𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐓𝐀 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐀

Chapter 15

Jag såg på kartan,

Du är på andra sidan jorden.

Men det är samma himmel, det är samma hav

och stjärnan som jag såg

föll för alltid som vi drömmer,

föll för att vi aldrig glömmer.

. . .

I looked on the map,

You are on the other side of the earth.

But it's the same sky, it's the same sea

and the star that I saw

fell forever as we dreamed,

fell for that we never forget

"Tänd ett ljus" ("Lighten a candle"), Triad

It came as a happy surprise when the whole eighth year was informed that their Potions class after lunch had been cancelled. Apparently Professor Slughorn had slipped when he was trying to steal potions ingredients from Professor Sprout's plantations. He had slipped fleeing from Hagrid as he was checking on the greenhouses and Slughorn wasn't going to be let out of the hospital wing until tomorrow. McGonagall had promised Sprout that she would make sure that this would never happen again.

So Harry, Malfoy and all the others went back to their common room directly after lunch.

Harry was a bit bewildered when he saw Nott following and sitting down rather close to Malfoy, but didn't think too much about it. He was still a bit in shock about what he had realized, and didn't quite know how to act around Malfoy any more.

He's still the exact same person, he said to himself, but that didn't stop him from staring at the blond.

"You realize that if you keep staring like that the whole class will think that you actually have a crush on Malfoy," Neville whispered in his ear and Harry didn't miss a beat.

"You realize that if you keep glancing over at Parkinson like that the whole class will think you're actually crushing on her." Neville's face was scarlet when Harry turned to look at him, and he couldn't help but smile. "So you're in the same boat as me."

"And exactly is that boat?" Neville asked through his embarrassment.

"No bloody idea..."

"How did you know? I mean the only reason you figured out Ron and Hermione was because it was practically punching you in the face."

"I didn't. Malfoy did." Neville's face went white in two seconds flat. "He elbowed me last night and made me look up at you when you were sneaking glances of her."

"Trust a Slytherin to see that. He's going to kill me..." Neville turned his gaze to Malfoy who was sitting between Parkinson and Nott and Harry saw fear and also rebellion fight for supremacy over his friend's face.

"I think he's okay with it, actually," Harry offered.

"What? Are you bloody kidding me? This is Draco Malfoy we are talking about, and I'm looking at his girlfriend!" Neville was incredulous.