Author's Note and Disclaimer:
Second part is up!
You know it,I don't own the HP characters.
When I woke up the next morning I felt still sleepy. But I believed that the misteltoe I had put over my bed would wake me up if I lay under it for 5minutes. So I waited the five minutes and then stood up,putting on clothes for the walk to Hogsmeade. Passing the window I looked out onto a snowy landscape. The hills,which were to be seen from the high,decorated windows where covered in fresh white. It must have been snowing overnight. So far I wasn't able to say the sun and the sky was covered with clouds. I decided to have breakfast before we could go to Hogsmeade and strode through the common room out on the corridor. The great hall was nearly empty,students where probably still sleeping or already on the grounds making snowmen. I sat down on the table,a plate appeared in front of me and I started to pick pancakes and chocolate cream from a big plate in the middle of the table. Suddenly I felt someone's eyes on me. Looking up I met Neville's gaze,who gave me a smile and held one thumb up in my direction.
I smiled back radiantly and pointed towards my food then made a circle with my forefinger and then pointed to the door of the great hall. He started to chuckle and he had understand what I had meant. And that was I was going to finnish eating and then meet him down the passage to the small wizarding village Hogsmeade.
I finnished my breakfast,stood up and strode towards the door. Noticing I had forgotten my scarf I hurried up the stairs to our common room and took it from my bed where I had put it before. Wrapping it around my neck I made my way back down to the entrance of the great hall. Neville was already there,he grinned and held out an arm for me to take it,which I did.
„Morning Luna.",he said softly,making my heart beat faster.
„Morning Neville.",I said,my voice lower then I had expected it to be.
„Come on,let's go.",we made our way past ,who looked at our permission to go to Hogsmeade and let us pass.
„Did you ever think about becoming an Animagus?",Neville asked,while rising his eyebrows.
„An Animagus?",I asked back,but it was more of a statement then a question."No,but it would be great to be one!"
„I thought so too. It would be great to be able to transform into an animal sometimes. But I heard it's hard to become one.",he let one of his hands slip into his bag and took out a book."I've been reading a bit about it,seems like a lot of work,but we're used to that,aren't we?"
I nodded,"What animal would you like to be if you'd become and animagus?"
„A dog.",my voice mingled with Neville's,then we both started to laugh at the same time.
„But it's not easy to transform yourself. I mean if you managed it one time,then it's easy but the first time is difficult."
„And I'm not sure if I would want to. If your not registered it could end badly.",I added. Neville nodded.
„What do you plan on being after school?",he asked.
„Auror.",I said eagerly,"It must be amazing to do that job."
We had reached Hogsmeade. The streets where covered with snow,traces from students of Hoggwarts mixed with the ones of the inhabitants of the village. Even a cat had been running down the street as it seemed.
„Let's go to honeydukes!",I pulled Neville on his arm towards the sweet shop. I loved sweets,especially chocolate. Something I had never seen there was on one of the shelves. Hearts made of chocolate,with red glittering jelly on them. Longingly I looked over to them,but how would that look like if I'd buy chocolate hearts,especially in front of Neville?
So I decided to buy a box of chocolate frogs. Leaving the shop I offered a chocolate frog to Neville,who took it and nibbled on the chocolate,some of it left on his lower lip as the chocolate was eaten.
„Neville,wait.",I turned towards him and reached up with one hand,let my fingers slide carefully over his soft lips and brush away the chocolate stain. Surprised,his lips curled into a smile,when I looked up at him. I wished this moment would never end. Sadly enough,it did,as Ron strode towards us.
„Luna,Neville!",Ron waved and came nearer. Hermione was pulled along with him and Harry followed. Hermione lookd appologetically and Harry grinned at us.
„Hello Ron!",I said,my voice dreamily.
„Where are you going to?",Ron asked,his eyes glancing from me to Neville and back.
„We don't know yet.",I said and turned to Harry. "Where is Ginny,I thought you'd be with her?"
„She needed to get new Quills at Scrivenshaft's and insisted that we wait for her outside,because it's packed."
„I get you.",said Neville.
„Well we're off to The Three Broomsticks,see you!",said Ron eagerly.
„We'd be happy to see you there!",Harry added and followed Ron and Hermione as they strode towards the small bar.
As we walked down the main street we saw Ginny coming out of the parchment and quill shop. She waved at us."Hello! Do you want to come to the Three Broomsticks as well?"
But she didn't wait for an answer,she waved another time and then vanished into the direction of the Three Broomsticks.
„I think I need a hot drink too.",I said more to had heard,he gave a chuckle.
„Do you intend to follow them?",he asked me.
„No I..",I hesitated."If you want to we can follow them.",I finnished.
„I don't mind if you want to go somewhere else either. How does the Hog's head sound to you?"
„That would be great! We didn't see Aberforth for a while!",I pulled him with me towards the Hog's head.
When we reached the door he held it open for me and let me pass him,before closing it carefully so the cold air would stay outside. Aberforth nodded to us welcomingly and we sat down on a desk.
„How are you,Aberforth?",I asked when he had reached us.
„Not you two?"
„We're fine you got tea for me?",I prefered tea lately. Tea was good on cold winter days. Aberforth nodded and turned to Neville who ordered a warmed up pumpkin juice.
I looked at him in surprise,"Can I just have a sip to see how it tastes?"
„Of course,Luna.",when Aberforth brought us the drinks he raised his eyebrows in my direction and I took a sip. The juice was warming up my body instantly,it was a bit sweeter then pumpkin juice usually is,but it tasted good. I nodded approvingly and made a memory to order it next time.
„Do you go home for christmas Neville?",I turned my attention back to Neville. He shook his head.
„Grandmum said she has to visit a friend and I didn't mind staying at Hoggwarts.",he gave me a chuckle,"What about you?"
„No,I'll be staying here 's busy travelling for the Quibbler while they are rebuilding the house."
„Awesome,he continued his work on the Quibbler?"
„Yes,he's trying to find more evidence on Crumple horned Snorkacks now. And the horn was really an Erumpet horn.",I added.
„I hope the house will be done soon.",Neville smiled warmly, "But I'm happy your going to be here at christmas."
My heart started beating faster. He wanted to spend christmas with me? That would be overwhelming. Neville seemed to know what I was thinking,because his smile grew even wider. "Would you want to come to the Griffindor common room for christmas evening? We're going to have a party after the dinner."
„I'd love to!",I said,my voice dreamily. And for the second time here in Hogsmeade I wasn't able to get my eyes off Neville whose scarf hung into his pumpkin juice.
I chuckled and tugged it out,drying it with warmth of my wand.
The day had passed to quickly. After the Hog's head we had visited Zonko's joke shop,for Neville to buy something for the christmas party and then we had settled into the Three Broomsticks with our friends. After a while it was time to go back to Hoggwarts,where we had dinner and then divided into our common rooms. Neville and I had decided to meet the next with Ginny in the great hall to go down to Hagrid and help him find nice trees for the great hall and the common rooms. I didn't mind Ginny being there,she had been my best friend ever since I had met her. She had helped me a lot with finding new friends,especially in Griffindor. Some people still thought I was strange,but I didn't mind anymore. I had my friends and I was friendly with my house and a couple of other Griffindors and Hufflepuffs. I thought there would always be people talking badly about you,it would only be a matter of how you see it.
I sat up in my bed,turning my gaze to the window. It had began to snow again. A sudden thought came into my mind. I staggered out of my bed,regretting the loss of the warm blankets a bit,but went on and put on my robes. Then I walked down to the common room and out of it into the corridor. Carefully I made my way down the corridor to the one which led to the astronomy tower. Climbing up the stairs I lit my wand to see more. A few portraits blinked at me dazzled by the light and closed their eyes again,when I went past them. Reaching the top of the tower I sat down. The sky was clear of clouds on some places and the stars shimmered trough them. My breath built white clouds in front of me and snow fell onto my nose. I couldn't avoid breathing some of it in,which made my nose feel cold and I brushed over it. Looking up I suddenly saw a star,gliding through the darkness on the sky and vanishing behind yet another cloud. I made a wish to myself,a wish to make my friends happy and healthy. For a moment I stood there,continued gazing up into the sky,then I turned around and walked to the door. Noises came up to my ears from the bottom of the stairs. I quickly stepped back into the darkness of the wall and casted a dissilusiment charm on me. A moment later McGonnagal stepped onto the scene. Her eyes glided over the place I was standing and shivering at,then she stepped towards the wall,looking up into the sky. She seemed to take in the scene with all her senses. I didn't wait for her to finnish looking,however I carefully and slowly stepped towards the stairs,being out of hearing range I rushed down the stairs and back to the common room. I was asleep the very moment I got into my bed.