Chapter Four; Shopping, yellow lines and gut feelings.
Luna was already halfway through her breakfast when Hermione left Ron behind, but that didn't bother Ron in the slightest. He ordered his own meal after giving Luna a quick, awkward hug around the shoulders. They ate together in companionable silence, Ron wolfing down his meal while Luna ate at a more sedate pace and occasionally stifling a giggle every time she glanced over at Ron.
'So where do you want to go today?' Ron asked Luna when they both stood up to leave.
'Oh, I was hoping to buy a new robe today, all of my old ones are wearing a bit thin.' Luna said.
'So you want to go to Madam Malkin's, then?' Ron asked. Luna nodded as she pulled out her wand to tap at the bricks. Together they walked through the walkway and into Diagon Alley. Before going into Madam Malkin's they stepped into Amanuensis Quills, which was right next door, where Ron bought Luna a handsome new quill and inkpot set.
Inside Madam Malkin's, Ron bought himself a new set of robes for work, and Luna found herself a magnificent new robe. While Madam Malkin was fitting Luna, Ron couldn't tear his eyes away from her. Luna was talking happily with Madam Malkin while the squat witch pulled, pinned and adjusted the robe to perfectly fit Luna's frame. Ron found himself mesmerised; the colours of the robe shimmered and changed in the light, grey one minute, light periwinkle blue the next. It perfectly matched the colour of her eyes.
'That's you all done, my dear.' Madam Malkin announced as she gently took the robe off Luna's shoulders and folded it. Luna gave Madam Malkin her serene smile and glanced up at Ron. When she realised that he was staring she blushed prettily and turned to pay for her robe.
But seeing Luna blush didn't charm Ron like it usually would've. Instead it made his blood run cold. One of her cheeks hadn't looked quite right; it had an odd yellowish tinge to it. Like the remnants of a bruise.
Ron opened his mouth to say something to her, but then closed it again. No need to say anything, it might have been an accident.
Nothing to worry about, probably just an accident. He told himself.
But he found it hard to believe even himself.
He was quiet as they left the shop, Luna happily hugging the parcel that contained her new robe to her chest. Ron noticed that Luna walked with a bounce in her step when she walked, like she was about to start skipping any moment. It was rather endearing.
Luna led the way down the street and into the sweet store, with Ron loping along behind her with a thoughtful frown on his face.
'Ronald, if you don't want to be here you can leave, I will understand.' Luna said as she was strolling along the isles.
'What?' Ron shook his head. 'Why would I want to leave?'
'You're looking rather unhappy, I just thought you might want to be going somewhere else.' Luna said as she picked up a handful of chocolate frogs, carefully avoiding his eyes.
'Oh, no, Luna, I do want to be here with you, it's just-' Ron trailed off as Luna approached the counter and paid for her chocolate frogs. Together they left the shop, Ron absently holding open the door for Luna and watching the yellow mark appear on her cheek as she blushed again. Up close he noticed that there were four thin yellow marks on her cheek, all in a row. They looked suspiciously like finger marks.
'Can we go somewhere to talk?' Ron asked quietly.
'Sure, how about we go get some tea?' Luna pointed down the street to a small tea and coffee store. Ron nodded and, out of habit, placed his hand over the small of Luna's back while they walked.
Again he held the door open for Luna, trying to get a closer look at those yellow marks. And as he was about to go in he noticed a tower of books beginning to fall to the ground. He squinted, looking for a mass of curly hair, but it was a platinum blonde head that ducked down to retrieve the books. He turned away and followed Luna inside.
The coffee shop had chairs and tables packed in so closely together it was difficult to navigate a clear path between them. Luckily there weren't too many people in the shop just yet, so Ron and Luna were able to push chairs aside as they made their way to a table in the corner. He was so worried about the bruises on Luna's cheek that Ron found himself shoving the chairs aside more roughly than he intended.
'I just love the lemon tea here, you can't find better anywhere else.' Luna said as they sat down. Ron just smiled, not sure what to say. Just then a young, gum chewing waitress came over with a notebook in hand.
'Hi, what can I get you?' she asked in a rather bored voice, her eyes hovering somewhere in between Ron and Luna.
'A lemon tea, please.' Luna said.
'I'll just have a coffee.' Ron spoke quickly, wanting their drinks to arrive quickly so that he could ask Luna just exactly what the hell the yellow marks on her cheek were from.
The waitress snapped her notebook shut with a nod and made her way back to the counter and began steaming up the milk.
'So is everything ok, Ron?' Luna asked, tilting her head to one side, making a lock of hair fall across her face. Ron absently reached over the table and tucked the hair behind Luna's ear, resulting in her blushing again. Now Ron was sure that the bruises were the outlines of someone's fingers.
'What is there to be sad about? I'm out shopping with a wonderful friend on a date and my ex-girlfriend has finally decided we can tell our families that we have broken up. What more could a guy ask for?' Ron rambled, leaning back as the waitress levitated a tray over to their table, landing it neatly in the middle.
Luna took her tea and breathed in the smell of it deeply, her face content.
'So you and Hermione are finally telling your families the truth? That's good.'
'Yeah, it's been a long time coming.' Ron sighed and picked up his own drink. The waitress levitated over a small plate piled with napkins and sugar sachets.
'What does that mean with the house?' Luna began to slowly sip at her drink.
'Hermione and I will split the house so that we each have half, but we will probably share the kitchen.' Ron took a sip of his coffee and sighed in satisfaction as the warmth spread through his body.
'That sounds like a good plan. You've both got your own space then.' Luna smiled. Ron just nodded and took another sip of his drink. The pair sat in silence for a few minutes while they drank. Ron was giving himself a pep talk to actually ask Luna about the yellow on her cheek. He wasn't sure if he could ask her about it without getting angry. The thought of someone hurting her made him furious.
'So, uh, Luna?'
'Yes, Ron?' As Luna's eyes met Ron's he felt his heart melt and he almost lost his nerve.
'What's with the yellow bruises on your cheek?' Ron gestured half-heartedly to her cheek, but Luna could see the building anger in his eyes.
'Oh, they're just old bruises, they're mostly healed away.'
'Bruises from what?' Ron found himself praying to Merlin that she had just been experimenting with a potion or spell and the bruises were some after effects or backlash. Anything except that someone had raised a hand to her.
'Oh, from my boyfriend. He was rather angry the other day and hit me.' Luna sounded detached.
Such a matter of fact way to speak about something so horrible. Ron thought to himself, before what Luna said clicked into place.
Ron felt the world slow down to a crawl. Blood was pumping in his ears. His hands shook and he had to put his coffee down so that he could vigorously rub his hands against his legs.
Her boyfriend hit her? What sort of a coward did that?
'What?' Ron said bitingly.
'William and I had an argument the other day, and he was so angry he hit me. Although I don't think that he meant to hit me.' Luna spoke quietly.
'He hit you?' Ron was incredulous.
'But I healed myself, Ron. It's not an issue.' Luna was pleading.
'Yes it is an issue, Luna! He hit you! That's not ok!' Ron could feel his heartbeat pounding in his chest, anger surging throughout his body, making him shake.
'Ron, please calm down. I'm not staying with him much longer, so it really isn't a problem. Please sit down.' Luna said, for Ron had suddenly stood up, shoving his chair into the table behind him. He was no longer angry, he was excited. He'd had an idea that soothed him immensely.
'You can move in with me!' Ron said. Yes, that makes sense. She will be safe with me and Hermione. He thought. The idea calmed him, he wasn't shaking anymore.
'What?' Luna's eyebrows rose in surprise.
'You can move in with me, live on the top floor. There's another bedroom, we would have a bedroom each, it's no big deal. Just get away from your boyfriend. You can move in tonight!' Ron was speaking fast and getting excited now. But Luna wasn't moving. 'Come on, Luna, I'll help you pack your things and you can move in!'
'Ron, I really appreciate your offer. But I cannot move in with you just yet.'
'Why not?' Ron still hadn't sat down. Why wouldn't she want to leave?
'Please sit, Ron.' Luna said, and sat silently until Ron plonked himself down at the table again. All the angry energy had escaped him suddenly to be replaced with confusion, leaving him slouching in his seat.
'Ron, I cannot leave William yet. I have promised him that I would attend a ball with him tonight, and then afterwards we will be discussing our options for our relationship.' Luna didn't sound overly thrilled at the thought.
Ron was struggling to understand. He harmed her physically, and yet she was still willing to go out with him, been seen with him in public and have a discussion with him about leaving?
'Luna, if he is hurting you, you need to leave. If he has hurt you once, he will probably hurt you again.' Ron hesitated and spoke softly. 'I don't want to see you get hurt, Luna.'
'Yes. I have no doubt that he will. That is why after the ball tonight, he and I will talk about moving on.' But Luna sounded unsure of herself.
Ron buried his face in his hands. Luna was getting hurt, she knew she was in harms way, and didn't seem to be motivated enough to change it. How could he help her?
'Luna, do you know healing spells and potions, for if he does hurt you again?' Ron asked.
'Yes, I have become rather adept at episky and I have figured out I need to keep a handful of certain potions brewed at all times. You do not need to worry, Ron.' Luna said.
'You have become adept. Has he already hurt you before, Luna?' Ron was getting wound up again, his voice rising with each word. Luna met his gaze evenly, if not a little nervously.
'Yes, Ron. I have picked up quite a few tricks to look after myself. I'm doing fine, Ron.' Luna said. Ron sat back in his chair, unsure if he was furious or frustrated. The pair sat there in silence for so long that the shop began to slowly fill up with happy, chattering couples and the occasional small family. The small shop was getting stuffier with every person that walked in.
Luna surreptitiously checked her mobile, which was in her bag. She almost burst into tears when she glanced at the home screen. Fifteen missed calls and just as many messages. William wasn't going to be happy when she got home.
'I need to go so I can get ready in time, Ron, will you walk back to the Leaky Cauldron with me?' Luna asked hesitantly, doing her best to hide her sadness. Ron just nodded unhappily.
As they were approaching the pub, Ron suddenly grabbed Luna's hand and gently guided her to the side of the street, so that they were leaning side by side against a brick wall, their backs against the warm brick and their arms just touching.
'Luna, does he know that you need to keep healing yourself? Does he know that he is hurting you?' Ron said. He was trying not to think too much about how his arm was pressed up against hers. He kept his eyes forward, looking across the street so that he wouldn't get distracted.
'No, Ron. He doesn't know.' Luna hesitated, and looked at the red head next to her.
I knew him as a boy at school. We are friends. I can trust him. Despite the warmth of the bricks, she felt cold inside at the thought of having to tell someone the truth. But she knew it would probably be for the best.
And who better to tell than an old school friend?
'I healed him once. He had broken his little finger, and I just wanted to help. The magic scared him and I think it even made him a little bit jealous. He made me promise to not ever perform any magic in front of him ever again.' Luna took a deep breath, fighting to keep her tears at bay. Thinking of this always made her sad.
'So I promised, and I have never again even had my wand in the same room when I have been around him. But sometimes I have to escape to the wizarding world, to be who I am. The magic is a part of what makes me, me, and it hurts to hide it away.' Luna stopped to dab at her eyes. The extra warmth of Ron's arm along the length of hers was really very comforting. He wasn't looking at her, but she knew he was listening.
'After seeing you that first time, I decided that day to leave William. I just haven't found a good time to bring it up.' Luna spoke so quietly Ron had to strain his ears to hear her. He didn't know what to say to her.
'Can you try to bring it up with him soon, Luna? If he is hurting you that much, I think that you need to leave so that you can be a happy witch again.' Ron glanced down at Luna, who was staring across the street. He knew how bad it was to be in a relationship where neither person was happy, and that was bad enough without being harmed by your partner as well. No one deserved that.
'I will, Ron. I will as soon as I can.' Luna spoke in such a way that she struggled to even believe it herself.
'And, Luna?' Ron waited until Luna looked up at him. 'If you need a place to stay, you can come and stay in my spare bedroom, ok? For whatever reason, Hermione and I will look after you for as long as you need.'
'Thank you, Ron, that really means a lot to me. But I wouldn't want to intrude when you and Hermione are only just getting yourselves sorted out.' Luna said, almost sadly.
'After everything we went through at school and during the war, we aren't going to turn you away, no matter what. Our door is always open for you, Luna. I can promise you that.' Ron spoke earnestly. The longer he watched Luna try to talk herself into leaving her boyfriend, the sadder and more scared she appeared. Ron was becoming afraid for her, and he needed her to understand that he was there for her, that she wasn't alone.
Luna smiled, tears forming gently in her eyes, and stood up on her tiptoes to carefully kiss Ron on the cheek.
'That's really nice of you, thank you, Ron.' Luna said gratefully. But Ron could see the slight hint of fear in her eyes. His chest ached with sadness at the sight.
The pair stood there, smiling gently at each other for a few moments more, until Luna's handbag buzzed. Just like that Luna's smile was gone as she burrowed through her bag and pulled out her mobile. Her face became blank when she read the message.
Ron felt his heart hammering. That was the reason behind Luna's unhappiness. That was how her boyfriend contacted her. Ron was suddenly sure that every message this boyfriend sent to Luna, was never one that made her happy.
'I need to leave, Ron, I'm running late. I'll owl you when I know what is going on.' And Luna gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek again, before apparating away with a pop.
Ron leant heavily against the brick wall and slid down so he was sitting. He tilted his head back and sighed deeply. He had deep gut wrenching feeling that something was going to go very, very wrong with Luna.
It absolutely terrified him.
