Luna sighed and walked over to Neville who was sat in the corner of the room of requirement With his hands round his knees , staring at a picture on the old mirror of his mum and dad. It was ripped and torn but Luna knew Neville would rather eat a handful of cricket dust then throw it away . She understood partly what he was feeling because she had lost a Parent too but her mother had died in an explosion at their house whilst Neville's parents had been tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange .She had noticed that Neville looked even more defeated since harry had left .Though they still practised with the D.A each lesson Neville failed to do the spells .And Luna cared.
"Neville?" she said walking over to him and placing her hand gently on his shoulder. He shuddered in shock and glanced up at her .
"oh hi Luna " he said softly but his eyes were clouded with tears and Luna`s heart wrenched seeing this .
"Everyone`s gone now nev , you should head back to your dorm"
"yeah … in a minute"
Luna waited in silence for a minute and then tried again.
"Nev … come on now were going to get caught …. You know what happened before , I don't want you to get hurt!"
"I don't care !" Neville sobbed "I don't care at all"
"yes you do " said Luna gently " Listen im NOT leaving till I know you've going ."
"you have to go , they'll use that curse on you …again"
"Well you better hurry up then nev!" Finally Neville dragged himself to his feet and followed Luna from the room when they parted to go to each other's dorms he said "take care" in a less snuffly voice and walked towards the Gryffindor dorm . Luna watched him go then turned and ran as fast as she could and ran to the ravenclaw common room briefly waving to the grey lady and taking a detour to avoid peeves .
"the maker doesn`t need it , the owner doesn`t want it , the user does not know there using it , what is it?" "hmm , "pondered Luna then she said solemnly " a coffin" and entered the common room looking slightly sad.
When Neville left he climbed the stairs trying hard not to bump into walls and even remembered to jump the two trick steps .
"Sectesempra " he muttered and the portrait swung open not looking overly happy at the new choice of password .
"Neville!" yelled a group of students huddled round the fire stoking it with coals so as not to let the flame die
"what are you lot up for?" asked Neville tiredly.
"waiting for you of course ! , we thought you had been caught or were stuck or something .. Ginny was about to come get you !" Said colin creevey .
"thanks guys ." said Neville then he smiled ." we should get to bed now though otherwise we won't be able to stay awake tomorrow …"
They nodded their heads in agreement and the group departed into their different dormitories.
Neville woke with a start , he was being shaken by his shoulders roughly by Seamus who was being yelled at by Dean.
"Leave him Seamus , were going to be LATE!"
"GO go!"Yelled Neville. "forget me il be ready in a few minutes what have we got ?"
"Double Dark arts " Yelled dean as he ran out the dorm. Neville dressed and grabbed his wand ,racing out towards dark arts .
"Your Late " Neville heard as he took a breath and walked in ." im sorry " he said politely.
"im sorry SIR" Neville beat back the urge to copy harry`s reply from many years ago "No need to call me sir" but he knew the price was too high . The carrows being the worst of the teachers at Hogwarts .
"Im sorry sir" he said in the monotone polite voice.
"Sit down 60 points from Gryffindor ." Normally this would have upset the Gryffindor greatly but at the moment the house points might as well not exist less you were in slytherin.
Neville sat and glanced at seamus , shooting him a grateful smile for waking him up.
Seamus returned it then bent his head as the carrow past.
"today …we will be practising the curse crucio" Some of the students sat open mouthed , some didn't seem surprised . " I will put you in partners you wlll not complain " He said this matter of factly as if daring anyone to contradict him .
"you , you.. you ..you , you .you " he moved through the classroom roughly dragging people to others and leaving burns on their arms .
"you .. you" he said through gritted teeth and shoved Neville and luna together .
"Well PRACTISE" he yelled .
Luna looked at him scared and her electric blue eyes whizzed wildly.
Around the classroom others gave half hearted attempts .No one wanted to use the curse . none of them were slytherins after all .
"im not going to curse you" he muttered to luna under his breath.
"you have to other wise you'll get into trouble!"
"you curse me instead then" Luna nodded looking upset and raised her wand hand. It trembled hard and she dropped her wand " I cant do it nev .. not to you and not after what its done to ..to … your parents"
They stood there in silence Luna with a tear in her eye and Neville trying to work out how he felt about someone caring about him .
"WHY ARE YOU TWO NOT PRACTISING" professor carrow strode across the classroom knocking aside students who half looked glad at the excuse to stop the spell.
"I cant " said Neville simply. "CANT ..CANT!" spluttered professor carrow "why not"
" I refuse to "
professor carrow hit him hard round the face and he fell.
"Let ME show you then" he whispered but the whole class heard him .They had stopped to watch the drama and many had a dithering look as they pondered whether neville needed help yet.
"Crucio" professor carrow said pointing his wand at Neville .He screamed and Luna blanched and dropped to the floor beside him as did Dean and other members of the DA.
"STOP IT" yelled luna her blond hair fizzing round her face and her eyes wide in terror "STOP IT NOW!"
"Want the same do you little girl ? , very well cru –"
"CRUCIO!" yelled Luna her wand pointing at carrow and her face streaked with tears she had one hand on nevilles shoulder and she was supported by dean .
Carrow squirmed in pain , his face contorted .
"petrificas totalas" yelled a pretty brown haired Ravenclaw . Luna vaguely recognised her and made a note to thank her later then she fell to the floor and lay there as still as there teacher. Two students were sent for professor Mcgonnagol who came running along the corridor .
"Miss Lovegood ,what HAVE you done!" she yelled in despair.
"im sorry professor " Luna choked through her tears.
"please don't shout at her professor its my fault she cursed him .. he .. he was torturing me ."
Mcgonnagol`s face softened immediantly .
"Very well Longbottem you and Lovegood will go up to madam pomfrey and I will see how good I am at helping professor carrow `forget ` this incident."
Neville thanked her and him and luna hobbled towards the medical bay as they heard mcgonnagol yell.
"OBLIVIATE"