Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed:
Jade Bear: Thanks so much for the comments, I luv your story! I couldn't get on the site, though. Will try again later.
The Dark Wanderer: Thanks for reviewing! LOL! It's a small, small world!
Chapter 4
Like a long line of marching ants, the students in their black robes began the short walk from the grounds where the carriages dropped them off to the Great Hall. It was a clear night, and the moon shone its full light on the grounds, casting shadows and a ghostly ambience. The ground was firm with frozen mud, it had been a late rain followed by an early frost that week. Leaves of red, gold, and orange fell from the trees stirred by the night breeze that blew softly, whispering a secret.
Harry and Luna walked beside each other in silence, followed by Ron and Hermione, who were arguing as usual. Ginny and Neville were deep in a discussion about nothing, Herbology, most likely.
"I'm telling you, Ron," Hermione made no attempt to hide the worry that made her voice shrill; "we should try to avoid Malfoy completely, even comments. He's dangerous!"
"Oh, Hermione!" Ron sounded exasperated. "Why are you so afraid of a little bouncing ferret?"
Hermione shot a fearful glance over her shoulder at Draco who walked about twenty students behind them. He was wearing a thoughtful expression, yet he still managed to look evil. She shivered and lowered her voice. "He was ready to use one of the Unforgivable Curses, Ron, and all Rosella did was comment."
Harry, who had been half-listening, whipped around to face Hermione so fast that his glasses fell down his nose. He ignored them. "He what?!!" They had failed to mention that.
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Hermione's answer came out in a kind of squeak. "He was ready to use the Avada Kedavra Curse on Rosella, because she insulted his family or something." Harry's jaw dropped, and he stopped short. "That can't be right," he said uneasily. Behind them people began to yell about the hold-up and Draco stopped dead. His eyes met Harry's and Harry felt terror shoot him right down to the bone.
Luna grabbed his arm suddenly, spinning him around and dragging him down the hall. "Hurry up!" she snapped. "People are starting to stare! And it is right, Harry! The only reason Rosella's still alive is 'cause we walked in when he was halfway through the spell."
Harry stared at her horrified. "We need to tell someone!" he said, his mouth as dry as toast. "Dumbledore! Snape! Lupin! Moody! Anyone!"
Luna elbowed him sharply in the ribs. "We can't. No one will believe us. Can you hear yourself? 'Um, yes, Mr. Dumbledore, sir, um.......Malfoy just about killed Rosella..........yes, sir. St. Mungo's, sir? Yes, I'm sure I'm feeling alright..........' They'll probably just think you're trying to get him. Everyone knows you two hate each other."
Harry forced a laugh. "Alright, then. But I want you to pass the word around, tell the members of D.A. that they should be careful." His stomach roiled, and he felt weak and light-headed as he sat down hard on the bench lining the Gryffindor table.
Luna nodded, and with a goodbye nod, she swept over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting next to Cho Chang, who waved her into a seat. Luna was somewhat of a hero to the Ravenclaws after confronting Death Eaters the previous year, and while she wasn't really basking in the extra attention, she enjoyed it. Harry felt his stomach knot up when he saw Cho.
Gosh, but she was pretty. His vision of her was eclipsed by a passing student, and Harry glanced up briefly to see who it was and then looked away. His head whipped around suddenly when he saw who it was. Silvery hair hanging in his eyes, Draco strolled past the Gryffindor table. His expression was bored, and his eyes held nothing but utmost contempt. He walked with a cocky air, and no one who didn't know would have been able to guess that his family was disgraced. Draco seemed to keep the air of the Malfoys alive. Cocky, arrogant, and sarcastic tainted with hatred and maybe even evil; that was Draco's aura. And now he carried a new legacy. Fear. Harry could almost taste the fear of everyone around Draco, and he was shocked to see that his own hands were shaking. Ron had gone pale, and Hermione was intently studying her plate, sweating.
Luna watched him as one would watch a rabid beast in a cage. She studied him, brow creased into a frown, but he barely gave her a second glance as he sauntered past. He was basking in fear, and hell, did he enjoy it.
———————
Draco could almost taste the fear. He slowly drank it in. Good. Potter was afraid of him. He laughed inside, and deliberately slowed his walk to a slow swagger. He slipped his hand into his pocket and caressed his wand. This was power.
Draco's eyes stopped suddenly at the Ravenclaw table. There was one face that showed no fear, and she had seen everything. That Lovegood girl, what was her name-Luna?-stared back at him boldly, meeting his gaze. He smiled at her, a cocky grimace that made him look even more evil. She did nothing, merely smiled back, the bemused twist of her lips that made him smirk more broadly. That girl should have been in Gryffindor. Bravery. Or Slytherin. He wasn't quite sure why the thought struck him, but she seemed to suit it. He shrugged mentally. Why was he even bothering? He doubted he would see her again.
He realized with a sudden snap back to reality that he was at the Slytherin table, and coolly took a seat, ignoring the worshipping stares of the other Slytherin. He had no more need for them. Especially Crabbe and Goyle. And that cow Pansy. He shuddered at the thought of her. She was a simpering, empty-headed...—he smiled at the thought. If his mother were to hear him use that word he would be in trouble. Maybe she would wash his mouth out with soap and water again. The thought made him laugh. Almost. He was too hard for laughter. Too emotionless. Too cold. Or he tried to be.
Briefly he wondered about Luna. Of all the girls he had ever met, she seemed the most interesting-not annoying, simpering, or a "helpless damsel in distress", or a preppy pretty airhead with no brains, or a know-it-all.
Give me a friggin' break. The thought made him almost smile. He found himself thinking. Luna was quite pretty, if she paid some attention to her hair and...what the hell was he doing? Women did that to you. He shook his head. Draco smiled again. Almost.
———————
Luna watched Draco go by. He was clever, she could see how he had made it into Slytherin, and he was scary. Luna wasn't afraid of him, though. He seemed tough, but Luna was a very good judge of character, and she could see he was stressed. The way his eyes had the faintest lines around them. He was hurting. The tightness at the corner of his mouth told her as much. No, Luna was and never would be afraid of Draco Malfoy. She would admire him, he did have that air about him, but she could read him far too well to be afraid.
As far as she was concerned, he could have cast the spell despite the distraction. Rosella would have been dead. She very much doubted that anyone could have stopped him, even with six wizards and witches, new Prefects, added to the group. He had no fear of extra witnesses, Ron and Hermione would have been enough. And there were the other prefects that had been in the compartment. No, Draco had stopped because he had struck out in a blind rage and panic, and he had been shocked when he went so far as to attempt to take a life.
Luna was only half-listening to Dumbledore, and she found her eyes wandering over to the Slytherin table. To her shock, Draco was studying her intently. She tilled her head back and stared him in the eye raising an eyebrow. He raised one right back. No other students were watching them; they all had their full attention of Dumbledore. When her eyes returned to Draco, he was watching her with his coolly appraising silver gaze. She shrugged and grinned; he gave her a sardonic grin in reply and turned his attention back to Dumbledore. Luna dropped her eyes and her heart pounded. She was shocked at herself. She never got flustered, even when she liked someone, namely Harry, but........it didn't matter. She liked Harry, and that was that. She knew he liked Cho Chang, but maybe since she had another boyfriend now...........Luna could only hope. There was a nagging uncertainty in the back of her mind, though. What if Drac-HARRY already had a girlfriend? Luna squashed the thought. She had been thinking about Harry. Not Draco. Harry. She took a long drink of pumpkin juice. This was freaky.
Across the Great Hall, a pair of liquid amber eyes watched their exchanged glances. A small mental note was tucked away, and the watcher smiled. She had work to do now; all she had to do was lay her trap.
Love, after all, was an emotion created to be toyed with. Especially when it was refused and unacknowledged.
Overhead, the moon watched, bathing Hogwarts in its protective light.
Jade Bear: Thanks so much for the comments, I luv your story! I couldn't get on the site, though. Will try again later.
The Dark Wanderer: Thanks for reviewing! LOL! It's a small, small world!
Chapter 4
Like a long line of marching ants, the students in their black robes began the short walk from the grounds where the carriages dropped them off to the Great Hall. It was a clear night, and the moon shone its full light on the grounds, casting shadows and a ghostly ambience. The ground was firm with frozen mud, it had been a late rain followed by an early frost that week. Leaves of red, gold, and orange fell from the trees stirred by the night breeze that blew softly, whispering a secret.
Harry and Luna walked beside each other in silence, followed by Ron and Hermione, who were arguing as usual. Ginny and Neville were deep in a discussion about nothing, Herbology, most likely.
"I'm telling you, Ron," Hermione made no attempt to hide the worry that made her voice shrill; "we should try to avoid Malfoy completely, even comments. He's dangerous!"
"Oh, Hermione!" Ron sounded exasperated. "Why are you so afraid of a little bouncing ferret?"
Hermione shot a fearful glance over her shoulder at Draco who walked about twenty students behind them. He was wearing a thoughtful expression, yet he still managed to look evil. She shivered and lowered her voice. "He was ready to use one of the Unforgivable Curses, Ron, and all Rosella did was comment."
Harry, who had been half-listening, whipped around to face Hermione so fast that his glasses fell down his nose. He ignored them. "He what?!!" They had failed to mention that.
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Hermione's answer came out in a kind of squeak. "He was ready to use the Avada Kedavra Curse on Rosella, because she insulted his family or something." Harry's jaw dropped, and he stopped short. "That can't be right," he said uneasily. Behind them people began to yell about the hold-up and Draco stopped dead. His eyes met Harry's and Harry felt terror shoot him right down to the bone.
Luna grabbed his arm suddenly, spinning him around and dragging him down the hall. "Hurry up!" she snapped. "People are starting to stare! And it is right, Harry! The only reason Rosella's still alive is 'cause we walked in when he was halfway through the spell."
Harry stared at her horrified. "We need to tell someone!" he said, his mouth as dry as toast. "Dumbledore! Snape! Lupin! Moody! Anyone!"
Luna elbowed him sharply in the ribs. "We can't. No one will believe us. Can you hear yourself? 'Um, yes, Mr. Dumbledore, sir, um.......Malfoy just about killed Rosella..........yes, sir. St. Mungo's, sir? Yes, I'm sure I'm feeling alright..........' They'll probably just think you're trying to get him. Everyone knows you two hate each other."
Harry forced a laugh. "Alright, then. But I want you to pass the word around, tell the members of D.A. that they should be careful." His stomach roiled, and he felt weak and light-headed as he sat down hard on the bench lining the Gryffindor table.
Luna nodded, and with a goodbye nod, she swept over to the Ravenclaw table, sitting next to Cho Chang, who waved her into a seat. Luna was somewhat of a hero to the Ravenclaws after confronting Death Eaters the previous year, and while she wasn't really basking in the extra attention, she enjoyed it. Harry felt his stomach knot up when he saw Cho.
Gosh, but she was pretty. His vision of her was eclipsed by a passing student, and Harry glanced up briefly to see who it was and then looked away. His head whipped around suddenly when he saw who it was. Silvery hair hanging in his eyes, Draco strolled past the Gryffindor table. His expression was bored, and his eyes held nothing but utmost contempt. He walked with a cocky air, and no one who didn't know would have been able to guess that his family was disgraced. Draco seemed to keep the air of the Malfoys alive. Cocky, arrogant, and sarcastic tainted with hatred and maybe even evil; that was Draco's aura. And now he carried a new legacy. Fear. Harry could almost taste the fear of everyone around Draco, and he was shocked to see that his own hands were shaking. Ron had gone pale, and Hermione was intently studying her plate, sweating.
Luna watched him as one would watch a rabid beast in a cage. She studied him, brow creased into a frown, but he barely gave her a second glance as he sauntered past. He was basking in fear, and hell, did he enjoy it.
———————
Draco could almost taste the fear. He slowly drank it in. Good. Potter was afraid of him. He laughed inside, and deliberately slowed his walk to a slow swagger. He slipped his hand into his pocket and caressed his wand. This was power.
Draco's eyes stopped suddenly at the Ravenclaw table. There was one face that showed no fear, and she had seen everything. That Lovegood girl, what was her name-Luna?-stared back at him boldly, meeting his gaze. He smiled at her, a cocky grimace that made him look even more evil. She did nothing, merely smiled back, the bemused twist of her lips that made him smirk more broadly. That girl should have been in Gryffindor. Bravery. Or Slytherin. He wasn't quite sure why the thought struck him, but she seemed to suit it. He shrugged mentally. Why was he even bothering? He doubted he would see her again.
He realized with a sudden snap back to reality that he was at the Slytherin table, and coolly took a seat, ignoring the worshipping stares of the other Slytherin. He had no more need for them. Especially Crabbe and Goyle. And that cow Pansy. He shuddered at the thought of her. She was a simpering, empty-headed...—he smiled at the thought. If his mother were to hear him use that word he would be in trouble. Maybe she would wash his mouth out with soap and water again. The thought made him laugh. Almost. He was too hard for laughter. Too emotionless. Too cold. Or he tried to be.
Briefly he wondered about Luna. Of all the girls he had ever met, she seemed the most interesting-not annoying, simpering, or a "helpless damsel in distress", or a preppy pretty airhead with no brains, or a know-it-all.
Give me a friggin' break. The thought made him almost smile. He found himself thinking. Luna was quite pretty, if she paid some attention to her hair and...what the hell was he doing? Women did that to you. He shook his head. Draco smiled again. Almost.
———————
Luna watched Draco go by. He was clever, she could see how he had made it into Slytherin, and he was scary. Luna wasn't afraid of him, though. He seemed tough, but Luna was a very good judge of character, and she could see he was stressed. The way his eyes had the faintest lines around them. He was hurting. The tightness at the corner of his mouth told her as much. No, Luna was and never would be afraid of Draco Malfoy. She would admire him, he did have that air about him, but she could read him far too well to be afraid.
As far as she was concerned, he could have cast the spell despite the distraction. Rosella would have been dead. She very much doubted that anyone could have stopped him, even with six wizards and witches, new Prefects, added to the group. He had no fear of extra witnesses, Ron and Hermione would have been enough. And there were the other prefects that had been in the compartment. No, Draco had stopped because he had struck out in a blind rage and panic, and he had been shocked when he went so far as to attempt to take a life.
Luna was only half-listening to Dumbledore, and she found her eyes wandering over to the Slytherin table. To her shock, Draco was studying her intently. She tilled her head back and stared him in the eye raising an eyebrow. He raised one right back. No other students were watching them; they all had their full attention of Dumbledore. When her eyes returned to Draco, he was watching her with his coolly appraising silver gaze. She shrugged and grinned; he gave her a sardonic grin in reply and turned his attention back to Dumbledore. Luna dropped her eyes and her heart pounded. She was shocked at herself. She never got flustered, even when she liked someone, namely Harry, but........it didn't matter. She liked Harry, and that was that. She knew he liked Cho Chang, but maybe since she had another boyfriend now...........Luna could only hope. There was a nagging uncertainty in the back of her mind, though. What if Drac-HARRY already had a girlfriend? Luna squashed the thought. She had been thinking about Harry. Not Draco. Harry. She took a long drink of pumpkin juice. This was freaky.
Across the Great Hall, a pair of liquid amber eyes watched their exchanged glances. A small mental note was tucked away, and the watcher smiled. She had work to do now; all she had to do was lay her trap.
Love, after all, was an emotion created to be toyed with. Especially when it was refused and unacknowledged.
Overhead, the moon watched, bathing Hogwarts in its protective light.
