Giving Into Temptation

Chapter Fourteen: “L” is for Love, Loss, and Luna

    Ron sat on his bed, staring out the window at the rain falling. Hermione had left some time ago and he was still a tad bit emotional. All right...a “tad bit” didn’t even begin to cover it. Tears leaked out of his eyes, streaming down his cheeks, and every so often a small sob would escape his lips. There was a knock at his door but he didn’t look up.

    “Ron...? Are you in there?”

    Leave it to his sister to bother him at the time when he most wanted to be alone.

    “Ron...?”

    “I’m here, Gin.”

    “Can you open the door?”

    “What is it about not getting any privacy around here?” he muttered as he got up to open the door.

    Ginny stood, hands on her hips and eyes narrowed, a few paces outside the door. “I heard that, you know?”

    “What I know is that you remind me an awful lot of Mum standing like that.”

    Ginny’s hands immediately left her hips and her eyes opened wide. Ron chuckled slightly, until she lashed out and kicked his shin.

    “Ow! What was that for?”

    “For being a prat of a brother. You’re going to turn into Percy.”

    “Oh, that was a low blow, sister dear.”

    “You’ve been crying,” she said suddenly.

    “No, I haven’t.”

    “Yes, you have. Your eyes are all puffy and red-rimmed. What’s wrong, Ron?”

    “Nothing.”

    “Ron...”

    “It’s over with, all right? Can we just not talk about it?”

    “Ron, I am your sister. I’ve brought you into my home and I deserve to know why you were crying.”

    “Hermione came here.”

    “I mean, that isn’t a lot to- Hermione came here?”

    “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”    

    “When?”

    “Just a little bit ago. She was on a break from the Ministry and she came to talk.”

    “And...?”

    “And what?”

    “Ron...”

    “She told me how she felt about things...about what led to her...well...sleeping with Malfoy. She told me things I knew but didn’t want to admit to myself. And then she topped it all off by telling me about her pregnancy. Isn’t that great? A miniature, sneaky, slimy Ferret running around.”

    “Ron!”

    “I told her I knew that what we had couldn’t be fixed. But I don’t know that...I don’t want to know that. Love isn’t just supposed to fade away. It isn’t supposed to just end. Not when it means so much to you. Not when...when it’s what keeps you going. No...I lied to her. I want her back, Ginny. I want...I want...”Ron trailed off when he saw a young blonde woman sitting on the sofa with Harry, immersed in conversation. “Is that...no...is that Loony Lovegood?”

    “Ronald! She is my friend. Don’t call her that!”

    “Sorry...”Ron replied absently, taking in the soft blond curls that cascaded down Luna’s back, her perfect rosy lips, the way her blue eyes lit up when she laughed at something Harry said, and of course, her wand tucked behind her ear.

    “Ron...?”

    “She’s beautiful...”he breathed, a goofy smile twisting his lips.

    “Did you just say...wait...you think Luna’s beautiful?”

    Ron didn’t reply, too involved in looking Luna up and down.

    “Ron, come to the front of your face,” Ginny snapped, slapping Ron upside the head.

    “Huh? Did you say something?” He tore his eyes away from Luna to look at his sister.

    “I asked if you thought Luna was beautiful?”

    “I said so, didn’t I?”

    “Oh my...”Ginny shook her head, giggling into her hand.

    “What?”

    “You know...I wouldn’t be surprised...”

    “Surprised about what?”

    “It’s nothing. Just come say hello.”

    Ginny pulled Ron by the hand into the sitting room. “Luna, you remember Ron, right?”

    Luna gazed up at him, blue eyes meeting his. “Of course. Nice to see you again,”she said in her dreamy voice.

    “Er...yeah...you too.”

    “I’ve made dinner. Come on, let’s all go into the kitchen.”

    Luna followed Ginny into the kitchen but Harry grabbed Ron’s arm, pulling him aside.

    “Are you feeling all right?”

    “What? Why?”

    “You were staring at Luna as if she were a sweet in Honeyduke’s.”

    “I was not!”

    “Yes, my dear friend, you were.”

    Ron’s face turned a brilliant shade of scarlet and he could feel his ears burning. “Well...she’s...grown into herself, is all.”

    “Um-hmm.” Harry smiled at him knowingly before making his way into the kitchen.

    Ron was the last to take a seat at the table, and ended up across from Luna. As he dug into his Shepherd’s Pie, he couldn’t help taking little peeks at Luna from time to time. He met her eyes a few times and immediately lowered his head. As Ginny and Harry kept up a steady stream of conversation, Ron found his mind wandering. He imagined himself as the one that made Luna laugh...running his fingers through her hair...kissing her heart shaped lips.

    “So what do you think, Ron?”

    “Huh?”

    Ginny and Harry collapsed into a fit of laughter, and even Luna giggled.

    “What?”

    “You’re so predictable, Ron. If the conversation’s not about Quidditch or the joke shop you completely lose interest.”

    Ron huffed indignantly, his face still tinged red, but the beginning of a smile was on his face. If they only knew what he’d been thinking about...he thanked the heavens that none of the others at the table were experienced in Legilimency. Another peek and this time he held Luna’s gaze for a moment longer. And within her glittering blue eyes he saw the possibility of a new future.

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