Word soon got out about what had actually happened with the chamber of secrets and Luna's suspicions had been right. Ginny Weasley had been the one to open the chamber of secrets. The closing of the chamber was followed by a huge celebration and, much to everyone's delight, all exams were cancelled. Luna had been avoiding Fred since their argument all that time ago and was getting along just fine. Friendless, but fine. As she finished packing her trunk to leave for the summer she began to think about him. Did she really want to go home for six weeks knowing that they weren't friends? No not really but what could she do? What he had said still upset her; she wondered if it was true. Were Neville and Ginny and the others just friends with her because they felt sorry for her or because Fred told them to be?
She had decided to sit in a compartment with Neville on the way back. Who else did she need? She had also resumed speaking to Lee Jordan once they were allowed to roam the castle once again. But was it all fake? She met Neville outside the Ravenclaw common room so they began their trek to the carriages in thoughtful silence.
"Nevilleā¦" Luna asked in a questioning tone, breaking the silence.
"Yeh?" Neville answered looking up.
"Are you just friends with me because you feel sorry for me?"
"Of course not, Luna. What makes you think that?" Neville asked in utter disbelief. He was still unaccustomed to her bluntness when it came to questions.
"Oh just a person. Are you sure?"
"Yes. Just tell me who it was."
"No need Neville. Why is your remembrall red?"
"Oh god. See you in a bit Luna, I think i've forgotten my wand." so off Neville went, running up to the Gryffindor common room to collect his wand. This left Luna temporarily alone so she just stood there humming to herself and rocked back and forth on her heels.
Fred Weasley packed his trunk unenthusiastically. Whilst George and Lee joked and laughed, Fred just stood there. He only wanted one person right now and that person was Luna. He had tried to speak to her, to tell her how sorry was. He now knew she was right and he felt even worse than before. His constant attempts to contact her had been ignored. She didn't seem interested in being his friend again. Well why should she? The way he had treated her was unexuable, he had crossed the line and he knew that. He knew Luna was sensitive about her friendships or lack of them, even if she did cover it up, and he hadn't really helped matters. He was acting so out of character, even George and Lee noticed it. This was not Fred Weasley, Fred Weasley didn't take no for an answer. Fred Weasley would never mope around when he knew he could change things for the better. Fred Weasley needed Luna Lovegood. But Luna Lovegood hated Fred Weasley and so she should. At that precise moment he stood up, stretched his lanky frame and walked out. He heard George call something after him but ignored it. He needed time to be alone, time to think. He knew he wouldn't get much of that time over the summer; holidays at The Burrow were always more than crowded. Fred liked it that way.
Fred unknowingly marched right up to the Ravenclaw tower and as he did so he saw a younger student struggle down the stairs with their trunk. He ran up to them and helped them down before realising that it was Luna Lovegood. Except this Luna Lovegood was paler and unsmiling, she looked ill and had dark circles under her eyes, even her usually bright hair looked dull and just seemed to hang around her shoulders and her eyes were lifeless as well. Fred felt his heart crumble inside of him. Had he caused this stark change in her?
As she turned to thank her rescuer she fell silent. She and Fred just looked at each to her, Fred with remorse in his eyes, Luna with fear in hers. He pulled her into a gentle embrace. "Please don't be like this Luna." he mumbled quietly in to her hair. "I'm so sorry, I know you were right and I knew it all along I suppose. I just could admit it to myself, or at least I didn't want to admit it to myself. I have missed you so much and-and I really can't face loosing you, Luna. Your ju-" he didn't have chance to finish. Luna reached up and placed a hand over his mouth with a giggle,
"It's ok Fred. I understand." she murmured kindly. On the exterior she was calm and happy but inside she knew she was only forgiving him because he was right. And if he was right it meant that she had to cling on to all of the friendships she possibly could, including this one.
Fred pulled her in to a tight hug. All too soon it was over and they had to go get there stuff and head off to the Hogwarts express, Neville by their side.
As Ginny had left school soon after the chamber had been closed to fully re-cooperate Neville, Luna, George, Fred and Lee sat in the compartment together. The journey was a quiet one with everybody lost in their own personal thoughts. Luna was going to Miss Hogwarts. It felt like her home now and she was going to miss her friends a lot. They were perfect, they really were.
After what felt like minuets they were in Kings Cross station on platform nine and three quarters. This is where her journey had begun but it certainly wasn't going to end here. She said her goodbyes to Lee and George. She had asked George to say hi to Ginny for her, she then turned to Neville who gave her a massive bear hug. She was really going to miss him.
"Promise you'll write me?" he asked.
"Of course I will." Luna giggled happily.
Finally she turned to Fred who looked uncharacteristically upset. He gave her a massive hug. "You're going to meet up with me at some point this summer, promise?"
"Of course I will Fred. If it wasn't for you I would have no friends and be as lonely as ever. Thank you fred."
"That's alright; your amazing Luna and you know that's not true." Luna could swear she saw a tear in Fred's eye. Luna was already crying but didn't care.
"Fred, your acting funny." she said through her tears "I think some of those nargles must be affecting your brain."
Luna could feel Fred chuckle, it was a nice feeling. "Same old Luna. I'm glad you haven't changed. You're perfect and I love you just the way you are."
No one seemed to even pick up on the fact that Fred Weasley had just admitted to loving the girl they called Loony in the middle of Kings Cross station and nor did they care to be completely honest. This was Loony after all, she was probably hearding together a small group of what-cha-ma-call-its to get Freds attention. But she wasn't. Only Fred knew that.
