Chapter 7, woo-hoo! I'm very happy with the progress I've made because I'm actually getting reviews. I don't really know where to go from here with the story. So anything I write will be surprising me as well as all of you. Also, this chapter might seem a little funny sounding because I'm extremely sick while writing it and my writing is suffering because of it. Anyway, hope you enjoy. R&R please! : )
Luna and I sat side by side at the table. She held my hand under the table as we ate what must have been the most amazing dinner in the world. It could have either been cooked really well, or I was just starving. I think it may have been a bit of both. Luna let go of my hand momentarily to wipe at her mouth with her napkin and my hand felt empty and cold in that moment. But when she slipped her hand back into mine, I smiled. Everyone kept glancing around silently, and I felt a bit awkward around my own family.
"So, erm… Ginny…" Harry attempted valiantly, breaking the silence.
"Yes, Harry?" I said, plastering on a fake smile.
"How are, um… things with you and Luna?"
I raised an eyebrow curiously. Had Hermione put him up to this? She must have, she was staring down at her plate determinedly, but I knew she was listening.
"They're fine, Harry… It's not like we're going out or anything, though we probably should be. We act like it, anyway."
Luna grinned up at me; I was actually quite a bit taller than her. I was actually quite a bit taller than a lot of people. I was nearly Ron's height.
"So, why don't you?"
"I don't know. Luna and I are just friends. It's always been that way, and it'll probably always be that way."
"All right, then," Harry said as he chewed thoughtfully on a bit of chicken. He seemed satisfied with my answer and it went back to the lapsed silence. I felt awkward and I didn't like it, so I quickly ate my food and asked to be excused. Mum and dad nodded, and I cleaned up my spot at the table and headed up to my room, shooting a meaningful glance at Luna. I closed the door behind me and lay down on my bed. A few moments later, the door creaked open, and then shut and I could tell without looking from the pattern of the footsteps that it was Luna. She crawled into bed beside me and we lay there in silence, both thinking.
I wondered what Harry's ulterior motive was in asking me those questions. He must have wanted to know something for Hermione. He must have asked me that stuff for her. Maybe she wanted to know because she missed me. Maybe she wanted to be with me again. A sliver of hope swelled slowly into a ball of hope in my chest. Luna snored softly and I looked at her. She was fast asleep. I smiled softly.
"Ginny?" I heard a voice from outside of the room. A knock on the door.
"Yeah, come in," I sighed, recognizing Charlie's voice.
Charlie walked in, broad shoulders looking a bit purple in his tank top.
"Um, what happened? And we have to be quiet, Luna's fallen asleep."
"Oh, we were playing around, Harry and I, and I ran into the cabinet."
"Ouch. Hey, did Harry mention anything about talking for Hermione while you guys were hanging around?"
"He mentioned how Hermione seemed a bit upset, but not about talking for Hermione. Don't get your hopes up, kiddo. She's no good for you. Now, Luna, she's a winner there."
I smiled a bit. "Yeah, she's a prize, all right."
"So why aren't you her girlfriend, then?"
"I don't know. I guess she just doesn't have feelings for me. She told me so."
Charlie's expression fell, and he looked rather upset. "Well, all right. Just… be careful, all right, Ginny?"
I nodded, not really knowing what he meant by that. He got up, mussed my hair and left, closing the door behind himself. I yawned and curled up into Luna and fell asleep. When I woke up, it was to Luna shaking me gently. I stretched slowly like a cat and opened one eye sleepily.
"Ginny, father's just owled me. He's gone away from home for a bit to visit some relatives in Dublin. I was wondering if I could stay here for a bit with you. "
I nodded groggily and stretched again, yawning widely. "I think my family wants me to date you," I told Luna.
"Really? That's quite interesting."
"Is it?"
"I wouldn't mind dating you," Luna said somewhat shyly.
I groaned internally. If Luna had feelings for me, and she had just lied to protect me…
"Why do you say that?"
"Well we're already acting like we're dating. We do everything couples do. Why not have the title?"
"Because you don't have feelings for me and because even if you did, it wouldn't be fair to you for me to be with you and be in love with Hermione."
"I suppose so…" Luna said carefully. She looked as if she was mulling it over, but I couldn't be too sure as to what she was thinking.
"Want to go fly around a bit in the back?" I asked her, sitting up.
"Sure, only I'm afraid to fly."
"Don't worry, you can hold on to me," I smiled.
She grinned and we headed out back, grabbing my broom on the way. I mounted the broom and helped Luna on, and she gripped my waist tightly, nervously. I kicked off and hovered about five feet off the ground, to let Luna get used to the height difference. Slowly, I began to maneuver the broom higher and higher until we were about 50 feet up in the air. Luna looked down and squeaked, terrified.
"Don't look down, just look around you," I told her over the roar of the wind.
I felt her shift around a little bit to look around. A soft gasp escaped from her mouth. I could understand why; the scenery was beautiful. I smiled and held onto one of her hands on my waist. This might have been a little too romantic for two best friends to do together but I didn't mind. A shout broke us out of our first true romantic moment.
"Ginny!"
I sighed and looked down; no one could ever leave Luna and me alone for too long. My heart caught in my throat when I saw who was looking up at me.
"Hey, Hermione!"
I flew down slowly, still gripping Luna's hand. She rested her chin on my shoulder calmly and held on to my waist tightly. When I touched down to the floor, I stepped off of the broom slowly and helped Luna down. She automatically clung to me. She was starting to get attached to me. However in love I was with Hermione, she never got this attached to me. I grinned and kissed Luna on the cheek appreciatively.
"What's up?" I asked Hermione, sliding my hands around Luna's waist from behind.
"Um… nothing," said Hermione. She seemed stunned by something. Maybe my smile; I hadn't smiled like this since before my first year at Hogwarts. She had never seen me smile like this.
"Well there must have been something you wanted, if you came out here to find me."
"I… there was… but I forgot what it was… so I'll just… I'll just go back inside then," she stammered.
I kissed the back of Luna's neck affectionately and held her tightly. She leaned against me, and I felt her completely relax against me.
"Well, I suppose I'll see you later, then," I told Hermione.
"I suppose," she said.
I could see the rage and jealousy in her eyes. Luna could as well, because she tensed and I felt her fists clench tightly.
"Relax," I murmured into her ear, and kissed it softly.
Hermione twisted around and bumped into Ron, who hugged her immediately. She squeezed him, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. I scowled and Luna and I pushed past them, still holding on to each other. I sighed, pulling Luna to a spot at the top of a huge hill. We walked slowly, sluggishly, since the hill was steep. When we got to the top, we lay down, and I wrapped my arms around her. This was exactly what I needed after seeing Ron and Hermione together. I was still burning up with jealousy but something about the way Luna hugged me – she felt so needy – made me feel calm and safe.
"Luna?" I asked softly.
"Mm?"
"Do you need me?"
"Of course I do. You're the best friend I've ever had, the only true friend I've ever had. I love you dearly, and if you were to disappear somewhere or abandon me, I would lose my mind. They would have a ward for Luna Lovegood in St. Mungo's."
I smiled and cuddled closer to her. We watched the sun go down in each others' arms and when we got up to go to bed, it was already late. Mum had a fit when we came in.
"Where were you girls?! I've been looking all over for you two! You missed an important talk, and it is way past your bed time, Ginny Weasley!"
"Sorry, mum," I grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley," Luna said serenely.
"Oh, I was just worried… Get up to bed now. Hermione will be staying in Ron's room with him. Harry will be in the twins' room…" Mum said, trailing off at the mention of the twins. Now that one of the twins, Fred, was gone, Mum was sensitive to saying 'the twins' or 'the boys' or anything like that.
"All right," I said quickly, though a surge of anger coursed through me. "Good night, mum. See you in the morning."
"Good night, girls. Sweet dreams."
"Good night, Mrs. Weasley," Luna said.
I took Luna's hand and we headed up to my room. I locked the door, undressed and laid in bed, waiting for Luna to come with me. Her eyes grazed over my naked body lustfully, and I grinned.
"Come get me if you want me."
I placed a silencing charm on the room, and reached from my bed to close the window. Luna crawled into bed and began to kiss me. Her lips trailed onto my neck quickly. She sucked on my neck and soon left a mark. This was going to be a long, tireless night.
When Luna and I woke up in the morning, it was in each others' arms, and with smiles on our faces.
"Good morning, love," she whispered in my ear.
"Mm, morning," I yawned, stretching.
Luna ran a finger down my taut stomach and I giggled; I was extremely ticklish.
"Should we go downstairs, then?" Luna asked.
"I suppose," I replied, grabbing around tiredly for my clothes.
I passed my eyes across Luna's naked body with a grin and stopped at her neck.
"Oh, crap," I muttered, touching her neck softly. There was a great big dark purple mark on her throat.
"What is it?" Luna asked, touching her neck.
"I've left you a bit of a mark," I grinned guiltily.
"Oh, dear," grinned Luna, and began to get dressed.
Once we were both fully clothed, we went downstairs and I froze upon what I saw. Ron was on one knee holding a ring out to Hermione.