Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and settings from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of Harry Potter and will not receive any money or other financial profit for presenting the work on this site. The story I tell here as well as certain original characters are my own invention, and are not purported or believed to be part of J.K. Rowling's story canon.

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Chapter 38

"I thought you'd never show up," Ginny greeted him, a teasing smile spread across her face.

"And leave you two alone in the Forbidden Forest? Never!" he claimed with a similar smile on his lips.

"Ah yes, Neville Longbottom, our knight in shining armour. How would we ever manage without you?"

"We wouldn't survive a minute!" Luna added, dramatically resting the back of her hand against her forehead.

"Ok, ok, I get it. You can easily handle yourself. It's not like I didn't know that already," Neville admitted, a light chuckle accompanying his words.

"You better!" Ginny jokingly threatened.

Neville deeply appreciated the friendship that had formed between the three over the years. Ginny had always been dear to him, by the time of the Yule Ball at the latest. Luna had slowly grown on him, especially during the early months of the original DA. During that time, the two of them had always showed him a distinct form of support and compassion, having his back whenever he needed them to. In fact, they never stopped doing so, always offering to step in, when he had earned another round of punishment by one of the Carrows. If it weren't for the two of them, Neville might not have been able to keep up a stiff upper lip for so long.

"So, how are things between you and Sage?" Luna asked, giving him a sympathetic look.

"Complicated. Sooo complicated," he groaned, laying his head back.

"I gathered as much," Ginny admitted, pouting a little.

"She screwed up. Big time," he hesitantly explained.

"What? How? Don't tell me she has a boyfriend over in America. She can't just-"

"-Ginny, what are you talking about?"

"About you and Sage? And her hopefully non-existent American boyfriend?"

"I don't know if she has a boyfriend!"

"Why didn't you ask her?!"

"Why would I?!"

"So you know if you've got a chance!"

"Ginny, I-"

"-Don't you dare, Longbottom. I'm not stupid. I see the way you act around her. You become a puppy just at the sight of her!"

"A puppy?"

"Yes, a puppy. A docile one at that. Probably house-trained even."

Though Neville usually appreciated Ginny's fiery manner, he certainly struggled at times when it was directed towards him. He highly valued her opinion of him and his actions, especially ever since they had taken control of the DA, so to become a puppy in her eyes was a rather disconcerting thought to him. He simply didn't want to give her reason to loose any trust or respect for him.

"Don't you want to be her boyfriend, Neville?" Luna suddenly chimed in, her voice as calm as always.

"No, I don't.. or.. I don't know.. but even if I wanted to, it's just really awful timing," Neville attempted to explain, not quite sure how to properly bring his thoughts and feelings across.

"You're feeling guilty," Luna pointed out in response, a slight frown on her face.

"What for though?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"Because she makes him happy," Luna claimed, as she turned to face Ginny.

"You feel guilty about being happy?" Ginny asked Neville again.

"I'm not happy, how could I be happy during times like this? Sage.. I admit, sometimes she distracts me from how bad everything truly is.. but I can't keep ignoring the world lying in ruins around me. I've got more important things to do!"

To his surprise, none of the girls in front of him said a word, but instead.. just smiled?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked in confusion.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Neville! We got distracted there for a second," Luna claimed with a grin on her lips.

"You think I'm being stupid, don't you?"

Both Ginny and Luna nodded profusely, until Hagrid finally joined the three at the edge of the forest.

"Don't yeh worry, Neville. It's prob'ly not as bad as yeh think," Hagrid reassured him, as he wrapped an arm around his shoulders and gave him a light squeeze.

"Oh, Hagrid, you have no idea!" Ginny exclaimed under a chuckle.

This was going to be a long night for Neville, as much was sure.

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Author's note: Another chapter with the silver trio!! Writing Luna is quite the challenge for me, because I desperately want to do her justice, but her personality is just so hard for me to grasp!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and leave me some of your thoughts. Wishing you all the best!! :-)