I would like to note that this story occurs during Ginny and Luna's seventh year (so they've been going out for a while now). I know that in canon they should be tying up loose ends from the war, and both women are extremely traumatised from the battle, but I really just want to write a fluffy fic right now so can we pretend that stuff hasn't happened?
Without further ado, I present… Sunshine the Pygmy Puff (Part 1). Please enjoy :-)
It was nearing the end of the summer holidays, and Ginny missed her girlfriend. It had been a long time since they had seen each other as Luna's father had whisked her on a hiking holiday, on which they were traversing the Scottish hills and attempting to spot a weetimorousbeastie. Somehow, Ginny could not imagine them finding this small mammal, and so far she had been proved correct. All Luna's postcards to her, while expressing the unshakeable hope that she and her father would spot this magical creature, had not yet spoke of actually seeing it. Luna had been speaking about this holiday for a long time, and Ginny knew that she had been very excited about catching sight of this animal. Ginny also knew that, although her girlfriend would put on a brave face for her, Luna would be incredibly disappointed if this did not happen.
Ginny lay back in bed, thinking, the book she had been attempting to read resting in her hand. Hermione had lent it to her, and while Ginny appreciated her friend's attempt to share her passion, the dry tome was agonisingly boring to get through. Who on earth would actually enjoy reading about the history of broomstick handles? She supposed Hermione had given her this book in the hope it would interest Ginny because of its links to Quidditch. It didn't, but it was useful in that it inspired such great boredom it put Ginny into a zen like state, in which she was able to concentrate on important matters. So: to the problem of trying to cheer up Luna when she inevitably came home disappointed. Ginny stared at the whitewashed ceiling. Motes of dust floated in the light from the window, beams of sunlight giving the room a spacious, airy feel. A spark of inspiration hit her: perhaps Luna might feel better if she saw something else magical. Not just a creature she would see for a brief flash, but something she could keep. Out of the corner of her eye Ginny watched as Arnold, her pygmy puff shuffled dozily around his cage.
/
'Love, are you sure about this?' Mrs Weasley was frowning at the pygmy puff inside a cage that was being wrapped up by Ginny. It was enormous and bright yellow, squeaking excitedly as swathes of wrapping paper obscured it from view; it hopped up and down, its already manic fur fluffing up even more. The creature looked as though it had been electrocuted by a toaster. She sighed, looking at her daughter, who was now attempting to pin a large bow onto the parcel. 'It's just that this pygmy puff…. it's not a very glamorous present, is it?'
Ginny looked at her and smiled. 'Mum, she'll love it. I know Luna, this is just her kind of thing.' Mrs Weasley stared anxiously at the present, (now completely covered in wrapping paper), which was now moving stealthily across that table, powered by an over-energetic pygmy puff. Ah, well. Her daughter liked it.
'Well darling, Luna will be here in a minute so you can travel to get the train together. You better get your stuff ready.' As Ginny left the room, her footsteps thumping up the stairs, Mrs Weasley took one last anxious look at the parcel. A pygmy puff wasn't exactly what she would call romantic, but then again, Luna was a most extraordinary girl, in the literal sense of the term. Her daughter was so excited about giving it to her, Mrs Weasley hoped for the sake of Ginny that she loved it.
/
Luna held the butternut coloured animal in her hands, looking at it adoringly. 'You know Ginny, I think this is twice the weight of a normal pygmy puff' she said dreamily. 'Are you sure it is a pygmy puff? I think I read in The Quibbler that there's a type of animal called a snafflewoozle which is like a pygmy puff but heavier, do you think it could be that instead?' Ginny watched as her girlfriend petted the animal, feeling pleased with herself. She had known Luna would love it, and as they sat on the train watching the world outside go whizzing by, she went over her excited reaction when she had opened Ginny's present. The girl had stared at the pygmy puff with an awed expression, waved her hands in glee, then kissed her. It was very romantic: Ginny was a wonderful girlfriend and she knew it.
Luna snapped her out of her smug reverie by her musing of names, which she voiced out loud, as if to test their sound. 'Pumpkin? Snaffles? Ethel?' she said, stoking the pygmy puff's fur. Luna looked at Ginny. 'What do you think?'
'Er', said Ginny. She didn't feel the same attachment to the animal that Luna so obviously did, and couldn't begin to think about a name that would suit it. 'What about Sunshine, because it's yellow?' It wasn't particularly original, but Luna loved it.
'A perfect name. She's radiant, just like the sun, and big like it too. You're so wonderful at names, Ginny.' Luna smiled at her girlfriend lovingly, and Ginny kissed her on the cheek. It was an excellent start to the year.
Ginny watched Luna from across the hall, during the feast. She was holding Sunshine close, protecting her from the other Ravenclaws. She watched as Luna carefully fed the pygmy puff a piece of cheesecake (this wasn't strictly in the Healthy Food for your Pet guidebook that had come with the animal, but evidently Luna was going to blatantly ignore this information and spoil her pet). Ginny felt a sudden pang for the neglected Arnold and promised herself she would clean out his cage tonight. Sunshine, she saw, was now sleeping, and Luna was carefully tucking her into her robes. Colin noticed Ginny watching and nudged her. 'That's a really sweet gift you got your girlfriend. She loves it. And Sunshine is so cute!'
'Thanks Colin', Ginny smiled, taking a bite of lemon tart.
'I guess the only problem could be that looking after Sunshine takes up too much of Luna's time! You guys do have exams you need to study for.' Taking in Ginny's worried expression, Colin backtracked. 'Of course, Luna's amazingly intelligent. Like genius level. She could pass those exams without any revision at all'. Ginny turned to look back at her girlfriend, who she thought was now singing a lullaby to Sunshine, to help her sleep. Oh shit, she thought. What if looking after Sunshine means Luna can't spend any time with ME? As Ginny stared at the pygmy puff, a sense of foreboding loomed over her.
Part 2 will be out soon… will Ginny's premonition be true? Follow to find out! Please let me know if you liked this chapter, reviews really inspire me!