Neville was sleeping soundly when he was awoken by a loud thump that hit his mattress and bounced him slightly. Alarmed, he shot upright and reached for his wand, but instead of an intruder out to kill him, it was Luna. She had apparently apparated in an extreme state of distress, as she'd apparated onto his mattress and was in tears.

"Luna? S'matter?" he asked drowsily.

"Da-daddy! He got attacked. And they says he's going to be fine but he's in the ICU at Mungo's at they won't let me see him until he's more stabilized and I didn't know what to do so I came here." She finally stopped and took a breath. "I didn't mean to apparate into your bed. I was upset and I guess I missed your living room, though I don't seem to have splinched anything." Neville scooted over to her and wrapped her in a hug, stroking her hair gently in an attempt to soothe her. Her small hands gripped his shirt and he could feel her eyes clench shut. Eventually she stopped crying and sort of drifted off. Neville was afraid to move for fear of waking her, so he sat there until she awoke a few hours later and apologized profusely. He told her not to worry and to go grab some clothes out of his dresser and he'd take her out to breakfast. She swiped at her eyes and nodded and he left the room. She emerged a moment later wearing one of Neville's buttondowns with the sleeves rolled up and belted with his Gryffindor tie. He raised an eyebrow at her and she shrugged.

"None of your pants would stay up, so I made a dress." He smiled at her and took her hand, leaving his home by apparating.

Moments later they arrived at a small café in North London, where they'd eaten once or twice before. Luna ordered an iced espresso with lots of cream and sugar, an omelet and a side of hash browns. Neville opted for English breakfast tea, fried eggs on toast, and sausage. They dined in companionable silence, other than the clink and slide of knives on plates. They finished up and Neville paid the bill. They walked to a nearby alley and apparated back to Neville's house where Luna immediately sank down into the sofa. Neville sat beside her and reached an arm around her, gently rubbing her shoulder with his hand. She leaned her head against him and closed her eyes and hummed the same tune she'd been humming the night before.

"I should floo the hospital. See if they'll let me in yet." She rose and placed her head in his fireplace. After a brief conversation and a sigh of relief she emerged. "I can go see him. He's conscious and everything. Are you coming?" He nodded and stood to take her hand, and with a crack they were gone.

"Xenophilius Lovegood's room please? I'm his daughter?" Luna asked the receptionist after they arrived. The witch nodded and lead them to the room. Luna opened the door and Neville followed her, somewhat tentatively.

"Daddy?" Luna implored, softly.

"Hello Luna darling." His voice was hoarse but he smiled. "And who is this lad? He looks like one of your ceiling friends."

"Yes, he is." She said, ignoring Neville's questioning glance. "He was in the DA with me, and we kept it going while Harry was gone. His name is Neville."

"Ah, yes. I believe you mentioned him in a letter once or twice. Yes. Is this the boy you— ."

"Yes daddy." She cut him off quickly. Xenophilius turned to look at Neville.

"I was in school with your mum and dad you know. It's awful what happened to them."

"Thank you, Mr. Lovegood." Neville nodded and gave him a slight smile.

"Please, call me Xenophilius. Oh, Luna! I proved the existence of the crumple horned Snorkack! That's how I was attacked. I found one, and I took a picture, and the flash angered him, so he charged me, and I got mauled trying to protect the film. And I succeeded!"

"Daddy that's wonderful! Do you have your camera? I can go back to the house and develop it for you when I go!"

"Yes, it's in my bag."

"I'm so glad you're okay daddy. I was so afraid. I tried to apparate to Neville's door but I missed and landed on his mattress at three this morning."

"I'm assuming that explains the departure from your normal colorful attire?"

"Yes. He was afraid I'd splinch myself apparating home, and all his jeans were too big so I made a dress. He's rather taller than I am." She smiled up at Neville. After a few moments of idle chatter, a nurse told them that it was time for his treatment so they had to leave. Luna kissed her father on the cheek, grabbed his camera and promised to bring the photograph by the next day. She and Neville walked out to the lobby and apparated from there to Luna's house just outside Ottery St Catchpool. Neville had never actually been in Luna's house before.

"What did your father mean by ceiling friends?"

"Come on. I'll show you." Luna led him by the wrist up the red spiral stairs in the center of her house. He followed along behind her until they reached a door painted with an intricate pattern of vines. He presumed this was her room. She opened the door and Neville understood immediately. There, covering Luna's ceiling, was a massive, stunning painting of Harry, Hermione, Ron, himself, and Ginny. Interwoven around them was a thin gold chain of the word 'friends' written over and over. His eyes widened as he looked at it.

"Luna. It's breath taking. I know you mentioned that you painted. But this is something else."

"I'm glad you like it. I'm going to go into the dark room, but it's small, so you probably will want to wait here." She took the camera and skipped down the narrow hall to another door and shut it tight behind her. Neville looked around her large but crowded room. The walls were lined with book cases, and the visible bits were covered in drawings and paintings, either on parchment and stuck up, or directly on the walls. Every book about magical creatures imaginable was perched in the shelves, as well as what looked like a few muggle veterinary text books. There were back issues of the Quibbler in a haphazard stack in the corner, quills and parchment everywhere. There were, surprisingly, only three photographs in the room. One of a much younger Luna, a happier looking Xenophilius and a statuesque blonde Neville presumed was Luna's mother. There was also one of Luna and her father in what looked like the desert, holding up some strange horn type thing and grinning excitedly and waving. The last photograph was of herself and Neville. He couldn't remember when it was taken. Must have been from after Colin had joined the DA. There were out by the lake, and Luna had a pair of binoculars around her neck and Neville was holding a herbology text book. Luna's bloomers were up above her knees and she was standing in the shallow water, trying to get Neville to come with her and he was attempting to kick off his boots. They were both laughing. He smiled at the photograph. He remembered that day now. It hadn't been too long before the Carrows took over Hogwarts. One of their last days of innocence. Of course, Luna was much the same now as she was then. That was thing, above all else, that captivated him about her. Despite everything she had gone through, despite her acute, intuitional knowledge of how everyone and everything around her worked, she retained this child-like innocence and joy about life. She was like a light in the darkness. Always shining and bright. He heard something behind him and turned just as Luna re-entered the room.

"Your murals are beautiful Luna."

"Thank you, Neville." She smiled at him, wrapping an arm around his elbow and leaning against him as she waited for the picture to develop, her slim fingers gripping the narrow border. "Thank you for this morning, as well." She said, her voice soft. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"It's fine, Luna. You were upset." She squeezed her hand with his.

He didn't want her to let go.