Chapter 1: Love Under the Stars
It was sunset. Neville was feeling lonely. The battles had finished. He was surveying what was left of Hogwarts Castle in the diminishing light and wondering whether all the death and destruction was worth it. He felt quite sad as he looked at the ruins of the place he had called home for the last seven years. He was sitting in the remains of the astronomy tower, looking down on piles of rubble and the fires that were still burning in parts of the building. In the midst of the battle, he had sought out Luna and declared his love for her. She had replied that she loved him as well. Immediately after that, they were separated. Inspired by the knowledge that she loved him, he had summoned the Sword of Gryffindor and beheaded Nagini, thus bringing Harry Potter back to life and enabling him to kill Voldemort.
He remembered some of the friends he had lost during the final battle. He would miss Colin Creevey and Fred Weasley. He would not miss Professor Snape, although he hadn't wanted him actually to die. He knew that the three friends who had done most to defeat Voldemort and his death eaters were still alive, but he couldn't find the one person who loved and inspired him. He had searched high and low for her all day. Perhaps she might be looking for him, he thought. This thought made him think that, if she was moving all over the ruins of the castle, their paths might not cross. This thought led him to the conclusion that, if he stayed in one place, she might find him, so he stayed put in one of Luna's favourite places. He had been there for over an hour.
All sorts of thoughts were rushing through his mind, ranging from the hopeful to the morbid. 'What if she's waiting for me to show up in the Great Hall or some other place I frequent?' 'What if she's trapped in one of the fires?' He tried to dismiss this one as the thought of losing Luna forever to a horrible death was too dreadful to contemplate. By this time the sun had dipped below the horizon and the sky was darkening. Still no Luna. He knew that the astronomy tower was Luna's favourite place in the castle in the evening, so he decided to stay up there for at least another two hours. It was a clear night so he would be able to watch the stars. The wind took the smoke from the numerous fires away from his field of view, so it would not be obstructed. He wanted to be able to eventually find his way back down through the unlit corridors, so he tested his wand.
"Lumos!" he declaimed, holding his wand aloft.
The tip cast a brilliant bluish white light all around.
"Nox!" he said, after about a minute.
The light was extinguished. Perhaps he should have closed his eyes, as his night vision would now take about another twenty minutes to come back.
In another part of the castle, Luna had followed a similar train of thought to Neville. She had also spent a considerable time moving round the castle searching for him. She decided to go to Hagrid's hut and wait there. As it was close to the forbidden forest, she felt that Neville would have to pass it if he was going to look for her there.
It was now fully dark, but there was a glow behind the mountains in the East. The moon was a couple of days after full, so would rise sometime after sunset.
Luna was idly wondering whether she would succeed in meeting Neville that evening or whether she would have to resume her search in the morning. She was looking back towards the castle when she saw a bright point of light on the astronomy tower. It lasted for about a minute before being extinguished. 'I wonder if Neville's up there waiting for me.' thought Luna. 'That is one of my favourite places.' She decided not to move for a while. However, her thought that the light might be Neville gnawed at her mind and she could not ignore it. After about twenty minutes, it became too much for her, so she returned to the castle and made her way, cautiously, through the rubble up to the tower. By this time a bright moon had risen above the mountains.
Neville welcomed the moonlight as it did throw some light onto the grounds. He thought he saw a small, light figure moving from Hagrid's hut towards the castle. It did occur to him that it might be Luna, but he realised that looking for someone moving about in the dark would be a futile activity. He stayed put for the time being.
After about another twenty minutes, and despite his earlier thoughts, Neville decided to call it a day. He got up from his improvised seat on a fallen block of stone and had a last look over the moonlit grounds of Hogwarts. Nothing was moving. He was just about to turn away from the view, when he felt slender arms hugging him from behind. He shuddered with surprise.
"Are you looking for someone?" said Luna's light, gentle voice.
It was the most beautiful sound Neville had heard all day. He turned round and faced Luna. Her sweet, smiling face was lit by the still bright gibbous Moon. Her dress was in tatters as a result of her activities during the battle. Her right shoulder and arm were completely bare. The left sleeve was missing. Only about half an inch of fragile fabric was left over her left shoulder to support the dress. There were numerous other tears in the dress. What was left of the lower section of it ended in a ragged edge only a quarter of the way down her thighs, revealing most of her legs. A large area of her elegant back was uncovered. To Neville's eyes, she was still beautiful.
"Of course I am." said Neville, "I'm looking for you. I've been wandering everywhere in the castle looking for you all day. I was worried. After we got separated, I didn't know what had happened to you. I care about you. I love you."
"I know you do. I was looking for you as well." said Luna, "I must have been guided by wrackspurts, nargles or something, because I wandered round the castle for hours looking for you, but our paths didn't cross. I guess they were steering me away from you."
"How did you find me in the end?" asked Neville.
"I know you believe the forbidden forest is one of my favourite places," said Luna, "So I was waiting near Hagrid's hut, in case you came that way."
"And I was up here." said Neville, "Because I know you like to come up here in the evening. How did you find me?"
"I was standing near Hagrid's hut." said Luna, "I happened to see this bright bluish white light at the top of this tower. It only lasted for a minute. I hoped it might be you, so I came up here to find out."
"That's fortunate," said Neville, "I knew there was no lighting in the castle, so I decided to test my wand, to make sure I could see my way down from here."
"Thank Merlin you did that." said Luna, "Otherwise, I'd never have found you. We'd have been two lost souls, condemned to wander the castle ruins forever, never finding each other."
"That's a bit dramatic." said Neville, "I think we'd have found each other tomorrow. Still, we're together and that's all that matters at the moment. Incidentally, you look so beautiful in the gentle moonlight, my lovely one."
"That's only because you've missed me." Said Luna, "I'm not that lovely."
The couple embraced and kissed each other passionately, relieved that they had found each other. As they embraced, one of Neville's hands passed through a tear in Luna's dress and felt her bare back. He enjoyed caressing her skin.
"You are lovely, sweet Luna," said Neville, his arms still round her, "Especially in this light; my sweet smiling Luna, lit up by the soft light of her namesake, your pale ash blonde tresses shining like spun gold."
"Has a wrackspurt got you?" asked Luna.
"Not that I'm aware of." said Neville, "I'm just saying what I see in front of me."
"That was such a romantic thing to say about me," said Luna, "You must really love me so much."
"I do, sweet and gentle Luna. I do." said Neville, "Now we've found each other, I don't want to leave you anytime soon. Let's stay up here with each other for a while and watch the moon reach its full brightness."
The couple settled back onto Neville's block of stone. Initially, Luna sat on Neville's lap, his arms around her. Having found him, she felt happy and secure in his arms. The pair spent the next hour telling each other about their fruitless searches during the preceding day. Then they turned their thoughts to the effect they had on each other.
"Since we've got to know each other," said Luna, "You've changed."
"Have I?" queried Neville, "I'm still the same Neville as far as I know."
"You have changed." said Luna, smiling, "And I'm glad you have. You're more confident. You seem to be a happier person."
"Well," said Neville, "Now I know there's someone in this world who loves me, I do feel more contented. You do love me, don't you?"
"Don't be silly, Nev," said Luna, "Of course I do. You're the one person I turn to when I'm feeling insecure. Don't take this as an insult, please, but you're an ordinary solid, reliable young man. I suppose that's what I love about you. You're there for me when I want you, and you do keep my feet on the ground. I feel comfortable and secure when I'm with you. You're my rock. Also, you're the only person who has taken the trouble to get to know me."
"That surprises me." said Neville, "You're such a special person. When I first saw you, I was attracted by your pretty face, your smile and your apparently carefree attitude. I thought 'There's someone I'd like to be close to. She might bring light into my dismal life.'. I didn't care that your so called 'friends' called you 'Looney'. When I heard you speak, I was utterly spellbound. You sounded as sweet and gentle as you looked. Once I did get to know you, I came to realise just how wonderful you were - and still are. You're my inspiration, my model of perfection, the sweet, bright, gentle person I look up to. You have brought light into my life. You've banished all my dark thoughts. Without your brilliant inspiration, I don't think I could ever have summoned up the Gryffindor courage needed to kill Nagini."
"Wow!" exclaimed Luna, "I knew you loved me, but I didn't realise I meant so much to you. I'm flattered. I know I said you were 'ordinary' just now, but even when I first met you, I sensed that there was something special about you. I suppose we were both slight outcasts; you because of your awkwardness and me because of my beliefs. I guess that's one of the circumstances that brought us together."
"And I'm glad it did." said Neville, "Incidentally, aren't you cold?"
"What do you mean?" asked Luna, "It's such a warm night."
"I didn't mention it when you first came up here," said Neville, "But your dress is in tatters. There's a lot more Luna on show than usual. When I embraced you, my hands met skin instead of fabric; not that I'm complaining. It felt so lovely holding you rather than your dress."
"Wow again!" said Luna, "I did sense that you enjoyed finding me rather than my clothes. Your hand was so warm, soft and gentle. Do you like my body?"
By this time the couple were sitting side by side, Neville on the left. Neville's arm was around Luna's waist. He had resisted the temptation to caress Luna's completely bare right shoulder. Neville was not quite sure how to answer Luna's question. He didn't want to appear too 'forward'. He decided to be honest with her.
"Of course I do." said Neville, "I'd be a bit strange if I didn't. You're so perfect."
Having been prompted by Luna's broaching the subject of their physical attraction for each other, Neville decided he could risk being more physically expressive with her. He gently caressed and explored her shoulder from her upper arm to her slender neck, particularly enjoying the feel of her collar bone and her shoulder blade.
"Oh, Nev," said Luna, "That feels so lovely. Don't stop."
Neville continued gently stroking Luna's right shoulder, turned towards her and pulled her into a full embrace. He kissed her deeply and passionately, his hands finding the rips in her dress so he could caress her skin with both hands.
"Oh! Wow!" gasped a breathless Luna, "You really meant that."
"I did." said Neville, "You've no idea just how much I love you. You're everything I would want my sweet lover to be. Not only are you a wonderful person, but tonight, you're rousing deep urges in me that I may not be able to control."
"That's good." said a smiling Luna.
"Is it?" asked a puzzled Neville, "I've always associated this kind of feeling with things I'm not supposed to know about. Grandma said they were evil. I already feel guilty about the way I enjoyed holding and kissing you just now."
"Oh, my lovely Neville!" said Luna, "Don't be so straight laced. I loved that kiss. You expressed your real feelings. Now I really know how you feel about me. Thank you. I love you just as much."
"You do?" asked Neville.
This time, in answer to Neville's question, Luna initiated the embrace and kiss, her gentle hands finding their way inside Neville's shirt and exploring his back. Neville found the ragged edge of Luna's tattered dress and lifted it up to her shoulders, so he could explore the whole of her lovely back without damaging it further. By this time, he was becoming more than somewhat aroused.
"Would you like to take it right off?" asked Luna, raising her arms.
Neville was astonished that Luna was so willing to let him strip her dress off. He sensed that she wanted him to make love to her. He was certainly ready for it, but was unsure how to go about it. He wanted her, but did not want to seem too fast. It was a very warm evening, but he still had some doubts.
"Won't someone see us up here in the open?" asked a hesitant Neville.
"Only the moon and stars." said Luna, "Don't you want to make sweet love to your little Luna under the stars?"
Luna once again initiated an embrace. This time, she lifted his shirt up to his armpits. He was so astonished that he lifted his arms and let her strip it off him. He was now naked to his waist. As Neville embraced Luna again, he unzipped what was left of her dress. She let him gently remove it. As she lowered her arms, her bra, which had lost one strap and its rear clip, fell to the floor, fully revealing her gorgeous little breasts. Neville gasped at the sight of his beloved Luna's slender body, clad only in a minute thong, illuminated by the gentle light of the moon.
"Oh gosh! Wow! Oh, my sweet sweet Luna!" panted Neville, almost speechless, "You're so absolutely perfect."
The couple embraced again, this time enjoying major skin to skin contact. Neither of them would be able to exercise restraint now. Luna loosened Neville's trousers and pushed them down. They fell to his ankles. As the couple once again kissed, Luna put her gentle hands inside the waistband of Neville's underpants and squeezed his buttocks before caressing the whole of his muscular back.
"Oh, my wonderful Neville!" gasped Luna, "You're so lovely."
Realising that what was about to happen was now unstoppable, Luna cast a contraceptive spell on herself and a barrier charm on the entrance to the astronomy tower. Now, the couple would not be disturbed. She also conjured up a mattress. This was a slight interruption, but it wasn't long before the couple embraced again. This time, Luna's hands explored inside Neville's pants. She then pushed them down his thighs, freeing his erection. They joined his trousers around his ankles. As the couple briefly disengaged their embrace, he stepped out of them. As the couple reengaged, Neville overcame his doubts and untied Luna's thong, exposing her smooth hairless pussy. Luna didn't resist. He threw it across to the mattress. Neville wrapped his arms around the now totally naked Luna and kissed her even more passionately. He let his hands roam all over her back from her shoulders right down to her thighs without the interruption of clothing. When they disengaged, Neville was able to appreciate the sight of his lovely Luna, now totally naked in the moonlight. He caught his breath again.
"Oh Merlin!" exclaimed Neville, "You look amazing – so beautiful, so perfect."
"You don't look so bad yourself," said Luna, tentatively investigating Neville's erection, "And it's obvious you want me. Let's use the mattress."
Luna led Neville by the hand to the mattress and laid down on it. Neville joined her. Initially, Luna lay with her back to Neville and invited him to hold her and cup her breasts. This he did, gently tweaking her nipples, making them stand up. This excited Luna's lustful desires for the boy who was holding her. His member was between his lower abdomen and her back. He found that thrusting it up her back was pleasantly stimulating. His hands moved down from her breasts to her lower abdomen and started exploring her smooth hairless fanny. She turned onto her back. Neville then explored her shoulders with his lips, while his hands explored her rib cage and beautifully flat tummy. He started kissing her breasts. His hands strayed down to her bony hips and the lovely smooth area between them. Luna wasn't inactive. She located his erection and started massaging it. It wasn't long before Neville's roving hands found her slit. He tentatively probed it. More by luck than judgement, he located something very sensitive. She writhed. He withdrew his hand.
"Don't stop," said Luna, "I was loving that, but be gentle."
Neville resumed his digital exploration of Luna's genital region, once again finding and gently massaging her clitoris. By this time, the inside of her slit was becoming very wet. Meanwhile, Luna's stimulation of Neville's member was having a result.
"Luna," said Neville, "Could you cease your massage? Otherwise I might let go too soon."
"Okay," said Luna, "Would you like to start kissing my feet."
Although he felt this was an unusual request, he complied. Luna did have beautiful, soft, smooth feet. After stroking and kissing them, he started working his way up her legs, planting lots of little kisses and caresses as he advanced. This was exactly what she wanted him to do.
"Do you like being naked?" asked Neville, between kisses.
"Yes, I do." said Luna, with a smile in her voice, "But this is the first time I've let someone else undress me. It's also the first time I've been naked outside in the open air. It feels so lovely."
Neville continued kissing and caressing Luna's graceful legs, working his way up past her pretty knees to her slender thighs. When he reached the top of her thighs, she spread her legs. Much to his surprise, she suggested he kiss her pussy and put his tongue where he had put his finger earlier. This caused her to writhe, squirm and moan with pleasure. While he was doing this, Neville was exercising his member against the mattress. After a while, he started to work his way up to her breasts with his caresses and kisses, while still maintaining his digital stimulation of her pussy. When he reached her breasts, he kissed each one in turn, running his tongue round the nipple, making it stand up. With a finger, he probed her opening and, by chance, found another sensitive place. Prompted by Luna, he continued his stimulation of this until she was on the threshold of an orgasm.
"Are you sure you're ready?" gasped Luna, "I am. I, - I want you in me."
Neville didn't need much of a prompt. He was on fire. He moved up Luna's delicate body until his erect penis was aligned with Luna's opening. He guided it in with his hand. He started thrusting, gently at first, but increasing in speed and force as Luna met his thrusts with hers. Suddenly, she pushed against him firmly and rapidly, and let out a muffled squeal of delight. Her additional thrusts caused him to ejaculate strongly. The couple spent the next half hour or so gently kissing, cuddling and caressing each other's bodies as they came down from their joint peaks of ecstasy. They carried on until they were quite calm.
"Wow!" exclaimed Luna when she had come down from her orgasm, "That was so lovely. I love you so much! I'd love to do it all over again, but I suppose we should be getting back down to the other two."
Luna, still naked, made the mattress disappear, cancelled the barrier charm, and warmly embraced Neville before he put on any clothes. He took this last chance to explore Luna's delightful naked body before she put the remains of her dress back on.
"I suppose I'd better think about putting on my dress." said Luna. "Oops!"
"What's wrong?" asked Neville.
"Where's my thong?" asked Luna.
"On the mattress, last time I saw it." said Neville.
"Oops, again!" said Luna, "I must have made it disappear. Oh well, never mind. It didn't cover much anyway. It'll be in the temporary dormitory. At least I've still got what's left of my dress."
"That's good," said Neville, putting on his underpants and trousers, "I think you'd startle them if you walked in naked, beautiful as you are. I'm glad you were wearing shoes when you came up here. There's so much broken glass laying around."
The couple dressed, tidied up the astronomy tower and started to descend through the unlit corridors and stairways using their wands for light. It was easy at the start as the stairways in the upper parts of the tower were relatively clear. Lower down, it became more difficult.