It was a few days later - even the Slytherins had half started avoiding Draco, and even though his father was a powerful man, there was little that his influence could do about it. Draco Malfoy was walking the upper floors of Hogwarts, when he spied Luna Lovegood in the alcove. Unfortunately, at that precise moment, Luna appeared to spy him, springing to her feet and closing the book crisply (entirely losing her place. Draco would not have done that for anyone. Dignity was expressed in the small things).

"Draco! I see you found the answer!" Luna said - was she wearing a necklace of carrots? Draco Malfoy dearly wanted to ask what that was about, but he would no doubt be considered rude.

"What answer?" Draco asked curiously, studying the often "high as a kite" girl.

Luna's silvery peas of laughter carried down the halls, "Oh, I haven't the slightest idea."

"Then how do you know that I've found the right answer?" Draco Malfoy asked, finding it passing strange that this was the one child who had noticed his troubled demeanor. Even Snape hadn't said a word, though if Snape was training Potter (and really, who else would fit the job? Surely not Sprout!), he would have solid reasons for his inattention.

"You're too bright to not pick at the holes in arguments. Even ones you're raised to believe in." Luna said with a smile, "Besides, Slytherins have a fascination with knowing secrets."

"And Ravenclaws don't?" Draco Malfoy said, remembering quite a few children's takes about spellwitches.

"Well, I for one would rather know what secrets I don't know about." Luna said with a pause, "You wouldn't have noticed a thing if you weren't the same way."

Draco pursed his lips together, thinking about this, as it sounded almost like a riddle. But, it was nearly true - he had noticed the secret that he wasn't being told - by looking for inconsistencies.

"How could you not have wanted to know?" Draco suddenly asked.

"I never said I didn't want to know. But you were looking already, and I'm certain you'll tell me when the time is right." Luna said, her blonde toussled braid bobbing with her declaration.

"Awful lot of trust you put in me." Draco Malfoy drawled lazily, pretending as if he wasn't touched... and honestly a bit baffled.

"Trust is for secret-sharing. Belief is for people." Luna looked at him, her eyes sharpening to a point that definitely resembled his Mother's looks. "Besides, you helped Hildred."

Hildred? Draco thought, racking his mind for who in the world that was, and coming up with nothing at all. In fact, Luna Lovegood was disappearing around the bend in the corridor before Draco regained his wits (he saw her white dress trailing behind her as she turned).

[a/n: Draco helped a firstie. Luna noticed. Draco would vaguely remember that firstie... if someone had given him a description, and not just a name he'd never heard.

Reviews please!]