Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling

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Snow Angels

Chapter Nine

A Day Apart

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Luna wasn't surprised to find that George had already left by the time she joined the others downstairs for breakfast the next morning. He had interviews to do and plans to have drawn up for the new shop…he had said so the night before. Luna was perfectly willing to let the others believe that but she knew the truth…George wasn't at breakfast because he was being a bloody damned coward. He didn't want to give her a chance to restart their discussion from the night before and even more so, he didn't want to give her the chance to win.

Luna rolled her eyes as she stared into her plate of French toast, a small grin playing about her lips. She could tell herself she was mad at him all she wanted to… but the truth was, what George was doing was the sweetest thing anyone had done for her in a long, long time. That was exactly why what she had to do today was so important; she needed to find something, some token, to show George how much he meant to her.

It wasn't about paybacks, not really, at least not deep down. The rest … well, that was just part of what made being around George so enjoyable. He thrilled and exasperated her, he challenged and overwhelmed her… he annoyed her and made her feel like she could spend the rest of her life staring into his eyes and not notice a second of the passage of time…and she felt all of this in a single breath.

Even if it was too soon to even think the words, it was impossible to deny that they existed. Eventually they would come out, it was only a matter of time.

Luna had only a small window to find George's gift. The next day was Christmas Eve and she had already promised that she would help in the shop. The day promised to be a busy one and George would need every available hand; besides, he would be in Diagon Alley, not in Hogsmeade as he had been so often lately. She would never be able to sneak out right under his nose; he would ask too many questions. In fact, if she timed it right, she could shop during her lunch break. They always lunched in twos and with George gone, she had a perfect excuse to get away alone.

Diagon Alley was a flurry of activity that morning. Every shop had put on it's best face, street hawkers stood on every corner selling everything from Goblin made jewelry to love potions. The smell of roasting chestnuts was heavy on the air, a smell so wonderful that Luna could have stood there all day just breathing it in. It was her second favorite scent in the world, the only thing better was the scent of her fathers pipe tobacco and the cedar and gunpowder scent that lingered around George.

Ginny, Hermione and Luna stocked shelves while Harry and Ron, grumbling all the way, went about clearing the side walk. The day was overcast and gave all the signs that even more snow was on it's way, to Ron and Harry at least, it made no sense to clear it when it was just going to get full again.

"Do you think George would find out if we didn't wear those ridiculous costumes?" Hermione gave a disdainful sniff towards the garment bags that hung on hooks towards the back.

"Of course he will find out." Ginny looked none too pleased about wearing the costume either, but she had grown up with George, she knew better than to try to pull one over on him. "George always finds out."

Luna agreed silently, he had found out about the skates after all.

"At least you're getting paid well for it." She offered, turning away from the shelf and tossing her empty box into the pile. "Just think about the money when you feel embarrassed."

"Is that what you do?" Hermione grinned "Or is it enough for you that you are doing it for George?"

Luna, somewhat used to their teasing now, ignored the last. "What money?"

"He is paying you isn't he?" Ginny stepped down from the ladder where she had been stocking Weasley's Best All Day Sneezing Powder.

"No, he's not actually." Luna shrugged, picked up another box and then used her wand to open it. "He paid for my new ice skates, as far as I am concerned, we are even."

Luna winced, she hadn't meant to let that slip.

"He paid for your skates?" Hermione smiled widely

"Of course silly," Luna attempted to laugh but it came out as a mad sounding crackle "It's not like I went to Sweden myself."

"He went to Sweden?" Ginny's eyes were huge. "To buy you ice skates? Merlin's fat hairy arse, he does have it bad."

Luna turned away, blushing madly now. She hated it when she got nervous, she often let things fly out of her mouth without thinking when she got rattled.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about." Hermione put her hand on Luna's shoulder, urging her to turn around. "It's sweet that he did that. I wouldn't have expected it of George."

"Why not?"

"George has always been…" Ginny moved her head from side to side, struggling to come up with the right words to describe her brother. She had known him to be so many things; warm and funny, sweet and caring…but a romantic…the kind of guy who would go to Sweden to buy a girl a pair of ice skates…never. In fact, George had never shown enough interest to so much as buy a girl a stick of gum before. "…indifferent when it comes to girls. "

"I don't understand. You don't mean he's…"

"Oh heaven's no! It's nothing like that." Hermione laughed "He likes girl's. There has just never been one that has held his interest for long."

"You think I am different?"

Hermione and Ginny looked at one another and cracked up. Despite her odd beliefs, Luna was one of the smartest people they knew, she was a Ravenclaw for crying out loud. How could she possibly be so dim about this? But then, she couldn't see what they could. She couldn't see the way George looked at her, they way his eyes followed her every move, the way his body shifted when hers did. It had only been four days, but George and Luna were already so attuned to one another they interacted in the same silent manner as Ginny's parents…and they had been married twenty eight years.

"I know you are different." Ginny grinned and went back to her ladder.

Luna realized that she was grinning all over herself, she had to look totally goofy at the moment…and then she realized something else…she and George were supposed to be a secret.

"It doesn't mean anything is going on you know." She attempted, badly, to cover up. "Were just … very good friends, that's all."

Hermione and Ginny didn't stop laughing the rest of the morning.

George looked up at the ever-grey sky; it was starting to look as if the snow was going to stop soon and he hoped that Harry and Ron were doing a good job keeping the side walk cleared. The morning had been remarkably productive, he had hired both new managers within an hour of each other and the plans for the new shop had been drawn up. He would need to look them over and make changes that night and then owl them off first thing in the morning. It would leave him free to work in the Diagon Alley shop all day…good thing too, it was sure to be as mad tomorrow as it had been the last two weeks put together. Not for the first time, he was thankful to have finished his Christmas shopping weeks before…or rather, most of it. There was one last minute gift he needed to exchange, one that he hadn't realized weeks ago that he would need.

George pulled his collar up and tightened his scarf before stepping outside the shop that would soon be known as Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. He smiled as he crossed the snow covered street, thinking about how much Fred would have loved opening the second shop, even though it meant their no longer working side by side. They had never decided who would be running which shop but George had hoped for the one in Hogsmeade. He had always loved the little village, the only wizard only village still in existence.

He had already decided that he would move there after the first of the year, his focus would be shifting to Hogsmeade, both managers would be working under Ron and Hermione while they learned the business so George could oversee the work in the new shop. There was a little tiny house behind the shop where the old owner had lived; George had taken ownership of that as well but that too was in bad shape from being closed for so long. He would need to spend some time here after Christmas seeing that it was put right.

George was sure he could talk Luna into helping him; if nothing else it would guarantee some time alone together before she had to return to school.

He reached the other side of the street, firmly putting the thought of Luna's return to school out of his mind. It was a week away; he would deal with it then. In the mean time, he wasn't going to ruin his holiday with unhappy thoughts.

George continued down the sidewalk, nodding to familiar and not familiar faces as he passed. He paused at the door of the Three Broomsticks, a nearly overpowering craving for a mug of hot butterbeer came over him but he shook himself and continued on his way. If he took the time for that, it would delay his return to Diagon Alley and he was hoping to return before they closed the shop.

At last he came to the small mahogany door of the little jewelers shop at the end of the street. A small heavy woman was just leaving and he held the door for her as she bustled through.

"Well George Weasley!" She smiled up at him, George realized it was Professor Sprout. "I'd heard a rumor you were starting a new shop in Hogsmeade!"

"Professor, it's nice to see again." It truly was, Herbology had always been a favorite class for him and Fred…there was so much mischief that could be had with plants.

"You too Weasley, you too!" She patted him on the arm and adjusted her packages. "Headmaster McGonagall and some of the others are waiting me at the Three Broomsticks, would you care to join us?"

George grinned, he truly would have loved to sit down for a butterbeer with some of his old teachers now that they were on equal ground, so to speak… he could say whatever he wanted to them now and they couldn't give him detention. That would have to wait for another day.

"I would love to professor, but maybe another time. I need to get back to the shop in Diagon Alley. Busy time of the year."

"Of course, of course." She smiled and moved past him. "Well once you're all settled in perhaps you could come for a visit."

"Certainly." Particularly if it means a chance to see Luna. "Happy Christmas" He nodded and then opened the door and stepped inside.

George had always loved this little shop and had bought several little baubles for his mother and sister here. The Friday before he had come in looking for some little thing to give Luna and he had come across a lovely little locket with an etched angel on the front. Had nearly bought it, but things had been different between them then. A locket was far too personal a thing to give someone who was just a friend. Instead, had walked away with an insignificant little pin.

There was nothing insignificant about his feelings for Luna …not anymore, and so he had come to return the pin and buy the angel locket instead.

"Hello Mr. Perry." George stepped up to the counter, pulling off his hat and scarf with one hand and extricating the box in his pocket with the other.

"Hello George." The elderly man stood behind the counter wearing red robes, his thick white hair was worn in a neat center part and his deep blue eyes glittered with holiday spirit behind his square glasses. George had always thought that if he weighed two hundred pounds more, he could have easily passed for Santa Claus. "Is there a problem with the pin?"

"Yes and no." He set the box on the counter and pulled off his gloves. "It's fine really, but I decided it isn't really the right gift. I was wondering if I could return it and buy something else."

"Certainly, did you have something else in mind?"

George moved down the counter a short ways, to where he had seen the locket. It was gone, replaced by a men's pocket watch on a gold chain.

"You had a silver locket, with an angel on the front." He asked hopefully; maybe it had just been moved.

"Ah yes, lovely locket that was." He shook his head. "I'm afraid I sold it, same day you came in."

"Do you have another?" he knew the chances were small, less than zero probably, but he had to at least try. "Or maybe something like it?"

"I have some other lockets." He nodded George down to the other side of the shop. "A few with Christmas Fairies. Maybe one of those will do?"

George followed Mr. Perry to the other side, hoping beyond anything that one of the others would be nice. His heart fell when he took in the selection. They were nice, some very pretty, one even had a fairy laying in a mass of poinsettias that reminded George of Luna's poinsettia pin…but they were all too fairy like. He wanted an angel.

"No." George smiled sadly. "Thank you though."

"Would you still like to return the pin?" Mr. Perry moved towards the register "Perhaps at GeneralWizard Silversmith, in Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, thank you." George reached in his pocket for his wallet where he had kept the receipt. "Ill try there."

His eyes wandered while Mr. Perry filled out the form for the return, regretting not having bought the locket… it would have been so perfect. Then, in a display of silver engagement rings, a flash of red caught his eye. He looked back and found a tray with several small silver rings, the band on each was unique. They were flat rather than rounded, etched with different patterns and set with a variance of small stones. Some blue topaz, some sapphire, some emerald, and the one that had caught his eye, a stunning garnet set in a band that was etched with small angels.

"That's an odd stone." He nodded towards the ring. "For an engagement ring I mean; aren't they usually set with diamonds?"

"Engagement rings, yes," Mr. Perry went to the display and looked closer at the ring George was indicating. "Those are promise rings."

"Promise ring…" George looked at him blankly. He seemed to remember hearing the term a time or two, but apparently he hadn't been interested enough to pay attention long enough to catch the meaning of it.

"They've been around for ages, go in and out of fashion. They're all the rage again these days, since the war." Mr. Perry laughed at the confused look on George's face. "A bloke gives it to a girl he cares about when he wants to make a commitment, but it is too soon for the other."

George grinned. It seemed a bit silly, but at the same time, it made sense. "So…it's like a commitment with a promise to make a more serious commitment sometime down the road but with no promise of when?"

"Exactly." Mr. Perry laughed. "Everybody is happy. Parent's are happy because it stop their daughters from rushing into things, girls are happy because they get their commitment, and...well…we are happy because it stops women from nagging about the other I guess."

"Could I see that one?" George indicated the garnet ring with the angels.

"Have a thing for angels do you?" Mr. Perry chuckled as he pushed open the glass display case.

"Yeah, guess I do."

'Definitely. Particularly blonde earthbound angels who walked circles about Diagon Alley in the snow.'

The ring was beautiful, and it would be perfect. It would show Luna that he was serious, but it wouldn't scare her by being too serious. He looked at the price tag, because of the garnet it was considerably more expensive than the pin…not that that really mattered to him. The thing was, Luna wouldn't like that much. Then again, that didn't really matter either. It wouldn't be the first time his extravagance had annoyed her…and, probably not the last either.

He lay the ring on the counter and grinned mischievously; after all, annoying Luna was half of the fun.

"It's perfect, I'll take it."

Luna looked at her watch and then irritably kicked a small chunk of packed snow that lay innocently in her path; her allotted time for lunch was almost up and her shopping was not going well in the least.

She had managed to find some small things for George's parents, for the brothers she didn't know well, Bill and Fleur were easy since she had spent all that time with them the spring before. She knew Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione well enough to shop for them with her eyes closed.

All that remained was George and he was proving to be just as annoying in his absence as he sometimes was when he was present.

Luna sighed deeply, that wasn't true. George wasn't annoying at all. He was amazing, and special and he meant more to her than anyone in world. When she thought about him she saw this whole wonderful future laying ahead… the life they would one day share. When she closed her eyes she could almost see them, surrounded by their children living in an old country house that they would have restored themselves…preferably some where close to most of his family. Luna had never really understood what a difference having a large family could make; she had always been happy with just her father, but finding herself all alone in the world had changed that.

It had once been her dream to prove to the world that all of the rare creatures that she believed in were real. Now, all she dreamed of was having a family again, one that she could call her own, and amazingly, she had found someone who wanted to help her make her dreams come true.

George Weasley wasn't annoying at all; he was her dream come to life.

Luna gave her watch another cursory glance; she was out of time. She quickly crossed the street to her flat and went up the stairs, she needed a place to hide her gifts for the others until she managed to find time to wrap them. George had left her a note asking her to wait for him at her flat so they could have dinner together in Diagon Alley that evening, she could do it while she waited on his return from Hogsmeade. Her little flat was turning out to be quite convenient, even if she wasn't actually staying there.

She unlocked the door and rushed through the darkened rooms, flushing a little when she walked under the chandelier with the memory of their first kiss. It had been so sweet, much sweeter than how she had ever imagined it would be in her youthful ponderings.

She dropped the bags on the bed and then turned around, glancing at the clock next to the bed on her way back through the room. The sight of a million stars on the wall stopped her in her tracks and she turned towards the window…hanging on a small gold hook was a small token that her father had brought her from one of his many trips to Austria, a perfectly cut snowflake made of Viennese crystal.

It wasn't overly large, only about three inches tall, not the flat kind that you readily found in knick knock shops, but the three dimensional kind with pieces that were fused together to make the whole, the kind that could only be found by fine craftsmen. It had no embellishments; in fact was rather plain, but beautiful in it's simplicity. The snowflake didn't hold much value, not in comparison with the wonders that came out of the Goblin gold, silver and gemstone mines, but it was precious to Luna because it was a gift that had come from her father.

She didn't have the slightest doubt…if George knew that his gift was something that had been given to her by her father, he would understand the significance. He would know how much he meant to her, and the snowflake… it would be a reminder to him of the night they met in Diagon Alley.

It was the perfect gift.

With a small smile she stepped over to the window and then pulled it off the little gold hook she had used to hang it. She conjured a box and a healthy wad of fluffy raw cotton to wrap it up in, and then she kissed each tip of the snowflake, twelve in all, before putting in the box and sealing it. Not about to take any chances, she wrapped the box immediately, and then decided as long as she was wrapping, she may as well do the others as well …

"Let them complain about my taking too long for lunch," She smirked to herself and added a bright blue bow to the box that held the heavy book on astronomy that she had bought for Hermione. "I just happen to be in good with the boss."

When she finished she looked at her watch again, a guilty feeling filling her stomach despite her nonchalance over it a moment before. She debated for a moment, wondering if she should leave the boxes, or use a charm to minimize them and take them with her. With a small laugh she pulled her wand out and minimized the boxes, and then began putting them into a safe pocket in her bag.

Alone time was good, but there was such a thing as being too alone. If she and George ended up at her flat, they would never make it to dinner and she was starving… after all, she had skipped lunch.

"So, what's this I heard you took a two hour lunch today?" George leaned across the table at the Leaky Cauldron, a sarcastic grin causing his eyes to crinkle in, what Luna thought at least, was the most charming way. "Cheating the boss are you?"

"You're not paying me." Luna countered, the conversation from that morning conveniently flashing back into her mind.

"I'm not?" Now he was taken aback. This was news to him.

"No, you're not." Luna picked up her hot mug of butterbeer and took a long drink. "I said so."

"Hell I'm not."

"You already paid me."

"Did not."

"Did so." Luna blinked innocently, her smile incredibly smug. "I am working to pay off my new ice skates."

George rolled his eyes and let his face fall into his palm. "Not this again."

"You won't let me pay you back, then I won't let you pay me for working for you."

He rubbed his forehead irritably before lifting his head and fixing her with a look. "That's not how it works."

"Of course it is." Luna was looking more and more smug by the minute. She had him, and even better, he knew she had him. "All's fair in …"

"Love and war…yeah, heard that before." He reached over and took her hand across the table. "So which is this, love, or war?"

Luna swallowed the flash of fear. It was too soon to be having this conversation, still much too soon. Then, she looked across at George. He was smiling so goofily and she realized that she was being a bit too black and white about the whole thing. There were many different stages of love, she wasn't sure exactly where they were…not infatuation, they were beyond that, but they were somewhere in the middle now, well on their way.

"Were not at war." It was the best she could do.

"But were not in love either." He twined their fingers together and lifted her hand to his lips then lowered her hand back to the table and played with her fingers, wondering if the garnet ring would need resizing. He was going to have to find some way to measure her finger without her finding out, and he was going to have to do it tonight…the next day was Christmas Eve. "Not yet."

Her heart had that horrible wonderful feeling again, the wild urge to break free from her chest and dance. She brushed a finger over his cheek in appreciation of his honesty. He was so much better at this than she was, she might be a Ravenclaw, but he was the one who was able to think things through and figure out the truth.

"Not yet." She agreed, her eyes moist.

George looked up, a tiny smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"Soon though."

Luna took a deep breath and let it out slowly before nodding in agreement.

"Soon."

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Chapter Ten Preview

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George embarks on a

daring and incredibly dangerous late night mission when Christmas Eve

comes to the Burrow.

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