Luna Meets the Dursleys

Luna Meets the Dursleys

I

"Harry, hey! HARRY!"

The sound of Ron's voice brought Harry back from his reverie. For the last several minutes he had been gazing out the window at the falling snow. He'd left his homework untouched. He was thinking about Christmas, which was now just a week away. It would be his first Christmas with Luna.

"What? Ouch! What did you poke me for?" Harry rubbed his arm.

"Where in blazes have you been? I've been talking to you for five minutes."

"Nothing. I'm not doing anything."

"That's not what I asked. What's going on with you? You've been acting strange, lately. I hope that Luna isn't rubbing off on you too much."

Harry turned reluctantly away from the window to look at his best friend, who sat about four feet away from him at the table. "Very funny. You promised you wouldn't make any more smart remarks."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry. So what were you thinking about, then? Obviously not our Charms exam."

"I was thinking about what to get Luna for Christmas."

"No, seriously."

Harry frowned. "I am serious. It's our first Christmas, and I want to do something special. We've been together for almost four months."

"Ooh, it's your four-month anniversary!" Ron teased. Some students sitting nearby stifled giggles.

"Oh, shut up. I don't see you worrying too much about what to get Hermione. What are you going to get her, anyway?"

"I was thinking about perfume, or maybe a good book or something."

"Well that's original. You got her perfume for Christmas last year, didn't you?"

Ron straightened. "So? She liked it well enough, didn't she?"

"Don't get so defensive. I'm sure she'll like whatever you get her."

"What are you going to get Luna?"

"I haven't the slightest idea."

Luna smiled calmly when Harry posed this question to her the following morning, as they walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. She carefully wove the fingers of her right hand into the fingers of Harry's left hand.

"I want to meet your family, Harry. I'd like that very much."

Harry was confused. "My family? But, Luna..."

"Well since we've been a couple for several months now, I think it's a good idea, don't you?" She turned her wide silver eyes to him.

They paused just outside the Great Hall. "Of course it's a good idea, it's just that I don't really have a family."

"Don't be silly, of course you do." Luna absently touched a stray lock of Harry's dark hair.

"Yeah, well, I mean I know I'll always have my mum and dad, but..." Harry paused. "You're not saying you want to go to their gravesite, are you?"

"No, I want to meet your Aunt, Uncle and cousin."

At that moment a passing student bumped against Harry and he stumbled forward a step. But he hardly noticed the interruption. He was still trying to process what Luna had just said. She couldn't possibly mean she wanted to meet the Dursleys? Not after all the horror stories he'd told her about them.

"You want to meet Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Dudley?"

"Yes," Luna said brightly.

"But why?"

"Because they're your family, of course. You've met my family, and now I'd like to meet yours. Don't you think they would like to know about our relationship?"

Harry frowned. Why on earth would the Dursleys want to know about his romantic life? They hadn't shown the slightest interest in anything he'd done from the moment he was left on their doorstep sixteen years ago. Unless he'd done something wrong, in which case they were only too eager to punish him.

"I don't usually go back to the Dursleys for Christmas. I stay here, at Hogwarts."

"You should be with family at Christmas. I consider you part of my family now, and I would like to be part of yours."

There was no suitable comeback for this. The complete lack of pretense in Luna's voice, and the sincere, hopeful expression on her face was too much for Harry. He couldn't reasonably say no to her. He was so touched that Luna thought of him as part of her family, and as strange as the idea was that she wanted to be part of his family, Harry found it comforting.

"Okay, we'll go." Harry said, without the slightest idea how he was going to pull this off. But that dilemma was forgotten when Luna kissed him sweetly.

"Good. I'll let Daddy know not to expect me for Christmas. He'll be so pleased that you and I are spending it together. He really does like you, Harry. Now, what do you suppose your Aunt would like for Christmas, do you think she'd like some handmade earrings? I'm sure I've got some materials. "

Ron nearly choked on his chocolate frog when Harry told him about his conversation with Luna later that evening. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting in armchairs by the fire.

"What, are you serious? You're not actually going to do it, are you?"

"Ron, come on, " Hermione cautioned. She kicked him in the shin.

Harry was busy folding a piece of parchment into an airplane."Yeah, I said I would. I mean, it's what she wants for Christmas," Harry said.

"But the Dursleys are big, arrogant ..."

"RON!" Hermione looked positively furious.

"I know, okay? But I'll think of something. I have to." Harry tapped the airplane with his wand, murmured a charm under his breath, and the plane swept up into the air and began to sail lazily around the common room.

"Well, I think it's sweet, Harry. It shows that you're willing to be serious about her," Hermione said encouragingly.

Ron snorted under his breath. "Hermione, in case you hadn't noticed, the Dursleys don't exactly like Harry."

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual," Harry replied.

"But how are you going to convince them to take you in for Christmas when they can barely tolerate you during the summer holiday?" Ron asked.

"Once again, very tactless," Hermione said.

Ron grinned at her. "Yeah, but you still like me."

Hermione huffed. Still she blushed, and she averted her eyes to the textbook in her lap.

"Look, I've gone up against Voldemort - oh please Ron, get over it - three times, I can certainly handle my relatives," Harry said. "I'll just tell them that I can't stay at Hogwarts over the holidays, because..."

"Oh for goodness' sake, just tell them the truth," Hermione said, slamming down her book so suddenly that both Harry and Ron jumped, as did the group of students studying nearby. One of the students, a rather stern looking girl with horn-rimmed glasses, flashed an angry look at Hermione.

Harry stared at her in disbelief. "Okay, so I should just tell them that I want to bring my girlfriend home for the Christmas holidays? Ron, no smart comments."

"What did I say?" Ron looked offended.

"Nothing, but you were thinking it. Listen, Hermione, I'll just tell them that the castle is being fumigated for termites or something, that I have to come home."

"Yes, but Hogwarts doesn't have termites!"

"Hermione, it's the Dursleys we're talking about. They don't know Hogwarts doesn't have termites," Ron said. Then he turned to Harry. "But what about Luna? How are you going to get her past them, use your Invisibility Cloak?"

"I just won't tell them she's coming. What are they going to do, turn her away at the train station?"

"Most likely," Ron said.

"You have to tell them, Harry. It's common courtesy," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"Since when do I owe the Dursleys any courtesy?"

"Harry, please. You want this to work, don't you? For Luna's sake."

"Of course I do."

"So just tell them that you're bringing a guest with you."

Ron chuckled. "What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall at that house this Christmas. 'Luna Meets the Dursleys'. Sounds like a great title for a cartoon." In response he received another kick in the shin from Hermione, and an irritated look from Harry.

Harry noticed Uncle Vernon looked less than thrilled at the sight of him and Luna approaching. Uncle Vernon stood at the entrance to the station. His stout body was wrapped in a thick coat that made him look like a hippopotamus with fur.

As Harry and Luna came closer, Harry saw Uncle Vernon's eyes narrow as he looked at the willowy blond girl at Harry's side. Uncle Vernon's beady eyes traveled disapprovingly over Luna's corduroy skirt and bright colored sweater.

"Oh, is this your uncle?" Luna said casually, as they stopped in front of Vernon.

"Yeah," Harry said. His throat went suddenly dry. "Uncle Vernon, this is..."

"Car's this way," Uncle Vernon interrupted, jingling his keys in what Harry was sure was meant to be a menacing manner. Yet Harry noticed Uncle Vernon's fingers were unsteady.

"This is Luna," Harry repeated firmly. His feet remained rooted to the ground.

Luna stepped forward and extended her hand. "Hello, Mr. Dursley, Merry Christmas."

Uncle Vernon stood rigid, staring at the girl's outstretched fingers as if afraid to touch them.

Without the slightest acknowledgement of Uncle Vernon's rejection, Luna dropped her hand to her side and smiled. "It's so nice to meet you," she said. "I've always wanted to meet Harry's family. Daddy and I really appreciate you having me."

"Yes, well, come on then. I haven't got all day. It's bloody freezing out here." Uncle Vernon trudged off in the direction of the car, without offering any assistance with their trunks.

Harry was fuming. It was all he could do not to pull out his wand and let Uncle Vernon have it.

Luna looked at Harry. Her cheeks were red with cold, but her eyes were shining excitedly. "This is going to be fun, isn't it, Harry?" she said.

"Luna, I'm sorry about that." Harry assumed he would be doing a lot of apologizing for his relatives over the next few days.

"Sorry for what?"

"For my Uncle Vernon."

But Luna stopped him with a kiss on the cheek. "I think he's rather interesting," she said. "Now come on, we don't want to keep him waiting."

The ride home consisted mainly of Luna peppering Uncle Vernon with questions on a variety of subjects, including the car, and Vernon's job, which Uncle Vernon barely answered with grunts of assent or a shake of his head. By the time they pulled into the driveway of 4 Privet Drive, Uncle Vernon looked exhausted and he was even more irritable than before.

"Well, all right, get out of the car," he huffed, and pulled the keys from the ignition.

But before Harry could move to open the door, Uncle Vernon turned and gave Harry a threatening look. "Don't think that just because you've got - company - that you can go around causing trouble and getting away with it. I didn't bloody well want you here in the first place. If it wasn't for those blasted termites - you'd think that with all the money they get that school would hire a competent exterminator. Another thing, there'd better be no funny business over the next four days. You two are going to be in the same room, but only because there's nowhere else to put...her."

"Her name is Luna," Harry said. He had half a mind to take Luna and leave. They could catch the Knight Bus and spend the holidays at the Leaky Cauldron. Anything was better than this.

"Oh, no need to worry about anything happening," Luna said calmly, as she opened the door on her side. "Harry and I haven't been intimate yet."

"What?" Harry looked at Luna in astonishment.

Uncle Vernon looked as though his head was going to explode. He gasped for air, trying to find words, looking quite like a fish out of water. "Get out of the car!"

As they got their trunks from the car, Harry saw the curtain in the front window move aside, and Aunt Petunia's hawkish face peered out at them with a skeptical frown on her lips. When she saw Harry looking, Aunt Petunia quickly withdrew her head.

Luna paused, holding her trunk. She took a sweeping look around. "This is just a lovely neighborhood," she said.

"Yeah, I suppose. Let's go inside," Harry said absently, and he extended his hand.

"Which window is yours?" Luna asked, with an air of anticipation. "I can't wait to see your room. I've always wanted to know about where you stay when we're not together at Hogwarts."

"Well it's not much to look at, it's pretty small," Harry replied, but he felt somehow reassured by Luna's remark. In fact he almost looked forward to going upstairs and showing her his room.

Uncle Vernon had preceded them into the house, leaving the door standing open. Aunt Petunia lurked just inside the entrance hall, peeking out at them. Harry wished she would just mind her own business. While he was used to the condescending looks, Harry didn't appreciate Luna being stared at like she was from another planet.

Inside, the house was warm. A fire was going in the fireplace, which was draped with a garland of holly. Red candles were set in brass candlesticks on either end of the mantle. Dudley was seated in an armchair near the Christmas tree, working his way through a large candy cane. He watched Harry with an air of resentment; no doubt annoyed that Harry had intruded on his holiday plans to stuff himself with food.

The Christmas tree itself was a sight to behold, brashly decorated with multicolored balls and sparkling colored lights. One ornament in particular stood out. It was shaped as a picture frame, with angels adorning the corners blowing trumpets and strumming harps. The picture in the frame was, of course, Dudley. The ornament had been placed in a spot that made it instantly visible from the room's entrance.

Dudley continued to stare, only now his eyes shifted from Harry to Luna. Aunt Petunia emerged from somewhere in the entrance hall and moved closer to Dudley. She seemed afraid that Luna was going to launch some sort of attack. Meanwhile Uncle Vernon grunted and moved on into the kitchen, where he could be heard clunking around in the refrigerator.

Harry cleared his throat. He was going to have to make the best of this. "Aunt Petunia, Dudley, this is Luna Lovegood."

"I must say I've never seen such extravagant Muggle Christmas decorations before," Luna said. "But your home looks very festive. Usually Daddy and I have a small tree on the kitchen table. We use homemade ornaments, and garlands strung from butterbeer caps. There's mistletoe in every doorway."

Harry felt his cheeks flush as Luna gave him a knowing glance.

"Yes, well - that's very nice." Aunt Petunia put on a forced smile, and then shot a reproachful glare at Harry as if to demand how he could possibly bring this intruder into her home on Christmas.

"Well we're going upstairs, then," Harry said, purposely ignoring Aunt Petunia. To quell his irritation he focused his attention on Luna, who was still admiring the decorations with wide-eyed wonder. He took her hand. "Come on, I'll show you my room. Then we'll go for a walk. A nice, long walk."