Hallelujah

Ginny arrived at Hogwarts one late August day in the afternoon. The trip to the castle was not as funny as it used to be, when she couldn't see the thestrals pulling the carriage all the way up from Hogsmeade.

'Isn't something everyone can do,' she remembered being told by Luna Lovegood the first day they met. As she was cold, afraid and anxious for the forthcoming Selection feast, she labeled the blond girl with the capital M of Madness. Also, she decided to believe only a quarter of everything the blond girl said, the bits with physical and logical evidence supporting it.

Approaching the steps to the entrance of her former school, Ginny thought, not for the first time, that perhaps she wanted to do what everybody usually did, for deviations were paid very highly.

*

Ginny took with her everything she was taught to the battlefield. That knowledge included the wrong supposition that Harry Potter was immortal. Perhaps he had some 'immortality' the first six times he defied the Dark Lord, but the seven proved to be the last one.

Dumbledore said it was the destiny of the equals to fight and eradicate themselves. The kind of magical interchange that made of Harry an orphan at the age of one. He explained, as nobody understood, that it counted for the 'dying at the hand of the other' bit in the prophecy made by Professor Trelawney seventeen years ago.

The shock wave, resulting from the final fulfillment of said prophecy, knocked out half the muggle population of Scotland, and was felt by almost all wizards worldwide. After something like that, it was just logical that nobody could find anything on the spot.

That's why it was agreed that the casket was not to be opened during the ceremony.

Dumbledore concluded with high solemn words, but there was nobody listening to him among the crowd of sobbing people at the Boy-who-lived's funeral.

Years later, Ginny was keen on giving the old Headmaster of Hogwarts a couple of words regarding her ideas about 'annulling themselves' and 'opposites that are about the same four-word thing'. But the Headmaster was dead at that time, due to his advanced age. They said, in an extra vespertine Daily Prophet edition, that he did it peacefully in his sleep, a privilege not everyone had in those violent post-war days

"And that brings up the subject," said Ginny mockingly. "Headmistress Lovegood, huh? Is the Ministry trying to keep up with tradition? I'm shocked!"

"Tradition?" asked Luna, completely oblivious. Her robes were a combination of yellow and black that would have look better without the transfigurated hat on her head. "They haven't tried the educational decrees again. I'm sorry Ginny, but I don't know what you are talking about."

"N'thing important." The badger was now moving in a rather alarmingly way, squirming, struggling and biting at its invisible bounds yet being generally unsuccessful. Still, she had to ask, if only to be completely sure. "Are you sure those claws can't get through your skull?"

"Yes." As to prove her point, Luna reached out and rubbed its chin with slow, caressing motions. To her surprise, the badger became more and more docile with each stroke. "Let's get inside, it's getting cold. Plus, I can't wait to talk to you."

*

"Really, I thought you were going to stuff this room with weird, unknown machinery or something," said Ginny surveying the office from top to the bottom.

"No, everything is just as Dumbledore last left it but by one exception."

"Which is..."

"Dumbledore's portrait, of course," said Luna with a little bow of her head directed to the wall. Those former Headmasters who weren't asleep or just pretending to be answered by nodding politely. "It was here the day I took possession of the post, but I believe it to have been there long before. I just haven't got the chance to ask him."

Ginny looked around. Indeed, there was a blank frame next to Phineas Nigellus'. "Why?"

"Hasn't shown himself yet," said Luna thoughtfully, motioning Ginny to take a seat. "I think he is still adjusting to the idea of being dead."

Ginny was speechless. "Blimey, it has been almost a year!" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh well, maybe he wasn't prepared for it."

Luna thought about it for a while, and then shrugged. "Tea?"

"Sure," said Ginny in an almost automatic reaction. She blinked. "Y'know, nobody is ever going to dream about stealing your things again so, there's no need for you to be paranoic."

"I know." A tray with a kettle and two cups appeared in front of her eyes. "But you can't teach an old dog new tricks," added Luna, chuckling. "How much sugar?"

"I guess not. Two cubes, please."

A comfortable silence settled between sips of tea and bites of chocolate chips cookies.

"So," said Luna after a while, holding her cup of tea at eye-level, "how is all going on in the muggle world? Did they treat you well?"

"It's fine as long as they're entertained," said Ginny, dismissingly.

"They're actually trying to get a scientific explanation for the Hamburg incident," said Luna conversationally. "I've been asked assistance by the People's government. Being classified as magical creatures by the Ministry of Magic, they are having quite a tough time with bureaucracy."

"I can imagine."

"Any boyfriends?"

"What?" asked Ginny, confused by the sudden turn the conversation gave.

"Have you got a muggle boyfriend?"

The question was weird coming from one Luna Lovegood's lips. She isn't even the kind of person, thought Ginny, who would raise this kind of subject. By that, she meant the ever--gossiping girls gathered in Moaning Myrtle's toilet all weekends. She knew about them because she was the president of the fourth year Below-Potter Gryffindor party with Colin Creevy, as vice-president. They also were the first ones to discover the sordid affair between the Golden Boy and Draco Malfoy. Colin didn't seem to have been too deceived, though. She blushed.

"Are you ok?" asked Luna softly, noticing the unhealthy change of color in her cheeks. Ginny realized she had been quiet for quite long thinking about the past.

"Uh, yes, sorry. It just was a bit of a surprise that you would ask that," she said. "No, I haven't got any."

"Perfect," said Luna, raising from her seat, "because what I wanted to tell you requires that you're still free."

"Uh? If this is other of Ron's doings I'm gonna..."

"No." Luna suddenly appeared by her side. Before she could ask, Luna knelt so to be at her eye-level.

"Ginevra," she said so seriously that made Ginny nervous, "would you be my girlfriend?"

Ginny blinked.

"I am already your friend Luna, why are you asking?" She was aware of herself staring at Luna, but she couldn't quite help it, given the present circumstances.

Luna stared back at her, meaningfully.

"Oh," said Ginny, as if realizing something, "this is actually one of my brother's pranks. I'm so going to kill him!" she said with more force than what was necessary.

"I meant it," said Luna, calmly. "And no, this is not a joke."

Ginny blinked for the second time. For some weird reason she knew it wasn't going to be the last one. Truth be told, her mind was a real chaos. Instead of asking the dominant question in her mind 'When did you become a lesbian?' she said the first thing to come out from her mouth, which happened to have no connection with her brain. She was wide-eyed and resembled very well a parody of the person in front of her.

"No, I'm sorry, I can't."

"Why?"

"Because Harry was the only man I've ever really loved."

"Ginny, " whispered Luna, her lips just inches from the redhead's ones, "I am no man."

"Uh? Yeah. But that's not what I-mmmph."

Luna had closed the space between their mouths.

Her first reaction was to stare at the face of her friend in shock, but said friend had her eyes closed and was making the most disturbing series of satisfied sounds. As Luna continued her ministrations, Ginny was surprised to find her eyelids fluttering close and her determination, that of getting away from that warm and comfortable body, dying at an alarming rate.

She was starting to enjoy it when Luna broke the kiss.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have."

"What?" she asked, her brown eyes several shades brighter. In there was confusion, but also a generous amount of desire.

"Kissed you without permission. Although, I'm not completely sorry for it."

"What?"

"This," insisted Luna, laying a hand over Ginny's cheek and rubbing circles in the soft pink pinks, "shouldn't have happened."

Then the full blow of the situation dawned on Ginny. Those two blue orbs staring at hers impassively, the swollen lips that surely matched her owns. Cheers and cries of awe coming from the portraits somewhere in the background. She also became self-conscious of her hands, holding around a long, pallid neck for dear life. Any of these details alone were enough to make her really angry in a normal situation. As this was certainly not a normal situation, she forgot about resorting into violence for all her Weasley pride, doing the only sensible thing that came up into her confused mind.

She ran away.

*

Or, at least, she tried.

On the other hand, Luna didn't try to stop her; if out of dread, she wasn't sure. Ginny though she was free to flee from the room until she reached the door. Then, she noticed with growing despair that it wouldn't open despite how much physical force she applied over the handle.

It was then when she snapped.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"Nothing," said Luna from the same spot she was when Ginny ran away. It did nothing good to her nerves. "I think it has something to do with this room."

"IT'S YOUR OFFICE!" screamed Ginny, exasperated and undignified by the apparent absolute calmness of her offender.

"Technically yes. But I don't think it's ever been the completely property of anyone. In fact, I think it has a life of its own."

"STOP IT!"

"Stop what, Ginny?"

"BEING SO CALM ABOUT IT, STOP IT!"

"I'm not," said Luna. "In fact, I'm scared to dead."

Ginny looked at her apparent unperturbed frame. "WHAT? DON'T EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT BULLSHIT!"

"But I am."

A growly, deep sound emerged from Ginny's throat. "You are," she stated, defeated. Something into her chest chose that very second to deflate.

"Yes, I am."

Ginny smothered her clothes in order to keep calmed and looked at Luna. There wasn't any trace of fear or nervousness in that face. Hell, she could have been listening to one of Binn's lectures and it wouldn't have made any difference. Ignoring it for the sake of her sanity she asked, "why did you do it?"

"I did it because I love you," she said, as if stating the obvious.

"WHAT? That's impo-I mean, how can you-!" Ginny huffed without ending the sentence. She suddenly felt too tired to say anything else.

Luna, though, did to say something else. "It's nothing abnormal, just love."

"I know, but-We'll state later what is normal and what's not!" Ginny was feeling how her temper was slowly reaching the boiling point. Again. "How can you... say that word so lightly? I mean, ok, we have been friends for quite long but that's not enough reason for you to say that you lo...THAT!"

"That's how I feel," came the simple answer.

"But you can't!" Ginny insisted, as though by doing so she could convince herself.

Luna shrugged.

Ginny feared that that was the end of it. That she would be stuck inside that now hated office for the rest of the day, missing dinner and probably the next morning's train. And where would she sleep? No, that was absolutely out of the question. She had to get out of there, but how?

That was answered by the sudden intervention of a too familiar voice.

"If I am given a word in this discussion, I think Miss Lovegood has a point."

Ginny's face instantly blanched. Bewildered, she searched the room for the source of the voice. It wasn't until her gaze dropped upon a certain frame on the opposite wall that she realized a major change had taken place while they were discussing. Well, while she was screaming at Luna. The portrait of Albus Dumbledore was now inhabited.

"It was you," she said. It was not a question, but a statement.

"Yes, and I must confess that I am utterly sorry for my actions. Normally, it would not be in my place, nor my right, to interfere in your young people's business, but I can not stay impassible when a promising relationship such as yours is menaced by a petty quarrel of no importance."

Silence dawned upon the room. It was not going to last, though.

"A PROMISING RELATIONSHIP?" screamed Ginny.

"I've been waiting since the first day to talk to you," said Luna, completely mesmerized, at the same time. "What could have you been doing that took you so long?"

"My dear Miss Lovegood, you would be surprised to know how difficult it is for a man to renew his acquaintances after his death."

"How many people have you met, professor?"

"I-" He was interrupted before he could answer by no other than Ginny, still astonished by the way the two of them were talking as though she wasn't there, but recovered enough as to express her anger.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" she screamed very red in the face. "IS NOBODY IN THIS BLOODY ROOM TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY?"

"I am," said Luna, truthfully.

"I have never done anything carelessly, Miss Weasley. Neither in life nor death."

"You don't understand," she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I can't love her because the only person I've ever loved is dead. Dammit! And it's because of you!" she pointed at Dumbledore's portrait accusingly.

"I only tried to keep him alive as much as it was humanly possible."

"Yes?" said she sarcastically. "You did a great job pretending exactly the opposite."

Dumbledore looked at her, and his sorrow became evident in all of his wrinkles.

"It's not fair," Ginny had to say in the end. Her voice evidently broken.

"My child," replied Dumbledore sadly, "war is not supposed to be fair."

"And that gave you the right of disposing of his life as you pleased!"

"No," he said still calmed, but there was no shine in his eyes. "And I regret it greatly."

A negative from Dumbledore would have detonated an angry reaction from Ginny. As he declared himself guilty of all her accusations, she felt suddenly out of words. Dumbledore took this as a chance to go on. "Regardless of the dubious fact that mister Potter was in fact your soul mate Miss Weasley, there is a fundamental matter you should consider before you answer Miss Lovegood's question."

She looked at him, waiting for an answer.

"She is alive."