A/N: I decided to do something a little different than the usual Fred/OC stories that I write and write one about Luna and Neville, who I really think should have ended up together in the books.
This takes place during OOTP and is written mainly from Luna's point of view and occaisonally Neville's.
Reviews would really be appreciated to let me know what people think. :)
I don't own Harry Potter.
I was eleven years old when I first saw him. He was twelve. At the time, I didn't think anything of it. I passed him on the train and that was that. I didn't know who he was. I didn't know a thing about him and he didn't know a thing about me. It wasn't until my fourth year and his fifth year that I actually, truly talked to him and became his friend.
My fourth year was kind of the turning point in my Hogwarts career. You see, I didn't have many friends before then. Actually, before that year the only person I can really say was my friend was Ginny Weasley. Most people in my year found great fun in calling me Loony Lovegood and hiding my belongings all over the castle. I didn't really mind the hiding all that much. It was all in good fun, and I began to think of it as a great big scavenger hunt.
Anyway, that year was when I finally had a group of friends to call my own, but it was also the year something else happened as well. It was the year I really got to know Neville Longbottom and he really got to know me. We both realized something that year. We both realized that we had a lot more in common than we thought and over time we both began to have feelings for each other. Some people would say this is due to hormones, but personally, I believe the Nargles must be behind it all.
"Luna darling, wake up, we have to leave in an hour to bring you to the train station."
I woke up to the sound of my father's voice yelling up the stairs from the kitchen, two floors down. My bedroom was at the top floor of our circular house.
You see, my house is different from most houses. It has four floors. The first floor is where the kitchen, living room, and bathroom are. The second floor is my father's office, where he prints copies of The Quibbler. The next floor is my father's room and the top floor is my bedroom. I love having the top floor of the house. The view is great for sitting at the window and just daydreaming.
I rolled over in bed and looked at the picture on my night stand of me and my mother before she died. She had been my best friend and not a day went by where I didn't miss her.
My mother was fun and loved to laugh all the time. She also loved to draw and was always looking into space. When I asked why, she said she was thinking. Perhaps that's where I got that habit from. Besides drawing, my mother also liked to experiment with spells and potions. She was always careful, but one day things just went wrong. I'm not sure what exactly, but one minute she was perfectly fine, and the next minute she was gone. Just like that. I was nine years old at the time and in the house when it happened. A lot of people make horrified faces when they hear that and say how terrible it must have been. Yes, it was indeed terrible, but it was such a long time ago, I think it might have been worse if I had been older and more able to understand completely. I still wish people wouldn't make that face at me, though; that face that says 'I understand,' when really they have no clue, no idea.
Anyway, ever since then, it had been just me and dad. Sometimes we go looking for Crumple Horned Snorkacks together in different parts of the country. We haven't found any yet, but we believe they're out there somewhere. Crumple Horned Snorkacks are shy creatures, you see. My dad and I have become really close over the years, but sometimes he gets really busy with the magazine and it gets really lonely here.
As soon as I was dressed, I dragged my trunk down the stairs to the kitchen. My dad was putting a plate of eggs on the table. He smiled at me as I walked over and sat down. I silently put a small forkful of eggs in my mouth.
"Go ahead dear, eat up. You have a long trip ahead of you."
I nodded silently and continued to eat.
"Aren't you excited to go back to Hogwarts?" he asked.
"Yes, I am. It is quite pleasant there and all the Professors are so nice. Well, except Professor Snape, but I stay out of his way. I don't even think he knows I'm there mostly."
"Luna, darling, don't you have any…friends at school?" my father asked hesitantly.
"Of course I do."
"The thestrals and ghosts don't count, Luna," my father sighed.
I didn't answer and just stared at my eggs.
"There have to be some people who will be glad to have a friend like you, darling," my father smiled.
I half smiled back at him as he stood up and picked up my trunk. "Come on, let's get you to the station."
Five minutes to 11 o'clock, my father had loaded my trunk onto the train and he then turned to me and hugged me. "Have a good year, darling. Don't forget to write and I'll be sure to tell you if I have a Snorkack sighting."
I smiled. "We're still going to Sweden next summer, right?"
"Of course…I wouldn't miss an opportunity to search for the rare Snorkack without you dear," my father replied.
I turned and hopped onto the train. As it began to pull away, I stuck my head out the window and waved at my father. When he had disappeared from view, I sighed and grabbed the handle of my trunk. Well, here I go, beginning my fourth year at Hogwarts. Same as usual, I thought as I dragged my trunk down the train and nobody even bothered to glance my way. I peered into one compartment and saw Ginny Weasley surrounded by people. Ginny made friends so easily. I'm not quite sure how she did it.
I finally made it to the last compartment which appeared to be empty, so I dragged my trunk inside and lifted it to the rack above the seats.
"Hello," said a voice from behind me.
I spun around quickly to see a boy sitting by the window. I knew him. He was a fifth year Gryffindor. He was in the same dorm as Harry Potter. Neville Longbottom was his name.
"Hello…you did give me quite a fright. I didn't know anyone was in here," I said.
"Sorry," Neville shrugged. "You're Luna Lovegood, aren't you? I'm Neville Longbottom." He stuck out his hand.
"Nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand. I was surprised he knew my name. Not a lot of people actually know who I am, and the majority of the people who do call me "Loony Lovegood", which I was surprised Neville didn't do either.
I sat down and opened a copy of The Quibbler as Neville opened The Daily Prophet. It was silent for a few moments.
"You know, you should try reading The Quibbler sometime. My dad creates it," I said, breaking the silence, and peering at Neville over the top of my magazine.
Neville glanced down at the Prophet and then back up at me. "I've never tried reading it before. Some people say the articles aren't exactly, um, true…" he said hesitantly.
"Oh, they're all true," I answered, looking back down at the article I was reading. "My dad and I are going to Sweden to look for Crumple Horned Snorkacks next summer." I flipped a page.
"What's a-?" Neville began.
"Crumple Horned Snorkack? It's a creature that lives in Sweden and it kind of looks like a pig, but with a horn similar to a unicorn."
Neville nodded slowly so I reached into my bag and pulled out another copy of the Quibbler. "Here, keep it," I smiled.
Neville smiled back at me as he took the magazine from my hand. We sat in mostly silence for the rest of the ride, talking occasionally about something my dad had written. I think Neville quite enjoyed the articles. He is a nice boy. I wish I knew him before now, I thought as we finally reached Hogwarts.
Once we reached the platform, Neville and I were separated in the crowd. I made my way to the carriages quickly. I was hungry, despite the eggs I had eaten that morning and the lunch I had on the train. I was hoping there would be lots of pudding at the feast.
I climbed into an empty carriage after giving the thestral pulling it a quick pat. I pulled out The Quibbler again, and began reading an article that required me to read upside down. After a moment, I heard footsteps, but I didn't look up. When you're used to being ignored, you tend to ignore other people.
"What is that?" I heard a familiar voice ask. I looked up and sure enough, Harry Potter was standing in front of my carriage staring at the thestral. Ron, Hermione, and Neville were standing behind him.
"Harry, what are you talking about? There's nothing there," Hermione argued.
"Don't worry," I chimed in, lowering the magazine from my face. "You aren't going mad. I can see them too. You're just as sane as I am." I gave him a smile.
"Right," Harry said, crinkling his forehead. "Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all," I answered, raising the magazine back to my face again. Harry and his friends climbed into the carriage. Neville was seated across from me and our knees bumped as he sat down. For some reason, I felt my cheeks turn red, but I managed to keep calm and smile. Neville smiled back.
"I'm Luna Lovegood," I announced to everyone in the carriage.
They all half smiled at me, besides Neville who gave me a huge, goofy grin. My stomach fluttered nervously as I smiled back. And that is how it all began.