Who: Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood Where: A café When: January 3rd 2005 What: Coffee, tea or other hot drink of choice Status: In progress
The room itself was familiar enough, which served as an odd counterpoint to the world outside. For decades, this simple cafe had stood. For months, now, Luna had been meeting Harry here for coffee or tea, depending on the time of day. And as much as the world outside its walls changed, the architecture remained the same. Fixed. Static. Yet, like so many structures of stone and mortar and wood, so fragile.
Luna wrapped her hands around the warm cup of tea. Hibiscus, with two sugars and a little milk. She liked to think that she arrived early on a matter of principle, but she knew better. Harry occupied a publicly scrutinized position. Surely, it would be easier for him, if she were already there, and then he could perhaps explain that he merely happened upon her, an old friend from school, should anyone ask. A convenient orchestration. And one that gave her tea time to cool as she waited for Harry’s arrival.
And this time, Harry was running late. Between the Mark on new years eve and everything else going on at the ministry, Harry was having difficulty howing up to dinner on time at home, much to Hermione’s palpable displeasure. Perhaps he should have canceled this week’s ‘run-in’ with Luna, but truth be told, Harry needed this. He needed to get away from work and, though he was loathe to admit it (and never would, under any circumstances, to those involved), from Ron and Hermione as well. He loved them to death, that wasn’t an issue, but seeing the same people every single day, living with them and having to put up with their careful interactions became tiring after a while, and Harry needed to get away. He needed to spend time with people who weren’t constantly trying to reassure each other that they loved each other but that they weren’t going to pressure each other into anything if the other wasn’t interested... It was dizzying! Harry had no idea how they lived like that, constantly calculating just how much they should show the other they cared - enough that they felt wanted and loved, but not too much that it would scare them away...
He thought about this far too much.
Finally, out of breath, Harry arrived at the shop and located Luna at their usual table. Someone touched his arm as he walked past, but he ignored them - if they had a problem, they could call in the DMLE, he was off duty for the day and he was going to stay that way, and if they were just a fan, well, they could just save it.
“How is it that you’re always early?” he asked, removing his scarf and rolling it into a sort of ball before starting to work on the big buttons on his coat.