"Trevor, there you are! Now, keep in your pond, you hear me? Or I'll have to leave you at Hogwarts tomorrow, and you really wouldn't like that. I know you're longing to meet your fish friend, Mr Timmy. You wouldn't want to wait a few months more, would you? I know you're already missing him!" Neville kept talking in a low, soothing voice as he walked toward the Gryffindor Tower, Trevor nestled in his hand.
Even as he spoke, thoughts kept circling around his head. The battle at the Department of Mysteries, meeting Bellatrix, the moment she cast the Cruciatus Curse on him… Neville couldn't stop a shudder at that.
He had known objectively that it would be painful, but to feel it was another thing.
Despite that, what troubled Neville most was his guilt. He could have saved Sirius , he'd been near enough. He could have cast some spell, or — or — something!
Except he'd been frozen with fear and it had all happened so fast and before Neville knew it, Harry's scream of anguish had rung in his ears.
He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear the footsteps heading towards him, and nor did he see Luna until they bumped into each other. Luna looked as surprised as he felt.
"Oh, Luna! Are you okay?" Neville asked in concern, holding a hand out to help her up. Trevor took the chance to leap off and disappear into the darkness.
"Oh, bother," Neville said, a comical look of dismay on his face. "Oh well, never mind."
Saying that, Neville helped Luna to her feet, brushing her dress off. "Are you going to the feast?"
Luna shook her head and pointed to her feet covered in socks. "The nargles took my shoes. I have to find them before we leave tomorrow." She continued walking down the corridor.
"Right," said Neville grimly. He fell into step with her.
"Aren't you going to the feast?" Luna asked after a moment.
Neville shook his head. "I've got to find Trevor. We can look for your shoes and Trevor together. That is, if you don't mind?"
Luna's lips curved into a smile. "That's nice of you. Of course, I don't mind. Maybe Trevor is with the nargles too."
Neville just hummed, not knowing what to say.
"I just spoke to Harry. He's missing his Godfather, you know," Luna said suddenly.
"Oh?" asked Neville, feeling nervous. "Ah — do you — do you think —" self-consciously, Neville trailed off, not daring to finish his sentence.
Luna turned to face him. To Neville's surprise, he saw that she had a very serious look on her face. "Harry doesn't blame you for Sirius' death. You shouldn't blame yourself either."
Neville looked at her doubtfully. "How do you know?"
Luna started walking again, her face once again set in her usual lost look. "He hasn't got any Wrackspurts, of course."
Neville smiled, feeling comforted. "You're a good friend, Luna."
Luna just smiled.
They walked in companionable silence till Luna stopped suddenly.
"Oh look, there are my shoes," she said, pointing her fingers overhead. Sure enough, Neville could just about see a pair of shoes hanging from the rafters by their shoelaces. Neville felt a wave of anger at Luna's classmates but he smothered it.
"Wingardium Leviosa," he cast, pointing his wand at the shoes. They lifted off the rafters and floated down gently to the floor in front of Luna.
"Thanks, Neville. Let me just put them on."
As put her foot in her shoe, however, she took it out quickly.
"What happened?" Neville asked anxiously.
Luna, who was peering intently in her shoe, gave a sudden laugh.
"Oh look, Trevor was with the nargles after all."
Neville smiled, taking him from her.
"Shall we go to the feast? I really want the pudding," Luna said, looking happier.
"We're near the Gryffindor Tower," answered Neville. "Let me put Trever quickly in his pond, then we can go."
Neville's heart warmed at Luna's nod of agreement as they reached the Fat Lady. Scrambling through the hole, Neville felt truly blessed to have Luna as a friend.
The End