June saw her back at The Burrow with Ginny, who had now finished at Hogwarts and was staring at her trunk with a concerned look on her face.
'I haven't emptied it properly for seven years. There could be whole new life forms at the bottom. Do you think it would just be safer to take it outside and burn it?'
Luna laughed. 'It must be strange, though, knowing you've left for the last time. What are you going to do now?'
Ginny glanced towards the open door, and lowered her voice. 'I've been in touch with the Holyhead Harpies; they said they'd give me a trial.'
'AS A QUIDDITCH PLAYER?' shrieked Luna.
'Ssh! Luna!' said Ginny, flapping her hands and slamming the door shut.
'I've not told mum, yet; she thinks I'm going to get a job in the Ministry. Yes, as a Quidditch player; what did you think I'd applied for? Programme seller?'
'But that will mean you'll probably have to live up there, won't it?'
'That's why I've not said anything. I could do it by Floo, but I'm not that keen on being stuck in fireplaces. Please don't say anything, will you?'
Luna promised she wouldn't, but looked excited. 'Wow, a Quidditch player!' she kept repeating.
Ginny decided to change the subject, before Luna got carried away. 'So, how's it going with you and Rolf? When are you seeing him again?'
'Oh, it's fine. I'm going back out there in July.'
'Ooh, lovely! How long for?'
Luna suddenly became very interested in her fingernails. 'All of it – and a bit of August. We're going on an expedition.'
Oh yeah?' Ginny snorted. 'And how many people are there going to be on this "expedition"?' She made little quote marks with her fingers, an irritating habit she'd picked up from Hermione.
'Umm…just the two of us.' There was a silence in which Ginny looked very juvenile. 'He's probably thinking that we're going to…you know, isn't he?'
'Of course he is; he's a boy! The 33 percent of his brain not thinking about Quidditch and food is used for thinking about you know.'
'Should I?'
'That's up to you and him, Luna. Maybe you should discuss it with him. All I'll say is; once you've made up your mind, stick to it. No means no, so don't lead him up the garden path.'
'Have you and Harry discussed it?'
'Yes' said Ginny, with a sigh. 'He's gone all noble prat again; says he respects me too much. I don't want him to respect me; I want him to…'
'Yes, fine. Well that's up to you two.' Luna stood up briskly. 'Let's get this trunk unpacked.'
-o0o-
By early July she was at Rolf's house, where they would spend a couple of days sorting out everything they needed to take. Luna noticed there were two tents. There was also quite a lot of emergency equipment; dried food and so on.
'We're going to some pretty remote places' said Rolf. 'I'm not planning on using it, but it's better to be safe than sorry.' Luna thought that was very wise. 'I'm hoping we can feed ourselves a lot of the time; there should be fish in the rivers, and the berries will be starting to ripen.' He turned to her with a big smile on his face. 'Fresh trout and åskerbær! I can't wait!'
Kristine helped them with their packing, although Rolf didn't necessarily think he needed any assistance. He kept pointing out that he was over twenty.
'Aach' she said. 'Twenty means nothing. I have been on plenty of these trips before; unlike you, I know what I am talking about. You'll be glad I suggested insect repellent and bite creams before this trip is over. And remember; always keep one pair of socks dry. As long as you have warm feet, nothing is quite as bad as it seems.
They had an early start in the morning, so spent their last evening quietly with Kristine.
'So, Luna, what are you hoping to see?' she asked.
'Oh, I'd love it if we could find a Crumple Horned Snorkack' she replied. 'We've tried finding one before, but with no luck.'
Kristine looked confused, 'Crumple…?' and turned to Rolf to help her. 'Krøllhornet snørkjuke' he said, and then had to quickly pretend he was blowing his nose.
His mother was far too polite to laugh at a guest, but still had to hide her mouth behind her hand until she regained control. 'They are very difficult to find, I am told' she said, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly.
'I know most people think they don't exist' said Luna, 'but daddy thinks they do, and it would be lovely to prove him right. It would be a real scoop for The Quibbler, as well.'
'Well, who knows? Even if you do not find one, it is very beautiful country, and there are lots of other things to see.'
'Maybe even a dragon' said Rolf.
Kristine's eyes suddenly flashed at him. 'Don't be stupid, Rolf.'
'Well, we might. Bestefar went up there to count them that time, didn't he? You never know; if we find some evidence we could try and track...'
'Jeg forbyr deg å gjøre det! Kristine shouted at him, forgetting Luna and slipping back into Norwegian. She suddenly wasn't the happy smiling person Luna normally saw, and she was a little bit scary.
Rolf, on the other hand, carried on regardless. 'What? All I said was "If we find some…"'
His mother was now on her feet jabbing her finger at him.
'Jeg gravla mannen min, og jeg vil helst ikke gravlegge sønnen min og!' With that she stormed in to the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.
Rolf was shrunk back into his seat, pale and with a rather shocked expression on his face. This quickly turned to embarrassment when he realised Luna was looking at him. She hadn't actually understood what his mother had said, but thought she had a fair idea.
Rolf ran his hand through his hair. 'I'm sorry, Luna…She doesn't normally…I'm not quite sure what that was all about.'
She looked at him steadily. 'Aren't you?'
'Well…I suppose I'd better go and…' He waved his hand vaguely towards the kitchen.
'No, Rolf. You stay there; I'll go.'
Luna quietly opened the door and stepped inside. Kristine was stood looking out of the window, her hands gripping the edge of the sink for support. Her face was working in a way that showed she was desperately trying not to cry.
Luna walked across to her. 'Kristine?' It was barely a whisper.
'Stupid animals. I tried so hard, when he was little, to make him interested in other things, but I think it is in his blood.'
'I know; it must be very difficult for you. I won't let him take any risks, I promise.'
Kristine turned, and took Luna into a hug. Now she could let the tears fall.
'I think he is your man now, not mine. Take care of him. Please, take care of my son; I cannot bury my son.'
AN: Once again, thank you so much to Shuna for providing the Norwegian. I've not given the English translation, in case you want to try working it out for yourself. Both languages have a Germanic root, so you can see similarities in the words, I've found. (Of course, I know what it says, which is a help!)
