Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story is meant purely in tribute to the original work.

End-of-Term Feasts were normally raucous affairs at Hogwarts. The previous few had been slightly subdued affairs due to the pervasive sense of foreboding and gloom. At this particular feast, it seemed as if everyone was trying to make up for the lost opportunity to celebrate. "Barely controlled pandemonium" was the way Ron described it. The only really structured part of it was the opening remarks from Headmistress McGonagall. Unfortunately, there was no awarding of the House Cup due to the chaos of the previous year. Most folks didn't really mind as they felt lucky enough to be alive to see the end of the war. A trophy seemed relatively unimportant at that point. Much to many people's surprise, Professor Horace Slughorn proposed a toast to the defenders and victors of the Battle for Hogwarts. Professor Filius Flitwick followed with a toast to the late Albus Dumbledore. Professor Sybill Trelawney followed with a somewhat awkward toast to everyone's health and future (There were a few giggles at this one given the subject she taught). McGonagall closed out the toasts by raising her glass and, in a voice laced with emotion, called out, "I propose a toast…to absent friends." Instead of shouts of "Hear, hear!" that followed the other toasts, the hall fell silent. As one, everyone rose and raised a glass in a silent salute.

A Couple of Days Later

Luna and Neville knew this day was coming but neither really wanted to face it. There had been some half-hearted attempts to talk about it but every attempt had faltered. Now, standing on the platform for The Hogwarts Express, there was no avoiding it. Luna would remain to begin her seventh and last year at Hogwarts. Neville would journey south to a Ministry academy to begin auror training. "I promise that I'll come to visit every chance I get.", Neville said.

"I know you will. I've just been spoiled over the last few months seeing you almost every day.", Luna responded.

"Same for me. This doesn't change my feelings though. I still love you and I want this to work."

Luna smiled. "Don't worry Neville, I want the same thing. I love you too much to let you go that easily."

Neville's face broke into a broad grin. "I think that's the first time you've said you love me."

"Is it really? How thoughtless of me. Now I have nothing to lead you on by.", she teased.

Neville feigned heartbreak. "I should have known it was too good to be true. I was completely fooled by your feminine wiles."

Luna broke into open laughter. "I'm sorry", she said in between laughter, "That was just too much of stretch to keep up the façade."

"I was serious!" Neville joined in her laughter until he felt the gravity of the situation once more. "I will miss you."

"So will I."

"I wish I didn't have to go so far. But it can't be helped. I'm fortunate I even have the chance to enter auror training."

"It's what you want, no one can criticize you for that. But Neville, you must promise me that you WILL be careful. And if you see any remnants of the Rotfang Conspiracy, you MUST not allow them to cloud your mind!"

Neville studied Luna's face carefully. She had exchanged letters with her father throughout the summer and he had with his grandmother. Augusta Longbottom had expressed some reservations about Neville dating the daughter of the editor of The Quibbler but did not say much more beyond that. Luna and her father were working through a slightly strained relationship following his actions during the war but they seemed to have worked through it. Xenophilius did not mention much about Luna's new boyfriend until she told him about Neville's desire to become an auror. Then the warnings about plots and conspiracies began. Foremost was the diabolical devastation of dentistry, The Rotfang Conspiracy. Neville wasn't entirely sure how much Luna believed in the scheme when she first described it to him. Now, looking in her wide, earnest eyes, he had no doubt.

"Luna, I give you my word. If Harry, Ron, or I see anything that even hints at The Rotfang Conspiracy, we'll bring the whole bloody thing down ourselves if we have to."

"I know you guys will. I trust all of you to always do the right thing. Just be sure to get out first. You don't want the whole rotten mess to come down on your heads."

Neville was still trying to figure out if that was a pun when Luna rose up on her tiptoes to kiss him. They stayed like that for some time before they pulled each other close in an emotional embrace. The Hogwarts Express sounded its "Last Call" whistle. Neville glanced over to see that a similar scene was playing out between Harry and Ginny several feet away. He had little doubt they had shared a conversation somewhat similar to his and Luna's. As Neville pulled away from her he whispered, "I'll see you in my dreams." He boarded the train just behind Harry and waved good-bye from the window as the departure whistle sounded. Luna waved back as she walked up to stand next to Ginny. In silent agreement, they joined hands as the train carrying the men they loved began to roll out of the station. Ginny wiped the beginnings of some tears from her eyes as Luna spoke. "We're all going to be alright. And we'll see them again soon. Before we know it."

Ginny managed to break into a half-smile, bolstered by Luna's support. "I know. We'll be so busy the time will fly by."

"Very true. Anyways, Neville, Harry, and Ron will be just fine. They're all together. How much trouble could they possibly get into?"

At Luna's words, Ginny's eyes widened and her smile abruptly vanished from her face. She glanced over to see Luna still watching the train and waving, completely oblivious to the implications of what she had just said. Ginny found herself so stunned that she could find no words to reply to Luna. She finally rejoined her friend in watching the train disappear into the distance.

A Few Months Later

If the compressed summer session had been like "taking a sip from a fire hose" as Dean had described it, Neville thought auror training was like rinsing one's mouth with a tidal wave. If training standards truly had been relaxed in order to replenish auror ranks, Neville did not want to think about what it had been like when the needs of the service were not as demanding. A third of the candidate class had dropped out within the first month. Neville found that out of his particular group of candidates in his dormitory, only three were left. They were folded in with another dormitory that had been attrited in order to have one mostly full dorm instead of two sparsely occupied ones. Not only was the magic training challenging and demanding, candidates were also exposed to two fields few of them had much exposure to: Physical conditioning and fundamentals of investigation. Former quidditch players like Harry and Ron found that they some advantage as former athletes but even they were challenged by Muggle-style calisthenics and distance running. Neville feared that his lack of participation in athletics at Hogwarts would be his undoing. However, it turned out that survival, escape, resistance, and evasion during the year under Snape and the Carrows had gotten him in shape…mostly. He wasn't the best athlete but after a couple of weeks, he no longer fell out of runs and after a couple more, he could actually keep up with the middle of the pack. Neville did find the basic hand-to-hand combat training quite fun, even if it resulted in bruises from time to time. Investigation techniques were another matter. No one had any prior experience with this subject and everyone found the courses challenging. Just about everyone feared flunking out of the academy and Neville was no exception. Auror training was supposed to last three years but it could last longer if a candidate "washed back" in a course. If a candidate performed poorly in an academic or physical training subject, they were not automatically flunked out. Depending on the circumstances and the judgment of the instructors, a candidate could be given another chance and repeat the course with a following class of candidates. Injury during physical training was one of the most common cases for "washing back" a candidate. There were rumors that the record for a candidate taking the longest time to get through the academy was five years. No one wanted to give much thought to the validity of that unpleasant possibility.

The bright spot in this challenging time for Neville were the letters he and Luna wrote to each other. They didn't quite send a letter every day but it was not uncommon for them to send three or four a week. Luna was quite busy herself going through her NEWT year at Hogwarts. Not every letter was a lengthy narrative of what they had been up to, some consisted of simple statements affirming that they loved and missed each other. Harry found Neville writing another letter to Luna one evening after classes. "I think the owls here have learned your scent and footfalls and hide from you when you enter their roost."

Neville smiled at Harry's light-hearted dig. "You can't tell me they don't do the same to you with all the post traffic between you and Ginny."

"Actually I think Ron has us both beat and Hermione is the shortest distance away!"

"You're probably right. Anyways, I wouldn't be surprised if the owls did dread my approach. Luckily Luna taught me to keep a healthy supply of owl treats on hand."

"So that's how you do it. I knew there was reason they don't like me as much."

"I knew it! You were shifting blame to me!" Neville tried to look insulted but the effort was a complete failure due to his grin.

"Alright, alright!", Harry held his hands up in a mea culpa gesture as he laughed. "Anyways, the reason I dropped by wasn't just interrupt your urgent letter. As your class leader, I'm here to pass on the message that the upcoming holiday that was cancelled is now back on."

"Really? They're actually giving us a break?"

"Something about facilities not being ready for the upcoming schedule."

"I wonder if it had anything to do with that column of smoke yesterday."

"That's probably not a bad guess. Anyways, if you recall, the holiday coincides with a Hogsmeade weekend for Hogwarts."

"I do recall. Very convenient."

"Convenient indeed. Now that I have carried out my official duties, I'll get out of your way as you probably have an inn reservation to make."

"Thanks for the news. I won't hold you up since you probably have a reservation to make of your own."

"Already on my way. G'night Neville."

"G'night Harry." Neville found himself still grinning as he turned back to his unfinished letter to Luna. He had some very important news to add.

Author's Notes: Neville's line, "I'll see you in my dreams", is from the motion picture "Crimson Tide". It is also what I would say to my wife before I had to depart for travel that my job required. I've always thought it is a poignant sentiment and those words express it well.