Hello! I finally got around to writing this, it took a few days, and I probably wouldn't have done it if it weren't for the fact that I'm going to be seeing Lucid03days tomorrow at the library, and she's expecting to be able to look over the chapter then… (its almost 1:00 in the morning when I'm writing this, just enough time to finish this, and fool around online for another hour or two :P lol) Anyways, enjoy the chapter! Or, at least I hope you enjoy it… and for each time you don't enjoy it, I shall kill you! (Okay, lame attempt at a Family Guy quote),

Shantazzar


Chapter One/Part Two: Neville's Train Ride

I had kind of a stressful time this morning. But then I'm always stressed right before travel. It's because I hate packing. I never think of the things I will need or I don't believe that I will need what I end up needing. I always do make it through the school year anyway. The main things I forget are the books I need for classes; along with any other books I feel like bringing.

Finally making it to the train station and boarding the train, I have peace at last. I found a nice car with Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. I don't have to worry about anything with them. They talk to me when I want to be talked to, and when I don't they leave me alone. But then Luna showed up, and for the past minute or so she's kinda been looking at me weird.

"Neville, where's Trevor?" asked Luna all of the sudden. Nobody else in our compartment seemed to notice.

I was kind of surprised by the randomness of the question. It seemed simple enough, so I quickly replied. "He's here in my pocket. Why?" I started trying to think of the possible reasons she would want to know. At first I was wondering if she had read up on alter-transfiguration, where you could change some magical creatures into others. I had in fact considered trying this on Trevor, but I gave up the idea in seconds. I didn't want to kill him or anything.

"Nothing, I just thought he might've been kidnapped. Something else bad must've happened then, judging by the look on your face."

The ending of that statement really surprised me, 'judging by the look on your face?' I have had a slow and depressing kind of day, but usually people can't tell between that and my normal face. My mind reeled just by the thought of how I could respond to something like that, but I decided I would just use the usual response.

"It's nothing really. I'm fine"

She looked troubled and almost hurt by my response. I couldn't really imagine why. Why would she care weather or not I was fine?

"Do you truly believe that Neville, or are you just trying to build your wall around yourself so high that nobody will ever be able to get in?"

My mind then pulled a trick that drives me nuts, it suddenly went blank. I paused for a moment and suddenly filled by such a surge of thoughts that I couldn't even tell exactly what I was thinking.

"But why do you?"

My mind was in such a panicked confusion that I could only rely on instinct, and I replied the way I knew best. "I don't know"

I have to admit, I honestly didn't know. I guess I never really thought about it. It seemed like the kind of question that would need a certain degree of thought before an intelligent response could be given.

"Yes you do. You just don't want to talk to me about it. Why are you doing this to me?"

I was surprised enough with 'Yes you do', but when she added, 'Why are you doing this to me?' I was, for lack of a better word, terrified. My mind flowed like a raging river and I was trying to get not only a glass of water from it, but a glass only of a certain bit of water. To make matters worse, I had no idea what water it was! Then I suddenly realized that my mind was wandering on confusing and useless analogies instead of thinking. It has a tendency of doing that, especially when I feel my private mind is being penetrated.

"I'm sorry Luna, I just can't talk about it."

I wanted two things at that moment, just two things, first I wanted Luna to just be quiet and look out the window at the passing trees as I was doing earlier. But, secondly, I realized I really wanted her to ask me again, to push a little bit more.

"But why Neville? Why won't you let me be your friend?"

Suddenly the strangest thing happened, my mind began to pull that same old trick again, it suddenly stopped its whirling… but… it didn't explode in a rage of incomprehensible thoughts again. Pieces and thoughts came together, as though some presence reached into my mind and ordered it for me.

"I never knew you really wanted to be my friend."

I hoped I had not said something startling. The passive conversations of Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny suddenly faded from my mind. The passing trees outside the window stopped. The sun glanced between the branches of a passing tree. Before the other branch crossed the path of the sunlight, Luna looked back at me and replied.

"Why do you think I've been talking to you?"

I paused for a moment, taking advantage of my mental clarity while it lasted. I had to wonder. After all, she wasn't the first person who talked to me. Yet most people didn't seem to care as much as she seemed to.

"To make me feel better. That's why most people talk to me, aside from insults I mean…"

It was strange; my mind began to drag. It felt strange for once to sit quiet. After seventeen years of peace, and quiet I was uncomfortable in the presence of the thing I was raised in.

"Would that really make you feel better?" asked Luna, "Just asking how you were?"

"Well not really, but people seem to think it does." I replied

I have to admit, of all the things that people say are weird about her I find most startling. Yet they're so captivating the way she can pick up on subtle things, and her lack of fear for expressing them.

Luna paused for a moment, and she looked like something was on her mind, but before she could speak her mind someone interrupted the silence.

"Hey, does anyone want any chocolate frogs?" asked Ron, as he gestured to the cart full of candies that had just been pushed into the room.


Review Response: (Lucid-03-days)

coolio: Hello magic geenie! Can I wish for $5? Ha! Anyway, thanks for the big complement.

GINGERBED: I left a response for you on chapter three, seeing as you reviewed my chapter (chapter one).

EVERONE ELSE WHO REVIEWED CHAPTER THREE: I will make sure to thank you all personally in chapter four, seeing as you reviewed my chapter and not Shantazzar's.

Until then...