Hi everyone! This is not a new story. This is a slight rewrite of the first story I ever wrote. This was originally published on 8/30/15. A month ago I reached the one year anniversary of my fan fiction writing and began to contemplate possibly 'fixing' some of my early stories. After a month of thinking about it, I decided to go ahead, starting at my oldest story and working forward. I've learned a lot in the last year and the mistakes bothered me. I still felt the plot was decent, but I've learned about 'walls of text', dialogue and chaptering. Originally this story was one long block, posted in a singular massive chapter. Although there are a few plot points I could have corrected here, I chose not to. Instead I fixed formatting, dialogue and the like. The dialogue here could have been better, except for the tense I phrased most of the story in. Correcting that though would be a major rewrite. I've also divided this into five chapters. Although they are fairly short, I divided where I felt it was logical, but will be posting them all immediately. One major issue I noticed here that I am not fixing is that I aged Luna up by a year. This meant she took her NEWTs at the same time as Neville. Please accept this as a bit of creative license. I wouldn't do it now, but I was still learning. This effort is mainly for my own satisfaction, but I hope everyone enjoys a look back on where I began. Thanks to all my regular readers and reviewers.

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Chapter 1 – After the Battle

The Battle of Hogwarts was over and a new day was dawning in many ways. Of course, the survivors who were strewn through the halls of the damaged castle weren't yet aware of the title this singular victory would soon gain. One survivor in particular was so exhausted in every way possible that his brain was functioning on only the most basic autonomic level. Neville slowly maneuvered his way back to the Gryffindor common room. His route was circuitous, as he often had to take detours. The shortest path was up the main stairs, but a large chunk of the third level was missing and he had no broom to fly across. Of course, Neville avoided using a broom even when he was at his most alert. So he detoured around Professor Flitwick's office and was only two hallways away when a pile of destroyed armor blocked his path. Normally he could have blasted it or even maybe levitated it if he tried hard, but he had nothing left in him so he turned right and continued around a different corridor.

Finally, after a fifteen minute walk that should have taken five, he reached the portrait of the fat lady that guarded the Gryffindor tower. The portrait hung at an angle and a large corner of the frame was missing. The fat lady had retreated elsewhere. This was good though, as Neville had no idea what the current password was. Pushing aside the picture, Neville stumbled into the common room and immediately stepped on something. No, correct that, someone. He looked down. It was Seamus' baby brother. Liam was only a first year, what was he doing here? He should have been evacuated long ago. Judging by the grunt he gave when Neville stepped on him, he was alive so that was all that counted. As Neville stepped off Liam and surveyed the room he was shocked to find that there was almost no floor space left. While most of those he saw were Gryffindors, he noticed a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs as well. There was even a Slytherin, lightly holding Romilda's hand as they slept. Well that was an interesting development. Neville hoped that maybe his old room in the tower would at least have some space left for him and started tiptoeing to the stairs. Halfway there, he looked up and realized that most of the stairs had been blasted from the outside and that there was no way he was going up there. Disgusted, he turned around and tiptoed back out, over Liam and through the portrait hole.

As he reached the hallway, he decided to go left, the opposite direction that he had come from. At this point all he wanted was some space clear enough of debris and people to lay down. As he rounded a corner, he bumped into someone. Looking up, he saw probably the only person who could lift his tired soul at this time. It was Luna. She was covered in dust and had a cut on the side of her eyebrow, but she still looked as beautiful as ever to Neville. On seeing Neville, Luna grabbed him in a hug.

"Thank Merlin you're alive!"

As she stood holding him, Neville wrapped his arms around her as well. Before he could say anything, Luna started sobbing on his shoulder and talking about those she knew were dead and how awful it all was and how she had seen Neville kill Nagini and thought that he had been so brave. As she continued, Neville realized how upset she really was, as he had never seen Luna carry on like that. She was always steady and level headed. Her head may have always been in the clouds, but it was at least level there. Not knowing what else to do, he just held her and rubbed her back. Before he could stop himself, Neville felt silent tears running down his own cheeks. Once they both settled down and Luna was able talk sensibly again, she explained that she was still trying to find a route to the Ravenclaw common room, but had so far failed. Neville told her that it probably wasn't worth the effort if Ravenclaw was as crowded as Gryffindor and that he was just looking for anywhere to get a couple hours of sleep before the sun was full up.

The tears seemed to have cleared Neville's brain a bit and he saw how exhausted Luna looked. He took her by the hand and started walking down the corridor. Luna was completely spent and followed quietly. Twenty paces later, he peeked into a doorway and found a miraculously empty and relatively intact room. He led Luna in and found that they were in Professor Sinistra's office. Since the professor had resigned when Snape took over as headmaster, the room had been empty for a while. It was crowded with a variety of astronomical equipment, but there was some space in one corner. Looking around, Neville pulled a large cover off something that looked like a cross between a telescope, a watch and a sneakoscope. The cover was blue velvet and at least three meters square. He led Luna to the corner, sat her down, then sat down himself and pulled the velvet cover around them.

As he covered them, Neville realized his arm was around Luna and began moving it when she grabbed his hand to stop him. Luna seemed to have come to finally and reached up and put her hand on Neville's cheek. Then she started kissing him. As tired as he was, Neville was immediately alert. Everything else faded around him as he focused on Luna and only Luna. The kiss was mutual and urgent and, as they continued, Neville felt a hand caressing his chest. Realizing this could quickly get out of hand and that neither of them was mentally prepared to go further, he pulled himself out of the kiss and away from Luna. She looked stunned and a bit hurt until Neville replied that she was amazing, but that they both needed rest. Luna yawned right then and seemed to agree as she settled herself back to the floor. Neville laid down next to her, careful to give her space. But space wasn't what Luna wanted, and she crawled over and put her head on his chest. Neville put his arm around her and his last thought before sleep claimed him was that he had no right to feel this happy after everything that had happened in the past few hours.

Luna woke before Neville and was a bit surprised at first to find where she was, but then remembered everything that had happened. Seeing that Neville was still asleep, she settled herself back down on his chest, content to feel each breath as his chest would rise and fall. It wasn't long though before the rest of the castle began to awaken and the sounds in the hall caused Neville to stir. He woke with a yawn, opened his eyes and smiled at the beautiful face looking at him. This was definitely something he could get used to. Reaching into his robe, he drew out his wand, pointed it at his mouth and said 'mintascum'. A fresh minty foam materialized in his mouth and he smiled at Luna. She took the hint and pulled out her wand to do the same. As soon as she finished, Neville leaned over and started kissing her with fresh energy. She opened her mouth and soon their tongues were entwined. They were both quickly losing control when a shout in the hallway brought them back to reality. With a resigned sigh, Neville disentangled himself and stood up, offering Luna a hand as well.

Before they began to cross the room, Neville pulled Luna in front of him and professed that he was in love with her. They had started dating officially at the start of the school year, but with Neville's constant punishments from the Carrows, their opportunities to spend time together had been limited. Then Luna had been removed by the Death Eaters and held hostage at Malfoy Manor and Neville had feared the worst. When she had reappeared for the battle, he was overjoyed but had not been able to express his feelings. It was only after realizing that he may have lost her that he realized how much she meant to him. As he finished what he had to say, Luna started kissing him again. That was all the answer Neville needed and they were once again lost in each other. Their kiss lasted until Seamus peeked into the office and found them. In true Seamus fashion, he whooped and cheered and then informed them that he had been sent to find everyone for breakfast.

Unwilling as he was to break off what was starting in with Luna right then, Neville realized that he was hungry and that there was going to be a lot of work to be done. They made their way down to the Great Hall and saw that the injured had all been moved out and two tables had been repaired. Everyone sat where they wished and Professor McGonagall stood up to say some brief words. She looked twenty years older than she had yesterday and it seemed as if the breeze blowing in through the broken windows might carry her off, but her voice was strong and sure. She held a minute of silence for all who had been lost. Next, she announced that the school year was complete and everyone would be returning home later that day. Fifth years who had yet to take their OWLs would have them delayed until the first of August. Practice sessions would be held at the Ministry at times to be decided. This would allow everyone a chance to heal and study and would also avoid any infractions in the rules against underage magic use outside of school. OWL results would be presented one week before the start of school on September 1st. Seventh years would also take their NEWTs on the first of August. Students who had missed any part of their last year due to recent events would be given a chance to return for a year or to go ahead and take NEWTs on time. Consideration would be given for missed classes dependent upon the reasons. As she finished announcements, house elves arrived carrying platters from the kitchen. Apparently some of the damage had affected the usual instant delivery system through the floor of the Great Hall. Despite this, the food was sumptuous. It seemed that house elves must not need sleep the same as humans did, as they must have been preparing since the end of the battle.

Soon breakfast was complete and each head of house accompanied the remaining students to their dormitories to retrieve what personal items they could from the rubble. After that, each head would establish portkeys to return everyone to a waystation at platform 9 3/4. From there, all students could apparate or find other means to return home. Neville and Luna left the Great Hall hand in hand, which caused a few whispers and more than a few smiles. They stopped outside as they each were heading in opposite directions and Neville promised that he would come visit Luna in a couple days. They sealed their good bye with a long kiss that was only broken when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and asked Neville if he was ready to go. As he turned to join the Gryffindors, Neville noticed a small smile on the professor's face.