Chasing Luna

Chasing Luna

Neville Longbottom wasn't sure when he first realised he liked Ginny Weasley as more than a friend. It was some time after the Department of Mysteries fiasco, but it was difficult to pinpoint an exact moment. When he had invited her to the Yule Ball in his fourth year, that had just been as mates, nothing more. But now he regretted not having made more of it. He had a chance with her and he let it slip away.

She was so pretty, and funny, and sweet, not to mention strong and powerful. There was so much more to her than met the eye, and he couldn't help adoring her for it. The way she smiled, the way those freckles of hers spread across her nose, and the way her hair caught the sun.

Unfortunately she didn't seem to notice him, at least not as more than a friend. It was difficult to tell, he had to admit, when she would compliment him or stand up for him if he didn't do it for himself. But then a moment later she would be off walking hand in hand with Dean Thomas.

It was horribly frustrating.

Not to mention that Dean was his friend and Neville would never pursue his friend's girlfriend. Not actively, at any rate. And there were barely two months left of school. Once he left, he might not see her again.

Which was why it took him a moment to register the news when Luna Lovegood told it to him in the library one day in the middle of April.

"What?" he said, startled out of his reverie. He had been staring into space thinking about the concern Ginny had shown for him when he had failed his latest potions assignment.

"I said," Luna repeated, taking a seat across from him and slinging her satchel on the table, "they've broken up, so if you're going to make your move, now is as good a time as any."

She began to rummage through her bag, tossing out broken quills, used parchments, old Quibblers and half eaten pasties. Neville, finally registering what it was she was trying to tell him, frowned.

"Make my move? What do you mean?" He turned slightly pale; Luna couldn't know, could she? That was impossible, he hadn't told a soul.

Luna sighed and opened a small jar she had taken from the bag. A foul smelling smoke poured from it causing Neville to start coughing. Unaffected, Luna added two drops of some sort of red liquid to the jar which made the concoction turn an amber colour. Replacing the lid on the jar she stuffed it back into her satchel.

"Neville, I'm not thick, it's fairly obvious you fancy Ginny. And now you have the chance to do something about it."

She stood up to leave, but Neville reached out and grabbed her sleeve. She turned towards him, surprised.

"Wait," Neville said, in barely more than a whisper. "Just how obvious is it?"

"Ginny doesn't know, if that's what you're asking," Luna replied. "Harry and Ron are clueless, of course, but I think Hermione suspects something. I've seen her watching you when you watch Ginny. You might want to consider closing your mouth when you do that."

"Oh no," Neville moaned, burying his head in his hands. "I'm doomed."

"Hardly. This is a wonderful opportunity for you. She's broken up with Dean, and she's looking for a kind, caring, supportive type of bloke."

Neville raised his head slightly. "You think I'm all that?"

Luna shrugged. "How would I know? Look, Ginny's a very good friend, I'll make you a deal."

"What sort of deal?" Neville asked suspiciously, watching as Luna tied two braids on top of her head in a precarious position.

"I'll tell you exactly what you have to do to win Ginny's heart, if you help me with an experimental potion I'm working on. Do we have a bargain?"

"Well, who says I need your help with Ginny? I'm perfectly capable of telling her how I feel myself."

"Oh really? Well here's your chance. Ginny's coming right now."

Neville squeaked and dived under the table. Luna laughed hysterically.

"Why would you want my help anyway? Everyone knows I'm miserable at potions," said Neville glumly as he got to his feet after making sure the coast was clear.

"I'm sure you'd be much better without Professor Snape looming over you. Besides, all I'll need you to do is write things down and hand me ingredients. So, what do you say?"

Neville looked at her carefully. She was a lunatic all right; from the Bertie Botts Beans necklace to the weird braids piled on her head, from her earrings shaped like ravens which squawked to the odd blue and bronze high-top sneakers and rainbow-coloured laces. Yet she and Ginny were friends, and Luna was probably in her confidence. It certainly couldn't hurt.

"All right," he said after weighing the pros and cons, "it's a deal."

"Excellent." Luna beamed at him. "Meet me in the dungeons tomorrow evening after dinner. We'll begin then."

"What about helping me win Ginny?" he called after her as she bounced from the library.

"I'll tell you what you need to know tomorrow!" she called back. "Goodbye!"

"Goodbye," he muttered, packing up his books and trudging back to Gryffindor Tower. He began to wonder what he had got himself into. Assisting Luna on an experimental potion? Asking her for advice on his love life? Had he lost his mind?

"Ugh," he moaned, coming to a stop outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Sorry, dear, that isn't the password."

"It's Wronski Feint, Neville. Did you forget?"

Neville looked behind him to see Ron and Harry approach. To judge by their muddy uniforms they had just come from Quidditch practice. At Ron's words 'Wronsky Feint' the Fat Lady swung open to admit the three boys who climbed through the portrait hole.

Ron laughed. "I'll always remember the password because Hermione threw such a fit when she found out what it was. She can't say it properly."

"Say, Neville," Harry said as they climbed the stairs to their dormitory, "could you help Ron and me out tomorrow night with the Herbology homework?"

"Oh," Neville flushed, "I'm, er, busy tomorrow. Couldn't you ask Hermione to help you? She's just as good as I am."

"We already asked her," Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Hermione has a Head Girl meeting."

"Well, what about later tonight?" Neville asked desperately. If he didn't meet with Luna, she wouldn't help him with Ginny.

"Sorry, Neville," Ron said, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of a filthy hand. "We're breaking for dinner and then we have to head right back out to practice. Nearly time for Quidditch finals. What's the matter? Couldn't you cancel your plans? They can't be very important since you didn't have them yesterday."

"Um, well," Neville stammered. He couldn't think of an excuse that wouldn't reveal he was spending the evening with Luna.

Fortunately Harry came to his rescue. "Leave him alone, Ron. Obviously he's doing something tomorrow. We can't force him to help us with our homework." To Neville he added, "Don't worry about it, Neville."

"I don't get it though," Ron complained as Harry dragged him off to the showers. "What are you doing tomorrow that's so important?"

"I, uh, can't tell you," said Neville flushing.

"And you don't have to," Harry said, shooting Ron a dirty look. As he pushed Ron up the stairs ahead of him, he turned back to Neville and winked. "Have fun."

Groaning, Neville threw himself face down on his bed. Turning onto his back, Neville wondered just how much trouble he had got himself into. Suddenly he had lost his appetite.

* * *

It didn't return the next evening either. After pushing his food around his plate for twenty minutes, he finally gave up and went down to the dungeons amidst snickers from his dorm mates.

Each step down the stairs only added to his trepidation. What if Luna was doing something illegal? Could she really help him get Ginny to notice him? Was he completely insane?

"It's about time you got here," Luna said the moment he stepped through the door of the unused classroom. She already had a cauldron boiling over a small flame and she was wearing plastic goggles. Holding his nose, Neville leaned over the blue goop; periodically square grey shapes bobbed to the surface.

"What exactly is it that we're making?" he asked nervously.

"Oh, just a potion. I've been wanting to make this since my second year. I only just now decided that what it needs is kiwi."

Luna buzzed around him, and Neville had a hard time getting her attention.

"Uh, Luna, so, are you going to help me with Ginny?"

"Hm? Oh, right. Here, hand me those bamboo shoots. Oh, and powdered hibiscus."

Wordlessly he handed the items she requested. Chopping the shoots very carefully, Luna added them to the mixture which made it turn orange. The powdered hibiscus was then poured in causing her concoction to bubble and smoke.

With a hand over his nose and mouth, Neville decided he couldn't wait any longer for Luna to return to their planet on her own.

"Luna." When she didn't respond, he waved his free hand in front of her face. She seemed to snap out of her trance, which was unusual for her, and lifted the goggles from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, can I help you?" she asked him as if noticing him for the first time.

"Yes!" cried Neville. "You're supposed to be telling me how I can get Ginny to notice me!"

"Hm." She dipped her pinky into the potion and gingerly tasted it. Then making a face she said, "That tastes terrible. Needs more pudding."

"Now," Luna said, turning towards Neville, "as for you...you need to write her poetry."

"What?" Neville's eyes bulged.

"Poetry. Something that rhymes, she likes that."

"That's it?" Neville couldn't believe his ears. "But, what sort of poetry? I wouldn't have any idea what to say!"

"That much is obvious. Try comparing her hair to the sun. Or her eyes to the moon. You know, girls like astronomy."

Clearly Luna had lost what was left of her mind. "Uh...okay." Neville turned to go. "Well, thanks."

"Wait, you're not leaving, are you?" Luna caught up to him and stared at him with her slightly protuberant eyes.

"Well, we're finished here, aren't we?" Neville asked, confused.

"Hardly. Quick, hand me those eggs."

"Are these from some special creature, like a ragawhosamawhatsit?" he couldn't help but ask.

Luna looked surprised. "No, they're from a chicken. An ordinary chicken. And really, Neville, I'm surprised at you, you ought to know better. Ragawhosamawhatsits don't lay eggs."

"Sorry, my mistake. Uh, so, will you help me write the poem?"

"I suppose I could. But I'll need your assistance Saturday."

"But there's a Quidditch game on Saturday! Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff." Neville vaguely remembered Luna as a fan. At least she always went and wore an odd hat. "Don't you want to go?"

"Well," Luna shrugged, "you could go and meet me afterwards."

"But aren't you a fan? You go to all the games."

"I do enjoy watching Harry and Ronald fly. And I never miss a Ravenclaw match, of course. One must have house loyalty."

"So come with me." Neville flushed, realising how that must sound. "I mean, Ginny'll be playing and I'll need to know what to say to her afterwards. Then we can go work on your experiments. What do you say?"

She appeared to consider it. "That sounds fine. All right, it's a plan. See you Saturday, Neville."

As Neville moved to leave, Luna poured her potion into a purple heart-shaped bottle and pocketed it. Shaking his head, Neville headed out the door.

"Wait, Neville." Hurriedly Luna scribbled some words down on parchment. "Here, this is the poem you should give to Ginny. Feel free to make adjustments. Goodbye."

Feeling rather brushed off, Neville left with the parchment crushed in his hand. He made it back to the Tower without incident, and headed up the stairs to his nice warm bed when he was waylaid by Harry, Ron, Seamus, and Dean.

"Hey, Neville, where have you been?" asked Seamus. "We looked for you after dinner."

"He had 'plans,'" Harry said, a grin spreading across his face.

"Oh really?" Seamus looked gleeful. "With a girl, Neville?"

"No," Neville said, turning red. "I was just working on some homework." Oh, if his friends found out he had spent the evening with Luna he'd never hear the end of it. Not that there had been anything romantic about it, but that wouldn't matter to them. They'd find some way to embarrass him terribly.

"Sure," said Dean winking at Seamus. "And you always come back from working on homework smelling like perfume." His nose wrinkled. "Albeit an odd perfume."

"What?" Neville sniffed his sleeve; the scent of Luna's potion still lingered. "Oh, no, this isn't perfume. It's a potion."

"Of course, Neville," said Ron. With a meaningful glance at Harry, Seamus, and Dean, he darted forward and snatched the parchment right from Neville's hand. "And what's this? A list of potion's ingredients, perhaps?"

"Ron, no," Neville turned pale as he reached for the parchment which Ron held just out of reach. What had Luna written? If she had put 'Dear Ginny' he was as good as dead! What would Dean think?

"Relax, Neville, we're your mates." Ron was laughing. "Share your love letters with us."

"No, really, it's not what you think!"

"Let's see, shall we?" Starting to unfold it, Ron was stopped when Harry put a hand out on his wrist.

"Hold on a minute, Ron," said Harry, looking serious. "It's Neville's note, and we shouldn't be reading it."

Ron sagged. "You're right, Harry."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Neville reached out for the parchment, but to his horror, Seamus grabbed it first.

"You two aren't any fun any more." He opened it and his eyes scanned the page, growing wider as he read. "You'll never believe this! It's a love poem!"

"No!" chorused Ron, Harry, and Dean together. Neville just hung his head in shame and collapsed on his four poster bed with the curtains pulled around him. He listen to the slightly muffled voices of his friends as they laughed themselves sick.

"'Your eyes shine like the stars in the sky and glow like the moon.'" Seamus was almost incoherent due to what Neville supposed was laughter.

"'I am your empty vessel to fill, like a bottle filled with wine.'" It sounded to Neville like Ron had fallen to the floor.

"'My darling, my love, we must be together soon,'" Harry snickered.

"And let us not forget the best part," said Dean. Neville moaned. "'Forever and ever I hope you'll be mine."

Together they chanted, "Neville has a girlfriend, Neville has a girlfriend."

Groaning, Neville placed his pillow over his head and tried to fall asleep, their laughter still ringing in his ears.

* * *

Saturday didn't come soon enough. Neville had to endure their teasing at each meal, and if one wasn't commenting, another was. He barely had a moment's peace. What made it worse was that they were all dying to know who Neville's supposed girlfriend was. He couldn't say hi to a member of the female species in the hall without one of his so-called friends whispering, "Oooooooh," in his ear.

Breakfast the next two days was a miserable affair with the seventh year boys all exchanging odd looks, and the girls wondering just what had got into them. On Friday, Ginny, who was apparently trying to sit far away from Dean, had somehow ended up next to Neville who had the same objective.

Smiling tentatively at him, Ginny leaned over and whispered, "What is wrong with my brother and his friends?"

"They're giving me a hard time over something that's all a big mistake." Neville could feel his face heating up.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't let them bully you, Neville. And don't worry, they'll get tired of their little game soon. At least I hope so. We have a game tomorrow and the last thing we need is for Ron or Harry to be distracted."

"That's right, Quidditch tomorrow," Neville said, desperate to get the conversation off of the source of Ron and Harry's distraction. "Good luck."

"Thank you, Neville." Ginny smiled at him. "Are you coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he replied promptly. "Luna said she would come too." Idiot, he chastised himself. Why would you say that to Ginny?

But Ginny didn't seem too bothered by it. "That's nice. Oh, I'm late already. See you later, Neville."

"Goodbye." Neville glanced down the table. Fortunately none of his dorm mates had noticed his conversation with Ginny. That would have been a disaster.

Also fortunately Harry and Ron were occupied with the game and as Ginny predicted they quickly lost interest in Neville's love letter as the hours drained away. Two grim-faced seventh years haunted the Gryffindor tower and many a first year was terrified that Friday night by either Harry or Ron shouting for quiet. Hermione sat tight-lipped in one corner as she played chess with Neville, watching the jittery pair.

"Honestly," she complained to him, "I've never seen them like this! You'd think this was the Quidditch World Cup or something."

"This is very important, Hermione," Ron shouted from across the room. "If we win this game, we'll play Ravenclaw for the House Cup!"

She winked at Neville. "I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Broomsticks, flying balls, perhaps certain people are compensating for something."

That struck both Ron and Harry dumb while Neville shook with suppressed laughter. Shaking her head, Hermione returned to their game.

As she moved her queen, Hermione murmured, "So, have you told Ginny how you feel yet?"

"What?" Neville nearly knocked the chess board over. His players complained bitterly. "Where did you hear that?"

"Luna mentioned something in passing," she replied, concentrating on the board.

"You speak to Luna?" asked Neville, surprised.

"Certainly." Hermione looked up and smiled. "She earned my respect when she helped us in the Department of Mysteries, and while I certainly disagree with many of her opinions, I also occasionally find her amusing. She told me all about your bargain."

Instructing his bishop to capture her knight he asked, "Do you think I made a mistake? You know Ginny as well, maybe I should have come to you."

"Well, I'm somewhat flattered, Neville, but I don't really have the time to help you with your love life. Thank you for considering me, though. And don't worry, Luna is Ginny's friend, I'm sure she won't steer you wrong." She patted him on the shoulder. "Now, I'd better drag those boys off to bed or they'll be absolutely useless tomorrow."

And Hermione pulled Harry and Ron up the stairs protesting all the way. Neville shook his head and followed them. He needed some sleep as well, he was going to help Luna again the following day. That in itself required a full night's sleep.

* * *

"Hello, Neville, mind if I take advantage of this empty space?"

Startled, Neville looked up and shaded his eyes from the sun. It was Luna. Of course it was Luna.

"Er, sure, I suppose. But don't you want to sit with your Ravenclaw friends?"

Luna shrugged and sat down next to him. She looked oddly normal. "Most of the Ravenclaws aren't here as the Ravenclaw team isn't playing. Is something wrong? You're staring."

Neville blinked and shook his head. "Oh no, sorry. It's just, there's something different about you." Then he realised what it was: her hair wasn't dirty-looking anymore. "What happened to your hair?"

"I know, it's horrible, isn't it? That potion you helped me with the other day? It turned out to be a shampoo." Luna looked toward the field. "I believe the game is starting."

"And no hat," Neville pointed out.

"No. All my hats are either missing or jinxed." She sighed. "Every one I tried on today bounced right off. I was trying to cover up this hair disaster, but to no avail. Look, there's Ginny!"

Neville looked, but then turned back to Luna, horrified. "Your House mates jinxed your hats?"

"It's not as if this is the first time." Luna stood up and began to cheer wildly. Several Gryffindors took in her Ravenclaw robes and grimaced. Neville sank down into his seat and kept his focus on the game.

After it had ended (with a stunning victory for Gryffindor), Luna leapt up and grabbed Neville's arm.

"Well, that's finished. Let's go, Neville."

Looking around desperately in case Seamus or Dean was nearby, Neville hissed, "Wait, I wanted to congratulate Ginny on a well played game."

"So tell her, we have to get going." Luna inched her way out of the stadium. "Come on now, we'll catch her on our way."

As it turned out Neville only had time for a very rushed, "Great game, see you later, bye" before Luna had pulled him away.

"Luna," he complained as she set up her experiment in the dungeons. "I didn't have a chance to talk to Ginny."

"You see her practically every day," Luna replied, donning her goggles. "Hand me the juniper berries and lily petals. What happened with the poem?"

Handing them over, Neville answered, "I didn't have a chance to give it to her. And it's a good thing, that poem was ridiculous!"

Luna smiled and arched a brow at him. "Did you ever hear Ginny's valentine to Harry in first year?"

He had no reply to that. "Well, what's your next bright idea for getting her to notice me?"

"You could send her flowers," Luna suggested. "Oleander."

"You think I should send her oleander?"

"No, I want you to hand me the oleander. Don't worry, I'll pick out the perfect bouquet and have it sent to her with your name on it. That should get her attention."

Neville breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks Luna, you're a chum."

She looked at him strangely. "Why are you calling me fish bait?"

"What? No, I meant, you're a real friend."

"Oh." Luna looked vaguely uncomfortable. "I think I preferred it when you were calling me bait. Pass the rose petals, and write down: two dried Niffler nail clippings, not twelve." Acrid orange smoke poured from the cauldron, and the two had to run out of the dungeon or risk suffocation. "Yes, I think that was the wrong way to go."

* * *

Neville was incredibly nervous the following day to such a point where he began to jump at small noises. Fidgeting, Neville sat in the common room, half-listening to a blow-by-blow retelling of the previous day's game courtesy of Ron and Harry. It was supposed to be for Hermione's benefit (despite the fact that she had been there) but she wasn't paying much attention and was writing an essay for Charms instead.

There was a roll of thunder and she looked up and out the window just as Ron was describing a save he made.

"Well, it's fortunate the game was yesterday, wasn't it," she said. "I'd hate to play in this storm."

"Well you don't play at all," Ron teased, "so it doesn't much matter."

Ignoring him, she returned to her work. Neville couldn't help it; his foot began to tap rhythmically in time with the patter of the rain.

Finally Ginny came down the stairs from her dormitory, clutching what appeared to be a sodden bundle of leaves.

"I think," she said seriously, "that someone wishes me ill, or perhaps maimed."

"What?" Neville cried, his heart racing. Everyone else turned to look at her.

"Just look at this mess an owl delivered a few minutes ago."

Neville's jaw dropped; he could identify some of the plants. "Are those...lilies?" he croaked, his heart plummeting to his stomach. Lilies symbolised death and sorrow.

Ginny nodded, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Surrounded by this."

When he saw the leaves she held up, he nearly had a heart attack.

"Cypress?" he whispered.

"Yes, the plant of funerals and mourning," Ginny said grimly. "Seriously, I think someone has a vendetta against me. There was also mugwort--"

"Ugliness and awkwardness," Neville moaned into his hands.

"--and rue."

"Sadness and sorrow."

Ron looked amazed. "How do you two remember all that?"

This was the worst; Ginny would never want to speak to him again. Or she'd think it was some sort of horrible joke. He had to ask. "Was there...was there a card?"

"Yes," answered Ginny and Neville prepared to make a run for it, "but I'm afraid the rain soaked it and the ink ran. I can't read it at all."

Incredibly relieved, Neville was determined to have a conversation with Luna before this idiocy went any farther.

"Don't worry, Ginny," said Harry. "I'm sure it was just a joke, or a mistake. Perhaps whoever chose it didn't know the meanings of those plants. I certainly didn't."

"Does that mean you sent this death wish, Harry?" Ginny teased. Neville felt a glimmer of jealousy. He wished he could be so calm and relaxed around Ginny the way Harry was. Then again, he faced death on an annual basis, so talking to his best friend's little sister was probably not high on his list of worries.

"Er, I have to go," Neville said suddenly. "I'll see you all at dinner."

"Going to meet your girlfriend, Neville?" said Ron, interrupting himself in the middle of describing a pass. He and Harry started to laugh, and Hermione and Ginny exchanged confused glances.

"What is so laughable about Neville having a girlfriend?" asked Ginny.

"I don't have a girlfriend," Neville complained.

"Then why do they think you do?" asked Hermione.

"Neville got a love letter," Harry said, still grinning like a maniac. "It was the worst poem you could imagine."

"Worse than 'eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad'?" teased Ginny.

"Much," replied Ron.

"It wasn't for me," Neville protested.

"Then who was it for?" asked Harry curiously.

"No one. Please, just drop the subject."

"So who is she, Neville?" Ginny asked.

"No one, I don't have a girlfriend!" Neville shouted, losing his temper. Calming down at Ginny's shocked impression, Neville said, "Look, I have to go, but, really, I don't have a girlfriend."

And he took off before they could ask him anything else. He decided that the first place he should start looking for Luna was in the Ravenclaw common room. Knowing where it was, he headed towards it, but he realised when he got there that he didn't know the password.

"Can I help you?"

It was Michael Corner, Ginny's ex-boyfriend and Cho Chang's current one. Neville's grasp of inter-house politics was weak, but he was pretty sure that he wasn't supposed to like Michael.

"I'm, er, looking for Luna Lovegood," Neville replied, staring at his feet.

"Loony?" Michael grinned. "Sorry, mate, she's not here. I think she's swimming in the lake."

Neville's eyes bulged. "Swimming? In the lake? But it must be freezing in there! It's storming outside! And...and the squid! What about the grindylows? Or the merpeople!"

Michael shrugged. "It's not like this is the first time. She does this about once a week."

"What? Really?" Neville shook his head. "Never mind, I don't want to know. I'll find her down by the lake?"

"Probably."

Neville hesitated. "She's not...nude, is she?"

The other boy laughed. "No, Professor McGonagall forbade her doing that. She ought to be covered. Good luck."

Turning away, Neville sighed and took out his wand. He concentrated as hard as he could and pointed it at himself.

"Impervius," he commanded. Then he stepped out into the driving rain.

He was completely soaked within an instant. All that was dry was one small patch on the front of his shirt. But he was determined to speak to Luna about her poor attempts to help him, so he forced his way through the wind and rain to the edge of the lake.

"Luna!" he bellowed as the storm howled around him. "Are you out here?"

"Neville?" A figure swam towards him in long even strokes and pulled herself out of the water. Tossing water from her eyes which was only replaced by rain, Luna pushed some of the hair off her face. "What are you doing out here?"

Neville couldn't help but gape. She was standing out in the middle of a storm in nothing but a one-piece swim suit and she didn't appear bothered by it at all.

"Luna! Aren't you freezing? You'll get sick!"

"Don't be silly, Neville," she hollered back over the wind. "I'm perfectly fine. Go inside, you'll catch your death!"

"But I have to talk to you!" For the first time he actually looked at her. "What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" Luna's wide eyes stared questioningly at him.

"Your body," Neville stammered. "It's...different."

Luna looked down at her new curvy figure in surprise. "Well, what do you know? That's surprising." She spun around still staring at her full shape. "I suppose the potion you helped me make yesterday did this. I did think it tasted odd. Hm, I hope this goes away soon, none of my clothes will fit properly."

"Actually, that's what I need to talk to you about," Neville said, once he shook himself out of some disturbing thoughts. "Can we please go inside?"

Nodding, Luna headed back to the to the castle, and Neville followed as quickly as he could. Once they were inside, Luna shook herself like a dog, spraying water all over the place. The she started to walk away, and Neville had to reach out and grab her arm.

"Luna, wait, I have to talk to you!"

"What about? I'm rather wet, Neville, I'd like to go dry off."

"But this is important," he said with great frustration.

"Fine," Luna huffed. "May I see your wand then? I've left mine in my room."

"Isn't it dangerous to swim in the lake without your wand for protection?" Neville asked, handing her his wand.

"It's more dangerous to get my wand wet," Luna replied. She cast a warming spell over herself and handed back the wand. "Now, what is it you needed to say to me?"

He had nearly forgotten in the shock of seeing Luna swimming in the middle of a storm, but suddenly he remembered the surprised look on Ginny's face when she showed him the funeral flowers, and his anger with Luna returned.

"Are you insane?" he shouted. "You sent Ginny a bouquet of flowers that all represented death and sorrow!"

Luna looked thoughtful, and then furrowed her brow, looking at Neville strangely. "Uh, I don't think so."

"But you did!" cried Neville. "I was there when she received them! Cypress? Lilies? Mugwort? What were you thinking?!"

"Calm down, Neville," said Luna, appearing offended. She disentangled herself from his grip and walked towards her common room. Neville had to jog to keep up with her. "I thought it was very pretty, and I had leftover lilies, so I didn't want them to go to waste."

"But, didn't you have any idea what those flowers and plants stood for?" Neville asked desperately, trying to understand.

"No," Luna laughed. "They're just flowers. Now, I'll meet you in the dungeon Tuesday evening, all right?"

"No, it's not all right! Why should I continue to help you with your stupid experiments? You haven't helped me at all! If it weren't for the fact that the rain smeared your card, Ginny would hate me right now!"

Suddenly Luna stopped and faced him, and Neville stumbled slightly trying not to run into her. He gulped and studiously kept his gaze north of her neck.

"But she doesn't," Luna said calmly, "so no harm done. We'll just have to try something else. I'll see you on Tuesday."

And she was gone before he could say another word. Hanging his head, dripping on the stone floor, and tracking muddy footprints, Neville trudged back to his common room, lost in thought.

Unfortunately, he was stopped before he got there.

"What do you think you're doing!" exclaimed Argus Filch. His eyes were filled with rage, and his nose quivered menacingly. His pupils darted from side to side as he looked at the foot prints on the floor. Neville knew he was in big trouble.

"Let me guess," sighed Neville. "Detention?"

"Bet on it," growled Filch.

* * *

"Because of you I spent last night scrubbing cursed toilets," Neville snapped, glaring at Luna who was busy adding ingredients to her current concoction.

"Beg your pardon?" Luna looked up curiously, the small bells hanging from her ears jingling.

"If I hadn't been chasing after you outside, I wouldn't have tracked mud through the castle and Filch wouldn't have given me detention."

"That logic is almost worthy of me," said Luna, smiling. "All right, all right, I have one more plan for you to win Ginny's heart."

Neville sighed, handing Luna a package of dried frogspawn. "And tell me why I should listen to any more of your advice?"

"Because you have no other ideas. Hand me that vial of pineapple juice."

"So, what's your idea?" he prodded.

"Give me a couple days, it will take awhile to get everything set up properly. But I guarantee this one to work."

"Luna, why are you doing this for me?"

Apparently she hadn't been expecting that question. It took her a minute to respond.

"We're friends, Neville. This is what friends do for one another." There was a hint of fear in her voice. "We are friends, aren't we?"

"Sure," Neville hurried to reassure her. "Friends. Two years and counting."

"Okay." Somehow she didn't sound convinced. "Let's finish this."

Neville assisted Luna until she pronounced the potion completed and ushered him out the door. Deciding he couldn't take the questions of his friends right away, Neville wandered around the castle, ending up in the library where he encountered, surprise, surprise, Hermione.

"Neville," she said, sounding surprised. "What are you doing here at this time of night?"

"It's not that late," he said, taking a seat opposite her. "Hermione, may I ask you a question?"

Neville supposed she could sense the desperation in his voice and so she put down her quill and gave him her full attention.

"Certainly, Neville, how can I help?"

"If a boy did everything he could to get your attention, even if some of those things were rather...stupid, would you go out on a date with him?"

Hermione smiled. "Neville, is this about Ginny?"

"Yes," he admitted.

"So that message of ill will was from you."

"From Luna, actually."

"Yes, I should have guessed. It had her special touch. So what's the problem, Neville?"

His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm beginning to wonder if this is worth it."

"You mean if Ginny is worth it."

"I wish you wouldn't put that sort of a label on it, Hermione," Neville moaned. "It's just, I've been put through hell this past week and with nothing to show for it."

"Neville, pardon me if this is a personal question," Hermione said, leaning forward slightly, "but when you sneak off and tell Harry and Ron you're studying, you are going to meet Luna, aren't you?"

"Well, yes," said Neville, blushing furiously. "But only to help her with her potions and to get her advice. There's nothing...romantic between us."

"I didn't say there was. These potions you're helping her with, did she tell you what they were?"

"No, they're experimental. I get the idea that she doesn't know herself what the finished product will be. Besides, I'm just handing her ingredients and writing down the occasional note."

"I see." Hermione smiled gently at him. "Well, the only advice I can give you, Neville, is to listen to your heart. If you really want to get Ginny's attention, then continue. But you'll have to make your choice very soon."

"Thanks, Hermione. I'll see you later."

Neville went back to his dorm room and lay down on his bed for awhile, just thinking. He decided that he wouldn't let all this planning go to waste. He'd try Luna's latest idea, and if that didn't work, well, then he'd reconsider his options.

But he had a hard time falling asleep that night, and he couldn't figure out why.

* * *

Luna sent him a note at breakfast three days later instructing him to meet her in the usual dungeon that evening.

"Luna, there's a Hogsmeade trip this Sunday, and I'd really like to ask Ginny. Are you certain this is going to work?" he asked when he got there, eyeing the heap in the corner over which she had thrown a sheet.

"Absolutely, guaranteed. Ginny is a romantic. So you just have to do something dashing."

"I see the, er, potion hasn't worn off," Neville commented, indicating her shape. Luna looked down and sighed.

"No, not yet, but I'm optimistic."

For once Luna wasn't already bent over a cauldron. In fact, she was sitting at a desk scribbling with her quill on parchment. Neville could already see pages of writing. A text book was hovering before her open to a specific page. It was also upside-down.

"What, no potion today?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, there is one. I'm just trying to finish this paper for Professor Binns."

"Oh really?" Neville peered over her shoulder. "What's it about?"

"Invenio Feran," Luna replied without looking up. "The man who discovered Crumple-Horned Snorkacks."

"What?" Neville laughed nervously. "You're not serious."

"Of course I am," answered Luna. "You know what Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are certainly?"

"Yes, but, Luna, they don't exist!"

"Of course they do!" Luna sounded scandalised. "I've seen them."

"You've seen them." Neville folded his arms. "When? What do they look like?"

"The summer after my fourth year, my father and I went to Sweden and we saw them. They look rather like hippos."

"Hippos?" repeated Neville.

"With wings. Which are actually rather useless when you think about it since they are too heavy to fly. And horns, of course."

"But, Luna," protested Neville, "I've never read anything about those Crumple-Horned things in a text book."

Finally Luna turned to look at him. Neville suddenly felt as if he were being x-rayed as Luna's enormous eyes bored into him.

"Let me ask you a question," Luna said in tones much harder than her usual ones. "Have you ever read about love in your text books?"

"Well, there was a passing reference to the romance between Uric the Oddball and Wendelin the Weird," Neville mused.

"That's not what I mean. Have you ever read even a passage about real love? Telling you just exactly what true love is?"

"No," admitted Neville.

"Well, then you must have experienced it, no?"

"No," he conceded. "But I-"

"Then it can't possibly exist, can it?"

She had him backed into a corner; swiftly and cunningly done.

"Of course love exists, but love is a feeling, not a creature. You can't compare the two."

"Why not? You don't believe Snorkacks exist because you haven't seen one, or read about one. If tales of love were never written down, would love disappear? No, love exists because people believe in it. It all comes down to belief, Neville. If you believe in something enough, that's proof that it exists."

"But...but..."

Luna smiled sadly. "What do you believe in, Neville?"

Then she seemed to decide to change the subject. "Now, I'll show you what you need to do to get Ginny's attention once and for all. Then you can help me make my final potion, and you never have to help me again."

"Well, wait, I mean, I don't mind helping you, Luna."

"That's all right, Neville, you're very busy. I appreciate all of your help."

For some reason, Neville was rather disappointed. He tried to hide it and asked, "All right, so what's this brilliant plan of yours?"

"Well, first, you have to wear this." Luna whipped the sheet off the lump in the corner.

Staring in horror at the contraption Luna had unveiled, Neville took several steps backward with his hands out as if to ward her away.

"No, not a chance, not going to happen, no way..."

* * *

"I don't know how I let you talk me into this," Neville said miserably the next day.

"Imperius Curse," Luna replied, adding some of the finishing touches to his outfit. They were in an unused classroom preparing Neville for his final attempt at winning Ginny's hand.

"What!"

"Only kidding," said Luna with a smile. "Relax. Ginny'll be along any second, are you ready?"

"You're insane," Neville moaned. "And I'm insane for agreeing to this. I can't do this, Luna. I'll look like a complete twit!"

"No you don't."

"Luna, I'm wearing a giant heart costume!"

"Nonsense. This is the perfect solution. You have to show Ginny that you're willing to humiliate yourself for her."

"What? What on earth will that prove?"

Luna sighed. "Neville, in Ginny's first year, she sent Harry that valentine, remember?"

"Yes," Neville grimaced. "It made its rounds throughout the school. That must have been really embarrassing for her."

"It was," Luna affirmed. "So you have to show her that you care for her enough to risk making a fool of yourself. Trust me, it will win her over. I promise."

"Oh, I don't know." Neville looked at her. "Say, is there something different about you today? What was that potion we created yesterday for?" He sniffed the air. "I smell apples."

"It was a perfume," answered Luna, beaming. "It didn't taste very good, unfortunately."

"You drank perfume?" Neville's eyes widened. "Are you all right? Do we need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"

"Certainly not. It was meant to be ingested, Neville. See, the way I figured it, this way it would seep out through my pores and freshen me up from the inside out. This way the scent covers all of me and I have an apple-smelling aura."

Neville opened his mouth to question her further, but then closed it and shook his head. He decided he really didn't want to know. Suddenly, he remembered something he wanted to tell her.

"I received top marks from Professor Snape on my last potion. I suppose all the extra time watching and helping you make yours really helped. You must get all O's in Potions."

"No, actually I regularly fail. Professor Snape and I tend to disagree over how to make his potions."

Wondering how she could fail when she was good enough to make up her own creations, Neville shook his head and tried to move in the costume.

"I can't do this, Luna," Neville said glumly. "Not in public! What if Ginny isn't alone?"

"Do you want a date with her or not?" retorted Luna. "Just trust me. This will work. I think I hear her coming, are you ready?"

She pushed him out into the corridor. Stumbling, Neville tried to steady himself, and the only way to do so was to grab Luna's arm, pulling her along with him. They tumbled to the floor in a heap.

"Luna! Hullo!"

Luna got to her feet, pulling Neville up at the same time. The person who had hailed Luna was none other than Ron, who came bounding up to her. He had an odd, unfocused look in his eyes and seemed to ignore Neville completely, which was rather amazing considering Neville was dressed like a giant pink candy heart.

"Oh, hello, Ronald," said Luna, brushing off her robes.

Breathing deeply, Ron bowed slightly in her direction, much to Neville's astonishment. Even the tips of his ears were red.

"Luna, would you...would you like to go with me to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"What?" cried Neville. This had to be some sort of joke.

"Oh, I am sorry, Ronald," said Luna, not appearing sorry at all. "But Harry already asked me this morning."

"He did?" exclaimed Ron and Neville together. "When?"

They exchanged a glance.

"That's right," said Harry, coming up behind them, looking rather smug. "She's going with me."

"He asked me right after breakfast," Luna explained. "Perhaps another time."

"Absolutely," Ron sighed, looking scarily like Luna in one of her dreamy moods.

Neville moaned. Obviously he had stumbled into some sort of alternate reality.

Harry and Ron seemed to notice Neville for the first time, although they weren't sure it was him right away.

"Neville? Do you realise you are a giant pink heart?" asked Harry confusedly.

"Yes," Neville muttered. "Let's just forget all about it."

"Forget? Oh, I don't think I will ever forget this sight, Longbottom. This is the best thing I've seen all term."

The drawl of Draco Malfoy reached his ears and Neville wanted to die. This couldn't get much worse. Malfoy would torment him for years over this episode.

As Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, approached, an odd change seemed to wash over them. Coming to a stop before Neville, Malfoy pushed him aside and stood in front of Luna.

"Say, Lovegood, how about being my date tomorrow at Hogsmeade?"

"She can't, Malfoy," interjected Harry. "She's going with me."

"Well, maybe she'll change her mind. Why would she go with you when she could go with me?"

"She doesn't even like you, Malfoy," Ron spat. "You're horrible to her."

"Water under the bridge," Malfoy said smoothly. "I'm sure all that past animosity is forgotten, right, Luna?"

Luna seemed completely disinterested in the fact that three boys were arguing over her.

"If you fellows will excuse me, I'm assisting Neville on something." She whispered in Neville's ear, "Here she comes, go for it."

With a deep breath, Neville took the plunge. 'I'll be leaving soon anyway,' he thought morosely. 'So the worst that could happen is that I have to survive two months of horrible torment.'

"Hello, Ginny."

Ginny, who had come up the corridor with a couple of her friends stopped dead in her tracks. She peered at the giant pink heart, until recognition dawned.

"Neville?" she breathed, her eyes wide. "What are you doing?"

"Making an arse of myself," he muttered. Then he faced Ginny.

And he launched into a chorus of "I want to be loved by you".

Ginny's eyes grew wider and wider with each verse, while her friends collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles. Behind him, Ron, Harry, and Malfoy took a break from panting over Luna to point and laugh as well. Her eyes darting from side to side nervously, Ginny tried not to smile. When Neville paused to take a breath, Ginny reached out and covered his mouth with her hand.

Muffled and confused, Neville stared down at her. Ginny sighed and pulled him into an unused classroom away from the laughter.

"Neville," she said quietly, "what is going on?"

"Well, it's like this," he said in a rush, "I like you, but I didn't know how to tell you, so I asked Luna for advice, and she told me to give you a poem, but the poem was bad and Harry, Ron, Seamus, and Dean took it before I could give it to you, so then she suggested a bouquet of flowers, but the flowers she sent were all depressing and sad, and then she suggested I humiliate myself for you and here I am."

There was a moment's pause as Neville caught his breath and Ginny considered this.

"You went through all of that for me?" She sounded awed.

That was not quite the response he had been expecting. "You're not angry?"

"Are you joking? That is the most incredible thing anyone has ever done for me! Neville, I'm so flattered!"

"Really?" His hopes restored, Neville decided to go for it. "Then, would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?"

"Why, I'd love to, Neville." Ginny smiled brightly at him. "It's a date. I'll meet you tomorrow afternoon."

She squeezed his hand and then leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Just don't wear that," she whispered conspiratorially. Then she winked and left the classroom.

Stunned by this recent development, Neville was rooted to the spot. He lifted a hand to his cheek and stared off into space. When he finally came back to Earth, he decided to go look for Luna to tell her the good news.

But when he finally tracked her down in the Great Hall, she was surrounded by a crowd of boys, and Neville could barely see the tip of her blonde head. Disappointed, he decided he'd find her later and tell her.

Then it suddenly hit him just what had happened. He had a date with Ginny Weasley. He'd have to shower for hours. Brush his teeth for eternity. There was no way he'd be able to do this. Somehow, the entire time he was trying to get Ginny's attention, he never really though about what he'd do with it once he had it.

* * *

"Neville, are you all right?"

Started from his reverie, Neville looked across the table to see Ginny's warm brown eyes staring at him with concern.

"You haven't said anything in at least ten minutes," she continued, sipping her butterbeer. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no, of course not." Neville smiled tentatively. "I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"Yes, yes you are." Ginny smiled in return. "Now tell me: what ever possessed you to dress up and sing like that?"

"Well, it was Luna's idea, and she convinced me to do it. I'm still not sure myself. I'll never live it down. Fortunately I'll only have to survive two months of taunting."

She laughed. "So, if I may ask, why did you take Luna's advice, of all people? Why not ask Hermione, or one of my other friends, for Merlin's sake."

"Hermione wasn't available," Neville sighed, "and Luna's ideas were good...in the beginning."

"But they quickly declined, hm?" Ginny smiled at him. "Well, I suppose it worked in the end. That was a very brave thing you did for me."

There was a long awkward pause. Trying to think up a topic, Neville blurted out, "So, Quidditch finals, soon, right?"

Ginny's eyes lit up. "Yes, it's going to be a smashing game!"

Then she launched into a long description of the members of the Ravenclaw team and compared them to the Gryffindor players, with facts and statistics just rolling off her tongue. After a minute or so Neville's eyes began to glaze over, and five minutes after that, Ginny stopped abruptly and bit her lip.

"I'm boring you, aren't I?"

"No," Neville lied. "Of course not."

Hesitating for a moment, Ginny said, "This was easier when we were just friends, wasn't it?"

Neville breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, it was."

"Don't take this the wrong way or anything," Ginny said quickly. "Everything you did was really sweet, and I do like you a lot, Neville, it's just that..."

"We're better off as friends than in a relationship," Neville finished. He wasn't all that disappointed, but he didn't know why. He had been hoping for this for a long time; why wasn't he happy?

"Exactly." Ginny looked relieved. "Perhaps it's just too soon for me. And, well, I don't think we're suited. In that way."

"Well, we tried it," said Neville, smiling weakly. "And it didn't work. I'm glad now I didn't have a chance to tell Luna."

Smiling secretively, Ginny said, "Neville, do you realise that's the third time you've mentioned Luna in ten minutes?"

"So?" Neville asked, confused.

"Never mind." Ginny bit her lip. "Neville, do you mind if we end this date?"

"No, of course not. I think I'll head back to the castle. See you later."

Neville left the Three Broomsticks feeling oddly light. There was no guilt, or sadness. Instead he felt as if a weight had been lifted, which was not what he was expecting.

But a new weight had been placed in its place, and Neville didn't know what it was.

As he passed by Honeydukes, he peered through the window, and spotted Luna. Wanting to go in and talk to her, his hand was on the door handle when he saw Harry come up behind her and place his hand on her shoulder. Then Ron came and offered her a candy, with Malfoy and the rest of the male population of Hogwarts behind him. Sagging, Neville turned away and walked back to Hogwarts.

He spent the remainder of the day in his room just staring out the window and petting his toad Trevor. At some point it began to rain, and Neville figured people would be coming back soon, so he went down to the common room, intending to leave the tower.

But when he got down there, he found Hermione slumped over asleep on her homework. Not wanting her to miss dinner, he shook her gently.

"Hermione, Hermione, wake up."

Slowly she sat up and blinked a few times, looking at her surroundings. Her gaze fell on Neville, and she yawned.

"Neville? What are you doing here?" Becoming suddenly alert, she asked, "How was your date?"

"Not so good," Neville admitted. "Ginny and I decided we're better off as friends. What are you doing here? Didn't you go to Hogsmeade?"

"Oh, no not today," Hermione yawned. "I had a lot of work to do, and what with Harry and Ron, not to mention every other boy in the castle, off chasing Luna, I really didn't feel like going by myself."

"Yes, I, er, noticed that. Why is everyone so interested in her all of the sudden?"

"You mean you weren't affected by it?" Hermione asked, sounding surprised. "That's odd. All the boys are attracted to her because of her perfume, although I imagine her new looks don't hurt. It must be the pheromones, but I'm not absolutely certain. The only thing I don't understand is why you haven't fallen under her spell."

Neville shrugged. "Well, I was there helping her make it, maybe that has something to do with it."

"Perhaps," Hermione said, appearing to consider it. She took Neville's hand and patted it gently. "Neville, why do you think you went to all that trouble?"

"It wasn't all that much trouble. I mean, I didn't mind helping her. And I even started doing better in Potions."

"No, I meant the poem, and the flowers, and the, er, singing."

"So you heard about that, did you?" said Neville glumly.

"The entire school did, Neville," Hermione replied, smiling. "So why go to all that trouble? Your date with Ginny lasted, what? An hour?"

"Not much longer. I have no idea, Hermione. I really don't. It all seems...stupid now."

"Neville, all the time you were helping Luna, did you ever wonder why she asked you for your help? You're not exactly known for your potion-making abilities."

"She never told me. I asked, but she changed the subject. What does it matter? I was only handing her ingredients and writing down the occasional note."

"Yes, but why you?"

Neville didn't have a response, and the sounds of the storm filled the silence. It looked like Hermione didn't require an answer, however.

"It's raining outside," she said softly. "So she's probably in the lake. Go find her."

Speechless, Neville could only nod his head and leave. He walked down the corridors with his wand clutched tightly in his hand. The laughter of his fellow students echoed in his ears, but he ignored their pointing and continued on his way, determined.

The storm had grown worse; thunder rolled overhead and lightning lit the sky. Gritting his teeth, Neville ran outside and down to the lake.

"Luna!" he shouted. "Luna, where are you?"

He saw a shape in the water, and expecting it to swim towards him, he began to panic when the shape bobbed, and then sank under the surface.

"Luna!" he screamed. Losing his head completely, Neville stripped off his outer robe and dove into the lake.

The icy water shocked him so deeply that he nearly drowned, forgetting to tread water. Then he took a deep breath and ducked underwater. Trying to open his eyes, he was forced to close them when the sting became too much, and he reached out desperately for her. His fingers closed around something, but he was unable to see what it was.

The pressure on his head was tremendous. Bubbles escaped from his lips, and his eyelids flew open. But it was too late and everything was going dark.

One moment he was drowning, and the next he found himself choking up water on land. A dark shape bent over him dripping water on his face.

"Neville?" said a concerned-sounding voice. "Are you all right? Thank goodness the squid shoved you back out. What were you thinking?"

Neville blinked. Then he blinked again. Luna was leaning over him, concern radiating from her strange, wide eyes. She was wet from the rain, but fully clothed in her Hogwarts uniform.

"You were drowning," he said fuzzily.

"I don't think so," Luna said, curious. "I haven't gone for my swim yet. You thought I was drowning so you dived into rescue me? That's rather stupid, you know."

"Thanks." Neville struggled to stand up, but could only manage a sit. "Look, Luna, I have to talk to you...wait, you look normal."

"That's a compliment I've never received before," said Luna wryly.

"No, I mean, your hair is straggly and your curves, uh, don't curve anymore. Where's the crowd of boys who were following you around?"

"Oh, they lost interest when the potions finally wore off. Thank goodness, they were beginning to become a great nuisance." Her voice wavered slightly. "Well, I'm sure you'll want to run along now. Good evening, Neville."

Lightning flashed again, and Neville took that as a sign. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to the ground so he could look in her eyes when he made his big speech.

"I'm going to tell you something, and you have to hear me out." Neville took a deep breath. "I find you annoying. You're incredibly frustrating, and you never seem to be on the same plane of existence as I am."

"This is off a wonderful start," commented Luna.

"Please, let me finish. You're dotty, off your rocker. You infuriate me when you calmly insist Crumple-Horned Snorkacks exist. You hum Christmas carols in springtime, your bottle-cap necklaces jingle as you skip down the hall, and you're always persistently reading things upside down."

Luna opened her mouth to say something, but Neville continued on, unable to stop himself, oblivious to the downpour which was soaking them both.

"But I can't help but adore you for all of that." Her wide eyes went wider. "You fascinate me, and I am absolutely sure I will never meet another girl like you so long as I live. I like you, Luna Lovegood. Merlin knows why, there is absolutely no reason for it, and we're probably not the least bit compatible, but I don't care. I want to be with you."

Stiff and frozen, Luna stammered, "It's the perfume. It has to be."

"You said yourself it wore off already. This is just me, Luna. No perfume, no potions." He brushed some of the wet hair from her eyes. "You're not afraid, are you? Not you."

"I find you dull," Luna said, her voice quavering slightly. "You are incredibly gullible, have very little imagination, and an odd fondness for plants. Your toad is always trying to escape but you don't care, you love it anyway."

Stunned and hurt, Neville was going to leave, but Luna pressed a hand to his chest and forced him to remain where he was.

"You're far too honourable for your own good. You think you're a coward, but you're brave. You'll go to great lengths for those you care about, even if you embarrass yourself in the process. You act like an idiot quite often. But," here she took a deep breath, "I can't help liking you for it all. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't help it. You weren't supposed to like me back. I'm Loony."

"All those potions, were those for my benefit?" Neville asked.

"Don't be stupid," Luna replied, sounding far more like her usual self. It was a good thing too; Neville was beginning to worry. "Those were experiments, just as I told you. Dad had forbidden me from doing them at home, so I waited until I returned to school. He was always afraid I'd end up like my mother. Perhaps his fears have come true."

Neville leaned forward and kissed her. Unfortunately she had decided to do that at the same time, and they ended up bumping noses instead. Rubbing his nose, Neville smiled and tried again, this time meeting with more success.

"Remember when you asked me what I believe in?" Luna nodded. "Well, I finally figured it out.

"I believe in you."

And lightning illuminated the sky around them.