Written for Love in Time Challenge.
The girl was odd, but that was to be expected, especially considering Aberforth had almost fished her out of the river. When he managed to get all the water out of her lungs, she had merely opened her eyes and smiled.
"This was unexpected," she said, the only thing she had said at this point. Currently, Aberforth had bundled her up in blankets and given her some warm tea with a little butterbeer lanced into it. She was sipping on the drink, looking around with wonder at her surroundings, which were only a river, some rocks, and a few trees. It wasn't that impressive.
But there was something about the look in her eyes that brought a smile to Aberforth's face, the first real one in a long time.
"What happened?" he asked her, sitting down next to her. She didn't seem to be shivering so much, the blankets and tea obviously doing their job. Aberforth was glad that he had them. He came to the spot every few months for he felt that Ariana would have liked it, and had a spot of tea on some blankets.
"I'm not sure," she said, her voice lilting and light. It was very pretty. "I know something did, something big, but what, I don't know."
She drew her gaze from the world, and focused on him. There was something about it that made Aberforth like he was it. Unwittingly, it brought a blush to his face.
She gave him a soft smile, and Aberforth found himself falling into her eyes.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Luna," she replied. "Yours?"
"Aberforth. Aberforth Dumbledore."
For the first time, she seemed to be part of this world. Her eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped opened.
"Dumbledore?" she said. "Like as in. . ."
She trailed off, and averted her gaze. For a moment, the only sound heard was their heavy breathing.
"What year is it?" she asked.
"1904." Aberforth wasn't sure what made him ask it, but something about her begged the question. Her shock, her question, and the odd clothes he just now noticed she was wearing. It looked Muggle, but he had never seen anything like it.
"What year was it?"
"It was 1998."
Aberforth drew in a sharp breath. He wasn't surprised, but still. . .
He was.
People didn't just travel through time.
It looked like Luna did.
With a gulp, he grabbed her arm. "Hold on," he said, voice hoarse. She nodded and closed her eyes.
They Apparated to his flat, barely furnished and poorly lit. He blushed at it, for the first time aware of poor it liked and how poor he was. Luckily, Luna didn't seem to mind.
"What are you going to do?" he asked her. As odd as how she might seem, Aberforth had no doubt she was telling the truth.
"I don't know," she said, returning to a voice that sound far-away. This seemed different however. Her voice before sounded like she knew exactly where she was. Now she sounded like she had no idea where she was and no idea how to get back.
Aberforth supposed that was the truth.
"Can I stay here?" she asked, looking up at him big gray eyes.
"Of course," Aberforth said.
"Stay as long as you need."