Breakfast of Champions

Luna was doing something strange at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall this morning, making those that were near her stare. Neville frowned slightly, glad that he had a clear view of what she was doing. Still after a good three mornings could still not make out what she was up to. Not that he was watching her or anything. Turning his attentions back to his toast and tea, Neville couldn't help but look back after only a few moments. What was she doing? He was unable to find out that morning, though as he suddenly remembered that on that morning he was meeting with Professor Sprout about arrangements for his own corner of a greenhouse.

The next morning Neville seated himself with a clear view of Luna, who was alone again, as usual. For the first time, Luna looked ahead as she stirred whatever was in her bowl with her wand, smiling at him in that dreamy way of hers. Feeling his face grow hot, he busied himself with his porridge, keeping his head down throughout the rest of breakfast, (earning himself a stiff neck for his troubles).

Rolling up his sleeves, he plunged his hands into the dirt, making the hole to be just a bit deeper. Smiling slightly at the thought that he was messing with his very own dirt, he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

He practically jumped when he heard a voice beside him.

"It's called macaroni cheese."

"Sorry?"

"My breakfast. That's what it's called. It's something the Muggles thought of, but daddy and I know what it really does. Not that Muggles need protection from Nargles, of course."

His Gran's admonition to be polite rang in his ears, and he tried to carry on the conversation for courtesy's sake. "So, so it really protects against them? Nargles?"

"Oh yes. I've eaten it for a few days now and am Nargle-free." She grinned. "You have a worm on your arm, you know."

Neville had not bothered to remove his hands from the deep hole he had been digging, but had been watching her all this time. Now he lifted his hands, wiping them on a towel, watching as the worm fell down into the hole.

"That's good that it works, then."

"Hmm. I just hope that I'm not swarmed with them tomorrow. That was my last package and daddy can't seem to find anymore to send to me. I'd wear my charm, but it seems to have gone missing."

A dull noise came from the Great Hall; dinner had just started. Neville thought he heard Luna mutter "Pudding" before standing and making her way to the castle.

That night, Neville borrowed Hermione's Muggle Studies textbook and set to work trying to understand this food that Luna was missing and so concerned about.

Weeks later, after a D.A. meeting, Neville caught up with her in the hallway.

"Luna?"

Those large eyes were set on him and Neville almost forgot what he approached her for. "Um…here." Thrusting a beat-up cardboard box into her hands. The coloring of the label was peeling and it gave the impression that it formerly had been in a waste bin, although there was a slight flowery scent to it.

Neville shifted his feet slightly as Luna inspected it carefully. A few moments of silence crept over them; the other members of the D.A. had already past them and gone to their common rooms.

"Sorry it's all messed up. I asked Gran if she could find me one and told her it was for my extra credit class...so that she wouldn't think too odd about it and---"

But Neville's explanation was cut short as Luna wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Oh, it's perfect, Neville! It can protect against that really rare breed of Nargles! I should have thought about the box. I must tell daddy!"

As Luna hurried off down the hallway Neville found his voice. "What rare breed?"

"The invisible kind, of course! See you in the next meeting!"