Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! Jade Bear, The Dark Wanderer, and anonymous person! For everybody who's confuddled (confused) I labeled my chapters wrong. I don't count the disclaimer when I label them, so when ff.net says it's chapter 2, its chapter 1..

Chapter 9

Luna followed Draco and the short witch up the stairs. She was numb with shock. She had seen a man die, she had seen a murdered girl, she had seen Draco being tortured, and she had endured six hours of fear. She was done. Physically and emotionally. She was spent. She burned, she shivered. She loved, she feared. She wept, she smiled. She screamed, she whispered. She was calm, collected, frightened, but calm, on the surface. She was a screaming mania of emotions. She was raw and bleeding. She was going insane.

She loved Draco. The thought was a fleeting whisper, a glowing ember barely daring to cast its light. She had been in love before, of course, many times. She had crushes and blushed and giggled, and flirted (although she was terrible at it). But not like this. The glowing ember was warmth that heated her heart like a furnace. She loved Draco. But he could never know. He considered her a friend, Luna had read his emotions, and there was nothing there but potential for friends. She sighed. Maybe it was better she conceal her emotion, extinguish the ember. She didn't want to get carry away and ruin their friendship. The ember died out, and Luna choked back a sob.

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Draco heard Luna's choked sob. He whirled around so fast that he nearly knocked her off the stairs. He searched her face. It was lined with stress. She was beautiful. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her hair hung in front of her eyes. He wanted to reach out and touch it, stroke it, tell her he loved her. But he couldn't. Quickly he tapped into their mind link and sent a hasty message. ~You okay, Luna? ~

She looked up and met his eyes. ~Yes. I'm not. I am. Oh, damn it! I am. I'm just.so.so.spooked, I guess. ~

He held her gaze levelly. She dropped her eyes. Nodding he turned around. Draco resumed his climb, and he heard Luna behind him. She was lying. He had seen it in her eyes. Her breathing had quickened. Her pulse was pounding. She wasn't spooked, she was saddened.

The witch stopped and flung up her hand, catching Draco squarely in the chest. He grunted in surprise. He hadn't seen her stop.

"We are here."

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A really short chappie, but I feel like going and reading now. Write the next one later.

p.s. Holy shi...no...Cra...no...Poo! That's a short chapter! Huh! Oh well. Write more l8r.

Squirrel