Fourth Seed; [Action]

[nearlychosen]

[This morning isn't terribly different from any other morning near House 26. The lawn there is a little bit greener than the neighboring homes, and the multicolored plantlife is as healthy as ever, fed a steady diet of the best quality dung Neville can get his hands on. The gardener is even mostly the same, a boy of average height spending far too much time on his hands and knees in the mud getting filthy in the care of things that can't talk back. It's not even very strange to hear him chatting with the vines and petals surrounding him, though this particular morning he seems to be hissing at his garden rather than rambling on in English. For those who recognize it, the language is Parseltongue.]

...And I haven't found a single lead anywhere in this place. I think there just aren't any Horcruxes to be found here. I should talk to Harry or Luna about this, shouldn't I? ...No, you're probably right. It's supposed to be a secret. What's that? Your leaves are getting dry? Well don't worry, I'll fix that.


[Later in the afternoon, after he's had a shower at least, he'll venture into town, rifling pointedly through the rebuilt item shop for something very specific and emerging empty-handed. It's okay to miss him as he moves among the people in mid-town, though; he avoids eye contact like the plague. Still, he won't be unfriendly if approached. Feel free to gape at the lightningbolt scar just barely visible under his fringe. He's used to it.]

[OOC: AU Cheatsheat is here.]

Comments

[Action]

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

But you didn't, Neville. We did go to Hogwarts this year - we fought the Carrows together, that's when you first got your scars. It sounds like Luceti is doing things to some people, making them think they're different than they really are. It happened to Hermione as well.

[Action]

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

...Say you're right. It doesn't change much about what's happened to us since leaving home. [Though it does mean he's most definitely not touching that tea.]

[Action]

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

We've only left home to go to Hogwarts, Neville, and to come here.

[And now Luna's entirely convinced that this place has done something to her friend.]

Harry and Ron and Hermione did, though - we didn't see them for a very long time after the wedding, and the Death Eaters interrupted that one very rudely so that wasn't even much of a visit, which was sad.

[Action]

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

That's backwards, Luna. We left over the summer to hunt down-- [There's a sharp hissing noise as Neville invokes the concept of "Horcurx" in parseltongue. He'd assumed it would just be safer if anyone likely to overhear him didn't understand the proper wording for the dark magic, and Luna -- his Luna anyway -- would've recognized the sound by now.] We've been gone since then. We've only just gotten word that Gran's okay. Don't you remember any of it?

[Action]

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

[This Luna, however, just shakes her head. Luceti is forever throwing odd things at them, odder even than herself or the walls of Hogwarts - this is just another of them.]

Mmm-mmm, but you weren't able to make that hissing sound yesterday. I'm sure I would have heard that by now.

[Though now she can make a good guess as to what the deal is here, considering Neville's got the scar now and he's talking about them leaving over the summer. He's swapped himself, her, and probably Ginny for the other Trio. Nice to know she's useful.]

[Action]

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Which is a fine story, but I've been a Parselmouth all my life. Gran used to try washing my mouth out with diluted Moonseed oil because of it, remember? Has Malfoy oblivated you again? [And now there's some concern here, because she's Luna and Luna has to remember everything because quite frankly the plants are not enough otherwise.]

[Action] Jessiiiiiieeee come make my internet behave >(

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

Neville, you've never said anything like that - but does this mean Harry's a Parselmouth, if you think you are now? Hmmm, that's interesting...

[Even now it's difficult to stop her going on her little tangents.]

But I can take care of Malfoy if I have to. He isn't so bad, you know.

[Action] /beats it. >O

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Luna, be serious. You're starting to worry me.

[Action] Yaaay! Stupid weather lately has been wreaking havoc with it

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

I am being serious. But you'll see when this is over - or maybe I'll see. I suppose either one of us could end up being right if something really has played with our minds. I wonder how that works...

[At least she still acts like Luna, Neville. Nothing will ever change that.]

[Action] Aww sucks. D: -- Oh hey bb did you post to the AC yet? There's a naughty list. :(

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

[He nods, giving Luna a small smile.] Right.. It's just an experiment. It'll pass. [He hopes. :(]

[Action] I know, I am on it. Internet hasn't been too stable lately >( Going there now

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

[And with that, Luna smiles, nodding her head.] Yes, it will pass. And one of us will be right, or perhaps both of us will be wrong. It doesn't matter all that much, we're always a part of this fight.

[Action] OK GOOD I love you and want to see you stay. D:

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

[He nods solemnly, though with a good deal of weariness.] ...Tell me more about what you remember. Did you say Harry as the one who went on a journey for Dumbledore? ...Harry Potter? How many girls did he bring with him?

[Action] I am not going away from you my waifu!

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

Yes, Harry Potter, who we live with here. He and Hermione and Ron left Hogwarts at the start of their seventh year to do something that they wouldn't explain, and we were at Hogwarts fighting the Carrows. They tortured you, and me. We didn't tell them anything.

[She's very matter-of-fact about it - for Luna, at least.]

[Action] YOU'D BETTER NOT.

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

I heard the Carrows took up teaching positions at Hogwarts... Harry mentioned that Hermione was working on organizing some kind of student resistance before she went into hiding. Is that what happened with us in your version of events?

[Action] Well I didn't see!

[lunarwit.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, mostly. Only it was you, Ginny, and me, and I was kidnapped from the Hogwarts train on my way home for Christmas. [And though Neville might panic at that, she's very calm about it.] I was brought here, though, so that was all right. And they told me that Ginny had to leave at Easter, so after that you went into hiding yourself and kept working against them. Which is very brave of you, you know.