Chapter Three

They were given temporary accommodation and tried to rest for a few hours before dinner. During the meal, Draco sat quietly at the end of the table and listened as Charlie regaled members of his team with stories about the adventures that Luna and his little sister Ginny had gotten into when they were young. Draco acted as if he couldn't care less about the tales but discreetly took note of the advanced magic that Luna had apparently been capable of even before setting foot inside Hogwart's - not to mention her penchant for getting herself into rather precarious situations.

Once darkness fell Charlie led the pair to the edge of the preserve and directed them towards a path into the forest, giving Luna a big hug and Draco a warning glance before sending them on their way. There was a full moon overhead so they were able to cover a good distance before Luna decided they should stop for the night.

Draco pulled the expensive tent purchased specifically for the expedition out of his pack and summoned his wand. Before he cast the appropriate charm Luna politely asked, "Draco? Is that really where you want to set up camp?"

Draco ignored her and pointed his wand at the pile of materials.

Luna continued, "I only ask because..."

"I am perfectly capable of setting up a tent without your assistance, Lovegood, " Draco snapped. "I'll have you know that I received E's in Charms on both my OWLS and my NEWTs, thank you very much." With a flick of his wrist and a curt "Erecto" the stakes and fabric rose into the air and settled, fully constructed, onto the ground in front of him.

"The name is Scamander and I have no doubts whatsoever about your technical competence in spell casting, Draco. If that's where you truly want to sleep then I wish you pleasant dreams. Give me a shout if you need anything." With that, Luna slipped into her tent which she had placed about fifty feet away on top of a gentle knoll.

"Need anything? From you? Not bloody likely," Draco huffed as he entered the tent. He made sure the interior was up to his standards before crawling into the luxurious, king size bed he had conjured. He might be forced to travel on foot but he wasn't about to forgo any more creature comforts than absolutely necessary.

He soon drifted off but woke with a start about an hour later after a disturbing dream in which he had been unable to move. He was terrified when he realized that it wasn't a dream after all. While he had been sleeping the snake-like tendrils of an invasive plant had slithered into his tent and covered his body, making it difficult to breath properly. He thrashed about trying to summon his wand but the more he struggled the tighter the vines became. He finally gave up and resorted to calling out to Luna for help.

She arrived at his tent and to Draco's irritation she seemed far more amused at his plight than concerned about his well being.

"Do you need help, Draco?"

"No, you idiot! I shouted for you because I decided I'd like an audience whilst being strangled to death by a plant!"

"Okay. Odd choice but if that's what you prefer then..." Luna shrugged and leaned against one of the tent posts.

"What are you doing?"

"You said you wanted an audience rather than assistance so..."

"That was sarcasm, you half wit!"

"Oh... I see. Just to be clear - you do want help then, correct?"

"Yes!"

"Then what's the magic word?"

"What?!"

"No. That's not it." Her placid expression only served to further infuriate him.

"What are you on about?!"

"You know," said Luna. "The magic word. The word that people usually say when they are asking another person for assistance."

Draco gritted his teeth and managed to force out the word "Please."

"As you wish, Draco Malfoy." Luna pulled her wand from behind her ear and deftly conjured several jets of Blue Bell Flames around the bed. Immediately Draco could feel the plant loosening its grip and was able to breathe easier. She looked at him and said, "Now, close your eyes. Tightly, please."

Draco complied and heard her mutter an incantation. He became aware of a blinding flash of intense heat and light which briefly illuminated the tent. He kept his eyes closed until Luna said, "All clear. You can open your eyes now." When he did so all traces of the plant had disappeared.

"You pitched your tent right next to a large patch of Devil's Snare," Luna explained, tucking her wand behind her ear. "That's what I was trying to tell you before you set up camp. In the future if you find yourself in that plant's proximity you should try to select an area further away - preferably on higher ground - and place blue bell flames around the corners of your tent." Through the open tent flap, she gestured towards her campsite which was set up in exactly the fashion which she had described.

Draco grumbled, "Show off..." before getting up and silently moving his tent to a flat section of ground next to Luna's. He conjured a perimeter of blue bell flames and went back to bed, where sleep mostly avoided him for the remainder of the night.