May 2004
Luna was jarred awake by a shooting pain which radiated from her balled fist and up her arm. Blinking, she looked around her. The early morning sun was just beginning to peak its first rays through the windows and her fire had consumed itself so that all that remained were a few crumbling logs and a mound of ashes. Opening and flexing her fisted hand, Luna found the remains of Ginny's wadded letter which she had almost – almost – forgotten during the few hours of dream-filled sleep that she sunk into unwillingly.
Her dreams were filled with Harry's face which was unsurprising but at the same time horrifying – Luna could not understand why her heart would not cooperate with her mind in this and become a united front. Anger at Harry was what she needed and yet, all Luna could muster up was a bone deep sadness that sang throughout her body. Luna realized that she had come to imagine her life with Harry as though they were a solid, steady plank of wood and that his betrayal had severed them, messily, down the center of the plank. The two pieces of wood were separated, with violent and angry shards reaching out towards the other half but no matter how Luna puzzled over herself and Harry, she simply could not fit the halves back together as they once were.
From somewhere deep inside of her, a small voice that sounded eerily like her father, suggested that Luna swallow her silly pride and confront Harry about the letter. Give the boy a chance, my love, Luna imagined Xenophilius consoling her. He's seen darkness his entire life and now that he has his light, he doesn't know what to do with it. Be patient with him. He needs you. Luna groaned to herself and shut her eyes, willing the ghost of her father to float away and leave her be.
"I'm tired of being patient and kind," Luna whispered to herself. "I just want the chance to be angry and spiteful… like everyone else." Luna stood and moved to the staircase, climbing the levels until she reached their – no, her – bedroom door. From the inside, she could hear the sounds of Harry's light breathing and Luna squared her shoulders and stepped through the door.
Harry was tangled up in the sheets and Luna had to stop herself from reaching out and removing his glasses, which were cocked askew on the end of his nose. Like this, Luna could not marry the Harry that she knew intimately with the betrayer ousted by Ginny's letter. Let him explain himself, darling, Xenophilius' voice whispered into Luna's ear. Don't let this black anger ruin what needn't be damaged. Luna winced and felt her resolve begin to soften. Whatever resided in her inner core was correct and although Luna tried to hold onto her fury, she felt it begin to slip away from her… as though she had a dozen balloons tied to her wrist and one by one, their ties were snipped and she was free.
Luna sat on the edge of the bed and watched Harry, willing him to wake from sleep. She'd give him the chance to be honest with her by his own choosing, and if he decided to take that path, she would forgive him. Luna glanced up at the small desk calendar that sat at her night side table. There were only four days until the Order's party. Surely Harry wouldn't keep something like that from her for so long. The couple all but lived together and Luna believed they understood each other on a fundamental level. Harry could all but sneeze incorrectly and Luna would simply know that something was off.
Yes, she'd give him his chance.