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-Warning...this chapter is a little angsty...might require a tissue or two...if I've done it right that is! LOL
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Loony for Luna
Chapter Ten
Mementos
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Luna's mood had down since Valentine's day...the same day that she got the last scroll. Since then, they had abruptly stopped and Luna found herself frequently visiting her sock drawer...just to assure herself that she hadn't dreamed them up in the first place.
She wondered if they hadn't been just a joke after all, if perhaps the sender had gotten bored when she didn't destroy the scroll on Valentine's day. But then, she had been almost positive that they were coming from Fred Weasley, and after all the hullabaloo around Christmas, Luna was convinced that Fred and George were serious about being her friend.
Even though they weren't from the person she had wanted them to be from Luna agonized over their absence...they had made her feel like she was something special, if even to one person.
But all that was nearly forgotten when Harry announced that they would be learning the Patronus charm at the next meeting. Luna was sure that her patronus would take the form of a crumple horned snorkack and she was anxious for the chance to prove to doubting know it all Hermione Granger that they were in fact real.
That morning Luna found herself once again watching for the absent owl to come crashing into her breakfast, but it never came. It hadn't come for such a long time now that Luna only felt a tiny stab of disappointment. It was much worse when she looked over at the Gryffindor table and saw George Weasley sitting, as he always was these days, next to Angelina Johnson. With a deep sigh she gave up the search and left the great hall. She had long since stopped telling herself "Maybe tomorrow..."
"Luna." a cheerful voice called out to her as she pushed open the heavy door leading to the entrance courtyard and she turned to find Fred smiling behind her.
"Hello." She smiled at him and waited for him to catch up. "How are you this morning Fred?"
"Excited." he grinned "How about you?"
Luna looked at him blankly and he laughed in response.
He sidled close to whisper in her ear "For tonight...the DA meeting."
"Oh right." Luna laughed at herself and shook her head "Don't think I am quite awake yet. Sorry."
"I'm very curious, aren't you?" He grinned "To see what shape mine takes I mean."
"Well, knowing your propensity for things that explode..." Luna grinned "I'd put my money on a blast ended skrewt."
Fred threw his head back and laughed loudly
"Are you planning on being late for Potions again?" Luna asked as she inched her way in the direction of her class "If you thought the Flobberworms were bad...I hear professor Snape has a fresh delivery of bat intestines."
"Actually, I was wondering about you." he smiled "You looked upset."
"Me?" Luna's attempt at nonchalance failed badly "I'm fine, can't imagine what would make you think that."
"Well, perhaps it was the way your face fell when the owl post arrived."
Luna sighed...Fred was just too observant for her own good. "It's nothing...silly really."
Fred waved his hand "So, out with it?"
Luna hesitated. If she admitted that she missed the scrolls she might be sending him the wrong idea, but then again, if she didn't admit it...he would see through her and not stop until she confessed anyway.
"They've stopped coming." she sighed "The poems. Since Valentine's Day."
"Did you find out who they were from?"
She shook her head. "I suppose they must have been a joke...someone's idea of a laugh. But..."
"What makes you say that?"
Luna laughed "Honestly Fred, have you forgotten who you're talking with?"
Fred gave her the look that meant he was about to yell at her for getting down on herself but Luna stopped him.
"No, now hear me out. I realize I was very wrong to think that you and your brother were setting me up, but you must realize that I have been set up in the past. I didn't chose the nickname Loony Lovegood myself you know."
Fred had to admit she had a point "Okay..."
"So, if you accept that, you must accept the idea that someone could have been having a bit of fun at my expense."
As much as he hated to agree, her logic was impeccable.
"I suppose you're right." he said glumly "But you realize what that means of course."
"What?" Luna looked at him in confusion
"That George and I are going to have to investigate ourselves" He grinned cockily. "and, when we find whoever it is that is playing games with your feelings we will hex the living hell out of them."
Fred didn't give her a chance to answer, he turned on his heels and marched away to potions.
Luna stared at his back. If Fred had been the one sending the scrolls...why would offer to involve himself in the search for the sender?
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"Hey." Fred slid out of his seat at the end of potions and caught up to George. "Need to talk to you."
"What is it?" George's tone was frosty...it had been for the past few weeks, not just with Fred but with just about everybody, except Angelina that is.
"Someone's bothering Luna."
George stopped and turned to face his brother "What do you mean, bothering her?" Lee and Angelina chose that moment to join them
"Bothering who?" Angelina looked at Fred with curiosity
"Someone has been sending Luna love letters." Fred looked from George to Lee "She thinks someone is having some fun at her expense."
"She does?" George turned away to continue on to transfiguration.
"Why does she think that?" Lee asked as he fell into step between Fred and George "They could be real couldn't they?"
"That's what I said." Fred nodded "But Luna says that people have done things like this to her before, tricks and such."
"That's probably why she was so ready to believe you were tricking her before." Angelina sighed "Not that I helped much."
"Forget it Angie." George put a hand on her arm "That's old news and long since forgiven."
Fred felt a twinge go up his spine and he momentarily had to fight an urge to tear his brothers arm off. Angelina however felt a burst of pure joy. If Fred was asking about the letters...then he couldn't possibly be the one sending them.
"I told her we would find out who it was."
George didn't answer, instead he turned into the boys lavatory, leaving Fred, Lee and Angelina to wait outside.
"I think I know who is was." Angelina bit her lip
"Who?"
"Alight then..." Angelina nodded "See, George and I were coming to meet you all on Valentines Day in Hogsmeade. Remember? We got a late start because George was helping me train Ron."
"Right..." Fred and Lee nodded "so?"
"Well, we saw Luna, and she was looking pretty cozy" She nodded to where Harry, Ron and Hermione sat on a bench "With Harry."
"No way!" Lee laughed loudly "Harry has a thing for Cho Chang."
"Harry did have a thing for Cho Chang" Angelina corrected "But things went very badly for them on Valentine's day. She's been pretty frosty to him since."
'But still, "Fred shook his head "Luna says she's been getting these since the start of fall term practically. Why would Harry send her letters when things were fine between him and Cho then?"
Then it dawned on Angelina...
'Of course...' She put her hand over her mouth 'I should have thought of it before.'
"What is it?"
"Nothing...I..." George would kill her if she told the others about his feelings toward Luna. "No, never mind, it doesn't make sense anyway." She turned away quickly and called over her shoulder "We better go, were going to be late."
'George!' she exclaimed to herself 'George was the one sending Luna the scrolls!'
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Luna looked at the silver rabbit, a satisfied grin plastered on her face. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a Crumple Horned Snorkack as she'd hoped...but it was still beautiful.
"Wonderful Luna!" Harry encouraged as he passed her "Good work, it's brilliant!"
A loud crack burst through the laughing.
"Harry Potter!" Dobby the house elf had appeared suddenly "They're coming sir! You must run!"
"Dobby, what is..."
"Professor Umbridge, sir! Someone told and now they're coming! You must flee now!"
A look of horror passed over Harry's face. "Everyone! Go, now!"
Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her from the room, it wasn't until she was being pulled down the hallway that she realized it was George.
"George!"
"Come on Luna! We have to get out of here!" For the first time ever, George Weasley looked worried.
"They're coming George, I can hear them!"
"Quick. In here!" George pulled a tapestry aside to reveal a small space, barely big enough for one person, much less two.
"There isn't room..." she hesitated
George rolled his eyes "We'll make room."
He stepped in and pulled Luna in after him.
"George!" Luna whispered "It's too..."
"Shhh." he whispered into her ear "They're right outside."
His breath was hot against her skin and Luna's neck tingled madly. He shifted slightly and pulled his arms tight around her waist, their bodies squashed together in the small space. Luna felt dizzy. How many times had she dreamed of being exactly where she was? How often had she longed to be in his arms?
And here she was. Even though she knew it wasn't really the kind of embrace she had yearned for, she relaxed her body and allowed her cheek to fall against his chest then brought her arms up to rest on his shoulders.
In that moment, even though she knew she would regret it later, she let herself enjoy it.
George stopped breathing when Luna lay her head on his chest and put her arms around him. He knew that she was only doing it because her arm stuck out the side of the tapestry, that if she didn't they would be found out. Still, he couldn't stop himself from burying his face in her hair and pulling her closer. She smelled so good, so sweet. Her hair smelled like spring flowers, like lilac and violets.
His body trembled and he wondered if he would be able to force himself to let her go once the danger was past. But then, he would have to wouldn't he? Her heart belonged to someone else and he had decided that he wouldn't stand in her way.
That was why he stopped sending the scrolls.
But now he was seized by the desire to tell her everything, that he was the one who sent her the poems, that he sent her the comb she was wearing in her hair, and the roses.
The yellow rose for eternity, the red rose for love.
God how he loved her!
"Luna..."
"I...I think they're gone George." she whispered as she lifted her head and moved her arms from his shoulders.
No, he couldn't tell her. She had chosen Harry, and Harry was one of George's best mates. Hadn't he given Fred and him the money to start their joke shop? Harry would make Luna happy...of that he was sure.
More than anything in the world, he wanted Luna to be happy, even if it made him unhappy.
George pulled his arms away and pushed open the tapestry. The hallway was quiet now, deserted, and he stepped out, pulling Luna with him.
"George" She said his name softly, still whispering in the empty corridor.
"Thank you." she stepped up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for watching out for me."
She smiled, and then she was gone.
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Luna tossed and turned late into the night. Word had spread that it was Marietta Edgecomb who had ratted them out and the atmosphere in Ravenclaw house was thick with anger. Cho Chang had stood in the corner comforting her friend as she wailed over the disfigurement to her face caused by Hermione Granger's spell, irrefutable proof that she was a traitor, a sneak.
But none of this was what kept Luna tossing and turning.
She was remembering how it had felt to be in George Weasley's arms. Even now she could feel the ghost of his whispers on her neck and feel his arms holding her close. She couldn't remember ever having felt safer in her life...even though an ancient tapestry was the only thing standing between her and a return engagement with Professor Umbridge's black Quill.
Even more, she longed to be there again, her cheek against his chest and his arms around her. For those fleeting moments, with disaster staring her in the face, Luna Lovegood had felt what it was like to be truly happy.
But it was wrong, and it would never be like that again. He had only been protecting her, like he would have Ginny. She was only too aware that George belonged to Angelina Johnson, and after how kind Angelina had been to her since Christmas, she could never wish anything bad for her.
She accepted now that the scrolls had been a joke. They had to have been, someone borrowing the Weasley's owl perhaps to cover for themselves. She had proof that they hadn't come from Fred, or Ron, and she knew that they couldn't have come from George.
They had been like a beautiful dream...but like a dream waking to the light of day, they couldn't last forever.
Luna pulled the comb from her hair and put it inside the rolled up sock. She would never wear it again, but she would keep it as she did the pressed roses.
Sweet mementos of what might have been.
And what would never be.
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Chapter Eleven Preview
As the DA serves detention it becomes clear
that Umbridge is in need of some discipline herself...
Angst and heartbreak take a backseat and the fun begins, but when the fun is over
...the true season of heartbreak begins.
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