Fic Challenge #178 // A visit to the Hogsmeade Post Office
Title: Luna in the Post Office
Summary: It was a different kind of helping people that Luna did at the Hogsmeade post office.
Characters/Pairings: Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Dennis Creevey
Genre: Gen
Beta: none
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 1,180
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
If yes, your Tumblr username: n/a
There was just something about working in a post office during the holiday season that ignited Luna's Christmas spirit. Granted, she already loved working in Hogsmeade - where she got to see Neville and Aberforth weekly, where she constantly met fascinating new people to chat with, and where she was never bored. Most of her coworkers loathed the chaotic post office environment during the hols but not Luna. She felt like a proper Christmas imp (only the uninformed thought elves staffed Santa's workshop). Every single day during this season, Luna helped someone send a package to a loved one. Every time she worked, Luna made someone's day. She helped make Christmas happen for a whole lot of people. How could she not love this job?
Sure, some customers were a smidge lacking in the holiday cheer department but Luna never let the negativity of others bring her down. The people who cursed at her over a lost package or threw wrapping at her in fury weren't really cross with Luna herself, after all. Some witches and wizards just let gift-giving stress them out. Not everyone enjoyed this time of year and Luna had been working at this post office long enough to know it wasn't HER, that the rude guests were angry at, not really.
Still, sometimes it was hard to remember all of that when Luna was faced with an irate old classmate. Blaise Zabini was currently staring her down, a burgundy flush staining his dark cheeks. His perfectly manicured hands were balled into fists on the counter and his assuredly designer shoes were tapping a frantic staccato on the marble floor. From what Luna could make out, in-between the ranting and accusations, Zabini had mailed a very expensive ring to a very important French heiress he was courting, but the package had never made it to her. Luna wouldn't say it aloud to Zabini, but if he had treated her coworkers to a temper tantrum like he was demonstrating for her today, they had probably hidden the ring somewhere in the office out of spite.
“This is absurd!” Zabini's voice continued to rise in anger. “That ring cost me more galleons than you make in a year, you bloody ingrate. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?!”
Luna sighed for what felt like the fifteenth time in as many minutes. “Mr. Zabini, how could I have seen your package when you haven't even told me what it looks like?”
He gaped at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish in a shockingly undignified fashion. His eyes narrowed suddenly, and he opened his mouth to start hollering again, when a pale hand came out of nowhere and squeezed Zabini's tense shoulders. Luna was surprised to see Draco Malfoy, of all people, come and intervene. Malfoy looked her over appraisingly, as if determining her culpability.
“Blaise,” Malfoy said, tone like steel. “You're making a scene.” Zabini had the decency to look chagrined. “Just how many people do you think work here? Was Lovegood even at the desk, the day you came in to send the ring to the heiress you can't even tolerate?”
Zabini clenched his jaw but shook his head. Luna wasn't sure Malfoy was actually helping to deescalate the situation at all. Zabini just seemed to grow even more livid at being spoken down to.
“Now,” Malfoy continued, hand still tightening on Zabini's shoulder. “Try asking Lovegood in a respectful and courteous manner if there is any way she can assist you in locating the ring.”
For a moment, Luna thought Zabini was going to turn around and hex his old housemate. He didn't though - just grit his teeth, nodded, and shrugged out of Malfoy's hold. Luna wasn't terribly confused by this change in attitude. Zabini was known for his strong sense of self-preservation and only a fool would get on Draco Malfoy's bad side so blatantly. Malfoy's name still held a lot of sway, especially in the pureblood circles Zabini moved in. Malfoy was wizarding elite. He hosted galas, did interviews, had photo shoots! Pissing off the famed Slytherin-Ice-Prince-Turned-Most-Eligible-Bachelor would be social suicide for someone in Zabini's position.
“Lovegood,” Zabini said, at least feigning a renewed sense of calm detachment. “Are there any means available to you which could help in finding my missing ring?”
Choosing to take the high ground, Luna smiled brightly. “What was the ring in when you left it here and who was manning the desk?”
“It was in a small green box, wrapped with a ruby bow. I gave it to that Creetin kid. The brother of the photo-fanatic from school.”
Aha! That explained it then. Zabini had given the ring to Dennis Creevey. The poor lad just hadn't been the same after the war. He had turned quite bitter, often engaging in hate-fueled little acts of mischief against any of the post office's deatheater-associated clientele. If Zabini had been rude to Dennis, the boy almost definitely had taken the ring back to his desk instead of mailing it out.
“Please wait here just a moment. I believe I know what might have happened. We have quite a nargle problem this season.” Luna didn't bother saying anything further. She simply spun her chair around and walked towards the cubicles at the back of the office. Putting her hands on her hips, she mock-glared at Dennis as she approached his desk.
“Dennis, I know you don't like waiting on anyone from an ex-deatheater family but we've talked about this. You can't just sabotage their packages.”
Dennis refused to turn and look at her. “I'm quite sure that I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Give me the ring, Dennis.” When he made no move to comply, Luna huffed and took out her wand. “Accio green ring box,”she chanted. Immediately, one of Dennis' family photos inched forward, a green box escaping out from behind it and zooming into Luna's outstretched palm. There it was, glittering red ribbon and all.
“Dennis,” Luna sighed. “I don't want you to lose your job. Please stop misbehaving. I just spent the last twenty minutes being yelled at by Blaise Zabini.” The boy still didn't turn around but he mumbled a nearly inaudible “sorry” as she went to leave. Luna walked quickly back towards the customer service desk, holding the box aloft so Zabini could see her prize. His eyes went wide and, probably despite himself, he grinned hugely. He looked so relieved that Luna was actually glad to have helped him, despite how poorly he had treated her before Malfoy had arrived.
Expressions like the one radiating on Zabini's face were what made this job so fulfilling for Luna. It was a different kind of helping people that Luna did at the Hogsmeade post office. She didn't save lives like her many auror friends. She didn't mold the youth like Neville. But in her own small way, Luna did help, and that's how she liked it.
Kelly // Gryffindor // 44 points for Gryffindor!
Summary: It was a different kind of helping people that Luna did at the Hogsmeade post office.
Characters/Pairings: Luna Lovegood, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy, Dennis Creevey
Genre: Gen
Beta: none
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Fic
Word Count: 1,180
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Yes
If yes, your Tumblr username: n/a
There was just something about working in a post office during the holiday season that ignited Luna's Christmas spirit. Granted, she already loved working in Hogsmeade - where she got to see Neville and Aberforth weekly, where she constantly met fascinating new people to chat with, and where she was never bored. Most of her coworkers loathed the chaotic post office environment during the hols but not Luna. She felt like a proper Christmas imp (only the uninformed thought elves staffed Santa's workshop). Every single day during this season, Luna helped someone send a package to a loved one. Every time she worked, Luna made someone's day. She helped make Christmas happen for a whole lot of people. How could she not love this job?
Sure, some customers were a smidge lacking in the holiday cheer department but Luna never let the negativity of others bring her down. The people who cursed at her over a lost package or threw wrapping at her in fury weren't really cross with Luna herself, after all. Some witches and wizards just let gift-giving stress them out. Not everyone enjoyed this time of year and Luna had been working at this post office long enough to know it wasn't HER, that the rude guests were angry at, not really.
Still, sometimes it was hard to remember all of that when Luna was faced with an irate old classmate. Blaise Zabini was currently staring her down, a burgundy flush staining his dark cheeks. His perfectly manicured hands were balled into fists on the counter and his assuredly designer shoes were tapping a frantic staccato on the marble floor. From what Luna could make out, in-between the ranting and accusations, Zabini had mailed a very expensive ring to a very important French heiress he was courting, but the package had never made it to her. Luna wouldn't say it aloud to Zabini, but if he had treated her coworkers to a temper tantrum like he was demonstrating for her today, they had probably hidden the ring somewhere in the office out of spite.
“This is absurd!” Zabini's voice continued to rise in anger. “That ring cost me more galleons than you make in a year, you bloody ingrate. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?!”
Luna sighed for what felt like the fifteenth time in as many minutes. “Mr. Zabini, how could I have seen your package when you haven't even told me what it looks like?”
He gaped at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish in a shockingly undignified fashion. His eyes narrowed suddenly, and he opened his mouth to start hollering again, when a pale hand came out of nowhere and squeezed Zabini's tense shoulders. Luna was surprised to see Draco Malfoy, of all people, come and intervene. Malfoy looked her over appraisingly, as if determining her culpability.
“Blaise,” Malfoy said, tone like steel. “You're making a scene.” Zabini had the decency to look chagrined. “Just how many people do you think work here? Was Lovegood even at the desk, the day you came in to send the ring to the heiress you can't even tolerate?”
Zabini clenched his jaw but shook his head. Luna wasn't sure Malfoy was actually helping to deescalate the situation at all. Zabini just seemed to grow even more livid at being spoken down to.
“Now,” Malfoy continued, hand still tightening on Zabini's shoulder. “Try asking Lovegood in a respectful and courteous manner if there is any way she can assist you in locating the ring.”
For a moment, Luna thought Zabini was going to turn around and hex his old housemate. He didn't though - just grit his teeth, nodded, and shrugged out of Malfoy's hold. Luna wasn't terribly confused by this change in attitude. Zabini was known for his strong sense of self-preservation and only a fool would get on Draco Malfoy's bad side so blatantly. Malfoy's name still held a lot of sway, especially in the pureblood circles Zabini moved in. Malfoy was wizarding elite. He hosted galas, did interviews, had photo shoots! Pissing off the famed Slytherin-Ice-Prince-Turned-Most-Eligible-Bachelor would be social suicide for someone in Zabini's position.
“Lovegood,” Zabini said, at least feigning a renewed sense of calm detachment. “Are there any means available to you which could help in finding my missing ring?”
Choosing to take the high ground, Luna smiled brightly. “What was the ring in when you left it here and who was manning the desk?”
“It was in a small green box, wrapped with a ruby bow. I gave it to that Creetin kid. The brother of the photo-fanatic from school.”
Aha! That explained it then. Zabini had given the ring to Dennis Creevey. The poor lad just hadn't been the same after the war. He had turned quite bitter, often engaging in hate-fueled little acts of mischief against any of the post office's deatheater-associated clientele. If Zabini had been rude to Dennis, the boy almost definitely had taken the ring back to his desk instead of mailing it out.
“Please wait here just a moment. I believe I know what might have happened. We have quite a nargle problem this season.” Luna didn't bother saying anything further. She simply spun her chair around and walked towards the cubicles at the back of the office. Putting her hands on her hips, she mock-glared at Dennis as she approached his desk.
“Dennis, I know you don't like waiting on anyone from an ex-deatheater family but we've talked about this. You can't just sabotage their packages.”
Dennis refused to turn and look at her. “I'm quite sure that I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Give me the ring, Dennis.” When he made no move to comply, Luna huffed and took out her wand. “Accio green ring box,”she chanted. Immediately, one of Dennis' family photos inched forward, a green box escaping out from behind it and zooming into Luna's outstretched palm. There it was, glittering red ribbon and all.
“Dennis,” Luna sighed. “I don't want you to lose your job. Please stop misbehaving. I just spent the last twenty minutes being yelled at by Blaise Zabini.” The boy still didn't turn around but he mumbled a nearly inaudible “sorry” as she went to leave. Luna walked quickly back towards the customer service desk, holding the box aloft so Zabini could see her prize. His eyes went wide and, probably despite himself, he grinned hugely. He looked so relieved that Luna was actually glad to have helped him, despite how poorly he had treated her before Malfoy had arrived.
Expressions like the one radiating on Zabini's face were what made this job so fulfilling for Luna. It was a different kind of helping people that Luna did at the Hogsmeade post office. She didn't save lives like her many auror friends. She didn't mold the youth like Neville. But in her own small way, Luna did help, and that's how she liked it.
Kelly // Gryffindor // 44 points for Gryffindor!