Chapter Two – Dancing Melons

Luna Lovegood sat in the library, her straggly hair flashing as the sun shone through the window. She smiled at the boy next to her.

"See if you put something about the warlock who had too many cherries then you should get at least an E!"

Harry's gaze was a bit more caught up with Luna rather than his essay but he scribbled something down.

"Err...Luna…thanks for helping with my essay and stuff while Hermione's in the hospital wing. It's really kind of you."

"Oh I don't mind, it's nice to be compared to Hermione."

Harry looked surprised.

"Oh well I don't agree with her opinions and she is very narrow-minded, but it's nice because she's one of your best friends. I don't think anybody has ever considered me as a best friend."

Harry looked uncomftable. Luna always said odd things like that when everything was going fine. If he had to pick a fault with Luna, then that would probably be it.

"Err…right well now we're done I think I'll have an early night." He said, just as Draco Malfoy walked in. Luna nodded understandingly, presuming Harry didn't want to be around Malfoy and began to put Harry's things in his bag for him.

Draco watched Luna and Harry jealously. What was Loony doing with Potty? Why was she putting his things away? Malfoy glowered and sat down a few tables away to eavesdrop.

"So umm Luna would you like to come to Hogsmeade this weekend with me and Ron?"

She smiled. "Yes Harry, I'd like that."

Harry grinned, "Great, I'll meet you outside school on Saturday afternoon." He picked up his bag and left the library.

Malfoy got up and casually strutted (if it was possible to do both at the same time) over to Luna. He sat on the table. "You know…I need some help on an essay to," he said, surprising himself. Surely he wasn't jealous of Loony Lovegood and Potter spending time together? But when he had seen them together, they had looked happy.

Luna looked up. "Oh…hello Draco." She said dreamily, her melon shaped earrings swinging from her ears, dancing in the light.

"So what's up with you and Potter?"

Luna blinked. "Nothing we're friends. Hermione Granger is in the hospital wing because a house-elf bit her when she tried to give it galleons. So I'm helping Harry with his essays instead of her."

"Oh." He didn't look very happy about it. The table creaked with his weight.

"So did you say you wanted help with an essay?" Luna asked.

Malfoy got off the table and sat where Harry had been. "Yeah…" He rummaged in his bag and pulled out a piece of parchment and a fine eagle-feathered quill.

"Its for Snape…something about the properties of billywigs in potions and stuff…"

"Easy!" Luna said cheerfully. "Just put what I say – hang on."

She got up and went over to another part of the library, looking for billywigs books.

Malfoy fiddled with his quill. There was something about Loony after all. She was weird…or mad, yes that suited her better. Malfoy rather liked her new earrings, like watermelons, although her appearance was one matter. Then there were her beliefs in non-existent things like the crumply snail. Not to mention her low-opinion on the ministry and her fathers tatty magazine. But Luna was beautiful in her own odd way. She didn't ignore him. Infact she had even admitted to liking him. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all…

Before Malfoy had time to consider her anymore, she was back with a pile of blue covered books on billywigs and some potion or other.

"Here we go…now see this book? Well I'll read out the ingredients and you just write."

Malfoy nodded and poised his quill, ready to write.

Half an hour later they were done and a completed essay lay on the wooden table. Over all it had gone rather well, Malfoy was very pleased with his essay and Luna was happy because Malfoy had believed her when she told him about wrackspurts. Or so she thought – really he had just agreed with her so he didn't get roped into an argument about something that didn't exist.

"Thanks"

"That's ok. Well I'd better go, it's getting late and I need to get some things from my dorm before the other girls get there." Luna said standing up.

"Are you….sleeping in the common-room again?"

She nodded. Draco looked away uncomftably.

Luna stood up and turned to leave.

"Bye."

"No…Luna wait!" She turned to face him surprised.

"I…I…would you like to umm come to Hogsmeade with me?" He gabbled, blushing.

Luna's eyes went round.

"I'd love…" Her expression changed and the light in her eyes went out. "Sorry Draco, I already promised Harry."

"Sure. Fine. Whatever." He said, pretending he hadn't heard their conversation before.

"No, don't be like that." She paused then beamed. "We can all go together! Me, you, Ron and Harry."

"Tell me you're joking." Draco replied fearfully.

"No I'm not. Now come on, it'll be fun! You don't have to be ultra-friendly to them. Come on…for me?"

Malfoy sighed.

"Ok, ok you'd better go and tell them. See you Saturday."

He walked away quickly to put away the billywigs books and Luna left the library.

That week when Malfoy handed in his essay, he got an 'Outstanding' grade for the first time. The most Luna had ever received from Professor Snape was an Exceeds Expectations.