It was not necessarily a traditional Christmas, but Luna Lovegood was enjoying every minute of this adventure. Of course, she'd had invitations to spend the holidays with any number of friends. The Potters and the Weasleys had all asked her to visit. Even Neville Longbottom had offered her the chance to celebrate a Christmas at Hogwarts. But, no, she chose to spend this Christmas, the first without her father, doing something that he would have loved, something that would have made him proud.

Though the group was searching for mundane creatures, Luna knew she could sneak in some extra time for her more, well, extraordinary endeavors as they explored the snowy terrain. And while her colleagues were spending their Christmas mornings sleeping in or sleeping off excess holiday cheer, Luna found herself bundling up and heading out into blindingly white snow. A pad and pencil were tucked in her arms as she quietly made her way out of the campsite.

In a few moments, she found an accommodating boulder where she could sit and experience the world around her. If she was very quiet, she just knew that some fascinating creature would find its way to her. She simply had to wait and watch.

As she waited, the daydreams that often filled her mind somehow slipped onto the pages of her journal. She was so lost in her thoughts and her drawings that she didn't notice the man who had walked up behind her. Luna started when he touched her arm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ms. Lovegood. I didn't mean to intrude."

Luna instantly recognized the bespectacled man who now stood behind her. She'd come to respect the man's quiet but firm leadership, and she was quite impressed with his knowledge of all the creatures they'd met so far on their journey. She had not, however, shared with him some of her loftier goals for their current expedition and was not sure what such a learned man would think of some of her more extreme theories.

"It's no intrusion, Professor Scamander. In fact, I imagine I should be getting back to camp. I suppose I tend to wander a bit."

With those apologetic words, Luna made to close her journal…and was a little shocked when a gentle hand stopped her from doing so. His next words shocked her even more.
"Have you seen one yet?"

Luna looked down at her own crude drawing of a beast she had only heard described by her father and other believers. When she shook her head no, the professor continued. "You should keep looking."

At her confused expression, he motioned towards the mountains and valleys that spread out all around them. "I can't possibly believe that we've discovered everything out there, nor do I think we ever will…but that can't stop us from trying, Ms. Lovegood."

When she finally found her voice, Luna whispered, "Thank you. And, call me Luna…please."

"You're welcome, Luna. I'm Rolf." With those words, the professor offered his arm and directed them both back towards the camp.

In that instant, Luna Lovegood knew that Rolf Scamander had just given her the best gift she'd ever received. He believed.

And though neither realized it at the time, she had just given him the best present he could ever even imagine. She gave him her heart.