Ron was bored. Maybe he should have taken that job offer from Fred and George. That's where Ginny was right now, Diagon Alley. The twins shop had really taken off. Ron however, refused to work over his summer holiday. He found himself virtually alone at the Burrow now, only his mum was there during the day. It had never seemed so deserted. There had always been loads of things going on. Ron was finding that left to his own devices all he could think of was reading about Quidditch or walking in the woods. At least at night Ginny and Dad came home. Fred and George never left their shop these days; they had a flat above the shop they shared with their girlfriends Alicia and Angelina.
Today he had decided to go exploring in the woods behind the Burrow. He had never wandered this far in this direction so at least it was something interesting to do. Suddenly he heard a girl's voice singing a rather familiar song in a dreamy voice.
"Weasley Is Our King,
Weasley Is Our King,
He didn't let the Quaffle in,
Weasley Is Our King..."
He turned towards the source of the voice, hurrying along. Ron was nearly sprinting around a large tree when he suddenly slammed head first into the girl who had been singing. Their heads banged together and they fell into a tangled heap on the ground. The girl's long blond hair whipped about his head. Ron found himself laying on top of her. He immediately rolled off of her and onto his back beside her. He laid there while the stars cleared then sat up and said. "OY! Watch where you're walkin!"
The girl who seemed unable to lift her head said "You watch where you're going Ronald Weasley!"
Ron who suddenly realized it was Luna Lovegood answered quietly. "Oh Sorry Luna, I wasn't looking where I was going."
"It's ok Ronald; I don't think there is any permanent harm done." She reached up and held the back of her wrist to her forehead before continuing dramatically. "Though my head hurts and I still feel dizzy." Luna tried to sit up but seemed unable to manage on her own so Ron moved a bit closer and helped her.
Both of them suddenly spoke at once, almost in unison. "So what are you doing here?"
Both of them seemed to wait for the other to answer then again they answered the question together. "I live just over there" they said pointing in opposite directions.
After another awkward moment in which they both thought about that they finished together "Really?"
They both began laughing. Ron finally managed "Wow we sound just like..."
Luna didn't let him finish as she chimed in "…Fred and George, except..."
Ron continued "They finish each others sentences."
They both started laughing harder this time. Then suddenly Luna clutched her temples and said "Oh my head" as she collapsed into Ron's arms, limp as a rag doll.
"OH Damn" Ron thought "I must have hurt her badly after all." Ron did the only thing he could think of. He scooped her up and ran towards The Burrow as fast as he could.
"Mum will know what to do; she has to know what to do" Ron prayed as he ran thru the woods. Luna was a small girl but she became heavier and heavier the longer Ron ran. Ten minutes later a very exhausted Ron staggered onto the porch of The Burrow and hurried inside. He tried to holler for his mum but could only breathe loudly. His mum was not in the kitchen so he continued into the living room and laid Luna on the couch. Just then he heard his mum come up behind him.
"What Happened Ron? Who is this girl?"
"Bumped heads, Luna" Ron gasped out as he collapsed onto the ground holding his side.
Mum rushed over and looked at Luna. "She's out and her pupils are dilated. That thick head of yours Ronald Weasley, looks like you gave her a concussion." With that mum left the living room and went to the kitchen.
She returned a minute later with a small potion vial. When she uncorked it the entire room was filled with the most obnoxious odor Ron had ever experienced.
Mum waved the noxious vial under Luna's nose and suddenly Luna was coughing and sputtering. Mum quickly stoppered the offending vial. "You'll be all right in a few minutes dear. Just relax there" Molly told Luna reassuringly.
"What? Where am I?" Luna sighed
"I carried you to The Burrow, my home; and this is my mum Molly Weasley" Ron explained still rather breathless.
"Don't sit up yet dear" Mum pushed Luna back down onto the couch. "Just rest a minute dear. Ron's head is a very hard thing to go bumping into."
"MUM!"
"Ron go get her some chilled pumpkin juice" she ordered.
"Yes Mum" Ron said as he struggled to his feet still winded from carrying Luna so far. Good thing she wasn't heavy! He thought as he entered the kitchen. He could hear Luna and his mum talking quietly. Ron pulled the decanter of pumpkin juice from the chiller and poured two glasses. He returned the decanter to the chiller and carried the glasses to the living room.
When mum saw him re-enter the room she helped Luna sit up. "Ok dear sit up slowly and drink some juice."
Ron came over after Luna had finished sitting up and handed her one of the glasses. He sat down close beside her on the couch just in case she couldn't hold the glass just yet. He then took a long drink of his own juice.
After making sure Luna was also drinking her juice mum spoke. "Well now Ronald maybe Luna can keep you out of trouble for the rest of the summer. You have all said such nice things about her, she sounds as sweet and helpful as Hermione" and she walked from the room. "I will be in the garden if you need me."
Ron blushed at his mother's comments.
Luna chuckled brightly and looked at Ron questioningly.
He managed to answer Luna's look "I haven't had anyone to even talk to this summer, everyone is away except me and mum."
"Oh that sounds like my summers. It's just me and Dad and he is at the office most of the time."
Ron suddenly realized he was sitting very close to her on the couch. He was turned sideways facing her, his arm behind her on the couch. He told himself he was just being ready incase she passed out again or something. Or what he chided himself. Apparently Luna had just realized how intimately they were sitting because she batted her eyelashes at him before speaking.
"Do you mind if we just sit here and talk a while? I don't want to get up just yet" and she leaned back relaxing onto the couch and coincidentally Ron's arm.
Well maybe I can find something to do with my time after all Ron thought.
Ron was never sure what they had talked about, definitely Quidditch had come up. It was nice to find a girl he could talk to about that. Hermione never wanted to talk about Quidditch. An hour seemed to have magically passed while they were talking.
Luna apparently decided it was time to help get dinner ready when mum came back inside with a basket of things from the garden. "Oh let me help you with those ma'am"
"No dear, why don't you two go for a walk or something dinner is still a few hours away and there are only five of us to feed tonight, that's if you're staying for dinner dear?"
"Yes please, Father won't be home until after midnight. Ronald what happened to my wand and my Quibbler?"
"They must still be on the ground by the tree, let's go get them."
Ron couldn't understand quite what was going on but it seemed to be something important. He found himself slowly walking back to the big oak tree that marked their meeting talking quietly with Luna.
Molly Weasley grinned to herself as she watched them walk down towards the stream hand in hand.
A/N Man this chapter was a struggle to write. I seem to have loads to write about H/Hr but have to work to write R/L stuff. Oh well There are not a lot of chapters that are not H/Hr so I guess I will just work thru them.
I mentioned in the New Guardians chapter that the Grangers wanted to spend their summer holiday with Harry and Hermione. Hedwig has yet to deliver that message to them though. That will be in either chapter 12 or 13. Twelve is mostly written but eleven is still in the works.
Thank you all for your reviews. Chapter length is still a sticking point and I am doing what I can with them.