Just As Sane As I Am: A Harry/Luna Fansite

FAN FICTION

Mistletoe and Nargles
by Brian64

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Summary: What if the chasers hadn't arrived early to interrupt Harry and Luna's discussion about Mistletoe and Nargles?

From: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Harry arrived early in the Room of Requirement for the last DA meeting before the holidays and was very glad he had, because when the torches burst into flame he saw that Dobby had taken it upon himself to decorate the place for Christmas. He could tell the elf had done it, because nobody else would have strung a hundred golden baubles from the ceiling, each showing a picture of Harry's face and bearing the legend: 'HAVE A VERY HARRY CHRISTMAS!'

Harry had only just managed to get the last of them down before the door creaked open and Luna Lovegood entered, looking as dreamy as usual.

"Hello," she said vaguely, looking around at what remained of the decorations. 'These are nice, did you put them up?'

"No," said Harry, "it was Dobby the house-elf."

"Mistletoe," said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry's head. He jumped out from under it. "Good thinking," said Luna very seriously. "It's often infested with Nargles."

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"Nargles?" Harry asked, confused, peering up at the mistletoe and wondering what he was supposed to be looking for.

"They do seem to like it. Nobody knows why. Perhaps that's why people hang up mistletoe to attract them? You know, the way Muggles put big rods on tall buildings to attract lightning."

"Uh, Luna, I don't think people put up mistletoe to attract Nargles," Harry said, slightly embarrassed.

"Really? Well why else would they hang it up, then?" she asked, staring at him intently.

"Well, umm, there's this tradition, you see... err... where if people find themselves under mistletoe they are, you know..." Harry said, trailing off.

Luna stared at him impassively. "No, Harry, I don't know."

"Well, they-are-supposed-to-kiss." Harry said, tripping over the words in a rush to get them out.

Luna thought about it for a moment. "Well, that has to be the strangest thing I've ever heard. Why would people need to kiss just because they were standing under mistletoe?"

"I don't know. They just do," Harry replied.

"I suppose it would be a little strange if two boys found themselves under the mistletoe and had to kiss then."

"Umm, no, Luna, it's only when a boy and a girl are under it," Harry said, shuddering at the thought.

"Oh, okay. Well, shouldn't you kiss me, then?" she asked him.

"What? Why would you want me to kiss you?" Harry asked, starting to panic.

Luna looked confused. "Well, we were both standing under the mistletoe."

"That's okay, I won't tell anyone," Harry replied quickly.

Luna looked at him thoughtfully for a minute, then another, and Harry started to squirm involuntarily under her unblinking stare. As it continued he found himself thinking about what he'd just said, and in a flash of rare inspiration, he realised that Luna was giving him an opportunity to reconsider before she said anything. After a little more thought, he realised what he should do to make things right.

He stepped forward again so that he was under the mistletoe with Luna and leaned in to kiss her softly.

Afterwards, she smiled at him, and then drew her wand and summoned the mistletoe, placing it in her pocket.

"What did you do that for?" He asked.

"Well, there will be a lot of girls in here for the DA meeting soon, and I don't want any of them kissing you."

"You don't?" Harry asked.

"No, I would rather be the one doing that. Do you think we can practice kissing a little more after the meeting?" Luna asked him, her gaze fixed firmly on him.

Harry thought about his crush on Cho, and realised he'd just been hung up on a pretty face attached to a girl he didn't even know, and couldn't even talk to.

"Umm, sure, Luna. I'd like that."

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