The Burrows
12/24/1999
Luna Lovegood stepped out of the fireplace, into the Burrows' kitchen. She brushed the soot off of her bright yellow dress. Ginny appeared in the fireplace behind her. Molly Wealsey was standing in the kitchen with Andromeda Tonks. Molly crossed her arms over her chest. Ginny stepped out and saw her mother.
"Hello Ginevra," her mother said. Ginny caught her mother's glare
"What Mum?" Luna looked at Ginny, confused. Molly continued to glare. Luna and Ginny saw a copy of Witch Weekly on the counter by her mother. Ginny picked up the magazine.
"You shouldn't read that crap" Ginny growled and threw the magazine into the garbage. Fleur stepped into the kitchen. Ginny didn't see her, but Luna did.
"You are ignoring the issue Ginevra" her mother said
"What is that issue exactly, mum?" Ginny's face was as bright as her hair
"Ah, Ginny, Bill was just asking when you would get here," Fleur said, leading Ginny out of the kitchen, Luna followed behind. Bill, Arthur, her father and Fleur's twins were seated on the floor. Grace Wealsey and Flora Wealsey had the distinction of being Molly and Arthur's first grandchildren. Fleur sat down with the twins and motioned for Ginny and Luna to follow suit. Luna watched Grace and Flora with their father. Grace was walking around and babbling to her father while Flora was content to watch her sister from her grandpa's lap. Fleur scooped up Grace and turned to them, well, primarily Ginny. Bill followed suit. Ginny's face still had a redder tint than usual
"Mum tried to speak to you?" Bill asked her
"What do you think?" Ginny grumbled
"How are you doing, Ginny?" Fleur asked
"Fine, I guess." Ginny shrugged
"How's the press?" Bill asked
"Not too bad, they don't come to the house or in the muggle world really," Luna smiled
"Can't go into our world without getting hounded" Ginny said
"You've already tried?" Fleur asked
"I had to go to the stadium for a meeting. The press accosted me, Harry and Ron"
"Are you ok?"
"Besides getting a rock thrown at me, yeah" Ginny said
"Someone threw a rock at you?" Bill asked
"Clearwater's dad. He was angry about the chamber The Aurors are holding him for assault charges. I might have to testify."
"Geez, Ginny, I'm sorry" Bill said
"Not your fault," Ginny shrugged, "you know why Mum is mad at me?"
"Well you haven't spoken to her since it happened for one," Arthur Wealsey said "She's worried about you. She also upset all of you got dragged into it"
"And by everyone, you mean Harry. Don't you dad?" Bill said. Arthur did not correct him
"Great, my own mother is mad at me because my entire life was thrown out to the public and oh no, some of it involved my long term boyfriend"
"You know your mother is overprotective of Harry" Arthur
"Well I'm her daughter" Ginny said
"Could you please be less loud," George said. Luna watched as Ginny, Bill and Arthur went silent.
"That is rich, coming from you" Fleur said
"I'm trying to enjoy my second Christmas, Fleur" he said
"George-" Arthur began
"What Dad, it's true. Two years ago marked mine and Fred's last Christmas. This is my second. How are you doing Ginny?" Ginny crossed her arms over her chest
"I'm fine Fred" Ginny covered her mouth when she realized what she said
"I'm not Fred, I'm George and honestly, you call yourself my sister" he stressed the word my. He pulled a forced smile. "Want to go talk to Mum in the kitchen?" He gestured to it
"Not particularly," Ginny said
"C'mon, me and Luna will be there too" he said
"Fine" Luna followed the siblings into the kitchen.
"Hello Mother, how is the second Christmas going?" George asked
"George-"
"I don't know what everyone's problem is today," he shrugged. The fireplace turned green and grew in size, four figures stepped out of the blaze. Hermione Granger quickly hugged Molly and dropped her bag and gifts down. Ron stepped forward next
"Hey Mum," He hugged her. Molly gave him a tight squeeze. Harry had a bouquet for Molly, or at least Ginny guessed it was for her mother
"Hi Ms. Weasley." He gave her the flowers
"Thank you Harry, but please, call me Molly"
"And you wonder why he's the favorite," George muttered. Ginny rolled her eyes. Harry walked over to them and embraced Ginny. He kissed the top of her head. Ginny smiled. Luna saw him whisper something into her ear. Neville was beside her
"Wonder what they were talking about?" Neville mused
"Could be anything," Luna said. Show looked Neville in the eye. "What is it?"
"Just this case, it's draining"
"It's not just the case," Luna shrugged. Neville sighed
"I'll tell you once we get a moment alone," Luna nodded. The party raged on. Luna talked to Ginny's many relatives, her own family, Neville's grandmother, even Hermione's parents. Luna found it all a little bit overwhelming. She never liked big groups of people. She saw Neville excuse himself from a conversation with her father. Luna watched him sneak up the stairs. Luna found a moment to excuse herself and made her way to the balcony off Ginny's room. It was decorated with fairy lights, an assortment of flowers, and comfy chairs and couches. Ginny had set it up like this during the summer before their 5th year but her and Luna had been using the space since they were children. Neville had joined them a couple of years later. She took the chair next to Neville.
"So, what is it, Nev?"
"I had to talk to Carrow" he said
"Oh" Luna crossed her hands over her lap. She knew Carrow all too well. She gripped her wrist where a small indent lay.
"Carrow's deal was some alone time with you in exchange for some information" Neville said. Luna's face paled
"Did you say no?" Luna asked
"I did, but Robards says if we run out of options, we might need to make a deal"
"Neville, you can't let that happen, I can't-" Luna began to tear up
"I made a promise, Luna. She will never come near you again. I'll fight the whole department if I have too"
"I won't be able to do it"
"You won't have to," Neville promised. Luna buried her face into her chest.
"Did anything else happen?" She asked him
"They made me talk to Lestrange" he said, eyes on the horizon
"How did it go?"
"He refused to speak to me besides to ask me about mum and dad" Luna looked up at him "He had the nerve, after everything he did, to ask. Merlin, it was like he had no soul left in him," He said
"I'm sorry Neville"
"Don't be. it's the same for you."
"No, it's not. My mother was killed in a freak accident. I don't have a name or a face to hate like you or Harry or Ginny or Ron. There is no one to blame."
"I guess that's worse in some ways" Neville said
"They're both different. You have someone to blame but you have to live with the fact that the person who did that to your parents is still out in the world. I don't have to hate anyone but I also don't have a reason for why, out of everyone in the world, she died." Neville and Luna heard someone push open the window to the balcony. Harry was holding Ginny's hand and was leading her through the window. They were both laughing. Ginny's ears suddenly turned pink when she saw that they were already there.
"Hey guys, we didn't know you were up here" Harry said, running his hand through his already messy black hair.
"We were just talking," Neville said. Ginny and Harry took the couch.
"Everything good?" Ginny asked, taking a sip of what looked like lemonade rather than butter beer.
"Yeah, of course, we just needed a break" Luna said
"Totally get that. You know Auntie Muriel had another one of her rants? She had to complain about the article. She asked me what I had done to make the press think I was an evil harlot. It's like she couldn't possibly comprehend that the press took advantage of me." Ron and Hermione entered the balcony
"If you think that was bad, you should have heard what she said to Fleur." Ron said. He was holding Hermione's hand
"You found us quickly" Harry said
"We heard you guys up here," Hermione said. Ginny gestured to them to be quiet
"What did she say to Fleur" Ginny asked
"She was going on about how early into the marriage the twins were born. She implied that Fleur might have already been pregnant when they got married."
"How did Fleur take it?" Ginny said
"What do you think?"
"I wish I got to see" Ginny grumbled
"No you don't" Hermione sighed. They heard a crash from downstairs.
"If I didn't know any better that sounded like a George Christmas prank" Harry observed
"Geez, I almost forgot it was Christmas," Ginny said. Ron stood up
"Well it that case, Merry Christmas everyone" he raised his glass
"Merry Christmas"