I'll Take Care of You (I'll Never Let You Down)

Chapter 2: Windswept

Neville would never be able to separate the next few weeks in the years to come, because they were all a happy blur. He had never known that falling in love would be so easy, nor so enjoyable. He and Luna were inseparable, except at mealtimes, which didn't matter, as they could gaze at one another, and during their classes.

Everyone around them couldn't help but notice the newly formed couple. Gryffindors gently ribbed Neville, who took it in stride; Hufflepuffs speculated; Slytherins, well it was to be expected, made crude, mean jokes of the 'blind leading the blind'; and the Ravenclaws eyed him curiously, as Luna was one of their own.

Luna felt as if she had found her own piece of Heaven, and knew she would fight anyone, or anything, to keep it. Love often does strange and wonderful things to people. For Luna, she seemed to become a little more reserved, shy, and had a dozen boys approaching her. With the subtle changes in her personality, she seemed to attract them like flies to the proverbial honey pot. But she paid them no mind; Neville was all she cared, or even thought about.

Even the Hogwarts' staff took notice; it was hard not to. Some were amused, some touched, and still others made to remember sweet teenage romances of their own. Unless you were Snape, then you just sneered.

But Neville and Luna were not the only ones bitten by the love bug; many others had paired off as well. There was Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley; while they could both be quite fiery when their anger was roused, they benefited each other in their more quite moments. She was a gentling influence on Harry, which caused him to be less broody, while Harry's love for her made her bloom. While Ginny had always been very pretty, their love brought out her inner beauty as well, making her positively glow.

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger; they were quite the interesting conundrum. Many teachers smiled secretly when the two of them engaged in arguments, for they reminded many of Arthur and Molly Weasley. They had been no different in their school days. But despite their bickering, it always ended with their making up.

Dean Thomas and Parvati Patil, Seamus Finnigan and Lavender Brown, and yes, even Draco Malfoy had a significant other! While many made snide remarks that Draco's was probably convienent, considering his ladylove was probably betrothed to him, he and Pansy Parkinson were painfully nauseating to those around them. Her billing and cooing made other girls gag and laugh, while Draco strutted around as if he had attained a great prize. While the other boys looked at him like he was crazed, they were frankly delighted with his preoccupation; it meant he devoted less time to tormenting others.

There were also others just as smitten: Michael Corner and Cho Chang, Terry Boot and Padma Patil, Gregory Goyle and Millicent Bulstrode, and Vincent Crabbe and Blaise Zabini.

The Gryffindor boys, understandably, laughed for hours on end at these last two couples. Who would have ever thought girls could be found to go out with those two! Well, Slytherins were not known for making smart decisions.

Money changed hands between amused teachers, as they bet on who would last past Hogwarts.

But in spite of all this sweetness, this 'lovering' would not keep what was going on in the outside world at bay. It would soon find a way of intruding in on their idylls, with an ugly vengenance.