Word Count: 331
"Oh. Hello, Percy."
Percy is halfway to the door of the Burrow, exhausted from pulling an all-nighter at the office. He's still dressed in his work robes. He turns, confused to find anyone out this early.
Luna Lovegood is there, smiling brightly at him, surrounded by gnomes. "You look quite dapper," she says, shooing a gnome that tugs at the hem of her yellow dress.
"I'm not sure that you should be out here with them," Percy cautions. "They're quite vicious."
She laughs at that, easily stepping over the gnomes and moving closer. "Actually, they attack to help people. Did you know their slavia has natural powers that can be passed to us?"
Percy resists the urge to roll his eyes. He remembers someone at the Ministry mentioning some bizarre Quibbler article about that very thing. He doesn't bother arguing about it or citing everything he's ever read. Luna is the type to follow her own path.
"Anyone awake?" he asks. "Or is it just us?"
"Just us. I suspect Ginny will be awake soon. She seems nervous about today."
Today. Percy swears softly under his breath. He had forgotten that his little sister is getting married to Harry today. He most definitely wouldn't be winning the brother of the year award.
"Hey, Luna," he says. "Would you like to be my date to the wedding?"
She's lovely; Percy has found her lovely since the moment Ginny introduced in the days following the battle. She is strange but brilliant, and Percy finds her madness to be intoxicating.
"Date?" she asks curiously. "Why would you want that?"
He chuckles. "Why not? Unless you would rather go alone. Or with someone else. Beautiful as you are, I'm sure you already have a date."
He feels the heat form in his cheeks, slowly creeping up to his ears. He is not smooth and confident, but he wishes he could be.
Luna smiles and holds out her hand. "I would love to be your date."