Afraid To Love

by pineapple shortcake

This takes place during Harry's seventh year, when he, Ron and Hermione are not at Hogwarts. It's from Neville Longbottom's point of view and Luna Lovegood's POV. N/L.

3. Chapter 3

"Huckleberry." Seamus said sleepily, it was after 11:00. The fat lady swung open to admit us. Stumbling a bit we made our way to the boy dormitory.

"It's good to be back." I said.

"Yeah." Dean said flopping on his bed.

"Uh oh..." Seamus said, "Dean you have to get out of here."

"Why?" Dean asked, obviously puzzled.

"Look." Seamus said and pointed to the Evening Prophet.

"Oh man this is bad." Dean said.

"What?" I asked. Seamus held up the paper. The headline said:

ALL MUGGLE-BORNS MUST REPORT TO MINISTRY FOR REGISTRATION

"That's not good." I said.

"I got to go... NOW!" Dean said. Just then the door burst open.

"Have you seen the Prophet?!" Lavender asked.

"Yeah, Dean's just leaving..." Seamus said.

"Leaving?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah." Dean said.

"Where are you going?" Parvati asked.

"I don't know." Dean said and slipped down stairs and into the night.

"He'll be OK" Seamus said, unconvincingly.

"Oh Flobberworms*!" I exclaimed. How could I be so stupid?

"What?" Seamus asked.

"The spell!" I cried.

"Neville, what spell?" Ginny asked.

"The... the... do you still have your DA coins?" I inquired.

Lavender began rummaging in her school bag; Seamus dropped to his knees and looked in his trunk; Parvati simply took it out of her pocket; Ginny took off her left shoe and extracted hers. I took the four and waved my wand over them.

"Here," I said handing the coins back to them. "Seamus." I said squeezing my coin.

"What? Whoa it's vibrating!" Seamus said.

"Look, it's red!" Ginny squealed.

"Now squeeze it, that means I can talk to you." I instructed. He did and my coin turned blue.

"Hello Seamus." I said. Two seconds later the coin echoed the words.

"That's brilliant!" Parvati exclaimed, I blushed, I am not one for compliments.

"It was nothing..." I muttered. The girls said goodnight and departed. I slipped on my pajamas and crawled into bed, that night I dreamed of my favorite Ravenclaw.

"Neville! Gosh wake up! We're late for breakfast as it is!" a distinctly Irish-accented voice reached my ears and barely registered.

"Wha?" I muttered and turned over.

"WAKE UP!!!" Seamus bellowed, so loud I fell out of bed.

"I'm up, I'm up geez." I said. I dressed quickly and hurried down stairs.

"Neville!" Ginny cried, as soon as I sat down. "You haven't given Luna her coin!"

"Yeah, I should go tell her." I said and stood up again. I moved slowly toward the Ravenclaw table. I walked past Luna and slipped a note into her hand.

Meet me in the Room of Requirement after breakfast.