Chapter 1:
Blaise tapped his fingers against his watch as he leaned against the hard stone wall of the empty corridor. Draco had abandoned him for prefect's duties once again. Probably off shagging that pug face Parkinson girl like every other bloody night he snarled to himself as he made to do his rounds. He was strutting down the corridor, distracted, when a flash of pale white caught his gaze. When he focused, it was gone. He squinted and readied his wand, moving further down the darkened Hogwarts hall. As he rounded the corner, he heard it. A faint humming that gently pulled him closer to the end of the hallway. When he rounded the corner to see what the noise was coming from, he stopped in his tracks. Luna Lovegood was dancing around the dim hallway in a pool of moonlight. A thick stack of paper was cradled in one of her arms and the other was pasting more up onto the walls.
Blaise rolled his eyes, The Loon; I have to get out of here before she starts telling me about some nonsense I don't give a shit about. Luckily the small girl's back was still too him, so he turned to escape. Before he could even take two steps, he heard a faint "Hello, Blaise Zabini" drifting towards him. He was caught. Luna twirled around to gaze at him with a glazed over look. "Out for a stroll?" she asked her head cocking to the side and her lips curling into a small smile.
Blaise turned to face her, and all but gasped. He had not known how he had missed it before, but now it was plain as day. Luna was beautiful. Stunning, in fact. Her soft platinum hair fell in wide ringlets that cascaded down her back, just stopping at her small feminine waist. Her eyes were as large as the moon after which she was named, and took on a lovely shade of silvery blue. Her voice rang like gentle wind chimes singing in his ear. She was the complete contrast to his dark skin and sharp Italian features. Blaise found himself staring at her, paralyzed in his spot. He took time to notice she wore a soft pink glittery knee length dress that was completely inappropriate for the winter cold, but it fit her so right. Her ivory skin glowed in the moonlight and gave off a charming glow.
"Bella Luna" he rasped out as his eyes wandered her body. Her gaze shifted from him to the open window where the full moon was on display.
"Yes" she said with a nod "it is quite lovely tonight, very un Slytherin of you to notice." She acknowledged with approval and continued on her busy work. Blaise suddenly became aware of what he had said. Embarrassed and frustrated, he cleared his throat and tried to move this whole confusing encounter along.
"What's with the posters" he grumbled, still annoyed with his slip up. Except Luna wasn't listening, which annoyed him further. Regaining himself, he confidently sauntered over to her and snatched one straight out of her tiny grasp. All the while trying to ignore eye contact, and the fact she smelt like rose petals.
Upon inspecting the paper, Blaise's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Quibbler ads? What the hell are these for?" He said studying the poster. She blinked up at him and gently took back the paper so she could return it to its place on the wall.
"My father works there, it's nice to know I could help with something, though I am afraid they might be eaten up by Huzzlebums. Magic ink tastes like strawberries to them you know." she sighed. Blaise looked down at her relaxed features in amazement or bewilderment, he couldn't quite tell.
"Oh, well, good luck with that I guess" he said. It was not like him to act so tame, but he was confused, emotional, and tired as he'd been in a long time.
She looked up at him with squinted eyes, until they once again turned into large orbs. "Thank you Blaise, that's very kind of you" and with that, she was gone. Blaise watched her as she pranced down the hallway once more. He felt couldn't breathe. He glanced at the moon one more time and quickly decided, this was trouble.