Water
Your
unshed tears would fill the oceans
As mine have drained the seas
The
Hogwarts Express shone rich ebony in the early morning night. A band
of unusually subdued pupils swarmed next to it, as drunken bees
around a flower. The new livery of the train was a clear tribute to
the dead headmaster, and the students, most dressed in dark school
robes, looked forlorn and lost.
Luna Lovegood surveyed them
quietly from her perch on top of a few trunks, her spindly legs not
long enough to place her feet on the sticky carriage floor. Most
noticeable about her was the absence of her eccentricity. No
Quibbler, no butterbeer corks, not even a smile.
Neville
Longbottom stumbled onto the train with a scarlet face, clutching
Trevor tightly in one hand. He caught a glimpse of Luna and shot
towards her, Trevor escaping from his grasp and settling between the
two trunks.
'Can I sit here?' he enquired carefully,
indicating the trunk next to hers. She shrugged and leant her
forehead against the window, gazing emptily at the giant silhouette
of the castle. Neville sat awkwardly. She obviously did not wish to
talk to him. He hardly remembered the previous few days' events but
much of his recovery was flavoured by Luna. Her face haunted his hazy
consciousness as she was constantly by his side in the hospital wing
and at the funeral.
He found himself watching her hand, on her
lap. It seemed so delicate, pure white tinged with faint red scars,
from botched potions experiments, no doubt. It suddenly went limp and
her breathing became slower. Neville quickly let out the breath he
was unaware he was holding. He chanced a look at her face, which had
softened in slumber. Her wispy hair was pulled back, her innocent,
sad expression evident. The faint light gave her an unearthly glow.
Neville twitched. He had never so strongly about anyone, except
Trevor, but he knew that this was quite different.
He glared at
his scarlet hands, wringing them and trying hard to think of other
things, but the girl beside him held his thoughts with an iron grasp.
After a rough ride through the hills, she sprang to life, moving
jerkily and gazing at him with fearful eyes.
'How long was I
out?' she asked uncertainly.
He shrugged, time had slowed the
second he sat down.
The train rumbled through an overgrown area
as she cast her shining eyes over him curiously. He cleared his
throat and began, 'I meant to, erm, thank you, for um you know…'
He
gulped and her brow creased delicately.
'…well for being
there, in the hospital wing. It meant a lot… I was happy you were
there and er…' he trailed off sadly, looking away. She placed one
of her hands over his.
'That's what friends are for'
He
nodded quickly,
'Yeah, well thanks.'
'Are you alright
now?' she enquired nonchalantly.
'Oh, yes. Are you?' he
attempted a small smile.
She shrugged, her eyes hardening. 'I've
been better'
He opened his mouth in a last desperate
attempt,
'There's nothing anyone can say is there?' she cut
across him softly.
He shook his beetroot head,
'Then
don't.'
She leant her head on his shoulder and let her eyes
haze over. Trying to ignore how red he was, he blew upwards into his
fringe and settled back against the carriage wall.
A few hours
later, the train ground to a sudden halt, throwing the slumbering
pair forward. Neville woke with a start to find Luna's arms loosely
around his waist and she lifted her head.
'Home already?'
She
gave him a sleepy half smile and nodded. Catching a glimpse of her
father on the platform wiped away her smile.
'Are you going to
Bill's wedding?' she asked quickly.
'Yeah I think so'
She
struggled to her feet, 'I'll see you there then,'
He nodded
mutely as she walked away. He could still feel her clinging to him,
the brush of her hair against his skin and her arms, light as air. He
watched her retreating back and his chest hurt.
'Come now,
Neville, let's go and see your parents. They'll be glad to know
that you're safe- they do understand these things, you
know…'
His grandmother's voice floated through his head as
he considered Bill's wedding.
He didn't see Luna's teary
eyes follow him out of the station.
