Luna POV

Draco was sitting hunched up with his arms folded on the table. He looked uncomfortable. I sighed inwardly. I didn't want to make him feel that way. I snuck looks at him through the lesson. He had grown taller, his hair was longer and fell over his forehead. Muscles showed under his rolled up sleeves.

He caught me looking at him.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you staring at me?" he blurted. Frustrated, he asked "Why are you being so nice to me?" He put his head in his hands.

Silently, I put a hand on his shoulder. "You have to remember that you're not alone." I patted his shoulder comfortingly. He looked up at me. Our eyes met. His empty grey eyes radiated pain.

"I want to be your friend, Draco. So you won't have to go through this alone."

He tried to shake my hand away.

I heard him mutter something under his breath.

All too soon, the professor's lesson was over. "Okay class, remember to look up on the mandrakes, you'll need to know about them in next week's lesson.." Slughorn reported the day's homework. I pushed my notes to Draco.

"You haven't been paying much attention. I'll lend you my notes." I gave a small smile to him then left. At the doorway, I paused and turned around to see him staring after me.

"Luna!" Cho called out to me.

"Coming!" I ran after her.

Draco POV

I watched her go. She was being a nuisance. But… she was…comforting. That look in her eyes when she said she would be there for me. You're not alone. She reminded me of my mother. I suddenly ached for a hug. Any kind of comfort.

I stared at Luna's notes. Her handwriting, strange, dreamy lines. I caught myself smiling. I shook my head as I walked out of the classroom. As I walked down the hallway, I was joined by Theodore.

"'Ello there Draco. How's your morning so far?" He grinned at me.

"It was fine, thanks. " I lied.

"What's your next class?"

"It's my free period." I replied.

"Want to go to the library together?" he looked sideways at me.

"Yeah, sure." I managed a small smile at him.

"I'm sorry about what happened to you and your family."

I looked up. He looked concerned and his voice was sincere. I shook my head. I had enough of that. "If you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it now."

Theodore nodded. We arrived at the library and sat down at a table. Looking around, I spotted Luna with Granger. Theodore started taking out his notes and we discussed Professor McGonagall's homework together. Soon, I got distracted by her.

"Hey, Draco. Why do you keep staring at Looney, eh?" Theodore was smirking at me. "I am not." I growled.

"Oh, right, like, ever since we came into this library you've been staring at her like some dumbass." Theodore gave a loud guffaw, which caused people to turn and look at us.

"Shut it." I snapped.

I tried to get back to work. But she was on my mind. Luna. She was the first one to actually talk to me, other than Theodore. The rest avoided me like a plague. I watched as she stood up to pick a book from the shelves. Her long silky hair swished back and forth while she looked for the book. I watched as she went back to her seat and took notes on her paper, her hair falling over her eyes.

"Y'know, I don't really get why you're so fascinated with her and all, I mean, she's a good looker but I just don't get it." Theodore was watching me. "Hey, Granger is shooting daggers at you."

I looked back and saw snooty old smarty-pants glaring at me. I started making faces at her. Luna looked at Hermione and followed her stare to my direction. Oh crap.

Theodore laughed quietly to himself. I glared at him, embarrassed, turning away from the two girls.

Luna POV

"He's been staring at you non-stop ever since he walked in." Hermione hissed.

I looked over to Draco. His face was slightly red and Theodore seemed to be laughing at something. Draco snapped something to Theodore but he only laughed harder. "Luna," Hermione started. "Stay away from him, he's no good!"

I looked Hermione straight in the eye. "I don't believe that." I had seen how he looked that day on the train. I felt complete sympathy for the boy.

Hermione sighed. "Does Harry know?"

I shrugged absentmindedly and went back to our work. Hermione threw a few more glares in Draco's direction and started on her notes again. I felt pleased at the thought that Draco was noticing me. At least he was thinking about what I way saying to him. I looked back and this time our eyes met. He looked away quickly, his face flushing. I smiled and turned back.

Draco POV

The day was over and I was lying on my back on my bed. Theodore was staying up late, going through some notes for a test. "Since when were you such a nerd?" I asked.

Theodore looked at me. "I want to do something. I don't want to lie around wasting my time away. I owe my mother. I want her to be proud of me. Ever since she died I've been motivating myself to work harder."

Silently, I looked away. I started thinking of all those times with my mother. A pain started to build up in my chest. I looked at Theodore. He was still studying.

Then I found myself thinking of her again. She was always running about in my mind. Her hair, her dreamy blue eyes, her voice… her touch. Thinking about her touch made me feel something.

Her small hands were radiating with warmth. Whenever she touched me I felt something like electricity running down my spine. Why was I so self-conscious when I was near her? I groaned and turned over. What was happening to me? I want to be your friend. No, no, no. Draco Malfoy was never nice to anyone, nor is he anyone's friend. But… Luna felt like an exception.

Suddenly I was craving to be more than her friend. I hit the side of my head with my palm. "What the hell am I thinking?" I said aloud. Theodore gave me a curious look.

Then he smirked at me.

Sighing, he said "Girls. Complicated creatures, us men will never understand them." Winking at me, he continued "It's Luna, innit?" I grimaced, choosing not to reply. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me."

Luna POV

The next day was sunny. Today was a Sunday so we were free to do anything we wanted. I was on my way to breakfast with Harry and the others when Draco suddenly appeared in front of me. "Hello, Luna" He smiled down at me. Finally, I started to see some light in his eyes.

I smiled back at him. "Hello Draco."

Harry jerked me away and hid me behind his back. "What do you want, Malfoy?" His eyes blazed.

Draco looked amused and ran his fingers through his hair. "I just want to talk to her Potter." Gently, I pushed Harry out of the way. Harry started to protest but I stopped him. "No, Harry. Be nice." His eyes narrowed.

Draco turned to me. "Would you… like to have breakfast with me?" I smiled. "Why not we have it on the lawn?" Lots of people were sitting under trees and eating their breakfast out in the sunshine. Draco looked at them a little uneasily then nodded at me.

I smiled and took his arm. He jumped at the touch, looking a little taken aback. I turned to Harry. He looked angry and shocked. Hermione was looking at me with disbelief and Ron's mouth was wide open. "I'll see you later guys." I waved goodbye.

Draco started chuckling to himself. "Their expressions were priceless." I glared at him a little. He managed to suppress his laughter but he still shook uncontrollably. Then he stopped and looked down at my hand. He seemed embarrassed. "Sorry." I said. He shook his head and managed a grin. We took our food and went to a more secluded place. Sitting under a tree, I breathed in the fresh air and smiled. Draco was looking at me again.

Draco POV

She stared back at me with those mesmerizing eyes. They were like whirlpools, sucking me in. Embarrassed, I forced myself to look away. "Pudding?" she held a spoon out to me. I grinned and accepted it.

"You're…really easy to be around with."

"Thank you." She looked pleased. A cool breeze came up and ruffled through Luna's hair. I felt the urge to touch her hair, to feel the softness. I could smell the scent of her hair. Ugh, I was beginning to sound like a creep.

"Can I touch your hair?" Her question startled me. Were we thinking about the same thing? "It just looks so soft."

"Uh…s-sure." What? Now I was stuttering? I sighed inwardly.

Slowly, she raised her hand. I braced myself. Her surprisingly gentle fingers ran through my hair. I got that tingly feeling again.

"It's really soft." She confirmed. Smiling a little to herself, she continued eating her food.

I decided to seize the opportunity. "Uh, Luna," she turned and looked at me. "I was wondering…if you could help me a little on potions. I'm…suck at drawing the flux weed."

I almost hit myself. That was the most pathetic excuse ever.

"Sure."

I didn't expect that answer. I expected her to turn me down, to tell me what a pathetic excuse that was just to get close to her. Instead, she accepted without so much a thought.

"Do you want to study together at the library after this, then?" Her big blue eyes trained on mine. I could feel my face flushing. Those eyes just made me lose concentration. They were so hypnotizing.

"O…o…okay" I managed to reply.

She smiled back at me and that dreamy look came over her face again.

"What are you thinking about?" I blurted out.

"My mother." She replied softly.

Slowly I looked away. I knew about her mother. From my father. My father hated her family, sometimes going on and on about how disgusting they were during dinner. I regretted not standing up for her then. But then I was the stupid proud-ass Malfoy, only concerned about popularity and what not.

"Shall we go now?" She jumped up, holding her hand out to me.

Staring at her hand, I accepted it. It felt soft and warm next to my cold skin. She didn't seem to mind at all. Still holding my hand, she led me to the library.

There weren't much people around, but those that saw gawked at us. I didn't mind much, actually. It was comforting just to know that she was there. With me. I liked the sound of that. She's mine.