House. Slytherin
Category. Drabble
Prompt. [Setting] A spot under a tree by a lake.
Word Count. 445
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She was sitting barefoot underneath a tree beside the Black Lake, staring off into the distance. Her expression was pensive and wistful, and there was breeze blowing off the lake, ruffling her hair and sending it flying around her head like a halo. Neville swallowed hard. "Hey Luna," he said casually, sitting down beside her and slinging an arm around her shoulder.
She didn't even turn to look at him. "I'm surprised," she said, still gazing off into the distance, her grey eyes luminous.
"Why?"
She didn't answer for a long time, then turned to face him. "Well," she said hesitantly, "I'm Luna Lovegood."
Neville chuckled. "And I'm Neville Longbottom."
She smiled at that, although she still seemed sad. "Neville Longbottom, the man who destroyed Voldemort's final horcrux with the sword of Gryffindor and won the war."
Neville ducked his head and shrugged. "Yeah, well, Harry did most of it."
"You still did a lot."
"And so did you," Neville countered.
For a split second, something angry flashed in her eyes, and then it was gone. She pursed her lips. "I'm Loony Lovegood," she said almost bitterly. "My shoes are meant to be stolen, and my belongings destroyed." She sighed. "Neville, I like you, I really do, but remember that I'm Loony Lovegood. I'm as crazy as they come."
Neville frowned. "First of all, you're not crazy. I know crazy." At the thought of Bellatrix, he scowled; then he remembered the witch before him, and his face softened. "And besides..." He hadn't wanted to say this yet, but the situation seemed to call for it. "Luna, I think I love you. And when you're in love, you don't think clearly." A smile tugged at the corner of his lips: how long had he wanted to say that! "Please understand Luna, I'm in love with you, so you see — we're all mad here."
Suddenly, Neville found himself in Luna's embrace, her body shuddering against his and her head buried in his shoulder. He held her close, hoping he had said the right thing, patting her back and stroking her hair. When she finally pulled away, she was grinning, although her eyes were red. "I think I love you too," she said. "No, I do love you."
"And I love you, Luna." He reached out to cup her cheek. "I've loved you for a long time now, I just didn't want to say anything during the war.
"Me neither," Luna replied, leaning in to rest her forehead against his.
"It's crazy that it's finally over…"
"But life is crazy, and now," Luna grinned, "we can all be crazy together."
Neville smiled. "You mean crazy in love."