The One That Got Away
Chapter One
After seeing all of the children off to Hogwarts except Lily, the three Potter Apparated back to their home in Godric's Hollow, Lily holding on tightly to her father's arm. Harry kissed Ginny before leaving for work at the Ministry.
Ginny worked from home, spending the day researching or writing her assignment for the Daily Prophet. She liked that now she could enjoy time with Lily, especially since Ginny remembered what it was like to be the only child home from Hogwarts. They played a few rounds of chess (Lily had inherited her Uncle Ron's skill) before Lily joined the other neighborhood children in a game of Quidditch. Ginny decided to use that time to work on her article about the Hollyhead Harpies' new captain. It was not long before Ginny was lost in reminiscing about her own days as the Harpies' captain.
Click. Click.
Ginny glanced up from her writing. An unfamiliar owl peered at her through the window, holding an envelope in its beak. She opened the window, and it dropped the letter on her desk before departing.
Ginny picked up the envelope, and her heart fluttered as she recognized the handwriting. It had been years since she heard from Luna Scamander, and despite her marriage to Harry, Ginny's spine tingled as she opened the letter.
Dearest Ginny,
I hope you're well. Rolph and I have just returned from our summer trip to Poland. We had a wonderful time, and we were able to collect information for a book we're writing on the origins of legends. You should drop buy for tea sometime this week and I'll tell you all about it. Are you planning on attending Neville and Hannah's anniversary party tonight? Rolph and I will be there. I'm really hoping to see you.
I've included a picture of us from Hogwarts that I found. I thought you would like it.
Love always,
Luna
Ginny gently removed the old photographs from the envelope. The border was slightly aged but otherwise the moving image was just as fresh as when it was developed. It was taken during Ginny's sixth year at Hogwarts, while they were hiding in the Room of Requirements. It was the end to an especially long day, and Ginny had fallen asleep on Luna's shoulder. Luna was kissing Ginny's head.
Ginny's heart fluttered in a way she did not want to examine, and she quickly put the picture face-down on the desk. She could hear Luna's voice, clear as if she was back in the Room of Requirement, leaning against Luna, half-dreaming. Luna murmuring those words for the first time that filled Ginny with hope and comfort.
"I love you, Ginny Weasley."
Ginny sighed and ran her hands through her dark red hair. It had been in the midst of the chaos of her sixth year when Ginny finally admitted that the pull she felt toward Luna was not friendship. It was wonderful, and Ginny had never wanted it to end. But Harry would never have agreed to a polyamorous relationship, and her family would never have understood. They expected Ginny to marry Harry, so she did. Ginny told herself every day that she was happy, but at night, with all the other inhabitants of the house asleep, Ginny was left awake to wonder if she really had made the right decision. She began to ponder that exact question as memory after memory flowed through her.
Gentle yet wild Luna Scamander still captivated Ginny Weasley.