Suddenly I See

Chapter II: Of Toads and Teenagers

Written by: Snow Illusion

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Ginny Weasley was beautiful.

She was truly, truly beautiful. She had skin the color of moonlight dotted with hazlenut freckles. Long, scarlet red hair that winked gold in the sunlight. Blazing green eyes that burned a hole through you if you stared too long. Not to mention, a body any American movie star would kill over.

And not only was she beautiful, she was a girl every guy wanted to be with. She played Quidditch. She could throw a few punches, she wasn't afraid of anything. She was smart. She was funny.

And damn, she was beautiful.

Luna kept these thoughts to herself as the corner of her mouth lifted in a tiny smile in recognition that she did indeed hear Ginny's last statement. The two of them were in one of the last compartments of the train leading to Hogwarts, along with Neville, who was huddled in the corner with Trevor. Hermione and Ron were in a Prefect's meeting, and Harry was no where to be found.

Ginny had just finished her tangent about the summer, apparently a few boys had stalked her and she had been forced to conjure some Bat Bogey Hexes in a flash, and Luna was now nodding absentmindedly. She had stopped listening awhile ago. She longed to fish into her bag and find the latest addition of "The Quibbler" and wasn't quite sure why she agreed to listen to Ginny. Oh wait, yes she did. Friendship. True friendship. The notion was still foreign to her and she forced herself into the conversation.

"How was your summer, Neville?" she asked serenely, turning her large orbish eyes towards the gangly male. Neville had finally gotten his long awaited growth spurt and shot up quite a few feet. Now his arms and legs seemed too long and his hands and feet too big for his body. His grandmother had assured him he would balance over the school year, but Neville couldn't wait until he no longer looked like a stalk of celery.

Neville jumped at the mention of his name and Trevor leaped out of his closed hands.

"Trevor!" Neville gulped, thrashing around his arms feverishly. Trevor evaded his twitchy fingers and croaked ominiously. Luna fell to her knees in an attempt to catch the toad but it seemed it didn't want to be caught.

"We'll catch him eventually," Ginny sighed, twirling a long piece of hair around her slender index finger. She let it fly and it curled lightly against her chest. She turned her attention towards the window and left the other two frantically on the floor.

"Trevor," Neville repeated with a little more harshness. He pivoted sharply and his hip bumped into Luna's shoulder. Luna squeaked.

"Luna," Neville said, but he was unable to turn around and instead directed the name in the complete opposite direction of said person. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Luna answered, rubbing her shoulder lightly. "Let's find Trevor," she suggested, smiling a bit. They heard another croak and both of their heads turned towards Ginny's feet.

"There!" they both exclaimed at the same time and two pairs of hands shot for the troublesome toad. Trevor shook nervously. Luna's hands came toppling over Neville's.

"Got him," Luna breathed excitedly. She couldn't believe how much fun that had been! Neville hadn't said anything but had turned a soft shade of red. He gulped, his eyes not moving from Luna's pressed hands. There was a girl. And she was in close proximity to him, very close proximity. And her hands were on his. And it was nice.

"Well, are you gonna pick him up or what?" came Ginny's voice from above and both of them looked upwards. Ginny was reminded of puppies and laughed quite forcibly.

"Yeah - erm, sure, Luna just - uh - lift - I got him," Neville stuttered, growing even more red. Luna couldn't help but giggle and released her grip. Neville released a shaky breath.

She found her seat next to Ginny and flattened out her school skirt.

"Thanks," Neville said once he had found his seat too, Trevor now in a death lock in his fingers.

Luna cocked her head and smiled once again. "You're welcome."

She may not be the cuddliest snorcack in the box, but she knew attraction when she saw it. And it seemed that her impromptu hand holding had set off something very masculine in the boy sitting across from her. Ah, heartache. She knew it too well. Neville may had set his sights on Luna, but Luna had already chosen her mate for life.

"There you are. Took you long enough."

Harry Potter strode through the compartment door on top of the world. He messed his hair with one free hand while the other snaked it's way around Ginny's waist. He planted one wet one on her forehead. She frowned teasingly but everyone knew she wasn't truly mad.

Luna sighed. It was just too bad the object of her heart's desire was currently unavailable.

A minor inconvenience, really.

Nothing too bad.