(no subject)

[emmagrant01]

Title: Cherry Pink
Author: Emma Grant
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Ginny/Luna
Rating: R
Archive: Ask, and ye shall receive.
Summary: Ginny learns she's been grist for the Hogwarts rumor mill.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, and I'm not making any money.
Note: This fic is for qurinas, and inspired by glockgal's beautiful art. Un-beta'd, but critical comments are welcome.
Feedback: Please!

+++++



"What did you say?" Ginny sputtered.

The Slytherin fourth-year, whose name escaped Ginny at that moment, turned and sneered. "I said, 'There goes Easy Weasley.'" Her friends snickered. Ginny gaped at her for several seconds, uncertain how to respond.

Luna tugged at her sleeve. "Let's go," she whispered.

Ginny folded her arms across her chest and glared at the pack of Slytherin girls, keenly aware that nearly every ear in Flourish and Bott's was now turned their way. "What is that supposed to mean?"

It was the girl's turn to gape at Ginny. "I should think it's obvious," she replied, glancing sideways at her friends. One of them, a horsey-faced girl, giggled.

"Well, it isn't," Ginny replied, straightening up to her full height. It wasn't much of a retort, but it was the best she could do at the moment.

The ringleader's eyes glinted, as if she'd been waiting for such an opportunity. "Everyone knows you're a slut, Weasley. All the boys talk about the disgusting things you do. They say you even practice on your brothers at home."

Ginny felt the blood rising to her face. She knew she was on the verge of turning the same color as her hair, but she didn't care. Later, she'd think of a hundred clever things she could have said in reply, but at the moment, her mind was horribly blank.

"Not all pureblood families practice ritual incest like yours," Luna said, voice eerily calm.

"Did you hear something?" the girl asked her friends. "For a moment I thought that nutter Loony Lovegood had the audacity to speak to me." The others snickered.

Ginny's fingers traced the length of her wand. She could hex these girls into oblivion if she wanted. Of course, that would ensure her detention for a month. She'd get them later, when they didn't expect--

Luna tugged her sleeve again, more forcefully this time. "We don't have to listen to this, Ginny." Ginny glowered at her antagonists, but let herself be pulled away.

"Pathetic," she heard one of the girls say. "The only friend she has is that loser."

Ginny closed her eyes, letting Luna lead her from the store. She could hear the stifled giggles and whispers of the other Hogwarts students around her, and it was all she could do to pretend she didn't care.

The sunlight was bright on her face as they stepped out onto the busy Hogsmeade High Street. Ginny opened her eyes then, and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Fuck," she whispered.

"That's what they say," Luna sighed.

Ginny turned to stare at her, incredulous. "You knew about this?"

"Oh, yes," Luna replied, voice assuming its usual dreamy tone. "But I don't care what you do with your boyfriends. It's none of my concern."

"None of your..." Ginny clenched her jaw. "And what have I supposedly done?"

Luna smiled and tilted her head. "Want to go to Honeyduke's? I'll buy you an ice cream soda."

Ginny's lips pressed into a thin line. It must be bad, if Luna wanted to smooth the blow with something sweet. She nodded, and they started down the street in silence.

Ginny's mind was reeling now that her adrenaline levels were returning to normal. She'd noticed a certain amount of stiffness towards her over the last month, but she'd never imagined anything like this. Of course, she'd been asked on quite a few dates lately, and she'd chalked up her female classmates' coolness to jealousy. The boys she'd gone out with had lost interest in her when she made it clear she wasn't interested in doing much more than kissing, anyway.

Ginny bit her lip as the pieces of the puzzle began to slide into place. She groaned, earning a strange look from Luna.

Luna pushed open the door of Honeyduke's, and they stepped inside. A tittering came over the room, and Ginny became acutely aware that most of the attention was focused on her. Some students whispered to each other and giggled, shooting furtive glances in her direction. Others stared openly, as if expecting her to do something outrageous.

Her eyes scanned the room defiantly, finally landing on a group of Gryffindor sixth-years seated in the corner. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were smirking at her. Neville Longbottom just looked embarrassed. He avoided Ginny's gaze, staring into his cup of tea instead.

Ginny wondered if this was what it felt like to be Harry.

"What would you like?" Luna asked, clearly trying to distract her.

"Nothing," Ginny hissed, turning and stalking out the door.

Her feet carried her up the street, across a grassy park, and up a hill. She stopped at the apex, back turned on the town, and folded her arms around her torso. She wasn't going to cry. Not about something as stupid as this.

"Did you really do any of those things?" Luna asked, behind her. Ginny turned to see her leaning against a tree.

"I don't even know what they're saying I did!" Ginny snapped.

"Well, there are plenty of rumors," Luna began. "One was that you did Ernie MacMillan in the Potions classroom. And you wanted Blaise Zabini to tie you up with a Slytherin scarf and lick chocolate sauce off you."

"That's not true!" Ginny cried, stepping towards her. "None of it's true! I haven't done anything. I'm still a virgin, even." She hid her face in her hands. "Oh, god."

"And then there's the rumor that you sucked off Dean and Seamus at the same time in their dormitory," Luna continued, as if she hadn't heard a word Ginny had just said. "I heard that one from Dennis Creevey."

Ginny dropped her hands, exasperated. "That didn't happen, Luna, I swear." She paused. "Dennis told you that?"

Luna nodded. "He claims he saw you go into the sixth-year dorm, and then he saw Seamus and Dean come out later, laughing about it."

Ginny felt her anger begin to rise again. "You want to know what really happened? I went looking for my brother, and I walked in on the two of them, lying on a bed, wanking, together." Luna's eyebrows shot up, and Ginny took a step closer. "They were really embarrassed when they saw me, and I apologized and left. That's all. Neither of them could look at me for a week after."

Luna leaned her head against the tree and stared at Ginny with a dreamy expression on her face. "You really didn't do any of those things?"

"Of course not," Ginny groaned. "I can't believe you thought I did."

Luna shrugged. "You've a right to do what you please. I admired you for it, actually."

"No wonder so many boys have been interested in me lately. And Ron and Harry both have been avoiding me. You'd think my own brother would stand up for me."

"Boys are weird like that," Luna supplied.

"I hate boys," Ginny hissed. "They're fairly useless, aren't they?"

Luna's face broke into a smile and she shifted her position against the tree. "Yeah," she replied. Something in her tone of voice made Ginny look up. Luna's hair was cascading over her shoulders, and that butterfly clip Ginny hated so much glinted in the sunlight. Luna licked her lips. "Completely useless."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "I've never heard about you dating anybody," she said. "How would you know?"

Luna's smile was enigmatic, and her cheeks turned an endearing shade of pink. "Well... It's just that... Girls are more fun."

Oh. Ginny blinked at her, wondering why she hadn't figured it out before. She bit her lip, considering. She liked Luna, and trusted her. Luna was very pretty, especially like this, with the sunlight shining down on her. It wasn't like Ginny hadn't wondered what it would be like, with a girl.

A gust of wind rustled Ginny's skirt, lifting it. A single pink cherry blossom floated down and settled itself in Luna's hair. Ginny reached to pluck it out, and Luna froze.

"You know," Ginny said, leaning closer, "I can think of one way to stop all those rumors."

"Yeah?" Luna asked. Her voice wavered just a bit. She was nervous, Ginny realized.

Ginny plucked the pink blossom from her hair and trailed it down Luna's cheek, across her lips. Luna closed her eyes. Ginny swallowed, astonished that she could have this effect on another person.

"If everyone thought I didn't like boys at all, then maybe they'd realize those rumors aren't true."

Luna opened her eyes again. "How would you make them think you don't like boys?" Her voice was small, not much more than a whisper.

Ginny hesitated for a moment. She liked Luna, and didn't want to hurt her. Maybe this was a bad idea. Luna's lips parted just a bit, and Ginny couldn't help but stare. Cherry pink, and wet, and probably soft, and...

She leaned closer, letting her hands fall to clasp the folds of Luna's robe. Luna was trembling now, but those blue eyes were fixed on Ginny's, those lips beckoning.

Luna's mouth was soft and warm, and so different from any of the boys Ginny had kissed. Their lips moved together, then tentatively parted. The feeling of Luna's tongue sliding against her own made Ginny's insides wriggle pleasantly.

The breeze blew between them, and Ginny felt Luna's skirt brush against her bare thigh, tickling the little hairs she never bothered to spell off. She pressed closer, letting her hands slide inside Luna's robe, around her small waist. Luna whimpered and relaxed against her, small breasts pressing against Ginny's own.

They kissed for a long time, only stopping when they heard voices nearby. Ginny stepped back, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand as she glanced around.

Luna grinned. "Well, at least the rumor about you being a good kisser was true."

Ginny laughed. "I have had quite a lot of practice lately." She felt herself blush. "I'm sorry. That was perfectly tactless, wasn't it?"

"No, it's fine," Luna replied, smiling earnestly. "I don't mind."

Ginny bit her lip. "I'm glad."

"So what's the plan?"

Ginny blinked at her. "Sorry?"

"You said you had an idea about how to stop the rumors."

"Oh. Yeah." Ginny blew out a breath and smiled. "Still want to buy me an ice cream soda?"

Luna grinned. "I think I know just what you have in mind." She pushed away from the tree and held out her hand. Ginny took it, smiling as their fingers intertwined.

+++

The eyes of the crowd at Honeyduke's were on them again, but Ginny didn't really care. She sipped her ice cream soda and smiled, and leaned across the table to kiss Luna's ice-cream flavored lips. There was a twittering around them, but she didn't turn to look. Her eyes drifted over Luna's shoulder and caught those of Neville, still sitting in the corner with an incredulous Dean and Seamus.

Neville winked at her, and Ginny grinned.

FIN

Comments

[qurinas.livejournal.com]

Woot! That was great! hehe. A very cool idea for a fic to go with that picture. I only hope mine is as good when I write it. ::crosses fingers::

I was amused by the whole rumors thing and Ginny's reaction to it. Seemed very in-character to me.

Fav line: "Not all pureblood families practice ritual incest like yours," Luna said, voice eerily calm.

That was great. Good to see you come over to the femslash side of things. Now, we just need to find a way to keep you here. ;)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It really is a gorgeous picture. When you commisioned it, did you tell her what you wanted (beyond the pairing), or did she just come up with that?

The rumors thing was an attempt to capture a bit of reality taht girls face. I haven't seen too much of it in fanfic, come to think of it.

So you'll be writing one for this picture too, then?

[qurinas.livejournal.com]

I told her the basic idea (the tree, Hogsmeade, position and pairing) but she dide the rest.

That wasn't something I got to experince in HS. For obvious reasons. ;)

I plan to do a fic for the pic, though not too sure when I'll have a chance with the couple other things I've got cookin.

So, when is your next HP femslash fic? huh? huh? ::nudge::nudge:: ;)

[hazelhawthorne.livejournal.com]

Yay Femmeslash!

I love Ginny's reaction to the rumors.
And her and Luna? Just so right.

Dean and Seamus wanking together? *sporfle*

Thanks.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

*grins* I can't seem to write girlslash or het without throwing in a little boyslash too...

Thanks!

[twenty-seconds.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I just love Ginny and Luna, and this was lovely. Thank you for sharing! ;)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! Interesting manip in your icon...

[mizbean.livejournal.com]

Her eyes drifted over Luna's shoulder and caught those of Neville, still sitting in the corner with an incredulous Dean and Seamus.

Neville winked at her, and Ginny grinned.

Aww, so cute!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

*grins* Yeah, Neville's growing on me lately! Thanks so much!

[axiom_of_stripe]

She sipped her ice cream soda and smiled, and leaned across the table to kiss Luna's ice-cream flavored lips.

oh, delicious!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That "ice cream flovored" bit got added in at the very last moment. That line just needed something more.

Thanks!

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love it! Hot-headed Ginny and cool Luna. I liked her a lot in the book -- she's kinda spacey, but you get the sense that she's also surprisingly mature. At least, she's got more life experience than I think a lot of the other Hogwarts kids do. Ginny and Luna make a nice pair.

But Dean and Seamus! Those naughty boys! Grrr.

And I'm going to be presumptuous and claim that you got the Neville bit from our conversation yesterday. Hooray! Yes, I definitely think Ginny needs to be his "girl friend."

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Luna really is an interesting character. I'm re-reading OOTP nw, and I'm paying close attention to her.

But Dean and Seamus! Those naughty boys!

You do realize that slashiness came right out of our lunch conversation the other day, right? ;-) As did the Neville bit, as well. I hadn't paid much attention to Neville in fanfic into you started pushing me to do so, and he's becoming more and more interesting to me all the time!

Thanks!

[brightsun301.livejournal.com]

More! Must have more! *begs all cutelike* ^_^

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm currently re-reading OOTP, and I'm sure I'll find some more inspiration!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I have to say it's the biggest compliment ever when I get feedback along the lines of, "I usually don;t read this kind of fic, but..."

And yeah, Luna's really an interesting character. I wonder what's going to happen with her in the next book?

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, that reminds me: I went to the Jumpin' Java Coffee House over Memorial Day weekend! It was so very cool, and I took lots of notes to work into LMH about it. I even have a picture somewhere. I'll have to dig it up and post it. The JJCH is in a really residential area, but the neighborhood looks exactly like I'd pictured it!

It's so cool that you'd go there because it was in my fic! *squees*

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

Oh, I adore Luna/Ginny, and this was just beautiful <3333 Luna was perfect. So so lovely!! You should do more femmeslash ;D ;D <33

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! And thanks for reccing me on your LJ, as well! The only other femmeslash I've written has been in the Star Wars fandom. Of course, there are so many more interesting female characters in HP, aren't there?

[lunicanca.livejournal.com]

Awww. ^___^ You made a pairing I hadn't really thought about seem so right. The characterizations felt right (though Luna wasn't as weird as she acts in the books, but for some reason I think that this is probably closer to her actual personality. Harry probably doesn't notice her unless she's being really odd, so that's all the reader sees in her, too... anyway, I digress), and the whole thing was just so cute and sweet. The Dean/Seamus part was funny. The rumors were amusing, too, simply because they were so outrageous for this characterization of Ginny. Lovely fic; nice job. :D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I think you're right about Luna, honestly. That's the interesting thing about the HP fandom, IMO: we see everything and everyone from Harry's POV in the books, and so in fanfic we can explore the characters in a less limiting way. In fact, I think it makes it difficult to argue that characters are OOC in fanfic, sometimes. It's like, how would you know what they act like when they aren't around Harry, just from canon?

The rumors scenario was one of those universal girl experiences. I think everyone's been battered about by the rumor mill at some point in her life, and it ain't fun.

Thanks!

[aftercoffymintz.livejournal.com]

w00t!! That was brilliant. Yet, can't say I expected anything less that brilliant from you ;-). Well, good job.
~Gwendolyn
P.S. How's the LmH sequel going?

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

As for LMH sequel, I haven't even started. Have to finish rewriting the LMH first! ;-)

[tonksnymphadora.livejournal.com]

That was adorable...but it is at the most a PG-13.

I really liked it, very cute :D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I tend to err on the side of caution in my ratings. The last thing I want to do is offend someone inadvertantly! If there's specific mention of sex acts, I tend to give it an R. Not that it really matters, i guess! It's either NC-17, or it isn't, to an extent! :-P

[owlmaid.livejournal.com]

I'd call it PG-13 as well.
This was so sweet. I loved Luna and Ginny together!

"Not all pureblood families practice ritual incest like yours," Luna said, voice eerily calm.

Yay Luna!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was planning to do more with the whole "ritual incest" bit, but it got cut out. It wasn't that important to the story.

[myspark.livejournal.com]

I love this! Especially Luna, who you make perfectly in character. A lot of people can make her spacey, but you haven't turned her into a complete head case.

This should be canon :) How much more fun for Ginny if it was. Excellently done.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks! I think Luna is highly colored by Harry's perception of her in the books, as someone else mentioned above.

This should be canon.

Shouldn't all slash? *grins*

[roz-morgan.livejournal.com]

I came here via a link and just wanted to tell you how much I loved this.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! Out of curiosity, where did you see a link to it?

[littlegothsin.livejournal.com]

It's really cute ^^

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Nice!

[gugga.livejournal.com]

So sweet! ^_______^ Ginny/Luna is my favourite femslash pairing! And you wrote well about them! :) *credit* :DD

Re: Nice!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks so much! I'm curious -- how did you find this fic?

Re: Nice!

[gugga.livejournal.com]

hahaa, :) no idea actually... just went to google and somehow i ended up to find it.. supposedly through a club or something :DD

[kalandor.livejournal.com]

You mentioned this fic as one of your own, underrated fic. I have no idea why I haven't noticed it before! It's really great, fresh and light. Both characters are very IC and realistic (I like them that way!), and the story is compact and so sweet, with all the angst of those horrid rumours about Ginny... *loves*

Femmeslash seems to be always less appreciated than slash. :(

Looking forward to your new femmeslash fic! *eager*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks so much! I enjoy writing femmeslash as much as m/m slash, but there seems to be such a small audience for it. Other things tend to get moved to the top of the pile of fics-to-be-written, as a result!

[vanilla-neko.livejournal.com]

I know im reviewing a story you wrote awhile back, but I just wanted to tell you how amazing it was...

After reading it, I just sort of sat here with this wonderfully content smile in my face, and it just made me feel so happy. I'm not sure why, but that story felt so real to me. It was so simple and short, yet it was so full of emotion and deep at the same time. I love how you write, it makes me feel involved somehow, like I was there. And you don't overload the adjectives like so many authors I've read, you just... oh I don't know how to say this... bring the story to life.

Thank you so much for writing this. Not only was it a wonderful read, it was also really inspiring. Now I feel like going out there and making the most of a bad situation. Thank you.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

All reviews are appreciated, believe me!

Thanks for the comments about my writing style. I strive for simplicity, with the philosophy that the story is the most important thing. I don't want the words I use to distract the reader, if that makes sense.

Thanks so much!

amazing

[nikao725.livejournal.com]

that was a really great fic. I haven't read and G/L in quite awhile, and this just completly brought me back to it. i loved it, and hope that you will write more G/L in the future.
If you know of any other good G/L, feel free to share :).
Thanks for sharing your fics with those of us that are writing challenged!
nikki

Re: amazing

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this comment! Sorry it took me forever to respond. :-P

[blackxlupin.livejournal.com]

I liked this.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy that, rather terribly for me. I've been trying to find decent Ginny/Luna for hours now...
x Cazzy x

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I couldn't edit, so I'd like to say that I love you D/S. I always thought Dean and Seamus were a bit gay...so that wanking thing is really funny...
x C x

[alexandramuses.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that was great. Poor Ginny, but clever Luna. And the art is beautiful

[crimsonwhisper.livejournal.com]

First, nice pic, that skit is hilarious. Second, I loved this fic so much. Luna was wonderful, and sweet. I liked how you showed her nervousness, it was cute and real. Great stuff.