Chapter one
*Luna* ""I regretfully confirm that our beautiful Bogletorp species will soon be extinct, due to the attacks of the hippogriffs in the area," says Daymon Thortin, head of the department of Abnormal Animals."
Luna fumed. How dare they not even TRY! They just sit back and pamper their PETS to earn galleons while- Oh just where has Neville gone!?
"Looney" Lovegood glared at the Hogwarts express's patterned ceiling as she stormed to their lonely, signature compartment in the caboose of the train. As she neared it, she saw through the glass sliding door chubby Neville, blushing profusely as he gathered his scattered books and quills off of the floor. As angry as she quite was, no amount of extinction at the moment could restrain the smile that tugged at her lips. She opened the door with a huff and sat on the nearest bench near the window. An open folder, similar to a muggle's scrapbook, lay open on the floor. The book was stuffed with pictures of a kindly, stout woman with short curly hair smiling next to a proud, stocky, dark haired male. These were Neville's parents. You could tell the obvious resemblance just by a single picture. Smiling sadly, she gently straightened the pages and closed the book, looking into his sad eyes as he retrieved it.
*Luna recalled her first year at Hogwarts school, the same year as Neville. Walking through the halls to lunch, a stout boy suddenly rammed into her, knocking them both to the floor. Stuttering madly, he apologized and rushed to collect his books.*
*"I'm Luna. Did you know you are being surrounded by several Narlges?" The boy flushed, and looked up at her, but not quite meeting her eyes. *
*"Erm, wh-what's a nergal?"*
*"No, silly, Nargle. They fly around your head and make your brain all fuzzy. Here, would you like help with that? I hope they're having chicken for lunch, I do like that..."*
*Neville* As the train pulled to a stop, Neville, Luna, and Ginny all started to pull out their luggage from the upper shelves. He watched as Luna's suitcase slid out and in seemingly slow motion started to fall on her. Abandoning his own things, he pummeled against her into the wall, knocking her wand out of her hand and bumping her head accidentally. He noticed she smelled like cinnamon. He liked cinnamon.
"Why thank you, Neville," Luna giggled slightly. "That was nice." Neville blushed so hard he could imagine his face melting in a pool of embarrassment. She cautiously went around him to pick up her luggage and smiled at him.
Sitting at the table with his fellow Gryffindors, along with the new ones, he listened to the discussion of last year's Triwizard tournament. A scrawny blonde second year was rambling about You-Know-Who and his return.
"I completely believe he's back," he boasted. "My father reckons he's going to try to become headmaster here at Hogwarts." There was a roar of protest, to which he waved his arm. "Only joking, that's ridiculous. But we all know he's going to try something. He's one weird man."
His friend, a third year with dark hair and light skin goggled jokingly at him. "Did you just refer to You-Know-Who as *one weird man*?" As everyone laughed, Neville reminisced.
*It was the twelfth Saturday of their first year at Hogwarts. Two unnoticed first years walked along the grounds, a blonde girl who walked on her toes as if she would lift off of the ground at any moment, and a chubby, buck toothed boy with dark hair, slouching after her.*
*"Neville, may I ask you something?" She faced him seriously, only a small hint of her usual dreamy tone.*
*"Oh, uh, sure. Yes, I mean. Go on." Merlin's beard, would he ever be able to speak to her normally?*
*"What has troubled you? I can tell, when I look at you. You're always depressed, and scared, and worried. You sleep with a light. Has something been worrying you?" Her grey eyes brimmed with concern. Real concern. Maybe he could tell her. She's been kind so far, she hasn't yelled at him, or teased him. Maybe...*
*No. No, no, no. Not now.*
*Neville looked at the ground and shook his head before walking back to the castle.*
