Big smiley faces to Hannahzzz, ..Tarrant, Chloe 'Remuslupin' Black, walters1, PurplePumpkin12, ninjacat5, Adventurous-A, Kristin93 and Stella Celeste Taylor who all reviewed my last chapter. I'm going to update one more chapter tomorrow before Christmas and then I will be back on the 27th with more. I have also posted the first chapter of my new George/Luna fic that I mentioned a couple of chapters ago; it's called 'Lessons And Love' and I would really appreciate it if you guys would take a look, as it is a very different take on the George and Luna relationship compared to this story.
So two more days to go before I find out if JK Rowling has given me ownership of anything Potter for Christmas...I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
George's pacing had left a track in the snow; he had being doing it for so long. He knew Luna wouldn't get to Hogsmeade any earlier than she had done the week before, but that hadn't stopped him from arriving half an hour early. He had been waiting outside of Zonko's for so long now that he was earning constant glares from the shop keeper inside and he was surprised that he hadn't been asked to leave the area yet.
He was so busy wearing tracks further into the snow that he did not hear the sound of crunching footsteps in the snow behind him.
''George'' As he heard her soft and quiet voice come from behind him, he felt as though he hadn't seen her in years.
He turned around and saw her looking at him with a sad smile. As she stood in amongst the snowy landscape, wearing a sky blue coat and a woolly hat that both matched the shade of her eyes, George couldn't believe how beautiful and innocent she looked.
''Are Hermione and Ginny with you?'' He asked, unsure of how else to start the conversation.
''No, your message told me to come on my own; they've gone to meet Ron and Harry.'' Luna took a couple of steps closer to George, but there was still a considerable gap between them. ''I'm sorry I didn't write back, but I was unsure of what to say.''
''I wasn't expecting you to write back.'' George shifted his weight and put his hands in his coat pockets, realising how unprepared he was for this moment.
''So...you said you knew everything...and more'' Luna looked at George, seeing him look so lost made her even more desperate to hold him than she already was.
''Um...yeah I did didn't I'' While attempting to avoid looking at Luna, he noticed yet another glare being aimed at him from inside Zonko's. ''Can we talk somewhere else?''
George gestured inside the shop, and Luna nodded; realising why he had asked. George noticed a bench along the path behind Luna and started heading towards it, and Luna followed silently.
For several minutes they sat at the bench in silence, George looked down at his hands, while Luna observed the busy streets around her.
''I'm sorry I didn't tell you'' Luna finally broke the silence.
''It's not your fault, you didn't want me to be worried about you'' George still looked at his hands while speaking.
''But you were worried anyway...even when I hadn't told you. It would have been much easier if I had just told you earlier.''
''That's true, but almost everyone would do something differently if they could see the future consequences.''
''That's a very intelligent thing for you to say.''
''You sound surprised.'' George smiled and couldn't stop himself from looking up at Luna. ''There is a lot of wisdom in this handsome head of mine Luna''
Luna giggled. ''I'm sure there is, you just need to keep the Nargles away.''
''Yeah those bloody Nargles can make me look like a right idiot sometimes.'' George smirked, despite not having any idea of what a Nargle actually is.
''You seem intelligent enough to me; with or without Nargles.'' Luna shifted slightly along the bench so that she and George were sat side by side.
''Well thank you for the complement.'' George smiled to himself as he saw Luna move closer.
Luna watched the smile leave George's face, and she knew the conversation was about to get serious again.
''Luna, there's something you need to know about Rolf Scamander.'' George spoke nervously, unsure of how he wanted Luna to respond; did he want her to be brave and not care about Rolf's family? Or did he want her to panic and come home with him? The selfish part of him was very much in favour of the second reaction. ''His father is the cousin of Rudolphus Lestrange.''
Luna's eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't expected that. ''How do you know?''
''Harry recognised the name Scamander and looked it up.'' George concentrated on Luna's face, hoping to see any emotions that appeared.
''I see, but Rolf is in Ravenclaw. The Lestranges are Slytherins.''
''The sorting hat can make mistakes.'' George recalled what Ron had said about Harry nearly ending up in Slytherin.
''Or Rolf simply doesn't belong in Slytherin'' Luna heard a sigh come from George. ''I don't want to be difficult George, but I would rather think positively than think the worst of him.''
''Yeah I know you would, but you need to consider the fact that it may not be a coincidence that Rolf is so interested in you, considering who his family is.''
''Yes, but you also need to remember that Harry's godfather was from a family of Slytherins, and he was nothing but good. Nymphadora Tonks was Bellatrix Lestrange's niece, but there wasn't a bad bone in her body.''
''I get that Luna'' George placed his hand over hers. ''but you still need to be cautious around Rolf.''
''I will be, but you have to promise not to worry about me too much.'' Luna moved her hand so that she could link her fingers with his.
''I'm afraid that's a promise I cannot make.'' George smiled at her.
''Alright, but will you at least try not to worry.'' Luna rested her head on George's shoulder.
''It's my job to worry about you. You're far to important to me Luna.'' George tilted his head and kissed her forehead. ''I've taken a lot of risks in my life Luna, but I will not take any when it comes to you.''
''I'm never around Rolf alone, so even if he is a threat he wont do anything while anyone's around.''
''That makes me feel so much better'' George said sarcastically. ''but at least I know you'll be safe.''
''And in a couple of months it will be Christmas. So I'll be back with you then.'' Luna smiled.
''You get three weeks off for Christmas, right?''
''Yes, Professor McGonagall thinks it's very important that we're with our families longer this year, considering it will be the first without...you know...'' Luna trailed off; she didn't need to explain to George about the fact that certain loved ones would be missing from this upcoming Christmas.
''Yeah I do know'' George spoke sadly.
''Do you want to look around anywhere?'' Luna lifted her head off his shoulder, but kept hold of his hand.
''Not really, what about you?''
''I'm okay, I didn't really think about anything other than seeing you''
A cheeky grin appeared on George's face. ''Oh really?''
Luna giggled at George's grin, and decided to tease him a little. ''Yes I did, but don't worry that isn't a common problem; I sometimes actually forget who you are.''
''Oh well, an easy way to remember me is that I'm the bloke with one ear less than everybody else.'' George joked. ''Just remember me as Saint George''
''Saint George?'' Luna was confused by the joke.
''It was a joke between me and Fred; when I first lost my ear I said that I was holey so he called me Saint George, oh and His Holeyness; that was another one.''
Luna laughed, and George smiled as he watched her do so.
''So Saint George, what are we going to do now?'' Luna said as her laughter died down.
''I can think of something'' George smirked before using the hand Luna was holding to pull her to him and he kissed her on the lips.
''Good plan'' Luna muttered, she moved to sit in George's lap, before continuing the kiss.
George pulled away briefly. ''And just think, in two months we can do this all the time.''
''Hmmm...I wonder if there's anyway to apparate into the future'' Luna pondered with a smile.
George chuckled and cupped her face in his hands, pulling her in for another passionate kiss.
The next chapter is going to jump ahead a couple of months to the beginning of December when the Christmas holidays begin for Luna, and hopefully you will understand why I have skipped October and November early on in the next chapter; which will be up tomorrow.
Please R & R.