Neville's POV:
Fifth year, O.W.L year. My gran won't let me forget it. Not for a second. She is friends with one of the women who examines us at the end of the year, Mrs. Marchbanks. Gran has been telling her that I won't do well ever since I started at Hogwarts. I wish I could show my gran that I can do well, but I am not sure that will happen.
Anyway, I am going through the corridor on the Hogwarts express looking for a compartment and eventually found a spot with the golden trio: Harry, Ron, and Hermione, along with Ginny. Ginny seemed to think that it was okay to go in the compartment that had a peculiar looking girl in it. I didn't know what to think. She gave off this odd almost mystical vibe. Part of me was intrigued by her. Apparently, her name was Luna Lovegood. I had never heard of her, but considering she is in Ginny's year and is a Ravenclaw I am not surprised. Luna is pretty in a way, but also strange.
I kept trying to tell Hermione Granger about my Mimbulus Mimbletonia. It was a great birthday present that I had gotten. The best one that I had ever received. Hermione was distracted though. She kept whispering to Harry and Ron and attempted to diffuse some more of the tension between the Gryffindors, and Luna, but it is obvious that Hermione doesn't necessarily approve of this Luna girl. She called the girl Loony on accident in any event and I have never seen her trip up before. Luna is holding one of those Quibbler magazines that my gran doesn't like since they are full of all these conspiracy theories. I think it would be neat to find out if one of them is true, but I can tell that this girl probably believes everything that her father writes in that paper.
I poked my plant and stinksap went all over the compartment. Nearly everyone was covered in it, and of course that was when a girl had to come by. I mean, Ginny, Hermione, and Luna are girls, but I am talking about Cho Chang the prettiest girl that anyone at school can remember seeing except maybe Fleur De LaCour who we met last year for the Triwizard Tournament. All the champions seemed to be good people, but I wish Krum hadn't asked Hermione to the Yule Ball. I have always had a bit of a crush on Hermione. Whether or not I want to admit she is pretty much the only reason that I got through the last couple years of school okay.
Harry likes Cho Chang or at least that's what I think is happening. Harry saw her and froze. The kind of frozen you get when you don't know what to say and are super embarrassed to be with your company. I could see that easily from the position Harry was in holding Trevor. Personally, I think he shouldn't go after Cho Chang. I get that she is a great catch, but I think it would be too weird and wouldn't work, of course none of my friends want my love advice. However, it seems like an awkward situation. Cho Chang had obviously come to see Harry and now looked just as frozen as he does. She has no idea how to react to all of us in the compartment. She probably thinks that Harry Potter should keep better company by the way that her nose crinkles. Cho leaves in a hurry. Harry looks disappointed by that. He shouldn't go on a date with her because of her dating history. She went out with Cedric Diggory for crying out loud. Harry was there when Cedric died. My gran and I both think that the Daily Prophet is lying, but still I think she might be clinging to him just because he was there with Cedric and feels that by going out with him she could get closure, but it wouldn't surprise me if she was somewhat conflicted about the whole thing.
The train ride was interesting. Hermione was reading an article of the Daily Prophet aloud and I could tell she was extremely displeased by what she was reading. All of it was judging Harry and Dumbledore for their claims that Voldemort is back. I stay quiet because I don't want to disturb the trio. Ron and Hermione are probably the only ones who could really get along with Harry now by how he has been acting. I don't know, he just seems angrier, not that I blame him. He has been trying to tell people the truth about what has been happening around us in the Wizarding World and yet nobody wants to listen it feels like.
As we get off the train some of the luggage gets all mixed up between us because of how crowded it is, but eventually we all get back together again and get on a carriage to Hogwarts. Harry is looking at one of the carriages that is moving away from us already. Cho is sitting in the back attempting to flash him a smile while her friends giggle at her antics. Between this drama and Voldemort, the trio is on for a rocky start and considering I am sort of part of their group this is going to be a long year. Maybe it will be best for me to lay low.
Alas, that is not going to happen. When I get into the Great Hall for the feast, I see someone new at the staffing table. Ugh, she is wearing all pink and looks like a toad. She already looks like the type of lady who never got married and probably owns like a million cats. Not a good combination. One of the few things that my gran and I agree on is our hate for crazy cat ladies. It involves a Christmas ham at a new friend's house, a fireplace, eggs, and tinsel. Weirdest holiday I have ever been to and that includes all the times that Gilderoy Lockhart has tried to practically tackle me in attempt to give me his autograph or mumble random things. Seriously, that teacher was a total letdown. The hat had just finished giving its song and sorting some brand new Gryffindors. I pity the muggle borns from this year that have no idea the political unrest that is going on right now. Professor Dumbledore was just starting his beginning of the year speech when…
Tink, tink, tink. Miss Pink/ Umbridge had taken her spoon to her coffee cup and was banging it against the side of the cup to try to get Dumbledore's attention. "Ahem." She said and then she walked over to Dumbledore's platform, motioned for him to get out of the way and then greeted us like we were all kindergartners. It was quite unsettling. The worst part was what she was saying. I could tell that Ron and Harry were so horrified by the fact that she had just gotten Dumbledore out of the way to even realize what she was saying, but it wasn't good. Even I could tell you that. Umbridge appeared to have just said that the Ministry would be overseeing what type of behavior was going on at Hogwarts and be making amends as they saw fit. I had heard Harry say that the woman had been at a hearing he was at. Not good. Not good at all. Especially, if she was one of Fudge's minions. I can practically feel the temperature rise in the room as everyone tries to hold in their displeasure at how she was talking to us. She was layering her voice in the kind of sweet that was quite sickly, and nobody was particularly pleased that she was at Hogwarts, except maybe the Slytherins. They tend to like people who disrespect Dumbledore more than the rest of us.
After dinner, the Gryffindors go up to the common room. I will finally be able to remember a password because it is the name of my birthday present. Yay! I hoped that once everyone got back to the common room that things would start getting back to normal, but Seamus and Harry had an argument about the Daily Prophet. I backed Harry up, but Ron was the one who really ended the conflict. If Seamus isn't behind Harry on this than I don't know who is. Seamus has always been one of Harry's better friends outside of Ron and Hermione. Just more evidence that this year isn't going to go over well. Just my luck.
I go to bed that night worried about what the year will bring and how it is going to affect us all.
Luna's POV:
I got to meet some new people on the Hogwarts Express this year. They all seemed nice. Ginny has always been good to me compared to the other kids. Sometimes she keeps the other students from calling me Loony Lovegood. That always makes me feel good. Hermione has met me before in the library. I think that she thinks of me as the ridiculous girl who is crazy in the head, but she was at least polite. Harry or the Chosen One seemed pleasant enough, but their friend Ron seemed a bit heavy handed in terms of judgement.
Then there was Neville. He was quite unusual for a Gryffindor. He seemed to almost shrink away from the others. He had a plant that looked cool. It appeared that he had been trying to tell Hermione about it, but that she didn't really care. If I had to guess he probably has a crush on Hermione, but as far as I am concerned, he doesn't really catch her eye. Neville was nice, but I think uncomfortable with the overall situation in the compartment. Especially, because Harry was in a sort of ticking time bomb status. I get it though. If someone had been writing all that stuff in the paper like the stuff that was written for him than I would have probably been pissed too.
Anyway, I was just minding my own business and reading my magazine when I got covered in sap. Neville had just been testing the plant out. I found the whole situation a little bit hilarious. Unfortunately, someone had walked by around the time the plant had exploded and now Harry looked like he had swallowed a golf ball. On further examination I realized the girl was Cho Chang. She was a Ravenclaw like me but not one that really paid me any attention. The type that was too popular to talk to me. I don't really mind though. It is her loss if she doesn't feel like talking to me. She obviously felt a little bit out of place and left soon after arriving to talk to Harry. Harry looked really bummed. He must fancy her. Now that I think about it I think I heard a rumor from last year in Ravenclaw that Harry had asked Cho out but that she had to turn him down because she had already agreed to go with Cedric Diggory. I have never had a crush before, so I don't know what it is like, but I have heard that it is stressful. For that matter, I don't really have any friends either. Unless you count Helena Ravenclaw, Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter, also known as the Grey Lady. I know she is a ghost, but I consider her a friend because she has always been nice to me. People think it is weird that I hang out with her, but I don't really care what they think. It is my life not theirs and I get to live mine the way that I want to. It is just how I roll.
Once we get to the castle a new lady who apparently came from the Ministry was put into the position of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. I don't really like her. Our teaching in that subject has probably been uneven considering Lockhart was a fraud and we get a new teacher every year, but this lady does not seem to me like a good solution. I feel like she is using a thin veil of kindness to mask the fact that she is going to war against our school as we know it.
Some of the Ravenclaws don't seem to agree with my assessment. They are the same ones that were annoyed about Lupin being a werewolf and teaching us when we were in our second year. Lupin didn't bother me though. I though it was cool that he was a werewolf and the school did make sure that he was not teaching at the full moon each month which meant the right precautions had been made. Also, the guy knew what boundaries shouldn't be crossed in his teaching. I heard that the stand-in Professor Moody had shown the Unforgivable curses to Harry's year. That shouldn't have happened. Those curses should be used as little as possible and yet he was perfectly fine to perform them in a classroom. Good thing it wasn't the real Moody that was teaching us, or the Ministry would be in a bit of a pickle.
I hope this year will turn out better than I think. As I go up to my room with the other Ravenclaws I can't help but think that this year will be interesting. The Ministry is taking over Hogwarts and I don't think that will help with the current situation. If Voldemort is back which I believe than the Ministry is creating more problems than it is solving. The other girls make faces at me as I get to my bed. I wish they would just accept me already, but after four years I doubt that that is going to happen. I go to bed having had stuff thrown at me.
-Time Skip-
My first lesson of the day is Defense against the Dark Arts. I wasn't sure what to think. Some of the other Ravenclaws seem to think that maybe going along with the Ministry is a good thing. As far as I am concerned it is not. Dumbledore has always been such a great leader for the school, and I believe what he is saying. Umbridge obviously thinks that Dumbledore must be spreading lies and doing things with students that he should not be. Why else would the Ministry have sent her? They want her to try to control the opinions of us students.
Anyway, I am sitting in class. She tells us to put our wands away almost immediately. Then, she tells us that we won't be using them in class all year. This rocked the boat of normalcy a little bit too much, even for me. In fact, she said that we will be passing our exams using a theoretical idea of how everything will work. She then made us rewrite an entire chapter in our books four times so that we would hopefully know it in its entirety. It made me angry that she wouldn't let us perform magic, but I kept quiet. I didn't want to know what those manic eyes could come up with for punishment. By the time I got to Herbology I was barely holding it together.
"Loony, what has you all in a bunch?" Draco Malfoy has always made fun of him.
"Just wait till you have Umbridge and you will understand." I yelled and ran towards my next class.
Neville's POV:
The first DADA class of the year was a disaster. First, we get there, and she practically chucks books at us. Don't get me wrong I like some books, especially when it comes to Herbology, but this…
The books were an introduction to DADA which meant they were completely disregarding what we had learned over the last couple years. I know that we may not have had the best teachers, however she should be working based on what we already know, not starting from scratch.
After she gave us the books, she began talking about O.W. Ls like none of us knew what they were. It wasn't our first lesson and by then we had heard the speech like five times. I wanted to bang my head into the table, but of course I don't because that would have made this whole thing even more of a disaster.
When Umbridge says that there is no danger out there, Harry lost it. I was wondering how long it would take, but even I must admit that the whole thing seemed abrupt. Suddenly, he was yelling full force at Umbridge. I hadn't thought he was lying about Umbridge before but now I know with certainty that he wasn't. First off, I have never seen him so motivated and angry about anything before and second the looks on Ron and Hermione. They both seemed shocked yet happy about the proclamation. I trust Hermione, I even still kind of have a crush on her.
-Time Skip-
I am not happy, not happy at all. My grades are still not that good no matter how hard I try. I feel like a total failure, and I was really hoping that I could show everyone that I was more than just the clumsy oaf. What's worse is that Hermione doesn't even help me out anymore. She just hangs out with Ron and Harry all the time. I don't think she will ever like me, as in love me. It just makes the whole year even worse than it was. I know that I went with Ginny to the Yule Ball, but I know that she only went with me because she was too young to go and had no other choice. I know that she would never like me back, after all she goes out with all the Quidditch players. Sometimes I wonder if her heart is in those relationships though. At the Yule Ball I noticed her eyes drifting longingly to Harry. I think that she might be going out with other guys because even though she likes Harry his heart doesn't belong to her. She probably feels like he won't ever notice her so she goes after other guys hoping she will fall for them instead. The consensus is that I don't really have feelings for Ginny so much. She can be cool, but I don't think she is the one for me.
Hermione on the other hand I think is slowly falling for Ron. When we were all younger, I thought she might like Harry because he is quote on quote the "Chosen One". All the girls want him, but he isn't one of those guys who falls for someone just because they are female. Part of the reason why I think that Hermione likes Ron is because of how she acted at the Yule Ball last year. I mean someone like her wouldn't have gotten so mad otherwise. I mean, she is very independent and makes her own decisions but she was practically screaming bloody murder. I could tell that without realizing it Ron had been breaking her heart. She couldn't bear to hear him get even more mad at her taste in stuff, even men.
Ron probably likes her back but doesn't do anything. I think he is afraid of relationships. He likes the idea of going out with a specific woman, but he doesn't go up to her and ask her out. He also doesn't respect Ginny's privacy when it comes to dating. When he sees her with some guy, he gets defensive and mad even though the guys she goes out with are nice and she is old enough to handle things by herself. Not that I share these opinions with him anyway. He wouldn't even listen.
Second, this Umbridge lady is doing nothing, but making us review stuff that we have already learned. It is getting annoying. I mean, I get that I did not get all of it the first time, but this is still a waste of my time. I hope she gets fired. Unfortunately, I don't think that is possible.
Umbridge is slowly taking over and placing all these new rules. Most everyone hates her. I even saw some Slytherins frown when she walked by. That lady must have been a Slytherin when she was in school because she seems to favor them over us in a Snape like manner.
I had to go to detention after backing Harry during lessons. She made me use this special pen that used my blood to write. I had to write down "I won't support Harry." I thought it was a cruel and unusual punishment. I considered telling McGonagall, but then I would be tattling, and I am already considered the worst Gryffindor. I couldn't bear it if I sunk any lower.
-Time Skip-
One day I was working on a potions essay in the library and was attempting to focus when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and there was the bushy haired Hermione herself.
"Hello Hermione, what is it that you want to tell me."
"Well, first off what do you think of Umbridge?"
"She is a terrible teacher who won't get us prepared to face Voldemort when we have to."
"Great. Could you come to the Hogshead pub in Hogsmeade on the next Hogsmeade trip then. Harry knows a lot about defensive magic, and I thought that it might be good to create a club where he might be able to give us all tips."
"Sounds good. Who all are you inviting?"
"The Gryffindor Quidditch players, Cho Chang, Hannah Abbott, Ernie Macmillan, you, Luna Lovegood, Dean, the Patil twins, Lavender Brown, Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Lee Jordan, Ron, the Creeveys, and I believe that a friend of Cho's is coming. Also, there might be this annoying Smith bloke. He overheard me talking to Hannah and Ernie and wanted to come. Just a heads up."
"I'll be there. Thanks, but why do you want me? I am really bad at magic."
"Neville, the fact that you believe in the cause is more important, plus you have room for improvement. Hope to see you there." Hermione than skipped off.
-Time Skip-
I am happy about this whole club thing. Today we go to Hogsmeade and I get to go to that meeting in the Hogshead. I notice a lot of Gryffindors that I know along with a couple select Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws just like Hermione said that there would be. It looked like a pretty good group of people.
I listened as Harry and Hermione made a sort of hodge-podge speech. I could tell that Harry was a little bit uncomfortable about the whole thing but knew that under the present circumstances that it was the right thing to do.
Luna was standing in front of me in line. Again, I am not sure what to make of her. I shall see. I am glad that she believes that Voldemort is back. The fact that she is in Ravenclaw means she can at least spread the word beyond Gryffindor, unfortunately considering her reputation she probably wouldn't be that successful at convincing anyone. When I get to the table, I sign my name as neat as I can and then leave to go to Honeyduke's. Then, I buy a licorice wand. I like licorice unlike a lot of people. Along with the licorice wand I go ahead and buy some acid pops. I stow them away in my bag and head to the Three Broomsticks.
The place was full. In the corner I could see Ginny snogging Michael Corner and based on the look on Ron's face he was terrified.
I walk over to the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Ron, she isn't going to stop because you are staring at her and shut your mouth for crying out loud. Blimey." Ron turned to me and shut his mouth and tried to calm down.
"That's my little sister!"
"So? She can like who she wants."
"I agree with Neville. It is Ginny's life, not yours." Hermione said.
"Also, why didn't you hunt me down and hit me or something when she went to the Yule Ball with me last year?"
"You aren't her type. I knew it wouldn't last and you did it more as friends. I knew nothing like kissing was going to happen."
"True, but I still don't get why you are making such a big deal. She is fourteen years old. I think she can handle things on her own and I think she probably knows more about relationships than you do despite you being a year older."
"You are probably right." Harry exclaimed. Madam Rosemareta walked by and I asked her for a butterbeer. I wanted to celebrate.
I hung out and talked with the trio and then walked back with them. They seemed happy that I had joined their club. We were calling it Dumbledore's Army or the DA for short. Everyone thought the name would tick off Umbridge which was what it was supposed to do. We hated her so we were trying to make her life difficult. I can't wait for our first meeting.
-Time Skip-
Harry found a meeting place. It is called the Room of Requirement. The first spell he began teaching us was the disarming spell. I had a lot of fun.
Over the next couple of months, I began hanging out with the DA members a lot. Especially, Luna, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry. Since Luna is in Ravenclaw she is extremely smart. She is nice and helped me out a lot on my spells. Luna even cheered me on when I managed to do a disarming spell against Parvati.
I was better at DADA than I had ever been before because of Harry's teachings. We were all becoming better and better fighters through his teaching. It was also hilarious to see Umbridge and Filch nowadays. They knew something was up but couldn't catch any of us at it which led to a lot of laughs in Gryffindor. Fred and George Weasley even gave Filch some of those sweets that make you sick.
Fred and George are interesting lads. Everyone knows that they must be smarter than they let on. Apparently, neither of them did exceptionally well on their O.W.L. exams. Now, they have all the time in the world to convince first years to puke their guts out for their general amusement. I must admit that I find the treats fascinating yet dangerous.
By Christmas Luna, Hermione, and Harry had been encouraging me a lot. I never thought I would be part of such a great community as that club. I was a little bit disappointed when we ended the club for the year a couple days before we left Hogwarts. It would have been cooler if we had a meeting on the last night, but that is not up to me. I just go to the meetings and try to improve.
-Time Skip-
My gran and I are in Saint Mungo's. We have come to see my parents. I whisper about the DA to my parents, but they just look back at me with blank stares. It breaks my heart that my parents will be stuck in a mental ward for the rest of their life. The two of them were once great Aurors and now they were nothing more than a fraction of their former selves. I want Bellatrix to die for her crimes. Her and Voldemort both. My gran has been saying that Voldemort would come back ever since I was a little boy and I believe her.
I open the curtain between my parents and the rest of the room and see my friends on the other side of it. It was one of my nightmares coming true. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were horrified by the looks on their faces after my gran told them what happened. Harry didn't react to badly which gave me the sense that he may have already known. Once I get the Dribbles Chewing Gum, I try to get my gran to leave quickly.
"Are you really ashamed of what happened to your parents?" Gran asks me as we leave. She looks very agitated by the idea.
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean not exactly?"
"I am proud of them and I love them, but I wasn't ready for everyone to know. They already think that I am lame enough as it is, even amongst my friends I am the lousy one and I don't need one more thing weighing me down, okay?" By the time I reached the end of that statement I was practically screaming at my grandmother.
"Woah calm down. What's wrong?"
"We have this new Umbridge lady. She is from the Ministry and is refusing to let us use magic in our DADA lessons."
"Ugh, I should write a letter of complaints to Dumbledore."
"Don't it won't do anything. Umbridge pretty much took over. A lot of the duties of the Headmaster have been given to her. She had to inspect the other teachers and almost got away with banishing Trelawney."
"What else is she like?"
"She is mean, favors Slytherins, comes up with cruel and unusual punishments, and strict for the most part. The thing is how she is going about it. She tried to get rid of a bunch of student organizations too. In fact, McGonagall had to interfere to reinstate the Quidditch team. I know this isn't personality wise, but she looks like a toad and has an unhealthy love of cats and pink."
"A cat lady? This is getting worse by the second." I started giggling I couldn't help it. It had been a mortifying day but even then, I can find something funny.
Luna's POV:
Dumbledore's Army continues after Christmas break. Neville seems even more determined to do well. I think that we are becoming good friends. Ginny is looking after me more these days as well. I feel like I am part of something bigger than me. Neville may be chubby, but I can tell that his has a good heart and he is nice. I admire that about him.
Yesterday, I was walking through the halls just minding my own business when I ran into Malfoy. Malfoy has never been nice to me and from what my father said his father is even worse. My father said that Malfoy's dad, Lucius used to make fun of him when he was a kid too. That makes this whole thing multi-generational. Great.
I had my radish earrings in. Malfoy saw me and began making fun of me for wearing vegetables. I mumbled something about having made them myself and got into position to run, but his two cronies grabbed me and began to try to drag me away. I was kicking and screaming for help. Suddenly, I saw a flash of red hair and an angry voice. Someone had picked up my stuff and grabbed my arm and started running off with me in a hurried manner. When I finally catch my breath, I realize it was Ginny who saved me.
"Thanks."
"No problem. The DA has to get through this year together and I was not going to let them pummel you."
"I hope someday I can repay you."
"You don't have to. But thanks for the statement." Ginny walked off smiling at me. Then, I went to class."
-Time Skip-
As the year goes by, I see Neville in the library more and more. Sometimes we whisper to each other and talk about magical creatures and plants, at least until one of the Slytherins starts creating a commotion. Last time we got stuck with Pansy Parkinson sneering from behind a nearby shelf. Not fun.
Later, that day I noticed Harry running around in a worried fashion. He had Hermione and Ron chasing after him. A couple minutes later I got a mission by coin and tried my best to fulfill it. I ended up getting caught though. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Neville, Ginny, and I were all in Umbridge's office as she berated us for what she considered bad behavior. I would call it the right thing to do. Harry needed to make sure that someone who was family was alright, and I respect that a lot.
Hermione and Harry get away claiming they know something about a secret weapon by Dumbledore but based on Ron's eyes I am guessing they are bluffing.
"I'm kind of hungry can I have some of my sweets? They are in my bag." Ron said.
Neville and I exchanged looks. What in the world was Ron thinking? Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle who had captured us found the sweets and started eating them. Malfoy's throat began to swell up uncontrollably and I knew what Ron had done. He had come up with a plan to make our captors eat the joke sweets George and Fred have been making. It was ingenious and soon our whole party was running outside to find Hermione and Harry. Halfway down the bridge we ran into them. Hermione was shocked that Ron had come up with the escape plan, but I could tell that she was proud of him and was giving him these almost lovey-dovey eyes.
"How are we going to save you godfather if he is in London?" Neville asks.
"We fly of course." I say. Neville looks over at me with his eyebrows scrunched up.
Harry stared at me for a second as if waiting for an explanation when it donned on him. "Thestrals. We shall take Thestrals."
Harry and I led the others into the Forbidden Forest looking for the mysterious winged creatures that I love so much.
Eventually we find them. Neville walks right up to one and mounts it like he has done it before. I look at him questioningly and he just shrugs and mouths "Horse riding." I smile and giggle a little. The others look at us with an odd look. I help Ginny, Hermione, and Ron on the Thestrals, and I can tell that they are freaked out. I make sure to tell them to hold on tight.
We journey above the crowds to London. It is a good thing that it is night and Thestrals are practically invisible or we would probably be expelled.
Together with Harry we make it to the Department of Mysteries and eventually to a room full of glass orbs. I didn't know what they could be. Suddenly Neville said, "It has your name on it, Harry."
Harry looked over to Neville and pulled the orb off the shelf. There was a swirly image in the center of Professor Trelawney. That didn't clear much up for any of us.
Then, we heard the clacking of boots. We all turn around and notice Death Eaters approaching from all sides. The one that was in front of Harry took off his mask. It was Lucius Malfoy and behind him someone was approaching. Lucius said, "You must learn the difference between dreams and reality." That's when I knew that Harry had been tricked and we were along for the ride. We also found out that the orb contained the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort.
The one behind Lucius came forward. It was a lady with a hollowed-out face. The kind that you could tell was once beautiful. She had a crazy gleam in her eyes like she would love to torture us all.
"Bellatrix Lestrange." Neville said.
"Neville." Harry warned.
"Longbottom, how's mum and dad?"
"Fine now that I am going to avenge them." Harry kept Neville back with his arm. Neville looked almost murderous. I had never seen him like that. It scared me a little. Neville was sweet most of the time.
What could possibly bother Neville so much about this lady? I had no idea. But, shortly after this confrontation a battle broke out. I ended up in a room with planets eventually and I had to save Ginny and help her out because she hurt her ankle.
"You are repaid." I told Ginny.
Both of us began to laugh. I was laughing so much that my face had begun to hurt.
"I was just trying to diffuse the tension."
"You did a good job." The two of us tried to keep the bad guys at bay as we walked around looking for Harry. Finally, we found the rest of everyone. Soon, the only one of us that could really fight was Harry and we were in a room with a creepy arch with voices coming out of it. Part of me wondered if it were an archway to the souls of the dead because the people who could hear the voices were the same ones that had been able to see the Thestrals.
Order of the Phoenix members came. There was a whole mess with Voldemort, but I don't think I caught everything that happened. I know that Dumbledore helped, but to be perfectly honest my mind began to wander thinking about the mysterious arch. I hoped I would be able to find out exactly what it was someday. The good news is that we are all safe and the Ministry arrived just in time to see Voldemort. Now they believe Harry and Dumbledore. Also, Umbridge is being investigated. Yay!
-Time Skip-
I ride back to platform 9 ¾ in at the end of the school year with my DA friends. I was glad that I had them. Neville and I had a conversation over a copy of the Quibbler.
"Neville, can I ask you a question? Promise me you won't yell at me."
"What are you going to ask that I might yell at you?"
"Something about when we were in the Department of Mysteries."
"About Bellatrix?"
I nodded at him and Neville sighed.
"She used the Cruciatus Curse on my parents when I was about a year old. They were in the original Order of the Phoenix along with Harry's parents. According to my gran they were some of the best Aurors there have ever been. She is ashamed that I am not as good as my parents. She is constantly reminding me that she isn't proud of me. Anyway, my parents got a one-way ticket to St. Mungo's for the rest of their lives because of Bellatrix and her buddies. They have been in a mental ward since I was a baby, without her I would have parents who knew who I was and could talk to me."
"She is evil. But, after what happened in the Ministry, I think she will be proud of you even though you broke your wand. It was also after taking the O.W.L exam which means that you were all good. Remember that no matter what your gran says you have made us proud. The DA is there for you. Don't forget it."
"Thanks, you have always been kind to me, despite all my stupidity. Why is that?"
"I believe everyone has something to offer the world."
Neville thought about this for a while. "Hey, you know the one thing that never really made sense to me is why I am a Gryffindor. You would make a better one than me. Why do you think the sorting hat thought I would be a Gryffindor?
"I'm not sure. We shall see. It is going to magnificent. I just know it."
Neville's POV:
I am sitting at the dinner table with my gran. I had gotten off the train from Hogwarts earlier today. I can't help but keep running those lines that Luna said in my head. It amazed me how she could believe in me so much.
"What's up? You don't talk much, but this is just to a new level."
"I'm thinking about something Luna said to me on the train earlier today."
"Luna? Who is she?"
"I didn't tell you about her at Christmas?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Well, first off her full name is Luna Lovegood."
"Lovegood? Like that weird magazine that comes out called the Quibbler. Those are really funny."
"Yeah, her dad is the editor. She is smart, creative, but odd. Luna believes a lot of what her dad publishes, and she is the type of person who daydreams a lot, but she is a really good friend of mine."
"Wait, how did you meet her?"
"The DA."
"DA?"
"Dumbledore's Army. It was an anti-Umbridge organization that was created by us kids. Harry would help us learn DADA. It was for people who believed that Voldemort had come back. Luna helped me out with the spells a lot when I was there. She is a good person. I wish people would stop calling her Loony. Ginny is good at defending her though."
"Is she younger than you?"
"Yeah, she is in Ginny's year, but she is a Ravenclaw not a Gryffindor. Ginny is a fourth year."
Gran seemed to process what I was saying. She then grabbed a Daily Prophet off the shelf that was a couple feet from the dinner table.
"It is the one from this morning. I haven't read it yet."
"Can I see it?"
Gran handed it over and I saw an article about my friends and me breaking into the Ministry.
"Bloody hell. I am just going to give this to you and hope you don't kill me on my feet."
My grandmother took the newspaper and began to read through it. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as she read the article. My name was in it for having been one of the kids who had been with Harry.
"Is this why you have a broken wand?"
"Yeah. Please don't be mad." I was looking down at my lap.
"Mad?! Why would I be mad? We are going to get you a brand-new wand from Ollivanders. You are finally starting to live up to your parent's memories."
I couldn't believe it. My gran wasn't mad at me she was proud of me. This felt good. Maybe Luna was right that someday I would do something great. I know I am not the grandson that she wanted but I hope that I can at least give our family a good name.
-Time Skip-
Sixth year is barely even started, and I am already having to deal with being picked out of the rest of the crowd. There is this new guy, Slughorn. He wants to "collect me". I guess he likes that I have a connection to someone famous i.e. my parents. He made me come to a special compartment on the train to Hogwarts.
I feel good to have been recognized as someone of interest, but I also understand that it isn't because of anything I did. It is because of my parents and that Slughorn expects someone like my father. This made me feel even more out of place.
As the days go by, I can tell that Slughorn is losing interest in me. I am okay with that for the most part though. I'm not my father and I don't want it to be compared to him.
One day, after one of the times that I passed Slughorn in the hallway and he frowned at me as I walked past, I ran into Luna in the courtyard on a Saturday.
"Neville, how have you been?"
"Okay, I guess. I have been working hard in my classes. I got my own wand and I can perform spells way easier. I keep wondering if my gran was screwing me over by giving me my dad's old wand when I started at Hogwarts."
"It's possible. Ollivander says that the wand chooses the wizard and if that wand hadn't chosen you then it would have created a lot of trouble for you. You said I guess which means something is bothering you. What's going on?"
"Slughorn. He found out that I am not like my parents in terms of talents and kicked me out of his posse. I am not going to say that I love being collected by someone, but it just made me feel a little bit worse. It is like I am a piece of trash. He literally frowned when I walked by before I came through the courtyard."
"Do you remember what I told you at the end of last year when we were on the train?"
"Of course. What about it?"
"I told you that you were going to do something magnificent later and I am going to add on to that statement. You are your own person. You aren't your father and your wand show you why. But I don't think you should be comparing yourself to your dad. Neville, you need to be the best that you can be. That doesn't necessarily mean that you are going to be what your gran wanted you to be when you were really little, but it means that you will show the world what you are made of some day and that you don't need to be just like your dad or have the approval of Slughorn to do it."
"Thanks for the advice Luna. You always know what to say to make me feel better." She had been sitting under a tree doing her homework and I decided to sit next to her and do mine as well. It was nice being in company of my friend. Ginny, Luna, and I were like a second trio, a silver trio nowadays. We hung out whenever we could.
-Time Skip-
I had responded to a coin call and was fighting some Death Eaters when they finally left the results weren't good. First, I got stuck in the hospital wing for days, second Dumbledore was gone.
Dumbledore had always been a champion for the anti-Voldemort movement, and I couldn't believe that he was gone. We had named our club after him and now he wouldn't be there when we took down Voldemort in his name. It broke my heart. I know that Harry was even more sad than I was but still it hit me hard. I knew that Dumbledore had supported me, especially after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
Luna came through the infirmary door. "Madam Pomfrey, is Neville all healed up?"
"He should be."
"Why did you want to know?" I asked Luna.
"They are having Dumbledore's funeral in a couple minutes and I wanted to make sure that you didn't miss it since you were a fan of his. I can help you get down there if you want."
"That would be much appreciated." We chuckled and she led me downstairs and into a seat near the front.
Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are sitting in the second row a little bit away from us. Ginny and Harry had started dating earlier this year and I was happy for them. It was a particularly stressful funeral for us all. It meant a new hurdle for the movement. I remembered something that I had heard Hermione comment on. She had said that Dumbledore was the only wizard that Voldemort was ever really scared of.
-Time Skip-
Ginny doesn't look happy. She had just entered the compartment that Luna and I were in. I had heard that Harry had broken up with her after the funeral because he was going on some special adventure and didn't think that their relationship could handle it.
"Are you okay?" Leave it up to Luna to ask the obvious question.
"I am annoyed about this whole year. Muggle borns can't even come if they wanted to. Plus, I am still mad that Harry broke up with me."
"Nobody saw it coming. He did it to protect you." I pointed out.
"I just wish people weren't constantly saying that I needed protection. I can take care of myself."
-Time Skip-
Funny thing was that though Ginny had said that she didn't want protection, but she had been thankful when I had taken the Cruciatus curse for her.
The Carrows and Snape made Hogwarts, well not Hogwarts. It didn't feel like it had before. It wasn't just that Dumbledore was gone, it was how things were run. Ginny, Luna, and I had reinstated the DA and had been leading protests for a while now.
I am really worried about Luna. She had talked out and was now receiving punishment from Alecto Carrow. That means torture.
Luna comes to me crying an hour later. By this point I had started pretty much living in the Room of Requirement. The Carrows can't figure out where I have been hiding and I have been able to stay relatively safe.
"Neville, do you ever wish you were Harry?" Luna asked me.
"No, why would I? I have enough to deal with now."
"He isn't caged in. He can go wherever he pleases."
"True, but he has a target on his back a mile wide. To much looking out for yourself and not enough peace."
"Yeah, but Hogwarts isn't exactly peaceful either."
I smiled at Luna. Even when she was traumatized, she could look beautiful. I wanted to help her. I was going to give her something to eat when I realized that we didn't have any more food.
"Hey, Luna would you like to go see Aberforth with me? I need to get some more food for the Come and Go Room."
"Sure, I need some fresh air anyway. I am worried about my dad."
"Because of the Quibbler?"
"Yeah, he has been writing a lot of stuff to support Harry and I am glad that he is speaking out, but in the current situation I am worried about his safety."
"Your father knew what he was getting into when he started this whole thing. I mean, he was the guy who published the original interview article from Rita Skeeter."
"I guess it just still shocks me the world that we live in. I used to feel like dancing and singing all the time and now I know that there isn't time. We must fix what's happening. I keep wishing we had been successful in stealing the sword."
We were halfway through the tunnel to the Hogs Head and I was leading her along the way. "Yeah, I keep wondering why Harry needed the sword."
"I keep thinking that the sword would have come to us by now."
"What do you mean?"
"The sword goes to any Gryffindor that exhibits a lot of bravery. It apparently appears to you. I keep thinking that we are all being brave during this time, so why don't we have it."
"Well, for some reason it is really important. I am not really sure why."
"Maybe Aberforth would know. We should ask him."
"Good idea." I direct her out of the portrait to the room above the pub. Aberforth is sitting on an armchair nearby.
"Good evening, Ab." I say. Luna smiles and says "Hello, Mr. Dumbledore sir."
"Just call me Ab. Who are you little missy?"
"My name is Luna Lovegood, my father runs the Quibbler."
"We needed some more food stuffs for the group, and I knew she needed some fresh air so here she is."
"Would you like a drink before you leave." Ab asked.
"Would you happen to have any tea? I know this is a pub, but honestly it might be nice to have something calming right now." Luna said.
"I should have some chamomile if you are interested."
"Perfect, thanks."
Aberforth prepped our drinks and the food that we could go with before sitting us down on the couch opposite of him.
"Ab, would you happen to know why Dumbledore wanted Harry to get the sword of Gryffindor when he died? We tried stealing it earlier this year and Ginny said that Harry was supposed to have it." Luna exclaimed.
"My brother is very mysterious, but if I were you, I wouldn't obsess over it too much. It is Harry's problem now and it won't do you well to worry too much."
With that the two of us went through the portrait hole and ended up playing cards the rest of the night before we went to classes the next morning.
-Time Skip-
Christmas is a holiday, at least it used to be. When we went to leave the platform on Friday something happened. Luna was taken. I tried to hex the Death Eaters along with Ginny but there were too many of them. They did it because of his father. Now, I feel bad for essentially telling her that everything was going to be okay when we went to Ab's.
I am sitting in the Longbottom House. My gran is playing a game with my uncle and aunt.
My uncle speaks up "What is bothering you so much? I get that you are having a hard year at Hogwarts, but I would have thought you would be excited about Christmas break. You are being a little bit to silent for my tastes."
I stay silent and a tear runs down my face. Then, I get up and leave the room. I can't talk to them right now. I can't stop thinking about Luna. I don't think I will ever forget that look on her face when they dragged her away. I wish that I had done more, or more accurately that I could have done more. Truth be told I didn't realize how much I loved Luna. Luna was more than just my friend she was my biggest supporter and I was in love with her whether I wanted to admit it. I don't know if I will ever see her again.
"Neville are you okay?" My aunt, uncle, and Gran are right outside my door.
"Do you really think this is what I look like when I am okay?"
"Look, we just want to help you out."
"You can't. Not if you can get her back."
"Who?"
"Luna. They took her on the platform. I tried to save her, but I don't even know where they took her. I am scared."
"Is she your girlfriend?" My aunt asks excitedly.
"No, but we were in the leadership of the DA together and I do like her like that. I just didn't realize it until she was taken away."
My family didn't know what to say to me, so they just left, such great helps that they were. It was just like always. Gran and the rest of them just pretend like they are there for me and then when things get intense, they bail out on me. It is a tale as old as time.
Luna's POV:
I have been in Malfoy's basement for months. It breaks me to feel so trapped. I never thought I would ever feel this defenseless in my entire life. I keep wondering if it would be any better back at school for my friends. I keep telling myself that I will get out of here eventually.
Suddenly I hear some stuff upstairs. Talking. I can't exactly here what they are saying from where I am in the dungeons that are in the Malfoy's basement. Also, what kind of home has a prison in it? It's just sick.
A minute or two later I heard a clang from the gate of the dungeons and two horrified voices, wait a minute, is that-?
"Harry! Ron! Dean! Are you all there?"
"Luna?" said a voice that sounded to me like Harry.
"Yes, Mr. Ollivander and a goblin named Griphook live here too."
"Is there any way to get out?"
"No, not really."
Harry started talking to a mirror. That was what I call odd, but you know what considering everyone calls me Loony I am not sure that I am one to talk. A house elf who is apparently called Dobby shows up. Dobby takes us all to safety at Shell cottage. It was odd to be out of the dungeon and in full light after all this time. I kept having to squint my eyes.
Dobby died that day at the hands of Bellatrix's knife. I closed his eyes myself. It was sad to see our savior die. He was just another casualty because of everything that was going on in Britain.
I kept thinking about the many nights talking to Draco. Draco had this odd habit of coming down at twelve o'clock midnight when he was home and trying to tease me. Instead of just taking it like I always did I started to lash out back. I would pester him about that day with Voldemort and ask him to betray his parents, that he was on the wrong side of the war and that Voldemort didn't have his back. I think I rattled him to be quite honest.
Now, sitting in Shell Cottage I wonder what it would be like to be in his shoes. He was expected to kill someone when he was in my year. He was pressured and his family had brain washed him as a child. I keep thinking about how lucky I was to have a family that had wanted equality and not hate. I miss my family. Harry said that my father got arrested after calling the Death Eaters on them. I get that he wanted me back, but I am angry at my father for having done that. I may be the only one in the family left, but in a way, he insulted my memory by going against what I had stood for. My father was probably going to end up in Azkaban.
A week or so after Harry, Hermione, and Ron left I looked at Fleur and said "I need to get back to Hogwarts. It is driving me made wondering what happened to them. At the very least I want to know if Neville is okay."
"Last I heard of him he was. Is he one of your friends?" Bill interjected.
"Yeah, we ran the DA together along with Ginny."
"Well, Ginny is staying with my mum at the Burrow nowadays. They pulled her out of school around Easter."
"They probably need my help at Hogwarts then."
"Why are you rushing back to Hogwarts? You should stay here and stay out of the fray for a little while." Dean said.
"Look I made up my mind. I am going via the Hogs Head."
"I'll help you get packed then." Fleur said ushering me upstairs with vigor.
Once we got inside my room, she turned to me and said, "You like that Neville boy, don't you?"
I sighed and in a dreamy voice said "Yeah, I fancy him, but I don't know if he likes me back."
"In any event he will probably be happy that his friend is alive and well."
"He knows that I am okay. I sent a message with the coins we used for the club."
"Then, hope that he likes you back, but give yourself time and give him time to get used to you again. You have been through a lot and probably aren't the same person that he knew before the war."
I nod. After an hour or two we finish packing up all the belongings that I would need. It was all in a backpack. We had used an Undetectable Extension Charm on it so that I could bring some goodies and such to the Room of Requirement.
The next morning, I get dressed and say my goodbyes. Then, I walk outside and apparate away. I find myself on the top floor of the Hogs Head. Evidently, I had scared Ab because he practically through a pot at me when I said "Hello."
"Blimey Luna what was that all about?"
"Sorry Ab. I didn't mean to scare you. I was hoping to use the tunnel to Hogwarts. Ab called on Ariana and had her go back to beckon Neville from the other side. I was excited to see him. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw me.
Neville's POV:
I've been working hard on my homework, and all our missions for months trying to distract myself from the fact that Luna is gone. But I can't always not be thinking about her. Before I got the message that she was okay I had caught myself making little doodles of her from time to time, and then animating them so that they would move. My favorite was one where she was riding a Thestral. Ginny had found out that I liked Luna after she saw me drawing a picture of Luna with her lion's head that she wore for Quidditch.
Just out of the corner of my eye I notice Ariana Dumbledore at the portrait door. I get up to follow her. I wonder who it could be on the other side. Could it be my Luna? Probably not. By this point I had pretty much given up hope that I would see her pretty face any time soon.
Imagine my surprise when I walked out and there she was. Before I could think to do anything differently, I ran up to Luna and picked her up off the ground while hugging her. I was happy that I could do that type of stuff nowadays. I had gotten a lot slimmer and muscular this year. Luna was a little bit thinner but not terrifyingly so. Honestly, I was just happy that she was alright.
"Luna, how are you?" I ask her as a put her down.
"Okay, now." She said this while looking straight at me with those big dreamy blue eyes. I could easily get lost in them.
Luna ended up staying with us for a couple weeks until Harry came with the rest of his trio. She went off with him and I was worried about her, but I knew not to say it. I just hoped I would see her again. I wanted to tell her how I felt.
-Time Skip-
Wow, that was an intense battle. I am glad that I was able to contribute to killing Voldemort. I was sitting on a bench surrounded by girls, but none of them were the girl that I wanted.
Finally, I see her. She is walking towards Ginny and the rest of her family. I decide that I should intercept her before she interrupts their mourning.
I run over. "Luna!"
She turned to my direction. "What is it Neville?" She doesn't sound annoyed. More like confused and worried.
"You might want to give the Weasleys some space for a little while. Fred is dead." Luna gasped and then walked over to the side with me.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I wasn't there. The only reason Hermione and Harry are over there is because they are somewhat family to Ron."
"Makes sense. So… how are you holding up?"
"I will be fine if that's what you are asking."
Luna gave me a small smile. Ever since she had come back, she had been sort of hesitant. In a way it was adorable, but it also worried me. I hoped that she would let me help her out. I knew it was probably now or nothing.
"Luna can I tell you something?"
"Yes, what is it? You look mighty nervous for talking to me."
"I love you."
Her eyes widened and she smiled. "I love you too Neville Longbottom. I pulled her forward and we began kissing. I had never been so happy in my entire life.
Draco's POV:
I think that I owe Luna an apology for what we did to her as a family. She is right. If it weren't for my family than I would have bailed on Voldemort a while back. It is just so embarrassing to have to admit that the Loony girl can be right occasionally.
Anyway, I just saw her kissing Neville Longbottom. I used to think that he was a big loser but now I wonder if he really was braver than me all along and I never noticed it. People have more traits than just a few that make up how people describe them and people like Luna and Neville are overlooked often. Maybe that is why they really belong together.
I walk over to where they are sitting and talking. "You were right."
Luna and Neville turn towards my voice and Luna sniggers. Neville looks at her with a look of utmost confusion.
"So, you finally came around. Took you long enough. Although, in a way I think that you are a little late."
"I'm sorry what are you talking about." Neville said.
"She kept yelling at me about how I wasn't really a Voldemort supporter at heart and that I shouldn't follow my parents. That it should be my decision what I do. I would come down to tease her and she would about bite my head off with all her scolding. I should have taken her advice, but I didn't."
"Well, then what are you going to do?"
"I was hoping you could tell me."
I was looking at Luna and in a clear voice she looked at me and said "Promise me that if you ever have kids that you will raise them not to be pure blood supremacists. If you owe the world anything then it is that."
"I promise." I began to walk away but before I was out of earshot I turned and said to her "You give everyone a second chance."
"I have to. Look, what happened to my father. He is no Death Eater, yet he will probably be charged as one just the same."
I nodded, waved, and walked towards my parents. They had a look of confusion on their faces. I walked right past them and sat on a bench. Time to rethink my life.
Luna's POV:
After the battle Neville and I started dating much to the surprise of most of the people that we went to school with. It was great. I had someone to share my life with. However, not everything was sunshine and rainbows for me these days. My father had been charged and died in Azkaban.
I am set to marry Neville with Ginny, and Hermione as my bridesmaids. I am sad that my parents are both gone now, but happy I have someone who will support me with everything that I need. I love Neville and he loves me. We'll love each other for eternity.
Everything has fallen into place and Draco is probably going to keep his promise. I hope that someday most of the Death Eaters find remorse for what they had done, but I am not sure that can happen. Then again, they say that Grindelwald showed remorse in his later years at Nurmengard.
All I know is that life is one fabulous adventure. It is full of ups and downs and sometimes you don't win all the time. But if you make the right choices than maybe just maybe you will find love. I did.
The End.