Author's Note: Well, guys, this is it. The last chapter. I'm afraid it doesn't quite live up to the expectations Chapter 3 left, but, oh well. Sorry, though. :( A very special thanks to two very special people: Lise, my counterpart on this account, for her support and help! She's got an absolutely adorable Ron and Hermione story that's up (called Butterflies and Warm Fuzzies), and she's going to be posting another story very soon - check them out! And, also, my most supportive reader in the world, chaansan. She helped me so much with her reviews and support and just how sweet she was! If you're ever looking for an absorbing can't-put-your-computer-down read, definitely check out her story Suddenly. It's a to die for read. If that makes any sense. ANYWAY, sorry about the excruciatingly long intro... Without further ado, I present the last part of Those Wretched Blubbering Humdingers!
Her hands shook as she brushed out her hair, but she didn't know why.
"Luna, are you okay?" Ava Wilkinson, a beautiful crimson-haired girl in Luna's dormitory, questioned, pausing a minute to look at her nervous peer.
"Yes, quite alright," Luna assured the girl, plastering on a smile. Ava was in too much of a rush to notice its lack of authenticity.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll sort it out. At least you don't have detention with that monster Snape in two minutes," Ava replied, frantically searching through her trunk for something. Luna gave her a hum of sympathy and returned to her rhythmic brushing and detangling until the untimely Ravenclaw had fled the room, leaving it empty.
Clothes weren't usually - or ever - a source of worry for the whimsical Luna, but she seemed to be worrying about everything more than usual tonight. Including if she should have even agreed to go out. Neville certainly was sweet, and she had to admit that he was turning into a particularly good-looking wizard (not that physical appearances were her main concern), but she just wasn't sure about what to think. Something was bothering her, and she had a suspicion that it was something she shouldn't be worrying about.
Something akin to embarrassment.
Luna shook her head, bit her lip, and opened her trunk for the search of something to wear. However, no matter how much she ignored it, the feeling nagged, taunting her relentlessly.
Another student in Luna's year entered the dormitory in search of a textbook. "You look dressed up for a Saturday," the girl observed, a mischievous tone in her voice. "Going anywhere?"
A slightly bitter taste bubbled up in Luna's throat at the question. What was this nosy girl, one she didn't hardly know in the first place, going to think when she heard the name Neville Longbottom? Neville had basically became a connotation for awkward and loser in his six years at Hogwarts, despite his connections with Harry. Luna decided to stoop a little lower than she normally would.
"You've read The Quibbler, I assume? Right, well, if you haven't gotten your hands on the latest edition, I'm sure you don't know about the Bogtailed Flobberworm. Flobberworms, the miserable creatures, have begun to have been sighted in marshier areas compared to their traditional habitats-" Luna closed her blonde-lashed eyes in mock-bliss, channeling her inner naturalist - and liar - to spin a nonsense tale about a nonsense creature. She was sure an irritating girl like this would not stick around long enough to hear exactly where Luna was going.
"Oh, bloody h- Just remembered, I agreed to meet some friends at Honeydukes in five! Sorry!" And with that flippant farewell, the girl ducked out the door back into the common room empty-handed. Luna couldn't help grinning - that was, until she checked the time herself.
She had ten minutes to meet Neville down outside the Great Hall, and she didn't feel prepared mentally in the least bit. Luna clipped on her iridescent beetle wing necklace, attempting to finish her look, but she couldn't shake the guilt. She felt awful about having lied to the obnoxious intruder about Neville - if she was ashamed of him, how was she going to survive this outing without breaking his heart? After all, Luna had never - in any way, shape, or form - labelled or thought of herself as a heart breaker. She had often felt that she had a Gryffindor spirit in the matter of bravery, but she was proving herself a coward tonight.
Five minutes.
The blonde slipped into her shoes and pulled her winter robes over her shoulders, hiding the electric blue tights she'd chosen. She took a deep breath, opening her diaphragm like a wind player, before walking to and out the dormitory door with light steps.
Neville had hardly been so nervous in his life, which was saying a lot. He'd fought Death Eaters and faced several other nerve-testing feats, but in the end, he'd emerged with the same amount of braveness. He was fairly certain, at this time, that the amount was pitifully small.
A few minutes had passed, and Neville was growing even more restless. Standing alone just outside the Great Hall, he could feel the eyes of passing students burning into him. His mind was growing paranoid, imagining them mocking him in their own minds. You need a drink of water. Neville took a deep breath and set off in search of a source of water to clear his paranoia.
Finally, a nervous Luna took her last turn down the hallway. There was the great entrance to the Great Hall; where was Neville? Her light brows knitted together in confusion. She was almost certain she was late, so where was Neville? What if he had decided against meeting her because he was afraid of her whimsical outfits, fearing that she would wear a flaming headpiece or something of the sort? Just as Luna was about to whirl around in a thoughtless storm back to Ravenclaw tower to collect her wits, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Luna? Sorry, I had to go get a drink," Neville said, forcing a somewhat genuine smile. Inside, his teeth were all but chattering.
"Oh, it's fine," she assured him, smiling. Her hands were clasped together with a white-knuckled grasp. The two stood facing each other, all smiles and rosy cheeks, until Neville finally spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.
"Er, shall we go?" he asked, offering his elbow to Luna without thinking. She smiled, finally relaxing a bit now that she was with him, and took his arm. They walked the short while to Hogsmeade with little conversation, giving time for both of them to sort out their thoughts.
Luna Lovegood realized she'd been embarrassed to go on a date with Neville. Not because of how he actually was inside - her favorite times had recently become those she spent alone with him - but because of the shallowness she hid within. Looking at Luna, one would never suspect superficial traits hidden anywhere inside her extravagant, out-of-the-ordinary outfits - not even she would have. She wasn't sure when or how the trait had entered her, but she didn't like it. And, defiant as she was, Luna decided to go against it. She gently pulled herself closer to Neville's arm, almost in a possessive fashion. She wasn't going to let her worst side get the best of her.
And Neville fought his own battles. Besides the terrible shaking fingers and jittery stomach, he was fighting the notion that Luna really didn't want to be there. Just as he was about to suggest a raincheck of some sort, maybe because of the weather, Luna tightened her grip on his arm, obviously moving closer to him. It set his heart into a frenzy and his hopes soaring. He promised himself that he would try to make it work.
In their comfortable silence, arms linked in a slightly awkward fashion, they entered The Three Broomsticks. Madam Rosmerta, her curls pinned back sloppily but elegantly, gave the two a broad smile as she filled another customer's mug with Firewhiskey. Neville returned the gesture before ducking toward the back of the pub, even as Luna gave a lingering wave and light, "Hello!".
Luna released Neville's arm when they arrived at a cozy little corner table, nearly hidden from the bar by a large group of wizards. They took their seats and blinked awkwardly at each other, she with a warm, airy smile, and he with a profuse set of red cheeks.
A slightly overrun-looking Madam Rosmerta set two foaming glasses of Butterbeer down on the couple's table. After shooting a wink at Luna, she set off toward the bar to tend to whatever it was that had to be done.
"So, er..." Neville trailed off to clear his throat. "Sorry, I'm just... Nervous?" he ventured. Luna laughed, not unkindly.
"So am I," she said with another tinkling laugh. A laugh that somehow made Neville more nervous. His stomach, already fluttering, began to churn in the way only excitement can make it. Sweet Luna, having read the thoughts on his face, put her hand on his. He looked up once more, his painful nerves blatantly obvious.
"Those wretched Blubbering Humdingers," she all but whispered, letting her pink lips curve into a half smile. And then, right across the tabletop, Luna stood and laid her lips on Neville's. Only for a second, with a touch as gentle and light as a feather, but it was enough to shoot the poor boys's eyes wide open.
"You are such a good person," he breathed, shaking his head in awe. "Such a good person. And beautiful, too." Now it was Luna's turn to blush. "Those Humdingers really are wretched, aren't they, making us blush like idiots?" Neville asked, his voice holding a tone of teasing flirtation.
Luna brushed her hand through the mass blonde curls rippling down her shoulder like a waterfall, letting a smile creep onto her features. "Indeed."
And, finally, after a slightly painful start to their night, the conversation began to move. Just like in McGonagall's office, they talked and talked, never running out of things to speak of. There wasn't any first-date stiffness or awkwardness - they spoke with the closeness of an elderly couple and with the eagerness of the young pair they were. Neville couldn't keep himself from drinking in her moon-like eyes, and Luna couldn't take her stare from his face. She was in awe of the things he held that no one else seemed to see. She could see his nobility rather than his awkward demeanor. She saw courage greater than that of anyone she knew, courage that, undoubtedly, would spark something larger than even he someday. And, somewhere deep down, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She had found someone worth fighting for, someone everyone else had passed by because the very best parts of him weren't outward. She was proud and she was glad she'd kissed him. Her first kiss.
"I know it's a Saturday," Madam Rosmarta began her interruption, "but you two have a curfew at the castle and I don't want to be the cause of you missing it. Now, move along!" She winked at the couple. Neville smiled at her and dropped a few knuts into her palm before offering his arm, once again, to Luna. Only this time, she wasn't reluctant.
Right back into Hogwarts they trodded, arm and arm, shoulder to shoulder. Through the stares and whispers they walked, and not even a twinge of embarrassment tainted their embrace.
Aww! Tears! It's done! Thank you so much if you've stuck it out til the end with me! I love you guys. This story was so fun to write, but I honestly don't know if I could have continued without all of you who Favorited, Followed, and Reviewed. You're amazing! Thank you all!
Adiós,
Elle
