Neville was not stupid, but he really was a little slow to react at times. Perhaps it was more accurate to say that he was rather simple-minded, and often could not keep up at all with Harry and Ron's slightly wicked little ideas.
For instance, Harry was looking at him with mischievous delight just then, practically advertising his eagerness for gossip. Neville, however, did not notice at all and said casually, "I was just talking to Toller (a seventh-year Hufflepuff student) and the others about the questions Professor Sprout left us to think about over the holidays."
Harry looked intently into Neville's eyes. His black eyes were like a clear yet deep lake, utterly clean, with nothing to be seen within.
Hmm, all right. Neville was pretty good at Occlumency too. Trying to figure anything out just from his expression and eyes really wasn't possible.
"Will there still be R.B. meetings this year?" Luna paid no attention to Harry and Neville's little gestures or Harry's little thoughts. She walked straight in and sat beside Lavender. After all, they had fought together in the battle at the Ministry of Magic. They could be called friends who had faced life and death together, and they got on very well. There was no need for any empty formalities.
Once she sat down, Luna asked her question.
"I don't think there's any need, is there?" Harry pointed at Professor Lupin, who might really have been asleep or might simply have been keeping quiet. "Professor Lupin is back. We don't need to meet in private anymore, do we?"
"That's a shame." Luna shook her head with some regret. "I rather liked those meetings. It was like being with friends."
Seeing Luna begin talking nonsense again, Lavender gave her head a light tap. "What do you