A/N: Wow... I'm on a role! This is- what?- my third-fourth?- story in, like, a day. Well, this was written for the "To be Noncannon in a Cannon Universe Contest". I was given the fourth book, and chose the pairing Neville/Luna.

Here's a shout-out to everyone who reviewed/favorited my last three (four?) stories: Shout-out!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

This is for it was nargles,who is a great friend and the cheerful British/Scottish (STILL can't tell them apart!) in my head... and who loves Luna Lovegood. Merry (late) Christmas!


She was sitting peacefully underneath the cherry blossom tree, reading a book. He nervously stepped forward, closer to her, and awkwardly cleared his throat.

Luna Lovegood looked around, saw Neville Longbottom, and smiled.

"Hello, Neville," Luna said dreamily.

"Hi, Luna. Er... I wanted to ask you..."

"Yes?" Luna asked, looking interested.

"Er... do you- do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Luna's face lit up. She was so happy- no one had ever asked her for something like this before!

"Ooh, I'd love to!"

"Great!" Neville said, relieved. The last thing he needed was for the Slytherin's to find out that Luna Lovegood had turned him down. "So... I'll pick you at eight?"

"Sure! I'll be at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room."


"Wow- you look beautiful, Luna!" Neville said. She was wearing a pale blue dress (rather than robes), and she had taken her bangs and tied them in a braid in the back of her head. The rest of her hair cascaded down her back.

It was a rather lovely sight, the white-blond, and the pale blue mixing together.


"You want to sit down and eat some dessert?" Neville shouted to Luna over the music.

"Yeah, I haven't had the cherry pudding yet!"

They took each others hands and ran towards the table, zipping in and out of dancing couples.

They had been doing this for just about the entire dance. They danced for about half-an-hour, than sat down to try some new dessert for another half-an-hour.

It was already 11:30. There was only half-an-hour left, and about half the students had left, including three-fourths of the champions (Fleur went off with Roger Davies, and Harry left when Hermione and Ron had a row. Viktor and Hermione finished at about 10:00, so everyone but Cedric was in bed).

They giggled as they tried all the exotic desserts, and got up when the final song was about to played.

"Alright, everyone," the lead singer of the Weird Sisters said, "grab a partner. This'll be the lost song, a slow dance."

The two of them danced until the clock striked midnight- and this time, Neville didn't step on Luna's feet, not even once.


"I had fun with you tonight, Neville," Luna said, as they stood at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Yeah... I did too. We should- we should do that again sometime."

She smiled, and knocked on the eagle.

"I'd like that," she said.


A/N: Short, I know... but will you review anyway? And people: REVIEW. I LIKE THOSE MORE THAN I LIKE PEOPLE FAVORITING. Please!