Hagrid suggests that they split up, saying he needs to speak with Ginny in private. Assuming it's about the Weasley family, Neville nods and leads Luna away. It doesn't concern him. Besides, any opportunity for a moment alone with the odd blonde is welcomed.
"It's funny," Luna says dreamily behind him. "I always imagined detention would be dreadful."
"I had it my first year. Malfoy was awful, the git," he tells her, glancing over his shoulder.
Luna nods but doesn't seem to be listening. She's a strange one, and sometimes words seem to mean very little to her. It's like she lives in her mind.
"Oh!" she cries, her foot catching on a root, sending her forward.
Neville just barely turns in time to steady her. "Are you all right?"
The girl is quiet for a moment. She looks down at her foot and shrugs. "Oh, yes. It's quite a lovely evening to be out with friends," she says, seeming to have already gotten over her misstep.
Neville grins. "I don't think you're supposed to enjoy detention."
"Even with friends?"
"Afraid so."
With a shrug, Luna continues forward. Neville watches her sadly, sighing.
He wants Luna to see that he has the potential to be more than just a friend. But it's Luna, after all, the girl who needed a year to realize that people cared about her.
Luckily, Neville is patient.