New Year's Kisses

Neville Longbottom sighed forlornly as he sat by himself, watching the other students dancing and enjoying themselves. He was supposed to be out there with them, laughing and having fun, but his date, a fifth year Hufflepuff, had run off with a sixth year Ravenclaw and didn't spare him a backwards glance. So Neville sat off to the side, lonely and depressed. He could always go back to the common room, but no one would be there. Everyone was either at home or here at the party.

"Hullo, Neville," a wispy voice greeted him, and a girl sat next to him, heaving a great sigh. "How's your nose?" Neville managed a smile at his visitor. Luna. She'd made a point of asking after his nose ever since they had returned from the Ministry of Magic after fifth year. At least he could rely on her.

"It'd doing well, thank you. And how are you, Luna?" he asked politely, watching her lips curve into a dreamy smile.

"I'm splendid, Neville. Thank you for asking. The two lapsed into a comfortable silence for a moment before Luna spoke again, glancing around as if she'd just noticed something. "Where's your date?"

"Ran off with an old boyfriend or something," Neville replied bitterly, scowling across the room where she was dancing with that Ravenclaw. Luna frowned, patting Neville's arm softly.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. Neville shrugged, slumping down in his chair.

"Don't worry about it," he mumbled, placing his hand over hers. They sat like that quietly until Luna stood, snatching his hand and dragging him onto the dance floor.

"You need to dance," she remarked when they stopped, immediately looping her arms around his shoulders. Neville tried to stammer an excuse, but Luna only had to arch an eyebrow before he hesitantly placed his hands on her waist.

Together, they silently danced to a nameless eighties ballad. When that song ended and another came on, Luna moved closer, resting her head on Neville's shoulder. He adjusted his grip, snaking his arms around her. He had no idea what possessed him to do such a thing, but Luna didn't seem to mind, sighing quietly as he held her tighter. Her breath tickled across his neck, and he shivered involuntarily. ...Had he ever been this intimate with anyone? Sure, he'd gone to the Yule Ball with Ginny his fourth year, but he wouldn't exactly call that intimate. He practically broke her toes, stepping on them like that. This whole experience was new to him.

But then...why was it so comfortable? Because it was Luna? They weren't exactly the best of friends, but they were mildly close. They'd meet in the library to study sometimes. They would joke around and sneak chocolates while she helped him with Potions and he helped her with Herbology. She would tell him about the latest issue of the Quibbler, and he would tell her about some prank Ginny pulled on Colin Creevey. She would confide in him about the nightmares she still had about that night in the Ministry and he would tell her of his parents and his fears that they would never get well. He'd never told that to anyone before...

"Hey Neville?" Luna murmured, breaking into his thoughts. Neville blinked, glancing around at the cheering students. He must have missed the countdown.

"Yeah?" he replied, glancing down at the girl in his arms. Luna smiled, eyes sparkling as they reflected the Filibuster Fireworks going off everywhere.

"Happy New Year," she said quietly. Neville nodded, unable to function for a moment. He had never thought of Luna in this light before, but now that he was...he really wanted to kiss her. Here was this beautiful girl, attractive in her own unique way, looking at him as if he was the most important person in the room, and he didn't even notice until now.

"Happy New Year, Luna," he answered, gathering up his courage and kissing her softly. Maybe he wasn't the best looking guy in the room. Maybe he wasn't the smartest. Maybe he wasn't the thinnest or the coolest or the most athletic... But Luna Lovegood was kissing him anyways. And that made him feel better than anyone.