Title: Christmas
Author: Miarae
Summary: An early Christmas present for all. Enjoy!

Neville woke up to the sound of people laughing. He yawned, blinked a few times, and got out of bed. His classmates were yelling something to him, something he couldn't quite hear. Making his way to the stairs, stumbling and bumping his toe in the process, he looked at the select few in the Common Room. They were chatting happily, exchanging gifts under a large decorated tree. He bit his lip. Christmas. He didn't care much for Christmas. He didn't have anyone to celebrate it with, his grandmother having passed away recently. Even before his gran died he had never cared much for it. Usually his Christmas was spent visiting his mother and father; his only gift consisting out of some gum wrappers.

"Happy Christmas mate!" Ron said. Neville nodded at him, wishing him a merry Christmas too, before sitting down on the ground with them, looking at the many gifts under the tree. He wondered if he'd get any. Suddenly Ron handed him a small package. Neville smiled at Ron, surprised, unwrapping the chocolate frogs the redhead had given him.

Harry saw his face and handed him another package. His voice was soft: "We knew you wouldn't get presents from your parents, so we decided to play Santa ourselves." Neville felt strangely touched. He looked around the people sitting on the floor. Ron grinned at him, his mouth stuffed with chocolate. Hermione smiled her sweet smile. Ginny was handing her present to Harry, blushing. Neville's eyes travelled to a blonde, who sat there, apparently unaffected by the noisy crowd. She was reading a magazine, blowing a few strands of hair out of her face every two seconds. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"This was her idea, you know." His bushy-haired friend said, while handing him a photograph. A photograph of the strawberry blonde girl with her Gryffindor Hat. She was cheering in the picture, waving at him with her Ravenclaw Scarf, not caring that she looked silly. He smiled, thanking Hermione softly before stuffing the photograph in his robes. He pretended not to notice the looks his friends were exchanging.

Luna looked up and smiled her bright smile. "Neville!" she said, putting down her magazine. They smiled at each other.

"I got you something" Neville said, stammering. He jumped up, hastily making his way back to the dormitory. Rummaging in his trunk he found her present, wrapped carefully. He turned around, jumping a little when he noticed her standing right in front of him. She still smiled that bright, serene smile.

"What is it?" She asked, her eyes serious while she balanced a pencil on her nose. It made him smile. He handed her the gift.

"Here."

She carefully unwrapped her gift, her face brightening as she saw the painting Dean had drawn. "Oh, this is lovely! What is it?" She turned it upside down, closing her eyes a little.

"It's a Hinking Puddywolp. I said they lived near my house."

She smiled again. "Oh yes! Of course!" Carefully putting the painting on his bed she kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome" he said, feeling his cheeks burning bright red. She didn't seem to notice, searching through her robe.

"I've got you a present too." She handed him a small package, wrapped in old Quibbler pages. He unwrapped it, wondering what she would give him. After discarding the paper he looked at the small stone figurine. It was a duckling. A small, ugly, duckling. He looked at Luna again, a puzzled look in his eyes.

"It will turn into a swan," she said softly, her cheeks suddenly turning a small shade of red. Neville noticed that she was terribly close and that her eyes refused to meet his. "Like you have." She said suddenly before planting a small kiss on his lips.

Neville decided he did like Christmas after all.