A/N: Lookie, it's the next chapter! This chapter is less focused on Neville/Luna interaction and more focused on Luna/Ginny. Sorry to all you Neville fans, but the Neville stuff is Shantazzar's job. I get Luna! Jealous? Okay, I'm being a big stupid. Read and tell me what you think,

lucid-03-days


Chapter Two/Part One: Exposed

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

I don't think he even comprehends how much he's upsetting me right now. Actually, I don't really understand it. I want to let this whole thing go, freeing up my mind to think of anything else. But for some reason I can! How can one person cause me so much distress?

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

What? Where would he have come up with such an answer? Honestly, he needs to have a little more faith in the people around him. "Why do you think I've been talking to you?"

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

I'm a little confused by his last statement. "Would that really make you feel better?" He doesn't seem to be making much sense to me, but I guess I'll go along with it. "Just asking how you were?"

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

I don't know what he just did, but it caused me heart to leap in my chest. Maybe it was the way he spoke a moment ago. It was so…sad.

"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.

"Where did you come from?" I tilted my head slightly at the read-headed boy. It was then that everything came back to me. All of my thoughts on Neville Longbottom blocked everyone else in the room from my head. I still wonder how exactly can one boy take up so much of my thoughts? I dear, I'm being repetitive. But it doesn't make any since! Oh no, I just realized that I'm sounding like Hermione.

"Why are you turning me into Hermione?" I pointed an accusing finger at the blonde-boy in front of me.

"Excuse me?" Hermione's mouth dropped open and she folded her arms across her chest. Normally a gesture she saves specifically for her Ronald. At the same time everyone else in the compartment started laughing so hard some had tears in their eyes. I must've missed where the comedy was. It was possibly the face Hermione was making; it was quite outrageous.

"If you don't mind that question was directed at Neville, not you." How does she seem to make every little thing around her about her? "Neville?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I told you, you're causing me to think like Hermione!" How many times do I have to say something for him to get my point? I can clearly see now why the hat choose to keep him out of Ravenclaw.

"Um, sorry? How am I making you think like Hermione anyway?"

"I'm not sure. That's obviously why I'm upset at this moment!"

"Luna," Ginerva interrupted my ranting, "Can I speak with you momentarily?"

"Sure." It took me a short while to realize she was beckoning my out of the compartment. Upon this discovery I excused myself from Neville and followed her out into the hallway.

"I have something I really need to tell you." She informed me while closing the door to where we were previously sitting amongst our group of friends.

"Okay then," I smiled at her and sat cross-legged on the floor. I believe that sitting this way is actually the best way to listen to other people. You see, I believe the twisting of my legs helps to retain the information being passed to me. It also keeps the mind clear and welcoming of any new bits of information wanting to enter my brain, keeps it from being smooth. "What is it?"

She followed suit and sat down next to me. That's one reason I enjoy her so much. She's very open-minded, although a little reserved with some of her feelings. Ginny is still more open then the majority of the people at Hogwarts, students and teacher's alike.

"This is about Neville…"

"Why aren't you talking to him then?" I interrupted her, "If he's done something you don't like I suggest informing him yourself; keeps things from getting complicated. Also, I am clearly not the best person to do anything of the sort. You might have noticed from my previous conversation with him."

"Let me rephrase my statement; it's about your thoughts on him. The way you act around him."

"I know what you're saying!" I smiled; glad someone else understands what he's doing to me.

"You do?" Her eyes lit up at my response, "Then why haven't you done anything about it?

"What do you mean? I was trying to tell him in the compartment, but you interrupted me."

"Really?" She seemed astounded, "I thought you were accusing him of trying to turn you into Hermione."

"I was." Am I missing something? Because right now I am very confused, which is very bad since I am sitting in my enlightening position. It takes a lot to confuse me in this state!

"Wait a moment, I don't think you're understanding what I'm saying." The freckle-faced girl scooted closer to me with an amused grin plastered all over her face.

"I don't think I do either."

I honestly do not enjoy people knowing articles of information and keeping them locked inside their heads, away from other people. I mean besides private thoughts. But this isn't private, and more importantly, it has something to do with me.

"I'm going to tell you something and you're going to have to pay close attention to me, okay?"

I nodded at the redhead; my mind fully prepared for any information she was about to tell me.

"I think you fancy Neville."

Besides that.

"WHAT?" I raised an eyebrow at her, completely flabbergasted why she would suggest such an insane proposition.

"It's the way you act around him," She quickly added, "It's just not like you."

"That's only because he's trying to turn me into Hermione." I explained her as if it were the most obvious information to exist on our planet.

"Why do you say that?" She let her head rest on her hand as she looked me directly in the eyes.

"It's because when he's around me my mind is like that of a Conmiscére, all mixed up inside. You know me, how my mind is normally free to jump from one subject to another, but when he's around I focus only on him. What's worse is that I'll try to logically explain my thoughts about him. This is me Ginny, I don't think logically!"

"You've got it bad." She laughed at my rambling.

"Me paenitet?"

Maybe I heard her wrong. My mind isn't exactly in its clearest stage right now.

"What you just said proves it."

"Proves what?"

This has got to be the most confusing day I have ever experienced.

"Before we spoke of Neville you were your typical Luna-self, but once I added him to the mix you changed. That is associated with what I like to call 'The Curse of the First Crush'."

"Let me get this straight, you're suggesting that my mind is jumbled up because I like Neville, more than a friend?"

"Exactly!"

"And they call me 'Loony'!"

"Think about it a moment. Go back to everyone else you've ever known. Did they ever cause such effects on your behavior?"

"Well not, but…"

"Have you ever thought of a person," She interrupted me, "focused on someone for long periods of time. Wondering little things about them such as, 'What's their favorite color?', 'What is their family is like', or even 'I wonder what it would be like to be closer to that person.'?"

I thought about that question for a while before giving my response. I have thought of many people in such ways. I knew what she meant though, and she was right. I did think of him more than normal. Well, more than my version of normal. The more I thought of it the more worried that I became. She was absolutely correct! At that moment I didn't know what to do. I, Luna Lovegood, fancy Neville Longbottom.

"It's okay, first crushes are always the hardest, nobody really knows what to do with them. She smiled cordially at me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

"How could it have happened to me? I didn't even see it coming!"

"Love does that to you. Now come on, the train's almost at Hogwarts, we really need to change into our school robes."

I let her help me up off of the ground. Once I just stared at the compartment, terrified at what might happen if I went in. I didn't want to face Neville now, not until I had everything figured out. Ginny seemed to sense this, and so she went into the compartment without me and brought out both of our uniforms. It took us some time to find a compartment to change in, but we did find one. It was almost seconds upon the arrival to our stop. I pulled my robe over my uniform and fingered my butterbeer-cap necklace while closing my eyes. I needed to wait until I knew he was already heading towards the school in one of the carriages. I waited until everyone had left out of the train before I exited out of the compartment and headed out of the train.


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gingerbee: Yeah, you better like this pairing...they're great! Thanks for reviewing!

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