((AN- And drumroll… le revised chapter two! Okay, okay, don't get too excited now.))
DISCLAIMER: Though I wish with every fiber of my being that it was my imagination that gave birth to the amazing characters featured in this fic, it was not. JK Rowling is to thank for all of it.
Draco didn't even glance up from the table when Crabbe and Goyle slid into their usual positions on either side of him. He had practically forgotten about meeting Luna the night before, until his goons brought up the subject.
"Where were you last night?" Goyle grunted.
Malfoy frowned. His brain churned to find a viable excuse, but he ended up not needing one.
"I bet he was hiding away somewhere snogging Pansy," Crabbe said, snickering.
He glared at them, "What I do with whom is none of your business, though if you must know, I was." Thank Merlin it worked. They turned back to their breakfast, digging in like a pair of hogs.
Speak of the devil, he thought as Pansy Parkinson squashed in between him and Crabbe.
"Where were you last night, Draco?" she whined.
Crabbe and Goyle looked at him suspiciously, and Draco cursed under his breath, standing quickly. "I forgot," he said hurriedly, "I have a meeting with Snape this morning," and was out of the Great Hall in the blink of an eye.
He strode quickly down the corridor towards the library, planning to hide out there until breakfast was over. As he pushed through the heavy doors though, he ran straight into Luna Lovegood coming the other way. They landed heavily on the carpet; thank Merlin it was carpet and not the stone that made up the floor of the rest of the castle. Malfoy pushed himself off the ground and automatically glared at the girl until, seeing who she was held out his hand to help her up. Sadly, McGonagall rounded the corner then and narrowed her eyes at him as she quickened her pace.
"Draco Malfoy! I don't care who your father is, I will not tolerate you bullying my students any longer!" She nudged him to the side and helped Luna up herself. "I am very sorry Miss Lovegood, I will deal with Mr. Malfoy."
"But Professor-" Luna began, only to be cut off.
"Continue to class Miss Lovegood," she said briskly as she took hold of Draco's arm and dragged him along behind her.
Once he was seated in Professor Snape's office, she began her tirade. "Draco Malfoy has been bullying students in this school without consequence for far too long. Something needs to be done about this, Severus. I suggest an owl be sent to Mr. Malfoy immediately but further punishment be dealt by you, since you are the head of his house."
Snape turned to look at Draco with narrowed eyes, though his face was as expressionless as always. "You are a pureblood Slytherin, and it is time you started acting like one. Your father would be disappointed with your actions. I will see you here tonight, and every night following until I feel your punishment is served."
Draco stared bug-eyed at his teachers. "But Professors, I didn't-" he spluttered
"No excuses, Mr. Malfoy!" He clamped his mouth shut, McGonagall wouldn't be swayed.
He stomped angrily out of the potion master's office. This is what you get for being nice, he thought, kicking himself. He wouldn't make the samemistake a second time.
Draco sat through his classes, barely paying attention. He was still fuming about the detention scheduled for that night. He blamed Luna, although he knew he shouldn't. It was the professors' fault for not letting him explain what really happened. His anger only compacted throughout the day.
As class ended and he was walking towards Snape's classroom to spend the rest of the afternoon cleaning potion bottles, Luna turned the corner and skipped by him. Coming to a halt, she turned and tried to speak. "Hello Draco, I-"
He cut her off growling, "Don't you dare talk to me Loony." Her face fell, and he tried hard to quash the feeling of remorse that suddenly filled him. He couldn't take it back now even if he wanted to. He walked slowly down the winding stairs to the dungeons, and trudged through Snape's door. "Professor, I'm here," he called.
Snape's bird-like nose stuck out of the potion cupboard, giving the boy a puzzled look. "Didn't the girl tell you?" he droned.
"Tell me what?" he asked, equally puzzled.
"Lovegood came a few minutes ago and explained what happened this morning in the hall. You have been released from your detention," he said a little disappointedly.
Draco blinked in surprise, "Why would she want to help me?"
Professor Snape didn't answer, retreating back into his closet.
