began to sell her artwork, using what had once simply been a hobby to now fund her lifestyle. Harry had run into the slender girl at a local opening of an art gallery near Carridwen, and followed the chance meeting with several social outings, as they became quick friends.



He had grown very close to the ethereal girl, and had moved into a flat near campus with her after realizing how stifling Grimauld Place was to his emotional growth - every room and hallway reminding Harry of his godfather. She had taken over decorating the small space and he was pleasantly surprised with the results - he now considered this place his home. Her artwork covered the walls, and the hanging couch she designed was a favorite of guests. Harry urged her to open her own gallery to help move her career along, but she simply smiled at the sky when he told her this.



Encircled by Harry's strong arms, Luna began openly sobbing into his shoulder, and he pushed the tray of food away to pull her into his lap.



"Lu, it's all going to be okay. Please don't cry, sweetheart." He tried to soothe her, rubbing circles into her back.



"She... Harry, she told me to leave... She made me leave..." Luna said, choking out an explanation, "I had woken up and made, made her breakfast... She threw... She threw the tray down! She made me leave..."



Harry inwardly cringed. Luna had been spending a lot of time with Katherine, and he had secretly suspected this would happen. Harry hadn't been surprised to find the Luna was a lesbian, nothing about her could really surprise him, given her character. But her romantic nature caused her to look for love in some of the worst cases.



Katherine had been a young sophisticate who frequented some of Luna's favorite galleries. Having started out innocently, Katherine had begun requesting Luna paint a portrait of her, and their second session quickly turned into making love on the hearth of Katherine's upscale apartment. But Katherine didn't want something serious, more concerned for what people would think of them as a couple than for what Luna felt. Luna couldn't understand this, and still followed her doggedly, occasionally having her agree to a lunch outing or coffee run.



Last night Luna had visited Katherine after work to drop off her finished painting, and Katherine must have slipped in her resolve, recovering quickly enough to kick Luna out of he apartment jus as she was making her breakfast.



"I don't understand, Harry," Luna had stopped sobbing, yet tears still slowly trickled down her cheeks as she leaned into his chest. "I made everything correctly. Why would she make me leave for having made breakfast?"



Harry sighed and tightened his hold a bit, "Lu... You know you can't see her anymore... I dont like seeing you hurt like this."



She tilted her head down in acquiescence, "I... I know, Harry. I had just, really really hoped she'd change her mind." She closed her eyes slowly, "I've been making breakfast all day."



"Well if it makes any difference," Harry started with a small smirk and picked up a piece of fruit from the tray, "...I just long for a grapefruit."



Luna buried her face in her hands and started shaking once more, and Harry frowned - thinking he'd upset her further - before realizing she was smiling brilliantly and besides herself with laughter. She flung her arms around him, tackling him to the ground.



"What would I do without you, Harry Potter?"



"Probably get attacked by Nargles."



He shifted and picked up her petite form and walked to his bedroom.



"So what movie are we watching tonight?" He set her down at the foot of the bed and went to the shelf below the TV, rifling through several DVDs.



"Something with singing. But not too much. You have yet to tell me the story of your day." She crawled under the black duvet, tracing its Victorian flock velvet pattern with her fingernails.



He slid the Disney movie Mulan into the DVD player, a film with a plot they had both practically memorized, and clambered into the bed with the girl who was in so many ways his little sister.



"So tell me." Luna propped herself up with a large down pillow.



"Alright, let's see," His day had certainly been interesting - yet he had no idea how to start. "Once upon a time, I went to the library early this morning to study for my Politics class, and was interrupted by Blaise Zabini, who asked me to get coffee with him.



"He and I talked over cappuccino's, and were interrupted by Draco Malfoy, who stormed in and demanded something of Blaise. It was very odd. Blaise excused himself to leave and dragged Draco away," Harry still felt very confused by the exchange.



"Oh, that's terrific, Harry," Luna chimed sleepily over the cartoon. "You called them both by their first name."



"Hm?" Harry's attention was distracted by the small red dragon chasing the cricket on the screen.



"You could use a few more friends around London..." Luna quickly began to nod off, and Harry, having not heard her musings, drifted to sleep beside her.



~~~~~~~~~~



Picking up the morning's Daily Prophet and enjoying a grapefruit scone that Luna had managed to create, Harry pushed aside the strange dream he'd had of blond hair, assuming Luna's hair must've gotten in his face while sleeping. His eyes scanned the headlines and he was momentarily stunned - Minister of Magic Accused of Deceit, by Rita Skeeter.



Harry's eyes went wide as he set the scone down, What? Kingsley accused of what?



"Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic, was accused early this morning of deceit by running mate Richard Pollis. Pollis, six year Wizengamot Chair, stated in an exclusive interview with the Daily Prophet that Kingsley has been accepting bribes and turning under-the-table favors for years.



"The fact that it has gone unreported is quite a surprise." says Pollis. Other Wizengamot members seem shocked by this admission.



Fellow Board member Mabel Hanley, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, comments saying, "The accusations are ludicrous. Shacklebolt is a good man and a better minister."



The Auror Corps will be heading an investigation pending the charges, though there is debate on using an outside investigative team, as Shacklebolt worked closely within the Corps for several years prior to the War. Board member and Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barrington Gates, assures the public of the nonpartisan position of the Auror Corps. "Law enforcement is honorable and equitable. Justice will be served impartially, as it should be."



The Minister's office has issued no comment."



Harry's jaw dropped in shock.





A/N: feels like i've been dragging on posting :P (even though technically i havent....)

so i hope everyone enjoyed this! it was really fun to write. and as usual, thanks so much to my beta cronikartist!!

AND, i may be getting a second beta!! just to keep the grammar intact, yknow? :)

AND AND, im gonna try for chapter 6 to be up before friday, but once friday hits all bets are off. voodoo fest, guys. nuff said.



MonsterOfMalice: i really really hope you're feeling better! i tried to email you, but it didnt work! you can try my email, though. its on my author profile :) and im glad youre enjoying the progression of the story! :D



SilverLion: haha, well enrique's hispanic, but it works lol. and its not going to happen soonnnn, but! there will be tasty draco on harry imagery in the future! :D



Lover_of_Love: ;D i think thats all that needs to be said here.



thrnbrooke: here it is!! hopefully chapter 6 will be up before the weekend! (cross your fingers!!)



argo_801: yes, you are correct! harry is disappointed that blaise would not be submissive. it's not that harry is particularly dominant, but rather that he'd like the opportunity to dominate be available. thanks for reviewing!



Tree802: aw, thanks! ive gotten several compliments on chapter 2's progression of draco as a character! i enjoyed writing it a lot. (also, i think this chap is pretty rad, but that's for ya'll to decide.) and the blaise thing... well you'll see ;) and!! i think you'll enjoy chapter 6 when it gets posted!! its got some nicely awkward h/d interaction (finally!!! lol)

reviews are appreciated!