Okay, this is a very long chapter; but it is mostly to fill in the space between some of the main drama. I will be getting to Hogwarts very soon, but I wanted to finish off the holiday without rushing through it. This is basically a drama free chapter apart from some shopping centre fustration (don't worry you'll understand once you have read) and a little bit at the beginning. But mainly it's just some George/Luna love, for those of you who like a break from the drama from time to time.
Enough from me...let's get back to the people you really want to hear from. Oh and I still own nothing.
As he ran through the packed platforms of Kings Cross station, George could hear her calling for him. Using his hands and elbows; he barged through the crowds of people that came between him and her.
''George'' Her voice was angelic; soft and light, he could hear her but not see her; but her voice was getting more distant everytime he heard it.
Through the crowds he could finally see her, but she was walking further and further away from him.
''Luna'' he shouted after her, but she continued to walk away. ''Luna''
He ran through the barrier to platform nine and three quarters without caring whether any muggles saw him or not, emerging on to a deserted platform; not a single witch or wizard was in sight.
The only sign of life on the platform was the sound of the Hogwarts Express pulling away from the station. ''Luna! Luna!''
As the train began to speed away from him, smoke flew from the chimney towards his face and he closed his eyes. As he stood, he could still hear Luna's voice; now very faint, but as well as that, he could swear that he heard the sound of bells chiming.
As he opened his eyes again; George found himself back in his home, with Luna curled into his side, and with the wall clock ringing with the sound of bell chimes.
Luna stirred, and began to move into a sitting position. ''Good morning''
''Actually, it's good evening here.'' George used his wand to turn off the clock and to draw the curtains back open; revealing the moon high in the sky. ''But we better be getting back to where it is morning.''
''Thank you for staying with me George.''
''No problem'' George kissed her lips softly, before standing up and pulling Luna up to her feet so that she stood in front of him.
''Did you sleep alright? No bad dreams?'' he asked her.
''No, none'' she replied, George wished he could say the same thing; although his was more strange than bad.
''So, are we gong to go enjoy the rest of our holiday?'' she asked. George took Luna's hand, and together they apparated back to the hotel.
The sunrise could be seen through the curtains of Luna's hotel room as they arrived back at the hotel. Luna climbed into her bed and George tiptoed back to his own room.
As the Weasley's, Luna, Harry and Hermione gathered in the hotel dining room two hours later, no one was aware of George and Luna's absence the night before. Molly had appeared to be observing Luna for any signs of a problem, but it soon became apparent that anything that had been bothering Luna the night before, was no longer an issue. Both Arthur and Percy had returned and hour or so before George had left to go into Luna's room; the two Death Eaters were to be sent to Azkaban pending trial.
''Well kids, as eventful as yesterday was, I think will take a different approach to today. So what does everyone want to do?'' Arthur asked as everyone took their seats around a large circular table.
''There is a museum on the other side of the city which looks at the history and development of the country.'' Hermione suggested.
Ron and Harry shared a look; if anyone was to suggest a museum, it would be Hermione.
''Oooh, that sounds interesting, thank you Hermione. Any other suggestions?''
''Can we spend a day in the city Dad, just going around the shops?'' Ginny asked.
''Of course Ginny. Well I don't see why for one day, we can't just split up. Hermione if you're going to the museum, I'll be happy to join you. Molly?''
''Yes I'll come, it would be nice to get some educational benefits out of the holiday'' Molly replied. ''I don't want Ginny going into the city on her own though; someone will have to go with her.''
''Luna?'' Ginny gave her best friend a pleading look from across the table.
''I'll go with you Ginny.'' Luna actually liked the idea of shopping more than going to a museum; if she was going back to school, she didn't want to be learning anything again just yet.
''George, Harry. Are you two going with the girls? I'd feel better if you did.'' Molly looked between the two as she asked.
''Yes Mrs Weasley''
''Sure Mum'' George had intended to go wherever Luna went anyway; at least this way, it didn't seem as though he was going for the shopping, and he wasn't going to have to look around a museum pretending to be interested in anything other than a particular blonde.
''Ron. Percy. What about you boys?'' Arthur asked, his mouth full of toast.
''Arthur, don't teach them bad manners'' Molly broke into the conversation, whacking Arthur on the arm.
''I'll go to the museum with you Dad'' Percy said, a smile on his face from seeing his father looking more afraid of his own wife than the two Death Eaters the day before.
''I'll go too'' Ron said to everyone's suprise. ''A museum doesn't seem too bad anyway, compared to having to shopping with Ginny. I'm telling you George, you will want to come to the museum with us.''
''What about Harry, he's coming shopping too?'' Luna asked, filling her glass with some orange juice.
''Ahh, you see Luna, Harry has to go with Ginny because he's her boyfriend. If he doesn't go shopping with her; like she wants him too, then Ginny isn't going to let Harry do the things with her he enjoys'' George told her.
Harry and Ginny choked on their drinks, as Luna, Ron and Hermione burst into hysterics, even Arthur silently chuckled into his food.
''George Weasley, you will not talk about – Arthur it is not funny – such things at the breakfast table.'' Molly had gone red in the face; horrified by what had been said, looking angrily between her son, and her chuckling husband.
''Technically Mum, I didn't say anything, I only implied...' George stopped speaking as he noticed the 'you dare and try me George Weasley' look on his mothers face.
George looked away from his mother, and focused on his breakfast, thinking about what Ron had said; George was not worried about shopping with Ginny, if his plan was successful, he would be spending the day with only Luna.
His plan wasn't successful. George had hoped that Ginny and Harry would want to go into a shop together; he would then tell them that he and Luna were going to walk around rather than wait, and then they would run off and spend the rest of the afternoon together, later claiming they had gotten lost and couldn't find their way back to the shop. But that hadn't happened.
Every clothes shop Ginny had passed; she had grabbed Luna's hand, and dragged her inside with her, leaving George waiting outside with Harry. Two hours and (what felt like) seven million clothes shops later, he was waiting outside yet again, with Harry.
''You weren't planning on this were you?'' Harry asked with a smirk. He had noticed the glares George had shot at Ginny everytime she dragged Luna away, and was now watching him observe every detail in the shopping centre.
''What?'' George suddenly looked at Harry, realising that something had been finally spoken between the two of them.
''You hoped that you could get Luna away from us and just be with her.''
''Yeah, your girlfriend certainly put a dampener on that plan, thank you very much.'' George looked towards the shop, irritated.
''Hey she's not just my girlfriend, she's your sister.''
''I'm not so sure. No other Weasley shops like a bloody lunatic.''
''You have a point there. But Ron did try to warn you earlier.'' Harry couldn't help but chuckle at George's frustration; Harry had been even more irritated than George the first time he had been shopping with Ginny.
''Sneaky git, I should of known it would be bad shopping with Ginny if Ron was willing to go to a museum instead.'' George looked at his watched, took in the time, and then slapped his arm back down by his side. ''She's been in there for twenty minutes. I'm tempted to go on a rescue mission to get Luna out of there.''
''What, and leave Ginny?''
''Yeah, she can live in the bloody place for all I care.'' George replied with a grin. ''Alright, I'm starving, there's a food court on the top floor; I'll go get us a couple of sandwiches. If they come out and you leave me; I will get you Potter.''
''Oh come on George, you know Luna wont leave you behind.''
''Ginny has managed to drag her into every shop in Australia. If you really wanted to; you could kidnap her.'' George turned away from Harry, and began to walk towards the escalator.
''That's a good idea. Thanks George.'' He heard Harry call from behind him as he stepped up on to the escalator.
''Bugger off'' he shouted down to Harry.
Carrying a tuna salad sandwich for Harry, and eating the other himself, George made his way back towards the escalators. From his advantage point on the upper floor; he could see a very bored Harry still stood outside the shop. He decided to do a lap around the upper floor before claiming that there had been a massive queue to Harry; the less time spent stood outside that shop, the safer George's sanity was.
George walked by the windows of the shops, taking up more time by observing what was inside them thoroughly. As he looked into the window of a jewellery store, George's eyes swept over a set of charm bracelets; he immediately thought of Luna.
He quickly finished off his sandwich, before walking into the shop. It was a small shop, with display cabinets on the right and left walls, and another in front of the cash desk, with room to walk about in the centre of the shop.
''Can I help you sir?'' A middle aged man, with a very strong Australian accent came out from the back of the shop and stood behind the counter.
''I...um...I was looking at those charm bracelets in the window and I was wondering if I could have a look?''
''Of course my boy'' The man walked to the inside of the window and reached for the display tray with the bracelets on. ''You're from England I assume.''
''Yes I am'' George watched the man walk back behind the counter, with the tray.
''For somebody back home?'' the man queried placing the tray out for George to see.
''Actually she's on holiday with me and my family here.'' George said, as he looked over the bracelets. Each silver chain had different sets of charms attached to them; animals and flowers were a common theme, but the one that caught George's eye was the one second from bottom. Hanging around the chain was various lucky symbols; four leaf clovers, pots of gold and a couple of glittering stars. George knew it was slightly silly to get a bracelet with lucky charms on, considering that both he and Luna were wizards and they could perform real charms whenever they wanted, but George knew that Luna would still appreciate it. ''Can I take that one please.''
As George walked back to the shop carrying Harry's sandwich and Luna's bracelet, he could see the girls waiting outside with Harry.
''Oh there he is.'' Harry said. Luna and Ginny, who had had their backs turned to George, turned to see him. Luna's face lit up and Ginny looked relieved.
''It's about time George'' Ginny complained.
''Funny you should say that, considering I didn't spend half a year in a bloody shop.''
''Yeah but you did spend a hell of a lot of time getting a sandwich.'' Harry inserted.
''Oh yeah here'' George threw the extra sandwich at Harry. ''Anyway, after I got them I saw that you girls weren't back yet so I went shopping for myself.''
''Did you get some better clothes.'' Ginny commented.
George looked over what he was wearing; over a white button up shirt, he wore a dark blue sweater, with jeans and trainers. ''What's wrong with what I'm wearing?''
Ginny started to laugh. ''I was kidding. So what did you get?''
''Hey Harry, didn't you want to take Ginny to look around upstairs?'' George pretended that he hadn't heard Ginny, and indicated for Harry to go towards the escalators.
''Um alright, come on Ginny.'' Harry put his arm around Ginny and began to walk away, taking the hint.
''But...what...'' Ginny looked back at George; confused.
''So, what did you get?'' Luna's soft and musical voice brought George's gaze back on to her.
''Look for yourself.'' George held out the small jeweller's bag for Luna to take.
''Is it for me'' she asked, as she looked inside and pulled out the charm bracelet.
''No, I was wondering if you thought Ron may like it'' George joked. ''Of course it's for you''
''It's beautiful George, thank you. But why did you get it for me?''
''It's umm...for...err...your birthday.'' George nervously replied; he honestly had no real reason to buy it for her other than, he wanted her to have it.
''George my birthday is in February.''
''Well then, I owe you seventeen gifts, for the seventeen February's you've lived through.''
Luna's expression told him that she didn't believe any of it. ''Really?''
''Well you are also starting school soon, and I wanted you to have something to bring a little extra luck for you.'' George explained, hiding the pain he felt as he thought about her leaving.
''You are very sweet George Weasley.'' Luna walked to him and placed her arms around his neck and placed her lips over his for a passionate kiss.
As she pulled away, she saw a big grin on George's face. ''If that's the response I get, I'll be buying you presents everyday for the rest of your life.''
Luna giggled as she put the bracelet around her wrist, and George helped her with the clasp. ''Do you know what I've just realised?''
''No, what?'' George asked, looking around for anything that stood out.
''We finally got away from them.'' Luna beamed up at George; he hadn't been the only one with an escape plan. George laughed, looked around for any signs of Harry and Ginny upstairs, grabbed Luna's hand, and ran as far as he could go.
It had taken longer than they expected, but George and Luna finally got their day to be alone.
Next chapter; As their holiday comes to an end; George and Luna realise that her return to Hogwarts is getting closer and closer.
The next chapter will be nowhere near as long as this I promise; I know that events of this chapter could have been missed out, but there will be some angst coming up and I wanted a break from all the troubles of wizarding life for one chapter, so I hope you liked this...now 'imperio', you will press that button below that says 'Review'.