Fic: New Beginnings
Jun. 12th, 2021 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
paulamcgHere's my other contribution to Femmefest 2021. This story, like each of my fics, works separately, of course. However, it's also an alternative-pov retelling of the early part of A Promising Find (my latest Golden Age fic), set in 2033, as well as a Cho-pov prequel, set in 2018, to the established Cho/Gabrielle we see in the latter part of that fic.
Title: New Beginnings
Author: paulamcg
Rating: G
Pairings: Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley, Cho Chang/Gabrielle Delacour, (minor) Roger Davies/OMC
Summary: After Luna concludes that a trip to the Pyrenees can help her wife, they get distracted to reading some letters Cho sent from there fifteen years earlier, when her life was changing.
Warnings: Some age differences, but no cross-gen. Older characters. Set in 2033 and 2018. Includes letters, which are naturally first-person narrative. Asexuality in one of the pairings.
Word Count: 4040
Author's Notes: This was written as a pinch hit at Femmefest 2021. Melacka, thank you for your inspiring list of character suggestions, likes and prompts! I hope you find here something you like. Thank you for the beta, justtoarguewithyou!
Read here on AO3
or right here:
New Beginnings
"Look!" Hoping that in her excitement she hasn't woken her wife beside her, Luna goes on in a whisper, "I found them."
But Ginny's perhaps still been too upset about what those top Harpies told her in Holyhead. Even after such astounding love-making that only two fifty-plus witches can share, and after agreeing to join Luna in search of the most fantastic ground squirrels, to look for clues in some letters sent from the Pyrenees, Ginny must have found it impossible to fall asleep quickly. She lifts her head from the pillow and finds her reading glasses immediately on the side table. And she doesn't seem surprised at all that Luna's sitting cross-legged on their bed with a pile of small rolls of parchment in her lap and the wand still in her hand.
"Managed to Summon them finally?" she says, stifling a yawn but smiling to Luna.
"I only needed to remember which summer Cho went there. 2018. And in which trunk I keep those old things. Letters from fifteen years ago."
Luna's mind now slips to a path that leads decades further back, to the very beginning of her friendship with Cho, who as a popular fifth-year surprised a two years younger House mate by offering to teach her how to Summon things from behind closed doors. And by confessing that she didn't want to be kissed by anyone.
Ginny shifts closer, pushes some of the rolls aside, and rests her head on Luna's thigh. "Cho's lived near Beauxbatons for fifteen years now?"
"Yes. It's high time we visited her together, and..."
"You want to do it now before Magimots go into hibernation." Ginny's voice is a bit teasing, but gentle.
Of course, Ginny understands that Luna's come up with this idea of travelling just because Ginny needs a holiday. But perhaps not that the plot is to give Ginny a chance to talk about Quidditch careers and her options with Cho. It must be wise to distract her now by babbling about an urge to find a rare beast, and to help her start opening her mind for alternative ways and new beginnings.
"I think she says something about Magimots in this first letter. Listen to... Oh, she always starts her letters with shiny words!"
My sweet friend, my luminous Luna,
It's an endless joy that after all these years I can call you mine in my crazy romantic phrases. I know you and Ginny won't mind.
And, of course, you can let her read every part of my report, if she's interested. Yes, as I promised, I'll send more owls to tell you everything. I'm so glad you encouraged me to plan a long visit after I complained I missed Roger and that my life got so boring after he left.
Now I understand why Roger has decided to stay here. Beauxbatons is... magnifique! The first thing he was proud to show me was the Quidditch pitch, and that's nothing special really, and I still had to wonder how he could be so happy to referee here and to teach little French witches and wizards to fly.
But the lush gardens of the Beauxbatons palace! And its halls, with stained glass windows and comfortable furniture, elegant and cosy, and a lot more than that... It's all full of Charm – in every sense!
And then he took me to where he's built a home with his Jean-Claude. This wizarding village hidden behind Muggle Arreau is something else again. And further inside the magic sphere, beyond the cobbled streets and thatched cottages, there are stretches of concealed wilderness inhabited by most marvellous beasts and birds. You should really come and visit...
Yes, visit me when I've settled here, as I'm seriously planning to do that! Gwendolyn won't be happy to lose another player, but I think the Montrose Magpies need more young blood. And perhaps this is the right time for me to find a new direction. Perhaps it's just a dream, but at least this summer I want to enjoy dreaming. Remember I've said that I'm making this trip to celebrate that I'm not yet forty.
All right, more about this marvellous magical community. A big part of the charm of village life here comes from what the local witches and wizards learn in school subjects that we don't have at Hogwarts: in various fields of arts and crafts.
Some people who are seriously ambitious as painters or sculptors leave to study at the Enchanted Art Academy in Paris. But it seems to me that everyone who's gone to Beauxbatons is somehow an artist. The witches and wizards in Arreau hone their crafts. No matter what the craft is – making shoes, or baking cauldron cakes, or whatever. They're proud to design and create beautiful things for any everyday use. And they make some very special jewellery inspired by nature. I know you'll tease me – your truest magpie, who loves flashy treasures! But it's not only things I can wear that I admire.
The loveliest thing I've seen is the fresco on the domed ceiling of the village theatre. You'd love to watch these painted birds fly. They are none other than – Emerald Eagles!
It's really a major theatre, too. A lot of people arrive for performances from all over France, also because when they spend the weekend in the area, they can see their children at Beauxbatons and hike along the magical tracks of the Pyrenees. The theatre employs artistic people of various fields. And takes on apprentices...
I must have told you that Roger's partner is a dancer. Yes, I remember we laughed about it. How Roger never got tired or too old to go out to clubs and to dance with a new stranger every time another catch of his had turned out to be a mistake... Who would have guessed that when he'd finally manage to keep one of those dancers, it would be the most charming young wizard (almost ten years younger than him – thirty last year). And a successful professional – premier danseur at a great theatre like this one here.
If I hadn't known, I'd never have thought he was such a star when I listened to him chatting with the neighbours as we arrived in his and Roger's pretty garden. Oh, I've already found out about some conversation classes I can take this month so as to improve my French. That's highly important in case...
Anyway, about Jean-Claude... Later last night I saw him on stage, in all his glory. His dancing was unearthly, and...Now you'll laugh again. I loved his gorgeous outfit. Its colours kept changing and emphasised the emotions he conveyed by his movements.
In the after-party he introduced me to the witch who designs his costumes. I caught only her first name. Gabrielle. She's... after all, she's even more beautiful than anything else I've seen here. Or anywhere! I'm afraid I ended up stealing glances at her, and if she noticed, she might think I was flirting. I could blame Roger, from whom I've learnt how to do it. I really shouldn't flirt, because I must remain
Your crazy romantic ace
Cho
P.S. I'm enclosing a marmot-shaped pendant. I'd advise not to wear it against bare skin, or it'll start waddling as far as the chain allows. It'll also whistle if there are other marmots nearby. That's why I can't send two, for you and Ginny to wear at the same time.
That wasn't quite as much about any kinds of marmots as Luna had remembered and hoped. At least her reading has lulled Ginny to sleep, fortunately only snuggled against Luna's thigh, with her head down.
Luna cautiously removes the spectacles and strokes the silvery strand among the ginger ones on Ginny's temple. When, after breaking the nightlamp charm, she lies down, spooning Ginny from behind, she hears a murmured word that sounds like... flight?
There's the warm gold of sunshine behind her lids. When she opens them, she's greeted good morning by the glow of Ginny's hair, which is being cleared of tangles by an animated brush. Ginny's hands are busy sorting the rolls of parchment.
"Lovely morning, my lassie!" Luna breathes out.
"Noon, rather!" Turning towards Luna, Ginny furrows her brows. "Did you stay up reading all of these?"
"No, I read just the one."
"We've got time for two more before we must get ready. We're travelling to Arreau today, right?" Now Ginny's certainly smiling at how there's no sign of happy surprise on Luna's face – at how Luna can always trust her to stick to her decisions – now to the agreements to take a holiday and to read some letters. "I've chosen the ones with the best parts of Cho's story."
Luna rolls out of bed. "Great. You can read to me while I'm making breakfast. Brunch, whatever."
She'll prepare Ginny's favourite, vegan pumpkin pancakes. And this time she'll remember to Summon two bowls and whisk the dry and wet ingredients separately, and to watch what her wand's doing while enjoying Ginny's voice and Cho's words.
My lovely Luna, my old and forever-young best mate,
I can't wait to tell you... Just like in January 2002 I was dying to tell Roger as soon as I realised you might want me as your girlfriend, and that I could love you in the same way. I should have been able to understand it wouldn't last, but now I'm glad I didn't, because that's how we got to share those beautiful months as partners. After that I've been happy with friendships. And that's what my news is about: a new friendship. I've made friends with Gabrielle Delacour!
(Yes, Ginny was right, of course. Back in 1994 Gabrielle was such a little girl that I didn't pay much attention to her. I guess both you and I were more interested in those who were older than us.)
She is as beautiful as how I remember Fleur at the Triwizard Tournament. But she doesn't really look like her big sister. Her hair's more golden, and her face is softer, her figure lithe. She's thirty-three now, but perhaps what she's inherited from the veela grandmother makes her look ageless. She says, laughing, that she may look like in her prime now in August, but she always looks older in winter and younger in spring.
The way she laughs reminds me of you. She's not haughty. I'm saying that just because I remember we all felt that Fleur was. And when I said that to Roger, he said, "Yes, she is. You'd see that if you weren't ace." He means she's a hottie! I'm too old to use such an American word. Or not! Anyway, I admire her also because she's smart and kind and fun and...
All right, I know I'm attracted to her, romantically. It's fine, I'm happy to be her friend, and I can bear it when she marries someone. I wonder why she hasn't done that yet, and isn't even dating, but I don't want to ask her or listen to any gossip.
Anyway, how we became friends was that I got that apprenticeship at the theatre. Of course, it'll take a long time before I can get any speaking roles. Except in my language classes at Beauxbatons when they start in September! Yes, they teach French as a second language for children who come from other countries, and I can join seventh-year students, who always give amateur performances.
All this has worked out perfectly, and I've made up my mind. I know that I've finally found what's the right field of work for me.
I've always enjoyed an audience, and it's a wonderful challenge for me to learn to... No, as Jean-Claude says, not to act, not to perform. To convey the emotions of someone in a story written for the stage, and to evoke emotion in people, to help them perhaps learn to understand each other better. That sounds awfully solemn! At least I'll take part in offering a pleasant evening for the audience. And I'll get to live virtually what I can never have in real life. Although I doubt I'll get a big role in a love story before it's time for me to retire! In any case, I'll finally do something more complicated and meaningful than seeking and snatching that shiny trinket.
Now you must believe me (as I know you've believed in the most improbable things, too) when I say that my crush on Gabrielle is not the reason why I've decided to stay. I met her again at the theatre only after I started doing all kinds of menial tasks as an apprentice. You can imagine I was excited about a task in arranging the wardrobe – even before I realised I'd assist her.
When the two of us got to discuss costumes and fashion, I immediately felt we understood each other incredibly well. There's been a lot to talk about: Hogwarts, and Beauxbatons, and theatre, of course... We've gone out for a coffee a few times, and once hiking together with Roger and Jean-Claude... Oh, I must disappoint you. We saw no Magimots nor any type of marmots.
Now, Roger's turning forty this weekend. (Remember, his birthday's two weeks before mine, and that's why he was a year above me at Hogwarts.) He doesn't want a big party, and we've decided to take a trip to Costa Brava so as to celebrate – just the four of us!
Ginny's let the parchment roll closed on the table when Luna turns towards her, levitating the plateful of pancakes, and she adds only, "No Magimots."
"They are rare enough, a challenge to find," Luna replies, sitting down opposite to her.
"I'm sure there's nothing about them in the other letter I chose. Sorry. That one's not even from Arreau."
It's great that Ginny's ended up reading – and perhaps even planned to read – through the part about Cho's decision to change careers. But she seems to find the love story more appealing.
Luna points her wand at their old and well-trained coffee percolator, which starts its work at once. "You got curious about that birthday weekend."
"Yes. But now I think... I don't think you let me see that letter back then, fifteen years ago. There must be something too private in it for me to read. We'll see each other soon, and they can share the memories if they want to. While we're all hiking, looking for your Magimots."
"My wise and considerate wife!" By offering a pancake for Ginny to take a bite of, Luna prompts her to open her mouth, and bends over the table to give her a deep kiss instead. "My fiery hottie!"
While the dishes are washing themselves, Luna will have a chance to take some glances at what Cho wrote to her back when finally reaching for a different role than what she'd ended up having in her old friends' lives. She herself has become distracted. But perhaps love is what can help Ginny cope with losing the Quidditch job that she thinks has defined her.
We came here flying along the eastern end of the Pyrenees at night. The moon had risen, almost full, and huge and yellow. I suggested the Disillusioning Charm – partly because I'd enjoyed using it when having adventures with you. And this time it was more thrilling than ever because we were flying tandem, Jean-Claude on Roger's broom, and Gabrielle sitting behind me on mine.
In order not to get lost, I had to fly right next to Roger, our knees and shoulders rubbing together. In the way I used to fly with you when almost invisible – with the difference that when touching you I always felt that you wanted more than that closeness which made me completely happy.
But this time, as Gabrielle was hugging me tight, it was... or I wanted it to be so romantic! Our chameleon bodies becoming one with the moonlit mountainscape, the two of us becoming one. Moving through the cold air, sharing our warmth was the perfect bliss for me. And she kept her arms wrapped around me so firmly that I sensed no hint at an urge to touch me in a different way.
That's now made me almost sure that she's into men. That she's got no husband or boyfriend perhaps just because men find her beauty intimidating, or because, after all, she's too critical to accept anyone among the men she's met as her partner, even though she's so open for friendships. I can't stop thinking about my feelings for her more and more as another unrequited romantic love. And I wonder if I'll be less sad to see this beloved friend find a partner when it's bound to be a wizard, not a witch.
At sunrise we landed on a small deserted beach surrounded by rocks and thick woods. Port de Joan, Jean-Claude called it. The sun was low and blinding in front of us, and the only sound was from the waves rhythmically shifting the pebbles on the shore – until we heard a buzzing trill from among the trees. Serins. Gabrielle named these small finches to me, saying the word softly close to my ear.
We were fully visible again, and she was as shiny as ever in the morning light. But her pretty lips were pale, and as her hood had slipped down, I reached to pull it over her crown of golden hair. Just when our eyes met, there was a shrill sound, something like... Ker-wick!
Terns. We said this word together, and burst into laughter. Gull-billed terns, she specified, with admiration in her voice. And I glanced at the flock of long-winged seabirds with black caps and strong black bills. The two of us share this love for birds, too!
Oddly enough, at that moment I felt that Gabrielle and I could grow close and become something beyond friends, even beyond sisters. Perhaps particularly because I now believe she wants nothing sexual with any witch. That's why I also ventured to wrap my travel cloak around her and to embrace her.
After breakfast at the first café that opened, the four of us agreed to retreat to the bedrooms in the small cottage we had rented, and to have a nap. There are two bedrooms, and Gabrielle and I share one, of course – and a bed, too, it turned out.
While Gabrielle fell asleep soon, I stayed up writing all that. And now, on Sunday morning, before leaving this cottage, I want to take the time to tell you more... Yes, once again there's something I just can't wait to share with you!
Yesterday at noon, when still lying on the bed, facing each other, Gabrielle and I ended up talking about birds. And I suggested that she preferred the males. Because of their more colourful plumage in a lot of species, I was going to add.
But she looked into my eyes intently, and said something like, "I've thought I do. But it seems I always like best the ones who are not attracted to me."
Rather not attracted to females at all? Who else would not be attracted to her? And I said that we'd see a lot of such lovely blokes at the Muggle club.
Yes, one of the highlights in the birthday celebration was that after enjoying the bigger beach, Platja de Garbet and taking a train to the village of Colera, we went to a small gay club Jean-Claude had found there a couple of years ago. Gabrielle's not got much experience of Muggle life, and spending these two days in Muggle locations is special fun for her. Before dinner and dancing, we went shopping for crazy outfits for all of us, and Gabrielle and I tried on some skimpy dresses, and I helped her choose something that she felt more comfortable (but didn't look any less gorgeous) wearing.
At the club there were a couple of women who looked at her hopefully, and she agreed to dance with them – out of curiosity, she said (towards Muggles, or lesbians, I wondered). But she came back to me, danced with me, and took my hand to hold while we were sitting side by side, having a drink. And I allowed myself to start dreaming that she could be attracted to a witch, after all, and that I could be the one she wanted and that – the most wondrous thing of all – what I could enjoy would be enough for her. Since the loud music made a proper conversation impossible, I just made the most of the joy we shared when the music moved our bodies.
But I didn't want either of us to continue to have any false expectations, and as soon as we were alone in our room, I blurted it out. "You see, I'm ace." And she didn't know what I meant!
Well, now she's learnt from me what being asexual means, and what the asexuality spectrum is. She'd never heard of asexuality before. It seems asexual people are still so invisible at Beauxbatons that she's never been able to comprehend how her feelings towards the people she's been most fond of have been quite different from the attraction that allosexuals feel.
She says this must be it: she's asexual. That's why she's also always felt more comfortable with people who are not sexually attracted to her. But she's not sure if she's homo-romantic like me. She must be still confused, seeing herself in a new way, but she says she's happy to know we're both ace, and to understand that this is why my hugs feel so right. And I dared ask, "Do you mean you can sense that I... I'm in love with you – that I want you, but not sexually?" She says she can, and that she thinks that perhaps she wants me like that, too. Perhaps!
I must be patient and give her time to figure herself out. And some time for myself to become sure that I really love her and not only this romance itself. In any case we've agreed that we're dating, and we're thrilled to announce it to Roger and Jean-Claude. Who may have planned to help us find love! And we'll be each supporting the other in the new things we've discovered.
"I'm ready to go when you are." Ginny's voice is a bit hoarse, and it rings out so suddenly from the doorway that it startles Luna.
When finally looking up from the parchment, having read more than she intended, she must have been smiling, so happy for those two, who were to soon become sure enough and to get married. "Oh, sorry! At least the dishes are done."
"I just need... want to ask something again," Ginny says without stepping closer. "You say we must not get stuck with one thing we chose. And you've had other partners before me, and now you've made me read about Cho going south and finding love..."
This fierce and fearless and loyal Gryffindor is, of course, insecure now when her employer has made her think she's got too old – and that everything is subject to change and she might lose more. Luna's got the patience to reassure her again.
"I've already answered that yes, I want to stay stuck with you – not that I think of this as being stuck. I didn't remember the letters were so much about love. But no matter... Love is the best thing."
Luna walks over to Ginny and places her hands on the shoulders, which are still strong and will be the freer of ailments, the less Ginny worries.
Now she gets an idea how to show her love and support. "You know something? Let's fly all the way to Arreau! Let's use the Disillusioning and your sturdiest travelling broom, and I'll be holding the best and final love of my life from behind, tight!"
"And I don't need to worry you want to find a new love, or me to...?"
Maybe that's what Luna wants: Ginny to find out what else she can love doing besides playing Quidditch. "We're flying away to find you again."
Title: New Beginnings
Author: paulamcg
Rating: G
Pairings: Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley, Cho Chang/Gabrielle Delacour, (minor) Roger Davies/OMC
Summary: After Luna concludes that a trip to the Pyrenees can help her wife, they get distracted to reading some letters Cho sent from there fifteen years earlier, when her life was changing.
Warnings: Some age differences, but no cross-gen. Older characters. Set in 2033 and 2018. Includes letters, which are naturally first-person narrative. Asexuality in one of the pairings.
Word Count: 4040
Author's Notes: This was written as a pinch hit at Femmefest 2021. Melacka, thank you for your inspiring list of character suggestions, likes and prompts! I hope you find here something you like. Thank you for the beta, justtoarguewithyou!
Read here on AO3
or right here:
New Beginnings
"Look!" Hoping that in her excitement she hasn't woken her wife beside her, Luna goes on in a whisper, "I found them."
But Ginny's perhaps still been too upset about what those top Harpies told her in Holyhead. Even after such astounding love-making that only two fifty-plus witches can share, and after agreeing to join Luna in search of the most fantastic ground squirrels, to look for clues in some letters sent from the Pyrenees, Ginny must have found it impossible to fall asleep quickly. She lifts her head from the pillow and finds her reading glasses immediately on the side table. And she doesn't seem surprised at all that Luna's sitting cross-legged on their bed with a pile of small rolls of parchment in her lap and the wand still in her hand.
"Managed to Summon them finally?" she says, stifling a yawn but smiling to Luna.
"I only needed to remember which summer Cho went there. 2018. And in which trunk I keep those old things. Letters from fifteen years ago."
Luna's mind now slips to a path that leads decades further back, to the very beginning of her friendship with Cho, who as a popular fifth-year surprised a two years younger House mate by offering to teach her how to Summon things from behind closed doors. And by confessing that she didn't want to be kissed by anyone.
Ginny shifts closer, pushes some of the rolls aside, and rests her head on Luna's thigh. "Cho's lived near Beauxbatons for fifteen years now?"
"Yes. It's high time we visited her together, and..."
"You want to do it now before Magimots go into hibernation." Ginny's voice is a bit teasing, but gentle.
Of course, Ginny understands that Luna's come up with this idea of travelling just because Ginny needs a holiday. But perhaps not that the plot is to give Ginny a chance to talk about Quidditch careers and her options with Cho. It must be wise to distract her now by babbling about an urge to find a rare beast, and to help her start opening her mind for alternative ways and new beginnings.
"I think she says something about Magimots in this first letter. Listen to... Oh, she always starts her letters with shiny words!"
My sweet friend, my luminous Luna,
It's an endless joy that after all these years I can call you mine in my crazy romantic phrases. I know you and Ginny won't mind.
And, of course, you can let her read every part of my report, if she's interested. Yes, as I promised, I'll send more owls to tell you everything. I'm so glad you encouraged me to plan a long visit after I complained I missed Roger and that my life got so boring after he left.
Now I understand why Roger has decided to stay here. Beauxbatons is... magnifique! The first thing he was proud to show me was the Quidditch pitch, and that's nothing special really, and I still had to wonder how he could be so happy to referee here and to teach little French witches and wizards to fly.
But the lush gardens of the Beauxbatons palace! And its halls, with stained glass windows and comfortable furniture, elegant and cosy, and a lot more than that... It's all full of Charm – in every sense!
And then he took me to where he's built a home with his Jean-Claude. This wizarding village hidden behind Muggle Arreau is something else again. And further inside the magic sphere, beyond the cobbled streets and thatched cottages, there are stretches of concealed wilderness inhabited by most marvellous beasts and birds. You should really come and visit...
Yes, visit me when I've settled here, as I'm seriously planning to do that! Gwendolyn won't be happy to lose another player, but I think the Montrose Magpies need more young blood. And perhaps this is the right time for me to find a new direction. Perhaps it's just a dream, but at least this summer I want to enjoy dreaming. Remember I've said that I'm making this trip to celebrate that I'm not yet forty.
All right, more about this marvellous magical community. A big part of the charm of village life here comes from what the local witches and wizards learn in school subjects that we don't have at Hogwarts: in various fields of arts and crafts.
Some people who are seriously ambitious as painters or sculptors leave to study at the Enchanted Art Academy in Paris. But it seems to me that everyone who's gone to Beauxbatons is somehow an artist. The witches and wizards in Arreau hone their crafts. No matter what the craft is – making shoes, or baking cauldron cakes, or whatever. They're proud to design and create beautiful things for any everyday use. And they make some very special jewellery inspired by nature. I know you'll tease me – your truest magpie, who loves flashy treasures! But it's not only things I can wear that I admire.
The loveliest thing I've seen is the fresco on the domed ceiling of the village theatre. You'd love to watch these painted birds fly. They are none other than – Emerald Eagles!
It's really a major theatre, too. A lot of people arrive for performances from all over France, also because when they spend the weekend in the area, they can see their children at Beauxbatons and hike along the magical tracks of the Pyrenees. The theatre employs artistic people of various fields. And takes on apprentices...
I must have told you that Roger's partner is a dancer. Yes, I remember we laughed about it. How Roger never got tired or too old to go out to clubs and to dance with a new stranger every time another catch of his had turned out to be a mistake... Who would have guessed that when he'd finally manage to keep one of those dancers, it would be the most charming young wizard (almost ten years younger than him – thirty last year). And a successful professional – premier danseur at a great theatre like this one here.
If I hadn't known, I'd never have thought he was such a star when I listened to him chatting with the neighbours as we arrived in his and Roger's pretty garden. Oh, I've already found out about some conversation classes I can take this month so as to improve my French. That's highly important in case...
Anyway, about Jean-Claude... Later last night I saw him on stage, in all his glory. His dancing was unearthly, and...Now you'll laugh again. I loved his gorgeous outfit. Its colours kept changing and emphasised the emotions he conveyed by his movements.
In the after-party he introduced me to the witch who designs his costumes. I caught only her first name. Gabrielle. She's... after all, she's even more beautiful than anything else I've seen here. Or anywhere! I'm afraid I ended up stealing glances at her, and if she noticed, she might think I was flirting. I could blame Roger, from whom I've learnt how to do it. I really shouldn't flirt, because I must remain
Your crazy romantic ace
Cho
P.S. I'm enclosing a marmot-shaped pendant. I'd advise not to wear it against bare skin, or it'll start waddling as far as the chain allows. It'll also whistle if there are other marmots nearby. That's why I can't send two, for you and Ginny to wear at the same time.
That wasn't quite as much about any kinds of marmots as Luna had remembered and hoped. At least her reading has lulled Ginny to sleep, fortunately only snuggled against Luna's thigh, with her head down.
Luna cautiously removes the spectacles and strokes the silvery strand among the ginger ones on Ginny's temple. When, after breaking the nightlamp charm, she lies down, spooning Ginny from behind, she hears a murmured word that sounds like... flight?
There's the warm gold of sunshine behind her lids. When she opens them, she's greeted good morning by the glow of Ginny's hair, which is being cleared of tangles by an animated brush. Ginny's hands are busy sorting the rolls of parchment.
"Lovely morning, my lassie!" Luna breathes out.
"Noon, rather!" Turning towards Luna, Ginny furrows her brows. "Did you stay up reading all of these?"
"No, I read just the one."
"We've got time for two more before we must get ready. We're travelling to Arreau today, right?" Now Ginny's certainly smiling at how there's no sign of happy surprise on Luna's face – at how Luna can always trust her to stick to her decisions – now to the agreements to take a holiday and to read some letters. "I've chosen the ones with the best parts of Cho's story."
Luna rolls out of bed. "Great. You can read to me while I'm making breakfast. Brunch, whatever."
She'll prepare Ginny's favourite, vegan pumpkin pancakes. And this time she'll remember to Summon two bowls and whisk the dry and wet ingredients separately, and to watch what her wand's doing while enjoying Ginny's voice and Cho's words.
My lovely Luna, my old and forever-young best mate,
I can't wait to tell you... Just like in January 2002 I was dying to tell Roger as soon as I realised you might want me as your girlfriend, and that I could love you in the same way. I should have been able to understand it wouldn't last, but now I'm glad I didn't, because that's how we got to share those beautiful months as partners. After that I've been happy with friendships. And that's what my news is about: a new friendship. I've made friends with Gabrielle Delacour!
(Yes, Ginny was right, of course. Back in 1994 Gabrielle was such a little girl that I didn't pay much attention to her. I guess both you and I were more interested in those who were older than us.)
She is as beautiful as how I remember Fleur at the Triwizard Tournament. But she doesn't really look like her big sister. Her hair's more golden, and her face is softer, her figure lithe. She's thirty-three now, but perhaps what she's inherited from the veela grandmother makes her look ageless. She says, laughing, that she may look like in her prime now in August, but she always looks older in winter and younger in spring.
The way she laughs reminds me of you. She's not haughty. I'm saying that just because I remember we all felt that Fleur was. And when I said that to Roger, he said, "Yes, she is. You'd see that if you weren't ace." He means she's a hottie! I'm too old to use such an American word. Or not! Anyway, I admire her also because she's smart and kind and fun and...
All right, I know I'm attracted to her, romantically. It's fine, I'm happy to be her friend, and I can bear it when she marries someone. I wonder why she hasn't done that yet, and isn't even dating, but I don't want to ask her or listen to any gossip.
Anyway, how we became friends was that I got that apprenticeship at the theatre. Of course, it'll take a long time before I can get any speaking roles. Except in my language classes at Beauxbatons when they start in September! Yes, they teach French as a second language for children who come from other countries, and I can join seventh-year students, who always give amateur performances.
All this has worked out perfectly, and I've made up my mind. I know that I've finally found what's the right field of work for me.
I've always enjoyed an audience, and it's a wonderful challenge for me to learn to... No, as Jean-Claude says, not to act, not to perform. To convey the emotions of someone in a story written for the stage, and to evoke emotion in people, to help them perhaps learn to understand each other better. That sounds awfully solemn! At least I'll take part in offering a pleasant evening for the audience. And I'll get to live virtually what I can never have in real life. Although I doubt I'll get a big role in a love story before it's time for me to retire! In any case, I'll finally do something more complicated and meaningful than seeking and snatching that shiny trinket.
Now you must believe me (as I know you've believed in the most improbable things, too) when I say that my crush on Gabrielle is not the reason why I've decided to stay. I met her again at the theatre only after I started doing all kinds of menial tasks as an apprentice. You can imagine I was excited about a task in arranging the wardrobe – even before I realised I'd assist her.
When the two of us got to discuss costumes and fashion, I immediately felt we understood each other incredibly well. There's been a lot to talk about: Hogwarts, and Beauxbatons, and theatre, of course... We've gone out for a coffee a few times, and once hiking together with Roger and Jean-Claude... Oh, I must disappoint you. We saw no Magimots nor any type of marmots.
Now, Roger's turning forty this weekend. (Remember, his birthday's two weeks before mine, and that's why he was a year above me at Hogwarts.) He doesn't want a big party, and we've decided to take a trip to Costa Brava so as to celebrate – just the four of us!
Ginny's let the parchment roll closed on the table when Luna turns towards her, levitating the plateful of pancakes, and she adds only, "No Magimots."
"They are rare enough, a challenge to find," Luna replies, sitting down opposite to her.
"I'm sure there's nothing about them in the other letter I chose. Sorry. That one's not even from Arreau."
It's great that Ginny's ended up reading – and perhaps even planned to read – through the part about Cho's decision to change careers. But she seems to find the love story more appealing.
Luna points her wand at their old and well-trained coffee percolator, which starts its work at once. "You got curious about that birthday weekend."
"Yes. But now I think... I don't think you let me see that letter back then, fifteen years ago. There must be something too private in it for me to read. We'll see each other soon, and they can share the memories if they want to. While we're all hiking, looking for your Magimots."
"My wise and considerate wife!" By offering a pancake for Ginny to take a bite of, Luna prompts her to open her mouth, and bends over the table to give her a deep kiss instead. "My fiery hottie!"
While the dishes are washing themselves, Luna will have a chance to take some glances at what Cho wrote to her back when finally reaching for a different role than what she'd ended up having in her old friends' lives. She herself has become distracted. But perhaps love is what can help Ginny cope with losing the Quidditch job that she thinks has defined her.
We came here flying along the eastern end of the Pyrenees at night. The moon had risen, almost full, and huge and yellow. I suggested the Disillusioning Charm – partly because I'd enjoyed using it when having adventures with you. And this time it was more thrilling than ever because we were flying tandem, Jean-Claude on Roger's broom, and Gabrielle sitting behind me on mine.
In order not to get lost, I had to fly right next to Roger, our knees and shoulders rubbing together. In the way I used to fly with you when almost invisible – with the difference that when touching you I always felt that you wanted more than that closeness which made me completely happy.
But this time, as Gabrielle was hugging me tight, it was... or I wanted it to be so romantic! Our chameleon bodies becoming one with the moonlit mountainscape, the two of us becoming one. Moving through the cold air, sharing our warmth was the perfect bliss for me. And she kept her arms wrapped around me so firmly that I sensed no hint at an urge to touch me in a different way.
That's now made me almost sure that she's into men. That she's got no husband or boyfriend perhaps just because men find her beauty intimidating, or because, after all, she's too critical to accept anyone among the men she's met as her partner, even though she's so open for friendships. I can't stop thinking about my feelings for her more and more as another unrequited romantic love. And I wonder if I'll be less sad to see this beloved friend find a partner when it's bound to be a wizard, not a witch.
At sunrise we landed on a small deserted beach surrounded by rocks and thick woods. Port de Joan, Jean-Claude called it. The sun was low and blinding in front of us, and the only sound was from the waves rhythmically shifting the pebbles on the shore – until we heard a buzzing trill from among the trees. Serins. Gabrielle named these small finches to me, saying the word softly close to my ear.
We were fully visible again, and she was as shiny as ever in the morning light. But her pretty lips were pale, and as her hood had slipped down, I reached to pull it over her crown of golden hair. Just when our eyes met, there was a shrill sound, something like... Ker-wick!
Terns. We said this word together, and burst into laughter. Gull-billed terns, she specified, with admiration in her voice. And I glanced at the flock of long-winged seabirds with black caps and strong black bills. The two of us share this love for birds, too!
Oddly enough, at that moment I felt that Gabrielle and I could grow close and become something beyond friends, even beyond sisters. Perhaps particularly because I now believe she wants nothing sexual with any witch. That's why I also ventured to wrap my travel cloak around her and to embrace her.
After breakfast at the first café that opened, the four of us agreed to retreat to the bedrooms in the small cottage we had rented, and to have a nap. There are two bedrooms, and Gabrielle and I share one, of course – and a bed, too, it turned out.
While Gabrielle fell asleep soon, I stayed up writing all that. And now, on Sunday morning, before leaving this cottage, I want to take the time to tell you more... Yes, once again there's something I just can't wait to share with you!
Yesterday at noon, when still lying on the bed, facing each other, Gabrielle and I ended up talking about birds. And I suggested that she preferred the males. Because of their more colourful plumage in a lot of species, I was going to add.
But she looked into my eyes intently, and said something like, "I've thought I do. But it seems I always like best the ones who are not attracted to me."
Rather not attracted to females at all? Who else would not be attracted to her? And I said that we'd see a lot of such lovely blokes at the Muggle club.
Yes, one of the highlights in the birthday celebration was that after enjoying the bigger beach, Platja de Garbet and taking a train to the village of Colera, we went to a small gay club Jean-Claude had found there a couple of years ago. Gabrielle's not got much experience of Muggle life, and spending these two days in Muggle locations is special fun for her. Before dinner and dancing, we went shopping for crazy outfits for all of us, and Gabrielle and I tried on some skimpy dresses, and I helped her choose something that she felt more comfortable (but didn't look any less gorgeous) wearing.
At the club there were a couple of women who looked at her hopefully, and she agreed to dance with them – out of curiosity, she said (towards Muggles, or lesbians, I wondered). But she came back to me, danced with me, and took my hand to hold while we were sitting side by side, having a drink. And I allowed myself to start dreaming that she could be attracted to a witch, after all, and that I could be the one she wanted and that – the most wondrous thing of all – what I could enjoy would be enough for her. Since the loud music made a proper conversation impossible, I just made the most of the joy we shared when the music moved our bodies.
But I didn't want either of us to continue to have any false expectations, and as soon as we were alone in our room, I blurted it out. "You see, I'm ace." And she didn't know what I meant!
Well, now she's learnt from me what being asexual means, and what the asexuality spectrum is. She'd never heard of asexuality before. It seems asexual people are still so invisible at Beauxbatons that she's never been able to comprehend how her feelings towards the people she's been most fond of have been quite different from the attraction that allosexuals feel.
She says this must be it: she's asexual. That's why she's also always felt more comfortable with people who are not sexually attracted to her. But she's not sure if she's homo-romantic like me. She must be still confused, seeing herself in a new way, but she says she's happy to know we're both ace, and to understand that this is why my hugs feel so right. And I dared ask, "Do you mean you can sense that I... I'm in love with you – that I want you, but not sexually?" She says she can, and that she thinks that perhaps she wants me like that, too. Perhaps!
I must be patient and give her time to figure herself out. And some time for myself to become sure that I really love her and not only this romance itself. In any case we've agreed that we're dating, and we're thrilled to announce it to Roger and Jean-Claude. Who may have planned to help us find love! And we'll be each supporting the other in the new things we've discovered.
"I'm ready to go when you are." Ginny's voice is a bit hoarse, and it rings out so suddenly from the doorway that it startles Luna.
When finally looking up from the parchment, having read more than she intended, she must have been smiling, so happy for those two, who were to soon become sure enough and to get married. "Oh, sorry! At least the dishes are done."
"I just need... want to ask something again," Ginny says without stepping closer. "You say we must not get stuck with one thing we chose. And you've had other partners before me, and now you've made me read about Cho going south and finding love..."
This fierce and fearless and loyal Gryffindor is, of course, insecure now when her employer has made her think she's got too old – and that everything is subject to change and she might lose more. Luna's got the patience to reassure her again.
"I've already answered that yes, I want to stay stuck with you – not that I think of this as being stuck. I didn't remember the letters were so much about love. But no matter... Love is the best thing."
Luna walks over to Ginny and places her hands on the shoulders, which are still strong and will be the freer of ailments, the less Ginny worries.
Now she gets an idea how to show her love and support. "You know something? Let's fly all the way to Arreau! Let's use the Disillusioning and your sturdiest travelling broom, and I'll be holding the best and final love of my life from behind, tight!"
"And I don't need to worry you want to find a new love, or me to...?"
Maybe that's what Luna wants: Ginny to find out what else she can love doing besides playing Quidditch. "We're flying away to find you again."
