Challenges

Creativity Month - Muggle AU - Highschool!AU

Cocktail Corner- Starter Pack - Neville/Luna

Jewel Challenge - Ruby Necklace - Write about a Gryffindor

Insane House - 528. Trait- Defending

Writing Club

Character Appreciation - 19. Write about a bully.

Disney Challenge - Flounder - Write about a supportive friend.

Showtime - Mister Cellophane - (character) Neville Longbottom

TV Show of the Month - Tara Maclay: (character) Luna Lovegood, (item) skirt, (action) hugging

Book Club - Alex Ridgemont: (character) Luna Lovegood, (object) camera, (dialogue) "You're kind of notorious for being a lying, thieving bastard."

Liza's Loves - Pixelator - Item: Camera

Count Your Buttons - (object) camera, (word) moon

For Olive

The first time he sees her, she's wearing a camera around her neck and a bright yellow skirt that hugs her waist.

Neville doesn't think much of her, initially, except that she is very, very peculiar, but he doesn't think much of it.

The next time, however, is a different story.

He's strolling through the corridor after school with Harry when he spots Draco and his lackeys crowded around someone with taunting sneers on their faces. He doesn't have to eavesdrop to hear what they're saying, and it's enough to make his blood boil.

"Loony Lovegood," Draco jeers, his hands clutching her trademark camera. He says some disparaging things about her, too obscene to repeat and Neville drops his books angrily in Harry's arms and tells him, "Go ahead without me," and storms over.

"Leave her alone!" he says, raising his voice above the clamor of the students.

"Look who it is, Loony's knight in shining armor," Draco drawls, turning slowly. "Here for your girlfriend, Longbottom?"

Neville clenches his fists. "You know, you're kind of notorious for being a lying, thieving bastard, but this is just crossing the line," he snarls, gesturing to Luna, who is on the ground with a terrified look in her eyes. "Leave her the hell alone, Malfoy."

"Or what?" Draco scoffs.

"You'll have to answer to me," Neville replies firmly. "Not to mention my friends, my family, the faculty, and Harry's parents, who have a higher rank than your parents and can easily get you and comrades suspended. Do you really want that, Malfoy?"

Draco looks mutinous, but he gestures to friends. "Fine. But this isn't over, Longbottom." He drops the camera and with a crack, the lens splinters. He then stalks away, his minions trailing behind him and shooting menacing looks over their shoulders. Neville ignores them in favor of kneeling down next to Luna, who's shaking.

"Are you okay?" he asks gently, helping her gather her belongings, which were scattered on the floor. Her big, silver, moon-like eyes look up him gratefully.

"I'm fine," she whispers. "Thank you for helping me."

"It's not a problem," he says. "Draco Malfoy is a despicable human being with rich, influential parents. He deserves to have a taste of his own medicine."

He picks up her camera. The lens is shattered, but not damaged beyond repair, so he carefully tucks it into her bag.

"Thanks," she says again and starts to head in the other direction, but Neville, overcome by an impulse, pulls her into a hug.

"Anytime," he murmurs.

He sees her again and again. Whether in the halls, or in class (they have History together, but she sits in the back corner with Ginny. He spontaneously decides to switch seats with Ginny, so she can sit with Harry, her boyfriend), their friendship blossoms.

Luna is odd, but her sweetness makes up for it. She's kooky, her clothes varying from a magenta hat to Irish boots, and she's sarcastic and candid, which is something he appreciates about her.

It's May when their feelings begin to deepen into something more intense. The school is hosting a senior ball at the end of the semester and the requirement is that only senior students can attend, but they can bring juniors as dates.

Luna wants to go, because she wants to take pictures for the yearbook, but she's a junior. So Neville, out of the kindness of his heart, agrees to take her.

When Luna comes down the stairs, Neville's jaw drops open. She looks pretty, stunning, even. She's banished the eccentric clothing for a silver dress that compliments her eyes. Her hair is up in an elaborate updo and Neville can feel sweat collecting at the palms of his hands.

(Unbeknownst to him, Ginny snickers as she observes from upstairs. She had been the one behind the makeover, because she secretly wants her best friend and her boyfriend's close friend to get together.)

They kiss for the first time during a slow dance. Neville, enraptured by her beauty, and Luna, a blushing belle, dance to a waltz, and as the music decreases in pace, they're magnetically drawn towards each other.

Her lips taste of love and hope. That's when he decides he wants a future with this girl, this strange but wonderful girl.

(Ginny nudges her boyfriend as they kiss again. "Told you," she murmurs. "You owe me twenty euros and a snog.")

(Harry is happy to comply.)

740 words