Chapter Fifteen – Winter Solstice

The next morning, the Great Hall started buzzing when Harry and Ginny entered together, holding hands. Neville was already sitting next to Ron and Hermione. He had to keep himself from laughing when he saw Ron's jaw drop in shock. Hermione, however, had a huge smile on her face. Neville could tell she was pleased.

"Did this happen last night?" Hermione beamed.

Ginny shook her head. "Since Halloween," she admitted.

"Really?" Hermione asked. "I had no idea."

"I think that was the idea," Neville said slyly. Harry gave him an exasperated look. Slowly, everyone seemed to realize that Ron hadn't said a word yet.

"Ron?" Harry asked tentatively. "Say something, mate."

"If you ever hurt her…" Ron trailed off.

"Oh, grow up, Ron," Ginny said, glaring at her older brother. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

"I'm not going to hurt Ginny, Ron," Harry said in a low voice.

"Better not," Ron grumbled.

Hermione put her arm around Ron. "Love, don't I always say Harry's like a brother to me? You don't see him threatening you not to hurt me," she said.

Harry coughed discreetly.

"You didn't!" Hermione said, sounding offended.

"Someone had to look out for you, in case this lout tried to hurt you," Harry said apologetically.

Hermione looked like she didn't know whether to be upset or pleased. "Very well then."

"I feel a bit left out," Neville said, laughing. "No one threatened me when I started dating Luna."

"I could threaten Luna for you," Ginny said cheerfully.

"Who's going to threaten me?" a voice said behind him. Neville turned around and saw Luna standing there. She had made some…interesting fashion choices today. Her vest was on backwards. She was wearing the trousers that female students were allowed to wear know, but she had them rolled up to just below her knee. Luna then sat down next to Neville, which surprised him. Luna normally ate breakfast with Draco.

"Aren't you going to ask why I'm here?" Luna asked, helping herself to some porridge.

"I'll bite," Hermione asked. "Why are you here Luna?"

"I'm here because I think I'm supposed to find out how you all really feel about what Draco had to say last night. And then I think I'm supposed to tell him what you said," Luna sighed. "He was very vague this morning, in the common room."

The group all shifted around in their seat uncomfortably. "Well…there's not much to say, is there?" Harry asked.

Ron continued. "We'll find out what he knows, and if we think there's something he should know, we'll tell 'im."

Luna rested her head on her chin as she took a sip of water. "That's what I told him you'd say," she said softly. Neville sat up a little straighter when he realized Luna had put her hand on his thigh. She had never done that at the table before. Tentatively, he put his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. She smiled. Neville could tell that she was tired. He briefly wondered how long she and Draco stayed up last night, talking.

But then the bell rang, and Neville had more pressing things on his mind. Like the History of Magic test that he was determined not to fail.

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The next few weeks when quicker than Neville could ever imagine. Before he knew it, there was only a week of school left before the Winter Holiday. Everyone was excited about the Winter Solstice Celebration that would be the night classes ended. Hermione did the majority of the organizing, but had a lot of help from Lavender and Parvati. Apparently, the two girls convinced Hermione that they needed to combine the carnival feeling with a dance.

Hermione consented. It was finally decided that the carnival section would be first, followed by two hours of dancing. But she was firm that no one would wear dress robes, which was fine by most every male at Hogwarts.

Three days before classes ended, the seventh years were invited to a huge Career Fair. It took place in the evening. The Great Hall became inhabited by what seemed to be innumerous booths and stalls.

Neville, Harry, Ron and Hermione walked in a group in the beginning. After the first three (Magical Maids, Gringotts and Tyrannical Toys), they finally decided to let Hermione wander off on her own. She seemed determined to stop at every booth and talk to every singe person.

Harry and Ron were mainly interested in the Auror program. Ron asked Neville casually, if he would think about that, and Neville answered a definite no. At that point, Neville left Harry and Ron, who were talking to an Auror, to wander off to the St. Mungos booth.

There were several other students around the booth. Terry Boot, Padma Patil, even Goyle was there. Neville had to keep himself from laughing, picturing Goyle cleaning the chamber pots.

Neville already had his application for the Healing Program filled out. He had even started two of the essays, and planned on finishing those up during break. All he needed was his third recommendation, having already asked Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall. He had a sneaking suscpion he would have to ask Professor Snape.

"Are you interested in the Healing Program?" a kindly looking wizard asked.

Neville looked up, surprised. He hadn't realized anyone had noticed him at the counter. "Yes, sir, I really am." Which was true. Healing was the only professor Neville wanted to consider.

"It's a very competitive program, young man," the wizard said kindly. "Students right out of Hogwarts rarely are chosen. It sometimes helps to wait a year or two before applying."

"I didn't know that," Neville said, his face falling. "Healing is really the only thing I want to do."

"Why?" the wizard asked simply.

"I'm not sure," Neville said honestly. "I'm good at other things, like Herbology. I know I could easily get a job in that field. But I want to help people. I'm actually working on a project this year with a professor, to try to find a cure for a disease."

"Really?" the wizard asked, raising an eyebrow. "Which one?"

"Cruor Toxicium," Neville said quietly, hoping none of the other students overheard.

"Any luck so far?" the wizard asked interestedly.

"A fair bit," Neville said. "We've managed to isolate the poison, and we thought we might have found an antidote, but it only lasts an hour, and then actually makes the poison worse."

"Which would not be good," the wizard said, smiling.

"Exactly," Neville sighed. "But it's a lot further then we were at the end of last year."

The wizard started to study him a bit. "Haven't I seen you around St. Mungos? You don't have the disease, do you?" he asked.

"No, sir," Neville answered quickly. "I have family who live…"

"Of course, Longbottom," the wizard said knowingly. "I've been working with your mother over the past few months."

"I'll see her at Christmas," Neville said.

"Tell you what," the wizard said, putting his hand in his pocket. "I can understand why you would have a passion of Healing. When you're ready to send in your application in, owl it to me, and I'll make sure it goes to the top of the stack."

Neville's eyes grew wide. "Thank you, sir. Thank you very much," he said happily. Neville stuck his hand out, and the wizard shook it heartily. Then he handed Neville a business card. Neville turned and walked away before he looked at the card.

The card belonged to Herbert Bonham, Head Healer. Neville's eyes grew wide when he saw this. He couldn't have just possibly had a conversation with the most senior Healer at St. Mungo's, could he? As great of a possibility that was, Neville was actually happier with the thought that the Head Healer was working with his mum. Maybe it was possible that she would get better.

Neville looked around for his group. Harry and Ron were no where to be seen, and Hermione was in an animated conversation with a witch at a small booth. The banner above the booth said, "No More Trees! Wand Making without Cutting down Friends!"

A moment later, Hermione was by his side. "I have it narrowed to five," Hermione said happily.

"That's all?" Neville asked with a grin.

"It's taken me almost a year to get down to five," Hermione said in a seriously. "This is a huge decision to be made."

Harry and Ron joined them just as Neville was about to ask what Hermione's five choices were. They were talking happily about the different classes Aurors had to take. But then Hermione cut them off by announcing that it was time to work on decorations for the Winter Solstice celebration.

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"Happy Solstice!" Hermione yelled when Neville and Luna walked into the Great Hall. The party wasn't going to be starting for another hour, but all of the seventh years were going to help set up, and Luna volunteered to help as well.

Neville was in a very good mood. Classes were done for two weeks, and now he was going to get to enjoy a fun night with all of his friends, and especially Luna.

Luna had dressed for the celebration carefully. She was wearing a long green gown with bell sleeves. Her hair was flowing wildly down her back, and on her head was a small wreath. When Neville asked why she dressed up, she simply responded, "To honor the Mother Goddess."

Soon, the majority of the seventh years were in the Great Hall, putting the finishing touches on the place. It looked wonderful. In the fireplace, a huge Yule log was burning. Garland of ivy and holly were draped around every window. The Enchanted Ceiling showed a simple snow fall, but with the stars shining brightly.

Finally, the doors opened and the rest of the school came in. The Great Hall was divided into different sections. Some of the professors had agreed to tell Solstice stories in one corner, while enchanted bells gave a musical performance in another.

In the center of the Great Hall were different types of games, "like a carnival," Hermione said. Each game had a different type of prize, all donated from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.

Neville desperately wanted to win a prize for Luna. He chose what he thought was a simple game. You simply stand behind a line and try to throw a small ring around a bottle. But no matter how many times Neville tried, he couldn't win a prize.

He was sort of glad when Luna whispered that her father heard that the owners of the joke shop had bartered away their souls to open their shop, and that each product they made stole a little piece of the purchaser's soul as well. Luna had no desire for Neville to win her a prize. Which was good, because Neville was beginning to think that the games were impossible to win.

At ten o'clock, the professors helped the seventh years clean up the Great Hall. Then Lee Jordan, who had been the DJ for the Halloween Ball last year, set up, and started the music.

Immediately the dance floor filled up with students. Luna didn't want to dance yet, so they walked to a table to grad something to drink. Ron and Hermione were at the table, too. Neville asked where Harry was, and Ron said that Ginny dragged him off to dance.

"Do you want to risk it, Hermione?" Ron asked. He took a sip of punch and coughed slightly. "Spiked again."

Hermione moaned. "I was going to put a charm on the punch!" she cried. Then she just shook her head and sighed. "Well, hopefully no first years will drink any."

"Hand me a glass," Neville laughed. Ron shrugged and poured some punch in a glass and handed it to Neville. "I'm of age, I can drink if I want."

"I'll take a small glass, too, Ronald," Luna said dreamily. "I'm of age in three days."

"Luna…" Neville said softly. Luna wasn't supposed to drink alcohol because of her illness.

"It's fine, Neville," Luna whispered. "Just a little bit."

Ron handed her a half glass of punch. Then Luna took Neville's glass and poured half of her drink in his. "See, not much at all."

"I might as well have a glass too, then," Hermione said grumpily. Ron quickly handed her a glass. She raised it in a toast, and added, sounding much more pleasant, "Happy Christmas."

"Happy Winter Solstice, you mean," Luna correct before they took a sip.

"Happy Winter Solstice," Hermione smiled. They all clinked glasses and took a sip. It was strong!

"I bet it was Finnegan," Ron said sagely. "He spiked it last year."

Then a slower song could be heard. Neville took Luna and his glasses and put them on the table. Luna grabbed his hand, and they walked onto the dance floor without a word. This was the music Neville liked dancing too.

Luna rested her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck. Neville held her tightly to him; he loved being this close to her. But then she pulled away slightly. Luna leaned back, as if she were studying him.

"Is something wrong?" Neville asked worriedly.

"I just want to look at you," Luna said serenlely.

"Why?" Neville asked, confused. "Is something on my face?"

Luna took one hand, and stroked the side of his face. "I like looking at you."

"Really?" Neville asked, sounding surprised. Then he grinned sheepishly. "I like looking at you, too."

Luna smiled slowly. "I know you do," she said slyly. Luna then pulled herself to him again, putting her head back on his shoulder.

Suddenly Neville felt ten feet tall. He knew that Luna loved him. He knew that Luna enjoyed kissing him. But until that moment, he never actually put two and two together and realized that Luna was attracted to him. Just like he was attracted to her. He rather liked knowing that.

The dance ended far too soon in everyone's opinion. And unfortunately, the professors escorted all of the different houses back to their common rooms. So there was no chance to sneak off to the Greenhouse with Luna.

Which was okay, Neville reasoned as he walked back to the common room. There were no classes tomorrow, and the Hogwarts Express didn't leave until eleven. There would be time to spend with Luna tomorrow.