Comments | darktwistngpath: June 5, supper: Down to Hogsmeade

backuphero in darktwistngpath

June 5, supper: Down to Hogsmeade

Feb 21, 2006 19:03

Neville could have gone back to the house at Grimmauld Place for the night. He could have gone home to Gran. He could have done a lot of things, before showing up for the Order meeting in McGonagall's office the next morning. But he was beginning to understand the magnitude of what he had taken on, and he had a lot more to do before he could ( Read more... )

*complete, luna lovegood, neville longbottom

Comments 43

greattreasure February 22 2006, 00:06:59 UTC

Luna was sitting at a table in the Three Broomsticks, reading a muggle newspaper. Right side up for once.

Her brow was slightly furrowed, and she tried to block out the nervous conversations and general clatter around her. This was important. If she found something helpful, she'd go right on her way to to tell someone who could do something about it.

If she didn't, that was all right. She had a whole stack to get through.

backuphero February 22 2006, 00:16:51 UTC

The Three Broomsticks was just as comforting as Neville remembered it being, though perhaps a bit more subdued than it had been a few months earlier. The war affected everyone, after all.

He was just about to claim an empty table for himself when he spotted a familiar head of hair, peeking out from behind an unfamiliar newspaper.

"Luna?" he said, when he'd nearly reached her side. "I thought you went home, after the... the f-funeral."

greattreasure February 22 2006, 00:19:12 UTC

Luna looked up, blinking slightly at the arrival of Neville. How odd. She would have said the same of him, had she noticed him first.

"Home doesn't need me like here does." She motioned that he could have a seat if he only moved the papers first.

backuphero February 22 2006, 00:26:37 UTC

Neville put his own books on a spare corner of table first, before moving some papers carefully to find himself a seat. Someone else he might have politely declined and gone back to that empty table, alone, but this was Luna. If he wasn't welcome, she wouldn't have suggested that he was.

"Home doesn't need me like here does, either," he agreed with her. "Um. What are you doing?"

Thread 19

backuphero February 22 2006, 03:16:54 UTC

Neville had to blink at her again, as she cut right to the heart of it all. "It's not that I don't want to," he promised her. "I just can't, not yet. But as soon as I can, I will. And... and you should really talk to Professor McGonagall; I think that would be a really good idea. Since you're not leaving, and all."

greattreasure February 22 2006, 03:19:40 UTC

Luna nodded, satisfied with that answer before picking up yet another paper.

"I won't take it personally, that's all. You don't have to worry about that."

backuphero February 22 2006, 03:33:16 UTC

Neville did worry about that, because he really didn't want Luna to take it personally, and he did want to be able to tell her, not only because he knew she could be trusted and would be an asset to the Order -- in her way -- but if she knew they would be able to spend more time together.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like a drink, or something to eat?" he asked her, punctuated with a short nod of acknowledgment. "While we're here, where they, uh, serve food and drink."

greattreasure February 22 2006, 03:35:51 UTC

Luna shook her head. "I ate awhile earlier. Besides, the stew has pickled Snorlumps in it."

She was certain. That's why she wouldn't touch a spoonful.

Thread 20

backuphero February 23 2006, 03:55:52 UTC

Neville got through six of the papers before he finished his stew, along with a second butterbeer which left him feeling comfortably warm. He didn't know quite how much time had passed, but he knew he ought to be getting back to his preparations. He'd been entrusted with a very large task, and he owed it to everyone to do his very best.

"I've got to be getting back to Hogwarts," he told Luna regretfully. "If you'll still be here, though... shall I send you a message tomorrow? We could see each other again."

greattreasure February 23 2006, 04:04:05 UTC

Luna smiled up at him, nodding her head for just a moment before going back to her reading.

"I'll still be here. There's a whole lot of work to be done, what with papers changing every day."

backuphero February 23 2006, 04:06:43 UTC

Neville handed the rest of the stack of papers back to her. "And... let me know if you find anything," he added, for it was always possible that Luna would. "I'll make sure that someone knows about it."

greattreasure February 23 2006, 04:08:54 UTC

Luna's eyes brightened, just a touch. She knew he was connected. Well, good. Then she had someone to go to.

With a little wave, she took another sip of her water and went back to reading. Madame Rosmerta would let her have a bowl of stew without the pickled Snorlumps. Or at least, they'd be big enough for her to avoid.

She still had a lot of work to do.