Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters from the Harry Potter universe. I only own my perceptions of the characters, which are completely due to J.K. Rowling's brilliance.
The Room of Requirement:
A week had passed since the Room of Requirement had brought them together, since he had kissed her drunkenly, without asking her permission. They hadn't spoken since, but they saw one another often in passing and it was strange every time. Draco felt something that was not quite embarrassment, but a hyper-alertness in her presence. When they spotted each other in the corridors, there was always a marked moment of nervousness, a beat of wary acknowledgement before they each proceeded awkwardly on their way.
Draco was beginning to be familiar with the whites of Luna's eyes, since she always seemed astonished to see him. She, in turn, noticed that he was prone to small, almost imperceptible jolts of movement when she took him by surprise round a random corner.
For the first time, Draco was really aware of her. He observed her when she wasn't looking, taking in the weirdness of her cork earrings and her oft bare feet. When she looked back, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Her expression was reserved, but not completely closed off, for she was looking back at him, after all. There was a small note of fearfulness in her body, though, which made him feel funny that he had this effect on her.
Their encounters differed greatly depending on who was around them at the time. When he was with his companions, he might feel a bit hesitant when her pale moon face floated by in the sea of students, but he didn't dare look at her twice. The situation was altogether different when he would meet her in passing, by himself. For some reason, in these moments he felt that he could look into her eyes, although he was never certain what he would find when he did so.
What was strange: he felt obliged to treat her correctly, having behaved rather badly in the past. She may be a weird girl, but she was young-younger than he was, at least. The teasing was one thing-Draco didn't want to think that he was a lecherous prick who would force himself on someone, least of all a young and innocent girl like Luna.
It so happened that they bumped into one another on the third floor one day. Classes were already in session, which meant that they were both late for their individual courses. They didn't quite collide, but almost. Their eyes met in recognition, then widened uncertainly. A flurry of feeling burst through Draco, a sensation close to anxiety, but he stood rooted to the spot. His face became stony as he looked at her, simply to mask what he was feeling.
Her eyes were deep wells of silver as she looked up at him, from four inches below his six foot one. She studied his face, taking in the petulant set of his mouth and the controlled brow. Suddenly, he thought that she didn't seem so young. On the contrary, she seemed older and wiser than him by years.
Before he could react or articulate what he felt a twisting need to say, Luna ducked her head and made to leave. It evoked a strange reaction in Draco. He felt disregarded, his importance cast aside.
The air was heavy with repressed energy, the silence laden with confusion. Draco's mouth twitched. He felt uncomfortable. "Wait," he said thickly.
Luna turned her head and her silver eyes pierced his, clear and bright. She was listening.
"I don't know what came over me."
There was a long pause and Draco's blood spiked with cortisol. Finally, unexpectedly, Luna's face broke into a smile. "You're forgiven." She shifted the stack of books she was carrying and waved goodbye before sauntering off, her curtain of white blonde hair swishing behind her.
Draco released a long breath, and a foreign expression creased his dour features.
From that day, the smiles crept up on him. Draco would be in his dorm or in class and suddenly, he was grinning as though a funny thought had entered his mind. When he passed her in the hallways, wearing his habitual scowl, she might smile at him kindly and to his surprise an answering smile would overcome his face. It was most unlike Draco Malfoy and it hurt his face. But, inside it felt fine, if unfamiliar. The exchange provided a very brief respite from his worries, for he was still tightly wound.
Harry Potter had taken the first Task of the Tournament. He'd succeeded against the odds, which should have been expected as per regular Potter fashion. Draco and the rest of Hogwarts wore "Potter Stinks" on their shirt fronts and took every opportunity to jeer and boo him. Things seemed to be looking up for Draco, until a short lived but traumatic experience as a ferret, courtesy of Mad-Eye Moody.
Luna visited the seventh floor regularly, but the Room of Requirement never appeared for her again. She had found her shoes on the feet of a kitchen elf, who looked comically endearing dressed in rags and pink converse high tops. She hadn't had the heart to take the beloved shoes away from the creature, who now considered himself free and demanded a humble wage for his service in the school Kitchens. It made Luna happy to see the joy on the creature's little face. The Lovegoods didn't want for money, so she made a plan to visit Hogsmeade the following weekend to shop for new footwear.
The grass on Hogwarts grounds was brown and covered in fallen leaves. The wind, strong and chill, lifted Luna's lengthy hair and blew it about her as she made the short journey to the village. She wore a thick cloak, a blue scarf and a pair of black dress shoes which pinched her feet cruelly. They were beautiful, but not worth the pain they produced with each step. She promised herself that this would be the last time she ever wore them.
The air was crisp and fresh, the sky a blue bordering on grey which signified that it would rain. Luna whistled to herself as she walked, slowly, wand held in her swinging hand. She enjoyed the tranquility of the moment, breathing in the green air of the Scottish Highlands, the enormous stone castle looming behind like a vigilant friend.
There weren't many people out and about, due to the weather. Luna imagined that a good many of the students were still tucked cozily into bed, it being a Sunday morning. She'd risen early to take her breakfast in the sparsely filled Great Hall, filled her pockets with Galleons and left the castle by nine o'clock. She was quite fond of Hogsmeade and planned to make a day of the excursion; to do some window-shopping along with the real shopping and to warm herself with a delectable Butterbeer before returning to Hogwarts.
Luna had never been the kind of person to let anything keep her from living and enjoying her life. Just because she hadn't any friends, didn't mean she couldn't enjoy herself. Of course, a bit of company would have made the trip to Hogsmeade even more delightful, but her own company was good enough. She was her own friend.
The peace of the countryside was a welcome change from the bustling activity of the castle, with its current number of inhabitants reaching somewhere in the thousands. Luna listened to the soft moan of the wind, the shrill cries and flapping wings of black birds taking flight.
At this time of year, Luna always felt a trifle homesick. As much as she adored Hogwarts, every day life at the castle wasn't as carefree as it was at the Lovegood House. Here, there were inter-House rivalries to think of and bullying. This year, there was the added pressure of the Triwizard Tournament. The competition was as exciting as it was dangerous and Luna-although never the object of others' concern-cared about the well being of the contestants. Finally, it would soon be exam period and there was still two months left until the holidays.
Then there was the question of Draco Malfoy.
Funny how the one evening had altered so much. That night had given Luna the ability to see Draco in a different light. To see him vulnerably. She now knew that he had problems just like she did. Problems that he didn't seem to know how to deal with.
Not to say that she thought he was a victim. Draco still harassed other students, especially Gryffindors, and behaved like a snob. No, he was a snob. But Luna didn't judge him as harshly as she once had. He was in pain, that much was certain. It wasn't normal to all but finish off a bottle of rum by oneself.
How unexpected that he'd tried to apologize to her for his behaviour. Though, the word sorry never had left his mouth. Luna herself didn't know how she felt about the stolen kiss. Thinking about it made her feel simultaneously shocked, worried and giddy.
As she arrived into the village, her precarious mood elevated at once. Hogsmeade was a friendly place, quaint, picturesque. Luna immediately felt at home among the small cottages, home to various wizard families of ancient lineage. High Street was where the main shops were located, including Zonko's and Honeydukes. There wasn't a doubt in Luna's mind that she would be visiting both of these locations, in passing.
The shoe situation needed to be remedied quickly. The ones she was wearing weren't functional. Looks weren't everything, clearly. Luna limped on, pain shooting through the soles of her feet with each step. The shoes were rubbing unpleasantly against her skin; any moment, smoke would appear due to the friction.
The bell above the door sounded as she entered a small second-hand clothing shop. Despite the modest size of the store, it held a surprising amount of clothing. It was a veritable treasure trove, offering traditional robes and cloaks of all colours and fabrics along with an array of more modern choices; trousers, dresses, skirts, T-shirts, blouses and more. Luna pulled herself away, wondering vaguely where the shopkeeper was, and zoned in on the shoes.
There was indeed a great deal of choice. Luna kicked off the evil dress shoes and began trying shoes on. There was a small mirror hung upon the wall in which she could study her lower half. She considered a pair of brown combat boots, but then she saw a pair of rainbow sneakers, and there was no contest. They fit perfectly and comfortably. Thrilled, she made her way toward the empty counter to pay for her new shoes, looking around for the mysteriously absent shopkeeper.
"Hello," she called. "I'd like to pay for my shoes."
The silence which met her statement was infinite. "Hello," she tried again, looking around. A sudden movement from the corner of her eye made her turn her head back toward the counter.
Greetings, wrote a quill on some parchment, both of which had heretofore lain immobile on the counter. Luna beamed at the sight and stepped in closer as the quill continued to write its message.
I am currently in the impossibility of being at your service. Please leave the full payment for your purchase in one of the envelopes provided and place it inside the green tome. Once your payment has been placed in the book, it will be impossible to retrieve, so please proceed with care.
Smile, you are under surveillance!
Thank you for shopping at The Thrifty Thread.
Cordially,
Mrs. Radley
Shopkeeper
Thoroughly bemused, Luna did as the message commanded. The bell above the door chimed again as she left the shop with her new shoes on her feet, the previous pair discarded in the shop to join the Thrifty Thread's vast collection.
She felt beautiful as she walked, admiring her shoes with each step. Luna only hoped that this pair would stay with her permanently. She feared that their splendour was too great, that they would prove too much of a temptation to whoever had originally stolen her last pair. But, then, nothing in life was permanent. It was best not to get too attached to anything.
Luna reminded herself of this as she ventured on, very much caught up in her own thoughts. The weather was just right. Chilly enough to bring a bit of redness to her cheeks, but warm enough to allow her to take her time in getting to her destination.
The carpet of leaves on the ground offered a resplendent display of colour. The pumpkins in Hagrid's garden patch were almost ripe. All Hallow's Eve was quickly approaching. Luna pondered over the history of the holiday. She revelled in the delightful ominousness of this time of year. Halloween was the one day witches and wizards were celebrated by the Muggle world.
Luna knew quite a bit about muggles. They intrigued her almost as much as Crumple Horned Snorkacks. She was very interested in anthropology; the study of humans. Hogwarts needed to implement an anthropology class within its curriculum. If the gap between pure-bloods and muggleborns was ever to be truly bridged, education was needed about the non-magical branch of the extensive family tree of the human species.
As she walked against a playful wind, Luna considered the present state of relations between the students at Hogwarts. For once, the school was more or less united. The Triwizard Tournament had created a common goal. There seemed to be less rivalry than usual between Houses at the moment. Of course, the usual animosity which existed among the different Houses seemed to have been redirected toward Harry Potter. He was bearing the brunt of his bad luck more than ever.
Luna was very insignificant to the goings-on relating to the Triwizard Tournament. She was a third year, so she wouldn't attend the Yule Ball unless someone invited her. It was a shame, for she dearly loved to dance.
No, she was completely on the sidelines at the moment. She rather preferred it this way. Better to be ignored than to be harassed constantly, pushed and shoved, jinxed and taunted. Being invisible allowed her to observe those around her, and her observations usually led to intriguing insights and hypotheses.
Luna headed over to Zonko's, Honeyduke's and The Three Broomsticks respectively. As she was mulling over a steaming mug of Butterbeer, pockets filled with sweets, a strange feeling overcame her. A burning sensation rose through her body, growing inside of her chest and spreading out into her arms and up to her face. All of a moment, she was blazing. Luna blinked in surprise, reaching up a tingling hand to test her warm cheek.
She felt lightheaded, but Butterbeer could barely be considered an alcoholic beverage. The logical explanation was that she was suddenly coming up with a fever. She was wearing her corkscrew earrings, so it couldn't be nargles. Red faced, she swallowed the last of the drink and pulled on her cloak, tying her scarf as she passed through the door. The cold air was incomparably refreshing and Luna relaxed a bit, although feeling puzzled about the whole experience.
She made her way back to the castle at a quicker pace than she had left it. The sky was darkening ominously and the air was charged with electricity. Exhilarated, Luna thought that she had never felt more in touch with the elements than in this moment. She felt as if she could fly just by outstretching her arms to be lifted by the wind. No need for a broomstick.
She remained earthbound, but the ethereal feeling followed her, almost pulling her to the Great Lake. Some unknown force beckoned her to sit down and as the sky opened up and the rain began, Luna understood why. The water poured in buckets, drenching her, cooling her flaming cheeks, nourishing her parched lips.
There was confusion. And a grief so strong it made her heart ache. Try as she might, she couldn't subdue it and soon the lump in her throat got the better of her. A few tears. That was all. But they were the most bittersweet tears she'd ever cried.
She got up, feeling silly. Her hair and clothing was sopping wet, raindrops in her eyes stinging as she squished through the grass towards the castle. From afar, Luna could see that the castle torches had been lit, illuminating the ordinary windows with a beautiful yellow light. If the ordinary windows were beautiful, they were nothing compared to the multi-coloured stained glass. These shone like a beacon from where Luna stood, squinting up through the rain.
Groups of students appeared from every direction as Luna slipped through the front doors into the Entrance Hall. She shied away from the glances drawn by her curious, dishevelled state and walked with her head held high. It was already supper time, but Luna would need to change before heading into the Great Hall.
A small smile played on her lips as she climbed the marble staircase, dripping slightly. The brightness of the castle interior compared with its current dark exterior was stunning. Everything was iridescent. She became blind to the looks garnered by the other students. It was so much more enjoyable to be bathed in light.
Something did manage to catch her attention. It was Malfoy, cavorting down the steps easily, two at a time. He was all swishing black robes, straight spine and blank, cautious expression. Luna could tell by his vibe that he wasn't in the best of moods.
He surprised Luna by acknowledging her. "Gone swimming?" Draco's facial expression didn't change despite the comment, giving Luna difficulty in interpreting the question. Was this the start of some mean-spirited wisecrack, or was he making conversation?
All she could do was regard him in the same blasé fashion that he was looking at her. "No," she finally answered, when he didn't immediately continue down the stairs. He was staring at her intently, but Luna didn't understand what he expected from her. She stared right back.
Luna wasn't aware that she was giving off any particular impression, but Draco seemed to sense that something was off about her. He gave a little frown and narrowed his eyes at her in scrutiny.
"Have you been crying, Loony?"
Luna's brow crinkled momentarily, but then she gave him a wry smile. "Why do you ask that?"
Draco shrugged. "Your eyes are red."
"Oh, well, thanks for letting me know."
He gave her a terse nod, and they each turned to continue on their separate paths. A few students milled by; nobody of any importance. Draco relished his own imposing presence and the way the younger students kept their distance as they passed by.
"Draco," Luna called out to him after a few steps. He didn't reply but turned his body back to face her. "I haven't been able to get back into the Room of Requirement. I was wondering if you knew why."
Draco shrugged, but his eyes didn't waver from hers. She thought she perceived some inkling of curiosity behind his watchful grey eyes. "I don't know," Draco said. "I haven't been able to go back either..."
Luna smiled at him humorously and discerned an answering tug at the side of Draco's mouth.
"Oh, well. Goodbye Draco. Have a nice meal." She turned her back on him and ascended the staircase, not stopping until she reached Ravenclaw tower.
That's it! Hope you enjoyed. Please review my lovelies :)
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