— n i n e —
drago

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"The nargles would not let me sleep." Lovegood muttered to Harry Potter who was drinking a cup of glass in the kitchen. Luna had made some pumpkin pastries and pudding using all the muggle items that Hermione had told her. She found the oven to be a very interesting machine. Potter grabbed a piece of pumpkin pastry and sat down at the stool opposite to Luna. His face was down and Luna frowned.

She wanted to start a conversation. "Did you notice any changes Harry Potter?" Luna asked, her voice chirpy and filled with a little drop of excitement. She was referring to the other two residents in the house. Potter shook his head, unusually quiet.

Lovegood noticed something different about him. He kept staring at the cup of water, never drinking it and Luna wondered why. The Ravenclaw narrowed her eyes towards Harry. After a few seconds, she later noticed that he was looking at his own reflection on the water. Harry Potter was staring at it like he had never seen his face before. Luna observed the way he looked at his reflection, letting him think for awhile.

"Life is only a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see." Luna said softly, making Harry Potter look up at her for a second before he dropped his head down again. Luna sighed, before taking another pumpkin pastry in her hand. She looked around and smiled at the sight of The Gryffindor Princess and The Slytherin Prince sitting together. Hermione was positioned opposite to Draco. She was reading a book, in her hands. The Potions Book. Hermione was concentrating very hard, that she didn't notice the way Draco was looking at her. Luna, never in a million years thought that she would see this sight.

Draco Malfoy looked at her like the way she needed to be looked at. The whole world would crumble and he wouldn't blink. Like he was a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. Luna smiled at the lovely sight. She never really thought that Ron was fit for Hermione. He was a good man, but he was not interesting enough for Hermione. The Gryffindor Princess needed someone thrilling and new, that's what she seeks. She needed a man to hold her down and prevent her from flying away. She needed a challenge, an equal intellect. She needed a man to get into deep intelligent conversations with.

Will Draco Malfoy, the defected deatheater, fit the equation?

A relationship according to Luna Lovegood — Two people who equal each other out and are there for each other no matter what.

Luna was not going to play matchmaker. Not at a time like this. Instead, she would stand by the sidelines and watch them evolve out of their differences and change. She liked seeing people change for the better. But, she was not going to spoil it either. She would help unknowingly if they ever have problems.

At this point, Draco Malfoy, Former Death Eater, seemed vulnerable. His guards were all down and it was a rare sight for anyone, really. Draco Malfoy was never really a bad man according to Luna Lovegood. He was just forced into a world he didn't want to be a part of. She hoped Hermione realised that soon.

"Do you want some chocolate frogs?" Draco asked quietly as he knelt down beside a battered Luna Lovegood. She was in the dark dungeon in the Malfoy Manor.

"Oh, yes please." Lovegood replied excitedly. Draco handed her some chocolate frogs, careful not to let them escape and cause a chaos.

"Any bruises?" Draco asked before checking behind to see if there was anyone. It was a routine. Luna Lovegood, grabbing a bite out of the chocolate frog pointed to her forehead. Draco silently cast a healing spell but didn't cast one to wipe away the blood. The others would find out, and it would be a deadly sight.

"Look, Lovegood." Draco sighed. "I can't do anymore right now. It's only because Mother is Bellatrix's Sister and Father is a Death Eater that I am not in here with you. But, if there was something I could do, to keep my Mother safe, I might be able to help." Draco explained, worry line adorning his forehead but his face had the stern demeanour.

Luna nodded. "I understand. You are doing it for your Mother. There is nothing wrong with that Draco Malfoy." Luna's voice sounded chirpy, even if she was bruised, dirty and locked in a dungeon. Luna Lovegood's personality confused Draco, yet again. It was a puzzle to him. He stood up, brushed dirt off his coat before walking away from the dungeon.

The Ravenclaw recalled the memory. Yes, Draco Malfoy was always a good man.

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"ELECTUS SERPENS DRAGO." Lovegood muttered, looking at the words written across the head of the small skull. She was using a weird looking device to take a closer look. "I wonder what that means. It sounds interesting." Luna said, before walking away.

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed once again as she sat opposite to Draco. She never left Draco's side after what happened last night. She had been trying to figure out what was wrong. Draco couldn't help but feel his heart warm up at her concern. The wheels in Hermione's head were turning nonstop, trying to figure out this puzzle. Draco sighed before he looked at Potter who was staring out the window.

Draco pressed his lips into a thin line.

"We need to get to Flourish and Blotts." Hermione said, and looked towards Potter who turned to look at her. He seemed calm, and something was off with him.

"Yeah." Potter shrugged before looking back out the window. He narrowed his grey eyes at him. Something was definitely wrong with him. Since morning, Potter had been avoiding anyone's gaze. He never really talked to anyone. Draco Malfoy noticed everything. He gripped on his wand tight and stood up from his seat. He could feel Hermione's curious glances but ignored them. Draco realised moments later that Harry was never really looking at the window. He was looking at his own reflection like he was looking at his face for the first time.

"Is the infamous Potter checking to see if he is beautiful today?" Draco spat. "Still ugly, I'm sure."

Potter turned around, looking annoyed, "Sod off, Malfoy." Potter started walking away, his face down as he avoided anyone's eye contact. Draco narrowed his eyes before taking two long strides towards him. Draco fisted his shirt, grabbing him by the collar before pushing him back to the wall. Draco lifted his wand, pointing it at Harry Potter's neck. Hermione stood up, grabbing her wand and not understanding the situation at all. Lovegood followed closely behind.

"You are hiding something." Draco spat and Potter's eyes widened. "Don't you think it's a bad time to hide things?" Draco heard faint sounds of Hermione's footsteps. Her hand fell on top of Draco Malfoy's black coat. "Stop it, Draco." Hermione said softly but Draco was determined.

Another voice interrupted, belonging to the blonde Ravenclaw. "What are you hiding Harry? Is it something to do with the missing scar of yours?"

Immediately, Hermione and Draco's eyes widened, along with Harry's as he looked up, realising he had been caught. Hermione narrowed her eyes before pulling Draco away gently. She went in front and pulled his dark hair up to see the missing scar. Hermione's eyes widened and Harry sighed. "Where is your scar, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"How do I know, 'Mione?" Potter asked. "All I know is that, I woke up and saw my scarless face in the mirror."

There was silence for awhile. "Isn't it a good thing? You always hated the scar, Harry." Luna chirped calmly and Hermione frowned.

"It's not a good thing." Hermione said. "Why would the scar be gone?" She started pacing back and forth, the wheels in her head turning. She seemed frustrated. She stopped. "Did Voldemort give up or something?" She asked, making a face as she heard how ridiculous it sounded.

Draco scoffed, slanting against the wall near Potter was standing. "He didn't give up when he couldn't kill you even before you could wipe the drool off your face. He's not going to give up that easily. Believe me. He's obsessed with you. He talks about you all the time." Draco rolled his eyes, receiving a glare from Gra—Hermione. "But, that doesn't explain why the scar is gone." Draco added immediately, looking smug.

"We really need to go out there and search for clues. We need to know where he is hiding. We need to find answers to so many questions. Why is the scar gone? Why is Draco's hand burnin—"

"'Mione, calm down." Potter said, his eyes narrowing at Malfoy. Potter noticed the way Hermione said Draco. Harry Potter didn't know how to feel about that.

Hermione sighed, placing her hands on her hips. The war had definitely taken a huge toll on her. She had lost weight just in the past few weeks. Her eyes seemed tired. There were eye bags present beneath them. Draco Malfoy sighed. She need some rest.

"We leave first thing tomorrow morning." Draco said, his tone indicating finality as his lips pressed into a thin line. Everyone muttered murmurs of agreement before walking away.