Disclaimer : I don't own HP.

Chapter XVII: All Aboard!

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Luna left the pantry a few moments after Harry had, and it was with far greater stealth to say the least. Harry had bumped his head on a shelf and had sent a sack of flour crashing down upon his head. So it was that Luna found herself in the kitchen which still had white powdery footprints leading off in one direction. Luna got a broom and swept them away, partially for Knoby and then partially to cover up Harry's prints.

Luna was placing the dust pan back behind the swinging kitchen door when Ginny entered the kitchen, hair strung over her reddened cheeks "Hello Ginny," Luna said, placing the broom near it's corner. She clapped her hands free of the remaining dust and rose up to her full height.

"I think I hate him, Luna." Ginny puffed, pulling an eyelash away on her index finger. She looked at it a second, then sent it swirling into the air. It was carried away by the breeze that had blown into the kitchen from the open window. "What do you think about him?"

"Whom do you mean?" Luna asked, watching the curtains move in the breeze. Luna wondered when Knoby would come in to make dinner, it wasn't like him to dilly dally. Maybe the little elf was just away playing with the fish at the nearby stream. She hoped that he would make Plimpie soup tonight, how she loved it.

"I am talking about Draco. Draco the incorrigible. That's what I ought to call him." Ginny paced around the kitchen, and Luna hopped up onto the wooden table and sat crossed legged upon it, looking quite comfortable.

"Ooh, that's him alright, always causing trouble for you."

"You've noticed him at it, have you?" Ginny snorted. "He's been acting distant for a while now, he's not performing up to his standard, if you get my drift…"

"I wouldn't know about poor standard performance, I'm quite lucky." Luna smiled.

Ginny scoffed. "Lucky indeed, at least one of us was able to get him woken up in the sack."

"Have you ever wondered about his loyalty?" Luna cocked her head towards Ginny and stared at her, eagerly wanting to find out what she was thinking. She knew it would be foolish to try and penetrate her mind though, Harry had taught her Occlumency after all.

"He's lost the pure blood mania, but he seems so…"

"Bored?" Luna suggested.

"Bored." Ginny crossed her arms. "It's like…now that he has me, he doesn't want me.""He's already made it onto the train, why should he pay for the ticket now." Luna placed her chin on her hands.

Ginny coughed, in a clear effort to hide her face from Luna. She buried her face in a kitchen towel hanging on the stove. "You're always so wise, it's exactly like that you know."

"I never claim to be wise, I just know what people do to others when they want to avoid them." she said patiently.

"He just makes me so furious," Ginny rushed Luna and stared her down, right to her face, and Luna saw the hurt within those brown eyes. "Luna, how do I get back at him? You've got to help me, please?" Ginny pleaded with Luna.

Luna nodded energetically, her blonde pony tail tapping against her back quickly. "Why get back at him, dear? Answer me one question, Gin, and I'll try and offer my advice."

Ginny looked at Luna, her mouth unmoving.

"Do you love him, Ginny?"

Ginny didn't answer Luna, and Luna took her silence as a no. So when Knoby entered the kitchen to prepare dinner, Luna took Ginny out onto the patio. The stony patio floor felt cool against Luna's bare feet, and the wind felt good against her still slightly sweaty brow.

"Ginny, here is what I think."

"Go ahead, I'm listening." Ginny said, sitting down on a patio chair and looking out over the field.

"Lose the bugger." Luna suggested.
"But he used to be sooo good," Ginny almost cried, her lip quavering.

"You can find someone better, you're Ginny, most guys and girls would love to have you."

"Luna. I only kissed Hermione once. It is not going to happen again. That was years ago."

"Hah. Like you wouldn't do it again." Luna smiled.

"No. I want wands now." Ginny frowned as she covered her eyes from the light of the setting sun.

"Well, I think I could keep an eye out for single friends of mine."

"But it's not going to take my feelings away…I still really like Draco."

"Maybe you need to love a person, not just like. Who do you really like, Ginny?"

Ginny exhaled and didn't reply for a long time. Luna waited patiently for Ginny to compose herself ,and spent her time picking apart a piece of grass that was poking through the stony floor.

"I think I want someone mature for once, I don't want anyone tainted by the war."

"That's going to seriously limit your options. Why do you want someone not tainted?"

Ginny started crying, this time it was without hesitation or the aid of towel. She was nearly convulsing on the patio chair and Luna saw the frightened girl she had once known.

"C'mon, Ginny, Fred would want you laughing, he always was. Your brother was a hero, and I am proud to have known, and fought along side him. Dumbledore's army, remember?" she laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder.

Ginny tried to sit up, and with Luna's help she managed to. "I feel so,…old L," Ginny leaned into her friend and embraced her.

Luna patted her red hair. "Shhhh, none of that now, you're just fine. You're not old, you're heroic, and striking, and just waiting for the right man to start your fire."

"What am I going to do now?" Ginny whispered.

"If I were you, I'd be the conductor, and I'd either get that ticket, or kick him out of the caboose and watch as he rolls down the hillside." Luna smiled defiantly.

The patio door opened and out came Knoby, wearing his personalized cooking apron, with the words 'Clothe the cook' written across it. "Pardon, Knoby, Miss Ginny and Miss Luna, but dinner is ready." Knoby bowed and left them alone.

"Let's go, Ginny, some food will do you good." Luna helped Ginny up and together they walked back into the estate.

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AN: Reviews loved, but free monkey's delivered via UPS are appreciated more. I'd love the monkey, but a review really will float my boat. Thanks, TowerMage.