Chapter Seventeen

Sensing they were getting closer to their destination lit a fire under Draco and Luna and they covered much more ground than usual the following day. When they finally decided to make camp the light was beginning to fade. Just as he was getting ready to put up his tent, Draco stopped and peered at a nearby thicket.

"Luna? Do you notice anything odd about that group of trees?"

Luna squinted carefully then glanced around the clearing. "They aren't casting a shadow like the ones around them."

They walked slowly towards the dense growth and Luna reached out to touch one of the branches but instead of feeling rough bark her hand swept through thin air.

"It's glamoured," she said.

Draco nodded. "A damn good one, too. If we'd been here at almost any other time of day we'd never have noticed it." With a sharp flick of his wand the glamour faded to reveal a small outcropping of rock, only about a meter taller than Draco himself. On several of the well weathered stones they could see the faint outlines of carved runes.

"The cave," said Luna in a hushed voice.

They stood and stared until Draco said, "So, what do you think? Try to uncover the entrance now or wait until morning?"

"Morning." Luna's answer came so quickly that it almost startled Draco. She gave him a sideways glance and added, "It's been a long day and we still have some prep work to do before we go inside. Best be fresh when we start, right?"

"Sounds like a plan to me," said Draco. He then gave her a formal bow. "Seeing as how it is my turn to fix dinner and we aren't sure how long we'll be in the cave without magic, I say we make this one special. Any requests?"

Luna tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I don't know...how about...Chef's Choice?"

Draco nodded solemnly. "A weighty responsibility. I shall do my best not to disappoint you."

"Can we have pudding for dessert?"

"You are in luck. Pudding is indeed within my culinary repertoire."

"Then there is no chance of my being disappointed." Luna said with a smile.

After dinner (which Luna assured him did NOT disappoint) they gathered in Luna's tent to determine which items they would need to carry with them and which ought to be left behind. Draco picked up an odd contraption laying on the table and inspected it closely.

"What is this?"

"Oh! That is quite ingenious. It's a muggle headlamp." Luna fixed an elastic strap around her head then flipped a switch which caused a small lantern to illuminate. "See? It provides light in whatever direction your head is turned while leaving your hands free. I have two - one for each of us."

Draco was going to admit that it was quite a clever device but rolled his eyes when Luna added, "Harry provided them for us."

"Really? Potter? Merlin's beard. Now if I make it through this I will once again owe a debt of gratitude to the 'chosen one'."

"There are worse things, Draco," chided Luna gently.

"Of course there are," said Draco in a dry tone. "Give me a few days and I'm sure I'll think of them."

They eventually got everything sorted and Draco went back to his tent for the night. Just as he was getting into bed there was a rustling noise outside and he heard Luna's voice call out, "Draco? Your light was still on. Are you awake?"

"Yeah. Come on in."

Luna peeked her head inside and quietly said, "I'm sorry to bother you but...I find myself a little nervous about tomorrow so I was wondering - Could I sleep in here tonight?"

"Sure," Draco said, trying to conceal the delight in his voice. "Honestly, I was thinking about asking you the same thing."

He summoned her bed into the same arrangement as before. As they were settling in, Luna whispered, "Everything's going to be okay, isn't it?"

"Of course will," said Draco with a bit more certainty than he actually possessed. "You'll see. It'll be a piece of cake."

Luna's eyes twinkled. "Chocolate cake?"

"Certainly. What other kind is there?" Draco said with a grin.

"Thank you, Draco. That makes me feel better. Good night."

"Good night, Luna," Draco said as he extinguished the lights.

It came as no surprise to Draco that his dreams that night included some rather creative uses for chocolate pudding.