Chapter 2: Pictures and Plimpies

Afternoon of Christmas eve, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville were at the Lovegood's house as Luna invited them to stay with them for the holidays. Ron and Hermione were playing with Crookshanks at the yard, while Neville and Ginny were strolling around the vast yard, looking at different species of plants they have never seen before. The dirigible plums also kept on following them, and Harry couldn't help but smile fondly. Luna was nowhere in sight; Xenophilus said she was at the lake, fishing for Plimpies. Harry decided to roam around the house and check out Luna's bedroom.

The room was beautiful. It wasn't big, nor grand, but seeing it will really make you think of Luna. The walls were colorful, and up the ceiling was a painting: It was a painting of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Neville in a circle and linking them was the word "friends" painted in Gold. Harry's heart softened up even more, knowing how much Luna values them. He then noticed a portrait hanging on the wall: It was a portrait of a much younger Luna and a woman who looks like her—the straggly blonde hair, those protuberant eyes…Harry came to the realization that it was Luna's mother. He wanted to stay in the bedroom longer, but he felt like he has already seen too much. He went out and bumped into Ginny at the living room.

"Hey," Ginny said, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to….uhm…try to check if Luna needs help with the Plimpies." Harry replied.

"Oh," Ginny said, "Okay."

Harry walked out of the house and walked briskly to the lake where Luna was. The basket sitting on the grass was already full of fishes, and Luna seemed to be going back already. She was surprised to see Harry standing in front of her.

"Hi, Harry," She said.

"Hey…"

"Are you okay? Did daddy ask you to fetch me?"

"Oh, no, I just…I was just wondering if I could…help."

Luna smiled, "Well, you can carry the basket, then," She said, "And don't worry, there are no nargles."

Harry laughed lightly, "So…I was at your room."

"Oh," Luna muttered.

"I'm sorry, I just—"

"It's okay, Harry," Luna said.

"I saw your painting…"

"Did you like it?" She asked, "Although I must say, I did make a good illustration of you, didn't I? You look happier in my painting…"

Harry laughed, "Yeah, yeah…" He said, "Luna…that woman with you in the portrait…is she…is she your—"

"My mother?" Luna said, "Yes, that's her."

"She's beautiful."

"She is," Luna smiled, "And people loved her…She was exceptional. And popular…She was a prefect of Ravenclaw house before, and then…and then when she and daddy got married, everyone kept saying she lost it…that it was a wrong move…and then one day, while doing one of her experiments, she died. It was sad. Daddy was sad…and I was, too…"

"I'm sorry,"

"Everyone dies, Harry," She said, "But that doesn't mean they've left." She smiled, "And I still have daddy…and friends like you."

He smiled. Luna always knew what to say. Luna always had something good to make him feel better, even though he knew she's also going through a lot.

"So, let's go back now?" She asked. "They're probably starving…"

He laughed, "Yeah, let's go."

And he held her hand as they went back to the house together.