One small table lamp revealed athe only light in the flat above Weasley Wizard Wheezes. The sun had recently set, and while one occupant was making hot chocolate in the kitchen, the other was curled up on the sofa.
''Here you go'' George put both mugs of warm hot chocolate on to the coffee table before taking a seat closely beside Luna.
''Thank you'' Despite it being mid-summer, the cold still affected the flat at night and Luna allowed the rising steam from her mug to warm her before she began to drink.
''So, how was your first day?'' George enquired.
Luna took her mug away from her lips and thought for a moment. ''It was...different''
''Could you elaborate on that?''
''It was alright, but it's going to take some getting use to'' Luna explained. ''A first job isn't easy when you're not working for yourself''
''Yeah, I suppose Fred and I had it easy when we started with the shop'' George agreed. ''We could do what we wanted when we wanted to, we answered to no one''
Luna smiled over the rim of her mug. ''I'm surprised you both survived''
''Oh trust me, some of the experiments for new products we made nearly ended up blowing up our room in the Burrow...we almost didn't survive'' George joked.
''Since we're on the subject of you starting with the shop...'' Luna began. ''...I was wondering if I could ask you about something?'' George looked at her suspiciously as he distinctly remembered her bringing up the subject and now wondered what she had planned to ask. ''I mentioned to my new boss Samuel that my fiancé was the owner of Weasley Wizard Wheezes and he said that he knew you and Fred very well before the war. Why didn't you say anything when I mentioned him before?''
''I errr guess I just didn't realised that it was the same Samuel'' George shifted uncomfortably in his seat and avoided looking at Luna as he spoke.
''Ohhh'' Luna knew he was hiding something, but knew that if Samuel was a danger to her that he would be telling her to keep as far away from him as possible. ''So, did anything interesting happen today''
''Not really'' George decided that there was no point in telling Luna of Angelina's visit, considering they neither made up nor furthered their rift.
''Are you working tomorrow?''
''Yes I am. Why? Anything special planned?'' George looked at her with a cheeky smirk across his face.
''No, but you need to be done by five o'clock''
''Why?''
''It's your parents wedding anniversary tomorrow and we're all going for dinner remember''
''Oh bloody hell I'd forgotten about that. Do I have to go?''
Luna chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. ''You're only their son, I'm sure they wont mind you not going''
''Great'' George jumped up from his seat. ''I'll have a free evening tomorrow then''
Luna watched him walk off into the kitchen, knowing that he knew fully well that they would both be with the rest of the Weasley clan the next evening.
''Are we going to eat sometime today?'' Ron complained as he stood with the rest of the family in the Burrow's kitchen. ''I thought they said we were leaving at five o'clock''
''No Ronald, they said to be here at five o'clock'' Hermione reminded him.
''Well I thought that that meant we were going to leave straight after that'' Ron turned to the cupboard behind his head and began searching.
''You can't wait five minutes can you Ronald Weasley'' Arthur's voice came from nowhere and caused Ron to jump.
''Is she ready now Dad?''
''Almost-'' Arthur was cut off by the groaning that was orchestrated by his sons. ''Your mother just wants to look nice for this evening''
''Where are we actually going Dad?'' Ginny asked from her seat at the table.
''It's a nice new little restaurant in Hogsmeade'' Arthur's enthusiasm was apparent in his voice. But his enthusiasm did not match the amount Ron had once he heard his mother coming down the stairs.
''Thank Merlin'' Ron's happiness was briefly removed once he saw his mother, who in his opinion, did not look any different than usual.
''Alright everyone, just follow us'' With a wave of his wand, Arthur disapparated with Molly and everyone else quickly followed.
Despite it being new, the decor and motif of the restaurant was clearly designed to blend in with the old fashioned buildings that surrounded it. The Weasley party were situated at a long rectangular table which went across a majority of the restaurant; on entering George had joked that he would need an extendable ear to hear what Percy was saying on the other side of the table.
''It was absolutely fascinating Molly...'' During the wait for the food to be brought out, Arthur began to talk about work. ''it was a long hollow tube that could be bent at the end, and apparently Muggles use them to drink liquids without them having to put their mouths to the cup...absolutely fascinating!''
''They're not really'' Harry commented as he watched Arthur marvel at the object which Harry knew to be a straw.
''Have you come across one before'' Arthur enquired.
''I've come across many''
The younger Weasleys gave Harry small, sympathetic smiles before leaving him to be trapped in conversation with the highly enthusiastic, Muggle-fascinated Arthur.
After a while, the conversation died down and the group found themselves hungry and bored. Luna had studied several of the pictures on the wall closely and had found herself staring off into the distance.
Her observations were cut off by the sound of a quiet and tiny cough coming from somewhere behind her and she turned around to see a young baby coughing gently before the father began to pull faces which caused the baby to let out the smallest and most adorable laugh Luna had ever heard.
Her sight was drawn back to her table as the waiters arrived with the food, however Luna was watching George, who had been looking at her with a huge smile. Realising that George had noticed her staring at the tiny being behind her, Luna blushed with embarrassment.
From under the table, George squeezed Luna's hand and he leant forward and whispered in her ear. ''One thing at a time''
As he pulled away, Luna looked at him curiously and he did nothing but wink before he began to tuck into the meal in front of him.
''George, what did you mean earlier in the restaurant?'' Luna asked as she entered the flat.
George was in front of her and had already sat down on the sofa. ''It's about time you asked. I could tell that you've been thinking about it all evening''
''George, tell me'' Luna sat opposite him and her large silvery-blue eyes bore into him.
''You want kids'' It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
''Not necessarily'' Luna said shyly.
''Luna...'' He leant forward and took her hands in between his. ''...the way you were looking at that baby in the restaurant; I was pretty sure you might have ran off with it if you had been given the opportunity''
She opened her mouth to defend herself, but she closed it again when she realised that he was right.
''Luna, when I asked you to marry me don't you think I saw kids in our future''
''I've never really thought about it''
''Well you're probably going to have to...'' A grin spread across his face. ''...Mum's going to be expecting grandchildren as soon as the wedding's over''
A smile grew across Luna's face which mirrored his own. ''Now that I think about it, I have heard your Mum mentioning babies to Ginny an awful lot''
''And in a few months it will be happening to you too''
''Wonderful''
George laughed. ''Don't worry I'll get it too, and Ron and Hermione will be asked about marriage...and she'll be pestering Percy to actually get a woman''
''Oh well, I suppose if everyone's going to get it...''
''It's the pitfall of joining the Weasley family''
''Well then, it's a good thing that there are many advantages too'' Luna grinned.
''There most certainly is'' George agreed and suddenly tugged Luna forwards so that she landed on top of him on the sofa.
''George, if your not careful your Mum might be getting a grandchild before we get married'' Luna teased as she sat with her legs on either side of George's waist.
''No she wont'' George winked. ''this is just practice''
There's no next chapter preview as I'm not certain about where it's going to go but there will be developments on the Samuel situation over the next few chapters and Angelina will be showing up again sometime soon.
Please review, all feedback is hugely appreciated.