Luna felt sick. Really sick. So sick she had almost not eaten pudding. Harry and Draco had fought and Harry had used the unknown spell. According to gossip, the spell had caused wounds that looked like they had been inflicted by swords to appear all over Draco's body. She had believed Harry when he had said that he hadn't wanted to hurt Draco on purpose and that it had just all happened on impulse but it didn't stop her from worrying that the fine line she and Draco walked could be even closer to breaking. Since Katie had returned a few weeks earlier, Draco had been on edge. Luna had guessed it was something to do with the fact she couldn't remember who had cursed her. They had met only by chance and when they had, Luna had found that Draco was never really in the mood for answering her questions and the only thing she was capable of doing was calming him down enough to think rationally.

The atmosphere around the table was awkward. No-one really knew what to think about what had happened but the feeling that the war against Voldemort was getting more serious by the day was hovering heavily and even more so for Luna.

Excusing herself from where they had all been sat she headed on her quest to find Draco. After searching first the hospital wing then seventeen classrooms, two towers and twenty two corridors, it was Draco who found Luna. As their eyes met, Draco made a face of annoyance and turned to walk away from her at top speed. Luna scowled and scurried after him, her face set in concern and determination.

Right to the top of the astronomy tower.

'You just won't leave me alone, will you Lovegood?'

Luna joined him at the railings, looking down at the students enjoying the May sunshine.

'You should really still be in the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey was furious when she realised you'd gone.'

Draco sniggered. 'Well the old bat should have been paying more attention instead of getting students to run after her mistakes.'

Luna pouted indignantly, an expression she had only ever found herself using around Draco.

'I wasn't running after anyone. I just went to visit you at the hospital and you weren't there. So I went to find you.'

'Don't act like you care, Lovegood. I saw you fawning over Potter. Did you forget that it was him who attacked me?'

Draco slammed his hand against the railing, making Luna start, his eyes blazing.

'Of course everyone's up in arms when I insult Potter or that filthy mudblood but no-one gives a damn when Potter tries to kill me!' He took a breath to carry on speaking but Luna cut him short.

'Draco Malfoy, you listen to me right now!'

Draco swallowed his words and turned to look at Luna a slightly bemused look in his eyes.

'How can you say that people don't care about you? What about your Mother, you said she looked after you and wanted you near her. And Pansy came to visit you didn't she? And Snape, Harry said that Snape is on your side and he healed you didn't he?... and...'

In her moment of passion, Luna had forgotten herself. She hadn't noticed the ever shrinking distance between her and Draco, or the way her hands seemed to grip his upper arm of their own accord. It was only when she paused to meet his eyes that she realised how close they were and had to look away.

'But do you care about me?'

Draco's voice was almost a whisper and Luna felt her skin prickle at its tone. There was something menacing about it that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

She met his eyes so determinedly. It was as though she knew that she was facing a challenge.

'I think so.'

Draco seemed to consider her answer, sneering as he slowly leaned his face close to hers.

'Stupid girl.'

As she opened her mouth to reply, Draco closed the final gap. Luna's eyes flew wide open in shock, her breath completely taken away. The force of his kiss almost made her stumble but he caught her waist, holding her so tightly to him, the Ravenclaw voice in the back of her mind was wondering how she was still breathing. This of course was unconscious. Consciously Luna was wondering why she had never noticed Draco's hair was so soft as her fingers had somehow found themselves embedded in it and how much faster it would be possible for her heart to beat before it came flying out of her chest.

And then someone down below wolf whistled. In one panicked movement, Draco pulled Luna behind one of the pillars. Where there was clear fear in his eyes, in hers there was only calm.

'They won't have seen much, it's too tall. Don't be frightened.'

Luna tried to reassure Draco as he continued to look over his shoulder towards the gaping expanse of air. He was still gasping for breath although Luna innocently put it more down to the sudden shock than their previous activities.

Gently using her hand to turn his head back towards her, Luna smiled warmly.

'You don't have to worry, Draco.'

Thinking about it, she wasn't really sure what she meant by that but it calmed him and that was all that mattered.

Two hours later, the light was dying fast and Draco was sitting, Luna encased in his arms, whilst she traced the bright scars that scattered them. The feeling of her fingers on his skin soothed him and as they sat in silence he thought. He thought about how stupid he was being, about how he was going to kill Dumbledore, about what he would do if he didn't, about what his mother would do after losing both her sons and her husband, if Voldemort didn't kill her and about the girl sitting in front of him. As much as Draco tried to deny it, every thought came back to her.

Luna was aware of him studying her. She could feel his eyes as they traced her shoulders, her neck and just about every part of her body visible. It was fair, she thought, since she was studying him but that didn't make her feel any less uncomfortable.

As the last remaining light vanished, Luna got up to leave. Draco, quick as lightening gripped her hand.

'Sit back down, Luna.'

The use of her first name caught Luna off guard and she did as she was told.

'Alright, but I can't promise I'll stay awake.'

Draco nodded, his arms wrapping back around her.

Just as she had said, it was ten minutes before her head lolled against his shoulder and her breathing grew steady. Uncomfortable as he was, Draco smiled.

She was well and truly asleep.

I don't know what it was about this chapter but I love it. Apologies for the lateness, I'm trying to plough through all my last minute summer work!