Though the pungent tang of blood was still heavy in the air, intensified by the heat of the dawning sun, the atmosphere of the hallway was cheerful and buoyant.
She smiled shyly at her classmate, feeling unaccountably nervous. It was a bit silly, really, considering that she's sat beside him in class often enough throughout the years to not be fiddling around and awkwardly clapping her hands with her knees.
Rather acutely, Luna couldn't help but notice how the sun put him in perfect shadow - his own equally-shy smile crinkling his eyes and serving to hide the splotches of blood on his skin.
Her eyes ticked to the sword in his burned and bloodied hand, "Do you think the Sorting Hat will let you keep the sword?"
Startled, Neville glanced at the weapon in his hand, having utterly forgotten it was there. He tapped it against the edge of the step thoughtfully, the ringing sound of the dwarven material muffled by the chatter of the students around them.
"I dunno," he shrugged, a lopsided smile twitching his lips, "Hogwarts might still need it, even without Voldemort. Keeps the history alive for the next students."
His smile widened into a grin as the eccentric blonde lit up at his words. Suddenly feeling brave (or maybe the high of an early morning battle was still ringing in his veins, he wasn't sure), he pushed himself up, ignoring the protests of his weary body and extending a hand.
"Wanna go see if Hogsmeade hasn't been demolished?"
It was apparently the right decision, because his invitation was greeted with bright laughter and a warm hand in his own.