Linny - Ginny and Luna's Secret

Chapter 3 - The first weeks back

Ginny stepped off the train and a slight breeze on the Hogsmeade platform blew her red gryffindor scarf lightly around her neck. As the thestral drawn carriages neared the school Ginny got a glimpse of the light streaming from the castle. She had been going to hogwarts for so many years yet she still got that little excited shiver down her spine whenever she saw it.

That evening as she ate her sweet potatoes over at the gryffindor table enjoying the endless chatter coming from Ron, Harry and Hermione, she couldn't help but look over at Luna and notice what beautiful snowy hair she had, Ginny could stare at those blond curls and pale icy skin forever. She noticed Luna looking back at her and awkwardly looked away quickly.

Over the next few weeks Ginny seemed to bump into Luna everywhere, in the corridor on her way to charms, down at the lakeside when she was reading a book for transfiguration, even as she was up in the owlery saying hi to Pigwidgeon for Ron.

Other than her encounters with Luna in the halls Ginny was a year younger than the Ravenclaw girl and therefore in none of the same classes as her so they talked rarely. Ginny had many things to keep her mind busy and away from Luna anyways, she was practicing for the upcoming Quidditch game against Slytherin, writing an 18 inch long essay on ancient wizard and muggle trades for Mr Binns and swimming in the lake now that weather was warm enough again.

One evening about 4 weeks after school had started Luna was walking back from Greenhouse 4 after a very boring lesson with Mrs Sprout when she found Luna at her side. Luna who had just run to catch up with Ginny waited a moment to catch her breath before speaking.

"Uh hey Ginny, now that the weather's warm I was wondering if you'd want to go down to the lake tomorrow afternoon for a little picnic and maybe a swim?"

She said i'm this all in one breath and with a level of anxiousness that Ginny had rarely if never seen in Luna.

"Just the two of us?" asked Ginny

Luna nodded and looked up and Ginny with those irresistible shimmering blue eyes. Ginny could hardly speak. Had Luna just asked her on a date? No she must be overthinking it, Luna just wanted to have a little picnic as friends.

Nonetheless Ginny could hardly sleep that night and she lay in her four poster bed looking up at the maroon velvet tapestry for what must have been hours making a mental list of all the different way Luna could wear her hair to the lake.

Ginny decided not to mention her plans with Luna to anyone, not that they were a secret anyone could be at the lake but she was worried people might assume that she was gay if she mentioned that she was having a picnic lunch alone with Luna.

The next day in transfiguration they learnt how to turn squirrels into blankets and if you asked anyone else in her class they would be able to tell you that to Professor McGonagall had giggled in class after a girl in Ginnys class had created an extremely fluffy blanket that wiggles when you touched it, an extremely rare occurrence for the teacher however Ginny could not have told you if they transfigured mice or rabbits. The entire day her mind was on Luna. She tried to think of her studies, as Hermione would say she had exams coming up but she couldn't make herself think straight. What was wrong with her? When Luna came into her charms class with a note for professor Flit-wick Ginny could hardly keep her eyes off her, taking in every detail. How could anyone's skin look so soft and beautiful?

Finally afternoon came, it seemed like the day had taken weeks to be over and now it finally was. Ginny had known Luna for years and they had met up many times but today Ginny found herself overthinking what to wear down to the lake. She was surprised at herself, Ginny wasn't usually the kind to overthink fashion. She enjoyed looking nice but she never put too much effort sitting in front of the mirror. She ended up picking a green flowy dress that made her feel like she was covered in leaves blowing in the wind.

As she was walking down the path through the castle grounds Malfoy and his two friends Crabbe and Goyle passed her. They definitely weren't her favourite people and Ginny tried to avoid them, minding her own business but Malfoy spotted her and practically pranced over. Ginny couldn't help but wonder if that horrible smirk ever left this face.

"Going to meet up with your boyfriend Weasley? which house is he in?"

"Shut up Draco"

"Don't tell me to to shut up, anyways never mind knowing 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 family he's probably some muggle boy"

Ginny wanted to punch him in the face but resisted her urge and smiled to herself.
'boyfriend ha' Who would have thought?