Fall/Halloween Ficlet Requests, Round I

[author_by_night]

It's time to post some f the drabble/ficlet requests! It's a bit late so this is assuming anybody reads/sees this... :P

Link to request post - feel free to request something there

Title: Harvest

Recipient: daintress

Fandom: Harry Potter

Ship: Neville/Luna


They really shouldn't have been out here. It wasn't safe. But neither was time, so they'd gone. Just Neville and Luna - Ginny was in Transfiguration. Neville was less about changing and more about growing. There was a difference. Luna was mostly content to sit and quietly observe, though not without commentary either way.

So the two friends faced the Forbidden Forest, admiring the orange and red and brown leaves before them. Many of them were on the ground now.

"They're so beautiful," Luna said. "I think autumn leaves are the prettiest."

Neville nodded. "It's strange though... everyone thinks they're best when they're dying."

"They do?" Luna asked. Neville thought she looked surprised, but she always looked a little surprised so it was hard to tell.

"Well, you just said -"

"But it's not like that," Luna interrupted. "Look at them. They've finally reached full maturity, even making it to the ground where everyone else is. They're not dead - they're finally living."

Strangely moved by Luna's insight, Neville found himself holding her hand. They remained silent, their foggy breath adding to the strange life that remained at Hogwarts.