Summer Ghosts

The two of you are occupied all morning with things that you find in the twins' room. Not only are there joke sweets and charmed objects, but also magic tricks from back when the two of them wanted to be Muggle magicians. Nobody else had seen the point of doing pretend magic when there was real magic to be played with, but you'd been enchanted and would sit and watch them perform for you for hours.

Luna, being a Ravenclaw, figures out the tricks within minutes and makes your wand disappear and conjures a paper fish out of your ear. As you are giggling over her serious act, you hear footsteps downstairs.

Percy, again, maybe? Or somebody else? This is far worse than at Luna's because this is your home, and where else can you run to? You look at Luna, and she stares back at you without blinking.

You take a deep breath, ready to stand up - because who-ever-it-is is on the stairs now - and then Luna suddenly kisses you. Quickly enough for you to be not sure if she really did or not, but the way she's smiling at you suggests that she did.

Maybe one of those chocolates that didn't seem to do anything was a love potion, or maybe Luna really is crazy or maybe -

The door opens suddenly, and it's Charlie. You'd be relieved if you weren't already confused.

He seems surprised to see you, and then Luna, the summer ghosts, and he takes a step backwards, and then another forwards as if he doesn't know what to do.

"I thought you were at Hogwarts," he says, finally.

"I know, but... there was a bit of a mix-up."

"Does Mum know?"

"No, obviously, or hell would've broken loose by now."

He doesn't reply, staring at you while he's thinking.

"Don't tell her, there's no point, we're fine on our own, honestly."

His eyes flit to Luna, prompted by the fact that she's staring at him in her usual grave unblinking way.

"This is Luna, a friend from school, she's keeping me company," you inform him, quickly.

"My father runs The Quibbler," Luna announces.

Charlie hesitates, and then says, "Fine, I won't tell anyone. But you'd better not leave the house..." he hesitates again, looking at you as though he can read you like a book, "well, the village, anyway. Don't leave the village."

"We won't," I promise, and he nods. "Where are you living now, anyway?"

"London," he says, shortly. "Easier for work. It's only temporary, but necessary."

"Grimmauld Place?"

"No. With a friend."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I just came back for a few things," he says, stepping back towards the door again. "I don't have any time to stay."

"We'll be alright."

"Okay." He pauses, and then leaves, calling out an awkward goodbye from behind the door. Luna looks at you.

"He doesn't like people," she whispers, as though she is the one who should make excuses for him. "What does he like instead?"

"Dragons. And Quidditch."

"Ah," she says, with understanding, and without warning produces your wand from her socks.

---

You're supposed to be Ginny Weasley, soon-to-be-seventh-year Gryffindor, currently staying at Hogwarts during the summer with your friends. Instead, you're a summer ghost, flitting from room to room in your empty home with another ghostly girl who stares too long and says too little. Loony Luna Lovegood kissed you yesterday.

---

"Luna," you ask tentatively over breakfast, and then all your Gryffindor bravery disappears and you ask an entirely different question instead. "Where do you think your father is?"

Luna swallows a mouthful of toast. "I don't know."

"Have you tried owling him?"

She is quiet for a moment. "Yes," she says, at last. "But there wasn't a reply."