CHAPTER 4- The Forbidden Forest

Houseofcorbierre, aw,thankyou dear :)

Charliesunshine, thankyou Dear :). I'll try, some of the chapters were already written so I would probably write a Luna pov in.. later chapters maybe? :)

Hails, aw, thankyou so much :)

Chibistella, thankyou for being the very first reviewer *hugs* :)

He was at the lake inside the Forbidden forest. It was quarter to five and he was secretly waiting for Luna to show up. He already calculated the timing of her schedule, from the moment she would enter the Great Hall, then to the moment she would visit the Forbidden Forest-doing Merlin knows what.

It took him a lot of observation but thankfully he succeeded in memorize them. Not that anybody has to know, he wouldn't want anybody to think he was stalking the school's loon. Well, he is actually, in some kind of term. But still, that would deeply wound his pride.

"Oh, hullo there Draco" On the outside, he acted like he was surprised by her presence, his back tensing for an additional effect. Little does she know, he was actually starting to slither his moves in his chess game.

He turned his head to look at Lovegood skipping her way towards him, a smile ever so present on her little face.

When she saw him, her eyes reverted to his', seeking for a reason as to why fate had led Draco Malfoy cross her path in such an ideal day. Inside his orbs, a small sight of playfulness illuminated in contrast from his surprised poise, they hinted that he was expecting her.

She bit her lower lip innocently, completely taken aback at the thought of him thinking about her.

Why would he anyway?

"Were you waiting for me?" she took a sit next to him. Her head tilted as her blonde hair were worn down, covering a portion of her face. She waited patiently for his reason, tucking herself inside her knees and her head within two folded arms.

"What are you talking about Lovegood? I didn't plan on seeing you" He almost grinned at her, but fought back and covered it with a sneer instead. Along his struggle, she placed her two calm eyes infront, connecting to the lake she was so accustomed with staring at.

"Everything will surely be alright, hum-yes" she said plainly, nodding after her words had been delivered. It sounded too focused that it looked as if she just pulled the answer from the deep shallows of the lake.

Well, truly, it did came from a deep root.

The encounter she had with Draco few days ago never had left her mind. His face, the inner workings of his mind had haunted her. Why does he look like he was trapped into something? Surely there was something hiding beneath that facade of his?

"What are you talking about?"

"Whatever you were thinking that day, it will be alright. I know you're expecting me here for a reason"

Draco stared at her, his thoughts about Lovegood were different from what he expected her to be. He thought she was weird and that her mind was always away from reality. Too clueless. Too imaginative to even care. When he was given the bet, he was having trouble with how he might actually have a decent conversation with her. But now, even with their very first 'normal' encounter, she had already proven him wrong. She is infact, smarter than how he had given her credit for, even if she didn't know him too well, she somehow sees way past his facade. And strangely, his mindset freaked out with the thought that she already knew he is about to use her.

"Wow that's smart of you, do you want a cookie for that?" he mumbled sarcastically, plainly annoyed with the fear and knowing that pumps annoyingly inside his veins. Unalarmed with the struggle that had just happened to him, she shrugged her shoulders with ease, her eyes moved back to stare deep inside his'.

"No, friends do not care for each other just because they need something." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. For her, it was simply the truth, he is a friend to her even if she isn't to his. And a friend to Luna means the world.

Draco let the words sink in. He never had felt like he was important to anybody, especially with someone who is not related to him. He thought everybody hated him and infact, wanted him killed. He was so used to people telling him to back off or to look at him like he wasn't worth looking at. When he was young, his father had already planted the mere idea of getting the utmost power from people if they would fear him. And that, he should be proud for having such privilege, such position over all wizards and witches. Unfortunately, he let himself believe that silly notion ever since he learned how to use his brain, and now, there is no use of changing anymore. People only wanted to believe in what the majority does. In fact, it is also hard to revert from everything you know and firmly grasp on.

"You know the muggle thing that shows moving pictures? My daddy made me watch some and there was this adaption of Alice in Wonderland. I am fond of the book so I was pleased to watch the mo- move? Ah, movie. And I just want to quote to you the line "It is better to be loved than to be feared" you know, it is true Draco. So you can stop pretending if you like. It is alot easier to live in this pretentious world when you finally accept yourself" Lovegood just has this habit of spurting such weird things, but strangely and a bit shockingly, he found out that if you would even take time to listen to her, she somewhat-makes sense.

Somehow, she sounded like that little whispering entity inside his thoughts. That little part in his brain which was too inferior than his arrogant and all his self righteous beliefs.

"It's not that easy as it sounds, Lovegood" He whispered, his face was in contrast as the complete blank sky.

Her wide, kind eyes seemed to smile at him, there's an intensity in them that would make you wonder what it would it be like to live inside Loony Lovegood's world.

"I believe that people would judge you in your different versions nonetheless, so why not choose the one who you really are instead? Wouldn't it be alot easier to cope with life when you curve away from what society expects you to be?-" Looking right at her, Draco accepted the notion that the loony bin he spends his days not minding about is quite something. She seems like a distant galaxy, somewhere-someone, one can get lost in without feeling dangered. She's just something comforting.

Just her warmth surrounding him, her creeping soul with his rotting ghost, solving the most important things in life.

"-Oh and well, you can call me Luna, I'm sure that's a start. And don't worry, I'm always here to remove the wrackspurts from your head Draco. Those things are ruining your handsome face" She stood up, offering her hand. A branch of nature itself, offering oxygen to a dying soul.

For a moment, he only stared at her offer. He knew that fate was testing him. It was the matter of letting her in or not, and they both knew that that was the exact moment when things would change.

Then, with his eyes slithering inside her bright ones, he placed his hesitant hand inside her welcoming one. Two fragile limbs forming one fragile, yet satisfying link.

"How can I trust you? Who knows, maybe you're only doing this for Potter" It was not as if he was actually doubting her. Merlin knows Luna Lovegood wasn't raised to be that type of person. It was just a turning table situation. If there was one thing he was proud of of himself, it was for being good at dodging bullets or backfiring all of the possible flames. If he doesn't want Lovegood to suspect him, he has to act innocent and look like the victim.

Lovegood raised her light eyebrow at him.

She understood him and the reason why he kept his guard, it was understandable to be untrusting with the world; especially with how he was raised. Yet, being Luna, she is determined to be one of his accomplices, a companion, an offering hand to hold his'.

Slowly as if testing the waters if it was rather warm for her or not, she stood on her tip toes, her head meeting half of his cheek "Silly Draco, I wouldn't want that. And even if Harry would plan such thing, I don't want to be a part of it. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt" and smiled chastely.

He gulped down, the end of his lips twitched, unease with the corrupted thoughts his mechanism blurted. Her unintentional flirt grated his mind. Inwardly, he thought of the fact that if she doesn't have a reputation of being a lunatic, or if she's not friends with Potter, he might have made a move on her a long time ago.

Luna Lovegood carries herself with an air of serenity, she seems like she's always floating. And that made her more attractive than it should.

He shook his head and regained his composture "Luna" he tested her name on his tongue, practicing it mentally. It was quite weird for him to say her name, as if a new enchantment being tested to operate a charm.

But it feels nice.

A powerful charm, that one.

Luna

Luna

He tried to ignore the sickening feeling that was building inside his stomach. His conscience, his little, fading foe, tells him that it was because of the bet. Here, an innocent witch is being the only person who sees him as a human being, and now, the realization that he is going to change was making feel-uneasy.

Does he still have to do this?

"I'm hungry, I hope they have some pudding" Luna- wait, since when did Luna became Luna to him? Well, rephrasing their surprisingly pleasant moment, it was since today actually. Without any further reassurance, she took his hand to hers and squeezed them "Don't think about anything too much, wrackspurts are very attracted to people who thinks deeply"

He didn't say anything, not trusting any word to go and expose his hidden agenda. But in his peripheral vision, the smoothened reflection of their intertwined hands shone upon the lake, mocking him.

"You're odd, but you're something, don't you know that?" he smoothed the back of her hand, grinning. His guilt trip has to wait.

"Hum" she just shrugged , seemingly unaware of his intense eyes boring onto the top of her head.

In his plan, in order not to get hurt, he must not fall for her.

Reviews are welcomed :)