Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter; Chloe 'Remuslupin' Black, walters1, ninjacat5, Kristin93, PurplePumpkin12 and deadpoolhulk. My thoughts of over this chapter are mixed, so I have posted it for you guys to judge for yourselves. Hopefully you will understand how characters are acting and reacting through this chapter and it isn't going to seem too OOC.
I own nothig...yet.
Luna couldn't stop herself from skipping along the path towards Hogsmeade village, not caring whether or not she left Hermione and Ginny behind.
''Luna we want to get there as much as you do, but can you hold on for a minute'' Ginny called after her. Luna stopped and stared up at the cloudy sky as she waited for Ginny and Hermione to catch up with her.
''The boys should hopefully be at the Three Broomsticks by now, it's just before half past eleven.'' Hermione said, looking at her muggle watch.
''Are we having lunch straight away, or do you think we'll walk around for a while first?'' Ginny asked.
''I'm not sure, we'll ask the boys when we meet them'' Luna replied, still staring up at the sky as she walked.
It took another ten minutes for the girls to finally reach the street where the Three Broomsticks was located. In the distance they could make out three figures standing outside. Unable to wait any longer, Luna sprinted down the street, with Hermione and Ginny running after her.
Harry was the only one facing the direction the girls were coming from, and as he saw Luna heading towards them with Hermione and Ginny just behind, he nudged George with a smile on his face.
It took only a second for George to realise that no memory or letter could compare to the real thing as Luna came running towards him. He opened his arms for her, and as soon as she reached him, he pulled her tightly to him and spun her around, chuckling with happiness.
Beside's them there was similar reunions occurring, but Luna and George could only see each other at that moment.
''I've missed you so much'' Luna couldn't stop the smile on her face.
George smiled at Luna as he continued to hold her up to his height. ''Yeah, I'm not sure if I'm going to let you go ever again.''
''That doesn't seem like a terrible idea to me'' Luna moved forward and pulled George into a passionate kiss.
'Ahem.' Luna and George pulled away from each other to see Hermione and Ron looking awkwardly at them, Ron's gaze moved past them and his expression became annoyed. ''Oi, you two as well''
As Ron caused Ginny and Harry to also break apart, George turned to his younger brother with a smirk. ''Just because you don't know how to have a proper reunion with a girl Ron, doesn't mean you should interrupt us''
''Are we eating now, or later?'' Ron asked, pretending to ignore George's comment.
''Later'' Both Harry and George spoke at the same time; there was something better than eating on their minds.
Hermione shook her head. ''Boys. Why don't we meet back here at one o'clock for lunch?''
''Sounds brilliant'' Harry immediately grabbed Ginny's hand and walked off.
''Have fun with ickle Ronniekins Hermione'' George smirked as he teased his brother, before putting his arm across Luna's shoulder and walking off.
''He thinks he's so bloody funny'' Ron muttered as he watched George walk away.
''He was teasing you Ronald'' Hermione smiled at Ron's frustration. ''He only does it because it gets to you''
''Yeah I suppose so.'' Ron sighed. Hermione became confused as a smirk appeared on Ron's face. ''So, George said something about how to have a proper reunion with a girl.''
Before Hermione could ask, Ron pulled her into a kiss.
For the first half an hour George and Luna had stopped in the street every couple of minutes to 'make up for lost time', as George had called it, but after nearly walking into a lamp post, Luna decided that they should stop making out, and maybe start going into some shops; a plan George hadn't been completely enthusiastic about.
As George walked around Zonko's joke shop, he noticed that Luna kept on stealing glances out of the window. He paid for a couple of fizzing candy canes (an early Christmas present for Ron and Percy) and walked towards Luna; who was stood looking outside. Coming up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder.
''What's so interesting out there?'' He whispered in her ear.
''Oh...um...nothing, I just like looking at the landscape outside.'' She replied. The idea of Luna being fascinated by the outside world was completely believable to George, yet he still couldn't quite believe that she was telling the truth.
The truth was that she was on the look out for Rolf Scamander. Since Monday, when she had talked to him near the library, Rolf had stopped sitting with Luna during meals and wasn't around as much as she headed to and from Ravenclaw Tower. However, once inside the common room and during their lessons together, Rolf's presence was possibly stronger than it had been before and he was now much more obvious about his interest in her.
She knew that Rolf was in the village as she had seen him leave the castle, and her worst fear at that moment was that she would walk into him while she was with George. In his letters George had asked about any new friends she had made, and Luna had replied saying that everyone was basically keeping to themselves or to friends they had before the war; if Rolf showed up claiming to be a new friend of Luna's, George was bound to ask questions that Luna did not want to answer. She was happier knowing that George remained ignorant of her unwanted admirer.
Luna turned around in George's arms to face him. ''Where to next?''
George knew she was trying to change the subject, but with only several more hours to spend with her, he didn't want to risk starting anything.
The Three Broomsticks was fairly busy as George and Luna joined Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione at a table in the back corner of the large room.
''What have you two been up too?'' Ginny asked as Luna and George took the two seats beside her.
''We've been to Zonko's and Honeydukes'' George replied, holding up his bags as evidence.
''You've only been in two shops, you've had an hour and a half to walk around!'' Ron said as he chewed on a bread roll.
''Yeah, well we had to stop several times as we walked around. That girl cannot keep her hands off me.'' George said with a grin.
Luna smacked him on the arm. ''I think it was the other way round.''
''I think I'll believe Luna.'' Hermione said as her eyes skimmed over the menu.
''Did you two stop snogging long enough to catch up on things?'' Ginny asked; a particular subject on her mind. Harry and Ron shared a look, wondering if they were thinking the same thing.
Unbeknown to Luna, Ginny and Hermione had already mentioned Rolf to Harry and Ron, but had made them promise to not tell George; they had wanted to give Luna the chance first, and her last chance was to be over lunch.
''We've basically told each other everything in our letters.'' George's voice came from behind his menu.
Ginny kicked Luna's leg under the table to get her attention, Luna turned to see her best friend giving her a 'tell him now' look.
Luna shook her head; there's a time and a place, and this definitely wasn't it.
The group sat quietly as they waited for their meals to arrive. The quiet was ruined as Ginny suddenly rose from her seat. ''Luna and I need to go to the toilet.''
Luna looked up at her confused. ''I do?''
A quick glare from Ginny sent Luna the message loud and clear. ''I do, we'll be back in a minute''
Luna stood and followed Ginny. George looked at Ron, Harry and Hermione who were sat opposite him. ''What was that about?''
The only response he got was Hermione looking out of the window, Ron shifting uncomfortably in his seat, and Harry quickly shrugging before looking at the floor.
Luna knew what was coming as she followed Ginny outside. As soon as they were out of the door, Ginny turned on Luna.
''When are you telling him?'' It almost seemed like a demand rather than a question.
''I'm not going to.'' Luna shrunk back slightly, she knew Ginny wasn't going to like that answer.
''Luna'' Ginny sighed in frustration, before calming down, and continuing. ''Rolf may have stopped sitting near you at meals Luna, but whenever his name is mention you wince and look uncomfortable. I know he is still troubling you, and it is really bothering me now. The least you can do is tell George.''
''I can't. Not today. It's been so wonderful with him, and telling him about Rolf will ruin everything. He'll be angry with me, and he'll storm off and try to find Rolf and when he does he'll try to kill him.''
Ginny didn't try to argue; that's exactly what George would probably do. ''Luna this cannot carry on for much longer.''
''I know, and I'm certain George is already suspecting something isn't right. I just don't know if I can handle him being mad at me.'' Luna looked so vulnerable to Ginny; she knew that if George could see her right now his heart would break.
Ginny stepped forward and put a comforting arm across Luna's shoulder. ''He would never be mad at you. He would be angry with Rolf, and probably me for not telling him straight away. But never you.''
Luna nodded and fought off the tears that stung her eyes. ''I hope you're right''
Ginny stood and thought about what could happen next. Her thoughts were interrupted as Harry stepped outside of the door. ''Food's ready.''
''Okay we'll be there in a minute.'' Ginny smiled at Harry; trust him to know exactly where they would have gone. He smiled sadly as he looked at Luna, before disappearing back inside.
''I'm not going to say anything today. But if Rolf is still bothering you next week, then I'll get Harry and Ron to talk to George; it will be better if he finds out through them in person, rather than through a letter from either me or you.' Luna nodded and Ginny continued. ''If that's the case, then there's another weekend here next week, where you and George will be able to talk things through.''
''Alright I suppose that will be the best way for him to find out, if he has to know.'' Luna gave Ginny a hug and then wiped her hands over her eyes, removing any signs of her tears.
''Okay, let's go enjoy the rest of the day.'' Ginny smiled as she turned and headed back inside. As Luna followed, she had the horrible feeling that she wouldn't be able to look at George again that day without feeling as miserable as she did at that moment.
By the time it was five o'clock, the sun was almost gone from the skies and an evening chill had come over Hogsmeade. The decreasing light and temperature did not bother George, but something else did. Since lunch, Luna had been much more subdued and quiet, and George knew that he was the only one who didn't understand why.
''Luna, what's wrong?'' George stopped Luna as they walked along the path back towards Hogwarts. He was unable to take the sad look in her eyes any longer.
''Nothing's wrong'' Luna looked up with the same forced smile that she had shown him all afternoon.
''Don't lie to me. I know that something is wrong, and I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who doesn't know why.''
''It's complicated.'' Luna started walking again, desperately trying to get to the castle faster, while also thinking of anything that could possibly get the conversation to change.
''Luna I don't care if you explain it to me and it is so complicated that I don't understand any of it, I still want you to tell me.'' George sped up his pace to keep up with Luna.
''I know that, and I'm sorry if you are worried George, but it's really not the right time to say.''
''Luna we've had an entire day together, surely it could have been the right time at some point.'' Luna could tell that he was getting angry now, and she couldn't blame him.
She stopped so that he could look directly at him and took his hands in hers. ''I promise I will explain everything next weekend when you're here. It's just too much to explain right now, and something I don't want to put into a letter.''
So many scenarios were running through George's mind and they were all horrifying for him to even consider; what could be so serious that she couldn't just tell him now. ''Luna, I can't wait a week. All of these thoughts are going through my mind and they are scaring me. You have to tell me now.''
George's grip on her hand became so tight, and Luna was so close to telling him, but there just wasn't enough time. ''George, I cannot be sure what ideas are in you mind, but I'm safe, I've not been hurt and I promise I will tell you everything next weekend.''
''That's not good enough'' George pulled his hands from Luna's grip and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before turning back in the other direction.
''George...' Luna's voice came out as nothing more of a whisper as she watched him disappear amongst the crowd.
Desperate to hold back the tears in her eyes, Luna walked quickly back towards the castle; where she could safely let out all of her guilt and sorrow without anyone there to witness it.
Even if she didn't see Rolf Scamander's face once in the next week, she would tell George absolutely everything next weekend. Even if she had to apparate away from Hogsmeade to find him.
Next chapter; Harry and Ron discover some worrying information about Rolf, and George finally finds out everything.
Hopefully that wasn't too terrible; I've been really happy with my last couple of chapters and for some reason I've been a bit on the fence about this one. Please let me know what you think as your opinions are the ones I really care about and I promise next chapter is going to be a good one.