Looking for seconds of peace of mind,
pieces of something to hold on to.
A job that you just can't hold down,
distracted for seconds, you're gone.
Follow your ups and downs,
it's safe to say that I can't tell.

October 3rd 5PM Monday
Lovegood Mansion

When Luna Lovegood showed Draco, Khalida and I each to a bedroom the night before I felt a strange sensation in the back of my mind. The best way to describe it would be an itching or scratching sensation. The mansion was a maze as she led us through dark hallways, dark rooms and dark doors. Everything in the place seemed to be dark, all black and gray; even the porcelain bathtub seemed sinister.

The bedroom I was given for the night was nice enough. It had a huge canopy bed, a large wooden desk and a closet. The carpet was a dark, blood red while the walls were painted a stone gray. The adjoining bathroom was decorated in much the same fashion.

I awoke around nine or so and was surprised to find a bathrobe waiting for me along with a tray of breakfast, nothing spectacular, just eggs and toast with a glass of orange juice. At the time I thought it was a bit strange that I was eating breakfast in my room but didn't give it a second thought as I showered and dressed. But then I went to leave and knew for a fact that something was horribly wrong.

"Let me out!" I screamed as I pounded on the door. My whole day had been made up of trying to find a way out and pounding on that damn, sturdy wooden door. "Someone! Anyone!" I sank to the floor and pulled my knees to my chin.

I couldn't understand why Luna would have locked me in. What could she possibly be getting out of holding me captive? I expected Khalida to come barging in any minute to save me or Draco to break down the door and sweep me into his arms. Hell, even Luna walking in and telling me that the door was just stuck seemed possible. But as the seconds ticked by and the door did not open, I remained alone and afraid.

The tray that had been sent for lunch suddenly disappeared with a small pop and was replaced a moment later by a tray which I assumed was supper. The meal was covered so I could not see the actual food. I eyed the tray with disgust and decided I wasn't really hungry anyway.

October 4th 10PM Tuesday

My second day in the mansion was spent much like my first. I was still locked in my room but I no longer banged on the door or searched for ways to escape. Now I just lay on my bed and stared out the large glass window off to my right. The view was dark, just like everything else at the horrible mansion. I wondered if the weather around the mansion was always dark, damp and gloomy.

It was on the second night that something strange began to happen. As I lay in the large bed with the black sheets the room seemed to move around me. The walls were slowly undulating and the blood red carpet seemed to ripple and swirl.

I peered over the side of the bed, scared that if I were to step off the bed I would be sucked into the floor underneath me. But part of me wondered if that would be so bad. At least it would be escape.

October 5th 8PM Wednesday

Luckily the room was no longer moving and I was able to get to the bathroom. As soon I was sure the carpet had stopped completely I tore off like a woman possessed. A few minutes later I was at the desk wolfing down the cold roast beef sandwich and glass of milk that had been left for supper. The milk was rather warm but I was too thirsty to care, even warm it still tasted better then water from the tap.

Before going back to the bed I tugged on the doorknob and sighed in resignation as it remained firmly locked in place. I wondered how long I would be able to last by myself. Did Luna plan to keep me locked up forever? She continued to feed me so my health was not suffering but how long could someone last alone?

October 6th 9PM Thursday

On the fourth night locked in my prison I heard a soft click at the door. I jumped off the bed immediately, running as fast as I could toward the sound but stopped halfway as the door slowly swung open and Luna Lovegood floated into the room wearing a long black cloak. Her blonde hair was still pulled into a tight braid and her eyes were as black and bottomless as the first time I'd seen them with no white showing anywhere.

"Sit," she commanded softly and I felt myself unconsciously backing away from her to sit on the bed. She drifted closer until she was standing directly in front of me.

"I'm sure you are wondering why I locked you away in your bedroom for the last four days?" she asked with a warm smile and I only nodded, too confused to formulate any sort of verbal response.

"It was for your own safety," she explained cryptically, "and mine as well."

"Your safety?" I asked incredulously.

"This mansion," she replied slowly, "belonged to Grindewald himself. It is dark, a fact which I'm sure you have already deduced."

"It is also much like Hogwarts," she continued, black eyes staring directly into my own, "It is a living and sentient being. When you arrived I felt it acknowledge you. It can sense the darkness in you just as it sensed the darkness in me."

"Darkness?"

"Of course, everyone has a bit of darkness in them," she explained, "but people like you and me are imbued with something much more potent then others. The darkness we possess is part of who we are. I thought it would be best to let you get used to this place and to let it get used to you before we interacted with one another."

"I don't want to be evil!" I exclaimed and Luna chuckled in amusement.

"Who said anything about being evil? There is a very big difference between darkness and evilness. I'm sure you are not evil, just as I am not evil and just as this place is not evil. The darkness has more to do with power then anything else."

"But I don't want power," I stated firmly.

"Yes you do," Luna replied simply, "If you did not then why else would you call upon your father's allies. If power does not tempt you then why did you make a stand against the Americans and Dumbledore?"

"I don't know," I answered quietly. Luna walked over and sat down next to me on the bed. I glanced at her but then dropped my eyes toward the floor. Her eyes were just too unsettling to look at.

"Harry was a good man," she stated as she gently took my hand in her own. "He was also a powerful leader and a natural born leader. Even though he never wished for his fate there was darkness in him as well but he did not let power tempt him."

"He could have done so much with his power and his allies," she continued in a wistful tone, "but he only wished to live and protect those around him. His personality drew people to him like moths to a flame. They worshiped him, listened to him and fought just to be near him."

"Now your grandfather was a different story," she chuckled, "He too was a natural born leader and quite powerful but he enjoyed being a leader. The Dark Lord was a commander and he commanded those beneath him well. He not only wished to lead, he wished to bend those under him to his will."

"So what should I do?" I asked hesitantly as Luna patted my hand.

"You should be yourself and never forget who you are. You are not Harry Potter and you are not the Dark Lord Voldemort, you are simply Jenny Riddle," she replied in a stern tone.

"But, as I said, you do have darkness within you and also great power. If you cannot learn to control those two things then you could end up destroying more than just yourself and those around you."

"I don't understand," I stated in confusion. Luna pushed herself off the bed and stood in front of me once more. She put one hand under my chin, lifting it slightly so we were eye to eye.

"I am drawn to you," she whispered in an ominous tone, "I am drawn to you as the Dementors are drawn to you and we are not the only ones who will be drawn to you."

"I have known you since you were born," she admitted softly, "I felt you when you lay dormant in your mother's womb. The older you become and the more the darkness grows within you, the more you call out to those that would follow you and kneel before you. You must not give into temptation and you must be trained to control your power. I have already spoken to Draco and…Miss List and they have agreed with me."

"How do you know all of this?" I asked in an awed tone as I stared into her void-like eyes.

"I told you when you first came here," she stated, "I see many things."

"I began having visions when I was still only a child," Luna continued, "and when I was still at Hogwarts I began to hear the dead calling out to me. When I found out exactly who I was the visions became worse until I could hardly make out if what I saw with my own two eyes was real or a premonition of things to come."

"I'm sorry," I said apologetically. "What did you do about the visions? Did they get better?"

"I learned to control them," she replied as she turned away from me, "but that was years after…"

"After what?"

"After," she said slowly as she turned to look at me once again, "I set fire to my own eyes."

"You what?!" I exclaimed loudly.

"I burned my eyes," Luna stated in a cold tone, "I thought if I destroyed my sight then the visions would stop but it only made them clearer and more precise." She shrugged nonchalantly and added, "It worked out quite well in the end."

"So you're blind then?" I asked before I realized how rude the question was. Luna cocked her head to one side and her mouth twisted into a catlike grin.

"I can see quite well," she replied and I couldn't help but shiver. Luna headed toward the door, motioning for me to follow her. "Let us go find your friends. Draco and…Miss List were quite worried about you and I doubt I would've been able to hold them at bay for another night."

"Is that why you let me out now?" I asked as I followed her down the hall.

"No," she replied, shaking her head, "It was time. I was a bit scared when I opened the door though."

"Why?" I asked in confusion.

"I was afraid that the mansion may have gotten to you. I half expected the room to be empty when I arrived or perhaps your masked friends would've been waiting there to slay me as I walked in," she explained with a smirk.

"Where in the world would I go?" I questioned in disbelief.

"The mansion tried to aide you in your escape," she stated and my eyes widened in surprise which caused Luna to laugh loudly at my expression. "Didn't you notice the carpet moving the other night?" she asked and I nodded in reply, "Well I have no doubt that if you would have jumped in you would have found yourself outside within moments."

"Wow," I whispered softly as we turned down another hallway. At the end of the hall I could see a large, black door. "Where are we going?"

"One of the many sitting rooms," she explained, "Draco and…Miss List are waiting there." We continued on in silence until we came to a stop outside the door.

"Did something happen between you and Khalida?" I asked nervously. "Because it seems like you really don't like her for some reason." Luna's eyes narrowed for a moment and I flinched away. A few seconds later she had a listless smile in place once again, but it appeared contrived and strained.

"Harry," Luna replied slowly, "your father, he was very special to me. He never cared about things like titles or bloodlines. I considered him a very good friend."

"But wasn't Khalida his friend too?" I asked in confusion.

"I suppose," she said in a cool tone, "but she convinced him that it wasn't in his best interest to talk to certain other friends." I studied her expression and nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry," I stated, "I'm sure he didn't mean to push anyone away or ignore anyone. Maybe he was just too busy for friends."

"Perhaps…" Luna replied softly and her lips turned up in an amused grin. "Besides," she added with a chuckle, "it's not as if I didn't see it coming."

My laughter joined Luna's as we both pushed open the door in front of us to enter the sitting room. Draco and Khalida pulled me into a quick hug before holding me at arm's length to check me for injury. I was still laughing and Draco gave me a questioning look.

"Inside joke," I explained as I glanced at Khalida nervously which sent Luna into another fit of giggles. I glanced around the sitting room as Draco pulled me over toward a large, black couch.

The room was decorated much like the bedroom I had just left. Everything was done in blacks and reds. Black walls, red floors and a few pieces or artwork hung haphazardly around the room. In front of the large couch sat a large coffee table which appeared to be antique. Two dirty, homely black armchairs were sitting on opposite sides of the room. Luna sat in one of the armchairs while Khalida took the other, both women glaring daggers are each other, which seemed quite absurd at the time considering Luna is blind.

"Did Luna tell you about the training Draco and I have planned for you?" Khalida asked in an icy tone, her eyes never leaving Luna.

"Um…yep, she didn't explain much though," I replied nervously.

"Well, I'll be training you in magic," Draco explained, "while Khalida will be instructing you in physical combat."

"Physical combat?" I asked in confusion and Draco nodded in reply.

"Of course," Luna sneered as she continued to glare at the vampire sitting across from her, "There is a war coming and you'll need to be prepared."

"But I don't want to be in any war!" I stated loudly, "I'm not some soldier or warrior."

"We didn't say you were," Draco stated softly, "but it's best to be prepared."

"I suppose…"

"And I will help you take control over your darker side," Luna explained, "and by the time I'm done with you I'm sure you'll have no trouble bending it to your will."

"I think," Khalida interrupted angrily, "that Jenny needs to be taught to suppress the darkness inside her, not bend it to her will." Draco and I glanced back and forth between the two as they continued to argue. I opened my mouth to interrupt but Draco shook his head.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," he whispered in my ear and I nodded in reply.

"Perhaps you should help her control her darker side," Luna stated with a smirk, "You are a dark creature after all." Khalida's eyes narrowed dangerously and I could see her fangs protruding from underneath her top lip.

"That's a laugh coming from you," Khalida replied with a snort. Luna rose from her chair and jumped up on the coffee table. She walked right across the table toward Khalida while Draco and I backed into the couch as far as we possibly could. Luna stepped down off of the table and bent down in front of Khalida until their faces were only inches apart.

"How long would it take," Luna sneered, "before you would be on your knees in front of her?" I gave Draco a questioning look but he merely shrugged his shoulders in confusion.

"That's what you're truly afraid of, isn't it?" Luna asked. Khalida turned away from her which seemed to urge Luna to push her even further. "Or is that you're scared that you'll kneel before her and pledge you're life to her and then Harry will come back and be angry with you." A feral glint appeared in Khalida's eyes and Draco quickly yanked me off the couch toward the other side of the room.

"O…I think we've stumbled on something now," Luna stated angrily, "You wouldn't kneel before Harry, would you? Even after all of your manufactured words of loving and caring for him, when it came down to it you just couldn't go through with it."

"You turned on him," Luna continued, "You ran off when he needed you most. I wonder why that is."

"You're wrong!" Khalida exclaimed loudly as she stood from her chair and roughly pushed Luna away. "Harry didn't want me to kneel before him or swear my life to him and I cared for him more than anything in the world. I would have done anything for him and he knew it."

"He didn't want you," Luna stated wistfully, "He didn't want you the way you wanted him so you ran away."

"Just shut up!" Khalida yelled loudly as she turned on her heel and ran out of the room.

"Running away again I see!" Luna called out after her, "How long can you run from the past?!" The only reply was the sound of the sitting room door slamming shut and Khalida's footsteps echoing down the hall. I stalked over to Luna and quickly spun her around to face me.

"What the hell was that about?" I asked angrily. Luna shrugged her shoulders absentmindedly and glided out of the room. I stared at the door she had just exited before starting in surprise a minute later when Draco's arms wrapped around my waist to hold me tightly.

"That was a bit scary," he mumbled.

"No," I replied slowly, "that was more than a bit scary. That was frickin' insane!"

"So, do you think we should leave?" Draco asked curiously and I shook my head.

"I think we're actually safer here then anywhere else," I admitted reluctantly, "I mean, who the hell would mess with that woman."

"You're right," Draco replied with a nod, "Even the boogerman wouldn't try anything around Loony Luna Lovegood."

"That's not very nice," I scolded. "And it's boogeyman."

"O shut up," he muttered into my hair, "that's what I said."

"Of course dear," I replied as I patted him on the arm gently. I turned toward him and my eyes widened in surprise. I pointed behind him and began to choke.

"What?" he asked in confusion, "What is it?"

"Boogerman! Boogerman!" I yelled loudly as I motioned behind him. He jumped in surprise and turned around quickly. His eyes narrowed dangerously and I backed away as he advanced toward me.

"That…was…not…funny," he stated in a threatening tone.

"O really?" I asked innocently as I raised one eyebrow. "The boogerman seemed to think so." I could no longer hold back my laughter and Draco's face reddened in embarrassment.

Suddenly he growled and lunged toward me. I shrieked in surprise and ran around the other side of the couch. Draco studied me closely from the front of the couch and before I knew what was happening he leapt over the couch and landed right on top of me. He pinned my arms above my head with one hand and began to tickle me mercilessly with the other. After a few minutes he finally stopped and I fought to catch my breath.

"Still scared?" he asked as he looked down at me.

"No," I replied, "Unless you count my recent fear of being tickled to death."

"So you're not afraid I'll take advantage of you?" he questioned with a smirk and I just rolled my eyes.

"As if you could take advantage of me," I replied with a laugh.

His smirk grew larger as he leaned over to give me a kiss. He never got the chance though as I shifted my weight underneath him. He lost his balance and in an instant our positions were reversed.

"Now Draco," I admonished, "what would my boyfriend say."

"You're boyfriend?" he exclaimed as his jaw dropped open.

"Of course," I replied nonchalantly, "and I hate to say that the boogerman gets quite jealous."

With another loud growl from Draco I found myself on my back once again and I wondered if someone actually could be tickled to death. After at least five minutes of relentless torture I decided that it certainly wouldn't be the worst way to die.