A/N Here is the third installment of Falling For a Nargle! I haven't gotten any reviews yet… :( So if you're a writer, you know how it feels. I NEED REVIEWS TO BOOST MY MOOD. Best wishes to any who read this…
Disclaimer: The last time I checked, Harry Potter does NOT belong to me!
The next day, Lucius's answer arrived. Draco unfolded the letter eagerly and read:
Draco,
You seem to really like this girl. Since I know that Astoria is a bit too young for you, I will give this new girl a chance. But, if she proves unworthy of her bloodline then you shall tell me immediately. Now, who is this girl?
-Lucius
Draco practically jumped for joy when he read the letter. But his heart sunk when he read the last line. What was he going to tell his father? His father, the man that tortured Muggles and Blood Traitors… What would he do to Luna?
Draco decided right then and there that he wouldn't answer the letter. Better Lucius think something happened to him than come kill Luna.
Luna looked over at the Slytherin table. Draco caught her eye, and she smiled. She smiled. Of course, Luna smiled at everyone; but Ginny touched her arm and glanced over at Draco again, and Luna blushed. She blushed. Luna never blushed! She never got embarrassed! That was what made her unique!
Oh well, the fact remained that she broke custom for him. Which made Draco quite excited. Did she…? No, he wouldn't answer that question until he was absolutely sure that rejection wouldn't exist between them.
But still…
After lunch, when everyone was gone, Draco stalked over to Ginny and cornered her.
She rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"I want to know about Luna," he told her. Sure, it was a big risk, but it was definitely worth it.
"What about Luna?" asked Ginny warily.
"Does she like me?" demanded Draco.
Ginny put her hands on her hips. "Now why would I tell you that, Malfoy?" she answered hotly.
Draco rolled his eyes. "If you hadn't figured it out yet, weasel, I happen to like Luna. So I wanted to know if she likes me back." Did he sound like a Muggle boy starving for information? Yes. Did he care? No.
Ginny's jaw dropped. "You like… you like… Luna? I mean, there were some rumors about Hermione… But Luna? You like Luna?"
Draco sighed, exasperated. "Yes. And- wait- there are rumors about me and Granger? Are you serious?"
Ginny looked faintly surprised. "Yeah. You didn't know that?"
Draco shook his head.
"Well, anyway, you wanted to know about Luna. Keep my name out of it, but she really likes you Malfoy. You're one lucky guy, Luna's the best!" said Ginny.
"I know," Draco assured her.
Suddenly, Ginny's eyes widened. Then she shoved Draco out of the way and ran out of the Hall. Draco heard crying, but it didn't sound like Ginny.
Ginny tore after Luna, and followed her to just outside Ravenclaw Tower.
Luna's face was tear-streaked. Her usually distant and wandering eyes were sharp and red-rimmed. Ginny had never seen her friend like this.
"How could you, Ginny?" Luna asked. She opened the Ravenclaw door, flew inside, and slammed it shut behind her.
Ginny was sure it wouldn't open again for a while, so she knew she had to answer the question herself. Ginny knocked the eagle knocker.
"Why must one tell the truth?" it asked. Ginny puzzled.
She finally answered, "So that one might not hurt another from keeping it."
"Fair answer," it replied, and a lock clicked. Ginny pushed the door open gently.
She saw Luna sitting on a star-patterned couch, her head in her hands. Ginny sat down next to her.
"You know I like him, Ginny!" wailed Luna. "Why would you do that to me?"
Now Ginny was confused. "Do what?"
Luna sniffed. "You know… be with Draco."
Ginny's jaw dropped. "Wait. You think…" Then she laughed. "Luna! He cornered me!"
Luna glared at her.
"But not because he likes me," added Ginny. "He demanded to know about you. He really likes you Luna, and he's a really lucky guy! I, personally, don't like him very much at all. But I guess you could be with worse people, right? Like Ron or someone…" she shuddered. "Anyway, he likes you, Luna, not me."
Luna sniffed again. "Really?"
"I'm completely serious!" announced Ginny.
Luna smiled and hugged her friend. Then she told her, "You know, if anyone catches you in here, you'll get in huge trouble."
Ginny laughed. "But I got in on my own! Anyway, I have to go now. Hermione will be wondering where I went…"
She left the tower, and Luna sat on that couch for a long while, smiling into the fire.
Meanwhile, Draco had gone back to his Common Room in the hope of a little sleep, but he had no such luck.
Draco had been napping for only about an hour when the castle shook with an announcement.
"Students, please assemble in the Great Hall for an important announcement," rang the voice of Professor McGonagall.
Everyone immediately bolted out of their Common Rooms or wherever they had been, and began making their way to the Great Hall.
When Draco got there, he sat down at his normal table along with the other Slytherins.
Professor McGonagall stepped up to the podium. "Hello." There was a mumbled reply from the student body. "As the Yule Ball was so very popular last year, the staff has decided to recreate it. Yes, this means that during Christmas break, there will be another school-wide dance, located right here in the Great Hall. I hope you will all be happy with the arrangements, because, while you will not be required to go, it would increase your fun over winter break. That is all, you may all go back to your activities." Everyone started walking away.
Draco thought about this. In some ways, it was horrible; someone could ask Luna to the dance before he got up the nerve to. In other ways, it was wonderful; Luna could agree to dance with him, and they would live happily ever after forever.
But just after they were dismissed, Professor Umbridge stepped up to the podium. "If all the Inquisitorial Squad would stay, it would be most appreciated," she said.
So, knowing there was no way to get out of it, Draco stayed. After everyone was gone, Umbridge led them back to her office. She produced a bunch of wooden chairs for them to sit in, while she took her place behind her desk.
Umbridge clasped her hands in front of her. "I have a plan," she said. "We are going to surprise the brats early. We were going to knock down their little headquarters after break, but now seems the best time.
She pointed to the half of the room that included Draco. "You all will help me capture the criminals." She pointed to the other side. "The rest of you will look for stragglers in the bathrooms and library, and everywhere else."
Draco filled with dread. He would have to capture the rebels… that included Luna. If he was in league with the people that captured her, she would never forgive him. Ever.
And that wouldn't work for Draco.
So he had to come up with a plan… but how?
The day came all too soon.
Umbridge had them all prepare themselves for the worst. But, all in all, it wasn't going to be that hard.
Suddenly, Draco had an idea. They were going to raid the Room of Requirement any minute now, so why couldn't he warn them? Draco walked off into a separate room and called for Dobby.
The elf instantly appeared. "Yes, Draco?"
"Dobby, I want you to warn Harry Potter and the others that we are coming to take over their rebellion."
Dobby's eyes grew even huger than normal, and he disappeared with a loud crack.
Now that that was taken care of, maybe Draco wouldn't have to hold Luna captive at all! But he never had good luck…
After a few minutes, Umbridge said, "It's time."
All of the Inquisitorial Squad marched up to the seventh floor, and to the exact position the door had been where Draco saw it. A feeling of dread almost overwhelmed him, but he held it down, determined not to show fear in front of Umbridge.
The Professor blasted a whole through the wall. Draco saw that some people had left already. His heart sank; Luna was still there.
Draco cast a Tripping Jinx on Harry, and did a Summoning Charm on Luna. She looked like she was about to cry, but he knew that it was just an act.
"Why would you do this to us, Draco?" she whispered furiously.
"It was against my will. If you want to escape, you have to follow my lead, and I promise I'll get you guys out." Luna looked suspicious, but she saw the look on Draco's face and nodded slightly.
He dragged her to Umbridge's office, where she sat in a hard wooden chair, looking bored. The others, however, were trying to fight.
After a while, Umbridge was led out by a trick that Granger pulled. She pretended to cry and give in, but everyone except Umbridge saw through it. Draco suggested that he could go with Umbridge, but he knew she'd say no. Now his father couldn't say he didn't try.
A few minutes after she left, Draco pulled out his wand. The others in the Inquisitorial Squad laughed, thinking that Draco was going to jinx the prisoners. But instead, he pointed his wand at Montauk and Stupified him.
The Inquisitorial Squad fell silent, then drew their wands and pointed them at Draco. He calmly Stupified every last one of them, and then turned to Dumbledore's Army.
"You guys have to get out of here," he said. They nodded fervently. Draco untied them all and pulled off their gags. They all thanked him and left, except for Luna. She stayed for a little while.
"Thank you, Draco," she said, "and will the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks help you." She said it solemnly, and then smiled. She hugged Draco and left.
ONE MONTH LATER
It had been revealed to the Wizarding world that Voldemort back the day that Dumbledore's Army was caught.
It was now winter break, and Draco still hadn't asked Luna to the dance.
One day, he gritted his teeth…
