Chapter 9

The Letter

"We have to think of something good, we can't just sit around and take this anymore." Ginny's voice was firm, brooked no argument from the other students sitting around her.

Seamus nodded his agreement, "What do you suggest, Ginny? I know we have to do something, I mean we can't let the bloody Carrow's get away with running the school this way anymore. But what do we do?"

Scratching his head Neville sighed, "I'm out of ideas totally, but it has to be something good. It doesn't have to be mad or anything, just a small form of resistance will do. Anything." He added looking around at the small cluster of students who were in the Room of Requirement with him.

Clapping her hands Ginny jumped up quickly, "What about something like when Fred and George left school? The fireworks weren't dangerous were they? They just made a big mess and proved a point, that's all we want to do for starters, prove a point. That we can still fight, that they can't get to us."

"Good one, Ginny." Colin Creevey grinned up at her from his position on the floor. "We could even set some fireworks off, the Carrow's weren't here then were they so they won't know who did it. Plus Snape was here at the time so he will have a vague idea but won't be able to prove it!"

Ernie McMillan, the voice of reason broke through the loud exclamations of excitement that filled the room. "But that means all the Slytherin's will know as well. Malfoy and his lot were all here at the time, they'll know it was us, and unfortunately they now have the power to make our lives even more miserable than they used to. Not forgetting of course, " he continued, pleased he now had the attention of the whole room, "Luna does have to live with Malfoy, that's bad enough in a normal situation without making it worse for her by going up against him when he knows it's us."

Luna just smiled serenely at Ernie, she wondered what the reaction would be if she suddenly said she didn't think Draco was all that bad. She giggled inwardly, bad was not the first word that sprung to her mind to describe him these days.

She hadn't thought to see the day when it felt like torture to be out of Draco Malfoy's vicinity. She actually missed his presence being cooped up in this room away from him. For the first time in her life she was mentally cursing the people around her. Ginny had evidently thought it best to rescue her from Malfoy's evil clutches and she had turned up at the entrance to the Head's room with Neville and Seamus in tow yelling for her.

Just to keep the peace and to try to clear her head and calm her body down Luna had shot Draco a silent apologetic look and gone with Ginny who was desperately trying to reform the DA.

Now she was sitting in the Room of Requirement, not listening to a word of what was going on around her, but thinking of Draco. Reliving his touch, his kiss, all the feelings he gave her. Was there anyone in the world who could make her feel the way he did?

"Any ideas, Luna?" Ginny asked looking at her friend.

"Me? No." Luna replied uncertainly, there was a tiny part of her that didn't want to be involved in all of this, she didn't feel totally comfortable with the idea of going up against Draco.

Seamus cleared his throat, "I have one idea, it's not great, I saw it on a, um… what did Dean call it? A film I think…."

Ernie raised an eyebrow, "A what?"

"It's a muggle thing, I saw one with Dean Thomas when I went to visit him during the holidays." Seamus explained, "You take a photograph of someone doing something stupid and embarrassing and then change the person's face…"

"What has this got to do with anything?" Ginny snapped impatiently.

"I'm getting to it if you'll shut up for two minutes." Seamus retorted crossly. "We do the same thing with the Carrows. Colin takes pictures of us lot in stupid poses and we replace our faces with the Carrow's and put the pictures up all over the school, it'll humiliate them and they won't have a clue who did it. It just might buy us some time until we can think of something really good."

"It's not bad." Neville admitted.

Seamus laughed, "It's not great either, but it's better than nothing."

Ginny laughed as well, "I suppose. Like you say, it'll buy us some time, at least we're retaliating even if it is in a small way. Got your camera, Colin?"

Colin grinned and patted his back pack, "Always got it, Ginny."

Neville sighed heavily, "There must be something really good we can do though. Something that will really make a difference."

Smirking Ginny stood up getting ready to strike a pose, "Well, first step in any plan to take down the guys at the top, humiliation."

Luna stood stretching out her back, "You lot have fun, I have to get back. I'm fine, I don't need anyone walking with me," She added when she noticed Neville opening his mouth to respond. Turning quickly she left the room.

When she returned to her room Draco wasn't there, he didn't come in until very late either, she had stayed awake listening for him, her mind too full of him to sleep anyway. She wondered where he had been? What he had been up to?

Mostly she wondered if he would come to see her, but he didn't. She heard him go into the bathroom and then return to his room and she heard nothing else.

This thing that was between them, that felt so good, that felt so right, couldn't be a bad thing could it? If her body wanted him so much, if she needed to be close to him, that wasn't wrong was it? Despite the fact that they were on opposite sides in the war that was now raging through the wizarding world. Her with Harry on the one side, Draco with Voldemort on the other side.

She shook her head slightly on the pillow. Somewhere deep inside her Luna knew what she felt for Draco was real, that she cared about what happened to him that meant that her feelings were good and pure, that was proof that they weren't wrong.

There was still so much about him that she knew nothing about, but that thought didn't bother her too much. Draco was a very closed person, he didn't give much away about himself. Luna had the feeling she would have a lot of work ahead of her if she was going to get to know the real Draco, and she was determined that she would.

Stretching luxuriously in her bed a small giggle erupted from her throat and her cheeks flushed a light pink as she recalled the events of that afternoon. If only he was here with her now, if only he was lying beside her, talking to her, listening to her, touching her.

Luna's thoughts were interrupted by a tapping on her window. Sitting up she peeked through her curtains to see an unfamiliar owl tapping on the pane of glass. Frowning she let the bird in and waited for him to perch on her nightstand and offer her his leg.

Once she untied the letter the owl took off through the open window into the night. Chewing on her bottom lip curiously she gazed at the back of the envelop sealed with the official Ministry of Magic seal. Who at the Ministry would be writing to her? And at this time of the night?

Draco wasn't sleeping, he was lying on his side staring at his bedroom door willing Luna to walk through it, willing her to come to him. He jumped so much that he almost fell off the end of the bed when he heard the loud devastated scream echoing down the hallway.

Swinging himself out of bed he grabbed his wand and ran straight to Luna's room. Throwing the door open he saw her kneeling on her bed, she was quite clear in the light from the moon shining through the window illuminating the room.

"Luna?"

She looked up at him tears trickling down her cheeks, her eyes were blank as she stared over at him. His name came out a cracked whisper from her lips, she looked lost and he felt slightly uncomfortable. "What's the matter?"

Numbly Luna held the letter out to him as he crossed the room and sat on the edge of her bed. She watched him as he scanned the letter quickly, she didn't need him to read the contents out loud, the words would forever be imprinted on her brain.

Dear Miss Lovegood,

It is our unfortunate position to inform you that your father has this evening been arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban on account of his treason to the Ministry.

As you are underage and have no guardian appointed to you by your father the Ministry has taken it upon themselves to register you, until further noticed under the guardianship of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, meaning of course, the Headmaster Mr Severus Snape.

A similar letter has been forwarded to Mr Snape.

Yours sincerely

D. Umbridge

High Inquisitioner of the Ministry of Magic.

Draco looked up, he disliked crying girls they made him uncomfortable and he never had any idea what to do to make the bawling cease immediately. Now though he knew what he had to do, somehow he just knew; it was instinct.

Gently his arms encircled Luna's shaking shoulders, holding her close he let her cling to him, her face buried in his neck, his bare skin turning stiff from her tears. Draco rocked her slowly, his fingers trailing though the silky strands of her hair as he made quiet soothing sounds in her ear.

There was nothing else he could do, there was nothing he could say to make this better for her, all he could do now was be there for her, hold her, and not mess this opportunity up by letting his rampaging hormones do the thinking for him.

How long he sat there rocking her gently from side to side Draco didn't know, it felt like she had been sobbing forever and there was nothing he could do to make it stop. He was however, aware as soon as the sobs ceased and she was merely sniveling.

Carefully he eased her from him, brushing her hair that was sticking to the dampness of her face away from her cheeks. He looked into her face intently, "Do you want anything? A drink of water?"

Mutely she shook her head, she felt better just having him near her, after all, his father had been in Azkaban, Draco would know how that felt, no-one else. She gazed at him with her large watery eyes, quietly drinking in his handsome features, marveling at how soft his face could go when he allowed himself to think or feel something, when he let his guard down.

Absently she lifted her hand from his shoulder and slowly ran the tips of her fingers over his face, drawing the contours of his face, dusting over his cheeks and touching hesitantly to his lips.

Draco shivered at her touch, this was the most intimate situation he had ever been in. He had never let anyone sit and examine his face this way, and he doubted he ever would again. But somehow it didn't feel awkward, he had no thought to push her away, only a strong urge to pull her closer.

"Sorry I woke you." She whispered.

Draco shrugged, "I wasn't sleeping. Besides, I was hardly going to let you scream by yourself was I? I guess I'd better let you try to sleep." He added uncertainly, he wasn't totally sure what he needed to do in this situation. Trying to shove his uncomfortable feelings away he offered her half a smile as he rose to leave.

Luna's fingers curled around his forearm. "Stay."

The whispered plea affected him more than he thought it should and the discomfort he had been feeling vanished easily, as though it had never been and Draco knew what he had to do, what Luna needed from him and he nodded his agreement.

She shifted back on the bed to allow him more room, flicking the bed sheets back she waited until he was comfortable before tucking him in. Draco couldn't help rolling his eyes, she had just had one of the biggest shocks of her life and she was tucking him into bed!

Settling down under his arm, her head pillowed on his shoulder and her hand splayed over his chest Luna sighed deeply. With Draco next to her things didn't seem so bad. At least she was still able to stay at Hogwarts.

Instinctively the tips of her fingers began to draw idle circles over the bare skin of Draco's chest, dusting over the twitching muscles she made a memory of him as detailed as she could.

"Don't do that." Draco growled at her.

Luna's hand faltered against his skin and she bit her lip. Maybe she had read too much into what had passed between them? Maybe it was just her feeling these things and she had made the mistake of thinking he cared when he didn't?

"I'm trying to be nice, Luna. But I'm not made of stone, you can't do that right now." Draco tried to explain through grit teeth, he felt bad his angry snap had made her flinch so much.

She smiled softly, she was smart, she was in Ravenclaw, why did she doubt herself? Why did she let herself doubt what she knew, what she felt deep inside?

Wiggling into a better position Luna lent over him, "Thank you for being here, Draco." She didn't give him the chance to respond, leaning closer to him she kissed him softly. Needing him, needing the affection he was good at giving her.

Draco knew this was a bad idea, in the back of his mind a voice called out a warning, but he decided to ignore it. Wrapping his arms securely around her he pressed her closer to his chest, kissing her back, inserting his tongue between her parted lips and reminding himself of the sweet, softness within.

His hand trailed up her back and neck into her hair, fisting there tightly and pressing her lips harder to his. Luna whimpered slightly but she didn't attempt to pull away from him, her fingers pressing deeply into his shoulder as she shifted across his chest a little more, her tongue brushing over the roof of his mouth.

How the soft kiss had managed to turn into something that was now so heated Draco didn't know. All he knew was that there was an inferno of heat bubbling in the pit of his stomach, his hand that was not entangled in her hair had a life of its own and excitedly explored the curves and dips of her body making her squirm in his grasp.

Gripping both her shoulders Draco suddenly forced her roughly away from him.

Luna blinked in confusion as she stared down at him. His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe properly, his grey eyes glittering wildly and she understood, really she appreciated him managing to be so thoughtful in the present circumstances. Smiling softly she dropped a light kiss on the end of his nose. "Thank you, Draco."

"Go to sleep." He commanded, adverting his eyes from her completely. He frowned at the giggle that came from her as she snuggled back up against him.

"I can't sleep, Draco."

He groaned loudly, "Neither can I."

"Can't we just talk about stuff until we do go to sleep?" She wondered. If she did manage to finally drift off Luna wanted to dream about Draco.

Draco felt her shiver against him as his hand absently came up to cup her breast. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Not the war." Luna replied determinedly, she didn't want them to get into a fight about the rights and wrongs of the current situation of their world and make him leave her. She sighed softly as his hand applied more pressure to her breast, massaging it in gentle circles.

"Alright, not the war." He agreed rolling her now hardened nipple between his thumb and index finger.

"Is your father the same, Draco? Since Azkaban?" She asked carefully, wincing when his hand stopped its gentle movement.

He cleared his throat, "Yeah, pretty much. He was different at first, a little quieter but he's back to his old self now. It takes a lot to get to him, he's a very strong person."

"I'm sorry I was there." She replied quietly.

"Things happen." Draco had forgotten she had been present during his fathers humiliation, but that couldn't really be helped right now. Thoughtfully his hand squeezed her breast gently. "At least the Dementors aren't there anymore."

Luna smiled, she hadn't thought of that. "There's that I suppose. Were you scared, Draco? The night Dumbledore died?"

"Yes." He replied shortly. It wasn't a lie and he didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't want her prodding at him about this subject either. "I don't want to talk about that."

Pressing her lips against his chest she nodded, "We don't have to talk about that. Did your Dark Mark hurt?"

He rolled his eyes in the dimness, of everything she could talk about why did she want to talk about this? "Yes, of course it did."

"Poor, Draco." She murmured.

Draco's breath hitched in his throat when he became aware that her hand had trailed down his stomach and was now very slowly entering his boxer shorts. "W…What are you doing?" He managed to stammer out.

Luna sighed softly, "Just saying thank you for being here, and sorry for bringing up bad memories." She heard him suck in his breath sharply when her hand curled around him and she couldn't stop her own small gasp at the feel of him.

A/N: I know they didn't talk much but they will I promise lol.

Thanks to everyone who has been so good in reading and reviewing!