I'm not really sure this is what I planned when I started writing, but this is what came out...

Merry Christmas.

When she was five, Luna lost her mother. That was the first Christmas she remembered - not happy and filled with cheer, but sad and lonely.

"Father?" Little Luna stared up at the worn figure of her father, her eyes brimming with tears as she tried to pull his attention away from his memories.

Tugging at his shirttails led to a absent-minded pat on the head before he gently pushed her away.

Smiling, she left the small, messily-wrapped gift on the desk in front of him, before she walked quietly away, ignoring the tears flowing freely down her cheeks even as her lips turned up in an attempt to hide her sadness.

By the age of eleven, her father had mostly recovered from his grief, though when Luna returned home for the holidays, she did not tell him of the teasing and bullying she received from her fellow Ravenclaws. Her only friend, Ginny Weasley, had been pulling away since the end of the summer.

"Father, has the Weasley's owl been here yet?" Luna asked, pushing down the stab of pain at the thought that Ginny had forgotten her.

Her father shook his head vaguely, concentrating on the small vial of gray-green liquid. He was working on one of his theories, trying to solidly prove the existence of the odd creatures no one else seemed to notice.

Shrugging off the loneliness that seemed to overwhelm her, she smiled broadly, "Can I help?" Joining in with her father's project cheerfully, as he nodded.

"Hey, Luna. Why the frown?" The blonde couldn't help the quiet laugh that escaped her lips as warm arms wrapped around her from behind.

She turned, her eyes bright with cheer as she returned the embrace. "Just memories."

He frowned, "You won't be lonely anymore." Bending slightly, he pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was interrupted by another voice, "Come on, lovebirds. We're starting the gift exchange!"

Reluctantly pulling away, he pouted, "What if I wanted to spend all night kissing my fiance?"

Luna giggled, grabbing his hand, "We're coming, Gin."

Grinning broadly, Neville allowed Luna to pull him to the ballroom, where their friends and family had gathered. The shadows that had haunted her eyes behind the fake cheer had vanished, and for once, she was truly happy.

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