THC
House: Slytherin
Class: Herbology
Category: Drabble (Up to 1,000 words)
Prompt: [Location] A farmer's market
Word Count: 949
Disclaimers/TWs:
Beta's: The Slytherin Team, and my friend CupCakeyyy
A sixteen-year-old teenager with dirty, light blonde hair could be seen strolling through a village that was a long walk from her home. A long, but enjoyable walk.
It wasn't cold, no. It was hot. Despite the heat, there was a cool, refreshing breeze that hit on the back of her neck, which kept her from sweating. The sun was out, and there was blue sky for miles. She couldn't help but admire the villagers chattering as she went by.
A soft smile graced her features as she reached the local farmer's market. It was a Wednesday morning, and it was a great time to visit—nine o'clock—not too early, and not so late in the day that it would be too busy.
The tents were filled with local wares that ranged from fruit and vegetables, to cakes, to cheeses. There was a countryside smell mixed in with different foods and fragrances, that reminded her so much of her mother. She didn't know why it did, just that it brought her closer to—
Her smile faltered slightly, closing her eyes, trying to push the memory back. Harry had helped her to be brave after the events of the Ministry, after what they had been through—she couldn't—she wouldn't break down. If Neville could be strong, so could she.
"Miss, what do you need?"
Luna opened her eyes, realising that she had reached the intended stall that offered some of the ingredients of her meal. She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Chestnut mushrooms, a couple of tomatoes, and an onion, please," she answered.
"Right you are, here you go. That'll be a grand total of four pounds and twenty pence."
She handed the correct Muggle money over, and packed the ingredients away in her bag. "Thank you," she said softly. She started walking towards the next stall, trying not to get too distracted with everything the market had to offer.
Although, she couldn't help but look at the candle stall, stopping to smell each different scent, finding that she liked the coconut and fresh grass fragrance the most. She didn't buy it, however. They didn't have a lot of money, so she couldn't treat herself.
She spotted the next ingredient on her list and stepped inside the sheltered tent covering the stall. "Hi, could I have a packet of linguine, please?"
It hadn't taken her long to get everything she needed, so she strolled back through the market, not focusing on anything but taking the next step in front of her, followed by the next, and the next, just focusing on the moment and her way through the day. She liked to listen to the squelch of the mud against her shoes.
The mud from the market turned into light, green grass, which then turned into a woody path as she changed direction, humming the same tune that she had had in her head on the journey there.
As she walked up the hill to her house, she stopped for a moment, just to admire the landscape. Plenty of hills around them, but then they were the only house for miles. The Weasleys were the closest, but even that meant there was a long stretch of land and hills between them.
Her day went by quite quickly once she stepped inside; she found herself doing a few chores, and writing in her journal before she thought about making dinner.
It was the last week before she went back to Hogwarts. She knew that Harry, Ron and Hermione weren't returning. It was going to be a difficult year for all of them, but she knew that Neville was going to be there. And a few others from the DA, and because of that she knew she wasn't going to be alone in this.
That was what was keeping her going.
Her father, on the other hand…
Luna put the water onto the stove to boil, and started chopping up the vegetables the Muggle way, just like her mother had taught her. When she put them in the frying pan, she gave them a stir, and smiled softly.
It brought back memories of standing on a stool, asking her mother if it was okay to stir the vegetables or poke the pasta. It was one of the fondest memories she had of her. The one which conjured her patronus.
"Luna, sweetheart, what are you making?"
Her father's voice startled her, and she turned around to see him standing in the doorway to the kitchen with an unreadable expression on his face.
She grinned brightly. "Ma's specialty. I thought it'd be a nice change," she said, but her smile faltered almost as soon as the words had left her mouth when she noticed a tear roll down her father's cheek. Maybe she hadn't thought this through? Maybe she should have chosen something else? The last thing she wanted was for him to be upset!
"Father? I'm sorry… I can… turn this into something else? I didn't realise it would be painful for you…" Luna trailed off, ignoring the blurriness from her eyes as she blinked back her own tears.
She tried to smile when her father stepped forward, and brought her into his arms, hugging her tightly. She couldn't be strong enough for this; she had to let her tears fall onto his shoulder.
"No, no. Don't do that, my darling, Luna. Thank you, I thought I wouldn't get to have it again."
"It's okay, Father," Luna paused for a moment, asking something that had been on her mind, "We'll be okay, won't we?" Her voice broke towards the end and a small hiccup escaped her.
"I'm sure we will, sweetheart."