Neville looked up at the large scarlet train and sighed. He was glad to be going back, he missed the greenhouses and Professor Sprout terribly, but this was his seventh and final year. Last year had been so eventful that he wasn’t sure how this year was going to go. Harry wasn’t coming back, since he had so much to do before he could defeat Lord Voldemort, and Ron and Hermione had spent the summer helping him, so Neville wasn’t sure if they were coming back either. He had seen them at the wedding, but not since. Hogwarts won't be the same, the boy thought as he watched the grey steam rise up in circles in the air. Looking back at the crowd which, Neville noted, was visibly smaller than last year, he sighed. The clock was ticking down to eleven o'clock and there was no sign of his friends yet, the only person he was certain would return was...
"Neville!" Luna Lovegood called, running towards him. "How was your summer?"
Neville couldn't help but smile. Luna was, in a word, odd, but she certainly knew how to brighten his day. He flushed a little when the kooky blonde gave him a warm hug.
"It was alright, I suppose," he managed to say. "What about yours?"
"Decent, I spent most of my time with my father looking for a way to see wrackspurts," Luna replied, "No luck though. Have you seen Harry?"
Neville and Luna climbed onto the train and looked for a compartment. "Not since Bill's wedding. He, Ron, and Hermione went off to Godric's Hollow, but Gran wouldn't let me go."
"That wasn't very nice," Luna stated sympathetically.
Luna started reading as soon as they sat down in an empty compartment, and Neville allowed his thoughts to wander as he glanced out of the window. Drifting off into his imagination, he blocked out the loud train engines and stared blankly into the window, thinking of his greatest desire, Luna.
Most of the train ride was pretty uneventful; at least until the lunch trolley came. Luna bought some Every Flavour Beans, and she and Neville took turns trying to give each other awful ones. Neville finally won when Luna got vomit, dirt, and earwax all in one handful.
It wasn't exactly the most conventional means of showing you cared for someone, but all in all, it had worked pretty well. The fun they'd had doing it, more than made up for the rather nasty aftertastes. Hearing their laughter, Ginny poked her head into Neville and Luna's compartment.
"Sounds like I'm missing the party."
Neville looked excitedly at Ginny; it was nice to know that there would be another friendly face in Gryffindor Tower. There was a lack of friendly faces in Gryffindor Tower last year; actually there was a lack of faces all together. Voldemort's reappearance had stopped the wizarding world and caused panic to spread throughout the wizarding families. Trust became an uncommon word spoken and felt amongst wizards, but he knew that he could trust the younger girls. They had been nothing but nice to him since they met not to long ago on this train. He couldn't help but smile, knowing that he would have friends, even if Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't come back.
"Friends...” he murmured with a smile on his face.
"Excuse me?" Luna questioned befuddled as usual.
"Oh, what, nothing..." Neville stuttered, blushing, Tell her, just tell her how you feel, you will never know if you don't ask, Neville slapped himself.
"Everything alright?" Luna asked.
"Luna…I have to tell you something..." Neville stammered, “I... I... It doesn't matter". Idiot, you have one more shot, take it NOW or don’t do it at all, he thought, "Luna…I, um, was wondering if, um, I...uh...If I could read your Quibbler when you're done."
He mentally kicked himself for chickening out, but he was sure Luna didn't like him that way. It was better to remain her friend then risk losing her completely.
Neville saw Ginny glancing toward him with a knowing look in her eye. He gulped, and felt his face blushing red.
Ginny winked and turned to Luna. "Luna, since so many people aren't returning, why don't we get together, say Tuesday night, in the Room of Requirement?"
"Oh, I would love to!" replied Luna "like continuing the DA."
Neville thought it was a great Idea. He didn't know if he should go, but was quickly assured.
"And Neville, you should come too."
Blushing a deep shade of pink, he tried to say "Of course I will" but it came out more of a groan...
"Well now that that’s settled, do you have any Every Flavour Beans left?" Ginny asked.
"There are some nice flavours left over," Neville joked whilst passing her the box of beans.
"There better not be any bogie flavours in this or I’ll have to hex you," Ginny laughed.
"We'd better hope not then, we have all seen your bat bogie hex in action."
They heard as the compartment door slid open, "Got a spare seat for me?" Ernie Macmillan continued.
"Sure!” Ginny and Neville said, and Neville made some room for Ernie.
"Want one Ern?” Neville asked, holding out the box to Ernie. "We have chocolate and…," but they never got to hear what as Neville said as the compartment door slid open and a voice started speaking, well I guess it could be considered speaking, but really it was more wailing. In came Cho, tears down her cheeks, and yet a beautiful face was visible. Immediately, the room quieted down, and Ginny jumped up to help Cho into the room.
"How can you bear it?" she whined at Ginny, "sitting here when he is out there with out you to help him".
Luna, Ginny, and Neville stared at Cho as she plopped down and buried her head in Ginny's shoulder.
"But, I thought you didn't like Harry anymore?" Neville asked. Cho and Harry had fallen apart years ago now, this sudden outburst made them all very confused.
Cho glared at him. "Just because I was angry at him doesn't mean that I still don't like him!" she stated.
Ginny stifled a jealous look. 'Even if he did break up with me, he’s over you, Cho."
"Dear, you’re his best friend’s sister, he can't really like you. He probably just went out with you because he felt bad for you," Cho cried, and stuck up her nose. Neville held his breath, waiting for Ginny's reaction, when Luna let out gasp from the other side of the compartment. She held out the Quibbler and announced,
"Scrimgeour has been kidnapping Muggle girls, and blaming it on the Death Eaters in order satisfy his Vampire appetite."
Ernie and Ginny burst out into laughter whilst Cho paused in her tears to stare at the girl who had made such a strange statement. Neville let out a snort; it amazed him how Luna could defuse any situation with those crazy stories of hers. After everyone finally contained themselves, Cho let out a sigh.
"Well, my friends are waiting for me." She waved and strolled out of the compartment. When all signs of Cho were clear, Ginny turned to Neville, Luna, and Ernie, and mischievous and devious look in her eyes.
"Looks like somebody failed all her classes," she said with a sly grin. When the others only stared blankly at her, Ginny clarified, "Cho was a seventh-year last year; the only reason for her to be going back to school now is if she failed all her classes. And now I think I know the perfect prank to pull at the start of term feast."
Everyone in the compartment leaned in to hear the plan; everyone except Luna.
"She's in Ravenclaw you know," said Luna in her dreamy tone, "Ravenclaws are known for their brains, I'm sure there is another reason for her to be here."
Everyone except Neville just ignored her. He, however, looked at her with his brow furrowed. "Like what?" he asked Luna, though he regretted saying anything almost as soon as the words left his lips. Knowing Luna, she would come up with some far-fetched story about how Cho was really a vampire spy for the minister.
"She came back to Hogwarts because she is a vampire spy for the Minister," Luna said grinning.
Ginny looked at Luna, "Luna, I don't think Cho's a vampire or a spy! I think she's just here because she failed all her NEWTs and because she is jealous of me."
"No offence Ginny," Ernie said, "but why would she stay at Hogwarts if she's jealous of you? And Luna," he said, turning to her, "You see Cho looking in a mirror all the time. Vampires don't appear in mirrors." The two girls sat in utter confusion, for neither of them had a response- but Neville did.
"She might not be back as student," Neville stated.
"What?" gasped Ginny.
Neville replied, "'I doubt she's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but with Dumbledore dead there may have been more turnover than usual. Cho could be the new librarian or something."
Luna looked at Neville.
"You know, that's not a bad explanation," she said smiling.
Neville's stomach gave a flutter. He liked it when he got compliments but one from Luna was even better.
The train started to slow down.
Partly to hide his blush, which Ernie had noticed, Neville stood up and started pulling on his robes. The other students started doing the same.
When the train finally slowed to a stop the group hopped out, heading for the carriages pulled by the thestrels. Every time Neville saw the creatures, he winced, in remembrance. He remembered Dumbledore. The headmaster's face was clear in his mind and his eyes swelled with held back tears.
"I know. I miss him too," Luna commented noticing Neville's expression. He paused to allow his stomach to settle as it did back flips at the thought that Luna had noticed his emotions.
"Neville, Luna! Look!"
"What?" Neville asked.
"Up there," replied Ginny pointing.
Behind Neville, Ernie gasped, "It's a phoenix!"
"It's Fawkes," Luna stated.
"But it can’t be!" cried Ginny, "Fawkes is with Harry," she finished, a barely noticeable drop in her voice as she said his name.
"Well, what if he's here, maybe there's something he needs," replied Neville hopeful.
Ginny face lit up with hope. She knew that it was a slim possibility, but the possibility itself made her stomach flutter... Harry could be here! Harry could really be here!
"You really think he could be here?" Luna broke through Ginny's thoughts.
"Who really knows, obviously he didn't tell Ginny. And if he didn't tell her, who else would he?" Ernie said.
"Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise."
The group turned around at the sound of the new voice.
"Harry!" Ginny screamed, and ran at him full force, flinging herself into his arms.
I hope I have that one day, Neville thought, smiling. He was just beginning to imagine Luna running to greet him when Ginny squealed again.
"What are you doing here? I thought you would be off somewhere doing something dangerous."
"I shouldn't say anything here, Ginny. I'll tell you when we get up to the castle."
Wondering what could be so secret that Harry couldn't say in public, Neville followed them up to the school, wishing Luna would greet him with a huge hug.
"Harry, where are Ron and Hermione? Has something happened to them?" Ginny asked with a hint of worry in her voice.
"I said I would talk about it up at the school."
Neville had never heard that tone in Harry's voice before. Something must have happened and that filled Neville’s heart with despair. Glancing up at the top of the steps, he took a step back and nearly fainted. It was Ron and Hermione, but not the Ron and Hermione he remembered. Ron's face was covered in cuts and scratches, some still bleeding. Hermione's face was fine but she had a cane in her hand, her leg twisted grotesquely.
"What happened?" Neville asked, faintly.
"Was it Scrimgeour?" Luna added.
Neville turned to look at her. Scrimgeour? he wondered.
However, all thoughts of the Minister were pushed out of his head when Hermione winced in obvious pain. Her leg seemed to twitch and Hermione squeezed her eyes shut.
"We'll be fine," she said, noticing the worried expressions on her friend's faces. Harry took a step forward and flung Hermione's arm over his shoulder to help her get back to the castle.
"We need to get you up to the Hospital Wing. I'll explain in there, Ginny. Neville, help me with Ron," he said.
They started towards the hospital wing, taking longer than usual with Ron and Hermione hurt. Once Hermione was settled safely onto a bed, she tried to get Ginny and Luna to go to the sorting ceremony but they heatedly refused. They were all eager to hear what Harry, Ron and Hermione had endured, but when Hermione yelled out in pain they were suddenly once more concerned about their current health.
"I'll go get Madame Pomfrey," said Ginny, walking back towards the hospital wing's double doors. "I imagine she's down at the feast, but I'm sure she'll come up for this."
However, as Ginny made to push the doors open, she and the group turned at the sound of Madame Pomfrey's office door opening on the opposite side of the Hospital Wing. They collectively gasped at who emerged, wearing a brand new nurse uniform and smiling to herself in a clearly satisfied, ‘I'm-going-to-enjoy-this-new-job!’ sort of way.
"Cho?"
“Oh, Neville! You were right," exclaimed Luna, "she is the new nurse!"
"Hi Cho," said Harry, "Nice to meet you here." he managed a smile.
"Cho," said Ginny with coolness in her voice, "Where is Madame Pomfrey?"
“Oh, she’s not here at the moment. Urgent news from Professor McGonagall," said Cho simply, eyeing Harry.
"What are you doing here, Cho?" asked Ginny. "Aren't you supposed to be out in the big wide world, saving wizard kind or something?"
"As a matter of fact, no. I've been asked to take this position while Madame Pomfrey is away," she replied back in a somewhat harsh tone. "Now who is my first patient?"
"I am," replied Hermione weakly. They all parted to let Cho through. Immediately, she got to work.
In only a few moments, Cho had reset Hermione's leg and given it a splint to hold it in place, and then applied some healing cream to Ron's scars making his face look like it was covered in bright green leeches.
"Well, as curious as I am about what happened to the two of you, I'm required to attend the feast, so I'd best be off. I'll tell McGonagall that you're all up here," said Cho. As she swept past Harry, she gave him a nasty frown before departing the room.
"Well, I suppose now that she's gone," said Neville hopefully. "You could, tell us… um… tell us what happened to you?"
"Err...right. Well, when Ron, Hermione, and I left for Godric’s Hollow right after Bill and Fleur's wedding we ran into some trouble," Harry said nervously. "We didn't know where else to go - there would be too many questions at St. Mungo's - so we decided to come here," he finished, looking at his injured friends with pain in his eyes.
“What have you been up to?"
Neville's Greatest Treasure by Hufflepuffs
Chapter Notes: This is the first fiction written by members of Mugglenet Fanfiction's Hufflepuff House. Enjoy.