Chapter four – library at night

"Mr. Potter, it would be nice if you started to pay attention in my classes," Professor Snape said to Harry Potter. He had, once again, been small talking with his two friends Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger. That happened quite a lot, and drove Snape crazy. He did enjoy hitting Potter on the back of his head, though, and making it clear for the entire class that Potter was no good boy.

Draco Malfoy giggled. He did not do any effort in hiding it, because he knew Professor Snape only would appreciate it. See, Snape liked Draco. Well, he did not hate him. He knew Draco did not like Harry Potter, and neither did Snape.

Harry Potter and his friends kept quiet for the rest of the lesson.

For some reason Draco could not wait to get back to detention that day. Deep beneath his skin he knew it was because he would see Luna Lovegood again, but he did not want to admit that to himself. He had never found himself having feelings for anybody. He had, up until he met Luna, thought his heart was made of ice. Maybe it was, but then Luna was the fire to melt it. Draco saw Luna's beautiful silvery-grey eyes for his inner sight. They were sparkling, looking directly at him.

Draco felt a hand hit against his shoulder. Not hard, but enough to awaken him from his daydreaming. Draco turned his face, and saw Snape looking at him. Snape had noticed Draco daydreaming, but had not said anything aloud, because he knew it would put the Slytherin's in bad light. Draco returned to his work, and tried to keep Luna out of mind.

At detention that evening Professor McGonagall had asked Luna and Draco to draw a painting of what was in their thoughts, since she found it interesting that they both seemed so absence.

"That is absurd. I do not draw!" Draco complained with an angry look. Luna loved the challenge and was already started. She drew the sun, colourful flowers, nargles, and everything else that appeared on her mind.

"Then write down words you think of. Anything, please," McGonagall said and left the room.

"I am not doing this," Draco said and arose from his chair.

"Come on, Draco. It is fun," Luna said, making Draco stop.

"Fun? My mind is not fun, Luna! I have things on my mind that Professor McGonagall has no business in knowing!" Draco was just in front of Luna now.

Luna did not know what to reply. She did not want Draco to leave, but she could not say that to his face.

"Lie then. Make up your own thoughts," she said, not sure if it made any sense in Draco's ears.

Draco hesitated but then sat down next to Luna again.

Minutes of silence filled the room. Neither Luna or Draco said a word until McGonagall came back. The only noise was their quills against the parchment.

"Detention is over -You can finish now," McGonagall spoke. Luna finished what she was drawing: a pair of eyes. Not just any pair of eyes, but Draco's eyes. Luna hoped that Minerva would not be able to recognize them.

Minerva walked down to their tables, and picked up their parchments.

"Beautiful work, both of you. I will see you tomorrow." She turned around and walked against the door. "Oh, and good luck on Saturday, Luna!"

"What happens Saturday?" Draco asked out of curiosity as McGonagall left.

"The Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor," Luna answered, "I am replacing Zacharias Smith as commentator."

Draco looked surprised. Luna had caught his attention.

"Really? Oh, well good luck then." That were some of the nicest words Luna had ever heard Draco speak.

"Why thank you," Luna said and smiled. "I am only a bit nervous since I am not aware of any of the rules. Zacharias always helped me, but now he is playing." It felt good to get some of her worries off her chest. She had been thinking a lot about the Quidditch match lately.

"I can help you, If you like it," Draco offered. Luna looked at Draco in surprise.

"Would you really do that?" she asked.

"Yes of course. You need help, and I can give you that." Luna blushed.

"Well okay then. Meet me at the library in an hour," she commanded. She rushed out of the room and up to the dormitory.

Draco sat in one of the library's many chairs. His body was shaking, out of being nervous, he assumed. He took a glimpse at the big clock on the wall again. Only a few minutes, and Luna Lovegood would be here, reading through the tall stack of books in front of them. Draco smiled by the thought. He was too deep into his thoughts to realize that Luna now was standing in front of him. She had changed into some casual clothes.

"Hi," she said. Draco jumped up from the chair in surprise. His eyes focused on Luna.

"Good evening," he said, taking her hand. He lead her to the chair next to him. "Sit down."

Draco pointed at the stack of books. "Go ahead."

Luna giggled.

"There is no way I will finish reading all those books in two days, Draco!"

"Okay, then let me tell you some of the basic rules."

"Thank you," Luna spoke with a sweet voice that had Draco reach for oxygen.

"Time-out can be called at any time by the team leaders. If a match has lasted over twelve hours, the time-out can last up to two hours. If the team calling time-out is not back within that time, they are disqualified."

"Oh boy," Luna sighed.

"Is there something wrong? You are not sure you can remember all of this, right?"

"No, I have a perfectly good memory, as matter of fact. No, I was just thinking, there is no way my voice can last for a twelve hour match." To Luna's s surprise Draco started to laugh. Luna laughed along with him. The chemistry between them instantly became better.