Luna was talking to the stars again.
Ginny was sat by her side, gently plaiting and unplaiting Luna's hair, pale blonde strands sliding through her fingers as if they were woven silk.
They were rested by a large tree by the black lake, a small picnic blanket beneath them as they lent back against the tree - shoulders lightly brushing each other every time Ginny moved.
The night was clear, so they had a gorgeous view of the moon and stars, glimmering down onto the lake and reflecting back up to them, illuminating their faces.
Ginny sat in complete silence, letting the soft lull of Luna's peaceful, dreamy voice fill the silence of the night.
-
"Hello again, Uncle Regulus.
I need some assistance, because for once I am really not sure what I should do.
I know a secret. Well, I think I do.
I figured it out by myself, I don't know how I realised - but I just had a gut feeling. I need to make sure what I know is true.
If you're up there you know what I'm talking about. Mum always said you were smart. Mum never said anything bad about you, though.
I think he's here. At the school. Uncle Barty.
But... I don't know how to approach him about it.
I shouldn't be nervous, right? You and mum loved him. Clearly he can't be a bad person, mum always spoke so well of him. But again, mum spoke well of all of you. You weren't all perfect - or you'd be here today, right?
I don't know what to do. The whole problem is morally wrong.
Do I get the chance to meet the only one of my mum's loved ones still alive, or do I report it - and do the right thing? He shouldn't be here. I know that much.
Send me a sign?
Thankyou, I'll speak to you soon, Uncle."
-
Ginny paused her gentle rhythm of plaiting, she slightly turned her body to face Luna, their shoulder pressing closer to each other.
"Lu? What was that about?"
Luna sighed, softly, and shook her head.
"I need to figure it out by myself, I think. But thank you for being by me as I talked to him. It isn't always easy."
Ginny nodded. There was a moment where all they could hear was the gentle blow of the wind and the calming rhythm of the lake.
"Can I ask another question?"
"Of course."
"Who were you talking to?"
Luna drew up her pale, thin hand and pointed at the sky.
"You see that star right there? That's Regulus. He's my godfather. Well, he was. He was my mums best friend, but he went missing a few weeks before my first birthday. Mum always talked to him, after he left - and I just picked up the habit, I guess."
Ginny gently intertwined her freckled, scarred hand with Luna's pale, jewelry clad one. She smiled, a soft genuine smile - rubbing her thumb across the back of Luna's hand, and kissed Luna's forehead, lightly, so Luna could feel a ghost of the kiss when Ginny pulled away.
"Do you need some time alone to figure out what you want to do?"
Luna looked at Ginny, and kissed her - just a soft peck on the lips, she couldn't help it. Ginny was so kind, and sweet and oh so pretty.
Ginny smiled into the kiss - unprepared for how kind, and gentle and loving it was.
"No, no. I'll get to it eventually. Walk me back to the dorms?"
The two gently stood, walking in the soft gleam of the moonlight towards the castle entrance, hands swinging between them, hearts beating fast and stomachs fluttering with nerves.
Ginny dropped Luna off by the Ravenclaw dorms with a kiss on the cheek, and they both headed to bed flustered - dreaming of the intimate moment they shared by the lake.
For a moment, it felt like everything would be okay.