In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom - Chapter 74: The Girls and Professor Ravenclaw

A pleasant soft voice suddenly interrupted the girls’ conversation and they found, the ghost of Ravenclaw, The Grey Lady floating behind them.

“Ms Grey Lady?” Hermione asked in an uncertain tone. Everyone knows about the house ghosts but what is the purpose of the house ghosts? No one is sure about this.

Hence, Hermione was thinking maybe the Ghost of Ravenclaw’s house is there to punish them.

“Fear not, little girls. I am quite amused by your little shenanigans. But this is not enough for me to do anything to you. However, can you tell me why both of you helped this Ravenclaw girl when she is not in your house?”

Ms Helena asked Hermione and Pansy even though she already knew the answer.

“She is our friend. And her dorm mates were being mean to her.” Pansy replied.

“And no one else helped her,” Hermione added.

“Very well. 5 points each to Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now, off you go before you make a bigger mess.” Ms Helena left the parting words and left the girls.

The girls were not sure what to feel about the strange incident, but the extra points made Hermione and Pansy happy.

“Five more Pansy!” Hermione said cheerfully showing off her latest gain.

“I got the same bushy head!” Pansy said before the three girls made their way towards the forest area.

The three became close friends because of the forest or more precisely an incident in the forest.

It was a few days back when Neville was using his wand to communicate with the hiding Mermaids in Lake and Pansy accidentally stumbled upon the scene.

Looking at the small variety of animals surrounding Neville like he is some Druid. Pansy curiously watched this scene but was shocked and ashamed when Neville took off his clothes and jumped inside the lake.

She panicked at the scene and rushed towards her dorm but somehow ran into Hermione and Luna who were arguing about the invisible animals.

“Hey! Everything fine Pansy?” Hermione asked.

“Yup. It’s …It’s Neville.” Pansy replied in a mosquito-level voice.

“What happened to Neville?” Hermione got alert when she heard Neville’s voice.

“Nothing…He…He is swimming in the lake. That’s it.” Pansy said trying to hide her expression, but the pink shade of her cheeks gave her up.

Hermione is not one of the girls who will secretly watch their crush. She believes she is more level-headed and more mature but the idea of watching Neville naked in Lake made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

“Ahem…It might be Neville got in some danger or doing something adventurous alone. We should go and help him. Right, Luna?” Hermione said in an unconfident tone, but her eagerness and reasoning were more than enough to make Pansy raise her eyebrows.

“One should help their friends. I believe that is quite natural.” Luna replied in her dreamy voice but who cares? Hermione and Pansy don’t, and they dragged the dazed girl with them to watch the swimming lion.

Nev was sure that no one is around that area. After all, he spent an entire year along in that region but today unknown to him, three girls were looking at him through bushes and felt their cheeks turning red.

Neville was wearing boxers but that was the only thing he was wearing. His purpose in jumping into the lake was to test if his wand was able to help him in making friends with Merman and other beasts inside the lake.

He knew about the giant squid hiding inside the black lake and mermaids and other species. The giant squid is one of the most powerful beasts near the Hogwarts and Neville grew interested in him after thinking about his island. He was hoping to somehow send the squid or his descendants near the water area around his lake and build a powerful barrier and protection for his beasts living inside the island.

Somehow, his frequent visits to the lake now were often joined by three hiding musketeers who would spend their free time ogling the handsome boy. Neville is one of the boys who are taller and stronger than their age and even though he looks a little chubby, the girls had seen muscle lines on his body.

He was in no way fat but the strong, tall and rich lord of his own Longbottom house. Luna was often dragged because the girls needed a reason and a neutral party to justify their actions. Luna didn’t mind it though. She would help the senior girls in this small game and then take them through the forest and help them meet strange creatures.

They met an annoying group of Cornish pixies, a beautiful group of fairies and even Fwoopers that had made their nest on one tree.

The girls enjoyed this habit of exploring the black forest and soon became close friends. Watching Neville was still their priority though.

Professor Helena or Ravenclaw as Neville often call her, always keeps an eye out for Neville and the people around him.

She has a soft side for Neville and his thirst for knowledge and surprise actions are something that reminds Professor Helena of her youth. Plus, he was able to fulfil one of her long-lost wishes. Hence, she wanted to make sure that his group of friends were trustworthy, and Neville was on the right path.

It was on one of these routine lookouts she noticed these girls. Especially the Ravenclaw girl – Luna Lovegood.

Luna would often be dazed and talk about animals that no one could see but Ms Helena Ravenclaw knew that 100 years back, these Nargles and other invisible creatures like Stone fish, Leaf lizards were quite common.

Somehow this girl was able to ‘see’ them, and Ms Ravenclaw felt that there was more to the eye than she can detect. Thankfully, the girl was a kind spirit, and Ms Ravenclaw was often amazed by her answers to the common room eagle.

Luna Lovegood was surely a mystery but not an enemy.

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