He would not – absolutely WOULD NOT – talk to Luna Lovegood ever again.
EVER.
Now, he was very serious about this. Draco tried to occupy his mind with school work, bullying first-years, snogging Pansy, and trash talking Potter amongst fellow Slytherins. He and Luna had not crossed paths during this time, as it should be… Until, he came around the hall, and spotted Luna with Harry at the very far end of the corridor.
Anger, it swelled in his chest as the tall blond rooted in place. This had not been the first time he's ever seen her with Harry; in fact, she was bloody always with Harry! But this moment, he hated it for reasons he could not explain.
She says I'm like her. She's a nutter. Walk away, walk away… The back of his mind prodded him, and yet, he did not walk away. Draco drew closer, and hid around a corner.
"Your arm looks better, Harry," Luna said in her gentle voice.
"Well, it is," Harry hoisted his healed arm in the air for just a moment, and then dropped it back to his side, his features now seriously, "Listen; there's something I need to talk to you about."
"I figured. You've never taken me somewhere private to speak before. Is it serious?"
Draco frowned.
"I'm not sure, yet," Harry faced her, green eyes boring into her own pale ones, "Hermione tells me, you…you…bloody hell how do I say this- you fancy Malfoy! There, I said it. Now is it true?"
There was a pause, and Draco did not dare to look around the wall, although he desperately wanted to see the look on Luna's face. Still, he stayed against the wall, intently listening.
"Well, I do think he's quite interesting."
"So it's true then! Luna, no, you can't-" Harry paused, sighed, and tried to maintain his anger, "You saw what he did to me during the Quidditch game. He's bad news, Luna."
Stupid Potter, Draco growled lowly.
"I only want to be his friend," Luna replied innocently. Her tone had not changed, as always. "We are alike, you see. Outcasts, in our own ways."
"What? You're not an outcast, Luna," Harry said sincerely.
Draco wanted to gag at Potter's kindness.
"Oh, but I am. No need to lie to me, Harry. I already know you're the only one that wants to be around me."
"Don't say that, Luna. People just misunderstand you."
"Much like people do to Draco, yes?"
"It's Malfoy. And no. You're nothing like him. Malfoy's a pathetic no good Slytherin, but you're- you're Luna Lovegood."
'Pathetic no good Slytherin'? You'd better watch your mouth, Potter!
"I'm not sure I get what you're saying, but I can tell you care a great deal about me. Thank you."
Harry let out a frustrated sound, "Luna! Just- just promise me you won't try to befriend Malfoy."
Draco waited for her to give some sort of response, and when he only heard soft footsteps, he had to peer around the wall to see what had happened. Luna just skipped away.
/
The Forbidden Forest, which was not so forbidden in Luna's eyes. Her routine walks consisted of going out into the forest, usually on the weekend at noon, like today. She liked to feed the Thestrals, and walk across the grounds barefoot, and hum over the glistening ponds.
This area was quiet, peaceful (against popular belief of the forest being dangerous) and it was often the place where she and Harry talked. Only, Harry talked to her in the corridor earlier that week and didn't seem to want to speak to her again afterwards, and now, someone had appeared as his replacement.
"What are you doing?" Draco demanded.
Luna didn't have to look to know it was him, but she still turned, wanting to see the platinum haired boy she hadn't spoken to in a while either. "Walking," she replied as she was heading down the dirt path, leading into the depths of the forest. "Care to join me?"
"Join you in there? You're bloody kidding me, it's dangerous."
There was a brief silence, as she only stared at him. Eventually, he mumbled, "Fine."
And so he joined her on her walk.
She seemed to be eerily in tune with nature. She loved to place her hands against the trees, whistle to the birds, and call out to any mysterious creature lurking nearby. Draco, on the other hand, walked behind of her with alarm. Any creature that even dared to approach would receive a cold stare from Draco, and possibly the end to his wand.
"You're scared of this place?" Luna's voice chimed.
"No!" Draco snapped, "This forest is just filthy."
"You don't appreciate nature, Draco."
"To hell with nature."
Luna was quiet.
They stopped at a small creek, and it was the first thing Draco considered pleasant during the entire walk round the forest. Luna bent down and began untying her shoes, placing them carefully beside a tree. "W-what are you doing?" Draco stammered, surprised as she moved to the water and placed her left foot in.
"I'm going to go swimming."
"WHAT? Loony, get back here!" Like an overprotective guardian, Draco closed in the space between him and the small Ravenclaw, snatching her wrist. She twisted round as he pulled her back, and stumbled over her feet, her face landing into his chest.
They stayed there like that for a moment, until she tilted her head back to meet his eyes. "Draco?"
He dropped her wrist, stepping back, "You need to be more careful, Lovegood."
She nodded, her tiny lips curving.
"You don't want to go swimming?"
"No, I don't," he bit out, arms crossing over his chest, "What part of, this place is filthy and dangerous, do you not comprehend?"
"I'm actually quite smart, Draco, and I find nothing about this forest harmful."
"Smart or not, you're a loon."
"…I see."
Draco twitched, what sort of comeback was that?
"But if you despise this place so much, why come here with me?" Luna smiled.
"First of all, get that bloody look off your face. Second, I came because someone has to make sure you don't do something stupid and get yourself eaten by giant spiders or something."
"So you were worried about me?"
His mouth fell open, but words could not come out.
"That's very sweet of you-"
"I was NOT worried," Draco immediately regained his composure, "I don't care about you. I feel sorry for you; didn't I tell you that before?"
Her head tilted, and there was a deathly silence in the air as she examined him. Draco gulped. He hated when she did this, it was as if she were trying to read him like a book, and Draco did not want to be easily read. He wanted to be feared, and worshiped, yet she would not submit.
Suddenly, she turned back to the water, "I want to go swimming."
"NO, damn it!"
He tried to grab her, losing his footing, and fell forward into her tiny frame. She let out a squak, and him a bloody yell before they fell together into the water.
"Help meh! Somebody help meh! I'm drowning, drowing!"
Draco splashed around helplessly.
"No you're not," Luna stood up, the water only being waist-deep.
/
"I'm worried about Luna," Harry hissed, hands clenching the sides to the Marauder's Map. Hermione and Ron peered over his shoulder, seeing the names and close footsteps of an unbelievable pair.
Draco Malfoy ~ Luna Lovegood
Believe it or not, they were together on castle grounds. Harry knew something like this was going to happen the moment Hermione warned him.
"Maybe it's nothing," Hermione lamely defended, "Maybe they're just sharing a few words and that's all."
"Really, 'Mione!" Harry lashed out, "You really think nothing's going on at all?"
"Loony is a bit naïve," Ron tossed in, "If we don't do something, who knows how Draco will treat her?"
Harry's jaw clenched as he tapped his wand against the map, "Mischief managed."
And yet, the thought of their names wandering the map together burned in his mind.
/
"Are you upset?"
"Gee, what do you think?"
"It's only water."
"Only water- ONLY WATER? My shoes are ruined, and I'm sure they're worth more than your whole bloody house! If you even have one," Draco stormed towards the castle, drenched and upset like an overgrown blond puppy. Luna's walk was much more calm, but she could still keep up with Draco.
Her long hair created a dripping wet curtain around her face. The feeling of being dipped in water was merely pleasant for the girl.
"I do have a house," She replied, her tone relaxed.
"DAMN IT! I don't CARE about your stupid house, Lovegood!"
"You should, it's quite lovely."
"UGH- I just don't get you!" He spun around at her, face rather close to hers, as his pale strands fell over his eyes. She stopped and looked at him, puzzled. "You're too bloody different. Everything about you pisses me off. You even defended me to Potter, Potter."
For a moment, she actually appeared surprised, "What do you mean?"
"I heard your whole conversation with Potter- how he wants you to stay away from me and- you want to be my friend..." Voice quickly falling, Draco had to look away.
"I do want to be your friend..." Luna's voice was a mere whisper.
"Draco!" Someone called out much too soon. Draco's body stiffened; he knew who would be approaching.
Pansy Parkinson.
Review Responses. I appreciate you all so much!
offintomickky: Thank you so much, I wish I could update sooner. Except I have school, urrgg XD
Pistachio Rules: I've always thought Draco and Luna were very much alike! In appearance, and society, they both get disliked a lot. D:
KaramelKat: Thank you! I never intended for this story to be funny, it just sort of happened XD
cmonteith: Wow, you think this is well written? I'm so flattered. And I know, I ship them SO hard! People should write more about them.
xxAlisonxx: Yes, I'm trying to stay true to their characters, even though its so HARD.
PeopleSayImLooney: I really do want a best friend like Luna haha. Glad you like the story!
Cadentia: Yes! Haha, DRUNA DRUNA DRUNA XD
DZAuthor AKA DZMom: Thank you. If Druna ever happened, I definitely picture it like this. xD Draco just getting mad ALL the time.
Ravenclaw221: Oh how we all adore frustrated Draco. :) But thank you, I'm trying hard to make this couple interesting.
Cherry Stained Blood x: Thank you. Even though you don't read fanfiction much, I do hope you keep reading this one. =)
