(AN: Here is Chapter 11 in our tale of our Heroes. I am pleased with how it turned out & I hope you feel the same. Reviews are appreciated.)

Chapter XI: Capella Lovegood

Harry wore his best green velvet robes to the Lovegoods' on Christmas morning, and he energetically knocked on the door of the newly reconstructed tower. From within came sounds of bustling and scuffling, after a time, Luna opened the door and greeted him with a kiss. "Hello Harry dear. Come on in, Da's just put everything on the table, we're all ready for you." She said, taking his cloak and hanging it on the rack.

"Thanks, Luna. Having a good Christmas so far?" Harry asked, accompanying her into the dining room, where a table was laid out with all manners of decorations ; pinecone centerpieces, newly lit red candles, and a gnome playing a harp. It was a nice setup, but shadowed, of course, by the tremendously attractive feast that laid before them.

"Is that…" Harry began, pointing to a red dish full of…

"Enchanted Ham, glazed with spices from India. Yes, it does seem quite delicious, it's our first time trying it." Luna said, sitting down on the chair Harry had just pulled out for her.

"It smells wonderful, it really does, Luna." Harry said, as Xenophilius entered the room, wearing a bold orange apron, emblazoned with the head of a troll.

"Happy Christmas, Mr. Potter." Xenophilius said coldly, seating himself and attaching a matching bib around his neck.

"Thank you for having me, Mr. Lovegood." Harry said, sitting next to Luna and pulling his silverware closer to him.

Xenophilius may have assumed that a grunt would be a sufficient reply, or maybe he considered that Harry would take it to mean he should never expect friendship from him. Harry persisted either way, determined to make Xenophilius speak to him.

"I say Mr. Lovegood, this house is absolutely fitting! I don't recall ever seeing a place designed so beautifully."

"Luna, pass me the turkey, please dear." Xenophilius said, regarding Harry with less interest than he would a goat.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lovegood, perhaps I haven't spoken loudly enough, I know that I sometimes have a tendency to speak quietly."

Xenophilius raised his bushy eyebrows and chewed viciously on his piece of turkey, which dripped with a brown gravy. Harry watched as it dripped on the face of the troll, making it look as though it were crying brown tears. "No, you've been perfectly loud enough." Xenophilius said, quietly, but alas, his words were drowned out by Harry as he bit into the turkey.

"Merlins' beard! This turkey taste's like it has been prepared by a master chef! I must know the recipe!" Harry said, smiling as Luna beamed.

"Yes. Luna is quite the cook." Xenophilius said, his mood growing more tolorant as Harry praised Luna.

"Thank you, Harry." Luna said, dipping a dinner roll into her mashed potatoes, sprinkled with chives.

Harry feasted merrily and refused no food that came before him, he felt quite indulgent for once, and wondered if this is why Ron was always eating to excess. They poured wine and drank heartily, rejoicing in the holiday. Xenophilius grew more warm as the wine filled him and befuddled his brain. They were soon making jokes and making sport of Ministry mistakes.

"Harry!" Xenophilius exclaimed, hiccupping after a particularly long draught of wine. "I have a notion, and I wonder your thoughts on it." He hiccupped again and sweat glistened on his forehead. "Luna has been absent from her bed the last few nights…save last evening… I wonder…were you keeping her at your place?" He pointed a wavering finger at Harry and burst into tears, the troll heaving up and down on Xenophilius' massive stomach.

"Yes sir, I have stolen your Luna away from you, and I kept her very well fed and pampered at my place, with my army of House Elves."

Luna looked at the two curiously, not sure that she ever saw an army of House Elves.

"You are no better than the Death Eaters that kidnapped her then!" He laughed, cheeks red now.

"Such nerve you have!" Harry exclaimed, spilling wine over himself, yet surreptitiously winking at Luna, who understood his intentions and winked back.

They continued to talk, and it was clear that Harry's skills and charms were quickly winning over Xenophilius. It was Harry's experience that the influence of wine creates more lasting friendships. The evening pressed on and Xenophilius allowed Luna and Harry to walk the trails around their home.

"That seems to have gone really well Luna." Harry said, arm wrapped around her as the stars shone down upon them, making the snowy ground sparkle, as if the very road they walked was covered in powdered sugar.

"I think he likes you, which is so very good, since I like you too." She said, her nose red from the cold, making her resemble a certain red nosed reindeer.

"That's Sirius up there." Harry said pointing to the dog constellation hovering far above their heads.

Luna waved and pointed to a body of stars hovering farther away from Sirius. "That's Capella, the name of my mother." Luna said, smiling as she stared up at the constellations.

"I never knew your mothers' name." Harry said, feeling touched that he was included in such private information.

"I like to think she is watching us now, giving her blessing by shining down on us."

Harry smiled and pulled Luna close to him. "Merry Christmas, Luna."

"Merry Christmas, Love." She said, and placed her lips upon his.

In the distance Xenophilius gandered at Luna as she kissed her beloved. He stared at a picture of his wife, which he kept in a locket around his neck. "She's growing up, Capella." He said, wiping a tear from his eye. The woman smiled up at him, unaware that she had been dead all of these years. "And I couldn't be more proud." He said, as he turned from the window to stir the logs in the fire, feeling sobriety coming upon him.