Harry and Luna made their way down the countryside towards the Weasleys home, otherwise known as The Burrow. After a quick breakfast that morning the couple had decided to go visit early as a surprise.
"I can't wait to see what the twins are up to. I'll never forget the look on Umbridge's face when they pulled that stunt." Harry laughed recalling the memory
"Yes, it'll be nice to see our friends. I hope Ginny isn't upset with me though." Luna sounded hopeful
"What do you mean? Why would she be upset with you?
"Come on Harry, you can't pretend to know that she doesn't have a crush on you."
Astute as always "Well yeah you're right but I honestly doubt that Ginny will be upset with you. She doesn't seem the type.
"I suppose you're right. I just don't want any hard feelings." Luna said
"Relax, this is supposed to be fun. Don't make it complicated beautiful."
She smiled and nodded her understanding. The rest of the trip was uneventful mostly. They had to stop once because Luna swore she saw a pair of Moon Frogs hop into a bush. Harry asked how she could tell the difference between Moon Frogs and regular frogs, but she just laughed as if he were joking.
As they neared the Burrow Harry was just as amazed at ever. The place was just a chaotic mess, with three stories stacked haphazardly on top of one another. Lining the roof were five chimneys jutting out at odd angles.
"What a place! it looks like it's held together by magic itself." Luna was wide eyed. Harry had forgotten that she hadn't visited before.
"It probably is. Wait until you see inside" Harry laughed and led her to the door where he promptly knocked loudly two times. Several moments later a shrill voice came through the door.
"Who's there?"
"It's Harry Mrs. Weasley."
They heard exclaim and then several audible clicks as the locks were disengaged. The door was thrown open to reveal Molly Weasley with a heavily stained apron on.
"Harry dear. You should have owled us letting us know you were coming. And who's this?" Her eyes resting on Luna. "No wait... You're Xenophilius's daughter right?"
Luna nodded and held her hand out. "I'm Luna, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Molly shook her hand and smiled warmly. "I'm sure you've been told this but you look exactly like your mother."
'Yes, I've been told but it's something I don't get tired of hearing." Harry squeezed her hand lightly
"Where are my manners!? Come in dears are you two hungry? I've just been cooking breakfast."
"No, we ate already but thanks." Harry explained.
Luna was fully taking in the Burrow, her eyes darted to and fro looking at everything. She was a kid in a proverbial candy shop. All these oddities were heaven to her. Harry showed her the clock that the Weasley's had knowing Luna would appreciate something so unique. While Molly was giving her a lengthy explanation on it's features Ron punched Harry in the shoulder.
"Hey mate you didn't tell me you were coming over! And with Luna no less."
Harry did his best to give Ron the rundown of the last few days he didn't share everything of course but Ron noticeable bristled at the mention of their Draco encounter. By the time Harry finished recounting everything Luna joined the conversation.
"Hey Luna, good to see you"
"Ello Ron, how's your summer been?" Luna replied happily while still marveling at all the oddness the house contained.
"It's been okay, Fred and George just keep going on and on about their joke shop and Ginny has been moping around nonstop."
Luna immediately seemed more focused on the conversation. "Really? What's she been moping about?"
Harry knew where she was going on this. It can't be true can't it?
"Who knows. Mom's tried to get it out of her for days but she just gives excuses. Girls I'll never understand them. No offense" He said with a glance in Luna's direction.
"I'm sure it's nothing, probably just still overwhelmed with the incident at that Ministry." Harry didn't know who he was trying to convince more, himself or the others.
"Like I said who knows. Maybe you two can get it out of her." H shrugged his shoulders in indifference.
"Where is Ginny at anyways?" Luna asked
"Oh, She's with Fred and George out back they're de-gnoming the garden."
Harry laughed inwardly knowing Luna would get a kick out of that. Sure enough Luna's face lit up with giddy excitement
"Wow can we go see?I positively love gnomes. They're so cuddly and sweet!' Luna gushed
"Er... knock yourself out. You're probably the only person I've ever heard that LIKES gnomes besides dad."
"What's not to like?" Luna asked in her airy way.
The three walked outside and into the backyard where the enormous garden was. Harry spied Fred and George each holding one arm of a fat gnome and tugging it back and forth between them. The other redhead was nowhere to be found
(F) "Oi! Harry"
(G) "Come over here and help with this beast!" The twins shouted in unison
But instead of Harry Luna rushed over with a look of concern for the Gnome. Ron and Harry both broke out into laughs shades of Hermione and her S.P.E.W. campaign came to mind. The pair watched as Luna took the gnome from Fred and George and wrapped it in a loving hug the gnome went rigid and promptly fainted.
"You've gotta be kidding me! After all the trouble we go through just giving them a hug makes them faint?!" Ron shouted shocked
"How did you know it would faint Luna?" Harry asked surprised himself
Luna looked at the limp gnome and shrugged her shoulders "I didn't"
(F) "Well that's good and all..."
(G) "But I prefer the old fashioned way."
George took the still faint gnome from Luna and spun around and launched it over the garden wall like a Discus event. The twins slapped hands and Fred congratulated him on the distance. Ron suddenly noticed his sister wasn't there and asked the twins where she was. They wordlessly pointed to the valley where the Weasley family practiced Quidditch, while they went to find more gnomes to toss.
Luna looked towards the valley and frowned "I think we should go see if she's ok."
"You two go, I need to finish up here. Tell Gin to stop slacking off and help out for once. I'll talk to you guys in a bit!" Ron ran after a little gnome trying to scurry into a turnip bush
Luna looked at the garden a moment before walking on with Harry. "Poor gnomes, they need somewhere to live too."
"I wouldn't worry about it. They'll be back. Mr. Weasley likes them so they never really leave for more than a day or so." This seemed to cheer her up slightly and she smiled once again.
Before too long they walked down the steep hillside into the valley the protected their practice pitch from prying eyes. Ginny was on her broom flying in a very intricate pattern, she was quite the flier perhaps even better than Harry. They waved frantically from the ground for a few minutes at her but she didn't seem to notice them.
"She won't see us. She's in her own world up there." Harry said
"What do you mean?"
" I do the same thing when I fly. During a game I block everything out except what's going on in the air, There might as well not even be a crowd. We'll have to go up and get her."
"Not me, I don't particularly care for flying on a broomstick."
Harry couldn't relate "Wow, I love flying it's so freeing! How can you not like it?"
"I love to fly, just not on a broomstick. I'm far too worried about Broom Mites. When we flew on the Threstrals that was lovely." Luna said dreamily
As long as Harry had been flying he'd never heard of Broom Mites, but he knew better than to question one of Luna's creatures.
"Well if you're sure. I'll be back in a minute." He gave Luna quick kiss and ran to the small shed that held the Weasleys broomsticks. It wasn't his Firebolt but it would do.
Harry straddled the broom and kicked off hard from the ground. He felt the familiar rush he always felt while flying, there was nothing that could quite compare. Ginny was still slicing through the air in various patterns still not yet noticing Harry. He sped towards her to get her attention yet he couldn't quite catch up to her. He yelled her name and she still did not slow down.
TIme to put those Seeker skills to work. If I can catch a snitch I can catch Ginny! He sped toward Ginny again slicing through the air like a knife through hot butter pushing the broom to it's limits. Finally he caught up to her he was so close he could touch her and that is exactly what he did. Harry reached out and tapped her on the shoulder. The results were suffice to say; immediate.
Ginny whipped her head to the side so suddenly she almost fell from her broom. Obviously the last person she expected to see was Harry Potter. Harry laughed and pointed towards the ground to which Ginny nodded. Moments later they touched down on the ground. Ginny gave him a big hug seconds after she dismounted to which he returned. Then she noticed that Luna was there.
"Luna! I didn't expect to see you here." The two girls hugged causing Harry to smile
I knew Luna was just being paranoid.
"So what are you guys doing here?!" Ginny excitedly asked
Luna and Harry explained to Ginny about the plan to get all the DA members together for an interview. She thought it was a smashing idea and gave her support. As they made their way back to the Burrow they chatted about their summer vacations so far. Ginny seemed rather upbeat and Harry was confused as to how Ron was saying she was moping around. He saw none of it.
When they reached the garden Fred, George, and Ron looked like hell.
"What happened to you three.." Ginny asked wide eyed
"Well if SOMEONE wasn't off flying around maybe we wouldn't have gotten ambushed by five very angry gnomes from behind. Little buggers put up a real fight." Ron glared at Ginny
(G) "Aww were the wittle gnomes too much for Ickie Ron to handle
(F) "Maybe you should go help mom with the cleaning, that sort of thing might be more your speed Ron!"
Rons face lit up crimson and for a moment his hair matched his face in color. " Shut it gits. I'm fine"
Everyone excluding Ron held fought back snickers.
(F) Come on Forge let's go to the shop. We've got some new inventory to look at today."
(G) Right you are Gred! Great seeing you Harry, Luna but important business awaits you know?"
The twins had devilish smiles. Harry didn't even want to guess what sort of things they had planned. With a loud crack the twins disappeared apparating away.
"Ugh I need a shower. I'm absolutely filthy! Come on in I don't even want to look at this garden for the rest of the summer." Ron was in a sour mood for sure
GInny just rolled her eyes and laughed, Luna however seemed more sympathetic. Nonetheless they went inside. Ron flopped down on the sofa looking defeated.
"Blimey it's early and I'm already beat!"
"Ron we have guests, haven't you even asked them why they're here?" said Ginny while she sneered at Ron
"Uh. No. What's up?"
So for the second time they explained their plan. Afterwards Ron nodded enthusiastically.
"I think it's a smashing idea, I'll write Hermione straight away. Although I have no idea where Neville lives..."
"I do. Me and him shared a compartment on the train and we exchanged addresses." Ginny interjected.
"Alright so we write Hermione and Neville and get them to come visit one day for the interview. I'm sure they both would agree. They can come by Floo it would be easiest I would imagine. Your parents would be ok with that wouldn't they?" Harry asked
The two Weasleys nodded.
"Ugh I can't stand it anymore. I'll be back in a while I need to shower I feel dirtier than when I puked up slugs all day." Ron stood up and marched up the stairs dropping flecks of dirt as he walked.
All of the sudden there was a tremendous banging overhead.
"What on Earth is that?" Luna asked
Ms. Weasley came in from the kitchen with a stern look on her face.
"THAT is our ghoul that lives in the attic. He's been acting up lately though I don't know why. Looks like I need to deal with him again."
"Wow, a ghoul! Do you mind if I come with you Mrs. Weasley? I find ghouls to be fascinating." Luna indeed seemed excited at the prospect of a misbehaving ghoul.
Molly smiled and nodded "If you'd like though do be careful, he's mostly harmless but he can be a bit mischievous."
Luna followed Molly up the stairs. Harry just shook his head in amusement.
"So Ginny how are you? Ron told me you've been a bit down this summer?"
Ginny sighed "I just have been upset is all."
"What's going on?" Harry asked concerned for his friend
" I don't think you want to know Harry." she laughed
"Of course I do, I want you to feel better!"
She sighed again and looked down. "I saw you on the Hogwarts express with Luna sleeping. I came to wish you a good summer and I saw you and her... It tore me up Harry!"
Damn... Luna was right AGAIN!
Harry didn't know what to say. He was unprepared for this. "Ginny... I'm sorry if it upset you. But Luna is my girlfriend."
Anger flashed in Ginny's eyes. "She's no good for you Harry! I've been in love with you for years, she's only known you this one year! She doesn't know you like I do."
Harry disagreed. Luna knew him better than pretty much anyone could but he didn't say that to Ginny. "How could you say that about Luna, she's your friend."
"It doesnt' have anything to do with Luna. Luna's a nice girl she is but why is she better than me? Why am I not good enough for you?" She genuinely seemed confused by it. Harry didn't understand, he had always known Ginny had a crush on him but she had never overtly said anything and now she was confessing her love for him...
Harry began as delicately as possible. "Ginny.. It's not that you aren't good enough for me. I just don't think of you that way. You're like a sister to me that's it."
"Oh yeah? Would a sister do this?" Before Harry could even react she had kissed him on the lips. Harry froze for a second then pushed her away. He stood up "What are you doing!"
"I'd like to know the answer to that as well..." Harry looked over to the stairs. Luna had seen the whole thing.
Authors Note: Sorry for the delay my faithful readers. This chapter has went through several rewrites to add more juiciness to the story. Until next time :)
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