(AN : Here is Chapter 9, thanks for the reviews, please continue them, they make this fun. We're about to wrap up the story soon, hopefully it will be up tonight. If I don't post it before then, Happy Holidays to you all. Enjoy! R&R Please)

Discalimers : I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter IX: The Ghosts of Christmas Present

Luna's hands rubbed together as she looked at the walls, refusing to meet Harry's eyes. She could feel them both looking at her, her father greedily imagining the status to which he would rise if she said yes; Harry wondering if it always took women this long to reply to a proposal from a man such as himself.

Before Luna could answer everyone's attention was drawn to the front door of the Lovegood home- for there came from behind that door, a pounding unlike anything heard at this residence. Xenophilius looked exasperated as he stormed off to the door, "Now who could this be! At such a time! Merlins' pants!" He cursed, flinging the door open, and giving unspoken welcome to three cloaked figures.

Harry instinctively reached for his wand, being reminded of Death Eater raids that still occurred, who were these messengers? He stood up, placing the ring in his pocket, and held his wand steady at these people. "Mr. Lovegood, do you know these people?"

"He knows me." Said the eerily familiar voice coming from beneath the black hood, in the center of the procession. "And the true Erumpent Horn came from me. That should tell you enough, Xeno. I don't want this one knowing my identity as yet." The figure strode forward, and their mates followed closely behind.

Luna looked around at this unfolding scene, with every sign of curiosity. She wondered if she was ever going to answer Harry. He sure seemed to have forgotten her, as his attention was drawn to the guests.

"Oh my…" Said Xenophilius, looking between Harry & the figure nervously, he began to bite his long yellow fingernails and surreptitiously made his way up the staircase, hiding away from this crowd.

"Declare yourself." Harry said, refusing to lower his wand until he knew this person.

A light issued from the wand of a cloaked figure behind the leader of this band of cloaked figures. Harry watched in shock as his wand, his precious Phoenix-Tail wand, flew from his hands and out of his control.

Harry looked furious, as if he were to rush these intruders and take them down through Muggle dueling.

"Hold your place, Potter." The leader spoke. "You are well outnumbered here, with wizards far exceeding your talents."

"You are bold,…foolish to think so. Who are you, that way I may know whom I am about to have arrested for disarming a Ministry official." Harry declared forcefully.

"You will be arresting nobody today, Harry Potter." Said the second figure, who removed the hood and stood to face Harry. Harry was surprised, which was evident by his wide eyed stare, as the light fell upon the uncloaked face of Dean Thomas.

The third figure twirled Harry's wand in their hand, their unworthy hands. Harry felt his anger peaking, how dare Dean betray him!

"I had told you to keep your identity secret, Dean." Said the leader of this group. "Potter needn't have known your face. You accept responsibility for that, you have no choice."

"Understood." Dean said, looking at Luna longingly. She smiled back at him, waving energetically, as if they had all predetermined this meeting.

"Why are you here, coward?" Harry directed towards the person standing just feet in front of him now.

"I am here for Luna. I am to make sure your perversions never harm her." They said, withdrawing their wand, their strikingly familiar wand.

"My perversions? This is small talk. Give me my wand and we'll settle this, like men, on the battlefield. Your robes- they look so much like the robes of Death Eaters. Show me your forearm- and then we shall duel."

The figure laughed heartily and exposed their white, and Dark Mark free arm. "Now then, Harry James Potter- I present you with two options. You leave Luna today, realizing how wrong you are for her- or you make me get rid of your negative presence. The choice is yours." The leader said, grabbing Harry's wand from the hand of the second cloaked figure, and tossing it to Harry- who caught it gratefully.

"Outside." Harry said, and all eyes were upon the leader of this robed pack of men, and Harry Potter.

Outside there was no sound, the countryside seemed cowed by the duel about to commence. The leader and Harry moved to face each other, each one gripping onto their only means of defense. They raised their wands to touch their noses, and with a sweeping arc, dropped them to their sides. Luna watched anxiously as they stepped away from each other, the two duelists. At the mark of five steps, they turned and with a flourish bred in competition, they sent spells flying.

The leader lost his form and turned into a wisp of smoke, as Harry's disarming spell went right through him, only to have him reappear a few feet in front of Harry. The leader dropped to one knee and a wide circle pulsated from their outstretched hand, the air rippled with electricity and knocked Harry back a few feet.

"Argh!" Harry exclaimed, waving his wand and sending a spider web towards the leader, who was putting up a good fight.

The black cloaked figure swirled on one foot and sunk into the earth, surfacing to Harry's side. He was raising his arm to cast another spell, when Harry grunted in determination. The leader cried "Tarantallalegra!" and Harry started dancing insanely.

"Give up, Potter!" The leader cried, "You are in love with Ginny Weasley, and that cannot be extinguished! Even as I mention her your eyes grow brighter!"

Harry felt red hot bitterness swell inside him, and his cracked lips parted, and he felt his arm grow heavy with desire. "Bombardre!" The earth rose up and rained down upon the leader, pelting him with stone and dirt."You know nothing about me!"

The leader once more dissipated to a whisp of smoke and reappeared out of harms way. "And you know nothing of the girl you claim to love!" The leader wretched his wand arm and, with a great effort, turned the pelting earth into dust- which swirled in a cyclone and swept Harry up in the air, before dropping him to the ground.

"Impedimenta!" Harry yelled, legs still betraying him. "You have no…"

"I have every right! Tell me then! If you know Luna so well; what dish did her mother always make her, that caused Luna such distress?"

Harry seemed to remember something out of his past, a conversation he and Luna had once. She had indeed told him about a dish her mother used to make her…what was it?

"Can't think of it, Potter?" The figure said, gloatingly, as he cast a shield charm around himself. "How about this? What is Luna's favorite elusive creature?"

Harry merely stumbled through his words, not even bothering to wave his wand in defense of the rebounded Impediment jinx. "I…don't know."

"It's a Wrackspurt, always has been. And for the record, it was Shepherds Pie. I bet you would have no problem telling us Ginny's, now would you?"
Harry didn't deign himself to answer, but he did look up at the leader, and with all the strength he could muster, he rose to his feet. "Rict…"

"Incarcerous!" The leader yelled, and with a deafening thud, Harry fell to the ground.

"It doesn't matter, you cowardly git!"

"What doesn't matter, Harry?" Came the softer, friendlier voice of Luna, as she approached Harry the leader dropped his wand.

"That I can remember Ginny's and not yours…" Harry spoke bravely, struggling to rise.

"I think it does matter, Harry. Since you never once cared to ask Luna about fundamental things such as these. You've been doing nothing but snogging her, and asking to cry on her shoulder- all over your needs. You've never once consoled her for her losses! All this talk on the war, it's all been you!" Said the hitherto silent third figure; whose voice Harry recognized very well.

"Hermione?" He whispered, and felt cold waves of dread wash over him, and a sweat broke on his forehead, though the temperature outside was close to freezing.

The third figure revealed herself to be Hermione, her brown hair falling freely from behind the cloak, and her penetrating eyes bore into Harry's. "Yes, Harry. You have never once wrote me about how much you love Luna, but when it was you and Ginny it was all I ever heard about. You have been increasingly arrogant these last few months, and I care far too much for Luna to have you hurt this wonderful person!" Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest and standing firmly.

"I didn't…" Harry said stupidly.

"Care for me at all, did you Harry?"

"Of course I loved you Luna."
"I told you time and time again, you didn't need to hide your feelings from me, Harry." Luna said, she too, with her arms crossed. "If you didn't love me, that was fine. We didn't have to be in love within our first month of dating. You did, and do love Ginny- I can see it. For once, Harry, be honest with me & with yourself. You'll only end up hurt if you keep suppressing your feelings like this."

Harry felt the constraints of his ropes disappear, and he rose to his feet. He could feel their eyes all on him now, and it made him feel sick. He stared at the fierce face of Dean, the stern face of Hermione, and worst of all; the hurt looking face of Luna.

Harry turned on the spot, and apparated away from this place; hoping to leave his feelings behind him. The shame he didn't want to know, the hurt he had caused seemed to follow him into the compressing darkness. The anger burned within him, angry that Hermione and Dean had gone behind his back like this.

Just who was that leader of the cloaked betrayers? Who were they to Luna, and why did Harry care so much? For, after all, he did still love Ginny. But the confusion he felt over his heart was torturing him; for he did feel something for Luna, and couldn't those feelings eventually have overrode those he felt for Ginny?

Ginny was waiting for him, she always would, Harry thought. He should go to her now, she would want him back, she would embrace him and never once stare at him with those accusing eyes he had seen from everyone else this evening.