A Magical Christmas

Neville sat at the table in the Great Hall picking at his food. Another Christmas had come and he was stuck at school. Luckily his friends were all there, but what he wished for was the courage to finally get a Christmas kiss. He had decided this would be the year, and his wish was almost crushed when he heard, in passing, that the girl of his dreams might be going home. All hope was restored when he found out that she in fact was staying, since her Dad would be away to cover a story. He glanced across the room, and there he saw her. A blind man could see that bright, beautiful smile. He began to daydream what he would say if he got his chance.

"Neville…OI NEVILLE!" Ron yelled right in Neville's ear, waving his hand in front of Neville's face. "Still with us mate?"

Laughing Neville replied, "Sorry, was just thinking about today's potions class. Can't believe I'm going to have to write to Gran and tell her I need ANOTHER cauldron. She may just disown me this time."

"It's alright Neville, it really wasn't your fault. If Goyle hadn't thrown that boomslang skin into your cauldron, I think you might have actually gotten a passing grade on it. Just explain and I'm sure she'll understand." Hermione said, going back to her book and her dinner.

"Anyway Neville, I was just talking Harry here into a game of Exploding Snaps when we get back to the common room, you in?" Ron said around a mouthful of food.

Neville thought it over, "I don't know guys. I think I may just go to bed. It's been a long day. And besides it's the first day of the holidays, I'll have plenty of time to join you." He snuck a glance over at her, she was eating and having an in-depth conversation with Ginny. An idea suddenly hit him. If he could just wait a little bit longer…

"Alright Neville, if you change your mind you know where to find us." said Harry, getting up from the table, followed by Ron and Hermione. "Are you heading up now?"

"No thanks, I think I'll just have a bit more and then head up. See you in a bit." He watched as they left the Great Hall. Turning ever so slightly as to not bring attention to himself, he watched the girls and tried to hear what exactly they were talking about.

It was no use, he was too far away to hear a single word. He continued to pick at his food, but watch them out of the corner of his eye. The second Ginny put her fork down, Neville was on his feet. "Now if I time this just right, I should bump into them when they're walking out," He mumbled to himself.

He slowed his pace to match theirs, until finally the 3 of them reached the doors of the Great Hall at the same time.

"Hey Ginny! Luna! I thought you both were leaving for the holidays." Neville tried to flash an award-winning smile, but he knew it must have been scary by the look on Ginny's face.

"Actually, Mum and Dad are going to visit Charlie again for Christmas so we decided to stay." Ginny knew exactly what Neville was up to. She'd seen the way he stole glances at Luna in the corridors, or when he tried to get her attention when they were sitting out by the black lake. She smiled thinking how perfect the two of them would be together, that is if Neville could ever pluck up the courage to say something to her. "Oh, there's Dean, I'll see you two around!" She ran off, up the stairs leaving the two standing there, facing each other.

"Hi, um…how have your lessons been?" Neville mentally smacked himself. "That was the stupidest thing ever, why can't you say something cool." He thought to himself.

"Excuse me," A 5th year Hufflepuff was trying to get past them, they were blocking the doorway and it seemed as though they hadn't noticed. They moved off to the corner next to one of the Christmas Trees decorating the Great Hall.

"They're going really well actually. And yours?" Luna had been in love with Neville from the very first moment she laid eyes on him. A Crumple-Horned Snorkack she could have stared down no problem, but not Neville.

Her eyes were twinkling, although he wasn't quite sure that was from the Christmas lights on the tree.

"Uh, yea, they're going well I guess. Um, so…" He was at a loss for words.

"Neville, well…there's something I've been meaning to tell you, but well I wasn't sure what you'd say. In fact I still don't know what you'll say, but I've got to tell you," Luna looked into his eyes and saw everything she wanted and more.

"Luna wait, there's something I need to say first." He closed his eyes, took a deep breathe, and for the first time ever, he let his heart talk. "Luna, you truly are the most…" But what he was going to say was lost as from behind them Professor McGonagall had walked up.