Crabbe and Goyle now stood outside of the Room of Requirement as guard. They were unkind on their best days to Luna, so she spared herself the humiliation by simply avoiding confrontation. One week turned into two weeks, two weeks into a month passed without change. It was still bitter cold outside and all she had seen was the ghost of Draco passing in the halls. He looked hallow and used. He'd become unpredictable and explosive. Yet, he was the boy she wanted, above all. Luna wasn't sure when that epiphany had happen. It had come to her slowly and then suddenly, with permission. Instead waiting she waited in the great hall and between classes for him. She did not need to be validated or recognized by him. What she had wanted she was sure of, but it consumed her free time.
What was about to bring them together was something unexpected. For the third time that week her books had been borrowed and taken down in the dungeons. Though Snape was not particularly kind he, for reasons unknown to her, was moved to make her life easier. When she became the victim of other student's outlet of angst and cruelty he'd often leave her borrowed items on his desk in the class room. Though he'd never invited her in or told her that he'd left them there Luna had once caught leaving them there. The girl gave him the respect that she gave to Draco and allowed him his privacy and pride intact.
Luna could only see the empathy in the professor where so many others saw unyielding malignity. Today she walked the dungeons a near complete Ravenclaw uniform with her flaxen hair twisted in to a bun with what looked like large cutlery. Fingertips drug along the walls as she walked. It was instinct that had stopped her and then sound of voices. A pause. Ears tuned it. A conversation that wasn't meant to be heard by anyone else, but they could not have anticipated a stray student. It was thirty minutes before any sane staff or student should have been awake. She hadn't wanted to stop, she wanted to turn and leave. It was after all was not her place to be eavesdropping. Hearing her name forced her to take pause.
"You have to believe it wasn't him out there at the Lovegoods. "She pressed herself to the wall and held her breath. Were they talking about Draco? "Please, you have to believe me. " the voice was feminine and desperate. Luna hadn't considered what he'd risked for her that night.
"We are no closer to finding it then we were a month ago. Our hope was stolen that night and if we find that your "
"You won't. I swear it. I ..." the female voice was weak.
"Draco," a male voice swept in and it so reassuring. "He will find out. The girl is a classmate. Draco can" the voice was cut off.
"From what I've seen Draco can't even handle the simplest of tasks. " a third unknown voice.
"You think it is easy? " a fist on a table. "Believe me when I say Draco can do this. He is best option. "The male voice was so possessive and quick to promise. Then there was a pause. She heard only set of foot steps and the door opened just a silver. There was Professor Snape in long robes and strict stoicism on his face. As if she were not even standing there. He stood in the door baring any view of the room and of her. He looked at her and she backed away. She turned and walked away as quickly as she could and soon broke in to a jog. She had to find Draco. . . or was she supposed to run from him?
"Was someone there, Severus?"
"No,"
