The Battles of Love: A Neville Longbottom fanfic

Chapter 4

The Battles of Love: A Neville Longbottom fanfic
Chapter 4

Neville's POV

I'm back. I was finally back at Hogwarts and it felt good to be here. To be honest, I felt happy now that I'm away from my grandmother. Of course I love her, but living in her house meant that everything had to be in place, or everything had to be perfect.

I brightened up as I saw my friends standing by the loading carriages.

"Hi, Harry," I said, standing next to Harry Potter.

"Hi, Neville," Harry, Ron and Hermione chorused.

There was someone else beside them, I just couldn't see who it was. I leaned forward, and I saw the prettiest girl I have ever seen. My eyes widened as she smiled at me. I tripped on nothing and I fell on the floor, but managed to stop myself from falling face- flat.

"Neville!" Hermione exclaimed as I fell. All of them stared at me as I looked up. Even the girl. My face heated up as I saw her giggle.

Ron offered me his hand and I stood up with his help.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked me as I managed to regain my balance.

I nodded. "Yeah, I- I'm fine," I said croakily. "Who's this?" I asked, referring to their new friend.

"I'm Eleanor Cott," the girl said, extending her hand out. I shook her hand, but all I wish I could just hide behind a rock a cry. I am so embarrassing.

"N- Neville L- Longbottom," I stuttered. She let go of my hand and smiled at me, and I smiled back but it I could tell I was so uneasy.

"Hmm," she said. "Pleased to meet you." Then she turned around to face the carriages.

My face lit up as I recall her smiling face at me. She was so pretty. I think I was already falling for her and we'd just met.

Harry, Ron and Hermione smirked at me.

I narrowed my eyes at them innocently and that made them crack up.

Eleanor looked back at us. "Why are you laughing?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.

That shut them up.

"Nothing," they all said.

Harry turned around and his face twitched up in confusion.

"What's that?" he asked, pointing at something.

We all turned around.

"What's what?" Ron asked.

"That, pulling the carriage," Harry said, still pointing at nothing.

Eleanor crossed her arms. "Nothing's pulling the carriage, Harry," she said.

Hermione nodded. "It's pulling itself, like always," she said.

"You're not going mad. I can see them, too. You're just as sane as I am," a blonde girl with pale skin said as she popped out of nowhere. She looked pretty, but not as pretty as Eleanor.

Hermione sighed. "Everyone, this is Loony Love-" she paused. "Luna Lovegood."

"Hello," we all said. Then we boarded the carriage.

I sat across Eleanor, which made me even more nervous. Her presence alone drives me crazy.

She looked at me. "What's that?" she asked, gesturing to my plant.

My eyes widened as I looked down. Oh gosh... I forgot about that. She must think I'm loony.

"Um, Mimbulus Mimbletonia," I replied in a low voice.