Chapter Five – Wisteriafish and House-Elf Bites

Luna walked slowly towards the lake, feeling rather strange. She wasn't quite sure if she was doing the right thing. Of course she still liked Malfoy but if he liked Cho Chang then there was no hope for Luna.

Luna saw Harry sitting by the lake, looking from side to side in an eager manner and Luna knew she couldn't hide.

"Hello Harry."

"Oh, Luna hi!" Harry said standing up and messing his hair up as he ran a hand through it. Luna smiled. There was an awkward silence for a moment then Harry broke it.

"I umm…Luna I like you…"

"I know." Luna said serenely.

Harry looked a bit lost for words, he fidgeted then said,

"So umm how would you like to go out on a proper date?"

Draco Malfoy flew above the lake on his broomstick. He was determined to spy on Harry and Luna and it looked like he had found them. Smirking as he saw the two figures, he flew a bit lower until he was in a good position to eavesdrop on them.

"What about Madam Puddifoots?"

"No, I hate that place…it's all pink and girly. I can't imagine a boy enjoying themselves there. It's a bit crowded at weekends anyway…"

"Good because I hate it too…"

"Don't say that just to please me! I'll go if you like Harry…."

"No honestly, I went there with Cho once…" he stopped and Malfoy raised his eyebrow and lifted his hand to scratch his ear.

"Yes I heard Cho talking about it in the common-room."

There was an awkward silence between the two, until Harry leant over and kissed Luna.

Malfoy was so surprised that he fell off his broom. There was a loud splash as his body hit the water, and Luna jumped.

"Who's there? Harry I think someone fell into the lake!"

"I heard…come on." Harry said worriedly, and he took Luna's hand as they stood up.

"Lumos" Luna said and her wand in her other hand lit up.

"Good thinking…any sign of…anyone?"

She peered into the murky water and saw the flash of a green tail.

"Harry!"

He turned to look.

"Its probably one of the mer-people."

"Or it might be a wisteriafish!"

"Err yes Luna, it could be…" Harry lied as he raised his own newly lit wand.

"A broomstick!"

"Where?"

"There, someone must have been flying over the lake!" she replied, pointing to a broomstick in the water.

"Luna, stay here I'll go in and look for whoever's in there."

"No Harry, I'll go. I don't feel the cold that much…I often come for a swim in the lake at night."

Harry hesitated, "Well ok, I suppose it would be quicker…but I'm coming in if anything happens!"

Luna pulled off her Ravenclaw robes and jumped into the lake, in her normal clothes that she wore underneath her robes. At first the water was icy cold, but Luna soon got used to it as she swam over to the broomstick.

Luna grabbed hold of the broom handle and in the light of Harry's wand she managed to make out the silver lettering on the side.

"Property of Draco Malfoy." She read, "Harry its Malfoy, he's in the lake!"

Harry looked slightly relieved.

"Great…I mean umm have you seen the body yet?"

"No, I'm still looking."

Luna swam a bit further until she felt a cold hand on her shoulder.

"Luna…help me." a voice croaked in desperation. Luna quickly grabbed the hand and tugged the body after her as she swam back to Harry.

She dragged the body onto the wet grass and took a few long breaths.

"Is it him?"

Harry knelt down and raised his wand over the body. "Yeah it is Malfoy, lets get him to the hospital wing." He said, pocketing his wand.

Luna stood up shivering in her soaking wet clothes and picked up her robes.

Harry poked Malfoy.

"You ok?"

Not getting a reply, Harry lifted the body over his shoulder and headed to the hospital wing, closely followed by Luna.

A drop of water fell from Luna's straggly blonde locks, landing on the scrubbed hospital wing floor. She was sat in a chair next to Draco's bed, watching Harry pace up and down the room. Draco was sleeping and Madam Pomfrey was in the middle of making a potion for him.

Luna also noticed Hermione in the bed next to Draco's, watching interestedly.

"How's the bite?" Luna asked, trying to make conversation.

"Well house-elf bites do quite a lot of damage actually, that's why I'm still here. The bite marks are still visible on my hand and Madam Pomfrey said it might hurt for a long time. I read a book about it once..."

Luna stopped listening and stared at Malfoy worriedly.

Why had he been flying over the lake that particular night? Had he been spying on them? She wouldn't have put it past Draco……

"Are you ok Luna? You should go and change, you're soaked!"

Luna looked up to see Harry leaning on the back of her chair.

"I'm fine, Harry we need to talk…"

Harry blinked. "If you say so…ok out here?"

He walked over to the door and held it open. Luna took one last look at Draco and followed Harry out of the hospital wing.

Luna glanced around the boring corridor and then said,

"Ok Harry, the thing is me and Malfoy…"

He looked at her expectantly. "Look I can't lie, and I'm not going to. I like Draco…Malfoy as you call him."

Harry's face fell.

"More than friends?"

"Well he likes Cho Chang but I can't be with you, knowing I like him, it isn't fair."

"You prefer Draco Malfoy to me?" Harry said and Luna could hear the anger in his voice.

"No…I...yes…I don't know! I like you as a friend Harry but I like Malfoy in a different way."

"Luna, I love you!"

"You'll live without me Harry. You'll be fine."

"Luna, why did you do it? I thought you liked me and now you're saying…"

"I didn't do it on purpose Harry. I can't change my heart however much I'd like to. At one point or another all feelings are unwanted. But Draco is ok once you get to know him. We've talked and I think…"

"Oh so it's Draco now is it? Well go and be with darling Draco because I don't want to be anywhere near you at the moment!" Harry yelled.

Luna stepped closer to him and took his hand in hers.

"Calm down Harry, it's not the end of the world. There are plenty of other girls who like you."

"But I don't want them!"

"Harry you're making this very difficult, now please stop."

He looked surprised.

"I still want to be friends…if you will?" she said hopefully.

Silence.

"Sorry Harry." Luna whispered in his ear. She kissed him on the cheek and went back into the hospital wing, leaving a devastated Harry behind.