A/N: This will be a pretty short note...thanks for the reviews and everything from the last chapter! This was written for the Great Maze Challenge. This is slightly AU because of George/Luna. Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. JK Rowling does.

George was heading over toward Luna's house on his birthday when he saw smoke coming out of the window. Thoughts of Fred and the fact that this was their first birthday without each other had disappeared when he realized that Luna was possibly in danger.

He went running toward the house and opened the door frantically. "Luna?" he called out loudly.

His eyes widened when he saw tears in her eyes and appeared at her side. "Are you all right? Aquamenti!" He pointed his wand at the oven and put the fire out.

"Yes…I just wanted to surprise you by baking your favorite cookies, and it ended up being a disaster. The oven caught on fire." Her hand suddenly hit the hot oven, and she quickly pulled her hand away. "Ow!"

George's expression turned concerned as he looked it over. "Here, let me get some ointment for that." He went into the bathroom and found what he was looking for before he headed back over to her.

George quietly applied the ointment on her burn and bandaged her hand up. Their eyes met briefly. "Thank you for rescuing me," she murmured quietly. "I'm sorry I got burned in the process."

"It was no problem…" George nervously cleared his throat. "You were baking cookies for me?

She nodded. "I wanted to do something special for your birthday even though I knew it would be a hard day." She placed a hand on his cheek. "How are you?"

George shrugged. "Not good…everybody else has seemed to forgotten that today was his birthday too. I couldn't take it anymore, so I came here."

Luna's expression changed. "Oh, George…I'm sure they haven't forgotten. They probably just don't know how to bring him up around you. They don't want to hurt you."

"Well, ignoring him hurts too!" George snapped, causing Luna to blink and step back a little.

George sighed and reached for her hands. "I'm sorry, Luna. I just want this day to be over. The constant reminder that he should be here is worse today. You're my only light in this."

She reached up and ran a hand through his hair and smiled. "The fact that you still see a light means something," she said, hugging him. "I remember the days you didn't have any light or hope… and you remember what Dumbledore always said, right? Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times-"

"If one only remembers to turn on the light," George finished quietly, nodding. "I remember…Fred was sitting next to me when he said that quote." His voice broke as he lowered his head. "I can't believe in that quote today, Luna. I can't." He shook his head. "It's too hard.

"Then stop making it hard," she said quietly. "You just said that I was your only light in this. So focus on me if everything else is hard." She lifted his chin up so he'd look at her.

George gazed into her eyes intensely. "You have beautiful eyes," he murmured quietly. "Have I ever told you that?"

Luna's eyes widened, and he could see her face turning pink. "What?" She laughed softly, but she didn't step away.

"Your eyes… the color makes them intense. And beautiful. You're beautiful," he finished quietly.

"George," Luna breathed out in amazement.

George shook his head quickly. "I should've told you this a long time ago…Fred told me I should've told you a long time ago."

"Tell me what?" Her tone was patient.

He took her hand and let out a shaky breath. "You're one of my best friends, Luna. I care for you. I care for you more than a friend should. I like you." He paused. "I think I always have."

Luna's face was definitely pink now, and he could tell that he had embarrassed her or made her uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, you just told me to focus on you and all of that sort of came out."

"I have that effect on people," Luna said teasingly, and the two laughed softly. He gazed up at her hopefully, and she cleared her throat when she realized he was waiting for her response.

"You're one of my very best friends too," she started as she took his hand and squeezed it gently. "You and Fred always made me laugh, and you always looked after me when somebody was being mean." She smiled. "I think I always knew you liked me."

George's eyes widened. "You did? I was that obvious, huh?"

She shook her head as she looked amused. "No, not always. Not for a long time. It wasn't until later when I picked up on it. I think I started picking up on it during our DA meetings." Luna smiled as she took a step forward. (He noticed that she still hadn't let go of his hand, and he didn't make a move to either.)

"I care for you too…I just didn't know how to say it, and then I thought you just needed me as a best friend after…"

"Fred died. It's ok if you say it," George said quietly.

Luna nodded. "After Fred died I didn't think you would want a relationship any time soon."

"I wasn't then," he admitted honestly. "But I think this is what Fred would've wanted. He wouldn't want me to be unhappy."

Luna gave him a proud look. "No, he wouldn't."

He rubbed her hand gently and sighed. "Would it be ok if we took things slow?"

"Slow is fine," Luna answered politely.

George paused as he tried to debate what his next move would be. He honestly wanted to kiss her after she attempted to bake cookies for him and after she made him feel better about the day being his birthday. But he didn't think it was right. Not yet.

"I think a date might be appropriate," Luna said softly, as if she was reading his mind.

George chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. He loved it when she was blunt, most girls he knew weren't blunt at all. "Ok…will you go on a date with me?" he asked finally.

Luna grinned before she nodded and gave him a hug. "I thought you'd never ask." She started to let go, but George held on for a moment longer. "Thanks for everything today," he muttered before stepping back.

"Anytime," she answered before she disposed the cookies.