Disclaimer: This is a work of fictions using the characters from Harry Potter that are trademarked by J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Takes place during 'Half-Blood Prince'.

Harry walked back into Slughorn's party, face pale and mind flying in a million directions. He looked around the room and saw the crowd had started to dissipate. He surveyed the remaining occupants and spotted his date, Luna, in her frilled royal purple dress over by the punch bowl. He approached her silently and when he was close enough he caught the faint scent of citrus. He inhaled deeper and decided it was oranges he smelt, definitely oranges.

"Are you alright Harry?"

Harry blinked and shifted his eyeline to meet Luna's. Apparently while he had been off, trying to figure out what citrus he smelled, Luna had turned around and now stood facing him with an amused and worried look on her face. How she accomplished such a thing was a mystery.

"Fine Luna. Just thinking"

"Are the Nargles bothering you again?" she asked and looked him over, why he didn't know but assumed it had something to do with the mysterious creatures she was always speaking about.

"I think I'm okay" Harry said with a nod. He wasn't sure if these Nargles truly existed but after what he had experienced in his six years in the magical world he wasn't about to discount anything being possible.

"Very well"

"Are you ready to go?" Harry asked the blonde.

"Yes. It is getting late"

Harry offered the blonde his arm and blushed softly when she slid her small, arm hand into the crook of his elbow and leaned into his side every so slightly. It was a quick walk from Slughorn's office, in the dungeons, to the Ravenclaw Common room but Harry found himself wishing it took longer.

"I'm sorry" he apologized to his date, "About tonight I mean. I wasn't a very courteous date"

"It's alright. I know you only asked me because I was there, and you didn't want to chance it with any of the other girls. Who knew what kind of potions you would have ingested tonight"

Harry frowned when she spoke so matter-of-factly. It bothered him, deep in his gut, that she felt the only reason he asked her was because 'she was there'. That certainly wasn't the case. Sure, it had solidified the idea in his mind that she was there and available, but he had found himself intrigued with the unusual blonde every since they had met in his fifth, her fourth, year.

She was an intriguing girl, who didn't even know him yet rushed to help him in his time of need. He felt lucky that she gave him, and chance and he decided that he would jump at it. By the time they arrived at the Ravenclaw Common room door he had mustered his courage and was prepared for the next step.

The pair stood in front of the door and Harry looked around nervously before he blurted out, "Will you go to Hogsmeade with me?"

The words escaped his mouth so quickly that Luna just furrowed her brown and stared at him, confused.

He cleared his throat and tried once more, clearly enunciating each word, "Will. You. Go. To. Hogsmeade. With. Me."

"Why?"

"I had a really great time with you tonight and I want to spend more time with you" he said with a sheepish grin, "Also I want to make up for how I acted tonight"

"Very well. I would love to join you"

"Great" he beamed and darted in for a quick kiss on her cheek. He felt the blood rush to his cheeks and he smiled when he saw that her cheeks were stained with red as well.

"Good night" he whispered.

"Good night"

Challenge: Every Kind of Pairing Competition, Prompt: Potentially Canon

Word Count: 607