A/N- An update! Shocking, I know. This is going to be one of those collections that I only update when I get inspiration, I'm afraid.
Also written for the Acrostic-y Challenge for the prompt Neville Longbottom and the School of Prompts challenge for the quote "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." by Dr. Seuss
Neville sat on the front steps of the manor, waiting for Luna. It seemed like he was always waiting for Luna lately. The thought drew a sigh from him. Something needed to change.
After the Final Battle, he and Luna had joined the staff and the Order in repairing the school and cleaning up the grounds. They had attended all the funerals and Neville sat his N.E.W.T.S. in June. Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms were the only ones he had cared about and he'd done well on them. He was still surprised, however, when Kingsley offered him an Auror position along with Ron, Harry and Hermione. Hermione had declined, wanting to return to Hogwarts for the seventh year she had missed, but the boys had all said yes immediately. Ron and Harry hadn't even taken N.E.W.T.S. at all, but Kingsley had considered the combat experience enough.
Neville had immediately gone to Luna's, where he had been helping her and her father repair their house. He'd picked her up and swung her around after telling her about the Auror offer and then asked her to dinner. She had agreed and they had been dating ever since.
Before Luna had gone back to Hogwarts, they had seen as much of each other as possible given Neville's training schedule. Once she was back in school, they had owled and Neville visited for every Hogsmeade weekend and Quidditch match. They spent the majority of the school holidays either at his place or hers. It was difficult, not seeing her as much as he would have liked, but Neville was sure things would be different once Luna finished school.
But they hadn't been. In fact, they had gotten worse. Two weeks after school was over, Luna and her father had gone on another one of their infamous Snorckack-finding trips. They had been gone for nearly a month and Neville had missed her like crazy. When she returned, she had begun helping her father run the Quibbler and they spent much more time together, but a month later she left again on another search for yet another mystical creature.
Luna would be gone for weeks at a time and only return for a few weeks before she was off again. Neville knew that she loved what she was doing and he did not begrudge her that at all. But he missed his girlfriend. After everything that had happened in their lives at school and all he was doing now, Neville had no need for further adventure. As much as he wished otherwise, he didn't think things were going to work out between him and Luna.
He heard the quiet pop of apparition and looked up to see Luna walking up the pavement towards him. He stood and kissed her cheek when she reached him, smiling at her. His stomach churned. He didn't want to do this. All he could think about was how much he was going to miss her.
"How was your trip?" he asked. Her smile lit up her entire face as she regaled him with the tales of her latest search. She hadn't found the creature, of course, but that didn't make her any less enthusiastic about it.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," he said when she'd finished. "Luna, erm, there's something, well, I think that we, erm, it's just that," he huffed in annoyance at his inability to articulate and she put a hand on his arm.
"Neville," she said quietly and he looked up at her. "I'm leaving again in a few days."
"A few days?" he repeated incredulous. She nodded.
"Daddy has gotten new information and he wants me to follow up on it as soon as possible." Neville frowned. They sat in silence for a few moments.
"Perhaps it's best if we were no longer dating," Luna finally said. Neville's head whipped around.
"Luna, no, that's not what," but she shook her head to interrupt him.
"I will always be your friend, Neville Longbottom, but I am not what you need." Neville sighed.
"And I'm not what you need, am I?" She shook her head sadly. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
"I love you, Luna, you know that right?"
"Of course I do," she replied, pulling back and smiling at him. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
"I'll always be here for you, if you ever need anything," he said softly.
"I know that, Neville. You're a wonderful friend." Friends. That's all they were now. The thought of it made his heart clench. She kissed his cheek and squeezed his hand and turned to go.
"Friends have dinner, right?" Neville called out to her before she reached the gate. Luna turned and grinned.
"They do."
"Three Broomsticks at seven?"
"I'll be there." Neville watched her walk through the gate and Apparate away. He smiled. Luna was right. They would always be friends.