AN: I Do Not Own Harry Potter

Beta Services offered by : DreamStallion33

Chapter XXIV: Secrets Revealed

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Luna turned from the kitchen as swiftly as her feet would carry her, and she had no idea what was awaiting her from just around the corner. So it was that she got a face full of red hair and a mouthful of stale breath a moment later. Ginny bumped into Luna and nearly fell on top of her, which would have put Luna in a most uncertain position; Ginny having already kissed Hermione once- Luna had no desire to be added to the list of females Ginny had kissed. It was there though that Luna found herself, underneath Ginny and she had to say she did not like it one bit.

"Ginny, I can't help but notice you are precariously positioned on top of me. Would you need any assistance getting up?" Luna said, mastering her voice to sound as cordial as possible, but she was wise to choose her words carefully around this one.

Ginny placed a palm on the floor and the other on Luna's stomach, which caused Luna to exhale quite unexpectedly. "Sorry," Ginny mumbled.

"I would say so!" Luna declared, practically lifting Ginny to her feet by her own methods. Luna got to her feet as gracefully as a cat and dusted off her robes; she looked at Ginny once she had finished doing so. The woman looked positively disheveled, and Luna was quite sure half the reason her breath smelled so foul was that Ginny had been drinking last night, her eyes still bore signs of minor redness. Could it really have been so simple? Luna thought.

"You're up early this morning Luna," Ginny commented, as she dusted herself off as well, afterwards proceeding to rub the sleep and overly apparent redness from her eyes, to no good. "Got big plans already?' Ginny added; a touch of unnecessary scorn in her dry voice.

Luna titled her head and shook it. "No. Just, you know, seeing the children off before they floo back to school today. You know, it being their last day of holiday, and all," Luna said sweetly, her hands folded at her stomach, just below her belly button. The soft robes felt nice against her palms, and she appreciated Knoby's work. "Or…" she started tentatively, "had you forgotten, Ginny?"

Ginny gave her an accusatory stare; eyes squinted towards her as she folded her arms across her chest. "No, I had not forgotten, I just thought you would not take such an active role in their departure."

"I'll be glad to help you out, with that, if there's anything you need. I find being completely sober helps in the general process for doing anything," Luna said, just as plain and simple as can be. Nothing works like the truth.

Ginny gave a toothy grin, "Really?" Ginny traced a semi-circle on the kitchen floor with an out pointed toe, "isn't that nice?" she proceeded to walk over to the basin and run her hands under the water.

Luna walked over to the kitchen table, and took out a seat, whereupon, she sat. Luna waited patiently for Ginny to turn around, and Luna looked at the person whom she once had called a friend. Something about the way Ginny looked this morning had confirmed Luna's fears; maybe it was the way Ginny was walking. Luna admitted to herself that what she was about to do would probably not have been unadvisable, but sometimes one just had to embrace the more dangerous path in life- especially when it had the potential to lead to true satisfaction. Luna was not without inhibitions, however, and she gripped her wand from within her robes pocket, but did hope it proved unnecessary. Luna heard a shifting sound from under her leg and found the Daily Prophet had fallen to the chair; she put it back on the table, and saw Ginny turn around.

"You know," Ginny said, she placed her hands on her hips and gave Luna an irked glare, "it is most disconcerting to know you are watching me in such a way. Do you mind knocking it off?"

Luna smiled. "I mind a great deal," she said, shrugging, the palms of her hands offered up to the sky as if it were raining Galleons. "I have no intentions on ceasing my analysis of you." Luna returned her hands to their casual position, one however rested inside her pocket. Luna smiled, and waited for the inquiry.

Ginny scoffed, and turned around, ignoring Luna's prod, and she shut off the water. Luna was altogether shocked, Ginny? Avoiding attention? Luna realized she must not have been blunt enough, she would have to try again- a more forward approach may be best.

"Did you enjoy fucking Teddy Lupin?" Luna had such a way with words, and Ginny seemed to notice as well, as she turned to face Luna. "Or," Luna laughed cattily, "should I say, trying to fuck him? As I'm sure he had the proper integrity and honor not to dare let you defile him."

"I beg your pardon?" Ginny huffed, lessening the gap between her and Luna by several awkward footsteps, Ginny's eyes attempted to focus on Luna's face.

"My pardon is not given. You tried to have sex with Teddy last night, didn't you- that's the reason he left so quickly this morning!" Luna accused her, and Luna wanted to see how Ginny would react- Luna knew that it had to be done now, she had given up reason- she was driven by a force much greater than rationality.

"I don't recommend it, he's awful," Ginny shrugged Luna off nonchalantly, giving her a look as though Luna were nothing more than a dissected beetle.

But Luna was not to be assuaged so easily. "Tell, me- Ginny, why would one fuck another man, when she is with a perfectly decent man already? Or, do you not think about your infidelities?" Luna questioned, as she raised a fist to her chin, so as better to rest it.

Ginny laughed derisively, all imitations of kindness gone. "Piss off Lovegood! Whom I fuck is little concern of yours. Unless you're looking to step it up a notch in the bedroom, maybe upgrade from a Clean Sweep to a Firebolt?" Ginny smirked, looking Luna up and down. "Is your floo not getting enough cleaning, is that why you are so inquisitive this morning?"

"Ginny, why did you start cheating on Harry?" Luna watched Ginny's wand arm carefully, not letting it out of her sight for more than a second at a time. The kitchen was quiet, as if the tiles and woodworks themselves were awaiting her reply.

Ginny made a sniggering-snorting sound. "Like I need to tell you! Why, you considering leaving him too?" Ginny smiled cruelly, tossing strands of hair from her face with a shake of her head. "I wouldn't blame you! He likely hasn't changed much in the bedroom."

Now it was Luna's turn to laugh, "Not that it's any of your business, but he is quite adventurous. The other night…well, like I said, not that it's any of your business. But one does have to wonder, Ginny, who can satisfy you? Not Dean…not Michael…not Harry… not Draco…and from the sounds of it, not Teddy either. What is it that makes you do it?" Luna felt like she was getting Ginny worked up, and close to an answer.

Ginny, instead of acting out against Luna, merely leaned against the countertop, as she took a few steps away from Luna. Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "You're bored, aren't you Lovegood? That's why you're asking?"

Luna shook her head. "No, just concerned," Luna said simply.

"I'd watch out, boredom is how it started for me too," Ginny admitted, raising her eyebrows and nodding her head, as if proud of herself.

Luna heard a scuffling from somewhere nearby, but decided not to act upon it. "You were bored? Is that why you cheated on Harry with Draco?" Luna was right on it now.

"Yes," Ginny said with a self satisfied smirk on her face.

"And, why did you cheat on Draco?" Luna wanted all of the details, her hand still close to her wand, eyes still on Ginny's wand arm; that hitherto had made no movement, but it inched closer to her pocket now.

"I dumped Draco, he was a pitiful performer in bed. That's it, nothing exciting," Ginny gave Luna a look as if to say 'satisfied?'

Luna was not.

"You do realize that Teddy is the son of Remus and Tonks? Do you have any inkling of just how perverted and wrong that is?"

Ginny seemed to give the silence just enough time to settle in before she shook her head and spoke. "Teddy was there, I wanted him, I took him, I fucked him, and he couldn't handle me. Shame on him," Ginny laughed and cracked her knuckles, her face looked aged.

"Doesn't romance mean anything to you?" Luna frowned, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry, Ginny wore a big smile though; she had no trouble finding her emotions.

"Teddy was an easy fuck, and no, his affection meant nothing to me, it's good he's gone. Small dicked bastard!"

Luna was on her feet and had her wand out before Ginny could respond. "You go too far! You have lost no parent! You have no idea how wretched it can be!" Luna stuck her wand at eye level with Ginny.

Ginny's eyes flashed angrily and her wand was out in a second, pointed at Luna's heart. "Mum, no!" the shrill scream of Lily made both the women turn their heads to the archway leading into the kitchen. There standing in the doorway; James, Albus and Lily, in front of them was Knoby, who looked stricken with fear.

Ginny seemed to be unsettled, at the very least, and Luna quickly stepped away from her.

"Mum, how could you say such a thing about Teddy?" Lily wailed, tears glistening in her young eyes, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The bags Lily had carried down the steps laid at her side, forgotten beside her brothers'.

Ginny was dumbstruck, and her mouth flopped uselessly, trying to find words, "Lily, I …how long have you been standing there? You oughtn't to be up yet..."

"Its quarter past eight and we are due to be back in fifteen minutes, or have you forgotten that, Mum?" James stepped forward to stand near Lily, whom he embraced, casting scornful looks at his mother.

"No Jamie!" Lily shrieked, wrestling his arms off of her. "Mum, why did you hurt Teddy? Is he really gone?" Lily was breaking into sobs now, her lower lip trembled, and Luna felt stabbing pain for the young girl.

James looked at his hurt younger sister and then raised his head to meet his mothers, "I'll tell you why she hurt Teddy Lil', it's because she is a horrible person."

"James!" Albus interrupted, looking shocked, both at his brother and mother. "No, don't say that, mum isn't …a horrible person, she just got…"

"Hey, Mum," James raised his voice to drown out Albus'. "You got bored of Dad! Will you get bored of us too? Is that why you fucked Teddy and Draco? To get new kids?"

Luna felt as if the situation was spiraling in a direction she did not approve of, this could be dangerous. "Please, everyone, do try and calm down…" Luna pleaded.

"James…there's gotta be a better reason why Mum cheated…" Albus began to cry too, looking to his mother and then to Luna, "there's…"

James was the one laughing now, his voice shaking. "A reason she cheated?" James looked to be in a state of disbelief, his face shook with rage. "Merlin, look what you've done to your own son, you've made him think cheating is acceptable!" James shouted at his mother, as Lily dropped to her knees in tears.

"Al…she hurt Teddy and she knew I liked Teddy….she knew it and she still..." but Lily could say no more.

"But of course, cheating isn't anything new for you," James walked forward, own wand withdrawn now, "is it, Mum?" James looked dangerous, and Luna noticed his wand, but it all happened before she could respond. "Because you didn't just cheat on Dad, you cheated on us!" he slashed his wand and sent his mother flying against the pantry, the doors cracking from her collision.

"James! No!" Luna shrieked, rushing at him before he could cast another spell at his mother. She tugged at his wand but he ran away from her, leading himself into a corner at the other end of the kitchen.

"Luna, please- stay out of all of this! She's the reason I had that dream last night, she's the reason Albus' view of relationships is as skewed as it is! And look at Lily!" he pointed his free hand at her. "How much more could she possibly have hurt her?" James panted now, his hair falling in front of his face.

"James," Luna looked to him, and then to Ginny, and in a moment of desperation, she flicked her own wand at him, disarming the boy. From behind Luna heard Knoby shout.

"No you don't!" and the next second she heard him snap his fingers, and there was a loud popping as Luna turned around. She saw Ginny tightly encased in a large blue bubble, wand at her side, useless against its walls.

"Knoby, go get Harry, Muffliato must still be in place!" she motioned for him to go as directed, and he obeyed hesitantly.

James was still in the corner, eyes never leaving his mother's cage, at least not until he heard Lily's renewed sobs. Albus was at his sister's side, arms wrapped around her as he stroked her hair. "It's alright, Lily, I promise," Albus consoled her, as James went to her side as well.

Luna double checked to make sure Ginny was captive, and went to Lily. "Don't fret dear, everything will be fine, Teddy will come back, I promise it," Luna said, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to the sobbing child. "There there dear," Luna wiped the tears from Lily's eyes using her hands, delicately wiping them away from her cheeks.

Luna heard a popping sound and turned just in time to see the bubble burst, and Ginny twist into nothingness, leaving the four in the kitchen. Luna felt a red hot fury cascade over her as she stared at Lily's red cheeks and James' wand. Luna had of course planned to get Ginny for what she had done to the children at the Quidditch match, but now; Luna was not sure what to do. Ginny was efficiently destroying a beautiful family, one she had grown to quickly love. Luna laid her head against Lily's, and vowed to give Ginny a good return.

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