A/n: Here's chapter two. :) Enjoy!
Chapter 2
For the first time in his life, Neville was remembering the trick step. The one which his leg had been stuck down in, and which Ron, Harry and the other Gryffindors had pulled him out numerous times. But this time, Neville was going to take a leap and hop that darn step. He wasn't going to let it suck him in this time.
He carefully counted the steps, readying himself to hop. He was just about there (and concentrating hard) when a large group of Slytherins came around the corner, coming from their class. Neville gulped. If he wasn't with a bunch of other Gryffindors or a teacher, the Slytherins were merciless.
"Hey Longbottom! All alone?" Pansy Parkinson sneered.
Neville swallowed and mumbled, "The others are right behind me..."
Malcolm Baddock looked down the stairs. "No they're not." He smiled wickedly.
Together, Pansy, Malcolm and theree others grabbed a hollering Neville's arms, hoisted him up and dropped him forcefully onto the trick step. Immediately, the quicksand-like step turned hard. One of the Slytherins gave Neville a kick. They all laughed heartily, hurtled insults at him, ruffled his hair rudely, and finally went back down the stairs.
Neville was angry, embarrassed and hurt. Why did they do those things to him? Why was it always him? At these questions, several more that seemed to surface every time he got angry popped into his mind.
Why was he such a push-over? Why did he have such a horrible memory? Why was he such a hopeless klutz? Why didn't Gran appreciate him? Why oh why was he the way he was?
"Wanna hand?" a dreamy, far-off voice cooed.
Neville looked up and saw the pale face of Luna Lovegood. Her hair still fell to her waist, and was still dirty blonde. She still had that strange necklace made of Butterbeer corks, and her wand stowed behind her ear. She was holding her hand out to Neville who squirmed uncomfortably and took Luna's hand.
"Thank you." he mumbled as soon as Luna had helped him out of the step.
"They're really horrible." Luna said in an odd sing-song voice, her eyes their usual wideness.
"Again, thank you." Neville brushed him self off, trying to ignore the hotness of his cheeks. He also tried to ignore the radiance of Luna's strange smile.
"May I walk with you?" Luna suddenly asked.
Neville started. "Y-you want to... w-walk with me?"
Luna nodded.
"Nobody's ever asked me that before..." Neville swallowed. "But ok..."
"I, um, really like Herbology." Luna said as her and Neville headed to - actually, Neville didn't know where he and Luna were walking. Nor did he care.
"Me too." Neville blushed again. "It's... it's my best subject."
Luna smiled that pretty smile again. "I know."
A/n: Thanks for reading. Reviews are absolutely adored. And yup, another short chapter. Maybe I lied when I said they would all be longer than the first one, haha.