A/N: Please do take a look in my profile for the links to the pictures that Noona1 has done for this story.

Chapter 36

A Way To Cause Trouble

Life at Hogwarts drifted on in much the same vein as the first week of school. The first years settled down to life away from home, the professors settled down to life under Snape's ruling and the students settled down to life without half their friends and the familiar student body.

Luna sat and ate with Draco at the Slytherin table for meals, she had made friends with Pansy Parkinson and another Slytherin girl by the name of Astoria Greengrass who happened to be in some of her classes and eased her loneliness a little bit. It was nice to have girls to talk to, and Pansy Parkinson could definitely talk. Mostly however, Luna was with Draco, he didn't seem to want to let her out of his sight and that suited Luna right down to the ground. She missed him dreadfully when he wasn't near her. Draco's presence also ensured that Neville stayed as far away from her as possible. Luna really didn't want to get into another conversation with him at the moment, she felt it would be better for Neville, give him the chance to get over his feelings.

This morning she was sat at the Slytherin table between Draco and Pansy. Pansy had taken it upon herself to make Luna's right side her side, and scowled at anyone who attempted to take her place. At first, Luna had believed it to be some sort of ploy to get to Draco, after such an obvious display of affection towards Draco, Luna couldn't quite believe that Pansy had given him up. However, Luna very quickly came to see that this was indeed the case, Pansy was now going after Theodore Nott and throwing all her energy into her new project.

"I see," Luna said softly as soon she could get a word in, Pansy constantly talked.

"Hum. Do you think that we can have some sort of party for Halloween or Christmas this year? Now that the mud blood's have gone it could be quite the social event, with proper manners being adhered to. What do you think?" Pansy questioned, pausing to bite into her toast and spoon sugar into her tea.

"Well, I suppose it depends on what Professor Snape says doesn't it? But as you're a prefect, I don't suppose it would hurt for you to draw up some suggestions for him. Draco will present them to him at the next meeting, won't you, Draco?"

"Sure, if you want me to," Draco replied, he felt some sort of party would be quite fun and lift the depressing air off the school for a little while. "Are you coming with me to Quidditch practice?"

Luna shook her head, "No, I have some writing to do for your father." Luna had kept herself busy keeping to her promise to Draco and actively becoming involved in all aspects of Draco's life. She had spent some time speaking to Pansy, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe and Theodore Nott as well as Draco and tried to gain a new perspective on the war. She had also turned her own beliefs completely around in order to help her write articles for The Quibbler, and she was rather pleased with her efforts. Lucius had been too and sent her a letter full of praise for her work.

Ginny, Luna had discovered was less than pleased with her articles. Ginny had said nothing to her directly of course, but she had looked at her with such utter loathing that Luna knew that Ginny was aware of her articles. Lavender Brown had taken to making snide comments about her as well, and looked at her with an I -knew-there-was-something-wrong -with-her- expression.

"More articles?" Blaise questioned, he had been rather pleased at actually being quoted in the last article Luna wrote.

"Planning mostly, I have some more ideas that I have to develop."

"I'm sure that you'll write another smashing piece," Theodore Nott said, gazing at her over the rim of his goblet with deep set brown eyes. His voice was soft and encouraging, his eyes fixed on her face so intently that Luna felt uncomfortable. "A wife who is beautiful and smart, you're very lucky, Malfoy."

"I don't need you to tell me what I already know," Draco snapped, scowling at Nott. "I'm more than aware of Luna's capabilities."

Theo's eyes rested on Luna's lips for a moment and he smirked. "I'm sure that you are, Malfoy."

Draco's scowl deepened. "Be careful, Nott. Be very careful."

Luna shifted uneasily and dropped her hand to Draco's thigh, squeezing him reassuringly. She didn't want Draco getting into an argument with Nott or anyone else, he had other things to occupy him, such as ensuring he did a good job in helping to run the school.

So far, Draco had lived up to the task of head boy and kept the students in line. They all remembered him from the days of the Insquisitional Squad, and the fact that he was a Death Eater kept a lot of students wary of him and eager to be of some assistance to show that they weren't against him and the Dark Lord.

"Mrs Malfoy," Snape snapped suddenly looming up behind her. "Kindly tell Bellatrix to desist."

Luna gazed up at him confused. "Desist? What's she done?" Luna managed to restrain herself from adding "this time" on to the end of her sentence.

"You are aware that every piece of mail that goes in or out of this school has to be checked?" Luna nodded her agreement and Snape continued angrily, "It doesn't help matters when Bellatrix curses her letters, causing Mr Flich to burn himself very badly when he tries to open the letter to check it."

"I see," Luna said taking the bulky letter that Snape held out to her.

"The burns will take a long time to heal. Tell her to desist immediately," Snape demanded, pivoting on his heel and stalking off.

"Oh sure, she's going to listen to me," Luna muttered, eyeing the envelope curiously.

"He's having our mail checked?" Draco said angrily. "I don't believe it! I'll be speaking to father about this, I bet he doesn't know about it."

"Your getting mail from Bellatrix Lestrange?" Pansy asked in awe.

Luna nodded, "Why not? She's sort of my aunt by marriage."

Pansy shrugged in response, as she buttered herself more toast and attempted to look as though she wasn't interested in the letter one little bit. Luna also noted that Ginny, who was sitting opposite her at the Gryffindor table, scowled deeply, obviously she had overheard the conversation. Neville was sitting next to Ginny and looked positively aghast at hearing that she was receiving letters from Bellatrix.

Sighing, Luna opened her letter expecting some sort of long list of complaints about one thing or another, but discovered that her letter was rather short and the bulkiness of the envelope was due to the fact that Bellatrix had sent her swatches of fabric. Her forehead creasing in confusion, Luna read her letter. "Oh, Draco!" she exclaimed, her eyes moving swiftly over Bellatrix elegant writing. "We're having a Christmas Ball, did you know?"

"No I didn't. Father rarely deems it necessary to inform me of such things," he complained, taking the letter from her and reading it himself. It appeared that the Malfoy's and the Lestranges were throwing a Christmas Ball at Malfoy Manor to celebrate the Dark Lord's rise to power, and a New Year's Eve Dance to celebrate the New Year and new era of the wizarding world.

"It's so exciting," Luna touched the fabrics with shaking hands. "She's insisting I have a new dress made, even though I have loads I haven't worn yet back at home." Luna came to the conclusion that if Bellatrix was after her to make a decision on a dress in September ready for December then she must be really bored.

When Draco handed her the letter back, Luna continued to read and couldn't help feeling a little sorry for Bellatrix. She was confined to the house and was in reality, just as much a prisoner as she had been in Azkaban. Bellatrix wrote that everyone was in good health and her husband, his brother and Lucius were all involved in a highly important task concerning the Ministry. She told Luna that Wormtail was as irritating as he ever was and she questioned how Hogwarts was running.

Bellatrix was not the type of person to go in for idle chit-chat, but Luna realised that's what her letter was, and again she concluded that Bellatrix was bored and probably furious that she wasn't involved in the task as her husband was. Sighing softly, Luna tucked the letter and fabric away and decided to send her finished articles to Bellatrix to give her something to do other than plan a party. She would also, Luna thought, send Bellatrix a nice long letter, keeping her up to date with everything at school and let her know what Snape had said. Knowing Bellatrix the way that she did, Luna couldn't help smiling and wondering what she would do the next time she wrote. Bellatrix was bound to do something just because Snape told her not to.

Finishing her breakfast, Luna went with Draco back to their room so that he could collect his broom. "It's still really nice weather at the moment, best to get as much practice in as we can before the matches start," Draco said, retrieving his broom.

"Good idea. I think I'll go and sit out by the Black Lake to finish my planning. I have a charms essay to do as well."

Draco pouted, slipping an arm around her waist and drawing her closer to him. "Why can't you do that in the stands? I'll be able to keep an eye on you then. You know I don't like it when I can't see you."

She smiled, "I know you don't, but I won't get any work done whatsoever if I come with you. I'll just watch you all the time, you're very distracting you know, Draco."

He grinned wickedly. "Alright, but try not to take too long about it. I want you here when I get back."

"I'll be here," Luna promised, titling her head and accepting his kiss.

"Good girl." Draco kissed her once more and left for the Quidditch pitch.

Luna gathered her parchment, quills and charms text book into her bag and made her way to the Black Lake. It was still oddly warm for September, and the other students were also taking advantage of the nice weather sitting outdoors to do homework and chat, out from under the watchful eyes of the Carrow's.

Choosing a nice secluded spot where she could sit in the warm rays of the sun, Luna settled down against the truck of a large oak tree and picked up her charms text book. She had already started the homework the previous night, but then Draco had had other things on his mind and distracted her. Luna giggled to herself, she could indeed think of much more exciting things to be doing right now other than her charms work.

She had been scribbling away for a while, checking her facts and making notes and was so absorbed in her work that she didn't hear the crunching of feet over the dried twigs and leaves that littered the ground. She jumped and cried out in surprise when she was greeted with a quiet hello.

"Oh dear, Theo, you scared me," Luna admitted, placing her hand to her heart and gazing at Theodore Nott reprovingly.

"Please accept my sincere and abject apologise, Luna," Theo said, bowing theatrically. Luna laughed. "So, what are you writing? Must be interesting if you were so engrossed in it you didn't hear me coming."

"Not really, just my charms homework. I've nearly finished it now. You don't fancy playing Quidditch?"

"I'm not on the team. I don't feel the need to go and watch them practice," Theo sat down beside her. "I did go this time though," he whispered confidingly.

"Oh?" Luna glanced up at him. "What made you make the exception this time? Has something happened?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Theo responded, leaning back against the tree and squinting to look out across the lake.

Luna breathed a soft sigh of relief. "That's good. You had me worried there for a minute. I thought something might have happened to Draco."

Theo snorted. "Always about Malfoy for you, isn't it?"

She glanced up at him in surprise. "Of course, he's my husband."

"So?" He demanded, his dark eyes narrowing.

"I care about him. I worry about him. It's only natural, Theodore."

He smiled then, a dazzling smile that exposed even white teeth. "I like that. I really do."

Bending back over her book she asked, "You like what?"

"The way you say my name," he responded carelessly.

Luna shot a look up at him out of the corner of her eye. "I don't say it any differently than anyone else." He was starting to make her feel uncomfortable again, Theodore Nott had a knack of doing that, it was the way he looked at her sometimes, and the things he said. Somehow Luna always got the impression that there were hidden meanings in his words and looks.

"Perhaps it's just your voice in general. Or perhaps I just like hearing you say it," Theo offered casually, rubbing a hand across the growth of stubble along his jaw.

She cleared her throat and signed her essay with an unsteady hand and packed her book and parchment away. "Is everyone still at practice?"

"Oh yes, practice seemed to be in full swing when I left."

"Then why did you leave?"

"Because I discovered that you weren't planning on showing up," Theodore replied quietly, reaching out and touching a lock of hair that hung over her shoulder. "Do you know that your hair shines gold in the sun?"

Luna drew away from him. "Yes, Draco has told me that numerous times, although I don't think it's appropriate that you do the same."

He shrugged and gave her another dazzling smile, Luna could see why Pansy had set her sights on Theodore Nott, he was a good looking boy with a strong jaw, deep set brown eyes and dark hair that sat in perfectly formed spikes along his head. "It's alright, I already told you, they're all still at practice," he murmured, trailing his knuckles along her cheek.

"Stop doing that," she jerked back from him quickly as though he had burnt her. "I should be at practice with Draco, showing my support for my husband."

His smiled slipped and a frown creased his forehead. "Why? You don't like Quidditch. Why not stay here with me? I'm sure we could think of something to do," he promised, his hand cupping her cheek caressingly, moving down to her neck.

"Don't touch me, Theodore," Luna said angrily. "I'll tell, Draco."

"That threat begs the question as to exactly why you don't want me to touch you, doesn't it?" His thumb stroked her jaw, his eyes glittering as they dropped to her mouth.

"Because I don't like it." Luna stood up quickly, feeling safer now that she was on her own two feet. Picking her bag up she swung it over her shoulder. "I'm married to Draco. I like being married to Draco and I don't want anyone other than Draco touching me. Ever!" she added firmly.

Theodore's nostrils flared and anger glinted in his eyes. "Malfoy gets everything that he wants then? Including the beautiful wife?"

Luna frowned, and clutched tightly to the handle of her bag. "I don't remember you finding me so appealing before. Perhaps its only now that I'm married to Draco that I look so beautiful to you?" Luna didn't wait for his response, she turned and hurried away from him, a frightening prickling sensation running over her skin.

Theodore Nott disturbed her, and now Luna knew why. Draco had been right when he told her on the Hogwarts Express that he felt as if Zabini and Nott were watching him, waiting for him to mess up or waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble for him. Luna felt that was what Nott was doing, using her as a way to cause trouble.

Squaring her shoulders Luna picked up her pace as she hurried towards the Quidditch playing field, a sudden longing to see Draco surging through her body. She would tell Draco about Nott and share her suspicions, she would not allow Draco to fall into any trap laid by Theodore Nott!