7. Miss Lovegood and Mr Longbottom, part I
Fred and George stood beside their mother on Platform 9, 3/4, waiting to pick up Ginny from the Hogwarts Express. Mrs Weasley paced up and down, visibly uneasy, as time seemed to go by slower than someone jinxed with Impedimenta. It was the first time she'd been out of The Burrow since the legitimate Ministry of Magic had fallen. The twins had been trying almost everything to calm their mother down, without much success.
"Ginny'll be arriving soon, mum," George said, checking his watch.
"Quiet!" Mrs Weasley hissed, finger before her mouth. "D'you hear something?"
The platform, previously quieter, had been stricken by an ever-increasing rustling chorus of murmurs.
"It's nothing," Fred said, not believing his own words. "You're just imagining things."
An elder woman wearing a quite outstanding outfit, a stuffed vulture upon her hat, walked towards the Weasleys discreetly.
"Boy," she whispered behind George so quietly Mrs Weasley couldn't hear. "The talk's that some girl's been taken from the train. I think it might be your sister."
George's face redded to the point one couldn't tell skin and hair apart. He needed to tell Fred... but how?
"You're Neville's grandmother, right? Mrs Longbottom?" he swayed to face her. Mrs Weasley and Fred had also realized her presence. She nodded politely to all three and left without saying a word.
"What did Mrs Longbottom want with you, George?" Fred asked, just when the train came into the platform.
Even though most of the parents there cheered its arrival, it was in a very strange and eerie way. Mrs Weasley was growing more suspicious as she watched the other parents' behaviour. It couldn't have been just her imagination like the twins had suggested; the other parents seemed just as concerned as she was, maybe even worse. When the students started to disembark, several parents threw themselves over them, crying and yelling hysterically.
"Mum," George said, squeezing his mother's hand firmly, having decided he couldn't keep this from her any longer. "Word's out that someone's been taken from the train. Mrs Longbottom's just told me." Mrs Weasley immediately began shaking as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice upon her.
"I know. It's Ginny," she mumbled, falling to her knees. "It's my Ginny..." she began sobbing. "GINNY!" she dashed towards the train, screaming her lungs out. "Ginny! Ginny! GINNY!" she rambled directionless through the platform, calling desperately for her daughter.
Most unexpectedly, many of the students who were lining up to get off the train were strangely pushed by something they couldn't see. Some of them fell on the floor, others dropped the luggage they had been holding. Shortly after, Mrs Weasley, who had been thrashing around mindlessly, suddenly felt something holding on to her very tightly. She was about to fight back when she realized she knew that petite arms... it was...
"Ginny!" she cried, embracing her invisible daughter back, her heart still racing. "Why are...?"
"Disillusionment Charm. Can you...?"
"Oh, of course." Mrs Weasley tapped her wand upon her daughter's head, and soon after she was visible again. Fred and George rushed to meet them. "Oh, Ginny! You can't imagine how scared I was..." Mrs Weasley wept, tugging her daughter into another hug. "You've no idea how relieved I am... my girl..."
"It's OK, mum. I'm fine." Ginny said, weeping as well, her voice cracking.
"That's not the 'I'm fine' I was expecting." pointed George. "I was expecting a 'Mum, stop choking me!' kind of 'I'm fine'. Why are you crying? Why are you not shaking mom off you?"
"Who did they take?" Fred asked. "Could it have been... Neville?"
"Mrs Longbottom said the rumour was that it was a girl." George clarified.
"A girl?" Mrs Weasley hissed. "You didn't tell us that! I'd've..."
"...had a heart attack." Fred cut her off and completed her sentence. "Nice going, George. Since it turned out it wasn't Ginny, had he told you that, you'd have died in vain."
"Oh, girl, I'm glad to see you're here safe and sound." Mrs Longbottom approached them. "Are the rumours true, dear?"
"Yeah..." Ginny muttered, so white it almost seemed like the Delusionment Charm hadn't been completely broken. "Mum, I've got to go back to the train. I've left my things in there... I've got also..." Ginny's voice died as her eyes met from afar an old man whose long silvery blonde hair had the texture of cotton candy, who anxiously rocked back and forth on the bench he was seated on, staring transfixed at the kids getting out of the train.
"Oh, no, did they take old Xeno's daughter!?" Mrs Longbottom asked. "Well, that doesn't really strike me as a surprise, with everything he's been writing... poor little girl, poor man. Haven't she and my grandson been dating lately?"
"Er, how do you...?" Ginny stammered, not knowing exactly what to answer, bewildered that the news of Luna and Neville's cover-up relationship had reached the ears of Mrs Longbottom. "Well, so I suppose, ma'am."
"Should we deliver the bad news?" Mrs Weasley asked as she watched Mr Lovegood's state of utmost helplessness.
Nonetheless, before any of them could do anything, Mr Lovegood advanced tentatively towards the train, visibly shaking. His eyes were bulging out of his face, fixed at someone trying to disembark.
"I should get there now..." Ginny said, heading back to the train hastily.
...though, before she had actually arrived there, Neville fell out of the train flat on his face onto the platform. Much more promptly than one would expect of a witch her age, Mrs Longbottom swept straight to her grandson, yanking him out of the floor at once.
"What in the world's happened to you?" she worriedly surveyed every inch of his body. She took notice of his sprained wrists, the several slashes and injuries all through his body, the rope burns on his skin and his ragged clothes.
Before he could say anything, Neville's gaze met the desperate one of a stranger. The man opened his mouth, but no sound came out of it. Then he crashed to his knees, shivering heavily, tears streaming down his face.
"You Mr Lovegood?" wearily, Neville asked the stranger, limping towards him.
"What did they do to my Luna?" he mumbled, sobbing and twitching violently, staring at the floor.
"I'm..." Neville's eyes welled up with tears. "Sorry... couldn't save her..." he fell to his knees as well.
"Having a family meeting, are you?" the hysterical voice of Pansy Parkinson came from afar. "That was quite a show back there, Longbottom, but completely worthless. Resisting the Dark Lord is plain stupidity. It suits you, actually." she laughed hoarsely, accompanied by her gang of Slytherin girls, drawing the attention of the entire platform.
"Where did they take the girl?" Augusta Longbottom fiercely asked, pulling her wand out. "The girl's a pure-blood witch!" Augusta screamed for everyone to hear. "Can everybody hear that? All of you, praising You-Know-Who because you think you're safe for being pure-blood, that's all garbage! He doesn't respect anyone's rights!" Pansy had a devious smirk upon her face, but the girls behind her started to draw their wands. "He kills anyone who crosses his path! Even you, little miss! You could be the next! That's how your so-called Lord really is." she spat the word as if it disgusted her.
"Oh, no, ma'am. The Dark Lord is merciful. Hopefully, you'll get her back." she said cynically, turning herself to Mr Lovegood. "I bring a message to you from the Dark Lord. He believes you should improve the editorial guidelines of your delusional magazine. They've taken your daughter as encouragement. He's sure you'll write better in the future. You have nothing to fear if you decide to cooperate." she recited as if she had memorized this word by word, then snorted sonorously after she'd finished.
"For you, Longbottom, I bring a message from the greatest witch alive!" Pansy continued. "I'm a big fan myself! You should be honoured beyond belief that she remembers you! Unlike the Dark Lord, she hopes the old nutcase doesn't write better. She's yearning to play with you and your little girlfriend. She promises she won't touch her until you join them, playing with only one toy bores her." her eyes twinkled wickedly at Mrs Longbottom. "That's a show I'd be delighted to watch!" she turned her back on them, but her gang still faced the elder woman on the alert, their wands still in the air, until Pansy had moved far enough from them.
Mr Lovegood fell splattered on the platform's floor, moaning and twitching, embracing his own knees. Less noticeably, Neville was still on his knees, his sobs muffled by his hands.
"It's my fault..." Xenophilius mumbled to himself. "All my fault... she was taken... she's all alone... my Luna..."
"It's not, Mr Lovegood." Neville raised his voice. The man slowly lifted his head, gazing shyly at the boy. "It's my fault. I let it happen... 'cause of my utter worthlessness... I can't even produce a decent patronus..."
"No, the fault is mine." Ginny interrupted them. "I should've gone after you guys, I should've never let you alone... how could I stay spinelessly hiding while you two were...?" her voice died. "If I'd seen what was happening, I'd've..."
"How come is this your fault, dear?" Mrs Longbottom directed herself to Ginny. "It's You-Know-Who's fault! And I'm sure you were very brave, son." she placed a hand gently on Neville's shoulder. "I'm sure you gave your very best to save her. Your parents would've been proud. Let's get home, shall we? In the meantime, we shall make ourselves ready to get her back."
"Xenophilius..." Mrs Weasley called, crouching by his side. "You can't stay here all day. Your daughter wouldn't want that..." the mention of her only caused Mr Lovegood moan harder.
Neville slowly got to his feet, dried his tears and sought to lift the man from the floor. "Mr Lovegood, let's get out of here. You can't lose it. You have to be strong." Neville fought back his own tears as he drove the desperate man out of the platform, drawing strength from thinking Luna would've appreciated his care for her beloved father. Fred and George caught up with them shortly afterwards, carrying her luggage.
"Mommy!" Lysander shouted for joy when Luna came out of McGonagall's office, dashing in her direction. "Why did it take you so long? Lorcan's passed by half an hour ago!"
"Have you been waiting that long for me?" she warmly held the shorty against her stomach, stroking his hair gently. "Don't you tell me you're skipping class...?"
"No, it's still breakfast," he wrapped his tiny arms around her waist. "Professor Longbottom asked me if I could take you to his office."
"What?" for a moment, she forgot to hide her shock, but she rapidly regained composure. "I mean... why does your professor want with me? Have you been misbehaving?"
"He wonders if he can help heal your magical wound," Lysander said, nonchalantly. "I hope we can have some tea as well. May we get going?"
"Come in."
"Excuse me..." Luna walked into the room tentatively. "I've been told you wanted a word with me..."
"Oh, yes..." Neville had thought he could do it, but, as his eyes landed on her, his heart skipped so fast he could barely form a sentence. "Please... er... sit down."
"Whassup?" greeted Lysander, entering the room casually behind his mother. "Oh, that's the first time I've been together with you both. It kind of triggers in me an urge to introduce you." he headed straight to the little stool and seated on it. "That's nonsense, of course. You've known each other long before I was born. Would you offer us some tea, professor?"
"Er... sure." Neville stammered. "Why don't you do the honours, Lysander?"
"Sure," the boy headed to the corner of the room and started to search in a little drawer.
"How come Lysander comes into your office and starts to make tea as if it was his own house!?" exasperated, Luna rustled at Neville.
"Well..." Neville answered, quietly. "We're kind of friends."
"Oh, and when were you planning to tell me you're friends with my son!?"
"Er... now, I s'pose?" he said, defensively. "So," he raised his voice, addressing Lysander as well. "Thank you for bringing her here, Lysander."
She took her witch robes and her handbag off and scanned the room for a place to hang them. Neville promptly took them from her and put them on a hanger. Right after that, he dragged the tiny stool close to where Luna was, glanced at her politely and said, "Would you like to take a seat?"
"Thanks," she said, sounding concerned. "I'm sorry, I can't stay long... my husband may be worried."
Lysander snorted, almost dropping the kettle he was carrying.
"You alright?" Neville rushed to the boy, checking thoroughly if he hadn't burnt himself. "Maybe you're too young to make tea, give me it..."
"I'm alright, professor. I can do it, don't worry."
"It's fine, Neville," Luna said, fighting against the warm feeling on her chest upon the sight of Neville displaying such care for her boy. "He's used to making tea. He's just got to pay more attention," she stressed, piercing her kid with her eyes, praying that he'd take a hint.
"Sorry, mom. But you shouldn't distract me either." he placed the kettle on the fire. "Worried..." he chuckled quietly. To Luna's dismay, he hadn't taken the hint... well, she couldn't exactly be mad at the boy for being exactly how she used to be, could she?
"So, Luna..." Neville headed back in her direction, pretending not to have noticed anything. "May I see the wound?"
"It'd be... mildly inappropriate..." she blushed. "...and utterly uncomfortable." she sighed. "It's on my back. I'd have to take my shirt off. Besides, I'm wearing a lumbar belt without which I can barely stand straight."
"Oh... I see. You didn't have it when..." now, he blushed. "...back then?"
"No."
"No Death Eater did that?"
"No."
"Then... how...?"
"Er... someone broke into the house."
"Is that it?" he frowned in disbelief. She didn't answer anything, just stared back at him impatiently. "That's a very bad lie, Luna."
"That's exactly what's happened, whether you want to believe it or not."
"Kid, excuse us, your mother and I've got to have a quick grown-up talk." he steered her to an opposite corner of the room and cast the Muffiato charm on the rest of it. "Look, if it's something you don't want to tell in front of the kid..."
"You really don't know anything?" she asked, doubtful. "None of our friends told you anything?"
"No."
"Not even Hannah?"
"Hannah knows?"
"Wow... I mean..." Luna rumbled, caught by surprise. "I'm so sorry your wife's keeping secrets from you because of me, but I truly begged her not to tell you anything. It seems she's indeed a trustworthy person... Please, when you see her again, tell her I appreciate her loyalty greatly."
"Well, that may take some time. She's in Germany."
"Well... when she comes back..."
"She won't come back anytime soon." he snapped. "We're not together anymore."
"Oh..." Luna was taken aback. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's fine. We're good friends." Neville gazed at the floor, nervously biting his bottom lip. "I... I wish we could be the same. If you could ever forgive me for that horrendous episode..." he brought his hand to his head, unconsciously hiding his face. "I've never had the guts to actually apologize about it..." his breath became unsteady. "I understand if you..."
"Oh, no. We're alright," she said, in her most casual dreamy voice. "I've forgiven you about that long ago, Neville."
"You mean that?" he grinned widely. She nodded, nicely. "Thank you very much, Luna. It means a lot to me." relieved, he sighed. "Now that we're friends, could you tell me...?"
"Tea's ready!" Lysander raised his voice from the other side of the room. "Could you both get going with your... whatever...?"
"No, Neville," Luna said, uneasy, not looking at him, her eyes fixed on her child. "I'd rather not to. It's a secret." she now turned her gaze to Neville. "I wouldn't tell Hannah normally. I only did that because she's figured out I was lying and started to suspect you... she thought maybe you had cursed me when we were together. You know that, right? I think she may have brought that subject up at some point, didn't she?"
"Yes, she did..." Neville said, recalling the night Hannah came back from St. Mungo's full of questions and they had an argument.
"I had to tell her the truth so she would believe you didn't do it." she sounded pleading. "Please, understand. I don't want to talk about it."
Thinking further about his argument with Hannah, he recollected that it happened around the same time he read a story in the Daily Prophet on magizoologist Rolf Scamander being charged for violating the Statute of Secrecy. He had also overheard some strange rumours about Lorcan Scamander floating around, though apparently McGonagall and Flitwick were committed to keeping him in the dark. Adding to that the outrageous incident involving Luna he had witnessed about a week ago, and putting everything together, Neville concluded the only one who could be responsible for hurting Luna was no other than Lorcan. His heart clenched when he thought about how that should make Luna feel. Besides being severely injured by her own son, she couldn't confide anyone about what truly happened, for she was obviously determined not to expose the kid.
"It's alright, Luna." he smiled apologetically at her. "I'm sorry I was being pushy." he swung his wand, breaking the Muffiato charm, and went to the tiny table where Lysander was already drinking tea.
"Thank you, Neville."
Neville shook his wand once more, and a variety of breakfast food emerged magically upon it. "I always take it from the Slytherin table. I always enjoy picturing their bewildered faces."
Lysander and Luna both laughed sonorously.
"This isn't right, Neville," she sought to muffle her laugh.
"Don't tell anyone I said that," he said. "Above all Professor Slughorn."
"I'll just tell Professor McGonagall, then..." Luna answered jocularly, conjuring a little stool for herself and sitting upon it.
"Oh, her you can tell. She is lenient with bullying the Slytherins a bit."
"Bullying is never the answer, professor!" said Lysander, seeming genuinely amused.
"They earn their keep."
"Professor, do you think this is... the way civilized people should solve their problems?"
The second that reached his ear, Neville's eyes met Luna's. He knew her mind had also wandered to that fateful year they had endured together. He could tell she had successfully repressed a laugh, but she didn't manage to quell the wide smile on her face.
"Why don't you sit down, Caveman?" she said, glancing meaningfully at him.
"They didn't have Transfiguration classes on the cave I came from." he waved his hand and enunciated an incantation, but he merely produced a two-legged stool, which promptly crashed sideways on the floor.
Luna, thus, aimed her own wand at the stool and quickly it was as good as the one she was sitting on. "May we have the honour of you joining us now?"
"Thanks," he seated on it and began pouring some tea for himself.
"Don't mention it."
"Sometimes I summon the food directly from the kitchens," he grabbed a toast for himself. "Don't tell your aunt Hermione that, though. It'd ruin my credit as a member of S.P.E.W."
"I thought Hogwarts had started paying the house elves, no?" Luna questioned as she sweetened her tea.
"It's been a while since I've seen mom as content as she's now." Lysander meddled in, taking a sip from his cup. "I'm glad we've come here."
The smile she'd been wearing died and she immediately sought to conceal her face.
"But of course! I'm the funniest person you both know!" he said, trying to lighten the mood. Apparently, it had worked, for both of them chuckled at his remark. "So, Luna, can you tell me where exactly is your wound?"
"It's on my spine..." she brought her hand to her back. "This area."
"Right. Accio." a heavy book flew from one of his bookshelves and crashed strongly to his sides. "Ouch." both Luna and Lysander chuckled once more. "This happens every time." he spread the book open on his lap. "My memory is terrible. I've been casting this every other day for years and I still haven't memorized it."
"It's no wonder why you haven't," Luna commented. "It's indeed a very long series of enchantments, Neville."
"Right," he stood, holding the book open on his right arm, clutching his wand with his left hand. He turned to Luna's back and nudged with his wand around the place she had indicated. "Is it around here?"
"Don't touch it!" she flinched at his touch.
"I... I'm... sorry!" he babbled, apologetically. "Wow, is it that bad?"
"Yes, it is that bad!" panting, she answered.
"I'm sorry. I'll just... here I go." he began tracing diagonal lines upon her body with his wand while murmuring incantations.
The same white light he had produced on the Hospital Wing that day came out of his wand, only now a little weaker. Lysander stopped drinking his tea at once and kept, very still and silently, beholding the magic.
Luna, for her part, shutting her eyes tightly, overwhelmed by Neville's tender energy, was swept out of the real world, being snatched to an entirely different dimension. Every inch of her body was taken by a feeling she was very familiar with but had forgotten about.
The diagonal wand motion was followed by a series of lines parallel to the line of her shoulders, then, finally, by a variety of very intricated figures, with Neville having to check the book before each one.
"All done," he told her. "Do you feel better, Luna?" she didn't say anything, she kept still, her eyes closed, still caught away by that exquisite and nostalgic feeling. "Luna...?" he called again.
"Mom?" seeming worried, Lysander called her. "Are you alright?"
"Huh?" her child's voice abruptly brought her back to her body. "I..." she had to think quickly to recall where they had been. "I'm fine, Lysander." she caressed his head warmly. "I'm actually..." for a second, she strived to find the familiar pain in her back, but she was actually having a hard time. "I might be... fine?" she got up abruptly, not quite believing her senses.
"Are you feeling any better?" Neville asked, sympathetically.
She brought her hand to her back, pressing the wounded spot forcefully. Then, she buried her hands under her blouse and, without taking it off, removed her lumbar belt.
"I can't believe it!" Lorcan brought his hands to his mouth. "That's the first time in my entire life I see you standing straight without it!"
"The first time...?" Neville surveyed Luna, puzzled. How could her magical wound be older than her children? Maybe he had guessed wrong about Lorcan.
"I can't thank you enough, Neville." her mouth formed a genuine smile. "I was already resigned I'd have to get along with that pain my entire life."
"Doesn't it hurt anymore?"
"Oh, no. It hurts still. I feel enormously relieved, though." she moved her torso back and forth, still seeking to figure out how she was. "When did you become so good at healing? Every healer and auror in the U.K. has been to my case, but they were of little help compared to what you just did."
"Well... I think I just..." he was well aware he wasn't more powerful than a whole lot of healers at St Mungo's, and that the only reason he'd been able to cure her was due to his monumental love for her. However, telling her that was not an option, particularly in front of Lysander. "I'm glad I could be of help." he sat on his tiny stool once more. "Shall we resume eating?"
Luna sat down as well, lively sipping from her cup, almost unable to contain her happiness. Lysander, on the other hand, jumped onto Neville, his tiny arms around his chest. "Thanks for that, professor."
"Lysander, you should have more respect for your professors." Luna had to look away from this scene, scared she'd give away how warm it made her feel inside.
"It's alright, kid." kindly, Neville stroked his hair. "She'd have done the same for me. I owe your mother a lot from the past, you know. I'd have never graduated Natural School without her help."
"Nonsense," Luna said, still looking away. "You're an extremely talented wizard."
"Indeed. You're outstanding, professor." Lysander told him, cheerfully, returning to his stool. "You're my favourite teacher here at the school."
Luna still didn't dare to turn her eyes to any of them, though she figured she'd take a chance answering that. "Our favourite teacher is Professor Flitwick, Lysander. It'd hurt him dearly if you said something like that in front of him."
"It really would." aloofly, Neville agreed. "I sincerely thought he'd cry." Now, Luna risked glancing at him, wearing a confused expression. "When Lorcan was sorted into Slytherin."
"Oh... that..." Luna stared blankly at the content of her cup. "I always knew it was coming. I had talked to Flitwick about it, but he still didn't take it too well. Even Ravenclaw accepted it better. I mean, her portrait."
"How d'you know?" Neville rested his empty cup on the table. "I mean... that he'd be going to Slytherin?"
"He always said he'd want to go to Slytherin like his father."
Neville did not know Rolf had been a Slytherin, though it didn't strike him as a surprise either. He nurtured a certain distaste for Slytherin and Rolf alike, and he recalled Rolf to be remarkably unpleasant from the brief contact they had at Magical Natural School. Actually, the only reason Rolf didn't make it to his top 3 Most Unpleasant Teachers list was that he didn't have even a single class with him, since he would send his advisees to teach in his stead, and also because he had had classes with Severus Snape, the Carrows, Dolores Umbridge, a man who tortured his parents to insanity and another who had Lord Voldemort under his turban. Helpless Lockhart, nonetheless, would have scored better than Rolf. All that distaste could also be, naturally, just his resentment over the fact he'd stolen his fiancée talking. The rare times he'd met him over these years, though, such as at the Quidditch World Cup, Rolf had acted polite towards him.
"Did Xeno take it well? When we were..." Neville's voice got stuck in his throat. He was about to say 'When we were together', but thank Merlin he didn't say it through. Whereas Luna's looked fiercely at him, Lysander didn't seem to have noticed anything. "Well, in the past, he'd always make a point that no one in his family could ever not go to Ravenclaw..."
"He doesn't mind," Lysander said as he poured some sugar on his tea. "I've always been his favourite anyway."
"We don't pick favourites, Lysander."
"You really don't, mom. Granddad does."
"This is silly, Lysander. We love you both equally."
"It's not. Granddad's never forgotten what happened at the..."
"Lysander!" Luna hissed, now praying more than ever he'd take a hint and overcome his trouble with social rules. For a second, Neville's eyes had shown surprise, but he rapidly managed to pretend to be clueless. Again, Neville was sure Lorcan was the one to blame for Luna's dark wound. "I mean... I won't let you disrespect your grandfather, Lysander. Watch your mouth."
"I didn't mean to disrespect granddad, mom! I'm sorry... I was just..."
"I don't want to hear another word, Lysander." calm but authoritative, she interrupted him. "Don't disrespect me as well."
He seemed very downcast for being scolded by his mother but didn't dare to argue with her any longer. He merely focused on drinking his tea and eating his toast, gloomily. Neville, for his part, surveyed the boy thoroughly, feeling sorry for him, knowing how excited he'd been to meet up with Luna today.
"Come on, Luna," Neville playfully stroked Lysander's shoulder. "The kid's been waiting anxiously for your visit. He's a good kid, don't be so harsh on him."
"I'm sorry, lizard," Luna glanced at him remorsefully. She wanted to explain why she did that, she just couldn't. "It's just... I've been under a lot of stress lately. I shouldn't take it out on you."
"Now, I want to see a hug." Neville looked from Lysander to Luna and back at him. The boy promptly leapt to his feet and threw his tiny arms around his mother. Then, almost as though he could read her thoughts, Neville got to his feet and dashed to the sink carrying the empty kettle. Once there, he pretended to be searching for something, making too much noise on purpose.
"Look..." Luna muttered, squeezing him against her. "Mommy didn't mean to scold you. It's just... there are some things you shouldn't tell your professor. You know that. Mom's talked to you about it already."
"I'm sorry. I never tell anyone about..." he didn't say what. "I don't know why, but I had assumed he would've known. He's friends with all your friends and all..."
"It's alright, lizard." she kissed his forehead warmheartedly. After some seconds, they parted.
"So, Lysander, you should be heading to your class now. You won't want to lose house points." Neville got back from the sink. "I should write a note for you, just in case... who should I address it to?"
"Oh, you know..." answered Lysander, apparently in a sarcastic way, though one couldn't be very sure. "Just my least favourite person in this entire school."
"Well..." Neville thought seriously about it for a moment. "Would it be Trelawney? D'you have Divination class right now?"
"And a very forgetful one too, must I add."
"Forgetful?" Neville questioned himself who could it be.
"It's you, Neville!" Luna said. "Can't you remember your own schedule!?"
"Oh!" Neville jumped, dashing to check his schedule on the wall. "Am I your least favourite person...?" his face reddened as Lysander cackled heavily. "Suitable enough, though." he summoned a piece of parchment. "I'll just send a note through you informing everyone the class is dismissed."
"Yay! That means I can spend more time with mommy!"
"No, you can't. I'll assign the class a task you should be doing on your own."
"You used to be more committed to teaching back then," Luna commented, nonchalantly.
"You'll ditch class and send me bringing work?" Lysander asked, somewhat fearfully. "I figure the Slytherins won't appreciate that."
"I really won't be able to attend my class today. I hope I can completely heal your mother's magical wound."
"No, Neville. If that's the reason, then..."
"I've already made up my mind." he delivered the note to Lysander. "Take it to the class. You lot should head to the library and work quietly on the assignment."
"Good idea, Neville," Luna smirked, sarcastically. "This is the perfect way to find out if Lorcan's really recovered from his bullying days. If he doesn't break his brother's nose again upon receiving such pleasant news," she indicated the piece of parchment with her head. "...we'll know he's changed, then."
"Right." Neville snatched the note back and began redacting it. "The class is dismissed, but I'll assign homework. I only suggest you get started on it right now. However, you're free to do as you please. Is that better?" he glanced towards Luna quizzically. "You won't have to go to the library either. You may work on the assignment wherever you'd like." he handed Lysander the note and paced towards his bookshelf. "Take these books with you. They've got all the information you need." he dumped a tall pile of books onto Lysander's arms. "You and your housemates may keep them through the weekend. I ask you to bring them back to my office by Monday. Don't lend them to the Slytherins, though. I don't trust them."
"Neville! You almost buried him under these books! Lysander is not your intern!" worried, she hurried to take the mountain of books from her child. "And you shouldn't distinguish between the students. Slytherins are as much your students as the others!"
"There's nothing wrong in having students as helpers. Professor Sprout used to do it all the time with me. As I remember, your husband used to do the same with you, too." he stared keenly at her. Her reaction, nonetheless, wasn't the one he'd expected. She seemed to have lost her voice. Had he done something wrong? "Oh, come on, Luna!" maybe she didn't appreciate what he'd said about her husband. "You have to admit it, he used to have students teaching his class all the time... but maybe he doesn't do it anymore, I think. Did you tell him he shouldn't really do it?"
"Even if he does that, this doesn't mean it's the right thing to do." Luna forced herself to produce some sound, which was barely loud enough for them to hear.
"Dad used to teach?" Lysander asked, seeming utterly surprised.
"He still does. Wait... how don't you know?"
"When?" Lysander's eyes bulged. "He hardly wakes up before 2 PM." even though he had been expecting an answer, an uncomfortable silence lingered in the room for some time instead. Resigned the two wouldn't say anything, Lysander decided to break it himself. "Still... mom never tells dad what he should or shouldn't do the way she does with you, professor."
"Just..." redder than a pepper, Neville thought it was better not to go further on this topic, so he retrieved his books from Luna and gave them to the boy. "Books, note... there you go, kid. Thank you in advance. Am I forgetting something?"
"Besides doing your job and treating students equally?" Luna commented, in her signature dreamy tone.
"I forgot rewarding Lysander! 15 points to Ravenclaw. Now, get going..." he gently pushed him in the back. "If someone asks why I'm ditching class, just say I'm feeling sick, will you?"