A/N: This was done for the Quotes Challenge. It isn't really a Draco/Luna fic, but I suppose you can think of it that way.

Draco silently crept down an unused hallway in Hogwarts in the middle of the night. Slipping into an abandoned classroom, he sat on one of the dusty desks and took a deep breath. Ever since the beginning of seventh year, he always came here to think. It was quiet; there was no one here to disturb him, and he couldn't hear the tortured screams of various students here. Draco could almost imagine that it was another normal year at Hogwarts.

He didn't know when everything had changed. Last year, probably. The image of Dumbledore falling off the Astronomy Tower was forever seared in his mind. That look on his face… was not one of betrayal, but of peace. Draco didn't get how someone could look so calm when someone he trusted did him in. He always was a senile old man.

But he should be happy that the Dark Lord was reigning. He was the son of a Death Eater; he was a Death Eater himself. This was what he wanted, dreamed of even, since he was little. His world was perfect right now.

Draco stiffened cautiously as he heard the sound of footsteps. He let his face slide into an emotionless mask and fingered his wand as the door slowly pushed open. Who would come here at this time of night? A small figure walked calmly through the door, barely sparing him a glance, and sat down on a chair a little bit away from him. Blinking, he realized that he recognized that white-blonde hair, and those vacant grey eyes. It was none other than the one and only Loony Lovegood.

"What do you want?" He asked harshly.

She didn't say anything, but glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Draco was taken aback. Her gaze was sharp and perceptive, and it unnerved him to be in sight of that look. She seemed to judge him silently; for what, he wasn't sure. So he held his breath and looked into her eyes for what seemed like and eternity. And then, finally, she turned away from him. Draco let loose the breath he was holding. Belatedly, he realized he felt a little shaky. They fell into a comfortable silence again.

Luna stood up padded to the door.

"'Admit you own private Mt. Everest exists. That is half the battle.'" She quoted. "It's an old Muggle saying. You should think about it."

"Why would I care about what Mudblood's say?" He sneered at her, but she was already gone.

For a while, he just sat there in disbelief. Then he couldn't help but ponder what she just said. Mt. Everest… wasn't that a really tall mountain the Mudblood's named? Contrary to popular belief, Draco wasn't stupid. The mountain must be symbolic to something, he decided. An obstacle, a hard path, a tough opponent, or maybe even a problem of some kind? So, admitting that there was a problem or a tough opponent was half the battle?

But why would she say that to him?

Thinking about it a bit more, he realized that he was afraid. Completely, utterly, and deathly afraid. His fingers started trembling slightly and he clenched them into a fist. He was scared. He was scared of the Dark Lord, and the Carrows, and the war that he knew was coming on the horizon. Deep down inside, although he would die before saying it out loud, he hoped that Potter somehow managed to kill him. Then his family would be free and he wouldn't have to live his life with a mask on. And with that awareness, he realized that he felt lighter; like a load had been lifted off his back. 'That's half the battle huh?' he thought.

'Maybe Lovegood isn't so loony after all.'