Oh ho! Didn't expect to see me so soon, did you? Yeah, neither did I. But, alas, here I am. Hope it's not too disappointing! :)

Mistaken Assumptions

Somehow, George managed to pull himself away from the second floor and his own miserable thoughts with enough time to head up the next flight of stairs, wash up and return to the kitchen before anyone had to call or come looking for him. He knew this would relieve his mother because she didn't like to let him out of her sight for too long.

When he walked in, he made sure to acknowledge Molly, who was setting their food on the table, before he looked over to his younger brother, noting the slight space left between Ron and Hermione. He wasn't sure if the distance was because Ron was still quite ill about having to wait to eat or if it was for his benefit because he was alone. Either way, he didn't linger long on it before he turned to greet his father, who beckoned him over to his side.

"How's business?" Arthur asked, watching as his son slid into the seat closest to him. In the last year, Arthur hadn't known how to approach his son. He had worried about him - just as Molly had, but pretending like their family hadn't been completely devestated by the war was almost impossible for him.

"Things are good," George replied. "The place is mad around Christmas. My desk is overflowing with all the orders for weeks."

Molly, who had finally taken her seat at the opposite side of the table, spoke at that. "Maybe it's time you considered a bit of a vacation then, dear. All that work has to be overwhelming."

A look was exchanged between husband and wife before Arthur replied. "I'm sure George can handle it." I'm sure all the work helps him handle other things.

Their son nodded. "Between Ron and I, we've got it covered."

His brother seemed to take notice of the mention of his name and looked up from the chicken he had been eyeing. "Hm?"

"Nothing, Ron," Hermione assured him. "George was just talking about the shop."

Bill, across the table from Hermione and Ron, chuckled lightly. "Just go back to what you were doing. Maybe if you look sad enough, mum'll let you eat."

That comment warranted a glare from the youngest Weasley boy, but he said nothing in response.

"Well, Molly, we're all here. Can we eat now?" Arthur inquired, looking down the table at his wife, who sat directly opposite him in the other head seat of the table.

His wife shook her head, batting Ron's hand away from the chicken. "Not yet. Luna's still upstairs."

Ron groaned. "Can someone go get her then? I'm starving."

His girlfriend rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Ronald..."

Before an argument could break out between them, George stood. "I'll go see if she got way-laid by the ghoul's rattling."

Hermione and Molly shared a pleased look before the latter smiled. "That's a dear. Go tell our guest dinner's ready."

"She's staying in Ginny's old room," Hermione added helpfully. "She might still be up there."

He nodded in acknowledgement before he turned to leave the kitchen, heading to the stairs. But before he got there, he heard a sound coming from the backyard. It was faint, but it sounded as if someone were talking.

With an arched brow, he turned around and started heading for the back door. As he drew closer to the door, the words grew louder and became easier to make out.

"And you mustn't blame him for it. He can't help it."

Opening the door, George stepped carefully out into the grass and continued to make his way to the source of the voice, which he knew by now was their missing house guest. But what was she doing outside?

"Luna?" he asked as he approached her. It was easy to spot her in the darkness, the moon making her blonde hair all the brighter.

A brief moment passed before she turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. "Did you want to join me?"

He paused where he stood, just a few feet from her. "Mum wanted me to tell you dinner was ready."

For a moment, she didn't stay anything as she turned back to look up at the sky. Then... "It's very nice out tonight. You can almost hear the moon frogs."

Instead of asking what she was talking about, he merely stood there and silence enveloped them again.

"George?" Her voice had taken on the dreamy quality he remembered from Hogwarts.

"Yes, Luna?"

"I miss my father."

The words surprised George. He, of course, had known Xenophillius had died shortly after the war, but he hadn't considered that Luna might still be dealing with it. After all, Luna so rarely showed emotions. Then, of course, there was the fact that out of everyone he could've shared her admission with, she had chosen him. Surely Ginny or Hermione would've been able to comfort her better than he could. Especially when he had such a difficult time pulling himself together...

"I'm sorry, Luna," he replied after a moment.

She shifted to look at him again, her eyes looking particularly silver in the glow of the moon. "It's alright."

They looked at each other like that for another few moments before Luna climbed to her feet. "Did your mother say there was pudding?" she asked.

Then, without waiting for a response, she walked past him towards the house.

His brow creased as he watched her walk away. What had she been doing out here? Had she been talking to some mythical creature she had made up?

He glanced up at the sky, pondering it for a moment before deciding to chalk it up to Luna's eccentric ways. Then, without another thought on it, he returned to the house for dinner.

Halfway during dinner, Ron and Hermione had excused themselves, making apologies to Molly for leaving early. Hermione promised they would return the next day, but that they had made plans to pop in at the Grangers' tonight before they returned to their flat.

Aside from their departure and a tense moment when Fleur had almost offended Molly's cooking, the dinner went off as smoothly as a Weasley dinner ever had.

After everyone had finished eating, Arthur and Bill had moved into the sitting room to discuss work while Fleur helped Molly clean the kitchen.

With his family elsewhere, George thought for a moment that he was alone at the table. As his eyes swept over the table, he saw that was not the case. He had forgotten, of course, that Luna was still there.

It was strange and a bit unnerving to find she was staring at him. It was not an intense stare, but her eyes were so large that her gaze seemed piercing in spite of her dreamy expression.

There was a moment that passed where he looked at her in return, wondering why she seemed so enthralled by him. After all, he had never been the charming brother. He'd never been the funny one. He had always been the support. Sure, he got a few quips in here and there, but everyone knew he wasn't the ring leader.

"I think wrackspurts must have gotten in your head," she began after a bit. "Your eyes look like they've gone a bit fuzzy."

George blinked. "Wrackspurts. Yeah, that must be it..."

"Were you thinking again? I'm sorry if I interrupted."

He shook his head at her, his hand absently toying with a piece of chipped wood on the table. "No, Luna, you didn't interrupt anything. I was just thinking of turning in for the night." Not like he'd be able to sleep in that room, but he didn't want to be left alone with his parents. They would try to talk to him and, in case his self-imposed solitude didn't make it perfectly clear, he didn't want to talk about anything.

Luna just continued to watch him, tilting her head slightly as she did.

No one said anything for the next few moments, except the occasional instruction from Molly about where Fleur was to put something.

"I would like to see your room," Luna said, breaking the silence.

George's brown gaze flickered to her, taken aback. She wanted to see their room? No one had seen their - no, it was his room now - since they were younger.

But in spite of that, the ginger found himself sliding to his feet with an agreement on his lips.

"Come on then."

He wasn't sure why he had agreed, but now that she stood to follow him, he felt slightly comforted. At least he wouldn't have to confront the empty room alone. He wasn't sure if he could handle it.

I hope you guys liked this chapter. I'm trying to keep all the characters as much in character as I can. Except George, of course... But that's understandable, right?