InsaneJournal

NaNo FanFic Part 18
Previous Part
Pairings this part: Harry/Luna, Ginny/Quidditch player, mention of Luna/Rolf and Harry/Ginny
Rating: PG
Notes: BONUS POST!  If you haven't read Part 17 (posted earlier today), go read that first! 


November 2001, Ginny Weasley's flat, Holyhead, Wales

Ginny had just put tea in the pot, waiting for the kettle to boil, when her Floo wards chimed.  She stepped into the living room and flicked her wand at the fireplace.  "Who is it?" 

"Ginny?"  Luna's face appeared in the fire, looking rather more distressed than Ginny had seen her in a while.  "Can I come through?" 

Ginny opened the wards.  "Go ahead."  Once Luna had landed and brushed herself clean of soot, Ginny realized that she had very recently been crying.  "Luna?" she asked.  "What on earth is wrong?  Sit down." 

Luna sat on the sofa and covered her face with both hands, then pushed her hair back and looked up at Ginny.  "Oh, God, Ginny, I slept with Harry." 

Ginny sat down.  "What?"

Luna let her hair fall into her face again and repeated, "I slept with Harry." 

Ginny frowned.  "And it was terrible?  He kicked you out onto the street?  He was pants at it and you want to Obliviate yourself?  He wouldn't look at you in the morning? You forgot a basic contraceptive charm?  What?"

"No, no.   We had breakfast.  It was wonderful.  It was all wonderful." 

The kettle whistled, saving Ginny from another set of questions.  She made up the pot, retrieved a second cup, and took the tray into the living room.  "Here. Have some tea.  Breathe.  Take your time. Then tell me what really has you so upset."

Luna set staring into her cup for a long time without drinking it.  Ginny eventually got tired of watching her, so she prompted firmly, "Drink up.  It will help." 

That brought about some action, and Luna sipped carefully.  When the tea was gone, she looked slightly less devestated.  Ginny felt that perhaps the inquisition could begin again.

"So.  Spill.  What's got you so upset you're trying not to cry into my tea?"

Luna covered her eyes with her hand.  "I'm sorry.  I'm just - it was Harry.  I - oh, Merlin, will this upset you?  I didn't think-"

Ginny reached across to touch Luna's wrist and stave off the new panic rising in her friend's face.  "Luna.  It's fine.  Harry and I parted ways years ago.  He's been alone too long.  He needs someone, why shouldn't it be you?  You've been friends for years." 

"But, Ginny, he's so - it wouldn't be easy.  It wouldn't be sane. And I'm nothing special."

Ginny narrowed her eyes.  "If it wouldn't put your future career in jeopardy, I would happily kill Rolf Scamander.  Luna, if you dare to squander a chance at the happiness you've hoped for for years - and don't you dare deny that, either, I know you too well - because of what that stuck-up git did to you...  Or because of some stupid fear of the papers - since when do any of us care about the papers?"

Luna's eyes filled with tears and Ginny wanted to hit something.  "I had a panic attack in his bed."

Now they were getting somewhere. "What, last night?"  Ginny had seen Luna unravel in such an attack three times, at school. "When?" 

Luna made a pained gesture with one hand over her knee, grasping at nothing.  "He got up in the night and went downstairs.  I woke up alone in the dark.  He came back in the middle of it." 

"Oh, Luna.  What did Harry do?"  Ginny could not imagine Harry's response, it had been too long, with too many Healers between him and the violent flashbacks that had driven Ginny from him at last. 

"I - I told him I always slept with a candle, and he summoned one to the bedroom."  Luna's face changed as she said that, as if she were suddenly hearing her own words for the first time.  

"Is that all?" Ginny asked gently. 

"He listened.  When I told him why.  I haven't told anyone about it except the Healer.  Not like that.  No one except Draco."   But Draco, as Ginny well knew, was a part of the story, and had been a part of Luna's healing from it. 

Ginny took Luna's hand.  "Harry knows what it is to live with the war, every day. What did he say to you after you explained?"  

"He said,"  Luna set her teacup on the table and pressed Ginny's hand between her own. "He said that I could have a dozen candles, and next time he would wake me before he left." 

"Does that really sound like a man who cannot, or will not, deal with a panic attack?  Will you be so understanding when he has one of his own?  You know he isn't the hero the papers make him, you know it, Luna." 

Ginny smiled at the way Luna's face changed, grief lifting away.  "I know," Luna said.  "He's so clumsy with some things, but perfect with others."

"Oh, my friend.  You deserve some happiness.  Take it, while it's on offer."  Ginny squeezed Luna's fingers and slipped her hand free.  "Let the world think whatever it wants."

Luna leaned across the table to hug Ginny, holding her tight.  "Thank you, Ginny."  There was a world of meaning in those three words, and Ginny understood it all.  She hugged Luna back, and allowed the conversation to turn to more mundane concerns for a few minutes before sending her friend home through the Floo. 

For a long time after Luna had gone, Ginny sat and stared into the fireplace, and sorted out her feelings.  It was true that she had left Harry, with no anticipation of ever having her love returned, and in the years since then she had grown away from him.  She was surprised at how little Luna's revelation actually hurt.  It was shocking, yes, to think of her best friend and her former lover getting together.  But her heart did not ache the way it had ached that horrible year that Harry had been away fighting his war.  Luna and Harry did have a chance at a kind of happiness Harry had been unable to have with Ginny in their time together.  And Ginny had a beautiful Keeper with a ready smile waiting for her to call about their dinner date. 

Once dinner plans were established, Ginny thought a moment, debating even making her next call.  At last, she threw the powder into the fire and announced her direction.  "Number 12 Grimmauld Place!" 

Harry answered immediately, his hands and shirt covered in flour.  "Ginny?  Do you want to come through?" 

"No, I've got to be at the pub shortly, I just wanted to talk to you." 

Harry looked happy. "Go ahead, do you mind talking while I cook?" 

"No, go ahead.  Are things okay over there?  Ron said you were in Paris again." 

"Everything's great," Harry said, cheerfully summoning his mixing bowl.  "I'm -" he paused, tilting his head as if pondering something.  "I'm really happy, Ginny."  He didn't elaborate, and Ginny didn't expect him to, not yet.  But seeing him like this reassured her. 

"That's good, Harry.  That's so good.  I was worried for a while, you seemed a bit overworked.  Mum would love to see you while you're in the country, so stop by sometime, okay?"  Ginny wished she could have stepped out to give him a hug and congratulate him, but he had to be the one to break the news to them all, when he was ready.  She settled for smiling when he looked up at her, before signing off.  "I'd better go, but it's good to see you.  Take care, Harry."

"Bye, Ginny.  Have a good time at the pub."  He grinned at her as she closed the connection, and that was the image Ginny carried with her as she sat back in her living room. 

Harry was happy.  Ginny chuckled quietly as she stood up and cleared the tea service.  "Good for Luna."  

Next Part