Draco, Hermione and Luna chatted as they climbed the staircases. They talked about what they hoped would be available to eat at the Halloween feast, and about how their classes were going for each of them.

Anything to keep myself distracted, Draco thought to himself.

Since his discussion in the library with Luna, he'd been worrying about Hermione and Ron. Draco had been up to keep up a nonchalant facade that he had put on since Ron and Harry found him in the library. He was hoping that no one could tell that he was troubled by what Ron could be planning.

Why her? Draco wondered as he looked at Hermione, who was laughing at something that Luna had just said. Then, he turned away because he knew the answer. Hermione was pretty, even with her wild hair. (Which she had practically tamed this year.) Also, how could anyone not care about her, once they got to know her?

"Draco?" Hermione called out. He turned his attention back to her.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Well, you seem a little...off lately," Hermione said. All three of them stopped walking.

"Hermione's worried about you, Draco," Luna cut in. "You have been acting as if you're somewhere else."

"Luna!" Hermione chastised.

"I'm only saying that its like he's on Mars," Luna said.

You pay too much attention to me, Luna

"Sorry..." Draco said. "Just having to deal with my father again." Draco stuffed his hands into his cloak pockets. He knew that he was going to have to come up with a new excuse soon. Draco could feel Luna's note from earlier was still there.

"Oh, Draco, I'm sorry to hear that," Hermione said sympathetically.

"Don't worry about it," Draco answered. "Besides, its almost curfew for Fourth years," he continued as he looked over at Luna.

"Which means that it is getting close to curfew for Fifth years as well," Luna said, raising a blonde eyebrow at Draco.

"Then we'd better get going," Hermione interjected as she started walking again. "Don't want to get caught by Filch or Mrs. Norris and get detention."

"You need to tell her," Luna mouthed at Draco before she turned and started to follow Hermione.

As if I don't know that already.

Draco caught up with the girls within a few quick strides.

Luna said her farewells and left Draco and Hermione when the three had reached the Fifth floor, where the passageway to the Ravenclaw house was.

Draco and Hermione continued to climb up to the Seventh floor. The crossed the corridor quickly. When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found that she was lightly snoring.

"Goodnight Draco," Hermione turned to him and said.

"You too, Hermione," Draco replied. He took a few steps back so that he was just out of earshot, so that he couldn't hear the password. (At least, leading Hermione to believe that he couldn't.)

Hermione smiled at Draco as the painting swung forward revealing the opening to the Gryffindor tower. Then, she climbed in and disappeared.

"Hermione, I love you," Draco said. He barely whispered the words that he wanted to say moments earlier. He let out a sigh. Then, Draco turned on his heel and headed back to the dungeons.

Sunday went by rather steadily, like the rain that was falling against the windows. Draco and Hermione were hanging out in the Great Hall. Luna had been with them, but she left to go talk to Hagrid about some creature she had read about and wanted to know if he knew anything about them. Ron and Harry had spent the morning out on the Quidditch pitch, practicing for the match on Saturday. When the two boys walked in, Draco and Hermione saw that their damp clothes were clinging tightly to their bodies and their drenched hair was matted on their faces.

"Give us a few. We'll be right back," Ron said. Harry nodded as his side. Then, the two dashed back out the door. Draco presumed it was to get changed and dried up.

"So, you understand now, Draco?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, don't know what I'd do without you, Hermione," Draco answered.

Draco had asked Hermione to explain some Muggle device called a personal cassette player. Of course, he really didn't need the explanation. Draco just enjoyed hearing about Hermione's world from her point of view.

"Fancy a game of wizard chess?" Ron asked as he reappeared. Both he and Harry had changed robes and dried out their hair. Ron had a battered looking chess board in one hand and a leather bag in the other.

"No thanks." Draco replied.

Wizard chess? I've never played that before!" Hermione exclaimed. This caused Ron to turn his attention to her. Hermione's cheeks were tinged with pink.

Well, suppose we could teach you," Ron said. He put the board and bag down on the table and sat down next to Hermione. Harry sat across from her.

Draco didn't like how close Ron was getting to Hermione. Ron was explaining wizard chess to her as he and Harry were setting up the pieces. She just nodded that she understood what Ron was telling her.

"You got it?" Ron asked as he put the last remaining black piece on Hermione's side the board.

"I believe so," Hermione answered weakly.

Draco had to swallow his pride (a rather difficult feat for a Malfoy) and watched Hermione attempt to take on Harry. Even with Ron's help, she was losing.

"Oh, wizard chess!" Luna said as she came to join the group. She took a seat next to Harry, which, Draco noticed, caused Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Hermione's learning," Ron said. "Oh, hope you don't mind me calling you by your first name, do ya?"

Hermione shook her head. "Its fine." She didn't take her eyes off the board, trying to calculate her next move.

Harry ended up beating Hermione. Then, Draco and Ron had a match. Ron ended up taking Draco's queen and defeating him. Harry offered Luna a game, but she declined.

"Almost dinnertime," she said, pointing out that the hall was filling up with students.

With that, Draco and Luna went to their tables and ate. Afterward, everyone was filled up and tired. So, each of the group decided to go to their Houses for the night.

"We'll walk her up, mate," Ron said to Draco in a low tone that no one else could hear.

Tell him no. Why? Because, Luna even knows that he's up to no good. But its not like I'm her parent, I can't tell her who to be with and who not to.

"Ask her," Draco told him. He regretted saying it immediately.

"Hermione, mind if we walk you upstairs?" Ron asked her, gesturing to Harry and himself.

Hermione took a quick glance at Draco and Luna. Then, she nodded. "Sure."

"Well then, we're off," Ron said as he clapped his hands together.

Hermione walked over to Draco. She was biting her lower lip.

"Goodnight."

"Night, Hermione."

Then, she turned back to Ron, Harry and Luna, who were already on the stairs, and quickly caught up with them. The four of them started climbing the steps. Only Luna looked back and waved at Draco as they left. Soon, they were out of sight. Their voices were drowned out by the chatter coming from the Great Hall from students were eating.

Draco walked over to the entrance of the dungeons. He wrapped one arm around his stomach. It felt like someone had punched him in the stomach rather hard. Draco was feeling like he was going to be sick.

He carefully made his way to his dormitory. Draco saw that no one was there to bother him as he got ready and went to bed. He was thankful for that.

Disclaimer:

I wanted Mandie to buy me Harry Potter for my birthday...But...*sniffle*

Haii! It's Archi again! Review! For me! As a birthday present! (:

Hello! Mandie here to say 'Happy Birthday' to my totally awesome beta! ^_^ Thank you so much for helping me out!

Thank you to the readers for the FF love!