I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters. Or pop culture references such as Wayne's World 2.

Extended Family

Chapter 117 – Slump

Takes place around the same time as chapter 115.

Hermione rang the small bronze bell that sat on the gate post. "Luna, may I come in?"

"Yes, please come in," Luna called out, her voice just barely heard over the brassy notes of the bell, coming from within her home.

Hermione let herself through the gate and walked up the path through the front garden, opening the front door. "Hi Luna," Hermione said. She frowned and looked about, not seeing her friend. "Luna?" she called out, closing the door behind her.

"In my studio," Luna called back.

Hermione walked through the home and into the back room that was Luna's studio. She stopped when she entered the room. "Are you okay?"

Luna blinked slowly. "Yes, why do you ask?"

"You're upside down." Hermione looked around her friend. "How are you hanging upside down unaided like that?"

"Dangling Jinx," Luna said serenely.

"Oh, of course. Did someone cast it on you?"

"I did," Luna said, looking up at Hermione.

"Oh ok." Hermione sat down on the floor and looked further down at Luna. "May I ask why? Was it an accident?"

"No, it was deliberate," Luna said. "I'm rather desperate you see."

"I really don't," Hermione replied.

Luna smiled. "I'm in a bit of a slump."

"Literally or figuratively?"

"Funny you mention that. I did notice I had a bit of discomfort in my back and my shoulders were curled but hanging like this seemed to have straightened me out. A fortuitous side effect."

"That's good," Hermione smiled. She laid down flat and, on her back, to look at Luna. "I was getting dizzy looking at you the other way."

"You look funny lying upside down," Luna giggled.

"I'm sure. So you had a physical slump too that's been fixed. I assume you're having an art slump?"

"Yes, for a bit now," Luna admitted. "I'm having trouble finding motivation for new work. I was lucky to finish all my current jobs and projects and haven't taken anything new yet so nothing is in danger. But I don't know what else to do or focus on right now. I tried new personal things or learning pieces and nothing came out like I wanted so I concluded that I was slumped."

"And you thought hanging upside down would help with that?"

"I thought it might be nice to see things from a different perspective," Luna said. "That or maybe shake something loose."

"Did it help?"

"My necklace was shaken loose." Luna pointed at an errant necklace just out of arm's reach. "But that's okay. As far as ideas, not really, sad to say."

"Hmm, well, when I'm feeling a bit overworked and lacking in the creative department, I like to travel or see something new," Hermione hummed. "Oh you just got back from a trip, right?"

"I did. It helped a little as in I did a sketch but nothing came of it."

"That's unfortunate."

"It is, but hopefully this will pass. I'm sorry, I've distracted you. Was there something you needed me for?"

"Oh actually, this might benefit us both. Mum wanted me to ask you about some painting things and if you would like to come over for tea and talk."

"That sounds lovely. I'd like that. When?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

Hermione smiled and got up. "Would you like some help?"

"No, I think I will stay like this for a bit longer. Hopefully with this I cannot be killed by conventional weapons like Keith Richards." Luna smiled cheerily.

Hermione snorted. "Party on, Luna."

"Party on, Hermione!"

-0-

Hermione sighed the next day when she walked back into the Granger home. "When you said painting question, I thought you meant paintings, not literally painting."

Jean looked sheepish. Buckets of paint were sitting about and a large tarp protected the floor. She and Luna wore large smocks and wrapped their hair in bandannas. "At first it was, I swear. But then we were talking about the frame and I mentioned I thought a lighter wall color might look nicer with the frame and Luna said it was easy enough to paint the wall instead of reframing the painting."

"How is painting the wall easier than getting a new frame?!"

"She made a very persuasive argument!"

Hermione groaned. "We could have just done a color changing charm and stuck it."

"It wouldn't have been as fun or permanent," Luna said as she mixed the paint with her wand. "I did do it earlier to make sure we liked the hue and now we know we do, it'll be simple and fun enough to paint the walls. It's only just this room."

"I'm sorry," Hermione groaned.

"I'm not, don't worry," Luna said. "You can join us."

"I suppose I will," Hermione said. Magic made the project very fast. Charms protected the objects and things in the room, preventing accidental splatter. The magically mixed paint was easily applied and almost instantly dried. The three women looked around the room with satisfaction when they finished.

"Okay, you're right. The lighter wall does make the frame look nice," Hermione said. "I still don't think it was easier to repaint than reframe though."

"I'm better at painting," Luna said.

"Yes you are," Jean praised and hugged her.

Luna smiled bashfully and hugged her back. "I usually lack a frame of reference to properly reframe something," she said, smiling more widely when the Grangers groaned.

When they returned to Potter Village, Hermione looked at Luna. "Did that help?"

"It did a bit. It was nice to paint some thing and not paint something," Luna said. "I still don't have much inspiration for something else however."

"Well, little steps, right?"

Luna nodded and hummed softly but the tone was not as bright and merry as it usually was.

-0-

"I'm worried about Luna," Hermione said plainly. "Her slump has really hit her hard."

"She's not hurting for income, is she?" Alicia asked.

"Thankfully not. She has plenty, as she says, and has investments. But she's just been…not quite Luna if that makes sense," Hermione said. "Or actually, more Luna."

"No, that doesn't make sense," Alicia said.

Hermione snorted. "Okay, well, uhm, she's still quirky and Luna-like there, but she seems to be more lethargic and not as bright and bubbly and Luna-like in that regard."

"You do not think there is anything medically wrong, do you?" Daphne asked worriedly.

"No, also thankfully. Harry gave her a check with some diagnostic charms and she's healthy physically. Though she did fuss and throw a tantrum until he gave her a sugar quill for being a good patient."

Alicia smiled at that. "Hmm, well, sometimes when I'm in a funk, I do different things for a bit. Maybe we can help her there."

"We will figure something out," Daphne said, confidently.

-0-

"Where on earth did you find this person?" Castor asked.

"At Hogwarts?" Daphne said weakly.

Daphne was going to spend a little time at Castor's labs and invited Luna to accompany her. The duo was going to go to Diagon Alley after Daphne finished her work there but one thing led to another and Daphne had to spend more time than she thought. She had apologized profusely but Luna had not been bothered, assuring Daphne that she was perfectly fine.

When Daphne returned to her small office she used when at Castor's, Luna was missing. The room was also completely cleaned and reorganized and somehow felt a bit more bright with some things moved about. When Daphne searched for her friend, she followed a trail of reorganized surroundings. A painting moved, a plant shifted, a statue re-posed. She had found Castor watching Luna moving about the main storage room and Daphne had been very afraid of her Mistress' reaction.

"I swear, Luna means well," Daphne said hurriedly. "She just has a very different way at looking at things and a startling lack of personal boundaries and-"

"I'll say," Castor said. "I never would've thought about organizing the reagents that way. Look, she has them clustered in a way that oddly makes sense. Instead of grouping them by plant or by origin, she has them grouped by color of all things but in a way that puts what we use the most up front and things we don't use to the side but in a faster to identify way."

Daphne looked into the storage room and she had to admit that the new organization system made a lot more sense. "You are correct," she gasped.

"Do you make a lot of potions?" Castor asked.

"Not really," Luna said as she moved some containers about. "Enough to get by and I do like the art of brewing. Bubbling cauldrons are so soothing in their way. But I'm not that great at it. I day-dream a bit and that can be a detriment to brewing." She stood back and looked about the room with satisfaction. "There we are. It's a bit nicer now."

"I'll say. Would you mind doing that for all the rooms? I'll pay you well of course."

"Can it wait? Daphne and I were going to get lunch but I don't have anything to do this afternoon. I'll be happy to return and reorganize things. And redecorate."

Castor smiled. "I don't mind at all. Can't wait."

Luna walked out with Daphne. "I know why you and Alicia like her, she's very nice."

"She certainly can be," Daphne said, slightly bemused. "She normally hates it when people mess with the organization, but your process makes a lot of sense. How did you think of it?"

"Oh I don't know, just happened I suppose."

Daphne smiled and tucked her arm into Luna's. "Sometimes the best things just happen, is that right?"

Luna smiled a little. "Yes, I think so."

-0-

Amelia looked up at Tonks. "Okay, one more time, from the top."

Tonks flushed, her hair turning soft brown and curly. "Right, well, uhm, so Luna was here helping me with my office."

"Okay."

"And I got called out to help with a training thing because Blythe had to go to St. Mungo's for that backfiring jinx combo. I told Luna that I had to go but would be back when I finished the thing. She said that was fine."

"I'm with you so far."

"Well the training thing went on for a bit and I had to stick with it and by the time I finished, I realized Luna was at the training yard too."

"How did she get in there? It's normally off-limits to civilians."

"She…doesn't know."

"She doesn't know?"

"No, she just got in and the guards at the entry points sort of just let her because they thought she belonged there. That she walked with purpose and they didn't think she was a threat."

Amelia rubbed her eyes. "Okay, well, luckily she didn't push her way in or say she had clearance from you and I guess I need to go over with the guards about what and who constitutes as approved personnel. Anyways, continue."

"Right. Well, by the time I finished the training and realized she was there, she was already…" Tonks took a deep breath, "reorganizing and redecorating the urban training module."

"Okay, that's where you lose me. Define 'reorganizing and redecorating the urban training module'."

Tonks threw up her hands, her hair turning blonde and straightening. "Just like it sounds, Boss! She was moving the walls and obstacles and things around and redecorating them!"

"How?! They're not supposed to be able to be changed without a Senior Auror Officer doing it!"

"I don't know! But she was doing it! And the weird thing is it worked! I reran the training program and the recruits did better."

"Because you just did it with them."

"Well sure, yeah, that's true but they did way better on successive runs. They got the tactics down a lot faster and their teamwork went up several points and they were…happier doing the training exercises."

Amelia stared at her. "That makes no sense."

"It doesn't but look." She pointed at a stack of parchment. "And I ran it with a different group and there was marked improvement."

Amelia paged through the file. "That…makes no sense," she said weakly.

"She does good work, what can I say?" Tonks gestured around her office. "See? She redecorated and I don't hate it. I like it even." She looked at Amelia. "You know, this is all your fault."

"Watch it, Tonks," Amelia growled.

"You watch it, Boss!" Tonks shifted her hair to match Amelia's. "You were the one up my arse about having an office 'befitting a Senior Auror'. 'The office is a reflection of an officer and one must show their blah blah and their blah blah blah to prove blah blah blah and blaaaaaaaaah'. Which is hippogriff dung and you know it! Kingsley's office is Quidditch stuff. Robard's office has trophies and I don't mean the awards he received but the stuff he got from arrests and fights. And Jones' office has pictures of scantily clad men and women on her walls!"

"Your office was a sterile mess and yes I know that makes no sense!" Amelia said, rolling her eyes. "It was full of food wrappers and containers and balled-up parchment and spell damage!"

"And an immaculately kept mini-ice box! Not to mention I had pictures of me and my family and a picture drawn by Dumpling!" Tonks pointed a finger. "I'm telling Dumpling you didn't think her drawing was proper office décor!"

"Don't you put words in my mouth!" Amelia said back, pointing her own finger at Tonks. She sighed and got up out of Tonks' desk chair. "Okay, well, I've been authorized to pay Luna for 'modernizing' the training yard and the bullpen. Also, I kind of want her to take a look at my office. Does she accept cheques?"

"I think so. I paid her in candy and alcohol for my office though."

-0-

Luna laid there, staring up at the blue sky. Clouds drifted lazily so far above and she idly followed a small one that seemed to meander without direction. She did not know how long she laid there for but eventually the sound of footsteps approached and she smiled a little when the grass beside her rustled and someone laid down beside her. "Hi Harry."

"Hi Luna," Harry said as he got comfortable. "How's cloud watching?"

"Peaceful. No terribly interesting shapes but it's been nice."

"That's good. Still slumped?"

"A little. I have discovered that apparently I'm good at interior design."

"I've heard, Tonks loves her new office and Alicia and Daphne were laughing when they told us about how Mistress Castor was very happy with what you did there. Did you really redecorate the Auror training yard?"

"I did. It was a bit dismal."

"That's amazing," he laughed.

The silence between them was soft and comfortable.

"I'm a little worried," she said at last.

"About what?"

"What if I never get over my slump?" Her voice was small and unsure, a bit anxious.

"Well like you said, you have a budding career in interior design and decoration."

She smiled a little. "That's true." Her smile faded. "But I worry that I'll never get that inspiration again, the desire to paint and draw and craft. I feel so terribly uncreative."

"Luna, I hate to tell you this, but that's normal. Therefore, you're normal."

"Harry James Potter, that is the rudest and meanest thing you have ever said to me!" she gasped, affronted. She rolled onto him and smacked him with her hands, biting his arm when he tried to fend her off.

"Ow! You know I mean it lovingly!" He wrestled with her for a moment before she went limp on him, making him cough. "I mean it though. People go through slumps all the time."

"Not everyone," she muttered rebelliously.

"Everyone, I'm fairly sure."

"Even you?" she asked.

"Sure do. Sometimes I don't know what to cook and don't feel like making anything at all. There's been times all I did was literally make butter sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, and bacon sandwiches."

"Oh I'm sure that made Dally and Hedwig happy at least," Luna giggled.

"Yeah and Katie too honestly," Harry laughed. "Sometimes I even find Quidditch to be more of a job. Going through practice like going through the motions."

"What do you do?" she asked.

"Eat a lot of plain sandwiches for a bit," he said, making her snort. "But then someone will mention something or suggest something and I'll give it a try and all of sudden I'm inspired again. It's not reasonable to always be on, to always have energy and be creative. You're just so incredibly creative, you held on for a really long time. Now you hit your uncreative point and that's okay. You'll get it back, I'm sure of it."

She snuggled closer to him. "Thank you," she whispered, kissing his cheek.

"Of course," he said, kissing her forehead.

Time passed a bit and Luna was feeling much better. "I think I need to use the restroom," she said finally. "I think I've been out here a long time."

"Well go on then," Harry said, gently but firmly pushing her off him. "Then come home with me. "I'm making a big dinner. Layla and Danielle are visiting as well as SamaMum and MumAndi and Uncle Ted."

"Oh that's nice. Why are they here?" Luna's eyes opened wide with delight when Harry recanted the story of the bunnies' rebellion. "Oh I missed it! I've been so lost out here I missed the fun!"

"Well they're a legally recognized entity now so I doubt it'll be the last time," Harry laughed.

"Are they really?" Luna's eyes sparkled. "Would you look at that."

Harry looked about. "At what?"

"I think I see an idea."

-0-

"What is that?" Alicia asked flatly, looking upwards.

"It's our colors!" Dahlia and Hadley and Hailey looked up at the flag happily and proudly. It was a large flag, lovingly made by hand. A triangle sat in the center, made up of three smaller triangles colored pink, pale pea-green, and purple. It sat on a field of Portree purple with gold stars and surrounded by crimson along the edge. "It's for when we are being seriously civilly disobedient and need to show intent. And for us to rally around!"

"Where did you get that?!" Alicia asked loudly.

"Auntie Luna!" the trio trilled. "She's the best!" Dahlia tugged on the rope a certain way and the flag fell to her, fluttering majestically. The rope became a banner pole and soon the bunnies ran off, streaming the flag behind them as they cheered and laughed.

"Why would you do this to us?" Alicia asked Luna.

Luna smiled serenely as she continued to sew. "Because it was fun and the girls deserved it. All good rebellions need colors. Besides, we're British, aren't we? It's sort of our thing to create a flag to lend credence to something."

"She's not wrong," Hermione said, hiding a smile.

"We're going to regret this," Alicia groaned.

"You might," Luna said smugly. "I certainly won't!"

Harry snickered at Alicia's groan and set a large bacon and butter and cheese sandwich beside Luna. "Looks like you're back."

Luna smiled prettily. "I am."

-0-0-0-

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I wrote it after that bit in Taste. I thought it would be a funny bit in this setting.

CalmWinds - Thank you so much and thank you for reading.

poka - Poor Tonks, never being safe. Though she, probably, loves it. It means she'll never be bored at least. I'm glad you continue to like them. Sometimes I worry I don't have too much more to do here without huge changes but then I get a random idea and think it would work, like a pillow fighting Hedwig. Glad it translated well to here too. I especially liked the slow look from Hedwig and her thwapping Tonks during the impromptu cease-fire.

odonnellzoo99 - I haven't, I really should have though. It's a really funny term that came to me. I thought it would feel right with so many children running about and it let the next generation shine a little and show some personality.

alix33 - Twidiots was my second favorite bit of the chapter. Such a good phrase.

MyDogIsAsGracefulAsAnErumpent - That was the goal for this fic, just fun slice of life tidbits that explore the day to day. Less stakes, more simple being. Glad you enjoy them.

EbonPurlight - Hands, talons, wings down.