Neville started to get off of the Hogwarts Express wishing he was still at Hogwarts for the Christmas Holidays. Professor McGonagall had made Neville go back to his apartment over the holidays officially ending his five-year streak of staying at Hogwarts and helping out with putting up the decorations. Ever since his Gran had died four years previously Neville tried to spend as much time as he could at Hogwarts.
Neville was used to being alone during his times away from Hogwarts. He and the sextet had kept in contact and had got together once in awhile but Neville started to feel awkward at them. After Hermionie and Ron, and Harry and Ginny had gotten married it was Luna and Neville who were the only singles left of the group. After Luna had left to do things for the Quibbler Neville stopped going because being with two married couples and being the only one single wasn't a situation that Neville particularly enjoyed very much.
He sighed as he watched the many families being reunited with their children after being apart for so long. He watched his many different students and some of them waved happily at him. He tried to put on a smile and wave back but he wasn't in a smiley type of mood and he felt like it was showing
Neville heard the sound of the horn on the Hogwarts Express go off and turned around to see the scarlet steam engine picking up speed and rounding the bend. Neville sighed knowing that he was stuck here in London for the next few weeks.
The platform was slowly emptying and soon it was only Neville and a few other families. Neville turned to take his trunk and aparate to his flat when he heard a familiar dreamy voice behind him, "Well Jade that sounds wonderful."
Neville turned around to see a head of waist length dirty blond hair. Neville was shocked to see Luna Lovegood standing a few yards from him talking to one of his third year students. He and Luna had been good friends during their school days and she made him feel like a part of the sextet of friends. After the war he and Luna had kept contact but she had gone to Sweden looking for the Crumple Horned Snorklack and hadn't heard from her since.
"Hi Luna," Neville said while walking over to her, "I didn't think that you of all people would be here."
At the sound of Neville's voice Luna looked up and when she saw him gave him a very wide grin. "Oh Neville, its so lovely to see you, I haven't seen you since my travels. I was picking up my cousin Jade," Luna said in her usual dreamy voice pointing at the girl, "She is staying with me and daddy over the holiday this year."
"That's
great Luna. Did you find any Crumple Horned Snorklacks?
"No I
didn't, I thought I saw one but it got away from me. I still had a
lovely time in Sweden though. What are you doing for the holidays
Neville?"
"Oh… well… I was just going to go to my flat and spend a pretty quiet holiday there. I haven't gone and seen anyone for the holidays since gran died."
"Well if you have no place to go for the holiday then you can come to my house for Christmas. I'm sure Daddy wouldn't mind at all" Luna was looking up at Neville with her large silver eyes twinkling.
Neville smiled knowing that he couldn't say no to Luna, but he also knew that it would probably be a much more fun at Luna's house on Christmas. "Sure Luna, I would love to join you guys for Christmas, that is if your father doesn't mind."
Luna started jumping up and down and clapping her hands. "Oh goody, I've told Daddy all about you and he wants to meet you. He'll just love you", Luna looked down at her watch and gasped, "Jade we are so late. I completely lost track of the time Daddy will already have the Gurdy Root ready for us." She then turned to Neville and said, "I'm so sorry Neville but I have to go. I hope to see you on Christmas."
With that she turned around with Jade and started to walk to the barrier. When she reached the barrier she turned around and waved to Neville giving him butterflies in his stomach. Neville waved back shyly and then they stepped through the barrier and disappeared through the wall.
Neville looked back at the wall for a few minutes before he found that he was the last one on the platform. Neville sighed, how could Luna do this to him again, she made him feel just so happy with himself. He hadn't felt this way since Luna left for Sweden, he and Luna had been best friends during school so why wouldn't he feel this way about Luna.
Neville made a mental note to write to Hermionie about his current situation, she always gave great advise about everything. Smiling to himself he aparated to his flat in the heart of London.
Neville was looking at his nearly empty flat. In the corner was a mattress and in the opposite end was an empty fridge, there was one chair in the middle of the flat the rest of the space was the concrete floor and the stonewall.
Neville then turned to look out of the window on the crowded street below. Why would did Luna do this to Neville had never felt this way for anyone before. Was it love?
Neville never had a girlfriend in all of his years so he didn't know the difference between love and friendship.
Deciding that his letter to Hermionie couldn't wait any longer he got out some parchment and a quill and lay on the ground starting to scratch at the parchment.
Dear Hermionie,
How have you and Ron been? Well I am back in London for the holidays because Professor McGonagall made me leave Hogwarts and hang out with other people other then the other Professors. Well she got her wish Luna is back from Sweden and she has just asked me to have Christmas with her and her family. I am really scared and I don't really know why though, she just makes me so happy and I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of her, which will probably happen though. Do you have any suggestions for me? I need as much help I can get.
Love,
Neville
Satisfied with his letter Neville called down his dark brown owl and attached the letter to him. When he let the owl out of the window Neville watched the slowly setting sun and the faint dot going towards the sunset, which was his owl.
Hoping to see a response from Hermionie in the morning Neville lay down on his mattress and went into a happier sleep then ever.
