Ginny, Luna, and Neville's Magical Sightseeing Adventure!

Lucky Socks

Neville Longbottom awoke to the feeling of silky leaves tickling his cheek. He opened his eyes groggily to see that Samantha, his sigillum folium had escaped its pot. Neville frowned at the naughty plant and grinned to himself as he placed it back into its pot. Today was the day he had been anticipating for weeks. Today was the day that he, Ginny and Luna left for London to commence their summer trip through Europe. Neville got out of bed and yawned good morning to each of his plants which were arranged along the sunlit windowsill.

He crossed to his trunk to get some clean socks. As he was rummaging through the various clothes, books and other bits and bobs, a loud combination of a yawn and a grunt came from the bed behind Neville. Ron must have woken up. A pair of cactus-patterned socks hit Neville's back. He turned to see Ron smirking at him.  

"How did you find my lucky socks?" Neville asked. "They've been missing for two days!". Ron's smirk widened. 

 "I was using them to clean Pig's cage." Neville gasped. 

"These socks were given to me by my great uncle Algie for getting into the herbology unit at Merlinslore Wizarding University!"

"Yeah, yeah." Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I just thought I'd give them back to you now you're leaving and all, 'cause they're your lucky socks. I even have a pair of my own." Ron reached under his mattress and pulled out the holiest and most stained socks Neville had ever seen. 

"I was wearing these during my keeper trials in the fifth year. If you look under all the dirt and around the holes, they have little red quaffles on them. Charlie got them for me to start my Hogwarts quidditch career." Neville found this story sort of sweet, but he couldn't forgive Ron that easily. He would make sure to get him back for that after the trip. He sighed and tugged his lucky socks on. Ron had even remembered to wash them, more than he could usually remember to do.

Neville took great care in watering his newest plant. It was a Felix Arbour seedling with brilliant leaves of orange and gold, trimmed into a Bonsai shape. He had named it Fortuna after the Roman goddess of luck. These trees gave luck to the owners and all others that touched it with the owner's blessing. The main ingredient in Felix Felicis, the potion that made you lucky. Although the tree alone was not powerful enough to give such effective luck, at least not yet... Neville and Ron dressed and went downstairs to breakfast, the stairs creaking under their combined weight.

Ginny and Luna were already up and eating mountains of toast that Molly had demanded they have 'to fuel them for the adventure that awaited.' After scoffing down a stack of toast and marmalade, Neville walked across the kitchen to greet Ginny and Luna, with whom he would be sharing a room for weeks to come. They could all feel the mutual anticipation for their month-long European adventure. The trip had been entirely Ginny's idea, but the other two got into it once they found out how extensively Ginny had planned. She had already booked everywhere they were going and staying.

Then there was the issue of packing. Ginny was eager to take her full quidditch set across the continent with them, but thankfully Neville and Luna put a stop to that before she got too serious. Neville and Luna weren't much better, though. Luna tried bringing a series of trinkets that she claimed were lucky charms and a bulky muggle device she called a 'microwave' that apparently kept away nargles. Neville was set on bringing his entire botany kit and his huge collection of exotic plants in his trunk. Still, Molly had explained to him that some of these plants were worth a lot in the countries they were going to and he would be best leaving them in the care of Arthur at the Burrow. Neville had agreed, but he just couldn't leave his Felix Arbour. He looked around to ensure there was no one watching, then quickly and tenderly placed Fortuna in his trunk, surrounded by his many woollen sweaters and socks to cushion it.

Once they were all packed, the trio assembled in Ginny's room to get going. They were going to take a train to London, and from there they would fly on their brooms across the channel to France and start their journey. Ginny and Luna had made a travel notebook of famous landmarks and their magical backstories. Ginny also had packed a notebook and a camera to scrapbook their travels. Neville wondered how they would look in muggle London, carrying huge trunks and broomsticks. As though she knew what he was thinking, Ginny pulled a bright green backpack from under her bed with some jazz hands. 

"Tada! You didn't think I'd learnt nothing from Hermione Granger, did you?" She said as she opened the bag and put her whole broomstick in. Neville and Luna realised she had put an extendable extension Charm on it. They put all their trunks and broomsticks into the bag, which Ginny zipped closed with a satisfied look and slung it over her shoulder.

The three clattered down the rickety stairs to the kitchen below where the whole Weasley family, Hermione and Percy's boyfriend, Oliver Wood were gathered to see them off. Molly had hung a bright blue banner over the dining table that read 'have fun on your trip!' A chorus of goodbyes and farewells greeted them as they emerged from the doorway. They said their goodbyes and ate slices of pumpkin pie. Hermione pushed her way through the crowd to where the trio was standing.

"Hello, Hermione." Said Ginny. "Is Harry still not back from his trip to Costa Rica with Draco?" 'No, not yet." Replied Hermione. "I think they wanted their honeymoon to be longer if you know what I mean."She said with an eyebrow wiggle. 

"Oh, well I hope he's enjoying it there." Said Ginny, fighting back a giggle. 

"Well, I hope you lot have a great trip. Anyway, I have to go see if Teddy's alright, I'm looking after him while Harry is away." They waved bye to Hermione as she rushed off to stop Teddy from spilling plum juice on her first edition hardcover copy of Hogwarts, A History. After many more slices of pie and last-minute hugs from Molly and Arthur, Neville, Ginny and Luna closed the front door behind them, ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.