Chapter Two: Normality

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Classes were now over for the day at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. Most students were either outside walking around, playing Quidditch or just sitting around in their common room, anything but doing homework.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were, like other Hogwarts students, just sitting in their common room talking. But unlike other students they weren't talking about rumors or things that happened that day. They were talking about things other people might find, well depressing. Although to find it depressing they would have to believe Harry first.

-

"Harry, there was nothing you could do to change what happened. This is what Voldemort wants; he wants you to think it's you fault and just give up. You can't let him win." Hermione was trying her hardest to coax Harry into accepting what has happened and move on.

"I know, Hermione, it's just going to take me a while to get past it. I don't think I'll ever get it out of my head that Sirius is gone."

Ron was just sitting in the oversized scarlet chair looking down at his knees; he didn't know what to say. Ron was never really good at speaking when someone was depressed or sad. When he did speak he always felt what he said was stupid or unhelpful. So now he was desperately trying to change the subject. "Do you know where Ginny was this morning? She wasn't at breakfast."

"Nope, sorry, mate. Maybe she's sick," Harry said.

"She looked fine yesterday," replied Ron.

"Well just ask her when she comes back."

-

Ginny Weasley was not sick. She was in the Hogwarts Library trying to work on a Potions report that was do the next day.

Ginny knocked her head down on the parchment she was writing on. "Luna, I can't finish this! It needs to be three feet and I only have three inches."

"You know Snape assigned it a week ago…"

"I know… I never got around to it," Ginny admitted.

"Just copy things out of the book and re-word them. It can't take that long." Luna was now twirling her hair with her wand while staring absentmindedly.

Ginny frowned. "You don't feel my pain."

"That's because I did it a few days ago. Not the day before it was due." Luna thought a moment then took off her butter beer necklace. "Here, take this, it might help you." Luna placed the necklace over Ginny's head.

Ginny fingered Luna's necklace that was now around her own neck. "Um, thanks, Luna."

Two seconds later Ginny knew exactly what to write. Now all she needed to do was figure out how to write it.

-

Draco Malfoy was sitting in the Slytherin Common Room staring at the wall in front of him. That's all he was doing. If you weren't a Slytherin, or if you didn't know Draco you might have thought this was a little odd. Maybe he was bored and didn't know what to do? If you were a Slytherin, which you aren't, you would know this was normal for Draco, as normal as it got. You would also know he did this right after he received a letter from his father; or as he called him, Lucius.

"Draco, I know this is normal for you but it's really creeping me out." Pansy Parkinson was sitting next to Draco with a worried look on her face. Most people thought of Pansy as the girl that always chased after Draco, the one that would do anything to please him. This was partly true. She used to throw herself at him all the time. Now that she was older, she grew up and learned she didn't love Draco that way. There was no doubt she loved him, but she wasn't in love with him.

"Well Pansy, you didn't see what was in the letter." Draco didn't blink an eye; he just kept staring at the wall.

Draco,

Don't plan on me staying in Azkaban for too long. The Dark Lord has a plan rising. I wont say what it is in the letter; it's not safe enough. Just be warned that the Winter Holidays aren't going to be too cheerful, for some that is. I will be requesting you to join the elite Death Eaters at dinner during the holidays where you will be told what your mission will be. Don't disappoint me, son.

Lucius

"If you showed me, maybe I could help you." Draco handed Pansy the letter. She read it about three times before she could grasp what it all meant.

"The Dark Lord has a plan rising? My parents didn't tell me anything about this in my letter. They just said that I would be coming home for the holidays where they would have a special Death Eater dinner."

"Is this support to make me feel happy and special knowing Lucius trust me enough to tell me this?"

"Sorry, I'm just surprised. How do you suppose he's going to get out of Azkaban?"

"No clue. I'm guessing he didn't tell me because it's too risky."

Pansy put her arm on Draco's back. "I am really sorry about this Draco. I just don't know what to say. Do you want to be part of all the other Death Eaters and the missions? What do you want to do?"

"It doesn't matter what I want. What Lucius says, I do. It's always been that way and it's not going to change any time soon. Lucius is the Dark Lords right had man. I can't do anything else and not be caught by the Dark Lord. I'm branded for life."

"Can't you talk to Narcissa? Maybe she can talk to your father about it."

"Mum is scared of Lucius, the last thing she would do is talk to him." Draco sighed. "I'm just going to take a walk. See you later."

-

Two hours later Ginny Weasley had finally finished her Potions report.

"Luna! Wake-up, I'm finished."

Luna slowly lifted her head. "That's why we all sing, Weasley is our king."

"Now I really don't want to know what you dreamt about." Ginny got up. "Let's go outside, and celebrate since I'm finally finished with that stupid report."

"When you say stupid report it makes it sound as if your report is stupid."

"No comment."

-

Harry, Ron and Hermione had left Gryffindor common room to go outside a get fresh air.

Hermione bit her lip and looked over at Harry as they were walking. "I know I probably shouldn't bring this up but, Harry, has your scar been hurting at all?"

"No, I would have mentioned it to you two."

"Well, that's what's been bothering me. Maybe Voldemort found something to stop the connection between you and him."

"Wouldn't that be a bad thing?" Ron paused for a second. "That's how he got Harry to think Sirius was in trouble."

"Not necessarily, if Voldemort stopped the connection so Harry couldn't see what he's up to then that would be a very good thing."

Harry sighed. "For now, let's just hope he's not up to anything."

Hermione looked a little worried. "I suppose."

Harry prayed that that was the end of the conversation. He had been wondering the same thing as Hermione. Why hadn't his scar been hurting? Harry knew Voldemort giving up was not an answer. But Harry also knew there was no way Voldemort could stop the connection between him and Harry for good. It was just that Harry right now didn't want to worry about it. For once in a very long time he just wanted to be normal.

Harry looked over to the other side of the hall. "Ron, if you wanted to ask Ginny where she was this morning, she's over there talking to Loon-a"

"Thanks mate." Ron turned over to look where Ginny and Luna were standing. "Ginny!"

Ginny rolled her eyes and walked over to Ron, "Yes? What do you want?"

"Why weren't you at breakfast today?"

"I slept in too late. And why does it matter to you?" asked Ginny.

"It matters to me because I'm your bother. Your roommates said that you weren't there when they woke-up."

"Well, they are crazy. Good bye." Ginny turned to walk away. But Hermione felt she had to have a say in this.

"Ginny, it's not save to walk around the Castle at night. I mean who knows what could be out there. If you had read Hogwarts, A History you would know all the dangers."

"I'm fully able to take care of myself, Hermione." This time Ginny and Luna actually walked away.

-

Draco Malfoy was now walking outside walking around in circles. Yes, circles, because that's all he felt he could do right now. Draco felt powerless for not understanding. Not understanding Lucius.

"Draco, don't you want power? Don't you want to be looked up on? That's what I have, boy. If you want it you're going to have to work for it. Work for the Dark Lord."

That is what his father said to him a year ago. Draco didn't understand it. His father wasn't powerful. He just did the dirty world for the Dark Lord. Draco wouldn't be powerful either. He would turn into a drone that would do whatever the Dark Lord wanted. Is that was Draco really wanted?

-

Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood were now outside the Castle and free from Ginny's brother.

"You know, it's not as if they even care. They feel that they have a right to have a say in what I do."

"Yeah… I agree."

"Are you even listening?"

Luna looked over at her. "Not really. But at least Harry didn't say anything. He probably likes you."

"I doubt it. He just sees me as Ron's little sister."

"He might see you as Ron's little sister but that doesn't mean he doesn't like you."

"Yeah, I guess. Who do you like, Luna?"

Luna's eyes got really dreamy. "Blaise Zabini."

"Luna! He's a Slytherin."

"So says the girl that slept outside with Draco Malfoy."

"I didn't sleep with him! And he was on a branch above me."

Luna tilted her head and thought for a minute. "So technically he slept on top of you?"

"This conversation is so over."

"Not fair! And with the Blaise thing, why does it matter if he's in Slytherin? I have the right to like anyone I want."

"I guess there's nothing wrong with it, it's just a little odd."

Ginny and Luna kept walking and talking till they found Draco having a little problem with the circle he was walking in.

"Damn it! Fucking little thing! Don't know what to do! Powerful my arse!" Draco was kicking the grass as he was walking causing there to be dirt all around him.

Ginny had to admit she was sort of scared, "Um… Malfoy, are you okay?"

"Okay? Okay? I'm bloody brilliant? Why would you think anything but that? And my name's not Malfoy it's Draco. D-r-a-c-o."

Luna whispered to Ginny, "I think he's a bit p-s-y-c-h-o."

"Yeah, and I think you're a bit loony." Draco had obviously heard her. "If I was as you say, psycho, would that be such a bad thing? Because personally I think normality is overrated. I mean really, what would this world be without its nut jobs? I think it would be pretty boring if you asked me." Draco now had sat down against a tee trunk.

"We didn't ask you." Luna smiled. "But I did find it very informative."

Ginny started to back away, "Umm… We're going now."

"But, Ginny, I want to here more of what Draco has to say."

Draco smirked. "Yeah, Ginny, Loony here wants to listen to me."

Ginny furrowed her brow. "You called me Ginny…"

"You call me Draco, I call you Ginny, I don't see anything wrong with that."

"I suppose there isn't, but what happened to all the poor Weasley jokes you used to always say? What happened with all the teasing?"

"They got boring. There are other things to tease about then money, Ginny." Draco smirked, "Unless that is, you miss them. Because if you do, I'd be more then happy to bring them back."

"No, I don't." Ginny turned and looked at Luna, "Umm… It's getting kind of cold and I have to go do some things so I'm going to go."

"Is one of those things stalking Potter?"

"No! And I thought you said you were finished with the teasing."

"I must have been going too fast for you, I said I wasn't going to tease you about your family." Draco put his hands behind his head, "Nowhere did I say I was going to stop with the Potter thing."

"Whatever, I'm going now." Ginny turned around and left.

"Umm… I'm going to follow her because, umm yeah." With that Luna ran to catch up with Ginny.

-

"You really should wait for me before you leave, Ginny."

"I'm sorry, Luna. It's just stupid Malfoy."

"Draco."

"I prefer Malfoy."

"I prefer Ferret, in the good way of course."

"I would prefer him dead."

"I'm not getting this, Ginny… What's so bad about Draco? I mean he was nice enough. You can't expect him to be a saint."

"What's with you and defending him?"

"Nothing, it's just I'm tired of people acting as if someone is worse then they really are."

Ginny smiled. "It's because of Blaise isn't it?"

"Maybe…"

"You should talk to him."

Luna smiled really big. "I did! He's taking me to Hogsmeade next weekend!"

"Wow, Luna! Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I don't know… I kept thinking it was too good to be true. But it's real!" Luna sighed. "I mean no one has ever liked me before. This is too strange. I guess it would be strange in a good way though."

"In a very good way."

"Now you have to find someone to go with! It could be like a double date. Maybe you could go with Draco."

Ginny laughed. "You're kidding, right?"

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At night I sit here and wonder. Was that normal? I guess I can fake normality; but am I normal? I'm okay; but am I normal? My life: is it normal? What is normal, anyway?