Chapter Four
The absence of Harry and Ginny the next day made their tight-knit group a little empty but Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna soldiered on. Hermione felt a little lost without her best friend's advice but she Owled Ginny ever day and spent more time with Luna instead of doing her homework.

Ron seemed a little less cheerful without Harry around but Neville filled the gap where Harry had been and joked with Ron during class and at lunch. The week went by so quickly and before Luna knew it, Saturday had arrived. She was trusting on Hermione's expert advice to guide her so that she didn't make a fool of herself in front of Dean.

"You won't make a fool of yourself," Hermione said reassuringly as she tied back Luna's long blonde hair. She'd picked out a pink suede jacket over a white blouse with a lace-trimmed black skirt and now Luna was ready to go.

As Luna walked down the marble staircase and into the Entrance Hall Dean's eyes widened. He grinned and walked forward eagerly to meet her. Luna smiled at his reaction and swore to thank Hermione a hundred times later.

"You look beautiful," Dean said warmly as he took her hand. She thanked him and together they joined the line of students waiting to go to Hogsmeade. When they were outside the castle walls Luna felt like she could be more herself and Dean seemed to be having a good time so she took that as a good sign.

They talked about Quidditch, music they liked and how they'd spent their summer holidays. Dean was easy to talk to and she had to keep reminding herself not to stare at him constantly because it would probably weird him out. She caught him staring at her a few times and giggled as he pushed a lock of her blonde hair behind her ear.

They were walking along the street in Hogsmeade when there was a loud bang from behind them. Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop which they'd just past had exploded. Dean pulled Luna to the ground as the fire whooshed over where their heads had just been. Dean pulled Luna to her feet and they ran back down the road they'd just come from.

When they got back to Hogwarts they were out of breath and covered in snow from ducking to the ground. Ron and Hermione were down by the lake building a snowman and they ran over to them.

"Weren't you guys supposed to be in Hogsmeade?" Ron asked, confused.

"The shop exploded!" Luna cried, bending over because she was still out of breath from running all the way. Hermione and Ron questioned Dean about what had happened and were just as confused over the whole thing as Luna felt.

She was angrier about her date with Dean being spoiled to worry about why the shop in Hogsmeade had exploded. They could see more people running back from Hogsmeade though which made them think something else had happened. Luna excused herself and went back up to the castle to clear her head.

***

Unable to go to Hogsmeade, Dean and Seamus had organised a party in Gryffindor Tower for that night. They snuck down to the kitchens and got a ton of food from the house elves. This behaviour, Hermione thought, was reminiscent of Fred and George when they'd been at Hogwarts. She felt a pang of sadness when she thought of Fred, who was no longer with them.

Dean had purchased a few boxes of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes fireworks and he set them all off with the help of Neville, Seamus and Ron. The common room was difficult to walk through because you had to dodge the many fireworks circling about. Hermione was in a chair in the corner, reading a book in the hope that no fireworks would disturb her.

Somehow Luna had snuck into their common room and was dancing with Dean to the Weird Sisters that someone had tuned on the radio. She looked like she was having the time of her life. Neville however, looked sulky.

"What's wrong Neville?" she asked kindly, closing her book. Neville shook his head and mumbled something inaudible. Hermione put her book down and moved over to the sofa next to Neville.

"You can tell me," she pressed, now anxious to know what had Neville so upset.

"I like Luna," he mumbled. Realisation dawned as Hermione put two and two together. Luna and Dean were dancing together. Of course Neville was going to be upset to see the girl he liked with another guy.

"You should tell her Neville," Hermione continued but Neville shook his head.

"Too embarrassing," he mumbled. Hermione sighed. There had to be another way for her to get Neville to admit his feelings to Luna. But what?

***

Luna was in the library during her free period on Tuesday reading a book on counter-jinxes for Defence Against the Dark Arts. She almost fell of her chair when Hermione snuck up behind her and dropped a pile of books on the table.

"Jeez Hermione, you scared me!" Luna yelped. She closed her book and dropped it in her bag before turning to her best friend. Hermione's eyes gleamed with determination which made Luna wonder what she was up to.

"What's going on?" she asked suspiciously.

Hermione pulled out the chair next to Luna and sat down.

"Hypothetically, let's say that someone liked you. Even though you like Dean, would you give this other boy a chance?" Hermione asked, failing at her attempt to sound indifferent.

Luna grinned.

"It depends who this other boy is," she said, watching Hermione's reaction. They both knew that she had no option but to confess her motive behind the questions now.

"It's Neville," Hermione confessed.

"Neville?" Luna asked in disbelief. She'd never gotten any indication that Neville liked her and he was the last person she'd been expecting Hermione to say. She'd never really pictured Neville as potential boyfriend material but now that she thought about it he was really nice and kind of cute in his own way. But would she really choose him over Dean?

"Just give him a chance. He's really embarrassed about liking you and he was so upset when he saw you with Dean last night," Hermione babbled.

Luna nodded in understanding. She could imagine how she'd feel if she saw the guy she liked with another girl. Crushed, hopeless and she'd probably want to slap either the girl or the guy in the face.

"I'd give him a chance if he came and told me he liked me himself," she decided. Hermione looked happy. Luna knew that she'd probably go back to Neville and try to convince him to come and talk to her.

Luna picked up her book and went back to looking up counter-jinxes while Hermione ran out of the library. She found Neville sitting in the same spot as the night before

"Neville, you have a chance!" she said excitedly. Neville looked up from his Charms homework with raised eyebrows. Did Hermione really expect Luna to give him a chance?