The Wongleboo Beetle Dance by mgle_teacher
Chapter Notes: This one-shot was written for the Ravenclaw Fiction Exchange held during December 2006. My Secret Turnip was Simply_Being, and she asked for a Ron/Luna story. I hope you enjoy it, I had fun writing it, and have grown fond of the ship.
I also want to thank myowmmuggle for being my beta. She's just wonderful!
Ron smiled dreamily as Luna danced about the Christmas tree, decorating it with butter beer corks and fairy lights. Growing up, he had always thought that he would end up marrying his childhood love: Hermione Granger. However, at one point during the war, their fights and spats became too much for either one and they broke it off for good, deciding that they were better friends than lovers.
Since then, he had never stopped to consider anyone else. Until he fell in love with the most unexpected person: Luna Lovegood.
Unfortunately, he was too bloody stubborn to do anything about it just like he had done with Hermione all throughout their time at Hogwarts.
“Ron, have you heard anything I said?” Harry asked.
“Sure,” he answered.
“Really,” Harry trailed off as his eyes followed Ron’s line of sight and landed on one Luna Lovegood.
He smiled to himself before rounding on his best friend. “You need to tell her, Ron,” Harry admonished, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Tell…who….what?!” Ron stammered as his ears tinged; clearly he was embarrassed at being caught ogling Luna.
“Denial is not just a river in Egypt, you know,” teased Harry, motioning to Luna with a nod of his head.
“What does the Nile River have to do with…erm,” Ron trailed off, blushing slightly.
“Muggle saying; forget it. All I’m saying is you should tell her before it’s too late.”
“Why would it be too late? Is…is she in love with someone else? Is it Seamus? I rather that it be him, I suppose,” mumbled Ron, agony clearly written in his eyes.
Harry chuckled at the reaction of his now scandalized friend. “No, but do you really want to take the risk that she does fall in love with another man? Besides, I think you two make a good match “ it’s a good thing you finally admitted your feelings for Luna,” Harry murmured quietly, taking a sip of his butterbeer.
“Who said it was Loony,” Ron answered, bewildered at being found out.
“Ron, you shouldn’t call her Loony,” Harry warned sternly. After scowling at his mate, he added, “If you’re too embarrassed to admit that you’re in love with Luna, then its better you don’t say a word. At least she’ll get a chance to be with someone who loves her and isn’t ashamed of being her lover.”
Ron looked rather crestfallen after being reprimanded, and Harry couldn’t help but feel for the lad.
“Look, Ron. I’m sorry, mate. It’s just that Hermione and I were so sure that your secret crush was Luna, what with all the goofy grins plastered on your face whenever she walks into a room. I guess we were wrong. Good luck with whoever it is then,” Harry said softly before walking away to stand next to his wife.
Ron leaned back on the wall in quiet contemplation. He knew that he shouldn’t be embarrassed of being in love with Luna, but he couldn’t help himself. During their time at Hogwarts he had been such a prat to her. It wasn’t even that he was ashamed of being with her necessarily; he was remorseful of his previous behaviour. A part of him wanted to be a reckless Gryffindor, and declare his love for her, but he was afraid of being rejected. He had tried talking to her several times but her aloof personality made it impossible to decipher her feelings for him.
The other day he had run into her in Diagon Alley, and took the opportunity to just keep her company. It had been a nice evening that ended with him buying her dinner at the Waving Wand, a posh new restaurant. Their conversation was short, yet memorable. Ron had even thought that it would be the night he would ask her out. However, upon parting she made a weird comment that confused him to the brink of insanity.
“Well, thanks for this evening, Ron.”
“No, Luna. It was my pleasure,” he gasped, grinning like a fool. He had begun to reach for her hand, and gush out his emotions when she looked up and smiled. He stopped in his tracks, taking in a deep breath as he got lost in the silver pools that were her eyes.
“Harry told me that Muggles have the saying ‘parting is such sweet sorrow.’ I like it, myself. What do you think?”
“I…uh...huh?” he mumbled, clearly perplexed at the sudden change of conversation.
“It’s such a simple gesture to say goodbye to our old selves,” Luna continued unaware of Ron’s confused stare.
“Luna, I don’t think the Muggles meant that you are parting with yourself.”
“Well what else could they be referring to?” Luna asked, cocking her heard towards the sky in quiet contemplation.
“Hmm…friends, family, and, erm- lovers?” he muttered, ears tinged red.
“Nonsense, you always see family, friends, and even lovers again. But what about when you lose yourself? Don’t you think you part with it? It’s like a reflection “ you see it but don’t see it. It’s there but reflects only what you want others to see. Therefore, you part with yourself.”
“I…,” Ron began, running a hand through his red hair.
“We’ve all grown up, Ronald. Haven’t you?”
Flustered, Ron didn’t know what to say or think. He just stood there in the middle of Diagon Alley, between the Waving Wand and the Greengrass Apocathery, staring at Luna Lovegood talking about reflections and sorrowful partings.
After a moment of awkward silence, Luna reached for his hand, gave it a squeeze, and smiled.
“Parting truly is such sweet sorrow, Ronald,” she sighed before Apparating.
He grimaced at the memory. He had looked like an utter fool. Ron clearly remembered Apparating to Harry and Hermione’s front yard, livid with frustration.
When Hermione opened the door, he went on a long rant about Luna, mirrors, and blasted Muggle sayings. She had given him a bemused look before ushering him inside for some tea to calm him.
Now, he was standing like a wallflower, contemplating his past transgressions, wondering if he would be able to make it up to Luna. Ron knew he was in love with her. Even if he had tried hiding it, it was clear to him now, that if Harry and Hermione had been able to tell by his goofy grins then so had everyone else. As he continued watching Luna laugh, and decorate the Christmas tree, a goofy smile reappeared on his face.
Yes, Ronald Weasley was in love, and he had fallen hard.
***
Luna spied Ron leaning against the wall. She secretly smiled to herself as she caught sight of the goofy grin he currently sported. Luna had fancied Ron since Hogwarts, but he had always been a prat and called her Loony.
From the shadows, Luna had observed Ron and Hermione’s relationship bloom during the war, and promptly given up on him. Disheartened, she had pursued a fleeting relationship with Neville Longbottom, who was a rather sweet and caring boyfriend, but too agreeable. Their half-hearted relationship lasted only six months.
During the war, she had seen Ron grow up tremendously in every aspect. He was still an immature boy, but he was also calmer and had a good head on his shoulders. He didn’t lose his temper every time someone tried to bait him or insulted his family name. She guessed that the war had matured him in a way that only life can. However, Luna also noticed the silly ways he was still very much a boy, even at the age of twenty-two. Not only did he sport his boyish looks, he truly seemed to enjoy life, taking pleasure in the smallest events. A week ago, Hermione had taken Ron to a Muggle mall, and apparently Ron had been fascinated by every Muggle artefact, especially radios. He had bought one.
After the war, their paths started to cross more often. They had shared many laughs, conversation, and meals at their friends’ weddings, parties, and Ministry events. Often making their way to each other because their respective dates had abandoned them, or like Luna she was hardly ever asked by anyone. They had even come to a point at which they simply acknowledge each other as their unannounced ‘date’ knowing that they’d be spending most of the evening together.
Sadly, Luna had realized she had fallen in love with the red-head all over again, and her heart ached because she didn’t think anyone would ever love her: Loony Luna Lovegood, Editor-in-Chief of The Quibbler. Men usually gave her the wide berth when they saw her, and Ronald was just a friend; good company to keep at miserable social events. With a deep sigh, Luna smiled as Hermione chatted about her and Harry’s unborn child as she patted her swelled belly. Slowly she slipped back into her day dreams sharing a loving family with one Ronald Weasley; if only dreams would come true.
***
“So,” began Harry, trying to breach his friend’s silence.
“No.”
“But.”
”I said no, Harry.”
“Hermio”“
“Butt out.”
Mutely, Harry sipped his butterbeer while watching Ron from the corner of his eye as they shared a drink at the Leaky Cauldron. The past few days Ron had been rather jumpy, and aloof. Ever since his and Hermione’s Christmas party, Ron had become rather distracted.
After several minutes of contemplative silence, Ron spoke up. “Umm…Harry.”
Harry raised an eyebrow in response.
“Erm…you were right. I am in love with…Luna. But I’m concerned that my behaviour towards her at Hogwarts will loom over our heads. I want to ask her out, but you know Luna, and I don’t know how I should go about it. How did you ask Hermione? No. Never mind, I don’t really want to know the details,” Ron babbled as his cheeks began to compete with his hair for attention.
Harry took a deep breath. It was still weird talking to Ron about his relationship with Hermione. After he and Ginny broke up, and the war ended, getting back together was never brought up. They had both moved on to other people by the time Harry defeated Voldemort. In the end Ginny got tired of waiting for Harry.
For his part, Harry had witnessed Ron and Hermione’s relationship bloom and die in the course of one year. When Hermione had needed a shoulder to cry on, he had lent her his “ when she kissed him the first time, he had sadly thought that it wouldn’t last. After they sneaked around for a couple of weeks, they decided that they were in love, and didn’t want to hide anymore. When Ron found out, all hell broke loose. Ron had been more upset with Harry than Hermione. First, Harry had the audacity to date his little sister, and break her heart. Then Harry had encouraged him with Hermione. As if that weren’t bad enough, as soon as they broke up, Harry had moved in like a vulture, and was now dating his ex-girlfriend. Ron wanted to flay Harry for stealing the women he loved. It had been Ginny, ironically enough, who mended the broken friendships. She had called Ron a prat, and told him to get over it since he had his chance with Hermione and blown it. Of course, she had given Harry a piece of her mind as well, but spared Hermione from the famous Weasley temper.
Two years later, Harry still wasn’t comfortable discussing his and Hermione’s relationship with Ron. However, Harry had also noticed that Ron had seemed to finally leave the past alone, and had fallen in love with Luna.
“Ron,” began Harry.
Ron stopped babbling, and looked up at his friend.
“If you love her, just let her know. You can’t control her reaction, but everyone is cheering for you. Trust me, the worst that can happen is she rejects you “ and if she does, then she’s missing out on a great guy,” Harry said with a smile.
***
Ron decided to follow the advice of his best friend. It was Christmas Eve at the Burrow, and everyone had been invited over for dinner, including Luna. He nervously watched her from the corner of his eye during the entire meal. She hadn’t brought a date, Hermione had whispered to him earlier in the evening. He chewed his bottom lip as he watched her chatting with the twins, laughing heartily at their jokes. Her voice carried like a melody that only he could hear.
Suddenly, the scrape of chairs being pushed back signalled to Ron that dinner had ended; everyone was making a move to the living room where they would decorate the Christmas tree, and enjoy a warm drink or two. Ron automatically stood up to follow, and missed the strange look that Charlie had given him, or the fact that Luna had sneaked outside. As Ron began to follow his family into the living room, a hand to the shoulder stopped him. He turned around to find Charlie grinning at him.
“She went outside,” he murmured before walking past him to join everyone else.
Ron gulped, realizing that Luna had probably snuck out when he had become distracted. Quietly, he made his way outside. He found her by the edge of the garden, staring at the night sky.
She looked so beautiful to him. The moonlight reflected off her face, and her cheeks, reddened by the cold, only added to her beauty. He stood there for a minute admiring her as she hummed a tune that he had heard many times. Suddenly, she sneezed, and Ron realized that she wasn’t wearing a jumper, or coat, or even her winter robes.
“Silly Luna,” he whispered, and began trekking his way to her.
***
After dinner, everyone began moving to the living room to spend time together as a family. Luna smiled graciously at her hosts before slipping out the back kitchen door when no one was watching. Her heart always ached around the holidays. Before her mother died, Christmas had been one of her favourite seasons of the year. After her death, it had become harder and harder to celebrate. Luna had lost her father during the war, and now it was just her.
Once outside, she began to hum to herself the song that her mother used to sing. It gave her comfort in her weakest moments. Lost in her thoughts, Luna had not noticed Ron gaping at her, or felt the cold chill on her small frame. She did not notice Ron making his way to her through the thick snow after she had sneezed, as she wrapped her arms around her body trying to shield herself from the cold.
Gradually, she became dimly aware that someone had enveloped her in his strong and warm arms. She stiffened for a second before the stranger made himself known.
“Silly Luna, do you want to catch your death?” Ron asked.
“Ronald?” she asked, blushing.
“Yes?”
“I…” she trailed off, uncomfortable.
After a moment of silence, Luna relaxed, and melted into the red-head’s warm embrace. She smiled to herself, basking in the feeling of protection that Ron radiated. She leaned her head on his shoulder, slightly aware that his breath was upon her neck.
“Luna,” Ron said his voice much too husky for his liking. He immediately cleared his throat, and began again.
“Luna, I need to ask you something.”
“Yes.”
“Turn around, please.”
Luna took a deep breath, and slowly turned around to face Ron, who took the moment to wrap them both up in his heavy winter robes.
“Well…what do you need to say that’s so important as to take me away from admiring the Auroris Firelilies?” she asked.
Ron looked perplexed for a second, wondering what the Auroris Firelilies were. Then he decided that he would ask her later, preferably over hot chocolate, after they had shared a kiss or two. Images made their way into his head of him and Luna inviting their friends over for a Christmas party. He was so lost in his dreams that he didn’t notice Luna until she cleared her throat.
“Ronald?” she questioned, her eyes staring deeply into his. He immediately blushed at the sound of his name coming from her lips.
“IloveyouLuna,” he blurted out, his face red as his hair, not believing his ears. “I…uh, I mean…I’ve admired you for a while now, and would….love it if you would….grant me the opportunity to…grace me with your…company in a..,” he babbled, trying to sound smooth.
“Ronald,” Luna laughed, “when the Wongleboo Beetles mate they don’t waste this much time dancing around each other.”
“What do Wonglebay Butules have to do with this,” he motioned to their current situation, standing knee deep in snow, as they shared one cloak to stay warm.
“The Wongleboo Beetle is a rare type. The male and female take turns ‘dancing’ around each other before claiming the other as its mate”“ Luna was cut off as an exasperated Ron pushed his lips on hers.
Luna got lost in the emotions that one kiss carried. Ron’s soft lips moved against hers, as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, claiming her. It had taken her by surprise, but quickly began to enjoy it; it was different to any other kiss she had before in her life: soft, sweet, innocent, and loving.
A possessive arm pulled her closer to him, and embraced her as Ron stopped their kiss to take in a deep breath of her unique feminine scent. Tentatively, she pulled back, and stared into Ron’s deep blue eyes, worry was sketched all over his face.
Mutely, she conceded her approval with a shy smile. Relief washed over Ron, as he pulled her closer to him, a goofy grin on his face. He leaned his forehead on hers, and couldn’t help but notice how clear her eyes shone in the moonlight.
“Now tell me my dear, which magical creatures mate for life,” he teased, moving in for yet another mind-blowing kiss. Luna smiled against Ron’s lips, and closed her eyes, relishing in the magic of the moment. She really hoped it would last forever, idly realizing that dreams come true “ some just take a while longer,