Luna stood alone in the entrance hall, watching some first year students playing with a Fanged Frisbee as she waited for Neville. He wasn't late - she'd just turned up half an hour early because she had nothing to do that morning.
She saw him approaching, and suddenly felt nervous, although she couldn't quite figure out why. Turning around in the hope that he wouldn't spot her, Luna ran her fingers through her messy blonde hair in an attempt to tame it. Her heart rate seemed to increase; confusing thoughts ran through her mind, making her feel panicked:
Why am I so worried about this? Neville is my friend, I know he won't judge me if my hair is a little bit of a mess. But this is a 'date' isn't it?
"Hi!" Neville called, walking over to her. Luna turned back to face him, giving him her best smile, though it didn't quite reach her protuberant grey eyes. He was wearing nice trousers and a nice sweater. Do I look ok? Luna thought worriedly.
"How are you?" he added.
Luna hesitated; she considered lying to him, telling him she felt fine, but she didn't feel fine in any way and she wanted to be honest with him.
"I'm ok, thank you... though, I am a little nervous," she replied, her smile faltering as she looked up at him.
"Why?" asked Neville, a look of concern on his face. He's so sweet to care...
"Well, Ginny explained to me that you wanted to ask me out on a date to Hogsmeade, and not just go as friends. I didn't realise at first. And now I'm just feeling a little... um... anxious, that's all."
Neville sighed, feeling incredibly guilty, making a mental note to never trust Ginny again. This was the last thing he wanted to happen. He only wanted Luna to be happy.
"Oh, Luna. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to make you worried," Neville said. He put a tender hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, and took it as a good sign that she didn't move away from him.
"Do you mean... this wasn't supposed to be a date?" Luna questioned. She did her best not to show it, but she now felt disappointed and sad.
"Um... I..." stuttered Neville, taking his hand from her shoulder in the hope that she wouldn't notice that he was shaking. "Well... I did mean for it to be... a date. But it doesn't have to be... if you don't want it to be. It's up to you. I don't want to make you nervous, Luna, I would never do that. I care about you too much."
Luna couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He does want it to be a date. He cares about me. And I care about him.
"No, a date is fine. If you still want it to be?" she smiled properly this time, her eyes glistening with happiness.
"I'd love it to be," said Neville. "Shall we go to Hogsmeade then?"
"I'd like that."
As they headed out of the entrance hall, Luna slotted her hand into Neville's. He didn't hesitate - he intertwined his fingers with hers. It felt nice. They didn't know it, but they were both thinking the exact same thing:
Maybe this won't be as bad as I thought it would be...
