1 year later
"So Draco, who's going to be your date to the Yule ball this year?" Pansy asked- all while twirling her hair like a bimbo. Draco looked at the flyer that was floating around the school reminding everyone of the annual dance. He looked around the table looking at all his friends looking at him expectantly. Obviously, they were all expecting him to ask Pansy.
It had been more than a year since that day when Luna had accepted his proposition. He wasn't one for anniversaries but somehow a bouquet of flowers had ended up on her bedside when she has gone up at the end of that day. He wasn't one for public displays but they somehow still found themselves making out in various parts of the castle/ school.
The only problem that seemed to go unnoticed by one of them- and it isn't so obvious who- was that they still found a way to keep their relationship out of the public eye. They didn't sit together at meals, nor did they during the potions class that they both shared. He didn't stand up for her whenever the other Slytherin teased her. He would try to find a way to deter their dimwitted attention but sometimes he would even be the one to throw out a comment here and there.
But he did keep his promise for the most part. They were dating and he kept them from laying a finger on her. There was always an invisible force keeping the other Slytherins away when they got too close. Or he would make a lazy excuse to distract them but sadly it was probably at her emotional expense.
Luna didn't mind. Or at least… she told herself that she didn't. She knew that she would have problems with her Gryffindor friends if they had found out that she was dating a future death eater. She knew so much about him and same for him to her. But some force was keeping them from holding hands when walking from class to class or going out on dates to the Three Broomsticks or even going to the dance last year. Draco had made a claim that he had to go home during that time and didn't come back until New Years.
Luna didn't mind.
Which was why she couldn't help but glance at him as he looked at the invitation. No one noticed her glances because no one noticed the still-freak. But she was hoping that this year, he would come to her and actually ask her out like all the others that wanted to take their dates out. In fact, she wouldn't have minded asking him.
"Nah, the Yule Ball is stupid. Too many misfits, blood traitors and mudbloods in one place. No way in hell that I would be going," he said pompously. She wondered which one he classified her as if those were the only people that would be going to that enchanting night.
He had already classified her as all three in the past.
Draco glanced at Luna who was sitting a few feet away quietly reading the Quibbler. But she was obviously aware of everything that he was saying. He bashed himself in the head a few times for being so loud mouthed. He was aware that Luna wanted to go but if anyone found out about them, he would be the laughing stock of his house team and she would be the traitor of hers.
"Come off Draco, everyone knows that you're going to go with Pansy so don't be such a moron and get on with it," Blaise smirked. Crabbe and Goyle chortled unattractively.
Luna laughed inwardly, knowing that he had them there. There was no way that…
"Well, whatever, I had nothing better to do that day," he shrugged albeit a little uncomfortably to the eyes of his house team members. Luna gawked up at him. She smacked her book shut and got up to walk away, slinging her book bag around her arm before shuffling away.
Obviously, Draco was aware of the girl walking away with as much pride as a girl with Radish earrings could have.
"Well, I have to get to transfiguration, otherwise McGonagall will transfigure my arse," he stated, walking away from the group of dimwitted men and the giggly triumphant girl.
He had to go find his girlfriend. He didn't have transfiguration until next period anyways.
He didn't need to get too far. They both made sure that they kept their spare for this time and always ended up going to one place during this time. The fields near the whomping willow. Where no one could seem to get anywhere close to without getting smacked in the face but seemed to have taken a special liking towards Luna and let them get as close as they wanted.
Except for today. Today it seemed as wild as usual but only towards him.
"Luna! Let me get through," he yelled, just barely dodging the tree's branches. But his yelling was futile. Luna sat at the base of the tree, knees pulled into her chest refusing to look his way. Draco didn't know how he did it, but he dodged the branches and made it to the base of the tree also, huffing and puffing, glad that he wasn't wearing his robes or the task would've been a lot more difficult.
"What the hell, Luna? The bloody tree was about to throw me across the field," he scowled at the bundled form. But when he realized that she wouldn't look up at him or say anything, he sighed and crouched down in front of her. He tried to put a hand out to touch her but she pulled away. The tree had seemed to have calmed down. He kind of wished that she had thrown a fit or punched him as soon as he said yes or did anything but this. She just sat there with her normal serene face but her eyes were glassy and emotionless. Almost as though she kind of guessed that something like this was going to happen.
Draco was ashamed. They had been dating for a year and he still refused to go out on proper dates with her or let her meet his parents. He had already met Xenophilius, who was not as crazy as everyone had said. Yes he had views on muggles that Draco had yet to agree with, but his stories about Luna and his wife fascinated him. When she had asked to meet his parents. He immediately changed the subject.
But the biggest problem was that there was no doubt. No doubt that he loved her. For almost 5 months now, ever since they became each other's firsts and she stated that he would be her last as well. He knew that he loved her. Her quirkiness and gentleness. The fact that she didn't care what others thought and was so innocently beautiful, that he didn't know when it happened but it hit him in the face when he realized it. He just didn't have the power to admit it.
Sometimes to himself, even.
"Luna. I'm sorry. You know that I can't let them find out," he sighed. Luna didn't look up but she mumbled something and Draco had to lean in to understand.
"Why not?"
"Well, B-because-"he realized he didn't have a good way of putting it without sounding like he was embarrassed of her. He must have hesitated too long because Luna straightened herself off looking as normal as normal could be for her.
"Never mind Draco. I hope you enjoy yourself at the ball," she said before getting up, brushing herself off and walking away in her pink muggle shoes that always brought him nostalgia. He stood there still and lost for nearly a whole 10 minutes. He began to walk away when he felt a harsh whap to the back of his head sending him tumbling forward. He looked up at the tree, rubbing the most likely bruised spot.
"I deserved that."
The bloody tree didn't deny it.
He walked back to the castle. And to his complete turmoil, his minions were at the gate. He must've looked like a mess because Goyle pointed it out. Blaise who was much smarter than the other pulled him aside from the fussy Parkinson and demanded to hear more of the story.
"You look like a depressed bloke, mate. What on earth happened?" Draco didn't want to say. But he knew that Blaise would find out eventually and best from him than by himself where he could easily fabricate the story. So he explained it all. And to his surprise, Blaise didn't ridicule him. In fact, he was most surprised when Blaise gave him a sheepish smile and admitted something to him.
"Ginny Weasley, 4 months."
Draco's mouth fell open. But he immediately closed it back up. At least Blaise had the guts to admit it openly.
"W-well congrats," he paused before asking him the million dollar question, "Is she your date to the Yule ball."
Blaise just smirked, "Well she is my girlfriend," he said as a matter-of-factly, "You know that I could care less about what others thought."
Draco wished that he could do the same.
He walked into his transfiguration classroom after bidding Blaise a goodbye and making a pact that they wouldn't reveal the others' secret until the time was right. He walked into the class and overheard some of the Ravenclaw girls talking but he wished that he didn't.
"Luna seemed very upset today. She botched up her Herbology assignment. She never messes up an assignment," Cho murmured. Padma snorted.
"I heard that she asked someone to the Yule Ball and he flat out rejected her. Wouldn't blame him though. She's kind, yes. But honestly, she's a freak. Cho, I don't understand how you're friends with her…"
And that was the last thing she said before her potions assignment just so happened to blow up in her face and before an angry Slytherin prince stalked out of class listening to the Indian girl's ccomplaintsand screams.
COMMENT AND VOTE!
