I think I am afraid to love. Or at least loving Luna, which is a problem, because I do. She's truly amazing but now is not the time for romance. The Ministry has fallen and Voldemort has openly seized control. But what can I do? I, Neville Adam Longbottom, am a coward. I always have been, but now is not the time for cowardice either. I guess I need to look for the Gryffindor in me, if there is any... I should start by going to Hogwarts, but I don't want to. See, I am a coward.
The train loomed above me, scarlet and this time ominous. I saw less people there. But I saw familiar faces. Ginny, Parvati and Padma, Seamus, Dean, Lavender and others, but I did not see Luna, my heart skipped a beat.
"Hello Neville." I heard a soft voice say to me. I whirled around and there, to my relief, was Luna.
"Luna!" I exclaimed. She seemed to have matured in the months we were apart, her hair was longer, her eyes brighter and she stood taller. Every strand of her hair was a different shade. Ranging from milky white to golden like the dawn... Quit it Neville! I thought. You're acting as if you're in love with her hair!
"How was your summer?" she asked me.
"It... it was ok... you know apart from the whole... ministry thing..." God Neville relax! You can't even talk to her!
"Oh, yes. I just found out about that actually. My father and I were in Mexico looking for the Smooth Coated Filibinger. It's a cousin of the nargle you know..." The rest of her words were drowned out by the train whistle.
"Shall we find a compartment then?" Luna asked.
"S-Sure let's find Ginny..." I said sure I could not stand being in the same compartment as Luna alone...
"Hello Luna, Neville." Ginny said as we sat down in the compartment with her, Parvati, Dean, Seamus and Lavender.