The common room was just as usual lighted bright with green and silver. Draco sighed. What is up with me lately? Why do I feel like all the colors fade? The common room seems to be so dull and dark, when it's lit bright by so many green and silver fires. It seems to be impossible to do homework in this darkness. Draco stood up and done something he never done before. He went to study in the library. He walked out of dungeons, as bright sunlight hit his eyes, blinding him for few seconds. As he saw warm brown walls, instead of cold stone, hopes lifted up inside him. For what? Nothing happened yet, and he wasn't looking forward to anything.

Out of corner of his eye he saw a flesh of dirty blonde long hair. He suddenly turned around, and saw Luna turn from behind of a corner. She hesitated, but walked firmly forward. And again Draco felt something pulse inside him. He felt blood flow to his head.

"Good evening, oh so no weird Looniest Looney." He laughed hearing the stupidity of himself. What was that? He couldn't stop himself. He had to say something. But he didn't want to be mean. "Enjoy your detention." And all of a sudden a butter bear beads floated into Draco's hand. "Hmm… I wonder how much, I can sell it for." Draco examined the beads.

"Enjoy, I have tons of those," she just smiled at him, and without saying anything she turned around and started her way off.

"Didn't your mother teach you good manners, you're supposed to say 'Bye-bye Master'

?" Draco shouted after her, smirking. It struck Luna like lightning. How dare he speak about my mother! But the bare remembrance of her mother's calmness, kept her walking forward. She tried to ignore it, but that comment really got to her. Her mom was a good mother. She was wonderful, full of wisdom. He didn't know her. How could he say anything about her?

Draco watched as Luna stumbled away. Why wouldn't she ever get mad at him? Why did she keep his comments past her? Why didn't she notice him? He wanted to walk up to her. Take her by her shoulders. Turn her around, and shout in her face. Why she never look him in the eyes? Why did she have him fired up? Why couldn't he stop smirking? Why couldn't he stop stupid insults flying out of his mouth? Draco stood there in agony of anger, aching with despair.

He left his cronies, for he found no comfort near them. He only searched happiness. He only wanted to grasp it, just to feel it. He didn't know what it was, he wasn't sure. It said to bring peace and calmness. But when he felt it, it only made him uneasy, and unsatisfied. It made him try to get everything that was good for himself.

But his thoughts were interrupted. He heard a giggle coming from a corner. A girl stood there with blonde hair.

"First time in love?" She asked. Draco reminded himself, that that's what it was. His feelings were as red as love. How did she know? Was he this obvious?

"What do you want?" Draco asked her unpleasantly. He soon recognized her. She was the exchange student from, France. They exchanged students for the first time to improve the relationships between magical schools. He never much paid attention to her, though some made fuss around her. She was none of his business. And he always thought she was a snotty brat. She was in sixth year and sadly was sorted into Slytherin.

"It's just so fun to watch you acting all awkward around her. Who knew that jerk had a life?" She giggled again. How annoying, Draco thought.

"Are all girls from France are so arrogant? Or you're not the best candidate for this whole project? They were trying to test for a good student, with nice personality. How could this happen? They must be running low on qualifying candidates." Draco faked caring voice, making it high pitched from time to time, with intonation. Somehow he didn't want to talk to her.

"So it's really true love then." She moved forward, till she was right in front of Malfoy. She pressed her finger against Draco's cheek, and slid it down. "You've got some looks," her red lips moved to form the words.

Draco looked down on her with his cold eyes. "I'm sorry," he said sarcastically, "But I'm not interested in sluts." Now it was his turn to smirk.

"And you've got some nerve." All of a sudden her hand jerked into sliding against his face, and Draco was left looking left out. "Oh my gosh! Your skin!" she exclaimed. "Do you use lotion or something?"

"It's family's signature." Draco smirked. "And do try to keep your hands off of me. It might get infected."

The girl moved away. She took out her lipstick, and applied thick layer on her lips. Draco rolled his eyes and started on his way, when she called out.

"Don't you want to get your reward?" She said in voice that told she was talking to five year old. She rushed over to him, and… kissed him? Draco felt her lips lock with his. Her tongue sinking into his mouth. The vivid feeling of pleasure emerged. But pleasure wasn't the same as happiness. It would weather away as her lips would move apart. It won't give him happiness, it will only take it away. He had to stop it. Draco pushed her away from him, showing disgust on his face.

"Didn't you enjoy it? I certainly did. I left my reward for your rudeness." Draco felt something was wrong with his face. He felt his skin, it was dry.

"What did you do?" He protested.

"Nothing much. And do try to act as if you love her, or you'll regret later, just like you'll regret your rudeness."

As Draco stumbled across his cronies, who went out to look for him, but they could never find him unless he didn't want them to. They looked at him shocked. Crabbe and Goyle both seemed uncomfortable.

"What is it, you morons?" Draco asked. Goyle elbowed Crabbe.

"Your face…" he stopped.

"Spit it out."

"It's paler then usual. It seems grayish to me." Draco felt again the skin on his face. It was dry and unpleasant to feel. He didn't want his enemies to see him like this. He'd be the laughing stalk of whole school. Immediately Draco went into bathroom. He looked himself over in a mirror. His skin was unusually unhealthy looking, as if he was more then hundred years old. The grayish tone was definitely present. Only now did he realize what happened. What should he do? The bitch poisoned him. He felt like casting crutiatus on her. It's not likely she'll get punished… she was after all an exchange student. She'll most likely be asked to leave. Only best was supposed to be given to her, so that other schools will think good of Hogwarts.

But as he ran to the Hospital wing, somehow he was brought back to what she said.

'…do try to act as if you love her…" those words ran through his mind. And for once, he wished he could shout to all the world, that he loved her. If everyone knew that he loved her, what would he do? He ran into the Hospital wing, without running into anybody on the way. After all he took a shortcut. What would he do, if she knew he loved her? What would he do if they went out? He would send her flowers, and spend time with her down by the lake. But Potter was going out with her! And she was never his. She never liked him, and she never will. But what if in his wildest dreams, they would seat by the lake and talk just talk, together, as close friends.

He had to do something about her detention. He didn't want her to spend hours with Potter, he didn't want her to be close to him. He wanted her to be with him.

A little embarrassed, he told Madam Pomferry nurse what happened. She sighed with relief, and started casting spells over him. Draco patiently waited.

"Dear, I'll have a word with Andie. Have a lotion, it will help your skin to heal faster. Use it twice a day in the morning and evening. You can go dear." Draco gladly walked out of the Hospital wing.

It's really love! Draco thought. He was about to turn on the way to Professor Vector classroom. He walked through many hallways, till he finally walked to that door. He stood outside the classroom. He was about to knock but his hand froze in the mid air. Something stopped him. He wanted to confess, so that Luna would be free of the blame. But he was afraid. He was afraid of the thought if the whole schooled discovered that he like Looney Lovegood. People would laugh at him, just as he laughed at them. He wasn't sure it would bring him happiness. His eyes saddened, and silently he walked away.

and just as usual final words of mine!

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