Fear of the Dark? (open)

[Neville Longbottom]

"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid..."

*Neville whispers to himself, standing in the middle of the walk way with his arms folded, and eyes squeezed closed tightly. One of the twins had made a comment a while back that he was afraid of the dark, all because he had jumped three feet in the air when something behind him exploded while the lights were off.*

"I'm not afraid..."

*Cracking open one eye, Neville scans his surroundings, only mildly reassured after nothing jumps out at him. Idly he remembers hearing something about Muggle children chanting something like, "I do believe in faeries, I do, I do!" in order to bring a faerie back to life.*

"That doesn't really work, does it?"

*Neville asks himself, closing his eyes once more as his brow furrows in confusion. It seems silly to him, that a simple chant like that would save a dying faerie...but at the same time, he wonders if it truly does work.*

"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid..."

*Well, there was only one way to find out! Which means Neville starts whispering to himself again, not caring that he probably looks like a loon, standing in the street like this. Sooner or later, he's going to prove that Neville Longbottom isn't afraid of the dark!*

_{...just whatever's in the dark.}

[Luna Lovegood]

*Luna left Honeydukes for the evening, waving goodbye to Mister Flume as she left*

*It was incredibly dark, because Mister Flume had begged her to stay late to help with stocktake; and Luna didn't mind because he was such a dear old man and the work was so enjoyable she hardly noticed the time go by*

*She walked through the street, and saw a familiar figure ahead of her*

*Smiling, she walked towards him and touched his shoulder to greet him*

Hello Neville... How are you this evening?

[Neville Longbottom]

*Something...touched his shoulder, and Neville's eyes flew open as the wizard jumped about three feet in the air.*

"'M not afraid!"

*He yelled out in surprise. His heart was racing, and he was just waiting for something to come zooming towards him, or explode only a few feet away. But after seeing the witch in front of him, Neville's cheeks turned a brilliant pink, and he swallowed, chuckling sheepishly.*

"Oh! I- I mean, hullo Luna! I, er, didn't see you there...'cos, y'know, my eyes were closed..."

*He looked down at his feet, unable to keep himself from grinning at least a little bit at the situation. One can't go through years of being the class klutz without learning to laugh at oneself every once in a while.*

[Luna Lovegood]

*Jumps back, a little bit startled by Neville's reaction, but then smiles widely*

Hullo to you, too, Neville.

*Smiles serenely at her old friend*

It is rather hard to see through closed eyes. I'm sorry I startled you. It will teach me not to sneak up on people.

*Returns his grin*

What brings you to Hogsmeade so late, Neville?

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

*Apparates in a dark alley nearby with Lucreta by his side*

*Whispers*

Ah Perfect, the two imbosiles from Potters motley crew.

*Turns to his student*

Lets see how much you've learnt. Disarm these two without being seen. Then capture and torture them.

*Grins wickedly*

[Lucretia Black]

*Feeling a bit awkward, because she rather likes Neville and Luna from school, for their being 'different', but she nods obediently nonetheless.*

*She creeps closer, hidden by trees and shrubs.*

"Accio wands!"

*The wands fly towards her, and she proudly hands them over to Rodolphus.*

"Well, that wasn't difficult. What do we now with the poor things?"

[Neville Longbottom]

*Neville shrugged, looking back up at Luna sheepishly.*

"I mean, everyone sneaks up on me, so it's alright I reckon."

*At her question, he glanced around them, not looking for anything or anyone in particular, just looking. Distractedly, he replied.*

"I'm...why am I out so late? That's, uh, a really good question! Nothing much, just enjoying the night?"

*His last statement sounded more like a question than anything, and he mentally rolled his eyes. How was he supposed to tell her that he's trying to prove- to people who aren't even watching- that he's not afraid of the dark?*

"What're you doing out so late then?"

*He didn't really like the sound of Luna walking about at night on her own.*

"Please tell me you're not lookin' for any Nargles-"

*Neville was interrupted by the feeling of his wand flying out of the pocket of his robes. Uncrossing his arms, the wizard patted down all of his pockets- the front, back, and the one on the inside he uses for shopping lists so he doesn't forget them as often as usual- even though he knew his wand was already gone. His eyes flicked back and forth, searching for the one who Accio'd his wand while he wasn't paying attention. A thought crossed his mind: was it one of the Weasley twins?*

"F-f-fred? George? If that's you, it isn't very funny!"

*He gulped, looking back at Luna, as if hoping she'd have at least some clue of what's happening.*

[Luna Lovegood]

*Takes Neville's hand in hers and squeezes it reassuringly*

You're very brave, Neville. Bravery is acting despite your fear, not being without it. And no matter how scared you are, you always overcome it. That's why I like you.

*Points back at Honeyduke's*

I had to take a job in the sweet shop. The Quibbler hasn't been doing so well lately... and we needed the money. Mr. Flume asked me to stay late to help with the stocktake tonight. I'm not normally finished this late.

*Smiles*

You don't get Nargles this far north, and especially not at this time of night.

*Steps closer to Neville when she feels her wand leave her sleeve*

Neville... did your wand just fly away, too?

*Tries to peer into the darkness where she saw her only weapon fly off to, feeling very vulnerable and exposed without her wand to protect her*

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

*Tuts*

*Mutters*

What do you mean 'poor things'? Do what I trained you to do. Capture them and torture them!!

[Lucretia Black]

*makes an annoyed noise and whispers back*

"They were a few years below me in Hogwarts, and never the best at DADA. It just seems not fair."

*Obediently she casts the spells, nonverbally first, pointing at Luna.*

"Petrificus Totalus!"

*Next she ties up Neville with an Incarcerous.*

"We take them just into the forest, or do you have another place in mind?"

[Luna Lovegood]

*She is still holding Neville's hand when the curse hits her, and she topples backwards to the ground*

*Her hand is clenched around Neville's, and she looks at him with fear in her eyes. They have no weapons, and they've just been immobilised*

*Terrified, she wonders what is going to happen to them and who's doing it*

[Rodolphus Lestrange]

*Infuriated that she would question his judgement he spits*

The forest is fine. If you're not happy with this then I'm sure I can always find you a Death Eater to practise with. I'm sure my lovely wife Bellatrix would be more then happy to oblige.

[Lucretia Black]

*Although she knows she couldn't win against someone like Bellatrix, she considers it for a second as an option but says nothing. Rodolphus is already angry enough.*

*For starters she casts a Tickling Charm at Neville.*

"Rictusempra!"

*This is no real torture, but being bound by magic ropes it's unpleasant enough for him, and it gets her in the mood.*

[Neville Longbottom]

*Gulping, he nods, looking over at Luna.*

"Y-yeah, I think it did."

*Luna falls back, still holding his hand, and not even a second later Neville follows. He's tied up with the Incarcerous, still thinking the twins are behind this.*

_{'Fred and George are good, everyone knows that...but sometimes they just go too far!'}

*Catches Luna's fearful look, and knows his own fear is showing as well. Waiting for two ginger wizards to pop out of the shadows, Neville's hit with the Tickling Charm. Although it isn't painful, it's horribly uncomfortable, being tickled without the ability to even try to twitch away from his attacker.*

[Luna Lovegood]

*Tries her best to let Neville know, through frenzied blinks and terrified looks, that she doesn't think this is the terrible Weasley twins*

*Still clutching his hand and unable to release it thanks to the curse, Luna is incredibly grateful for the contact with him right now*

*Hopes that the unknown attacker undoes the Body Locker Jinx, so she can practice what she learned as part of Dumbledore's Army*