Chapter One: Dragon Eggs and Periwinkle Parcels

In a small flat in the centre of London, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood were setting out party food in the brightly decorated living room.

Ginny's eyes skimmed over the table, packed with hundreds of snacks. She looked slightly harrassed, having cooked and set up decorations all day, her flaming red hair was astray and her clothes were covered with splashes of spilt food. "Okay, we've got the chips, the pizza-"

Luna walked over holding a large dish of freshly barbequed meat and placed it down on the table where she could find space. "The ground and cooked flesh of formally cute cows and chickens."

Ginny rolled her eyes so that Luna could not see her just as the door to the flat opened and Ginny's older brother Ron walked in carrying a large rucksack.

"Hi," he said, setting the rucksack down beside the sofa.

"Hello," Luna said, staring at Ron, "how long did you think this barbeque was going to last?"

"I'm going to India."

"Jeez," Luna said, picking up a chip, "you say one thing."

Ginny ignored Luna and addressed her brother, "You're going to India? Why?"

"It's just, well, it's a work thing. They have this dragon egg and we want the egg but they won't give us the egg. It's this whole big egg thing." Ron said dismissively, shrugging his shoulders.

"That sounds very fun," Luna said seriously, helping herself to another chip.

Ron stared at Luna for a moment and then turned to his sister, "Is Hermione here? I wanted to wish her Happy Birthday before I left."

"No," Ginny answered, rearranging plates on the table, "she's out with Steven just now."

"Oh." Ron said. He waited for as long as he thought was normal and then asked without trying to sound like he cared, "Who's Steven?"

"You know, the guy she met at that conference."

"No." Ron said, a bit too quickly.

"Well," Luna said, joining the conversation, "there was this guy that she met-"

"At a conference, right?" Ron interrupted, pressing for more information.

"So you do know who he is?" Luna said, smiling at Ron.

There was a moments silence where Ron glared at Luna before he asked, "where's Harry?"

"He's out the back, watching the barbeque." Ginny replied, indicating the back door.

"Right, I'm gonna go say goodbye to him."

"Oh, Ron, tell him that egg story!" Luna said excitedly.

Ron sighed exasperatly and continued walking. He reached the back door and found Harry sitting on the bench outside with his broom on his lap, keeping a close eye on the cooking burgers.

"Hey, Harry."

"Oh, hi Ron, I thought I heard someone come in." Harry said, placing the broom against the wall.

"I have to go to India." Ron said, sitting down beside Harry on the bench.

"What? Why?"

"It's this work thing, they have this egg-"

Ron stopped and shook his head.

"You know what," he continued, "it doesn't matter. Do you know who Steven is?"

"No," Harry said, thinking for a minute, "why?"

"Well," Ron said, trying to appear casual, "Hermione's out with him just now-"

"Oh, right. Okay." Harry said knowingly.

"What? What did I say?"

"You need to forget about her Ron. Stop, you're killing yourself over this."

Ron tried to appear confused, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. I'm sorry, I'm just looking out for you, mate," Harry said, patting Ron on the back, "if you're not going to say anything to her you need to stop beating yourself up over her. Go to India, eat Indian food."

"Yeah, I guess." Ron said depressingly, "just give her this for me, will you?"

He handed Harry a small parcel wrapped in periwinkle blue paper.

"Yeah, sure. I'll see that she gets it."

"Thanks, mate."