Brianne Means Strong Chapter 10 (9 If you don't count my depression "I quit" chapter)

I think I said just about everything in that last author's note. So I'll cut to the chase.

It turns out Hagrid was only pulling Molly's leg about Kelpies (duh), and instead they were learning about Bowtruckles, and it turned out to be a very interesting lesson.

Luna Lovegood proved to be Loony, as Molly had heard on the lightening-fast Hogwarts grapevine, but she was a nice person and had the crazy sense of humor that Molly enjoyed.

Luna and Molly were instant friends. Perhaps it was the fact that they were both outcasts, or perhaps it was because they were the only two that though a Bowtruckle was cute, but something clicked.

Now, rather than reading at the lonely end of the Slytherin table to eat, Molly was talking and laughing with Luna at the Ravenclaw. As weeks passed, she also developed friendships with Ernie MacMillan, Susan Bones, and Neville Longbottom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were those "sort-of" friends, the type you would say hello to in the hallways, but you aren't telling them your most intimate secrets.

In fact, Molly didn't want to tell anybody her most intimate secret. For one thing, Dumbledore would certainly find out, and he wouldn't like the fact that she was going around telling everyone that she was Draco's sister, and for another, Molly didn't trust people very easily.

It was now December, and she was planning Christmas gifts. Molly found it easier to make gifts than buy them. She had never gotten a gift from anyone, and she hoped that this year she might get a Christmas present.

For Luna, she had made a mobile of the Quibbler, and it sang a song by Stubby Boardman. She had made Ernie a pocket protector as a practical joke that beeped whenever he was getting too corny, and Susan was getting a model of a unicorn that walked around (here the author has run out of steam on magical objects that can be crafts). Molly was still deciding on what to get for Neville.

Neville. He was so cute in his own little way, as he bumbled around, so unsure of himself. Molly, at age 15, decided she had developed her very first crush.

And she finally found herself trusting enough to tell someone about it.

"You've never fancied anyone before?" Luna looked at her incredulously, arms folded over her chest. "Who is it?"

"Uh, Neville."

"Really? Longbottom?" Luna practically shouted at the table.

"Shh! Yes. Why? Do you like him?"

"No, I think I like Colin Creevey, but it's just so cute! Should I talk to him for you?"

"What? No, I talk to him often enough. Wait, why are you all girly all of a sudden?" Molly was rather baffled at her friend's sudden clique-yness. "Do I need to take you to the Hospital Wing? Are you feeling alright?" She playfully put her hand to Luna's forehead.

"No, I just think it's really funny that you have never liked anyone before," Luna said calmly.

"Well, I've been shut up for most—I mean the guys in America were never very good looking."

"Really? I've always thought it was the other way around," Luckily, Luna had missed the fact that Molly almost revealed her deepest secret.

And then it registered with Molly.

"Wait. You like Colin Creevey?"

"Well, yes. I do."

Molly was even more baffled.

Later

Molly lay in her bed, mulling over what Luna had said. Of course, she had read about people falling in love younger than she was. But, that was in a book. It was almost like love was off-limits to her…and yet…

The next day

"Hey!"

"Hey!"

"Uh, what would you like for Christmas, Molly?" he asked.

"Me?"

"Uh, yeah. I think so."

"Oh, I dunno." Molly's face turned beat red as she thought about how she faced the same problem finding Neville a gift. Maybe he liked her, too?

"Oh. OK. Uh, do you, I dunno…do you wanna help me out with homework in the library after Magical Music?"

Damn. Molly didn't know what she had been hoping for. Would he ask her to go with her to Hogsmeade? She was so stupid sometimes.

"Yeah, yeah that's good."

That night, Molly walked into the library to find Neville sitting at a table by himself.

"Hi, uh, what did you need help with?"

"Well, I was sorta hoping you'd help me with Potions."

"Oh, ok. Well, we were working on the Truth Serum, right?" Of all things. Truth serum. And here she sat, lying about her own identity to the guy she was so madly in love with.