100 Pairings Challenge - Table 2
Neville/Luna
I'm sorry, my first attempt at a HP fanfiction and it's awful! I hope I get better with time, reviews with criticisms and tips would be greatly appreciated!
A Certain Shade of Red.
She was an outcast because of her tendency to dream. He was an outcast because he was so clumsy. Neither of them seemed to fit into their respective houses and both of them had trouble finding a friend. It was no wonder then, that Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood found each other to talk to.
The two really came together when the Ministry united against the Golden Trio. They were in a flux between the two sides; they knew that You-Know-Who was most definitely back but they weren't privy to all the details of the resistance. It was a little frustrating for Neville, but he couldn't help but be slightly relieved. The battle at the Ministry was enough excitement to last him for a good long while. He wanted to help overthrow Voldemort, but he felt that he'd more hinder than help right now. Luna understood that. They didn't meet up often, but when they talked, they would do so for hours at a time.
It was a Wednesday evening and Neville was walking to the Library to do some much needed research when he saw Luna Lovegood surrounded by Seventh year Slytherins. He could tell they were doing their best to rile her. They were insulting The Quibbler and her beliefs in the variety of magical (and perhaps fictional) creatures. Neville had always been intrigued by the strength of Luna's convictions on the existence and Snorlacks and Nargles and it pained him to see his friend so set upon.
Neville knew that he wasn't exactly the most intimidating figure that Gryffindor had ever produced, but he knew he wanted to help the girl. After all, she was the only one who had been with him in the battle and wasn't too caught up with wonderful, terrifying plans to halt the decline of the Wizarding world to talk to him. He steeled himself and walked towards the group.
It was surprising how unsurprised he was to see the silvery-haired witch stood answering the questions of a group of burly and unfriendly elder boys with a look of complete complacency on her very pretty face. Wait, very pretty? Had Neville just thought that? He mentally shook himself, he'd have to think about that later, he had some extracting to do.
"Luna, Professor Sprout would like to see you," he called over the gaggle of boys who were clearly getting frustrated that they couldn't anger this quixotic little witch. It was the first thing that came to mind, and Neville congratulated himself mentally for quick thinking, he really was improving! He had resolved to become more confident so that, when the time came, he might actually be of use in bringing the resistance's plans to fruition.
"It has been lovely talking to you boys, but I really must go now," Luna said with a smile and the Slytherins parted in astonishment to let her through. They had never failed to scare anyone before, let alone a petite, younger witch.
"Don't forget about the Wrackspurts! They are particularly common at this time of year," she called over her shoulder, already walking away with Neville. He snuck a look back over his shoulder and couldn't help but smirk at the confusion on the boys' faces. His heart was pounding though, he had never liked any kind of confrontation and ones such as that were high on his 'to avoid' list!
"Luna, Professor Sprout doesn't really want you," he said, turning to her with a faint blush, "I just wanted to get you away from those boys, they were obviously trying to bother you."
"Really? I thought they were most delightful, very interested in Father's magazine. Thank you though, Neville, that was really sweet of you." She tilted her head to one side and looked at him. "Why, you have gone the precise shade of red that a Hefflepod should be when picked!"
Neville looked at the girl walking next to him, he wasn't sure where they were walking to, but that didn't matter. It still caught him off-guard how pretty his friend actually was. She had been a real friend over the past few weeks and he felt lucky to have her. Once you got used to it, her dreamy ways were really quite endearing and she had made shy, clumsy Neville feel like he was interesting and worth her time.
It turned out they were walking to the Ravenclaw common rooms, Neville felt slightly embarrassed. It was something couples did, walking each other to places. He kind of liked that idea though. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, Neville and Luna. Their names seemed to fit. He had really begun to hope that they would fit just as well.
Why not find out tonight? He had resolved to be brave after all. And the memories of meeting her and all the time they had spent together flashed through his brain. If he couldn't do this, he would stay as the useless boy-in-the-background for the rest of his life. After the Ministry and seeing that the threat to the Wizarding world was real, he knew that they needed all the help they could get. Neville was determined to help stop the Deatheaters, especially after what happened to his parents, and he knew he needed to practise having courage.
"Wrackspurt caught you, Neville?" Luna looked at him pityingly, shaking his arm to bring him out of his daze. They had reached the entrance to her Common rooms.
Neville Longbottom had made up his mind. It was now or never. His chance to be brave. He knew there would be more difficult things to face in the coming months, but this was a start. A small step which seemed huge. He also knew that, with her by his side, he'd be a lot more confident, readier to face the world.
The corridor was empty and the wind rattled the glass of the windows. Neville Longbottom stooped and took the face of his friend into his large, scarred hands. He slowly placed his lips onto hers. She seemed to fall into him as she slid her hands up his back. He was the loveliest boy that she knew and there had always been something about that Hefflepod red...
That was the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
I'm not keen on this at all, but I hope you enjoyed it!
R&R?