Ron, Hermione, and Dean headed toward the edge of the woods. They walked very quietly and slowly as to catch any sound that might let them know of others hiding near them. They were about to leave the cover of the trees when they heard a twig snap to their left. Their heads turned simultaneously as they heard some mutterings. It sounded like Neville, but it sounded like he wasn't alone. Ron put his fingers to his lips to let the others know to keep silent, and he crept over to the area where they had heard Neville. Hermione followed close behind him, her hand grasping the back of his shirt. Dean followed both of them.
Ron turned slightly to his left as he heard another sound, Hermione followed him, still clutching his shirt, and Dean followed both of them.
"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted. Hermione stood there, frozen, her mouth hanging wide open.
"What?" asked Dean, walking around Ron to look. "Merlin's beard! Neville's got himself a girl!"
Indeed he did. They had caught Neville and Luna snogging in the trees.
"Luna, when did you get here?" asked Hermione, having gotten over the initial shock and becoming calm long before either of the boys.
"I popped in and found Neville running as everyone was starting to hide," Luna said calmly. The fact that three of her classmates had found her snogging Neville Longbottom did not seem to phase her—but then, nothing ever seemed to phase her.
Neville just sat there, his eyes wide and his mouth moving quickly. He seemed to be stuttering, but no sound was coming from his mouth.
"Way to go, Neville!" said Dean loudly as he walked over and clapped him on the back. "I knew you had it in you!"
"Ha—had what?" asked Neville, stuttering. Dean ignored his question, though.
"Well, we're sorry for having interrupted this love-fest, but we need to go and find the others. You're welcome to join us if you'd like, but I think we'd all understand if you want to stay here," said Dean, looking at the others. Ron and Hermione just nodded, still a little shocked.
"We'll just go back to the house and sit around the campfire while you find the others. I'm sure it won't be long, and we'll keep the fire going," said Luna calmly. She got up gracefully and handed Neville her hand to help him up. Neville's eyes were still wide and he looked from Ron to Hermione to Dean then back to Hermione and Ron. He nodded blankly and they disapparated back to the house.
As they walked away, Ron shook his head. "Wow," he said quickly.
"What?" asked Hermione curiously.
Oh, oh. I could definitely say the wrong thing here, thought Ron. He knew that he could make inferences that would seem very bad to Hermione. He had to choose his words wisely.
"Well, it's just…surprising," said Ron. Okay, that was good. Surprising could be stated about anyone!
"What's so surprising?" asked Hermione innocently.
Oh, I wish that she wasn't so naïve at times! "Umm…well, you know," responded Ron.
"No, I don't know," replied Hermione.
"He means it's surprising that Neville got himself a girl," stated Dean, clearly frustrated with the conversation that had been going on between Ron and Hermione.
Hermione stopped walking. Uh-oh, thought Ron.
"Why on Earth would that be so surprising?" asked Hermione, putting her hands on her hips. "Neville's a very nice boy. He's so sweet and gentle and caring."
Ron looked at her surprised. "Well, if you like him so much, why don't you date him?" Bloody hell, Ron thought. Wrong thing to say, wrong thing to say. He winced, waiting for his punishment.
"Ronald Weasley!" shouted Hermione.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it just popped out," Ron said quickly, hoping that she would have pity on him.
"But you were still thinking it!" she replied.
"Hey, what's all this noise going on here?" asked a voice behind them. Ron and Hermione whirled around to see Harry looking at them.
"Thank goodness you're here, mate. I don't know how you ever put up with these two rowing all the time," said Dean, walking over to stand by Harry.
"Where's Ginny?" Ron asked, hoping that the change of subject would work. Just then Ginny walked up and stood next to Harry.
"I'm right here," she said. "So, what is the argument about this time?"
"Ron can't believe that Neville has a girlfriend," said Hermione, glaring at Ron.
"Neville's got a girlfriend! I never thought—" Harry stopped at Hermione shifted her glare over to him. "Uh….maybe we should find Seamus," said Harry, also trying to change the subject.
"Great idea. I think I heard someone head over this way," Dean said, leading the way out of the woods. The five then set out in search for Seamus.
An hour later they were still walking around looking for Seamus.
"Bloody hell, where is he!" said Ron tiredly. "I'm about ready to call it quits."
"Yeah, me too," replied Dean.
"I think that's exactly what we should do," said Hermione. The boys looked at her. Harry's eyebrows were raised, Ron's eyes were wide, and Dean's mouth was hanging open. "What!" Hermione said in answer to their stares. "I'm just as tired as you are. And if you ask me, if he hid this well, he might as well revel in it." With that, Hermione turned on her heels and headed toward the house and the campfire.
"She's right. Besides, we don't want to leave Neville and Luna there for too long," said Ginny, following Hermione. She did not walk away quick enough to miss the shivers running down the boys' spines, though. She turned her head back toward them. "Oh, grow up!"
When Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Dean reached the backyard, they saw Seamus sitting with Neville and Luna. Seamus looked pleased with himself, Neville looked nervous, and Luna looked like…well, Luna.
"I win," said Seamus, smiling smugly.
"How do you win? You gave up," asked Ginny, crossing her arms.
"Oh, who cares? We're back now, and that infernal game is over," said Ron, sitting down hard on one of the benches.
As Hermione sat down next to him she said quietly, "I didn't think it was all that bad." As she said this she looked straight into his eyes. He could see her smile by her eyes, and felt heat rising up his neck and he could feel his ears turning red. She put a hand on his arm to steady herself as she sat down and shivers went up his spine.
She's right. It wasn't that bad at all. Actually, now that I think of it, it was wonderful.