The Slytherin Common room had a cold feeling to it. The room was lighted with magic, for the fire torches gave out cold greenish light. The bare grey stone was in some sort of pattern. The common room was supposed to give a feeling of fanciness, and business. But to Draco it just felt plain cold. Draco was never fascinated by Salazar's design. He never found comfort in this place. He walked over to fire place. The magic fire changed its colors sometimes from green to blue, then to silver, and then back to green.

Draco took out sweets out of inner pocket of his robe. It was like ritual by now. Whenever his mother sends him sweets, which she would do almost everyday, he would throw them away. He got then ever since his first year. At first he liked them, but eventually he got annoyed. His mother didn't send sweets to him, because she cared, she sent them to him because it made them look rich, and like they cared about their child. The falsehood made Draco hate it. Hate every bit of it, but he couldn't get away from it. He was raised on falsehood.

He remembered seeing his father in his earlier years. It seemed to him, his father had so much power, he was so popular. Draco wanted to be just like him. And his father would tell him, how to use people, how to find their weak spot. Draco would listen, and fill his head with his father's words.

If you can't have it, make sure nobody would ever have it. Somehow those words rang through his mind. His father said them, when he was showing him the dungeons of their Castle. The devices of torture, still left from Dark Lord's time, were left there. His father would sell some of them. He tried to get rid of them for a profit. All of that stuff was illegal. And they got few close calls from Ministry, but Ministry is filled with too many fools, for them to proof anything.

'If you dishonor this family, you may find yourself being the one testing these,' his father threatened him pointing at torture devices. Draco shivered as he remembered. His father almost never yelled at him, or threatened him. Every abrupt words from him, were really real.

His mind almost erased it from his memory. His father was really mad, after his second year. Was it about Chamber of Secrets? As Draco came home from school, he was furious. Somehow he blamed Draco for his plan failing. For him almost being discovered, and losing his job. He could have been sent to Azkaban. Draco must have said something. Then the memories were dark in Draco's memory. He couldn't remember it clearly. He just felt pain. Was it something that he said that led it to these events? After that he never showed any attitude with his father. He feared him.

Draco watched as the sweets turned into ashes in the fire place. He told his thoughts, to stay away from his family. Draco wanted to fill this time with something. Certainly talking to Crabbe and Goyle wouldn't do it. They both were so dumb, it was a torture talking to them.

Two hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who?" Draco heard a snotty voice. Parkinson was the only one who did that to him. She tried so much to make him like her, that the effect was exactly the opposite. Draco was so annoyed with her. She was such a suck up. But it was easy to play with her feelings, and she was useful to Draco.

"Parkinson, I know it's you," Draco said. She let go of his head, and moved to seat next to him.

"Hello Draco."

"Afternoon Parkinson," he replied as usual.

"Didn't I tell you to call me Pancy?" Parkinson said. Draco waited for her to continue, she always did. "Can you help me with my DADA homework?"

Draco knew perfectly well, she didn't need any help with her homework. He could learn a few things from her. But that was the way she asked him for attention.

"Alright, what do you need help with?" Draco asked, as he headed for a desk in the corner of the common room, with Parkinson. It will get his mind off things.

The twilight filled the air, as Sun was ending today's journey across the sky. Few small waves were sent over the glass lake, by Hogwarts' castle. Forbidden forest was darkening, with its many mysteries, as Luna sat by the lake watching the squid. She listened to the soft wind, as it whistled by her, sending her hair in disorder. She heard footsteps. It was about time Harry would come. They didn't really talk anywhere else, but here. She turned around. Smile spread over her face.

"Oh hello Harry," she said smiling. Ever since last year they would come up here, in evenings and talk, nothing important, just what they believe in, their plans, their future. Harry sat next to her.

"Hey, Luna." Harry liked that smile. It brought warmness into his heart. Her eyes were always dreamy. Harry always wondered what she was keeping behind those closed gates into her soul. What was so wonderful that kept her away from reality?

"A mermaid was looking out of the lake, just few minutes ago," Luna said.

"I've seen them, in Three Wizard Tournament," Harry replied.

"Do you think they have a kingdom down there?"

"Yes, with its own castle, and statues, and people." Harry said. "Does Malfoy bother you?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Not really," Luna said. She didn't want to think of that brat.

"Don't let him push you around. He can be real bastard."

"Result of bad rising," Luna's eyes were watching the squid. Maybe I should give it a try, Harry thought.

"Would you like to go to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop with me?" Harry asked uncertainly. Luna looked at him, her eyes focused for once. She wasn't sure he was for real. She had a suspicion it was some sort of a prank. But it was worth trying.

"Sure." Harry smiled, as he heard the answer. Maybe he was really in love? How did this happen, how did he fall in love with Looney Lovegood? But she was the one who stood by him, when nobody else did. She comforted him, and he could rely on her.

Luna wasn't sure, if she liked Harry, or maybe she did. But it was worth finding out.

here, new improved chapter 4... review!