Harry and Co. Belong to J.K. Rowling
I do Own a plush Ron! and a Neville is my Hero Shirt.
I have to do this in two parts - it was way too long...
Enjoy!!
Luna got up slowly, dusting her hands and knees absentmindedly. She loved spring, it was always so nice to hear the Hephediz soothing mating call. She shielded her eyes and spied her husband. He was either trying to signal her or he had nargles stuck in his hair again.
She had warned him about the mistletoe or at least she though she did. Luna contemplated whether she had put enough charms around her tomato and herb patch. "Luna." Rolf called.
Rolf could tell she was lost in her world again, how she hadn't gotten eaten by the Crumpled Snorkack, he'd never know. 'She probably explained to it, how unfortunate it would be to eat one of the few believers.' he thought uncharitably.
Luna approached Rolf and with great calm stared at him, "Something come in the mail for me?" she asked politely. "Yes, the World Wizard Explorer subscription came and you've a package as well." he said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, something from father perhaps." Luna did not wait for an answer, she skipped to their cottage and gleefully picked up the brown package sitting on the table.
She picked it up and weighed it experimentally in her hands, listening intently as its contents moved inside the box.
"Why, don't you just open it?" Rolf interrupted her ritual, settling himself at the table. "I suppose I could, but then it wouldn't be a surprise. It would be just a package delivered by owl." she replied casually.
Rolf was normally good natured but these packages were coming with more frequency that he would have liked. He understood Luna's friends but he felt jealous of the time she dedicated to packages that came from around the world.
Luna opened the package delicately, slitting open the flaps and sliding out the box with extreme care. Rolf's tanned complexion turned an unflattering ruddy color at the sight of the box. Inside was an elaborate mahogany box complete with engraving.
Luna touched the golden letters with reverence. On the cover in golden letters were the initials D.A. "Rolf, do you know what this means?" she asked her glowering husband.
"Are you angry at the box?" she asked, forcing Rolf to abandon his hatred of the dreaded box. "Why would I be angry at a box?" he repeated her question back to her. "Usually one does not glower at inanimate objects, but if you had a bad experience, perhaps that colors your thoughts for that particular object." she answered him.
Rolf was speechless and was forced to continue watching her open it. Inside was an elaborate invitation to the 5th Annual Dumbledore's Army Ball. Five years ago Ginny and Neville had come up with the concept for the ball. They would contact old D.A. members via owl and confirm the invitation with their enchanted Galleons.
Hermione had been in charge of creating new ones for those that had lost their originals. She had been delighted and Ron had helped her contact all the members to complete the operation. Neville had supplied the last remaining coin to replicate.
This coin sat in a glass box made by George, in the box was a list of all the fallen members of the D.A. This sat proudly in the center table underneath the portrait of the last headmaster before the fall of Voldermort. McGonagall has proudly lent it out to Harry and every year, Dumbledore watched the festivities with a twinkle in his eyes.
Luna read the invitation and hurried to find her coin. Rolf watched her flurry of movement not willing to tell her where she put her coin last. "Its by the Lily patch or maybe in the pouch I knitted last year." Luna talked to herself as she pulled drawer after drawer looking for the elusive coin.
Unable to help himself, Rolf blurted out. " Its by the friendship portrait." Luna gasped and placing a small kiss on his head moved to the mantle. The friendship portrait was a collage of pictures from their summer vacation. She had placed her coin there, so she wouldn't forget it.
She put the coin in the box and twisted the handle on the side. The box disappeared with a pop. "So were going to another ball?" he asked reproachfully. "Of course, you don't have to come if you don't want to. I know you aren't always comfortable." she replied in a moment of brief rationality.
"I wouldn't miss it." he replied sarcastically. "Neville will be so pleased." Luna then sat at the table and continued rummaging through the rest of the day's mail.