Neville haunted Luna's dreams for weeks, every night she would see his disappointed face staring at her, she felt bad but she knew it would be worse if she pretended to like him. In potions Luna and Neville made small talk avoiding any painful subjects. Neville didn't blame her at all for not liking him it wasn't her fault but he still found it hard to talk to her, especially after the kiss. It was Neville's first kiss and when it happened he reached a total euphoria, he found himself thinking about it more and more

"Neville!" Neville was suddenly aware that Harry had been calling for him several times.

"What?"

"Well we were just discussing who we were going to take to the Yule Ball."

"Oh well, I dunno I'll see who's left I suppose, what about you?"

"I'm thinking of asking Cho Chang. I even wrote her a song!"

"I thought she was going out with Cedric?"

"Yeah but maybe if I ask her before him... I don't know. Ron?"

"I might just go with Hermione."

"What?" Harry replied

"As friends"

Neville grew bored of listening to all of his friends talking about who they are going with or want to go with. He longed to ask Luna but, what if she said no? He decided to write to the daily prophet's help column, he couldn't ask Harry for help, he was too popular and he probably didn't have any idea about rejection.

Dear Mildred,

I like this girl she is so fascinating and she makes me very happy whenever I am with her, but the last time I asked her out she said she just saw me as a friend. There is a Ball at Hogwarts as you probably know, should I ask her as a friend or confess my true feelings? Thank you

Anonymous

He had written into the daily prophet several times and had found a comfort knowing he had someone to go to when he had a problem. Most people he assumed talked to their parents or their friends however Neville thought it was a bit personal to ask his friends about and he couldn't ask his Grandmother either. He stuffed the letter in the pocket of his robe and climbed through the portrait. On his way to the Owelry, to his despair he saw Malfoy blocking the only stairway. He held his breath and quickly climbed the stairs.

"Alright Longbottom, delivering letters to your dear old Grandmother are we?"

"Out of my way Malfoy, please"

"Fine but the thing is we are quite hungry and the Great Hall is closed at this time of night, we could buy something from a magazine but unfortunately we left our money in the common room. It's fine if we borrow some of yours isn't it?"

"But I haven't got any money"

"Expelliarmus" Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle lunged at him and started emptying his pockets then they found the letter. Neville dropped to the floor and grabbed his wand.

"Expelliarmus, the letter flew out of Draco's hand and landed in Neville's, he then ran up the steps and sent the owl with his letter. He was dreading walking past them again, but luckily they had gone; besides he didn't have the letter anyway. He swore one day they would leave him alone; he would be able to fight them off.

"Ginny, I was just wondering if maybe you would, like to go to the ball? With me. As friends of course, just I know that your year can't go unless you are asked by someone older and since no one has asked you yet."

"Sure" Ginny liked Neville he was sweet and besides it wasn't as if Harry would ask her out, he was too busy drooling over Cho Chang.

Neville was ecstatic that was the first step she needed to take at least that's what Mildred said.

"Dear anonymous,

You could always try asking another girl out to make her jealous, once when I was at Hogwarts myself, my husband went out with this girl to make me jealous and now we are married so good luck dear, I hope it goes as well with you as it did with me."

Neville told his Grandmother and bought some dress robes, he found himself getting very excited for the Yule Ball.

"Hi Neville" chanted Luna

"Hey Luna, are you looking forward to the Yule Ball?"

"Who are you going with?" said Luna avoiding the question.

"Ginny." Luna let out a sigh of relief that he was going with someone.

"I can't go my father needs me at home this Christmas, we are visiting my mum's family."

"Oh, lovely." Neville was a bit disheartened that she didn't sound at all upset, infact she sounded quite happy.

"I hope you have fun. I have been meaning to talk to you about the kiss, I'm sorry if I led you on or anything, but I want you to know how much I value our friendship, I'm glad you asked Ginny, she's lovely and she seemed quite upset that she wasn't going."

"Yeah, don't worry about it I just was a bit confused at the time but it's fine now. Besides Ginny and I are going to have a great time." Neville felt his tone changing without control

"I'm sorry Neville"

"No I'm sorry, I just wish I could be good enough for you, the only reason I asked Ginny was to make you jealous, that kiss meant something to me obviously not you, I don't want to be someone that you just practise kissing with." Neville instantly regretted what he had said, he looked deep into Luna's tear filled eyes.

"I thought it would make you realise that you were worth something, more than what Malfoy and every one say that you are.

"I don't need your pity." Neville spat at her, he knew he was being horrible and that she didn't deserve this but she made him feel so confused one minute he loved her, the next he loved her more, no matter he felt angry, sad, ashamed, he still loved her. But she didn't and he knew that he couldn't do anything to change that, even his Grandmother thought he was useless, "why can't you be more like your mum and Dad?" He was constantly compared and criticized at home, now at school as well, Snape interrupted his train of thought.

"Are you just going to stare at your cauldron and pray that the rat's eye will chop itself up and jump into the cauldron? You have just bought yourself a detention tomorrow night at 6, oh and since you also haven't done any work Miss Lovegood you can join Longbottom too.

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