Chapter 2: Talks of the Future
The group of friends headed over to Hogsmeade and the Three Broomsticks to have some celebratory butterbeers. Finally, Hermione noticed that Luna and Neville were walking hand-in-hand, and gasped slightly. Luna blushed and Neville whistled as though he hadn't noticed the attention Hermione's gasp had brought the pair. As soon as they got inside the Three Broomsticks, Hermione and Ginny pulled Luna off to the side and asked for details.
"How long have you had a crush on him?" Ginny asked, but most of Luna's answers were the same.
"How long? Long enough, I suppose. I always made sure that he never had any nargles, and that started fifth year. So maybe it was then." Luna said wonderingly.
"Has he asked you out? You know, on a date?" Hermione questioned.
"No, but that's alright. Most people don't like to be seen with me in public." Luna didnt sound hurt as she'd said it, but it still left an effect on the girls. After a while, when Hermione and Ginny grew tired of trying to talk to Luna about Neville, the trio headed back to the boys who had butterbeers waiting for them. Seeing the girls, Harry hushed the two other boys. Guessing by Neville's blush, they'd been talking to him about Luna. Luna smiled brightly at Neville when she saw him. She took a sip of the butterbeer that Neville had gotten her and smiled appreciatively. For the first time in months, everyone in the group relaxed.
"You know what I've just realized?" Harry asked after a while. After mixed responses asking "what" and a playful "no one cares" from Ron, Harry said, "After all that's happened, we still have to go and finish our last year at Hogwarts." This revelation was met with many groans and a cheer from Hermione.
"Well, we've all got enough experience to be Aurors!" Ron said with a joke, when an auror who'd been sitting at the bar turned and fixed him with a glare.
"I'm sorry, young man, but it's not as simple as that. You've got to do exceedingly well on your NEWTs." He said irritably.
"Anyways, I want to work with plants." Neville said.
"I'd like to be a writer for the Daily Prophet." said Hermione.
"I want to work in the Ministry, actually. Help get Umbridge out of there!" Ron said, saying Umbridge's name with disgust.
"Auror." Ginny and Harry said at the same time, then looked at one another in surprise.
"Potion maker." Luna said simply. This seemed to surprise Neville.
"We could easily work together. Most herbology experts help potion makers collect all of their ingredients." Neville said happily. After a few butterbeers, Ron and Hermione and Ginny and Harry were getting fairly close and started seeming tired, they all apparated back to the Order's headquarters. This left Luna and Neville alone. For a while, Neville couldn't seem to find anything to say. After a bit he smiled sheepishly.
"You know, you gave me my first kiss today." Neville said, blushing furiously. After a moment Luna murmured, "Mine too." Neville looked at her in surprise. He moved closer to her and leaned his face towards hers. "I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to be my first kiss. You are truly, the most magical person I've ever seen, Luna." He whispered. Luna closed the space between them, and she felt the familiar pop of being apparated. She opened her eyes in surprise. They were on a secluded hill, where they could see clearly for miles.
"I.. uh.. I got a little nervous, I think. But hey, while we're here, how would you feel about camping?" Neville asked, transfiguring a pebble into a sleeping bag large enough for the two of them.
"Just one sleeping bag?" Luna asked.
"It'll get cold. We're sleeping under the stars, after all." Neville said with a sheepish grin. Luna walked up to him and threw her arms around him.
"I'm so happy, Luna. I was thinking that this could count as our first date, and we could take some butterbeers and hang out by the fire." Neville said, transfiguring a fire and handing her a butterbeer. They sat together on the ground by the fire, keeping each other warm. After a while, the fire wasn't enough to warm them and the pair moved to the sleeping bag. Snuggled together in the sleeping bag, Luna still shivered.
Neville held his arms open and she snuggled into them gratefully.
"Besides the cold, how was our date?" Neville asked. Luna turned her face towards him.
"Our date's not over yet, silly." She murmured with a smile. Then she kissed him and snuggled up closely to him. The pair talked and watched the stars all night, until dawn when the pair finally fell asleep. Luna awoke late in the morning. She smiled and turned towards Neville who was quietly snoring.
"Neville," she murmured, "wake up." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and he slowly began to open his eyes.
"Good morning." Luna said, already standing up.
"Morning." Neville said with a yawn. He stood up and gave her a hug. Suddenly two large brown objects came swooping down and landed in front of them.
"Owls?" Neville said, confused. Each had a letter. One for Neville and one for Luna.
The letter read:
Mr. Longbottom,
All students are due back at Hogwarts on May fifth. All will travel back to Hogwarts by the Hogwarts Express. Be prepared. In case you are missing some supplies, a school supply list is attached. See you soon!
Headmistress,
Minerva McGonagall