Desperately Seeking You
Meeting Aunt Tess
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AN: My first ever Ron and Luna fanfic. I just felt the need to write about the two. It follows up to the seventh book, excluding the epilogue. Criticism is welcome.
Summary: Luna Lovegood was never one to feel desperate. But after the Quibbler's finances take a turn for the worst, she concludes it's a horrible experience. Only one person can help her. Unfortunately, she wants Luna to become engaged within three months…
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter books or any of the merchandise. Wish I did. Then I would be sipping martinis in my mansion in Ireland…..
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"Where is it?" She mumbled, diving behind her desk to look for the lost item. She needed her lucky charm: a splinter from the horn of the actual Crumpled Horned Snorcack. Her father had found it after trailing one for weeks in the Sahara Desert in Africa. He had given it to her when she was leaving for her first year at Hogwarts. It was one of her most prized possession. But it was also very small. So when she lost it, it would take days for her to find it.
She swore she had placed it on her desk, next to the large amount of bills she had received this morning. She had gone out for some coffee and when she returned, it was no where to be seen. She suspected that the Omprarie Lichen had something to do with its disappearance but she wasn't sure. "I have to find it!" She exclaimed. She crawled over to her office couch and peeked under. Nothing. Only dust bunnies.
Suddenly, her intercom buzzed. Ms. Lovegood, your one o' clock appointment is here. Her secretary, Rita Hudson's voice resonated throughout the room.
Luna stopped in her tracks. Crap. She had forgotten about that.
She quickly crawled back to her desk and straightened up, brushing off the lint from her work suit and sat in a rigid position. Never let them see your anxiety, her father once told her. Nervous breakdowns were never an option. She cleared her throat and clicked a button on the intercom. "Send her in."
In a matter of seconds, a plump woman in her early fifties, donned in a silk purple shirt and a light grey skirt, along with large black hat and black pumps entered the room. Her gray bag hung around her wrist and she had a regal air about her. Her sharp eyes observed every inch of the office before they rested on Luna's figure. She smiled warmly at her. "Good morning, Luna." Luna stood and they held hands for a second.
"Good morning, Aunt Tess. I trust that you are well?" Luna's dreamy voice inquired. Aunt Tess nodded curtly and sat in front of her niece.
"Yes, as well as I can be. I was rather surprised that you had wanted to meet with me. Why, dear child, we haven't seen each other since you were ten! Whatever do you want of me now?" While waiting for Luna's reply, she ran her finger against the arm of the chair and slightly frowned at the amount of dust that she had acquired.
Luna cleared her throat and refused to look her aunt in the eye. "Well, as you can see…I am the owner of the Quibbler now and…"
"Yes," her aunt remarked dryly. "you didn't have to point that out. I'm surprised that this piece of garbage ever went this far." Luna was taken aback by her aunt's frank response. "Oh, did you ever think that I would be proud that you landed this 'establishment'…if you want to call it so." She chuckled at her own joke. "Your father was a fool for thinking that he could ever match up to the profitability of the Daily Prophet. He was always ambitious, but extremely stupid. And your mother was so taken in by his love for her that she went along with it. Oh, the poor thing!"
Luna was unsure as to what to say. How could she approach her plan knowing her aunt would disagree with it? "Then, your mother had you. And after her death, there was no stopping your father from brain-washing you into believing all that fantastical nonsense." She sighed. "If it were up to me, you would have never lived with the man."
Now, that hurt.
"Aunt Tess, I'm fine. He did not brain-wash me."
Aunt Tess gave an unlady-like snort. "Of course you would believe that. The victim. If he was never around, you would have been a normal girl." Luna was never one to feel anger. It almost never crossed her mind. She had been so used to the jeers and insults she received at Hogwarts, that anger became unnecessary. But, her aunt—her own aunt—was insulting her father. That was one thing she would not tolerate.
Anger was truly an unknown feeling. She felt surprised when it surged through her. But she tried to remain calm. Losing her temper would prove detrimental to the plan. "Anyway, what was what it that you want to talk about?" Her aunt asked.
Luna smiled uneasily. Well, better now than never. "You were right, Aunt Tess, the Quibbler's finances are on a steady decline." She, once again, avoided the lady's eyes. "I have tried to raise them the old fashion way: hard work and dedication. But, it's not working and I'm desperate. This is where plan B comes in. And you are, Aunt Tess, plan B."
"What?" Aunt Tess snapped. "What do you mean?"
Luna bit her lip. "Aunt Tess, you have something for me, don't you?" Her pale blue orbs bore into the woman. She would not take no for an answer. She was determined to find out what exactly the woman had been bound to give her since her birth.
Aunt Tess' eyes narrowed. "How much did your father tell you?"
Luna inwardly sighed with relief. Her aunt had been willing to cooperate. "He told me about my inheritance that was originally meant for my mother. But she passed away. You are the executor of such inheritance. It is your duty to hand it to me."
Her aunt stiffened. "Let me get this straight," she began coarsely, "I am to give you the money so that you can re-invest into this horrible excuse for a company?" Luna nodded. "Are you out of your mind, child?! This is why I didn't give to you at the appointed time. I knew you would use the money for such folly!" Her biting remarks had no effect on Luna and she stood to address her aunt.
"Aunt Tess, I am over eighteen and I have a right to contest to this…"
"And as the executor of this inheritance, it is my duty to make sure that said inheritor is suitable enough for the money." Aunt Tess supplied. "Remember the goblins' laws, dear. There is no chance of you gaining that inheritance until I say so."
Luna sat down in defeat.
"How can I be suitable enough for you, Aunt Tess?" She whispered. The fight was taken out of her. She had lost. Her aunt had the upper hand.
Her aunt stared at her for a moment before replying. "Do you have a boyfriend, Luna?" Luna's gaze slowly lifted to her aunt's face. Where had that come from?
"A…a boyfriend?"
"Yes, Luna. A boyfriend. Someone you're intimately involved with…"
"I-I know what a boyfriend is, Aunt Tess. I just don't know what it has to do with anything." Suddenly, her aunt's face lit with excitement.
"It has everything to do with it, Luna. You see, if you were married, I would have gladly given you the money, knowing that it would be very beneficial to you and your family. Why, once you have invested some of it in this company, you could leave the rest for other more important matters…"
"What do you mean by some of it? All of it will be invested in the company." Luna remarked. Her aunt's eyes widened. "What's the matter?"
"Do you know exactly how much is the inheritance, Luna?" Her niece shook her head. "Exactly. That is why you are speaking the way you are. I'm surprised your father did not tell you how much. It is quite a lot."
"How much?" Luna prodded.
"Try thirty million galleons."
Luna froze. Shocked.
"Like I said, I thought you knew." Her aunt continued. "Now, do you understand why I am so protective of it?" Luna nodded. "Good. Once more, do you have a boyfriend?"
"No."
"Did you ever have a boyfriend?"
Luna's thoughts immediately went to Dean. They had broken up one year after the war had ended. He was not really a boyfriend. At least, that's how Luna saw it. Mostly, they just kept in close contact with each other. He was uncomfortable with the way she thought about the world. He was terrified of her outlandish logics. Luna couldn't believe he held out for a year.
"No." She replied.
Her aunt was now looking alarmed. "Have you ever taken a fancy to anyone?"
Luna's thoughts shifted immediately to Ron. Ronald. He was her first crush. She never paid much attention to the opposite sex and neither did they to her. But in her fourth year, when he and his friends had entered her train compartment, it was, at least at the time she thought, love at first sight. He didn't even pay much attention to her. Whenever they did meet, they would have polite conversations and nothing else. They hardly communicated after the war. Last she heard, he was dating Hermione.
"Yes."
"Oh, thank goodness!" Aunt Tess held her hand over her chest in relief. "Then, we'd have other problems to worry about."
"So, what are you saying?" Luna's dreamy voice rang out in desperate tones.
"I have a proposition for you, Luna." Her aunt began. Luna inwardly groaned. She had a dreaded feeling that whatever it was, would not be good. "You can have the inheritance that will save this company, but you have to be engaged within three months."
Luna gave out a surprised cry. Three months? That was…impossible! How would she be able to get engaged within three months?
She had to think of a plan C. This plan was not working out.
"Luna, I do this because I care. I will not let you go gallivanting with so much money without any other purpose than this company. I cannot allow it." Her aunt explained.. "Please, try to reason with me."
"Its okay, Aunt Tess. I understand."
"Good. I should be off." Aunt Tess picked up her bag and Luna stood for her departure. "Give me your decision by the end of the week. Good-bye, Luna."
"Good-bye, Aunt Tess."
Once the door closed, Luna sank into her chair. It was hopeless. There was nothing she could do. It was either accept the offer or kiss the Quibbler good-bye. Luna laid her head on the desk. She had never felt so confused. She couldn't bear to give up this establishment. It was the only link she had with her father. He wouldn't have wanted her to sell it. It was all she had. Luna had similar dreams to her father: she wanted this company to be very successful. But, if her father couldn't have done it in his lifetime, how was she so sure that it could be done within hers?
"Oh, this wouldn't have happened if I had my lucky splinter." Luna mumbled. The door opened and in walked her secretary. She gave Luna a sympathetic smile.
"How many times have I told you not to leave the intercom on?" She remarked. Luna sighed and shrugged. Her thoughts were solely on her aunt. She didn't have time to consider anything else. "I heard everything. Oh, Luna. I'm so sorry."
"What should I do?" Luna asked her.
"Well…I don't want to get involved…"
"Rita, I'm desperate."
"I would sell the company." Rita answered immediately. Luna was surprised at the answer.
"What?" She exclaimed. "How can you say that? You work here."
"From what I heard, this company has been going nowhere Luna. I'm sure you could land a job at other places. I have a whole list…not that I made this list when you told us the Quibbler's finances were depleting." She sheepishly smiled. Luna giggled. Rita was so funny. "It's impossible for you to be engaged within three months, Luna. It would never work. But that's just my opinion. You need to talk to other people."
Who could she possibly talk to about this?
A therapist?
No, she always thought those people were quacks.
She needed a friend. Someone who understood her and her situation. Someone who she could talk to easily. Someone who would give her a helping hand.
But who?
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