Chapter 7

Luna read the note one more time,

Luna,

Meet me in the Dungeons at 1am

Draco

(P.S. burn this after you read it)

She didn’t know why Draco wanted to meet her, especially at one in the morning but she was ready to go anyway. It was a quarter to one so she got dressed, threw the note in the fire and crept down to the dungeons. Luckily she wasn’t caught by anyone or she would have a lot of explaining to do. She walked into the potions room and sat down, waiting. She was sure that Draco wouldn’t show up, so when he did she was a little surprised.

“You came,” she said.

Draco raised an eyebrow, “well yeah, I asked you to come here so why wouldn’t I show up?”

Luna shrugged, “This could have been another prank, although I’m glad it isn’t, the flobberworm mucus took forever to get out of my hair.”

“Sorry about that,” he said, and he looked like he meant it too.

“So what did you want?” Luna asked.

Draco looked at her, “I think we should work together to rid the halls of these nasty rumours.”

Luna blinked, “but... wouldn’t people seeing us together just make them think the rumours are true?”

“Not if they see me pranking you,” Draco grinned.

Luna sighed, she could see the logic in that but she still didn’t like it, “alright, fine what are you going to do?”

Draco shook his head teasingly, “I’m not telling. It has to be a surprise or it won’t look real.”

Luna gulped, “nothing too bad though right?”

“We’ll see,” Draco said smirking.

With that happy note, Draco left the dungeons. Pranking Luna would be a win win situation; he’d get rid of the rumours and hopefully, this weird feeling he got whenever he was around her. Maybe he just needed to prank her really badly to make that go away.

For the next few days, Luna was on edge thinking that Draco would prank her at any minute. She would see him in the hallways and he would give her a sly grin that sent shivers up her spine. Hermione and Ginny noticed something was wrong but didn’t say anything, instead they tried to distract her by talking about their girl’s night out. The first trip to Hogsmeade approached quickly and before she knew it, Luna was walking through the streets of Hogsmeade with Ginny and Hermione. She hoped that for one night she could forget about the whole Draco mess and just have fun.

“Dean was definitely a good kisser,” Ginny giggled, pausing to take a sip of her butterbeer, “but he just wasn’t my type.”

Hermione nodded, “If you want a good kisser, you should try snogging Victor Krum,” she giggled as well.

Luna listened quietly, as the girls talked about their ex-boyfriends. She’d had one or two boyfriends as well but it had never lasted long enough for a kiss.

“Luna, what about you, do you have any ex’s that are good kissers?” Hermione asked, smiling.

“I haven’t had my first kiss,” she said in her light airy voice, “I’m waiting for that special someone.”

Ginny and Hermione both smiled dreamily and then the topic changed and the girls were chattering away again. Soon they left the three broomsticks and walked around Hogsmeade. They went to Zonkos joke shop and had a good time laughing at the ridiculous products there. Then they headed to Honeydukes and stocked up on candy for that night. After all the excitement at Hogsmeade the girls were happy to return to the castle for their sleepover. Around eleven, Luna left her common room with her bag and made her way to the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as smoothly as when she crept to the dungeons. On her way, she heard a small mew and looked down startled to see Mrs. Norris out for her nightly patrol. The cat ran off to get Filch with its head held high.

Luna needed to hide before Filch got there or she’d be in a heap of trouble. She was thinking about places to hide when suddenly a door appeared on the blank wall next to her, under the troll tapestry. She quickly entered the room and shut the door behind her, hoping Filch wouldn’t think to check there. A few minutes later, she could hear the grumbling of Filch approaching followed by the gentle, innocent mews of Mrs. Norris. Luna held her breath, staying as quiet as she could.

“There’s no need to be quiet... he can’t hear you,” a voice from behind her said. She jumped, surprised that she wasn’t alone. Luna turned quickly, wand raised in case this person decided to hurt her. She lowered her wand once she saw that it was only Draco.

“Why do I keep running into you like this?” She whispered, putting her wand away, “and what do you mean he can’t hear us? He’s right outside!”

Draco shook his head, “do you even know what room this is?” He asked in a rather loud voice.

Luna shushed him, “no, but does that really matter?”

“This is the room of requirement; it tends to your needs. You asked for a hiding place didn’t you? Well that’s what it gave you; no one can hear you while you’re in here.”

She looked at him surprised, “no one?”

“Not a living soul, and besides Filch couldn’t get in here if he did hear you because the door is gone. No one will see you unless they ask for a hiding place as well.”

“Why did you ask for a hiding place, Draco?” She asked.

Draco didn’t really want to say. He hadn’t been hiding himself, but an object; an object that he was going to use as part of the prank. Of course he couldn’t tell Luna that or she might search for it. He started thinking about the prank again, going over all of the things he needed in his head.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to,” Luna said, and then she looked at him, “oh, I’m sorry I interrupted a thought didn’t I?”

“Well yes but... how can you tell?”

“I can see it growing smaller in your-“

“Eyes,” he finished for her, “you seem to be able to tell a lot about me by my eyes can’t you?”

Luna smiled slightly, “your eyes tell all. That’s what my father always says.”

“Are you looking at my eyes a lot? Bet you can’t tear your eyes away,” Draco smirked.

Luna blushed and, although Draco kept up his haughty smirk, he was surprised. He hadn’t thought that she actually peaked at his eyes sometimes. For some reason the thought made him kind of happy.

“So, um, are you going to tell me what you’re doing in here?” Luna asked, trying to change the subject.

Draco shook his head, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

They heard Filch muttering about students out of bed before leaving. Luna opened the door a crack and peaked out to make sure he was really gone. Luckily, he was and Luna picked up her bag about to leave.

“Where are you going?” Draco asked curiously.

“If you must know, I’m having a sleepover with Ginny and Hermione.”

Draco raised an eyebrow and looked like he was about to speak but Luna interrupted him.

“-and don’t you dare mention anything about mudbloods or blood traitors.”

“Actually,” he said, “I was just going to say have fun.”

“Oh,” Luna said, feeling bad for accusing him, “well, thank you then. I will.”

“Good night,” Draco said as she left.

“Good night Draco.”