078. Where?
"Where exactly are we going?" Luna asked as she stumbled across the uneven forest floor closely behind Fred.
"It's a secret," Fred replied with a laugh as he took Luna's hand and helped her follow him.
"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Luna questioned. "It's the middle of the night, we're in the Forbidden Forest, and Sirius Black is on the loose. This isn't exactly the best idea for a night out."
"Oh and where is Sirius Black going to attack us from?" Fred joked.
Luna opened her mouth to give a witty remark only to close it again after realizing she didn't have one. It was roughly three o'clock in the morning and Luna had only agreed to this terrible plan because technically it was Fred's birthday. He was officially 16 years-old now making Luna feel like a small child at only 13.
Still holding on to her hand, Fred continued to walk through the forest until he came to an abrupt halt. Luna tripped over her own feet because of his sudden stop and she clung to the back of his t-shirt for balance.
"What is it?" Luna asked, peering around him. "Where are we?"
"Look," Fred said, outstretching his arm and pointing to a blurry object in the distance.
Clutching to his t-shirt even tighter, Luna positioned herself at Fred's side and saw a massive black dog making its way toward them. Before Luna could start running the other way in total fear, Fred moved toward the dog and proceeded to scratch its stomach until it collapsed on the forest ground.
"He's a stray," Fred explained as he crouched down next to the dog. "At first I thought it was Fang, Hagrid's dog, but he's not."
"He?" Luna asked as she cautiously walked toward them. "How do you know it's a boy dog?"
"Well, you just have to know where to look I suppose," Fred said, scratching the back of his neck.
The dog then gave out an almost laugh like bark which then caused Luna to jump back even farther from Fred and the dog. Shaking her head quickly, Luna turned on her heel and started to march back the way they came.
"Luna, where are you going?" Fred asked as he stood up and walked after her with the dog following closely behind him.
"Back to the castle," Luna said shortly, wrapping her arms around herself. "I don't want to get killed by Sirius Black just so you can pet a dog."
Fred gave a loud laugh and the dog barked again.
"Come on, Lu," he said, walking toward her and taking her hand again. "He's a really nice dog. I think you'll like him."
Normally she would have protested and marched right back toward the castle without a second thought, but he had just called her "Lu". Fred had just given her a nickname that didn't make her feel like an outcast. Smiling softly, Luna walked toward the dog and placed her hand on his head before scratching behind his ears.
"Where did he come from?" Luna asked, looking back at Fred.
"Dunno," Fred said with a casual shrug as he sat down next to Luna on the forest floor. "When we weren't talking I used to come out here and one night I found him. I've never seen him during the day."
Giving a small nod, Luna continued to scratch the dog behind the ears before looking into his dark eyes. There was something strange about the dog's eyes, they were almost human.
"If I knew you didn't like dogs I wouldn't have brought you," Fred explained, moving closer to her and putting a hand on the back of her neck.
"I don't mind," Luna said, feeling her face heat up. "Happy birthday, Fred."
"Thanks," he said, weaving his hand through Luna's hair.
"So, what do you call him?" Luna asked, trying to keep her voice from stumbling.
"Snuffles," Fred shrugged.
Luna let out a giggle and Snuffles barked at her playfully. She smiled and continued to pet him. Even though her memories of dogs were far from fond she liked Snuffles. He seemed to be smarter and kinder than any other dog she had come upon.
"Where did you come up with a name like that?" Luna asked.
"It was written on a piece of parchment he was carrying when I found him," Fred shrugged, slowly moving his face toward hers. "He seems to like it well enough."
"I suppose," Luna said softly as she recoiled her hand from Snuffles and placed it on Fred's shoulder.
The two sat there just inches apart with Snuffles sitting in front of them. Luna tentatively looked into Fred's brown eyes and felt her heart start to hammer in her chest. He moved closer to her and tilted his head to the side. Their noses were just brushing when Luna quickly turned her head away and stood up abruptly.
"Well, this has been fun," she said, placing a hand to her burning face. "It was nice to meet you, Snuffles. Fred we should be heading back."
"Yeah," Fred said slowly as he too stood up. "See ya, Snuffles."
Snuffles gave a friendly bark before turning around and heading back the way he came.
"I wonder where he goes," Luna said softly as she watched him disappear from sight.
"Who knows," Fred said grudgingly as he took Luna's hand and started to pull her through the forest.
"What's wrong?" Luna asked.
"Nothing," Fred shrugged.
There was obviously something wrong, but Luna chose not to address it. After walking through the forest for about half an hour they finally made their way back on to the grounds and toward the castle. Fred's hand was still coiled around hers when they entered the castle and Luna suddenly realized why he was upset.
She had rejected him in the forest. There was no way she would let him kiss her in front of Snuffles, especially when Snuffles had been looking so sly.
Soon they were at Ravenclaw Tower and Fred was saying goodnight when Luna stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his cheek.
"Happy birthday, Fred," Luna said before smiling at him and walking up the stairs to her common room.
