"He's mad."

Harry Potter stood in his best friends bedroom, watching his reflection. Uselessly, he took a comb and tried to smooth down the back of his messy black hair.

"He has to be mad, right?"

Ron Weasley, the said best friend, shrugged and brushed off his robes. It was Christmas Eve.

"Maybe it's a joke...that's the only explanation...There's no other possible reason...A joke."

"Maybe he just cares about her."

Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister- and Harry's girlfriend- stood in the door frame, looking bored. She walked over and kissed Harry lightly. Ron, who had gotten used to these sort of displays, merely yawned and continued.

"So? We all care about her; she's our friend. But the thing is, she's not George's friend. I mean, really!"

There was a knock and Hermione walked in. She sat beside Ron and sighed.

"Are we still on this subject?" Ron opened his mouth to object, but Hermione cut him off. "It doesn't matter. And anyway, I'm hungry! Let's go eat!"

She and Ginny hurried out the door in search of Mrs. Weasley's delicous Christmas feast, but Ron got to his feet slowly, still puzzled.

"Hermione, you honestly don't find it even a little bit odd that George invited Loony-Luna, sorry- to dinner? At Christmas?"

She rolled her eyes, and pulled his sleeve. "I'm sure it's just like Ginny said, he cares about her. Now your mother sent me up here to find you all- the duck is getting cold."

They all started to go when Ginny spoke, very quietly.

"Whatever the reason, Ron, we shouldn't push him about it. You know how he's been, since-" A shadow passed over Ginny's face, and she and Ron shared a look- one only siblings like that can have.

It had been nearly a year since the battle at Hogwarts and things were, slowly, returning to normal. The entire Weasley family- including Harry and Hermione had suffered a terrible blow from the loss of Fred. But George was the worst. After Fred had died, it was like some of him died, too. He still made jokes and ran his shop- with additional help from Ron and Percy- but there was a dullness in his eyes, as if some of trickster in him had burned out. And he was quieter. Sometimes, one of his family members would find him sitting by himself, not crying, not talking, but just sitting. Harry had said he was doing what he did when his godfather had died- remembering.
"He sits there.." Harry had murmured, "because he feels like he has to. If he doesn't, the memories of Fred will...disappear."

But now it was Christmas, and everything just felt right again. Ginny was home from Hogwarts, Fleur was in, what Mr. Weasley called, "lively conversations" with Mrs. Weasley, (meaning the two were doing all possible not to make nasty comments in front of the other), and George was laughing again.

This year, however, was a bit different. George had announced at the last minute he was a bringing a friend to dinner; all assumed he meant Angelina Johnson. Instead, he showed up with Luna Lovegood, the pale blonde ravenclaw in the same year as Ginny.

And the interesting thing was, Luna, who was always a...loner, was fitting in quite nicely with the odd bunch that were the Weasleys. She was having a discussion with Mr.Weasley on garden gnomes who had found their way into muggle's front lawns. Which would sound like an odd topic, but for those two, it was completely within sanity bounds. George, all four noticed, sat next to her, although turned away from her as he talked to Bill, would casually glance over and smile at her.

Just as Ron turned to mention this behavior to Harry, Mrs. Weasley appeared with a pitcher of pumpkin juice.

"Not a snide or rude comment about this, Ronald." She hissed. "You can see how he's improved." And quickly, her dark manner changed as she gleefully announced dinner was ready.

Ginny was the only one who noticed her older brother grasp Luna's hand as they walked into the dining room, but decided to be tactful and not mention it.

yay. this story seems to be starting out lovely. :
i don't know how long it'll be...maybe only three chapters...if i ever get around to writing them...

i wrote this, by the way, because i'm in china right now with my friend. she ALWAYS on the computer, but luckily i have found (english!) copies of all HP books, excluding the first and last. (but i've read the first one about a bajillion times, and the 7th one is too sad..)

and...today i was a little sad (but you all don't have to know why. hehe..) and i watched POTTER PUPET PALS to cheer me up )

So that is why this little story planted itself in my head and started growing. lol

review!

-ddk12