Four Times Lucky?

Luna was slightly worried. Since when was there another Dark Lord? And if Blaise had a plan, how did bringing back her potions notebook fit into this plan? Blaise must have a very unstable personality. Or he might be under the Imperius curse. She mulled that thought over in her mind and dismissed it. It was much more likely that he still had a split personality, only that he now didn't think of himself as THE Dark Lord anymore. He now thought he was another Dark Lord. She couldn't yet decide if that change was good or bad.

She began watching him to see how often he changed his personality. It seldom happened. She saw him shove an annoying first year out of his way, snapping at Goyle, glaring at a bunch of giggling second years and kicking the wall in frustration because he had to wait for a staircase. All rather mild symptoms, but one never knew. She remembered how bad things had happened to some of Dad's informants although there had been no sign of trouble beforehand.

She took great care that he wouldn't notice her, and so was startled when he spoke to her one afternoon, as she passed him in a corridor.

‚Hey, Loony! What are you watching me all the time for? Set your sights on someone else, will you?'

Well, she couldn't really do that, could she? ‚That is quite impossible, Blaise, I'm sorry. But how could I find out about your sinister plan without watching you?'

Blaise hadn't expected that. He'd thought that even Loony would suspect that he had pulled her leg after thinking their previous conversation over. Obviously she hadn't. He grinned. This might be fun.

‚Well, Loony, such plans as I have can be quite unhealthy for nosy loons like you. How would you like to be hexed just because you stick your nose into things that don't concern you?' he hissed.

Loony Lovegood seemed not at all flustered. ‚That would be very unpleasant. And that's why I never do stick my nose into things that don't concern me.'

Once again, Blaise in vain searched for any logic in Luna's words. ‚Then why do you nose around in my affairs?' He asked, exasperatedly.

‚I'm rather concerned about your health', Luna told him earnestly. ‚Being a Dark Lord and a student at Hogwarts at the same time will tax you. In fact, you'd best leave your Dark Lord personality on the side till you've graduated and have enough time for it.'

Blaise seethed. The „I am greater than the Dark Lord"- plan wasn't working. Yet. With a flourish, he took out his wand. ‚If you won't leave me to my plans, I will he-'

Before he could finish, Luna had plucked his wand from his fingers and was examining it. ‚Father says that willow wands combined with Quigglysnap hair can spontaneously combust. Does your wand have a Quigglysnap core?'

‚No. Now give me back my wand so I can hex you to the ground of the lake.'

‚You really should concentrate on being more polite, you know', Luna told him pleasantly, handing him back his wand. ‚You do know the word „please", don't you?'

With that she walked off, looking back only once to ask: ‚If your sinister plan works, would you give the Quibbler an exclusive interview?'

‚If my sinister plan works, there will be no Quibbler anymore.' Blaise told her pleasantly. He saw her freeze on the spot with shock before he turned and walked off.

Luna didn't move for quite some time. Her mind was reeling.