Chapter 10: I Wish

Luna sat in the Great Hall, eating her dinner amongst her Ravenclaw housemates. She was feeling slightly uneasy about how her friends had so easily given themselves to Draco and Blaise. Luna was trying to think about this objectively, with logic, as was her Ravenclaw way, but each time she drew the same conclusion; something fishy was going on, and the two handsome Slytherins were behind it.

It puzzled Luna to no end that Ginny and Malfoy had made love the night before. There was no way that Ginny, who had just broken up with Harry after a six month relationship, would have just given up her virginity to Malfoy after only a month of sort-of dating. Luna had always thought that Ginny was the kind of girl who would wait until marriage before having sex. There was also the fact that Ginny had spent the whole day mooning about with a silly expression on her face. It annoyed Luna that her best friend, who was normally so level-headed, was acting like an air-headed little pixie.

As for Olli, although Luna knew that she had had sex before, she also knew that Olli was very careful about it. Sure, Olli had a reputation for flirtation and hooking up, but she had only had sex with two of her boyfriends, both times when she was in a serious relationship. Olli and Blaise had only been dating for three weeks! It just didn't make sense to Luna's logical mind.

Luna looked across the room at her two friends, who were eating at the Slytherin table, talking animatedly with each other. She felt a little left out, but Luna knew that she would have felt uncomfortable sitting with the Slytherins. Luna took the opportunity to study Draco and Blaise, who were exchanging a sly smile. They looked the same as they always had, and Luna wondered if they had ever really changed. She didn't trust that their intent was good towards her friends, and Luna frowned as Blaise pulled Olli closer and whispered into her ear. Olli giggled and Luna frowned deeper, angry that her friend was acting like a shallow witch who only cared about boys.

Luna shook her head to dispel her anger and finished her dinner, mulling over this issue in her mind, until she had exhausted every avenue of thought. Sick of worrying, Luna looked over to the Hufflepuff table, where Duke was sitting at the table, frowning at a letter in front of him. Luna smiled at how cute he looked and decided to go and join him for dessert.

For now, she would appear to be happy for her friends and pretend nothing was wrong, Luna decided. But she would get to the bottom of this, and find out what those two boys were up to.

Happy with her decision, Luna skipped over to Duke and slipped into the seat next to him. He put a possessive arm around her shoulders and Luna beamed up into his brooding face. Duke's frown disappeared and he looked down at her with a soft smile. Luna tucked into her cheesecake and smiled happily. At least her Duke would never be as horrible and dark as Draco and Blaise and the other Slytherins. He was too sweet and too kind to fall for the Dark Arts.

***

Duke hummed a Cauldrons song to himself as he wandered down the hallway towards his dormitory. He and Luna were becoming closer with every day that passed and she was making him so happy. With her, he could forget about his jealousy and anger towards his goody-goody older brother, Roger. His parents had owled him during dinner, and had told him how Roger had just been accepted into the English Quidditch team. At Hogwarts he had been Head Boy and Quidditch Captain and their parents favoured him over their quieter son, Duke.

He didn't really know when his jealousy towards his older brother had begun. Since he had been old enough to walk he had tagged along with his brother, looking up to him. He had been a Ravenclaw, so smart and athletic, charming and good-looking. He had gotten the good genes from their parents. Duke, on the other hand, had been sorted into Hufflepuff, and had been handed the short end of the stick. He hated Quidditch and wasn't as smart or charismatic as Roger, or as handsome. He was the dark to Roger's light, and he was sick of being constantly outshone by such an overwhelming prat. That was why he was so grateful that Luna loved him. She was really cute and smart, and although she was eccentric, she was able to put everyone at ease with a strange remark. The only thing which embittered their relationship was that if she met Roger then she would probably leave him for his older brother.

Duke shook his head and walked into his room, taking off his school robe. He lay back on his bed, wondering how he would spend his time until curfew. He didn't really want to do his homework yet but he didn't really feel like going outside either. He decided to go down to the library and look for something to read.

When he got there, the library was almost deserted, with only a few students sitting around inside. As he walked in, he saw a red-faced couple being ushered from the library by an irate Madame Pince, who was yelling at them for 'copulating amongst her precious books'. Duke laughed as he saw their embarrassment as they tried to rearrange their clothes while being chased by the librarian. Shaking his head, Duke made his way over to one of the aisles, losing himself in the titles, and pulling out books that might interest him. One book fell out from a shelf and opened, immediately telling him about what awaited inside.

"I am a rather brilliant storybook called 'I wish'. Inside lies your story, the one you wish would unfold and I will read it to you. Now lean closer boy, so that I may read your mind, and compose my story," the book commanded imperiously. Duke leaned closer, enthralled by the idea of this book and allowed it to ripple through his mind.

"Ah, I see, very well Mr Davies. Find a seat so I may begin," the book told him. Duke looked around and spotted a comfy looking stuffed armchair and settled into it. The chair faced away from the rest of the library and was cut off from it by a conveniently placed aisle of books. Duke got comfortable and sat back with his eyes closed, listening as the book began his story.

***

Draco and Blaise settled behind the bookshelf, trying to look nonchalant. The book was their ploy to find all of Duke's weaknesses and they were now straining to overhear its words. Draco peered through the shelf at Duke and watched him open the book in front of him. Annoyed, he growled and tried to move closer so that he could hear what the book was saying.

"Duke was now at Hogwarts, eagerly anticipating the moment when he would be sorted into Ravenclaw. He knew he was much smarter and more charming than his dim-witted older brother, Roger, who was seated at the Hufflepuff table. The Sorting Hat called out his name, and Duke sat down on the stool, the hat settling over his head. "Ah," the Sorting Hat said loudly, "another Davies I see. Hmmm, you appear to be much smarter than your older brother. You could do very well at Hogwarts, Head Boy I predict. I think you will do brilliantly in Ravenclaw, Duke. RAVENCLAW!" Duke smiled smugly at his brother as he sat down with his peers. Here, at last, would be intelligent conversation, with people who appreciated him."

Draco frowned and thought about what he had overheard. He remembered Roger Davies, he had been Head Boy when Draco had become a prefect, and he had played against him in Quidditch as well. Roger had been very skilful and intelligent, as well as a brilliant Chaser for Ravenclaw. Perhaps Duke was jealous of him, and resented being constantly in his brother's shadow. Draco could definitely relate to Duke's resentment. Hadn't he always hated Harry, for being the Golden Boy, loved by everyone and handed everything on a silver platter.

The book was now drivelling on about Duke and Luna's wedding; gloating about how envied he was for having such a glorious wife. Draco almost choked when the book imitated Luna's voice, telling Duke how happy she was to be married to such a strong and powerful wizard. It was disgusting to hear the intelligent witch fawning over the bigoted wizard, and Draco wondered if Duke realised what a prat he was in his imaginary world. Draco looked over at Blaise, who looked as sick as Draco was feeling. There is no way that the beautiful Ravenclaw would simper in such a sickening manner.

Draco had heard enough, and, motioning towards Blaise, the two left the library while contemplating their discoveries. So, Draco thought with a sinister smile, Davies wants power. He wants to defeat his brother and get recognition as a wizard in his own right. Well, this will be easier than I had originally thought.

Draco walked briskly to his new office in the dungeons and pulled a spell book he had been studying recently. It was called 'Influential Spells for the Wicked Mind' and it contained many useful spells that could influence malign thoughts. Rifling through to the correct section, Draco skimmed through until he found the spell he wanted, Ducio Malum Sententia. Roughly translated into English, it meant 'to influence evil thoughts' and it would strengthen Duke's resentment and desire for power. Eventually Davies will come to us, seeking power, Draco thought to himself with glee. He smiled a terrible smile and headed back towards the library to use the spell on the oblivious Duke Davies.

***

The next day, Draco approached Pansy and struck up a conversation with her about the upcoming match against Hufflepuff. Although she looked suspicious, Pansy played along and followed Draco as he headed outside. When they had reached a secluded area near the lake, Draco revealed his true reason for luring Pansy outside.

"I need your help with a rather delicate matter, Pansy," Draco informed her with a smirk. Pansy smirked back and waited for what he had to say. Finally, they were back to normal, and he was including her in his schemes again.

"Anything for you, Draco," she said with a smile, batting her eyelashes at him. Draco leaned in with a brilliant smile and despite having no feelings for him; Pansy felt her knees go weak. Draco had never smiled at her like that before.

"It's about Davies," Draco told her. Pansy looked at Draco in shock and confusion.

"The Hufflepuff? What about him? He's just a loser," Pansy said slowly. What could Draco possibly want with the little emo bastard. He had all the personality of a wet rock and although he had many friends, he always seemed like a bit of a loner. His older brother had been the gorgeous and talented one in the family.

"Of course he is, and I think that's what makes him so perfect. He hates his brother, the new Chaser for Puddlemere United because he has the inferiority complex the size of Potter's ego and resents his parents for liking Roger more. You're aware, I'm sure, that both of his parents are influential members of the Wizengamot," Draco informed Pansy with a nasty smile. He would corrupt Davies using the dark influence of the Death Eaters through Pansy, his seductive little temptress. She might not be as pretty as some girls, but she a great body and she knew how to use it.

Pansy considered the impact of Draco's words. The Davies family were very influential in the Ministry, and having Duke to spy on them would be a great coup which would surely put her in the Dark Lord's good graces. Pansy studied Draco's face and wondered why he was giving her this information. Obviously he wanted to use her to seduce Davies to the dark clutches of Voldemort, but what could possibly be in it for Draco?

"Why do you want me to do this, Draco?" Pansy asked with a raised eyebrow. Draco smiled at this Slytherin trait and wondered what he should tell her. He couldn't completely reveal his plans to her without letting her know where his loyalties really lay, and without knowing if she was with or against Voldemort, it wasn't a risk he could take.

"It has to do with a rather delicate mission I'm undertaking," Draco informed her with a sly wink, hoping that Pansy wasn't too embroiled in Voldemort's plans. To Draco's intense relief, Pansy nodded and seemed to accept this without question. They laid out plans for the seduction of Duke Davies, and then Draco left to go to Quidditch practice for his match against Ravenclaw after the holidays.

Pansy watched him leave with a small frown on her forehead. Her plans with Theo would have to wait for now. She had to find out what Draco was up to.

***

Draco stood under the shower, letting the hot water wash away the sweat and exhaustion from Quidditch practice. He shut his eyes and stuck his head under the faucet so that the water massaged his scalp. It was hard work beating his Slytherin team into anything even vaguely resembling a decent shape. Apart from himself and Crabbe and Goyle he had all new players and it was difficult training them to the perfection demanded of Slytherin. Draco had hoped that with Potter and Weasley gone, Slytherin would have a chance of winning the cup. However, after seeing Gryffindor's excellent form against Ravenclaw despite having three new players, Draco knew that it would not be as easy as he had originally thought.

Draco turned off the flow of water and stepped out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and dried off quickly, shivering in the cold night air. He had decided to shower in his own room as he just wanted to get into some comfortable clothes and do his homework before bed.

He pulled on some grey slacks and a sweater, throwing his smelly Quidditch robes into a hamper in the corner for the house elves. Sitting at his desk, Draco began his homework, diligently reading a few chapters for Defence and writing a lengthy essay for Transfiguration.

Once he had finished Draco swung back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling with a pensive expression. He wondered what his extra potions lesson would be like with Ginny in the morning. He hadn't really been alone with her since they had slept together and he was interested in seeing how well his spell had turned out. Ginny had a very strong will and Draco knew that the only reason that she wasn't struggling against was that she wasn't aware of it. Draco also wanted to get her alone so that he could indulge in a little sex before breakfast. He couldn't think of a better way to start the day.

With a smile adorning his chiselled face, Draco got into bed and extinguished the light. Closing his eyes, he dreamt of his little red witch.