Neville Longbottom was relishing in the freedom of the last wisps of his
summer vacation. In just a few short days he would be returning to Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This day he had school shopping to do in
Diagon Alley. Mostly the usual items--quills, ink, parchment--but one item
in particular.
"What do you mean 'the wand picks the wizard'? I should think that any wizard would be proud to inherit a wand that once belonged to such a talented young man!" Gran's face was rapidly gaining color with the effort it took to yell at Mr. Ollivander.
"Madam, I have never known a Witch or Wizard to purposely stunt a child's magical ability could the situation be helped! It's positively disgraceful.." Neville was very sure that Mr. Ollivander's eyes were going to displace themselves.
"How dare you! I'll have you know." Neville stopped listening. A flash of familiar dark blond hair caught his eye--could it be?
Neville went running out of the wand shop into a large crowd of witches and wizards.
"Luna! Luna Lovegood!" Neville dodged a very offended looking wizard.
"Neville?" Luna turned just before she could enter Florean Fettescue's ice cream shop.
Neville was positively speechless at the sight of her. This was not the girl who bravely ventured into the department of mysteries with him last year. She had grown. In more ways than one. Not only was she taller but she had curves as well. Neville was becoming terribly aware of the fact that he was staring at Luna Lovegood's new body.
"Neville? Are you all right? Neville?" Neville's head snapped up.
"Oh, hi, Luna. I was just, um." Neville's words failed him as he looked over Luna's shoulder to see an older wizard looming over her. He reminded Neville of a thin, twittery owl. His sandy colored hair was strewn about to give the suggestion of feathers, and his thick, oval rimmed glasses gave the appearance of large owlish eyes.
"Oh, Neville this is my father. Daddy, this is Neville Longbottom. He's one of the people from the Department of Mysteries. He was very brave you know, he even carried Hermione Granger after she--"
"Uh, thanks Luna. Nice to meet you Mr. Lovegood." Neville said quickly as he ducked his head and shook Mr. Lovegood's hand. He didn't really want to answer any questions about that particular adventure.
"Longbottom.that sounds familiar.did your parents go to Hogwarts?" Luna's father asked.
"Yes, actually.."
"Ravenclaw, right? I think I remember-"
"No, Gryffindor actually" Neville interrupted "Well, my mum was a Hufflepuff, but her name wouldn't have been Longbottom"
"Ah, yes. Well I suppose not." Mr. Lovegood suddenly became very interested at a spot over Neville's head. "Well if you two have some catching up to do, I have a few errands to run. I'll meet you in the bookshop around four okay?" He said, pressing a number of galleons into his daughter's hand.
"Alright, Daddy. Be careful and mind that you don't pass under any fir trees!" Luna kissed her father on the cheek before he strode off toward the other end of the alley.
"What's so bad about fir trees?" Neville regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.
"Well, you see, this time of year, mid-summer that is, fir trees are often crawling with Nargles." Neville could already feel his attention wandering. "Then when the mistletoe is harvested they burrow into the berries, and wait silently until some unknowing witch or wizard wanders under, at which point they." 'She should not be allowed to move like that!' Neville thought as he watched entranced by the wonderful things her chest did as she moved her arms about excitedly. "Then, just as the witch or wizard expects to receive a kiss, the nargle enters through the mouth. The female nargle lays her eggs in the back of the throat where her young can feed off the person's magical energy. Nasty creatures, really. Right? Neville? Neville, are you feeling all right? Have you walked under any fir trees lately?"
"What? Um.yes? Wait, no. Yes, no. What I mean to say is."
"Do you want to get some ice cream?" Neville was relieved to see that Luna's attention had wandered as well. Though obviously not in the same direction that his had.
Neville spared a glance toward Ollivander's wand shop. The large stuffed vulture on Gran's hat was tipping precariously to the side as her crimson face contorted into a look of utter malice. Then she apparently challenged Mr. Ollivander to a Wizards duel, considering that she was now pointing her wand at a spot directly between his eyes.
"I think I have a few minutes." Neville said as he motioned towards the Wand shop.
"Oh! Are you getting a new wand? That's very interesting. I hear that Mr. Fudge has a secret 'wand inspection team' that puts restriction spells on the new wands." Luna began. "You see, he wants to make sure that he's the most powerful wizard around, so he's starting with the new wands, then he's going to move on to students at Hogwarts." "Really?" Neville said, feigning interest. At least he had managed to keep his eyes firmly on the ice cream shop. "Was that your grandmother? [I'd really love to meet her and-"
"Yeah, maybe after we eat, alright? She seems pretty busy right now." Neville was truly concerned for his well being, should he return to that shop. Besides, it gave him more time to spend with Luna.
"You're right, I am rather hungry" Luna looked distracted as she made her way to the only available table in the crowded ice cream shop.
As they were looking at the selections, Neville peeked over the menu at the young Ravenclaw sitting across from him. She was wearing her ever-present fluorescent orange, radish-shaped earrings. He had heard Parvati and Lavender making jokes about them more than once, but Neville never really understood what was so bad about them. Her hair was in a loose bun at the top of her head, secured with her wand. It was really quite lovely, despite the fact that it was probably a safety hazard to the nervous wizard behind her. Then Neville noticed her necklace. It consisted of a long chain of Drooble's Best Blowing Bubble Gum wrappers, and at the end was a very small glass disk. 'Odd' thought Neville, as his eyes traveled down the length of the necklace directly to Luna's. "And for you sir?" The waiter asked.
"Sorry?" Neville silently cursed his teenage hormones.
"What would you care to eat sir?" The waiter asked impatiently.
"Err.two scoops of mango-walnut please." Suddenly, Neville remembered that he didn't particularly care for mango-walnut.
As the waiter walked away, Neville vowed to never let his hormones distract him like that again, it could prove fatal in Snape's potions class.
"Good choice" Luna said.
"Excuse me?" Neville was suddenly terrified at the thought that Luna may be a mind reader.
"Mango-walnut. It's one of my favorites."
"Oh" Relief washed over Neville's face. "Mine too. I just love it. Can't get enough, really"
Luna appeared to be staring off into space. Just at that moment Neville felt a hand grip his shoulder. He shot up in surprise causing his chair to fall with a loud crash. He turned to see Ron Weasley, laughing like a madman.
"Sorry, Neville," Ron said through the tears in his eyes. "Didn't mean to frighten you"
"No, that's okay. I just."
"Hello, Ronald!" Luna interrupted in her rush to greet Ron. "How has your summer been?"
"Oh.I didn't see you there, Luna. It was fine, I guess" Ron looked distinctly less comfortable than he had moments before.
"Have you found a table yet Ron?" Ginny Weasley yelled over the noise of the ice cream shop. She was dragging behind her a very disappointed looking Hermione Granger.
"No. I think they're all full!" Ron said as Ginny made her way to where he was standing.
"Oh, Neville, Luna, it's so great to see you! Mind if we share a table?" Ginny asked, appearing eager to sit down.
"Ginny, let's not bother them. They look like they want to be alone." The elder Weasley shifted uncomfortably.
"Nonsense, I.oh wait. You two weren't on a date or anything were you? Because we could go somewhere else" Ginny frowned.
"No!" Neville scooted to make room. He noticed that Luna was still staring intensely at Ron, who looked as though he had just swallowed a blast-ended screwt. Neville felt a vicious pang of.of what?
"Oh, good. The ice cream is here." Neville decided that he must be much more famished than he had thought for him to feel so strange.
Throughout the next hour, he brooded silently. He was here first! What did Ron have to make Luna stare at him like.like that? 'I wish that they would just leave' He thought. Then, as if by magic, Hermione granted his wish. 'No, Ginny. I have to get my books! I need to make sure that I have the money for all of them before I spend any more on sweets. And if your mother finds out that you-"
"Okay, okay. No need to bring Mum into this. It was nice to see you two again." Ginny nodded at Luna and Neville.
"Yes, we'll see you on the Hogwarts express. Bye!" Hermione said.
"Yeah, see ya." Ron muttered as he leapt out of his chair as though it was on fire.
Both Neville and Luna said their goodbyes and turned back to their table.
"I suppose you'll want to go collect your wand now?" Luna gazed into her kumquat malt.
"Well, I suppose I could stay a few more minutes, that is if you're not in a hurry" Neville scratched the back of his neck.
" I like your eyes." Luna said starring at Neville's face. "Did you know that Ronald's eyes are two different sizes? One eye is slightly higher than the other as well. Sad really."
"No, I.oh, is that why you.?" Neville suddenly thought better than to ask that question. "Never mind."
"His sense of humor is really rather unfortunate as well. I know all his friends try to help by going along with his jokes, even I try to participate, but I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't giving him a false confidence?"
"Well.I." Neville didn't really know what to say to that.
" When did you lose your wand? I know that I was worried that someone had hidden mine several times. Did you try asking around for it?"
"What? I.oh, no I didn't lose it. I broke it in the department of mysteries last year and-"
"Oh, that's really very unfortunate. You know, Great Uncle Ollivander says that a second wand is never as good." Luna's attention threatened to wander towards the reflections in her spoon.
"You're related to Mr. Ollivander?" Neville asked.
"Oh, yes. My mother's maiden name was Ollivander."
"Really? Because." Neville was distracted by what Luna was doing. She had taken off her necklace and appeared to be looking at the gum wrappers through the tiny glass disk. "What are you doing?" Neville asked.
"You don't know?" She said as she reached in her handbag to pull out a copy of the Quibbler. She turned a few pages then handed the paper to Neville.
Neville promptly choked on his ice cream.
"Hidden Messages on Gum Wrappers!" The headline read. "Decode the future by chewing bubble gum!"
"What do you mean 'the wand picks the wizard'? I should think that any wizard would be proud to inherit a wand that once belonged to such a talented young man!" Gran's face was rapidly gaining color with the effort it took to yell at Mr. Ollivander.
"Madam, I have never known a Witch or Wizard to purposely stunt a child's magical ability could the situation be helped! It's positively disgraceful.." Neville was very sure that Mr. Ollivander's eyes were going to displace themselves.
"How dare you! I'll have you know." Neville stopped listening. A flash of familiar dark blond hair caught his eye--could it be?
Neville went running out of the wand shop into a large crowd of witches and wizards.
"Luna! Luna Lovegood!" Neville dodged a very offended looking wizard.
"Neville?" Luna turned just before she could enter Florean Fettescue's ice cream shop.
Neville was positively speechless at the sight of her. This was not the girl who bravely ventured into the department of mysteries with him last year. She had grown. In more ways than one. Not only was she taller but she had curves as well. Neville was becoming terribly aware of the fact that he was staring at Luna Lovegood's new body.
"Neville? Are you all right? Neville?" Neville's head snapped up.
"Oh, hi, Luna. I was just, um." Neville's words failed him as he looked over Luna's shoulder to see an older wizard looming over her. He reminded Neville of a thin, twittery owl. His sandy colored hair was strewn about to give the suggestion of feathers, and his thick, oval rimmed glasses gave the appearance of large owlish eyes.
"Oh, Neville this is my father. Daddy, this is Neville Longbottom. He's one of the people from the Department of Mysteries. He was very brave you know, he even carried Hermione Granger after she--"
"Uh, thanks Luna. Nice to meet you Mr. Lovegood." Neville said quickly as he ducked his head and shook Mr. Lovegood's hand. He didn't really want to answer any questions about that particular adventure.
"Longbottom.that sounds familiar.did your parents go to Hogwarts?" Luna's father asked.
"Yes, actually.."
"Ravenclaw, right? I think I remember-"
"No, Gryffindor actually" Neville interrupted "Well, my mum was a Hufflepuff, but her name wouldn't have been Longbottom"
"Ah, yes. Well I suppose not." Mr. Lovegood suddenly became very interested at a spot over Neville's head. "Well if you two have some catching up to do, I have a few errands to run. I'll meet you in the bookshop around four okay?" He said, pressing a number of galleons into his daughter's hand.
"Alright, Daddy. Be careful and mind that you don't pass under any fir trees!" Luna kissed her father on the cheek before he strode off toward the other end of the alley.
"What's so bad about fir trees?" Neville regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.
"Well, you see, this time of year, mid-summer that is, fir trees are often crawling with Nargles." Neville could already feel his attention wandering. "Then when the mistletoe is harvested they burrow into the berries, and wait silently until some unknowing witch or wizard wanders under, at which point they." 'She should not be allowed to move like that!' Neville thought as he watched entranced by the wonderful things her chest did as she moved her arms about excitedly. "Then, just as the witch or wizard expects to receive a kiss, the nargle enters through the mouth. The female nargle lays her eggs in the back of the throat where her young can feed off the person's magical energy. Nasty creatures, really. Right? Neville? Neville, are you feeling all right? Have you walked under any fir trees lately?"
"What? Um.yes? Wait, no. Yes, no. What I mean to say is."
"Do you want to get some ice cream?" Neville was relieved to see that Luna's attention had wandered as well. Though obviously not in the same direction that his had.
Neville spared a glance toward Ollivander's wand shop. The large stuffed vulture on Gran's hat was tipping precariously to the side as her crimson face contorted into a look of utter malice. Then she apparently challenged Mr. Ollivander to a Wizards duel, considering that she was now pointing her wand at a spot directly between his eyes.
"I think I have a few minutes." Neville said as he motioned towards the Wand shop.
"Oh! Are you getting a new wand? That's very interesting. I hear that Mr. Fudge has a secret 'wand inspection team' that puts restriction spells on the new wands." Luna began. "You see, he wants to make sure that he's the most powerful wizard around, so he's starting with the new wands, then he's going to move on to students at Hogwarts." "Really?" Neville said, feigning interest. At least he had managed to keep his eyes firmly on the ice cream shop. "Was that your grandmother? [I'd really love to meet her and-"
"Yeah, maybe after we eat, alright? She seems pretty busy right now." Neville was truly concerned for his well being, should he return to that shop. Besides, it gave him more time to spend with Luna.
"You're right, I am rather hungry" Luna looked distracted as she made her way to the only available table in the crowded ice cream shop.
As they were looking at the selections, Neville peeked over the menu at the young Ravenclaw sitting across from him. She was wearing her ever-present fluorescent orange, radish-shaped earrings. He had heard Parvati and Lavender making jokes about them more than once, but Neville never really understood what was so bad about them. Her hair was in a loose bun at the top of her head, secured with her wand. It was really quite lovely, despite the fact that it was probably a safety hazard to the nervous wizard behind her. Then Neville noticed her necklace. It consisted of a long chain of Drooble's Best Blowing Bubble Gum wrappers, and at the end was a very small glass disk. 'Odd' thought Neville, as his eyes traveled down the length of the necklace directly to Luna's. "And for you sir?" The waiter asked.
"Sorry?" Neville silently cursed his teenage hormones.
"What would you care to eat sir?" The waiter asked impatiently.
"Err.two scoops of mango-walnut please." Suddenly, Neville remembered that he didn't particularly care for mango-walnut.
As the waiter walked away, Neville vowed to never let his hormones distract him like that again, it could prove fatal in Snape's potions class.
"Good choice" Luna said.
"Excuse me?" Neville was suddenly terrified at the thought that Luna may be a mind reader.
"Mango-walnut. It's one of my favorites."
"Oh" Relief washed over Neville's face. "Mine too. I just love it. Can't get enough, really"
Luna appeared to be staring off into space. Just at that moment Neville felt a hand grip his shoulder. He shot up in surprise causing his chair to fall with a loud crash. He turned to see Ron Weasley, laughing like a madman.
"Sorry, Neville," Ron said through the tears in his eyes. "Didn't mean to frighten you"
"No, that's okay. I just."
"Hello, Ronald!" Luna interrupted in her rush to greet Ron. "How has your summer been?"
"Oh.I didn't see you there, Luna. It was fine, I guess" Ron looked distinctly less comfortable than he had moments before.
"Have you found a table yet Ron?" Ginny Weasley yelled over the noise of the ice cream shop. She was dragging behind her a very disappointed looking Hermione Granger.
"No. I think they're all full!" Ron said as Ginny made her way to where he was standing.
"Oh, Neville, Luna, it's so great to see you! Mind if we share a table?" Ginny asked, appearing eager to sit down.
"Ginny, let's not bother them. They look like they want to be alone." The elder Weasley shifted uncomfortably.
"Nonsense, I.oh wait. You two weren't on a date or anything were you? Because we could go somewhere else" Ginny frowned.
"No!" Neville scooted to make room. He noticed that Luna was still staring intensely at Ron, who looked as though he had just swallowed a blast-ended screwt. Neville felt a vicious pang of.of what?
"Oh, good. The ice cream is here." Neville decided that he must be much more famished than he had thought for him to feel so strange.
Throughout the next hour, he brooded silently. He was here first! What did Ron have to make Luna stare at him like.like that? 'I wish that they would just leave' He thought. Then, as if by magic, Hermione granted his wish. 'No, Ginny. I have to get my books! I need to make sure that I have the money for all of them before I spend any more on sweets. And if your mother finds out that you-"
"Okay, okay. No need to bring Mum into this. It was nice to see you two again." Ginny nodded at Luna and Neville.
"Yes, we'll see you on the Hogwarts express. Bye!" Hermione said.
"Yeah, see ya." Ron muttered as he leapt out of his chair as though it was on fire.
Both Neville and Luna said their goodbyes and turned back to their table.
"I suppose you'll want to go collect your wand now?" Luna gazed into her kumquat malt.
"Well, I suppose I could stay a few more minutes, that is if you're not in a hurry" Neville scratched the back of his neck.
" I like your eyes." Luna said starring at Neville's face. "Did you know that Ronald's eyes are two different sizes? One eye is slightly higher than the other as well. Sad really."
"No, I.oh, is that why you.?" Neville suddenly thought better than to ask that question. "Never mind."
"His sense of humor is really rather unfortunate as well. I know all his friends try to help by going along with his jokes, even I try to participate, but I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't giving him a false confidence?"
"Well.I." Neville didn't really know what to say to that.
" When did you lose your wand? I know that I was worried that someone had hidden mine several times. Did you try asking around for it?"
"What? I.oh, no I didn't lose it. I broke it in the department of mysteries last year and-"
"Oh, that's really very unfortunate. You know, Great Uncle Ollivander says that a second wand is never as good." Luna's attention threatened to wander towards the reflections in her spoon.
"You're related to Mr. Ollivander?" Neville asked.
"Oh, yes. My mother's maiden name was Ollivander."
"Really? Because." Neville was distracted by what Luna was doing. She had taken off her necklace and appeared to be looking at the gum wrappers through the tiny glass disk. "What are you doing?" Neville asked.
"You don't know?" She said as she reached in her handbag to pull out a copy of the Quibbler. She turned a few pages then handed the paper to Neville.
Neville promptly choked on his ice cream.
"Hidden Messages on Gum Wrappers!" The headline read. "Decode the future by chewing bubble gum!"