Three

"What do you think of Professor Firenze, Kagome?" Luna Lovegood sighed dreamily, looking up toward the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall. "Isn't it fascinating to have a centaur so knowledgeable about the movement of the planets and future? Professor Trelawney always talked about such minor subjects, but Professor Firenze has such a vast knowledge on the universe."

The Gryffindor glanced at her Ravenclaw friend, as she replied, "Well, Professor Firenze has made the year pretty interesting so far. I still feel sorry for Professor Trelawney, though. Professor Umbridge really had no right to decide who could stay inside Hogwarts."

Luna nodded sadly, saying, "Yes. Professor Trelawney was so very upset."

"I'm glad that Professor Dumbledore allowed her to remain in Hogwarts." Higurashi Kagome smiled mostly to herself, as she thought of the owl-like woman and her enormous spectacles. Quietly, she added, "I'm actually thinking about visiting her office sometime later this evening if I can convince Harry to let me borrow his invisibility cloak."

Luna giggled in response, knowing that her Gryffindor friend was rather known for her recklessness. "But," she reminded her, "wandering the halls at night is forbidden."

The Gryffindor smiled in return, saying, "Ah, but it's only forbidden if you're caught."

"Another hobby of yours, Higurashi?"

Luna blinked, watching as Kagome stiffened considerably at the sound of the boy's voice. She, however, smiled somewhat as she looked upon the Slytherin Prince standing nearby. "Hello, Malfoy, she said. "How have your prefect duties been? Padma has recently told me that she has had the unfortunate pleasure of having to find quite a few items taken by Nargles."

Draco Malfoy did not so much as gift the Ravenclaw with an odd glance, as he sneered down at the Gryffindor seated next to her. "What's the matter, Higurashi?" he asked. "Did Gryffindor finally realize that you're a squib? Force you to sit at the Ravenclaw table?"

Her face flushing slightly, Kagome huffed at the Slytherin. Then, she snapped, "For your information, Malfoy, I was having a rather pleasant time with my friend before you came along."

"Ah, yes, I'm certain that you were having a marvelous time with," Draco paused for a moment, smirking darkly, "Loony, was it?"

"Her name is Luna," Kagome growled.

"No," Draco replied. He shook his head lightly, and allowed himself a moment to look somewhat inquisitive on the subject. Then, he continued, "I do believe you're mistaken, Higurashi. Her name is Loony from what I understand."

The Gryffindor girl was suddenly on her feet, as she snarled, "You know damn well that her name is Luna, you insufferable prat!"

"Detention," he stated simply.

"W-what?"

"Tonight," he continued after a moment, smirking wider, "at nine o'clock."

"On what grounds?" Kagome spat. She could not believe the nerve of him!

"Insulting another student," he replied. "A prefect, no less, in the Great Hall. Honestly, Higurashi, there are much better ways to get your point across than immediately insulting another person as if you're better than them."

Luna blinked curiously, as the Slytherin boy finally turned on his heel and walked away with the same smirk plastered across his lips. Then, turning her attention to Kagome, she said, "Did you know that some boys like to pick on and tease girls that they like?"

Kagome sputtered wildly, as she turned toward her Ravenclaw friend. The day in the Divination tower a few weeks prior immediately rushed back to her, and she felt her entire face turn white with the very thought. "No!" she gulped. "Just what are you trying to insinuate, Luna?"

"Oh," Luna turned her head, gazing off into the distance for a moment. A smile touched her face, as she finally said, "It's nothing really. I merely heard the saying quite some time ago from Lavender, and thought that it might explain why he only chooses to torment you every day."

"That is ridiculous," Kagome said.

Noticing the way the Gryffindor glanced away from her with that familiar glazed look in her eye, Luna smiled a little more. It was obvious that her friend had no desire to divulge in whatever she had seen in the moment she lifted the veil. So, she simply said, "Of course it is."