She leaned her head against the window, watching the rain slowly drip down the glass, the chill of outside sending a shiver down her spine.

Even though it wasn't visible, she could sense the war raging outside. It was in the way the rain fell from the sky, straight down in torrents, so fast it didn't have time to freeze before it hit the ground. It was in the way look on the students' faces as they read the latest news in The Daily Prophet, unable to believe what the world was coming to. It was in the wind outside, ripping through the trees, in the clouds that never refused to let the sun peek through. The war was here, and here she was, stuck in school. Harry, Ron and Hermione were gone, gone to do something; to save them all. And here she was, stuck in Hogwarts, pretending everything was all right when, clearly, it wasn't.

"Nasty out there, isn't it?"

Luna turned around, startled at the sound of a voice. She thought she was alone. But there was someone standing in the doorway of the Room of Requirement. It took her a moment to recognize his face in the dim light. Neville Longbottom.

"Hello, Neville. I didn't think you were here," she said, her voice sounded dreamy, like she was a thousand miles away. Which she was, at the moment. More so than usual.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "Am I interrupting you?"

"No, it's fine. Company would be nice, actually."

"I was just down in the kitchen, getting food." He pulled some rolls and a few pieces of chicken out of a bag that was hidden inside his robes. "You're welcome to some, if you'd like it. I only got enough for one, but I'm not that hungry anyway. Haven't been for a while."

"Thank you," she took a roll and bit into it, slowly chewing.

"Why are you in here?" his brown eyes met her big blue ones and he held her gaze. "Is something wrong?"

"I just needed someplace to think. I'm very worried, and sometimes being alone helps me sort out my thoughts."

"Everything's going to be okay, you know that? Harry's going to kill Voldemort and we're all going to be okay."

"You're such a positive thinker. Positive thinking is a good way to keep away Nargles, did you know that?"

He wanted to laugh, but resisted, not wanting to hurt her feelings.

"I have faith in Harry. He's the one who taught me to stand up to people."

"I have faith in him, too. But it's hard not to worry about what will happen if he fails…" she took another slow bite of her roll, contemplating his face. "You seem worried too. But something in you is waiting for the Final Battle, isn't it? You're anticipating something…"

"I'm going to kill Bellatrix Lestrange." His voice was firm and sure, but as he continued, it grew weaker. "16 years ago, Bellatrix-" he faltered, unsure of whether or not to continue. She smiled, showing him that it was okay. "16 years ago, Bellatrix tortured my parents to insanity. I'm going to get my revenge soon. I can feel it in my blood, in my heart."

"I'm sure you will. You're a great wizard, Neville, no matter what everyone else thinks." She took another bite and looked back out the window. "It's getting late. I should probably head back to Ravenclaw tower."

"You can stay here, in the Room of Requirement, tonight if you'd like."

"That would be lovely."


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AS