Chapter 8- Curiosity Helps

I'm not sure about the day Ron Weasley tried out for the team. Do forgive me if I'm wrong :(.
Oh and I made a mistake :( This past few chapters, Luna seem to blink alot and that was very ooc of her. Starting to this chapter, I'll try to lessen it :).

PS: thankyou Charmsparks11833 for telling me that there were some grammatical errors in this chapter. I sort of had this habit of updating chapters without checking them, haha, too excited with having reviews XD So I kind of fixed and added words in here.

It has been a week and each passing day, the Ravenclaw and Slytherin happen to always be in the exact location as the other-

Well bullocks, they are always seen to be glancing at each other, casting longing looks every now and then.

Harry casts a suspicion in this endeavor and if he just did, he is sure that Hermione had calculated everything.

Yes, she already did.

Ever since Harry told her about the incident with Luna and Draco, she knew that there might be something going on. Sometimes, even if Luna is her friend, she is bewildered with the way the ferret doesn't have the guts to tease the-well, peculiar girl. At first, she thought that it was because Luna was a pureblood. But, even the Weasleys were pureblooded people, weren't they? And it is no secret that the Lovegoods do not meddle in the pureblood legacy and all that rubbish..

Again, Harry has been thinking a lot too. That is not an odd case to him, but this time, it is not because of the dark lord, or Cho, or Quidditch, but it was all about his good friend Luna Lovegood. Sweet little Luna is like a sister to him. So even if he tried to stop thinking about it, something inside him feels like the ferret would do something that will enormously hurt Luna, and he doesn't want that.

Luna was there for him when nobody ever did, and 'til now, she is still on his side believing in him. She also treats him as if he was just an ordinary guy. She is the light and happiness in his life and even if she isn't classified as his sister, she is a family member he always wanted to have. Sure she can really be annoying at times because of her beliefs, but then, she stood as the group's light. The girl deserves so much better than that sadistic pureblooded ferret.

"Luna, I heard you and Malfoy- well, you and him are... friends" Hermione asked rather abruptly in one lazy monday of September. With the sudden curiosity that did not go unnoticed by Luna, the three friends-including Harry, stopped their strolling.

"Yes we are" Luna said as if it wasn't much of a surprise. To her, Hermione's question felt like it has something to do with the tension between Harry and Draco, but she did not mind. It is kind of sad though, to be stuck between two people she holds dear-yes, Draco is already a part of her life, even if he doesn't realize it yet.

Truth to be told, Hermione wishes that Luna would somehow, wake her up from this strange dream. A really exhausting dream. She tried to shrug the thought off of her head, but since this is Luna they are talking about, everything about her seems to be a surprise. "Luna, what were you thinking? This is Malfoy we're talking about!" Harry's voice kept them from progressing to their walk, as if all the energy fir the walking was cultivated for that one accusation. It was strange to see Harry so mad and well, hurt. But she can't blame him for having feelings, especially when he was just concerned about his friend.

Although, Luna is also her friend. She might've agreed with Harry, but Luna is probably the nicest person she would ever meet and even the most non-judgemental person who could ever live.

She tilted her head at him and gave her best scolding look that tells him to stop. But unfortunately, he only glanced blankly and continued.

"Luna, he is the bad guy remember? He is a Malfoy! Do you think he might actually like you without a plan in mind?" He started using with his hand gestures now. And Harry with ranging hands are not a good sign. She can't believe he would cross that line. His words are true, yes, but if she was Luna, she might've slapped Harry for hinting she's gullibly stupid. Because she knows what she's doing. But instead, Luna was standing straight without any emotions on her face. And to Hermione, it was more intimidating and more horrifying than any kind of anger.

"You don't know him, Harry" Luna shrugged her shoulders and even though she was completely in control, there was something inside her eyes that Hermione cannot seem to name. Surely she must've read it from somewhere? A psychological release when you try to contain such emotion in? But no matter how many times she tried to scan her brain, there was nothing she can point out when it comes to Luna Lovegood.

"I know what he is capable of Luna! For all we know he has this dark mission to- I don't know? Manipulate you to join his side and betray us? Or maybe he wants to use you?" Harry asks, the gentleness of her tone made him relax as if he had just realize that he was talking to Luna Lovegood.

Luna was silent for a moment. Her lips twitched a bit as if trying her hardest to gain her control. They knew that even if Luna is a very patient person, she has her share of times when she stands up for herself, she is very passionate with the things she believes in. When those are being attacked, the mellow Ravenclaw would stick her toes to the ground, furiously defend them as if her own life depends on proving her claim. Hermione can't help but to like the Luna that would always bicker with her about everything.

Just when she was about to open her mouth, to break whatever that is boiling, someone interrupted her."I'm surprised you're doubting Luna's loyalty to you, Potter" Hermione had to blink just to see clearly. She doesn't know when did the Slytherin walked straight to their spot but Draco Malfoy is standing infront of them- with a confident sneer on his pointed face, and with eyes sending daggers at Harry. "Luna is not your house elf, so you might as well stop telling her what she should do" Draco Malfoy grabbed Luna's wrist rather harshly as the dazed girl's eyes went larger than before.

"Sod off Malfoy" Harry warned Draco

Hermione doesn't know where she would put her foot on. She is with Harry through everything, but right at this moment, even if she hates to admit it, Draco Malfoy was right. She understands that Harry just wanted to protect Luna from being hurt, but then, she knows that Luna has a free will to choose, and well, besides, who are they to judge her if Luna doesn't even judge them?

"Harry, let Luna and Malfoy be" She wasn't so sure of her decision but she knows how confident and loyal Luna is. Besides, Luna never did ever brought them down

She watches closely to her right then to her left. It was already ten o clock and everybody was supposed to be in their dormitories, but Hermione Granger forgot about that. She spent her hours researching for probably the best answer for her Potions homework that she forgot what time it was. And with her luck, the Forbidden Forest was most likely, darker and a bit creepier when it comes to night time.

"Watch out!" She turned her head alarmly to her left, she thought she heard a faint voice out there. Frowning, her thoughts question as to who that might be, and with spending so many years with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, the thrill of finding new information and feeding her curiosity were tempting. So when she asked herself if she would follow the voice, Harry's voice in her head shouted a big yes.

And follow she did. She made her way towards the lake as her adrenaline rush began to take her body's control. Her eyes, slowly and surely, scanned the whole lake as if looking for something. She found herself whispering 'idiot' everytime she would almost trip herself with her other foot. Somehow, in the middle of everything, and similar looking trees, she thinks that she should just quit.

A minute of wandering and researching, she found herself tired with what she wanted to look for. So she turned her back and rolled her eyes to herself.

"We've been looking all over the place and we've been lucky enough not to get killed! Can we get out here now?" She gasped inwardly when she heard a familiar, yet, annoying voice. It belonged to Draco Malfoy. She turned around to look pass the bushes to where he is and was actually surprised to see him standing inside the lake with only his boxers on and Luna beside him with- why is she only with her bra and knickers?

She stared unblinking at the couple. Clearly, both of them were enjoying this little scene they chose to be a part of. To Luna's part, she obviously doesn't have a clue that Draco is ogling her. Not just her but 'on' her, well, everything. "Not yet. I'm pretty sure the giant squid would be here soon. You can go now, it's perfectly alright" Luna moved through the calm water, her back was facing his.

She started moved away from him, her head turning left and right like a heartbeat, searching for the squid. He stared dumbly at her back, his eyes rolled and a groan escaped his throat.

"Are you stupid? I won't allow you to wander here alone with your clothes-" he grabbed her wrist and turned her to face him, causing quite a commotion to the calm lake. For a moment, Hermione seem to feel her face almost smile with how Draco Malfoy seemed to be pleasant with her friend. Luna's smile grew bigger on her face, the light in her eyes spreading to those lips, and Draco returned it, with a smirk on his

"-or the lack of it" his eyes fell to her body, scanning her figure with intense eyes that made Hermione squirm in uneasiness. Then, his eyes fell on her lips. Hermione is certain that she could feel their intense heat that they surround to the lake. It was actually magical. It seems like she was watching one of those classy starcrossed move stories from her television set. She watches as Draco leaned a little bit gently to Luna's forehead and her heart began to pump in excitement to the scene infront of her.

She watches with wide eyes as the couple moved closer to each other, their eyes familiarizing the other's constellations and galaxy, both of them were certainly unsure of what the other might do. Hermione saw the shyness and innocence from Luna's disposition and Draco was strangely, gentle and soothing towards Luna. He watches her every move, hypnotized by the river nymph standing so close to him. Slowly, she closed her eyes. There's something that changed in the ferret's cold orbs-they grew soft, pure- deep. He laid stunned with his forehead touching the other's.

Finally, without opening her galaxies, Luna made the final move.

Hermione can see why Draco was afraid to kiss Luna, and she can't believe that there is actually friendship and coziness on their part. Not only that..

His dark mark was present and bright against his pale, pristine skin.

Suddenly, she feels like her heart was touched by millions of undescribable feelings of guilt. She knows that Luna knew about Draco Malfoy and yet, here Luna was, kissing him innocently as if he is the most beautiful man in the world. She hates the way she doubted them, and she hated the way she thought that they were only using each other.

There was something innocent with them that Hermione cannot put her finger on. Something about Draco Malfoy had changed tonight.

He finally closed his eyes, his arms snaking around Luna's back- tightly, relieved.

Maybe, Luna's friendship with Draco Malfoy wasn't as bad as they thought it would be.

She turned away with so many things in mind. And one thing for sure, she has to discuss Luna's growing friendship with their enemy with Harry and maybe, knock some sense out of him.