His grandmother didn't answer but handed him three plates and nodded toward the table, instructing him to help set the table. Neville did as his Gran wanted and began placing the plates at around the table. Three plates? Usually it was only two, his and his grandmothers, Neville wondered who was coming to dinner. He looked over at the old woman he knew so well. She was wearing pretty pink dress, very much unlike the one she usually wore. But most unusual was the small smile playing across her lips, Neville stopped setting the table and stood to watch her. He hadn't seen her smile a true smile in a long time, but now, here she was smiling as she put forks on the table. Who ever was coming obviously out this smile on her face.
Neville smiled to himself as he forgot all about the Department, about Luna, about his parents. He shook his head and returned his attention to the spoons he was now placing next the forks.
They both moved around the table in silence as they finished setting the table. Just as Neville put the roast on the table the doorbell rang.
A few minutes later Neville, his Gran, and a tall wizard in a black cloak were all gathered around the table starting on their first course. The food smelled great, as though his Gran had taken hours of time to make each small carrot or as though every leaf of lettuce had been washed and dressed separately.
'Neville, this is Mr. Devon. Mr. Devon, this is my nephew, Neville. You know his parents.� His grandmother smiled happily at both of them. 'Sweetie, Mr. Devon is working with your parents at St. Mungo's. He says he has some news for us regarding them.'
Neville's heart started pounding against his chest. This was why his Gran had been so happy all this time; the news must be good! Neville had to hold onto the bottom of his seat to keep from jumping up and running around the room with joy.
Mr. Devon cleared his throat. 'Mrs. Longbottom ... I ... Erm, maybe I should have made myself -'
They spent the next ten minutes eating and talking to each other, Neville was giddy and exploding with happiness. Perhaps Mr. Devon was here to tell them that the Healers had found a way to cure his parents. Maybe they had already been cured! Neville beamed as he ate.
Finally when the plates had been cleared, the tea had been poured, and the cake had been cut Mr. Devon was allowed to tell them about his reasons for requesting to join them for dinner.
'Mrs. Longbottom ... I erm ... I am here to -' He paused and took a deep breath before glancing at Neville, 'maybe your nephew should leave the room?� He suggested.
'Why? Is there something wrong with letting him hear about his parents?� Neville's Gran�s eyes narrowed as she looked from him to Mr. Devon, shifting uneasily in her chair.
'Mrs. Longbottom, I am afraid ... I haven't come with good news.� He bowed his head and began to pick at his slice of cake, sitting in front of him at the table. Mr. Devon looked as though he had never been sent to do something so hard before.
'Neville. Leave, now.� His grandmother ordered, the smile gone from her face.
'Gran, I want to stay -'
'Now! Neville!'
Scraping his chair against the floor he left the dining room and stomped up the steps to his room. This wasn't fair, all along he had been sitting, waiting to here his parents were all better, that they were coming home to take care of him, to be his parents again. Now his hopes had been torn from him and he wasn't even allowed to listen.
As she lifted her hand out from under her to turn a page of the magazine a small tawny owl flew in through her open window, scaring her so much she fell from her position on the wall, bringing the curtain from the window down with her.
Luna sat up amid the mess of fabric and pages from Witch Weekly, looking slightly dazed and out of place. She looked around her room some more as though she had forgotten where she was for a moment before realization dawned and she untangled the curtains from herself and moved over to the window ledge where the owl was watching her.
'Hello little birdie. You've got something tied to your leg.� She told it as she put her face right up to his. 'Oh. Is it for me? Oh, of course.� She said as the little bird moved closer to her, sticking its tiny leg out for her to take the letter from. The letter had her name written in block letters across the front and on the back was the name Ginny.
Ginny? Ginny ... Ginny? A flash of flaming red hair and a small girl with freckles shot into her head. Oh! Yes, Ginny.