He had been watching her from across the hall. With her bright blonde hair and purple radish earrings, she was hard to miss.

"Hey Nev?" Hermione tapped on his shoulder, wanting his help with her Herbology he presumed.

"Sorry Hermione, I got distracted. What's up?" he slowly turned his head away from Luna to face his friend.

"I don't want to bother you, but I don't really understand the Herbology homework Mrs Sprout set for us. Do you think you can help?" He motioned for her to sit down and grabbed his spoon from his bowl. His cereal was now soggy. He picked up a spoonful and let it slide down again, watching it as it made a satisfying plop.

"Okay, what is it that you don't get?" he braced himself for an oncoming storm of words that didn't come. Taken aback, Neville looked around to see what had stopped Hermione's train of thought. And then he saw her. Luna Lovegood. She was standing behind the two friends, peering over the top of Neville's head.

"You just combine the two plants don't you, Hermione?" her soft voice, penetrating Neville to his core.

"Oh yeah, thanks Luna! Sorry I bothered you Neville, see you later!" Hermione packed up her stuff and returned to what Neville could only presume was the girl's dormitory.

"The girls over at my table kept saying you were looking at me earlier. I told them you probably saw some wrackspurts but I wanted to see what you would say. I'm not as distant as everyone thinks." Luna asked. Something in the tone of her voice made him aware that perhaps she liked him back.

"Hey Lune, do you want to come up to the astronomy tower with me? Like, now?"

"In the morning? All of the stars will be away!"

"To talk, I want to explain. Please, it'll only take a few minutes."

"Okay then, I don't see why not. Besides, there's a great view of the gardens from up there." She smiled and the two of them headed up the many, many stairs.

"Okay then, you've been silent all the way up here, what did you want to talk to me about?" Luna asked tentatively. Slowly, Neville reached his hand out, moving a piece of hair off her face. He took a breath and spoke.

"I think I'm in love with you." He paused and waited for a response. Luna smiled and reached for Neville's hair. Pulling him closer and closer until they were nose to nose.

"I love you too Nev." He closed the gap between each other and kissed her. Together at last.