"Fred, it would appear we're in a bit of a pickle."
"George, we're in the Burrow. And last time I checked, our house is not green, bumpy and sour."
"Funny. It may not be green or sour, but it is kind of bumpy."
"What? No it isn't… gah! Stop distracting me, I'm trying to untie you."
Had an outsider been looking through the kitchen window of the Burrow, they would have seen an entertaining spectacle. Whilst attempting to untie each other, something never best done at the same time, the boys had managed to tie themselves together and tightening the knots until they were absolutely tiny and damn near impossible to unpick. Both boys were equally frustrated, something obvious from the quiet swearing that was breaking the silence of the night. The ropes tying them together were worn and frayed, making them that much more uncomfortable.
"What the hell was Charlie thinking when he conjured these ropes?" Fred hissed in annoyance, his thumbs rubbed raw from his attempts to free George. "I swear, if they were any older they'd be as sharp as bloody knives."
"Feels like that anyway," George replied, scowling as one of the ropes bit into his wrist. "How's it looking?"
"I'd be able to see it easier if we had some decent light in here," Fred growled, flinching as a bit of blood appeared on his brother's wrist and George let out a sharp breath of pain. "Sorry, it slipped."
"I've had worse. As for the light thing, do you want someone to find us down here?" As if his words had been shouted to the world, there was a creak and then a light appeared at the top of the stairs. Small, white slippers appeared, followed by pale blue pyjama trousers, partially covered by a long pink dressing gown. A darker blue top followed, the straps covered by long red hair as Ginny Weasley came fully into view. Her brown eyes were half shut and there were random bits of hair sticking out of the top of her head but she could obviously see clearly as she frowned and padded over to the twins.
"What are you doing down here?" She mumbled sleepily, not taking in the ropes around their wrists.
"Nothing."
"Just chilling."
"Relaxing."
"Not that it would be any of your business anyway," the twins babbled, forcing looks of cool composure onto their faces and attempting to hide their hands as Ginny shrugged and turned away, looking for something.
"Why are you down here at this time of night?"
"I want a drink," Ginny replied in an annoyed tone, turning back to face her brothers with a glass of water in her hand. Her eyebrows creased and she rubbed at her eyes with her free hand before blinking and looking closely at the twins. Brown eyes met blue, darted down to look at rope-bound hands and then darted back up to meet a brighter pair of blue.
"Are you guys…?" she didn't have time to finish before the twins had moved over to her and somehow got a hand over her mouth. Not even the twins were sure whose hand it was.
"Don't say it."
"It's not what it looks like."
"Wait… that depends."
"What does it look like?" The hand was slowly lowered and Ginny glared at her brothers.
"It looks like you two idiots are tied together by an old and painful-looking rope," she said, silently adding 'duh' but it didn't need to be silent as it was obvious in her tone. "Fancy telling me why you're tied together with an old and painful-looking rope?"
"Sure, if you actually get us out of said old and indeed very painful rope."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Charlie reappeared silently, right where he wanted to be. He pushed open the gate, wincing at the quiet squeak which always happened. The garden he walked into was completely silent, Skitchel obviously hadn't returned yet. A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the plants as Charlie stepped off the path and walked past the Dirigible Plum bush, smiling at the sign he had helped Luna paint all those years ago. He remembered her as a shy, but slightly bossy, nine year old. She had been so happy and full of life before her mother died. Charlie winced involuntarily at the memory but continued his journey around the house until he came to a place with holes in the wall, leading all the way up to the roof where he saw a slight flash of blonde hair, glowing in the moonlight.
"Luna," he hissed, cupping his hands around his mouth to make the sound travel. The blonde hair froze and he sighed as he started to make his way carefully up the side of the circular house. He had done this so many times he could probably do it with his eyes closed now but he'd rather not; nobody knew but he had a small fear of heights unless he was on a broomstick - or some other form of flying. Then he was free.
"I thought you weren't coming," Luna murmured when he had pulled himself over the wall which was there purely for safety, though Luna had been known to sit on it when she was upset. She had turned away from him, her arms wrapped around herself but Charlie could see the side of her face, see how her eyes sparkled, see the tear tracks glistening on her cheeks.
"Oh, Luna," Charlie said softly, making his way over to her and wrapping his arms around her from behind. "I'm sorry, dragostea mea*," he sighed, hoping the old phrase would make her look at him, at least. He gently lifted a hand and used his thumb to wipe away another tear which had appeared. A frown emerged on his face and he looked at her carefully, noting the way her breath was visible in the night air.
"Luna, how long have you been out here? You're freezing." Gently he let go of her and took one of her tiny hands, leading her back to the trapdoor and making sure she was securely back in her bedroom before he followed her down.
"I thought, if I waited, you'd come. And then I started painting but then I couldn't do anymore to it until it was dry and I couldn't face going back inside," Luna breathed, silvery eyes still sparkling with unshed tears. "What took you so long?"
"My brothers decided tonight was the night to turn into my mother and demand I stop sneaking out at night. However, it wasn't because they were concerned about my safety, as Mum would have been, and I hate to even think about this, let alone tell you, but they tried to lock me in the house so I wouldn't come and see you." Charlie had sat on the bed by this point and pulled Luna into his arms, wrapping her duvet securely around her in an attempt to warm her up.
"By your brothers you mean...?" Luna whispered, trembling slightly as she buried her face in his shoulder.
"Fred and George. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you."
"No, it's okay." Luna's voice was muffled and a slight dampness on his shirt told him she was crying again. "I've had worse insults and they haven't hurt me because I don't care..."
"Luna, it is in no way okay. Don't lie to me, please. I know this is hurting you, because they're my brothers." Charlie stroked her hair, running his fingers through the long golden waves and marvelling at the silkiness.
A six year old Luna came running into the lounge, big grey eyes filled with tears.
"Charlie?" she asked in her adorable little crooning voice. "Have you seen Ginny?"
"Umm, she went up to her room about five minutes ago with Mum. Is everything alright, Luna?" he asked in concern, looking carefully at the little girl for any obvious signs of injury.
"Thank you," Luna replied with a slight lisp, then shook her head in answer to his question before pelting out of the room and up the stairs. Moments later he heard the door of Ginny's room open and close, his mother exclaiming something in dismay and then the sound of Luna's cries; so different to those of his tough little sister.
"Mum, what's wrong?" Percy asked when their mother finally came back down the stairs, looking upset. She shook her head and looked towards the doorway with worry. A tiny blonde head poked round the corner, followed by a brighter, red one. Both heads disappeared when they realised they'd been spotted and there were a few minutes of whispered conversation before Ginny dashed into the living room.
"Luna asks you to please not laugh at her," she announced, her chin high and her face set, glowering at her brothers as if daring them to defy her.
"But why...?" Charlie's question went unfinished as Luna stepped around the corner, eyes trained on the ground. Her beautiful long hair had been cut and now swung just above her shoulders. Charlie had never seen a more pitiful sight as Luna automatically reached to play with her hair then stopped as she realised it wasn't there anymore. Small curls stuck out on top of her head and all of the brothers gazed at her. Ron snorted.
"You look like a duck," he commented randomly and Ginny whacked him around the head as Luna looked up, eyes swimming. Charlie shifted in his seat and Luna's head snapped towards him, silver looking into blue for a split second before she turned and ran out of the house.
"Ron, you idiot," Ginny yelled over her shoulder, running after her friend.
"What are you thinking about?" Luna mumbled, lifting her head from his shoulder so her now dry eyes could look into his.
"That time when you were six and Ginny got annoyed at you for something and accidentally used infant magic to tangle your hair up so much it had to be cut off."
"And Ron laughed and said I looked like a duck, of all things." Luna gave a watery chuckle at the memory.
"When Ginny came back she gave him a good beating for that. She was so angry all her hair stood on end and she managed to make a pillow beat Ron all the way up the stairs. It freaked Mum out so much she Flooed to Hogwarts and started harassing Dumbledore about her children growing up too fast. It was hilarious." Charlie smiled as Luna started to laugh quietly, a real laugh. Soon he joined her and the two were rolling about on the bed before Luna gasped.
"I've just remembered my dad's downstairs," she giggled, biting her lip to hold in the laughter. Charlie smiled fondly at her and pulled her closer, ducking his head to give her a tender kiss. Luna pulled away with a happy sigh after a minute then frowned.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Do you really think we should tell everyone about us tomorrow? Especially now after Fred and George have made their feelings about me known? Don't get me wrong, I hate keeping secrets from Ginny and I'm sure you hate hiding something from your family and I hate the fact that we have to keep us secret, but are you sure?" She said quietly. Charlie rolled onto his back, keeping one arm around Luna and using the other one as a pillow for his head.
"Luna, we don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I just thought tomorrow would be a good opportunity, seeing as you've been invited over for dinner and all."
"About that..." Luna muttered. "Dad is ill, so he's not coming. I sent Skitchel to your Mum yesterday morning to tell her to set one less place at the table, but now that I think about it I don't want to leave him alone on Christmas. Christmas is about spending time with your family, you know? I'm sorry Charlie, once again I hate keeping this secret but I can't leave him," Luna babbled, slightly hysterically.
"Luna, Luna love calm down. I understand," Charlie said soothingly, stroking her hair again until she settled down.
"Okay," she whispered, settling her head on his chest and closing her eyes. Charlie fell asleep moments after she did, his fingers still tangled in her hair.
A couple of hours later Charlie woke up and looked around in confusion before realising he was in Luna's room and the weight on his chest was Luna herself. He shook her gently, propping himself up on one elbow.
"What's going on?" Luna mumbled sleepily, blinking at him with a perplexed expression on her face.
"I need to go, it's going to be getting light soon," Charlie explained, yawning slowly.
"Mkay. Will you come tomorrow night so I can give you your Christmas present?"
"Of course, I need to give you yours." Charlie stood up, then bent down and kissed her softly. Luna's arms went up around his neck and there were a few long minutes of silence before the couple broke apart and smiled at each other in the soft light which always seemed to be present in Luna's room. Charlie sighed and turned to go, then stopped and went back, pulling Luna upright and wrapping his arms around her so he could kiss her properly. Luna complied quite happily, her arms going back round his neck so her fingers could tangle in his hair as he pulled her closer, somewhat desperately.
Charlie pulled away first and Luna pouted at him, her hum of content suddenly ending.
"Sorry Luna, but if we kept kissing I wouldn't be able to stop and neither of us are ready for that." She nodded and kissed him fleetingly once more.
"Goodnight Charlie."
"Goodnight Luna."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
* 'dragostea mea' means my love, according to Google Translate. If there are people who speak Romanian reading this, and I'm wrong please tell me, and I'm incredibly sorry if I've offended you instead.