Author's Note: I always imagined that, even after the war, Ginny and Molly maintained a somewhat rocky relationship. Molly can just be so overbearing, and Ginny will probably never let go of her little rebellious/anti-authority streak. This chapter is a bit less...happy? than the others have been, but it's still fairly fluffy. And Neville is back! I've got a lot more chapters planned, but let me know what you if you've got any suggestions for who else should make an appearance. Let me know your thoughts!
Also, HecateA pointed this out while we were brainstorming and I can't ignore it. Almost against my will, this has turned into a bit of an EverybodyLives!AU, and there's nothing I can do about it. (Okay, that's a lie, I can't handle killing off characters so I just write them back into the story, I've done this on purpose, love me anyway, k thanks.)
Ginny dipped her quill in the ink and circled yet another ad in the classifieds of The Daily Prophet. She was so absorbed in her reading that she didn't hear anyone approach.
"Ginny, dear, you really should pay more attention to who's coming into your shop. Honestly, anyone could have just wandered in here, and the world is full of dangerous people, you know."
She jerked upright. "Mum, what are you doing here?"
Molly plopped a paper bag on the counter in front of her. "Cheese and pickle sandwiches. I thought I would stop by and bring you two some lunch. You can't be eating enough, you're both nothing but skin and bones!"
Ginny fought off the urge to roll her eyes. For once her mother wasn't completely exaggerating—both she and Luna had lost a bit of weight since business had picked up at the shop. "Thank you. I'll see if Lu feels like eating one when she's finished with her current client."
"Make sure she does," Molly ordered. The scowl on her face brooked no argument from her daughter, who recognized the matriarch's "Mother Hen Rampage" look and decided it was best to keep her head down—for now.
Ginny heard the back door slam, and her heart sank. Before she could discreetly warn him about their visitor, Neville walked into the shop and called her name.
"I think you left this in the back yesterday," he said as he walked into the lobby waving a folder she knew was full of flyers and adverts for new flats. His gait faltered only a moment when caught sight of Molly. He dropped the folder on the counter and smiled. "Nice to see you again, Mrs. Weasley."
Molly reached out, pinched his arm, and frowned. "Skin and bones on this one, too. If I didn't know better, I might think all of you kids were starving! Next time I'm bringing extras for Neville."
"Merlin's saggy left—"
"Ginevra!"
"Mum, we're busy," Ginny grumbled. "That's all. You don't have to poke food down us like we're on a hunger strike."
Molly visibly swelled with the reprimand building in her jaw, but Neville beat her to it.
"I don't mind, Gin. It's no secret that I probably need someone to make sure I eat regular meals." He eyed the folder on the counter. "Speaking of secrets, have you told Luna you're looking for a new flat?"
"Don't tell me you're breaking up!" said Molly, her eyes growing wide at the thought. "I thought you two were so happy! Oh, this is terrible, and just when the shop was doing so well—"
Ginny heard footsteps headed for the lobby and hissed, "We're not breaking up!"
The three went silent for a few seconds as Luna ushered her client out the door. As she dropped their money in the till, she said brightly, "Of course we're not splitting up! Why would we?"
Neville nodded toward the folder on the counter.
"Oh good, I thought we'd lost that," Luna chirped. She walked over and picked up the Prophet Ginny had been flipping through. "Anything to add from this one?"
Ginny shrugged. "There are a few places that look decent, but nothing like what we'd be leaving."
"Then why on earth are you moving?" Molly pressed. "I thought you liked living above Mr. Caywood's butcher shop?"
"We do! It's been a great place for us, and I hate to leave it, but our lease is up next month, and last week Mr. Caywood told us he doesn't want to renew it. His niece is getting married, and he wants to let her move into the flat with her new husband. Ergo, they get the flat and we get the boot," Ginny explained.
Luna said, "It's been a bit more difficult to find somewhere comparable, especially on short notice. I won't miss the smell, though."
"Why don't you two come live with me?" Neville blurted out.
The three women turned to look at him with various expressions of confusion.
"I bought an old Muggle cottage in the Cotswolds last year and renovated it," he explained, a flush creeping up his neck. "I was tired of renting a flat that didn't give me space for a vegetable garden or a greenhouse, so I saved up my money for a few years and found this place with plenty of room for a price I could pay in full. Did you know the Galleon to pound conversion rate was so incredible? I've got a spare bedroom you two could use as long as you wanted, rent free."
Ginny winced. "Nev, as much as we appreciate the offer, we don't have enough time these days to pack all our things and move in with you now just to turn around and move to another flat two months later."
"It's nothing personal," Luna assured him, patting his hand gently.
Neville just grinned. "Then come live with me permanently! I think we would make good roommates, and I meant it when I said I had plenty of space. The back garden has this huge elm tree that I've been meaning to put a reading bench under, and there aren't any neighbors for miles, and here, just take a look."
He whipped out his wallet and pulled from it a set of photographs. The pictures were clearly centered on various different plants, but, from what Ginny could see, the cottage was roomy yet cozy. They would have a lot more space than they did in their current flat. The back garden was, in fact, huge, surrounding a tree that she would have immediately climbed in her younger years and with small patio that looked perfect for her morning cup of tea. The bedrooms were about the same size and large enough for all their furniture. The bathroom was bigger than she expected, and it wouldn't be too difficult to share it with two other people. Most importantly, the whole place exuded freedom and tranquility and utter peace. Not to mention the renovations and equipment investments they could make with the money they currently allotted for rent…
"Oh, girls this is lovely," Molly gushed. "And you would be so much safer living with a man!"
Ginny gritted her teeth. Of course her mother would see that as the most beneficial aspect their possible arrangement. Forget the greater financial independence and personal space this would afford them and the fact that they could each hold their own against most opponents. No, they'd be protected by some big strong man.
Molly's pushiness had always grated on Ginny's nerves, and right now it made her want to act out like a rebellious teenager. "This place looks amazing, but we'll need to think on it for a bit. Right, Lu?"
Luna nodded. "Of course. We don't want to rush this kind of decision." She shot Ginny a look that let the redhead know she wasn't a subtle as she thought.
Neville deflated a bit.
"Now just a minute, girls—"
"Mum, it's our decision," Ginny said emphatically, gesturing between Luna and herself. Molly pursed her lips but said nothing more.
"Just let me know when you do decide," said Neville, "but even if you don't want it now, the offer always stands, should you ever need it. I should probably head back to the shop and check on tomorrow's orders, though."
The Weasley matriarch pinched his cheek. "You're a good boy, Neville Longbottom."
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Both girls hugged him goodbye and watched him walk out of the shop.
"I do hope you'll both consider his generous offer," said Molly, "and not just because I want you to. I think you'd all be good for each other. Besides all the positives on your end, Neville could benefit from having more people around, especially people he's so fond of."
He had been happier and more outgoing since she and Luna insinuated themselves so deeply into his life. Ginny hated it when her mother was so insightful. "We'll think about it, Mum, I promise."
Molly swept toward the door. "Eat your lunch!" she called, and then she was gone.
Luna leaned against the counter and sighed. "I know you two have a difficult relationship, but are you always going to be so obstinate when it comes to your mother?"
"Probably."
"You know this a good offer."
"Yep."
"Better than anything we could find in an advert or on a flyer."
"Uh huh."
"And yet you're still going to hem and haw over this, just because your mum, who loves you and wants the best for you, thinks it would be good for us to live with a man. A man who is our best friend and basically family."
Ginny stared hard at the floor. She hated it when Luna brought logic into their arguments, especially when she knew she was being irrational.
"Fine," Luna huffed lightly. "Let me know when you get your arse off your shoulders."
As she walked away, Ginny thunked her head onto the counter. She hated admitting she was wrong, but she hated having Luna mad at her even more. She would give in… eventually.
Stacked with: SIN; FPC; BAON; TOS; STL; Star; SF; Shower; ER; Shipping War; Summer Bingo
Individual Challenges: Short Jog; The 3rd Rule (Y); Lovely Triangle; Gryffindor MC (x3); Ravenclaw MC; Red Moon Quindrabble; Seeds; Witches Coven 2; Flags and Ribbons (Y); Inks & Stinks (Y); Letter of the Day; Times to Come (Y); Shipmas (Y); Themes & Things A—Change (Y); Themes & Things B—Surprise (Y); Themes & Things C—Photograph (Y)
Representations: Luna Lovegood x Ginny Weasley; Neville Longbottom; Molly Weasley; Moving and Shaking Things Up; Familial Discord
Bonus Challenges: Deadliest Catch; Second Verse (Bechdel Test; Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Found Family; Nontraditional; Teat Juice; Zucchini Bread; Mother Hen; Clio's Conclusion); Chorus (Endless Wonder; Odd Feathers; Wabi Sabi; Peddling Pots; Delicious Lie; Tomorrow's Shade; A Long Dog; Larger than Life; Unicorn)
Tertiary Bonus Challenges: O3 (Orator; Oath); T3 (Thimble); LiCK (Yarrow); FR (Satisfaction; Liberation)
Word Count: 1502
Shipping War
Ship (Team): Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley (Dreamy Redhead)
List (Prompt): Summer Micro 2 (Garden)
Summer Bingo
Space Address (Prompt): 5B (Freedom)