CHAPTER : 3

A STRANGE ENCOUNTER

''Harry, my boy!'' boomed a voice that made Harry to look abruptly at its was casually walking towards the boys dormitories when professor Slughorn decided to interrupt him.

''Good evening professor, '' Harry smiled at the old man.

''Any thing on your mind boy? You seem tired.''

''Must be the journey sir.I'm just tired, yes.''

''Well, boy, you must be off to bed , I can see you in potions 't you join us my boy?''

''Oh, I'll be there, thank you is one of my favourites.''

''Great then, off you go.''

''Good night sir.''

Harry was slightly surprised at his unusually cheerful then, it was Slughorn and this must be usual for him.

''Password, boy!''

The fat lady was glaring at him while muttering lightly under her breath, ''students dropping in, late at night! Merlin's beard!''

''Its not even eight in the will begin in an hour!''

''That's not the password, boy.''

Harry shook his head.

''You know me! '' he exclaimed.

The fat lady did not stir.

''Griffindor ! '' he nearly shouted in exasperation.

''I know you're a password? I need password.''

He was about to bang his head when he heard someone giving the password.

''Gordic's pride.''

His gaze drifted on to the person standing behind him.

''Ginny!'' he breathed a sigh of relief.

''Hi, Harry, '' the red head smiled at him.

He was really glad Ginny had saved him from giving himself a cocussion.

''Err..What are you doing out there? I thought you'd be with Hermione and others in the common room.''

''Oh, I just met were just talking in the library.''

''I see.''

Harry's grin faded on hearing Dean's was slightly amused and half relieved that he was not jealous, not atleast in his mind.

''Will you head inside?'' the fat lady barked causing them to hurry through the portrait hole.

''Hey Gin, '' he called her, moving towards the stairs, '' thanks for the password.''

''Don't mention it, Harry, '' she smiled again before heading off in other direction.

Hermione was curled up by the fire place, reading one of her many text books, while Ron was busily chatting with the other griffidor boys in the common would have loved to join them, if his mind had not been drifting towards the persistent thoughts of Voldemort and Malfoy only added to the existing , Harry found himself lying on his bed, trying to - he desperately thought of a way to know what he was up to, when an idea popped up in his mind.

He rummaged through his out the maurader's map, he thought, he would atleast be able to keep an eye on him this was casually surveying through the map to locate the tiny dot of Draco Malfoy in the dungeons when his eyes were drawn to the dot of Luna - he was she doing in the dungeons? His eyes widened when he spotted the names of a bunch of slytherins close to her name.

'That would mean that Luna is- TRAPPED!'

Harry let out a cry of frustration and dashed out of the dormitories.

''What's wrong mate?''

''Harry!''

He coud hear Ron and Hermione's worried voices but he couldn't when Luna was trapped amidst a stack of slytherin ran with all his might towards the needed to find would begin in a few minutes and he had very less time left in his hand.

''Look, who we got here? '' Crabbe drawled, ''it isn't the weirdo Loony, is it?''

''Lost your way, did you Loon?'' Nott's cruel laughter rang through the almost empty dungeons.

''Sodd off, Nott, '' Luna's tone was no longer dreamy, as she pulled out her wand while glaring at the pure-blood.

''You're in no position to us that ton Loony, '' he sneered blocking her path.

Luna was in a , she could hex him and others though she was forbidden to do that inside the was a proud ravenclaw, so she would let her wit handle the situation.

''Get out of my way, now!'' she demanded harshly taking a step towards the slytherin.

''Well, well, you certainly have grown a back bone over summer, '' Nott inched closer, '' hanging out with griffindors did wonders to you.''

''You were majority at the now, '' he paused, his eyes narrowed into slits, ''you're alone, aren't you?''

He laughed menancingly and pulled out his him Crabbe, Goyle mimicked his was about to mutter a curse when some one caught him by the found himself backed up on to the cold dungeon whimpered feeling the strong grip of the intruder on his arm.
Luna glanced up at her saviour and took in his tall figure and blonde hair.

''Malfoy? Draco-''

Her assumptions were confirmed by Nott's angry out and Goyle were baffled by this new predicament but they remained silent.

''Theo,'' her saviour sneered, '' this isn't our first have some serious issues other than tormenting these worthless people.''
Theodore glared at Malfoy, but some how backed off, cursing slightly under his breath.

''And you, Lovegood, '' Malfoy fixed his death glare on Luna. '' Dungeons aren't safe, not for the likes of you,'' he spat throwing back her wand at her.

Harry watched in horror as Malfoy stromed past her, his robes swinging by his side as he left.H glared one last time at her and he was closed her yes, taking a deep breath, she leaned against the wall for couldn't deny that the incident slightly terrified was still replaying the scene in her mind when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

''Ohh! Harry !'' she squeaked, utterly bewildered and also relieved at the sight of him.

''Are you okay Luna?'' he asked concern dripping in his every word, ''I've seen your name on the map.I really felt, I should see you because I thought,'' he paused, ''you were trapped.''

''That's so sweet of you Harry, '' she smiled fondly at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears, '' thank you.''

''What were you doing here Luna? Curfew will begin at any moment from now, '' he asked, adjusting his glasses.

''Well, I was chasing a wack-spurt Harry! And now,I think I've lost it,'' she grimaced.

''You shouldn't have done it alone Luna, ''he shook his head while patting her back, '' you better be careful Luna.''

''Its not always safe to go alone, '' he added softly, walking ahead his fingers wrapped around Luna's.

He was about to turn away from the spot when his eyes were drawn to a small parchment lying on the floor.

''What's the matter Harry ?'' she asked, while wondering what made him stop.
Harry was not eyes were rooted on to the faded parchment lying motionless in the dark had hardly noticed it slipping on to the floor from Malfoy's robes as he walked past somehow, he was sure that piece of paper belonged to quietly picked up the note and pocketed it.

''Its really nothing, Luna, '' he assured the her along the corridor, he added, ''I can walk you back to your common room.''

''Thank you so much, Harry, '' she smiled at him once again, a dreamy smile that was so characteristic to her, '' for being there with me, tonight.''

''We're friends, Luna and what do you think are friends for?''

Harry smiled back at her, greatly relieved that she hadn't got hurt in the mess.

''To help, ofcouse, '' Luna gave him another bright smiled too, her cheerfulness was utterly contagious.

''Good night, Lune ,'' he said stepping back, ready to call off the night.

''I'm glad you're my friend Harry, good night, '' she turned to enter the common room.

''And Harry! ''

''Yes?''

''I will be glad to join you in your fight against Him.''

Harry was surprised how she had managed to bring out her instincts so subtly.

''Thank you, Luna.''

He smiled again while silently making his way to the griffindor tower.

THANK YOU FOR READING :)

Next chapter- well what's the note that Harry got? What's the reason for Malfoy's strange behaviour? And what will happen if Hermione enters the play? Read on.

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