Chapter 2
We all turned to the amazing spread set out before us and dug into the food. My plate was covered in mashed potatoes with thick brown gravy and a steak by the time I came out of my thoughts. I looked sideways through my hair at Ginny who was putting the same food on her plate.
“Thank you Ginny,” I mumbled at her.
“No problem ‘Mione” she smiled at me.
I smushed the gravy into my potatoes before taking a small bite. Neville watched as I put a forkful in my mouth. He seemed to visibly relax some.
“How you been, Hermione?” Neville inquired carefully as he pulled a goblet of frosty dandelion juice closer to himself. He took a big sip as I swallowed my food to answer him.
“I've been good Neville, how bout you?” I asked with a distant cheeriness.
Gulping down his drink he replied, “As well as I can be, I’ve got letters coming in to me everyday, it's a little bonkers what some people say sometimes.”
“What do you mean?” A breathy voice asked from behind Neville.
“Luna,” Ginny excitedly got up and hugged her friend. Ginny sat down again, squishing closer to me so that Luna could join us.
Neville smiled at the pale girl as he responded, “Oh they call me a grand hero and some ladies are trying to send me locks of hair telling me to keep it and think of them.”
Luna frowned slightly, her blonde eyebrows scrunching together at his words. Neville quickly attempted to soothe Luna's frown.
“Luna , it's nothing really, just some fanatics that mean nothing.”
Pavati and Seamus started to chuckle lightly at Neville's clumsy attempts to appease Luna's quiet dissatisfaction. We’ve all known about Neville's crush on Luna since the DA days, but Luna developed feelings for Neville during their time together at Hogwarts before she was abducted on her way home for Christmas while I was off with Harry and Ron. At the thought of Ron, a dark cloud came over me and I lost my desire to be in a room of happiness.
I quickly stood up from the table, startling everyone around me. Ginny looked up at me with questioning eyes that turned sad as she looked at my face. She gave me a curt nod, understanding that I needed to be away.
“Did you remember something you needed to do ‘Mione?” She graciously asked to give me a reason to leave.
“Oh, yes… Yes I have a head girl duty to take care of. I’m terribly sorry everyone. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast,” I hurried away after sputtering out the words, feeling guilty for lying to everyone. I rushed out of the dining hall to avoid the concerned stares that followed me.