Luna stood up along with everyone else at the end of the ceremony and clapped as hard as she could when she saw Tonks and Remus kiss. It seemed to be the cutest thing that she had ever seen. She turned to her right to look at Professor Snape who looked slightly sick and was clapping very unenthusiastically. Luna furrowed her brow in thought, and wondered why Snape was so queasy about Tonks and Remus' marriage, but paid it no mind and turned to look at the bride and groom walking down the isle.
Luna turned around to look at Professor Snape as everyone was starting to walk after the bride and groom towards Hogwarts. They were making their way towards the Great Hall were the reception was going to take place. "Professor Snape, are you all right? You look a bit sick," Luna said as she looked into his face. He merely shook his head and stared down at her.
"I'm fine, Luna. I presume that we should follow everyone towards the Great Hall," he said as he looked down at her. She nodded in response and turned around and made her way towards the isle, she could here Professor Snape walking after her. As they made their way towards the isle Harry and Hermione were walking by, their arms were linked together as they made their way.
"Luna! Where have you been? Ginny's been looking for you," Hermione said as she stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at Luna. She faced her with a very friendly smile. Hermione's hair was in loose, but neat curls and was tied in a fancy, half ponytail. She looked very lovely with her pale pink, dress robes. Harry was wearing deep set of green dress robes that set off his eyes.
"Hello Hermione, Harry. I came with Charlie and I sat in the back with Professor Snape," she responded as she looked into Hermione's eyes. Harry looked very cold and indifferent as his gaze turned from Hermione to Luna to Snape. He soon found himself glaring up at Snape, however Hermione didn't seem to notice this. She turned her gaze from Luna and looked over Luna's shoulder to stare up at Snape.
"Hello Professor Snape. How are you?" Hermione said as she looked into Snape's eyes.
"I've been better," he responded curtly as he looked into Hermione's brown eyes.
"Why were you sitting with Snape?" Harry said as he looked at Luna. Luna turned her gaze to look at Harry.
"Try and be civil Harry," Hermione said as she looked over at Harry, but Harry paid her no attention and continued to stare at Luna.
"Why not?" Luna responded innocently as she looked into Harry's eyes. Harry looked up at Snape with suspicion, before turning his gaze to Hermione.
"We should be heading up to the castle with the others," he said as he looked at Hermione and than he turned his gaze back to Luna. "It was very nice to see you again Luna, we'll see you later."
"Later Luna," Hermione said as she was gently dragged away.
"That was the strangest thing I've ever experienced, and I've experienced very strange things." Luna said as she turned to look at Snape to find that he was still glaring at the back of Harry's head. Luna wondered if Snape had heard her well. She gently placed her hands on Snape's arm and gently shook him out of his reverie. "We should be heading to the castle as well Professor Snape."
He merely nodded in response and together they made their way towards the castle in silence. The walked in through the large oak door and made their way through the entrance hall until they reached the great hall. It was very elegantly decorated and all of the table's were round and seated around six people. "Well Luna, I fear that I must join my colleagues," he said as he looked over at the table were some of the teachers were sitting. Luna looked around and found that Ginny was waving at her and pointing at an empty seat next to her.
"I think that I'm being called over," Luna said with a smile on her face as she looked over at Ginny. She then turned to look at Snape who was staring down at her. "Professor Snape, do you mind if I speak to you a little later. There is something that I wish to talk to you about," Luna said as she looked over at him. He merely nodded in response to her request. "Thank you very much, I'll see you later than, Professor," she said with a smile as she turned away and bounced away. Luna made her way over and sat down next to Ginny.
"Where were you? And why were you talking to Professor Snape?" Ginny asked in a whisper as her friend sat next to her, but before Luna could response she found that someone was calling out her name. She looked over at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were sitting across from her. At that moment she realized that she saw sitting in between Charlie and Ginny. On Ginny's other side was Mr. Weasley, next to him was Mrs. Weasley, next to her was Percy and next to him was Charlie.
"Luna, sweetheart, how are you?" Mrs. Weasley said kindly as she stared at her. Luna looked at Mrs. Weasley and smiled warmly at her, unable to say anything.
"She's fine mum," Ginny responded for her and turned to look at Luna. "You haven't answered any of my questions!"
"Well my summer was fine, Professor Snape is not a horrible person. He didn't do anything to me. I got to the ceremony at the same time as Charlie, but I stayed behind and when I saw Professor Snape I decided to sit in the back with him. I was talking to him to make polite conversation. It wasn't anything important, Ginny," Luna responded as she started to eat. "So how was your summer?" Luna asked as she looked around.
In the table near there she spotted Hermione and Harry sitting next to each other, but she could only see the back of their heads. On Harry's left sat Ron, next to Ron was Fred, next to Fred was George and to Luna's surprise the last chair at the table was occupied by Neville Longbottom. Luna wondered why it was that she had not seen Neville at the ceremony. Luna than looked at the table on the other side, but the only people she recognized was Bill and Fleur Weasley.
"It was boring, but I guess that was to be expected," Ginny said as she took a sip of the drink before her. However before she could drink much of what was in her glass, Mrs. Weasley took it away from her and sniffed it. "I was drinking that mum," Ginny said as she looked at her mother.
"You were drinking it, you will not anymore. You are still not of age to be drinking liquor," Mrs. Weasley said as she looked over at Ginny.
"But mum, I'll be of age in a week!" Ginny said as she looked over at her mother.
"But until you are of age you will not be drinking anything with the least amount of alcohol," Mrs. Weasley said sternly.
"That's not fair! Why does Luna get to drink it!"
"I'm seventeen with seven months," Luna said as she took a sip of the goblet before her.
"You're older than I am?" Ginny asked no longer feeling angered, but surprised as she looked over at her friend. Luna merely nodded and continued to drink from her goblet. Ginny gave up in trying to reason with her mother and simply drank whatever it was her mother was willing to let her drink. The meal was over very quickly that Luna as surprised when Professor Dumbledore asked everyone to stand so that they could have a dance floor for the Bride and groom to dance their first dance. Everyone sat at the tables, which had all been pushed closer to the wall to create a dance floor big enough to have at least forty couples dancing at one time.
"Excuse me," Luna said as she got up from the table and made her way towards the refreshments table, all the while hearing a familiar tune from the Weird Sisters. It was dark in the Great Hall, so only Ginny noted that Luna had gotten up and she'd followed her to the refreshments table. Luna and Ginny spent most of the time that Tonks and Remus were dancing by the refreshments table, both drinking whatever they were offering Luna. By the time their dance was over and everyone was clapping, she and Ginny had downed 6 goblets filled with Firewhiskey. They had to share because Ginny was not allowed to get any from the person handing out the drinks.
"Maybe we should make it back to the table," Luna said as she looked over at Ginny. However Ginny was chugging the seventh goblet and was unable to speak until she finished. When she was done, she lightly wiped her lips off on her sleeve and looked at Luna.
"At this point, I think that it is best that we avoid my mum," Ginny responded.
"Why, because we'll be in trouble?" Luna asked.
"No, because she'll ruin the buzz that I've got going," Ginny responded and she and Luna started to giggle. She gave Luna the goblet and Luna soon noted that there was nothing in it.
"I'll be back," Luna said as she took a couple of steps towards the refreshments table. "Refill, Firewhiskey," Luna said as she gave the guy the goblet. He recognized her by now and knew better than to ask her age. He gave her back the filled Goblet and Luna walked away from the guy and towards Ginny, who was standing with her back against the wall and looking past the tables at all the people dancing. Luna took a sip and handed it to Ginny. "Have you congratulated the Bride and groom yet?"
"No, but I haven't had the chance," Ginny responded as she took a gulp of the Goblet, but at that moment her eyes widened in horror. "It's McGonegall. I'll see you later," Ginny said as she handed the goblet to Luna and strode away as quickly as she could. McGonegall walked over to Luna and looked down at her with a stern look. She was wearing Green robes and as always her hair was tied in a tight bun.
"Miss Lovegood, are you drinking?" McGonegall asked as she stared down at her.
"Just a little, but I'm of age," Luna responded as she looked up at McGonegall.
"Give it here Miss Lovegood," McGonegall said sternly. Luna sighed and handed over the goblet to McGonegall. "I don't want to see you by the refreshments table again Miss Lovegood. You're fine right now, but anymore drinks and you will be drunk," McGonegall said. Luna nodded and walked away. She made her way through the crowd and soon bumped into Charlie.
"Where have you been?" Charlie asked as he stared down at her.
"Refreshments table," she responded as she looked up at him. He nodded in response.
"Just don't let mum see you tipsy. You many be of age and you may not be her daughter," but she's sure as hell treat you like you're her baby," Charlie said as he looked down at her. Luna nodded in response. "Would you like to dance?" Charlie asked as he stared down into her eyes. Luna nodded and followed him onto the dance floor. She figured that the night was young and the party was just getting started.
TBC…