AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! FF.NET IS REALLY GETTING ON MY
NERVES!!!! IT CUTS OUT ALMOST EVERYTHING!!!!! (On was one, she was supposed
to be capitalized, etc.)
Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed: haversnatch: Thanks. YAY!!! A NEW REVIEWER!!!!! PARTAE!!!!!! Lol. ^__^
And because I have nothing to talk about, here's Chapter 20. (Does anyone know how to do italics on ff.net?)
Chapter 20
Luna gasped for breath, her hands scrabbling feebly at her throat, as though an invisible hand clutched it. Her raking nails drew blood. her eyes rolled, and she thrashed about whimpering.
Minerva McGonagall lay on the floor, her eyes wide and staring. Her rapidly pulsing chest heaved with the effort of breathing. A low moan escaped her lips. "Nooooooooooooo.....please. Noooooooooo!"
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Luna screamed suddenly, throwing back her head. As if yanked by invisible puppet strings, her body bent into impossible angles, and she lifted off the floor. Her helpless heel drummed the carpet.
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Dumbledore fell to his knees on the carpet beside McGonagall, his hands holding her head still. He murmured soothingly to her, like she was a frightened animal.
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Luna couldn't breathe. Her chest constricted. When she felt as though she might explode, the pressure suddenly lifted. She struck the carpet with a dull thud, face-down. The darkness was gone.
Drawing a hand across a brow that was soaked with a clammy sweat, she drew a shaky breath. Her head ached. Hell, her chest hurt.
Draco dropped down beside her. "What happened?" He asked quietly, drawing her gently to her feet.
"I don't know." Luna was proud of how steady her voice was.
His eyes searched her. "Are you okay?"
Luna was tempted to complain about the fact that a potential for filling a D Cup without stuffing was likely gone after that fall, but she restrained herself.
~And I'm not talking about bra sizes. ~ Draco's wry voice in the back of her head made her chuckle. She hadn't meant to share that information, but since it was in the open, she had to play along.
~Wow. Most guys won't even know what a D Cup is. Do you work in women's lingerie or are you gay? ~
A rare smile filtered onto Draco's face. "Maybe both. Or maybe it was a bad childhood experience when Pansy and I watched Batman and then ran around her house singing while wearing her mom's stuffed bras and fluffy pink thongs....... ~
Luna burst out laughing. Draco was fighting to keep his face from splitting in two with his grin.
They suddenly became aware of Dumbledore and McGonagall looking at them like they were caged monkeys with rabies. That made them laugh harder.
The stern look disappeared from McGonagall's face. "I'm glad you two still have something to laugh about. But it's late, and you have classes tomorrow."
That killed their laughter instantly. Draco opened his mouth to protest.
McGonagall raised a hand and cut him off. "But, I suppose that since you two know what's going on, and you are linked, it may be best to give you a rest. You may take the day off tomorrow, but I expect you will be at the School Ball in two weeks time. Try and stay with large crowds whenever possible, and never go anywhere alone."
Luna smiled. "Thank you, Professor." School dance? What was the old fool talking about?
"Your welcome. Now off with you. Sleep in tomorrow, and I'll inform your teachers of the no-homework rule for the next few weeks. But there is a condition. You two will join either me, Professor Dumbledore or Professor Snape for lessons on controlling your link properly. Braele was a good teacher, and we should carry on her work. Now off with you. A murder scene is no place for you two."
Nodding, Draco and Luna stepped out the door onto the stairs.
McGonagall's voice floated after them. "Aren't you two taking the elevator?"
Draco looked at Luna. He looked so handsome, that she felt her heart explode into a roaring blaze of love, replacing cold emotion that she hid behind. A soft smile touched his lips as Luna replied. "No, I think we'll walk."
Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed: haversnatch: Thanks. YAY!!! A NEW REVIEWER!!!!! PARTAE!!!!!! Lol. ^__^
And because I have nothing to talk about, here's Chapter 20. (Does anyone know how to do italics on ff.net?)
Chapter 20
Luna gasped for breath, her hands scrabbling feebly at her throat, as though an invisible hand clutched it. Her raking nails drew blood. her eyes rolled, and she thrashed about whimpering.
Minerva McGonagall lay on the floor, her eyes wide and staring. Her rapidly pulsing chest heaved with the effort of breathing. A low moan escaped her lips. "Nooooooooooooo.....please. Noooooooooo!"
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Luna screamed suddenly, throwing back her head. As if yanked by invisible puppet strings, her body bent into impossible angles, and she lifted off the floor. Her helpless heel drummed the carpet.
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Dumbledore fell to his knees on the carpet beside McGonagall, his hands holding her head still. He murmured soothingly to her, like she was a frightened animal.
THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN. THE DARKNESS WAS CLOSING IN.
Luna couldn't breathe. Her chest constricted. When she felt as though she might explode, the pressure suddenly lifted. She struck the carpet with a dull thud, face-down. The darkness was gone.
Drawing a hand across a brow that was soaked with a clammy sweat, she drew a shaky breath. Her head ached. Hell, her chest hurt.
Draco dropped down beside her. "What happened?" He asked quietly, drawing her gently to her feet.
"I don't know." Luna was proud of how steady her voice was.
His eyes searched her. "Are you okay?"
Luna was tempted to complain about the fact that a potential for filling a D Cup without stuffing was likely gone after that fall, but she restrained herself.
~And I'm not talking about bra sizes. ~ Draco's wry voice in the back of her head made her chuckle. She hadn't meant to share that information, but since it was in the open, she had to play along.
~Wow. Most guys won't even know what a D Cup is. Do you work in women's lingerie or are you gay? ~
A rare smile filtered onto Draco's face. "Maybe both. Or maybe it was a bad childhood experience when Pansy and I watched Batman and then ran around her house singing while wearing her mom's stuffed bras and fluffy pink thongs....... ~
Luna burst out laughing. Draco was fighting to keep his face from splitting in two with his grin.
They suddenly became aware of Dumbledore and McGonagall looking at them like they were caged monkeys with rabies. That made them laugh harder.
The stern look disappeared from McGonagall's face. "I'm glad you two still have something to laugh about. But it's late, and you have classes tomorrow."
That killed their laughter instantly. Draco opened his mouth to protest.
McGonagall raised a hand and cut him off. "But, I suppose that since you two know what's going on, and you are linked, it may be best to give you a rest. You may take the day off tomorrow, but I expect you will be at the School Ball in two weeks time. Try and stay with large crowds whenever possible, and never go anywhere alone."
Luna smiled. "Thank you, Professor." School dance? What was the old fool talking about?
"Your welcome. Now off with you. Sleep in tomorrow, and I'll inform your teachers of the no-homework rule for the next few weeks. But there is a condition. You two will join either me, Professor Dumbledore or Professor Snape for lessons on controlling your link properly. Braele was a good teacher, and we should carry on her work. Now off with you. A murder scene is no place for you two."
Nodding, Draco and Luna stepped out the door onto the stairs.
McGonagall's voice floated after them. "Aren't you two taking the elevator?"
Draco looked at Luna. He looked so handsome, that she felt her heart explode into a roaring blaze of love, replacing cold emotion that she hid behind. A soft smile touched his lips as Luna replied. "No, I think we'll walk."
