author's note: The past chapter was, quite honestly, terrible. I am much more happy with this one, and this may be my favorite yet. Thank you to the lovely people who read, reviewed, favorited, and everything else. Much love, and enjoy.
Ron and Hermione's wedding present from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley (with generous help from George) had been a lovely house, which just happened to be located a mere two miles from the Burrow. Molly, who was upset by her children moving so far away, claimed that it was coincidence, but no one really bought it. The house was decently sized, certainly enough to house Ron and Hermione, as well as children (as Molly pointed out on an ever more frequent basis).
Ginny and Harry apparated into their front yard, a half an hour late. Harry was still moaning about it when they reached the door.
"Honestly, Ginny, how long does it take to shower?" he grumbled as Ginny knocked.
"Oh, don't even talk, Mister Five-More-Bloody-Minutes," Ginny snapped back, nerves frazzled as it was without Harry harping at her. The door flew open, and they immediately smiled and chorused an overly-loud, "Hello!"
Ron stood in the doorway, and extended his arms happily. Ginny noted the glass of firewhiskey in his hand. "Harry!" he exclaimed, and embraced him vigorously. Harry patted Ron's back awkwardly, but Ron was too busy pulling Ginny into a painful hug to notice.
"Drinking, I see," Ginny said, pulling him back. Ron nodded with a grin, as Ginny and Harry shared a look. Before they could dwell on it too long, however, Ron pushed them inside. He began leading them to their dining room, babbling on the way.
"Everyone's in here, about to eat, where were you two? No matter, tonight's about celebration, isn't it? Wish Hermione would let me celebrate, but she's too bloody busy keeping bloody Mum quiet, won't let me have any fun, she won't..."
"Ron, where are you?" Hermione called, and Ron groaned loudly.
"Ears like a Wrackspurt, that one, and about as fun, too," he grumbled. Hermione came into sight, hands on her hips and fire in her eyes.
"You're using the term incorrectly, Ron, as the Wrackspurt does not exist. Stop listening to Luna Lovegood before she affects your brain. Not that there will be much left if you keep drinking!" she hissed in a swift, livid tone under her breath. She nodded at Harry and Ginny. "Hello you two," she greeted them, still preoccupied with Ron.
Ginny's heart had stopped at Luna's name. They hadn't spoken since their…indiscretion, as she liked to view it. She constantly had been thinking about it, constantly replaying those scenes in her mind, and had come to a decision. It had been a mistake, a terrible, very hot mistake, and she would simply pull Luna aside tonight and tell her so. It would be quick and painless for the both of them. Well, not exactly, but Ginny knew it was the right thing to do.
Ginny was brought back into the present by Harry linking arms with her, and leading them the rest of the way into the dining room. Hermione and Ron followed, with Ron promising to stop drinking, and Hermione fretting over Molly's complaints about dinner. In the dining room, everyone was seated at a long table, most chatting and laughing.
"Oi, Harry!" George called, waving them over. He looked haggard, as he often did nowadays, but he was smiling widely. He clapped Harry on the back, embraced Ginny, and motioned them to sit. Before they could, however, Molly ran over with motherly concern.
"Ginny, you look positively ghastly!" Molly said, examining her closely.
"Sincere as always, Mum," Ginny replied, smiling.
"Do you two eat? Ever?" she asked, investigating Harry, poking his stomach. Ginny sat, scanning the room for Luna as Molly continued declaring them starving and deathly ill. Ron and Hermione were now sitting, and around the table she saw Percy talking happily to his wife Audrey, Arthur, Angelina Johnson (who was eyeing George from the corner of her eye), Neville, who immediately struck up conversation with Harry, and Lee Jordan, who was seated beside George. No sign of her. Ginny sighed in relief. Perhaps Luna had skipped out on dinner to avoid Ginny. Her stomach dropped at the idea. No, more likely that she'd been on her way, and gotten distracted by something shiny. Ginny grinned involuntarily at this image. Yes, she could live with this theory.
"Tea, Ginny?"
Ginny turned to her right to find the once empty seat beside her had been filled. Luna was holding a teapot in her hand, and Ginny squeaked at the sight of her.
"Luna!" she yelped, and the table turned to look at her. Ginny's face reddened, and she stammered for a minute. Luna smiled slowly, and spoke for her.
"Did I surprise you?" Luna asked, and Ginny nodded quickly.
"Yeah, you did," she replied lamely, and everyone laughed, returning to their chatter.
"So, tea?" Luna asked again. She was wearing dark blue robes, which made her look more pale than usual. Her bangs were pulled back tonight, secured by a blue pin that matched her silvery eyes. Ginny had a sudden urge to touch the blonde waves, push them to the side, perhaps run her fingers through the soft curls.
"Yeah, tea," Ginny murmured, still lost in thought. Luna poured her a cup, and then turned to offer Angelina the teapot. Ginny was left with a stunned feeling, as if in a trance.
Food was served, and Ginny now had an excuse for her silence as she ate. The food was quite excellent, but Molly muttered under her breath almost the entire time. Hermione clenched her teeth as the evening wore on. Ron had stopped drinking, and now was discussing Quidditch with Harry, George, Lee, and Angelina. They all noted Ginny's absence from this, as she was usually the most enthusiastic speaker on the topic. Luna and Neville were deep in discussion about their jobs. Arthur, Percy, and Audrey were making small talk. It was a warm, happy atmosphere, almost like the good old days-but the missing members' of their clan absence was obvious. Ginny assisted Hermione and Molly in the clearing of the plates when everyone finished.
"Alright, Ginny?" Hermione asked quietly, looking concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, fine," Ginny said, waving absentmindedly.
"You seemed a bit off earlier, when Luna came in," she continued, and Ginny tensed up. Was she that transparent?
"Oh, really?" she said, her voice squeaking. Hermione nodded, and Molly cut in.
"Ginny, is everything alright with you and Harry?" she posed, all maternal anxiety. Ginny replied too loudly and too quickly.
"We're fine!" she answered, and Hermione and Molly exchanged glances. Ginny lowered her volume, trying to keep her voice even and controlled. "Really, we're fine."
After that, Hermione and Molly left Ginny alone, and the entire party moved to the living room. Ginny sat far from Luna, rigid in her seat next to Harry.
"So, Neville, any girls in your sights?" George asked noisily, and everyone quieted to hear his answer. Neville grinned.
"Hannah and I just got engaged," he said proudly. Congratulations rang out around the room, and Lee sent a bunch of accidental sparks in the air in the excitement.
"And how about you, Luna?" George asked, and the attention all turned on her. She smiled inexplicably, as if having a wondrous secret she couldn't reveal just yet. "I mean, any new boys hanging around the shop?" Everyone laughed, perhaps out of the nervousness that was inspired by her secure, mysterious air.
"Oh no," Luna replied, and her eyes slipped from George to Ginny. "No boys."
The room fell awkwardly silent for a moment, as Ginny turned such a shade that one would think she was transfiguring into a pomegranate. It was broken by George again.
"Always the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks to fall back on, though," he said brightly, and the group burst into laughter once more. Ginny rose to her feet suddenly, and excused herself. No one seemed to notice except Luna, who watched her quickly step from the room. Ginny broke into a run when she entered the hall, and continued all the way to the back garden. She plopped down bewteen a patch of carrots and rutabagas Molly had planted in the hopes that Hermione would take up gardening. By now, they were both rather shriveled and small. Night had fallen, and Ginny looked up into the dark sky that was so big out here. She mentally found all her favorite constellations, noting them with a certainty that calmed her for some reason. Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. Luna was leaning on the doorway of the house, the moon lighting her face and hair with such a beauty Ginny's heart skipped a beat.
"Subtle, as usual, Luna," Ginny remarked, a biting tone in her voice. Luna grinned, strode over, and settled down next to Ginny. She studied Ginny, from the fiery-red hair and stubborn chin to the pale, freckled skin that shone in the night beautifully as her own. She pushed back a lock of hair, leaning in and brushing her lips on her neck in the process.
"I missed you," Luna whispered, and Ginny relaxed for a moment at the touch. But only for a moment, and then she tensed and moved back. Luna looked confused and hurt.
"Luna, you know we can't do this again," Ginny hissed.
"Why not?" Luna replied, almost pouting and moving closer to her.
"Well, for one thing, we're at my brother's home with my entire family and husband present," Ginny reminded her, pointing to the house. "And, for another, I…I…I don't like the color blue."
Luna pulled the pin from her hair, and placed it on the ground. She started to remove her robes, exposing a shoulder in the process. Ginny, giggling without thinking, pulled the robes back on before she could get farther. Luna grasped her hand at once, and their eyes locked. Ginny's heart stopped completely.
"You said you didn't like blue," Luna murmured, a soft smile on her mouth.
"I lied," Ginny breathed, and closed the distance between them. The two women kissed in moonlight, blissfully unaware of anything but each other's lips.
Unaware, unfortunately, of George Weasley, who had just walked into the kitchen and glanced out the window in time to catch his married sister kiss her female childhood friend.