Hello again. I'm sorry that it has been a while. No one was reviewing and I got a little discouraged. But I'm determined to keep this story going. Please review as it is the only way I know if you guys like it or not. Also, this chapter is a little on the shorter side but the next few chapters will be longer.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the universe from the Harry Potter series. The only thing I own is the story, Virginia Moore and Shelby Hill, and One-Liners and Needles. The rest belongs to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 4:
It had been a few days since I sent my return letter to Luna and I have been spending those days pulling my hair out in frustration. I cannot seem to find a job anywhere. I have even applied to the Daily Prophet but even they won't touch me with a 5 meter pole. You know job searching is going to be impossible when an establishment that hires people like Rita Seeker won't even consider you. It seems that everyone is being rather picky about the whole "Deatheater" thing. I don't blame them. What the Deatheaters did is unspeakable and I was apart of it. I was one of them. If I were an employer I wouldn't want me either. However, that aside, I do need a job. We would be fine for now but we can't last like this for much longer. Voldemort had been a drain on out family's coffers and we didn't have much left. Our once great wealth was now only evident in outside appearance of the manor and the items inside of it. The last thing I wanted was to sell our possessions party because most of it had been in our family for years but also because it would kill my most to see our things go.
I needed a job. We needed an income. However, expressing need is not going to fix anything. Well, neither is pacing but I can't seem to stop. It seems that when I'm not agonizing about the future or the past, I'm pacing and waiting anxiously for Luna's reply. I want to see her again so badly. Her calm, collected demeanour would be soothing now with all the stress I've been under. I just want to take a step back from all of my worries and relax. I want to pretend that they don't exist and let the vice I put around my neck loosen, even for just a moment. I don't know why but Luna gives me that. I may have only spoken with her once but even the letters have been a great distraction. When I read her letter or am composing my own, I only have the present on my mind. I wasn't feeling guilty over my past or worrying about the future. I was only thinking of what I was doing at that exact moment. It was a relief beyond anything I've ever felt and I wanted to feel it again.
So here I am, pacing in front of the window in the owlry for the third time today. As I approach the end of my usual rut, I stop in my tracks. What if her letter isn't coming? I was rather forward in my last letter. I barely know this girls and not but a few days ago I asked her to meet with me. What if she doesn't want to meet with me? Should I have conversed with her more through letters before proposing this? Have I wrecked my future chances of gaining her friendship? And more importantly, why do I care so much?
My internal ramblings are silenced by Selene's cry. I feel a smile break across my face as I watch my owl soar into the owlry. Once again, the letter was attached to her foot by a blue ribbon (which, I'm embarrassed to say that I kept the last one). I rushed towards Selene so fast that she ruffled her feathers and beat her wings at me. Taking a moment to settle her, I removed the letter and began to read.
Dear Draco Malfoy,
I would love to meet up with you. I haven't left my house since the funeral and would love an outing. I was planning to spend lunch at the Leaky Cauldron in London on July 21st and would be honoured if you joined me. I hope to see you there.
Your friend,
Luna Lovegood
My face fell as I finished reading the letter. She wanted to meet on the 21st? That is today! And it's already a little past noon which means that she is currently waiting for me at the Leaky Cauldron, which isn't the most respectable of establishments. I can't go now. What would I do? What would I say? All of my anticipation is now replaced with more nerves than I've ever felt. I feel as though I may vomit. I couldn't possibly go. I also couldn't just let her sit there. It's impolite to leave a lady along in a testosterone fuelled environment. But what would I wear? How would I get there? That last one was a stupid question. I'm a wizard and, therefore, there are plenty of ways to get there. I stopped dead in my tracks (having returned to pacing this entire time) and I'm filled with determination. I march downstairs and grab my blazer. I'm already wearing a grey fitted shirt and jeans which should be appropriate. Throwing my blazer on, I grab a handful of Floo Powder with one hand and Luna's nargle-repelling necklace with the other. I pause before the fire place feeling incredibly nervous. While I knew that there was no way that I was a nervous as I had been under Voldemort's rule, I was still exceptionally nervous. However, these nerves felt different. More innocent. Putting those thoughts away for another time, I stepped into the fire place. Taking a deep breath, I exclaimed, "The Leaky Cauldron, London," and let the green fire wash over me and wash away my fears.