Luna laughed and picked up her magazine. She shook her head and continued laughing as she turned the page. Harry wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no, but smiled at her anyway, knowing absolutely nothing about fairies and really hoping there turned out to be more around the school...only if they were just like Luna though.
It didn't take long before the compartment door was pushed open again. Harry looked up, expecting to see Ron or Hermione. Instead, Neville Longbottom smiled broadly at both of them. "Harry! Luna! I didn't know you knew each other!" He said, coming in and plopping down beside Luna.
"We're new friends," Luna smiled at him over her magazine. "Good summer?"
Neville shrugged. "My greenhouses are doing great, and Gran and Uncle Algie are as they always are."
"I'm sorry Neville, but I'm never going to like your Uncle Algie," Luna commented with a frown as if this were a common argument they had. "Throwing someone out of a window to see if they have magic is unacceptable. Whether you had magic or not, you're a part of the family and should've been treated with respect. You should've come to stay with me and Daddy some over the summer."
Harry frowned. He'd never even questioned Neville's stories about his family. If he were being honest with himself, it was because Neville's homelife wasn't too much different from his own, maybe even a little better. At least Neville's Uncle Algie could use magic to save and/or heal his nephew if he hadn't used magic to bounce. When Dudley had pushed Harry out of a window, Harry was just lucky he'd been able to grab onto a tree limb to keep himself from falling.
While Harry was putting some serious thought into what Neville had told him about his homelife and what acceptable treatment from a family member meant, Neville was explaining how things had gotten a bit better and the new plants he was cultivating. "You should grow some dirigible plums," the blonde suggested. "They keep the nargles away, and you could use that over the summer."
"Are nargles like wrackspurts?" Harry asked, coming back into the conversation.
"Nargles are those who've let the wrackspurts take over," Luna grinned, happy he'd made the connection.
"How have we never met before, Luna?" Harry asked with a smile. He really liked his new friend, and apparently, she was friends with Neville as well. Why hadn't they all been hanging out? Was he really that oblivious he'd missed her?
"I'm Ravenclaw," she shrugged. "And a year younger than you."
Neville put an arm around Luna and laughed. "Once she's claimed you as a friend, there's no going back though. Not that anyone would want to."
The door was pushed open again as Ron's red hair made an appearance. "Hey Harry, Nev, and Loony…er, Luna," Ron blushed at the end when Harry and Neville both glared at him.
"The prefect meeting was so dull!" Hermione exclaimed as she pushed in behind Ron.
"Hermione," Harry sighed with a roll of his eyes. "I've already told you; I didn't want to be a prefect. You don't have to downplay how much you like it for me."
Hermione smiled and sat on one side of Harry while Ron took the other. "Well, in that case, I'm so excited! We get to patrol the corridors right after curfew and are in charge of the first-years."
"Ergh!" Ron groaned dramatically. "We have to hang out with Malfoy who's also a prefect."
"I wonder who actually picks the prefects," Harry mused. "Malfoy has decent grades, but he's gotten in almost as many fights as I have."
"Ron's gotten in more," Neville chuckled.
"Yeah, mate. You should be the one that has to deal with the first years," Ron told Neville to Harry's surprise. He didn't realize his friend actually agreed with him. "Sure, my family is super happy, but you know my patience isn't exactly legendary."
"More like infamous," Harry gave his shoulder a shove.
Neville and Luna shared some sort of look, but it was largely unreadable. "Nah, I'm fine just trying to make it through this last year of Potions," Neville finally said in a calm tone. "I'm never going to pass it on my OWLs, so at least I don't have to take it next year. Besides, my gran and Professor McGonagall have a bit a feud going on. I'm not saying that factored in the decision at all...but it's a mark against me anyway."
"Seriously? How's this the first we've heard about a feud?!" Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Come to think of it...I'm not sure I've ever seen McGonagall talk to you outside of class..."
"Er, yeah," Neville said slowly with a wince. "I don't think she tries to treat me any different, but I can tell she also really doesn't want to spend time with me. I never really thought it was worth mentioning. It was something about my grandad when they were all in school together...honestly, I learned early on not to ask."
"Young love," Luna gave them all a knowing smile which had Ron gagging and Hermione looking like the girl had just committed blasphemy against one of her heroes.
Harry shook his head with horror on his face. "Yeah, mate, I don't think I would ask either," he agreed.
"Oh no! We need to get our robes on and get ready!" Hermione exclaimed as she stood looking at her watch. "Ron, we have to help get the first years together for the boats."
"Fine, I guess I'll catch up with all of you at the feast," Ron groaned and followed Hermione out to grab his robes from his trunk he'd left in the prefect carriage.
....
Want to read ahead by more than 60 chapters. Then join my pa*treon now.
Link: pa*treon.com/Amelie796 (Remove the *)
Free members will get 2 chapters for free.