Author's Note: This is my first shot at fanfiction so I hope everyone enjoys it. I welcome your comments, good or bad, so please review this when you're done! Thanks everybody!
Disclaimer: I must not tell lies! I am not J.K. Rowling nor do I own the rights to any of the characters, spells, magical creatures, etc. used in this work! Enjoy!
Luna hurried down the passage from the Hog's Head with Dean Thomas by her side.
"What exactly are we doing again?" asked Dean. Luna had explained everything rather quickly, and she wasn't exactly someone who was terribly easy to understand.
"Harry's back at Hogwarts!" Luna replied excitedly.
"And you know this how?" asked Dean.
"This," Luna replied, pressing a galleon into Dean's hand. "Neville promised Ginny and me that if Harry ever came back he'd send for us." She could feel her face growing slightly red, and she had a funny feeling it wasn't from hurrying. Dean handed her the galleon back and she put it safely in her jacket pocket, checking to make sure it was securely zipped.
At last, the end of the tunnel came into view, and Luna pushed open the door. After allowing her eyes to adjust to the light, she saw the familiar faces of the members of Dumbledore's Army, along with, to her delight, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all looking slightly overwhelmed.
And standing off to the side, of course, was Neville Longbottom.
"Hi everyone!" said Luna. "Oh, it's great to be back!" She smiled at everyone, stepping out of the way as Seamus Finnigan ran to hug his best friend. She'd forgotten Dean was with her.
She made eye contact with Neville and started to speak, but Harry got around to it before she did.
"Luna, what are you doing here?" asked Harry. He sounded very flustered. "How did you...?"
Nevlled held up the fake galleon identical to the one Luna had in her pocket. "I sent for her," he explained. Luna smiled at him while he continued to explain everything to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "We all thought that if you came back, it would mean revolution. That we were going to overthrow Snape and the Carrows."
"Of course that's what it means!" Luna chimed in. "We're going to fight them out of Hogwarts."
"Listen," said Harry. He seemed to be growing more and more tense with every passing second. The next few minutes flashed by in a blur. Harry told everyone that they hadn't really come back to rid Hogwarts of the Carrows. They wouldn't even be staying at Hogwarts.
Somehow, after several minutes of arguing, it was decided that Luna would escort Harry to the Ravenclaw Common Room to find clues about the lost diadem of Ravenclaw.
"How do we get out?" Harry asked Neville, seeming more and more anxious to get out of the Room of Requirement.
"Over here," Neville replied. He showed them to a small cupboard that opened onto a very steep staircase. Just as Luna started to follow Harry up the staircase, Neville pulled her aside and cleared his throat.
"Look, Luna," he said. "Are you sure you want to do this? It could be dangerous."
"Of course I'm sure," Luna said, trying to sound her usual, bright self. Neville raised his eyebrows, unconvinced. "Oh, don't look at me like that Neville," she said, avoiding his eyes.
"You might die," said Neville. "You know that just as well as I do."
"I know," said Luna. "But why does it matter. If we don't find what Harry needs, we'll all die anyways."
"Let's just hope you find what Harry's looking for then," Neville said quietly.
"Stay safe," whispered Luna. Without another word, Luna squeezed Neville's hand and hurried up the stairs after Harry.