"Rather they pick up on Fangorists and not me to be quite honest."
Harry rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks going warm. She was absolutely right though and although she was speaking to him all in smiles and laughter, he felt like a proper cad. He didn't want to come across as the sort of bloke who used his friends and he didn't want Luna to think of him like that. She might think it funny now, but what if she started to resent it?
"You're right." He sighed. "I really should be coming by more often and not when I'm hoping to get some help on something. That's bad on me as a friend. But all that aside... it's not so much help, I'm after. But company. I enjoy your company and would rather have that company at the gala than any other girl."
He smiled at her. "Perhaps if I treat you well at the gala, I can get a leg up on the rumours of my apparent ability to be a cad."
Reaching over he squeezed the hand that was wrapped around his arm and then pulled it away, shifting so that he slung that arm across her shoulders as they walked. He hugged her close, happy to have such a great friend in Luna Lovegood.