Chapter nine:
Missing You
The night passed and the next day came. Draco had barely slept that night from the stress and pressure that surrounded him. Classes went on as usual and Draco had to sit through his Slytherin house yapping and staring at him the entire time when they had meals. After the last class, Draco then had to attend an hour long detention with McGonagall to complete one of five, as it was a school week detention. As punishment, McGonagall had him stack books in order before dusting off her book shelves. Later that night, Draco had taken an apple to the vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement, testing it out after fixing it to the best of his ability. Placing the apple in the cabinet, he closed it and spoke the incantation softly. "Harmonia Nectere Passus." Draco spoke in a whisper not once but twice. Suddenly, there was a swift, light noise and Draco then decided to open the door of the cabinet. Spotting his apple had disappeared, he closed the cabinet once again muttered the incantation, waiting a little longer this time. Opening once more, Draco saw his apple again but upon picking it up, he noticed there was a bite in it.
Hermione was upset about what went on during the Gryffindor celebration with Ron and Lavender kissed. They had to find dates to the Slug club party and Hermione secretly asked Cormac Mclaggen instead of Ron but Harry didn't have a date, but heeding Hermione's warning against taking just anyone, he figured he would find someone cool and logical. Luna was in the Great Hall reading when Harry came up to her. "Hey Luna." Harry greeted. Luna set her book down and smiled at Harry, though inside she was a little sad. "Hi Harry." Luna replied. Harry found out by word of mouth from his group of friends that Luna had split from Draco and thought he could cheer her up. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to Slughorn's party with me tonight?" Harry asked. Luna took a moment to think, feeling bad that he was Draco's rival yet he was her friend too. "I would love to go." Luna replied. They then went back to their dormitories and got ready for the party, meeting down the hallway.
Luna wore a spiraled, silver dress that uniquely represented Luna while Harry was in basic black. Draco had just gotten out of the Room of Requirement and began to pass the birdcage that hung above before hiding behind a pillar, spotting Luna with Harry dressed for a party. Draco felt the fire of jealousy rise up within him, watching as she took Harry's hand made the jealousy even worse for Draco even though for Luna, it was just a friendship she had with Harry. As they began to walk, Draco hid himself in the corridor on some stairs, the pillar hiding some view of him. "I've never been to this part of the castle. At least not while awake. I sleepwalk, you see. It's why I wear shoes to bed." Luna explained as she walked with Harry towards the Christmas music playing from the party. When they entered the party, Slughorn greeted them before going to other people while Luna spoke with a stout, bespectacled man named Eldred Worple. "Hello dear, I'm Eldred Worple." Eldred introduced. "I'm Luna Lovegood." Luna said softly as she took in the fancy party decor. "Lovegood, did you say? I once encountered a seriously unbalanced man by that name at a book signing. Claimed to run a magazine..." Eldred stated, Luna had walked off, talking to the man while Harry walked off, finding Hermione hidden behind a curtain, trying to hide from Cormac. "Yes, that's my father, Xenophilius. He writes the Quibbler." she replied .
Meanwhile, Draco found himself caught up in jealousy so he decided to gate-crash the party without being invited. Wearing his all black suit, he lingered in the corridor near the party, attempting to spy on Harry and Luna before Filch caught him. "What are you doing here in this corridor? Not supposed to be out of bed after hours." Filch spewed. Draco glared. "I was invited to Slughorn's party, you cretin." Draco sneered. Filch grabbed Draco from the back collar of his coat and gripped his forearm, dragging him into the party while Draco attempted to get loose from Filch's grip. "Take your hands off me, you filthy squib!" Draco spat out in frustration. Everyone turned their attention to the scene that played by the entrance, including Luna's attention. "Professor Slughorn, sir! I've just discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party." Filch addressed. Draco had gave up on the struggle from Filch's grip upon noticing Luna's eyes on him, locking eyes for a mere second. "Okay, okay, I was gate-crashing. Happy?" Draco confessed, looking away from Luna and found Snape approaching him. "I'll escort him out." Snape told Filch. Draco then forced himself free from Filch's grip, piercing his eyes at Snape. "Certainly... Professor." Draco said, a little hostile. Slughorn had excused the interruption since it was a day before Christmas Eve therefore Draco wasn't punished. Luna figured he had seen her come to the party with Harry and it was why he was lurking, possibly. She didn't know why else he would try to crash the party.
Snape had escorted Draco out of the party and to the furthest empty, murky hallway in which of course, Harry couldn't help but follow them from afar to overhear them from the other hall that connected at the corner. "Did you hex Katie Bell, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape asked bluntly, blocking Draco from walking further as Draco slumped against the wall. "Maybe I did hex that Bell girl. Maybe I didn't. Either way, she wasn't the target. What's it to you?" Draco replied, refusing to tell the truth. "I swore to protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow-" Snape explained before being interrupted by Draco. "I don't need protection. I was chosen for this! Out of all others. Me! And I won't fail him." Draco snapped. Draco didn't want to mess up this mission and risk facing the consequences alone if someone helped him. He wanted to prove that he wasn't useless either. "You're afraid, Draco. You attempt to conceal it, but it's obvious. Let me assist you!" Snape practically begged Draco to let him help, as Snape knew more than the students knew concerning Dumbledore and Voldemort. "No! I was chosen. This is my moment!" Draco reassured, losing his temper. Harry had overheard everything and knew his suspicions were true, feeling bad for Luna who has no idea what Draco has been up to and also that Draco was attempting something but wasn't sure what it was.
Draco and Snape had left the hallway and down the staircase to the bottom level to the dungeons where Snape escorted him. Harry stayed there for a moment to let it sink in before he began to walk back, running into Luna who had been looking for him. "I was wondering where you went." Luna stated. Harry sighed. "Sorry, i just needed some fresh air." Harry stated. Luna had an expression of sadness on her face when she nodded. "Is everything okay, Luna?" Harry asked. Luna shrugged. "Just seeing Draco tonight, he seemed upset. More so hurt. I feel bad, Harry." Luna explained. Harry didn't know what to exactly say but after what he heard, he knew it was best if Luna kept her distance from Draco. "I think its good that you give him time to clear his head. He's been acting quite odd lately." Harry explained. Luna remained quiet. "I think its best that you keep your distance from Draco...i just overheard him and Professor Snape...he's not good, Luna." Harry added, hoping she would heed his warning. Luna sighed. "I suppose." she replied, thinking that he's possibly stressed or getting sick.
It was the next morning and everyone had gotten on the Hogwarts Express to go home for Winter break in which they left Christmas Eve and returned a day after New Years. Draco walked past Harry and Hermione in their compartment as he boarded the Hogwarts Express, glancing a glare at Harry before passing by them towards the back where he normally sat. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows as a few others passed by before Luna joined them in the compartment. "He looks different, don't you think? Almost... ill." Hermione pointed out to Harry. "Who could tell the difference?" Harry replied, bitter towards his rival, Draco. Luna got curious. "Who looks ill?" Luna asked. Hermione looked at Luna, her expression fell to concern. "Draco." Hermione said hesitantly. Luna looked down for a moment, obviously worried before looking back up to them. "Maybe i should talk to him." Luna replied. Harry glanced over at Luna. "I don't think its a good idea." Harry insisted. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Why not?" Hermione asked. Harry felt awkward in discussing what he heard. "I overheard Draco and Snape talking last night. He's up to something and i honestly think he's a death eater." Harry speculated. Luna darted her eyes at Harry. "You honestly believe he's a death eater?" Hermione said in an amused tone. "I'm serious." Harry pointed out. "Then what was said?" Hermione asked. "He said he didn't want protection and that he was chosen." Harry said, leaving out the bit about the unbreakable vow until he knew what it was. Luna got up with her Quibbler and set it down before stepping out of their compartment. Hermione sighed. "It could mean anything." Hermione pointed out, Harry shrugged.
Hermione left the compartment as well to follow Luna before Ron went into the compartment with Harry. "Question...how much do you know about an unbreakable vow?" Harry asked. Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "Unbreakable Vow. You're sure that's what Snape said." Ron reassured. "Positive. Why?" Harry replied. "It's just, well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow." Ron explained. Harry rose an eyebrow. "I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough." Harry pointed out. Ron sighed. "No, you don't understand - Oh, bloody hell.." Ron began to speak before spotting Lavender through the glass of the door, fogging it up before drawing a heart, making Ron uneasy before leaving. "Lovely." Harry commented. "All she wants to do is snog me. My lips are getting chapped. Look." Ron insisted. Harry began chuckling. "I'll take your word for it." Harry claimed before bringing it up again. "So what happens? If you break an Unbreakable Vow?" he asked again. Ron sighed. "You die." Ron stated. Meanwhile, Luna had made her way to the back of the train, spotting Draco sitting practically by himself near the window despite his Slytherin cronies being nearby in other compartments, even Blaise didn't sit near him. Luna approached and slid into the seat across from him while Hermione watched from a distance to make sure she was okay - it was a Slytherin area after all.
Draco kept his eyes staring out the window while Luna sat there. Of course he noticed her presence but didn't have anything to say since she broke up with him. Luna noticed that Draco did look a little ill and felt bad. "Draco." Luna spoke softly. Draco inadvertently looked at her in the corner of his eye before looking back through the window at the snowy green pasture of hills. Luna frowned. "Please look at me." Luna pleaded. Draco then turned his attention onto Luna. Luna noticed he had looked very tiresome. "What is going on?" Luna asked in concern. Draco looked down, knowing it wasn't hard to tell by his actions and appearance that he was acting different. Hermione left them to go back to the compartment with Harry but noticed Ron there and the foggy glass, causing her to walk off. "Doesn't matter." Draco muttered in reply to Luna, his expression remained morose. Luna furrowed her eyebrows. "Of course it does-" Luna stated before the train came to a stop as they arrived in London. "Stop acting like you care...you're just getting information for Potter." Draco replied in a careless tone, of course it was of hurt. He stood up and began grabbing his things. "Draco, that's not true!" Luna said in frustration. Draco looked at her for a mere second as he gripped his walking stick and brief case as everyone left their trunks at Hogwarts over the holiday break. "I saw you with Potter last night...doesn't matter." Draco remarked in a snarky tone before walking down the train to get off and onto the platform. Draco had a mix of hurt from the break up and jealousy within him on top of the stress he was enduring but of course he hated treating Luna like he did.
Luna sat there in shock of what he said before getting up and leaving the train as well along with everyone. While everyone was on Christmas break, Draco remained in his bedroom at the Malfoy manor most of the time. His mother, Narcissa, was still at home but that was it. His mother felt bad for her son having to do such a hard task and pampered him while he was home, attempted to make him eat more but Draco was stubborn. It was empty most of the time besides Bellatrix popping in to check on how Draco's mission was going once before disappearing again to inform Voldemort. The guilt fled over him on not only how he lost Luna but now how he spoke to her. He figured along with all this stress over the mission that basically was ruining his life, he had possibly lost Luna - the one person he showed his real self to. At the thought of that, Draco found himself alone in his large bedroom, crying. From time to time, he had thought of writing Luna but refrained himself. Meanwhile, Luna was at home with her father and he could tell that she was a little down about something. "Mind telling me what's on your mind, pumpkin?" Xenophilius asked. Luna sighed as she sat on the chair in their tiny living room. "Well, i broke up with Draco...because he's been distant because of something, i suppose pressure from his parents. He wouldn't tell me. I feel bad now because he looks rather ill now." Luna explained. Xenophilius felt bad for his daughter. "Last i heard his father was in Azkaban, perhaps he's going through a lot with losing him. Don't feel bad...he knows he lost a gem. He will come around, i hope." Xenophilius told his daughter. During the holiday break, Harry had stayed with the Weasleys and had gotten information from Arthur suspecting Draco was interested in a vanishing cabinet.
After the holiday break had came to an end, everyone had gotten back onto the Hogwarts express to go back to the school. Draco of course sat in the back like usual but his skin still was grayed and his weight was still the same despite losing some of his eye bags over the break. When the train arrived back at Hogwarts, everyone got settled back in and Draco began walking along the hall to spot the birdcage once more, figuring an idea to use a living thing to test out the vanishing cabinet later before making his way to detention once again but this time he had to finish his missing assignments. A couple months had passed and the night came, it was stormy with lightning and thunder. Draco had gone up the hall on the seventh floor to head into the Room of Requirement but first, with the lightning bolt that had struck outside, Draco had snatched the white bird from the birdcage before sneaking up the corridor while Harry had been on the same floor but only saw shadows.
Harry followed the shadow up the corridor to find no one around - Draco had entered the Room of Requirement. While in the Room of Requirement, Draco had opened the vanishing cabinet and placed the white bird in it and closed the cabinet. "Harmonia Nectere Passus." he spoke the incantation. He opened the cabinet and the bird was gone. He closed the door once more, speaking the incantation. Draco finds a white feather clung to the cuff of his jacket and takes it, turns it in the light. He looks at it briefly before he turns back to the cabinet and slowly opens it to find the bird appear again but dead. Draco stands there alone and whimpering for a while, witnessing exactly how dangerous the death eaters are and the pressure of this mission getting to him. Meanwhile, Luna was doing her schoolwork from the first day back after the holidays and often thought about getting back with Draco despite his behavior.
It was the next morning and the rumors about Ron almost dying from tampered mead that Slughorn had, having Dumbledore find out that Slughorn was going to deliver it to him but forgot and Harry having to save him. The trio sat in the Great Hall for breakfast, Luna joined them at the table as they paid attention to Lavender who was upset from being dumped by Ron in the hospital wing. Katie Bell had returned from St. Mungos after being cursed by the necklace that morning after being gone for a few months. "That's Katie. That's Katie Bell." Hermione pointed out to Harry. Harry then got up and went over to her to ask questions. "How are you, Katie?" Harry asked. Katie sighed. "I know you're going to ask, Harry. But I don't know who cursed me. I've tried to remember. Honestly, but I just...can't." Katie trailed off before looking over Harry to spot Draco walking into the Great Hall after testing out the last bird from the cage into the vanishing cabinet, her expression falling blank. Luna noticed Draco arrive as well before watching him leave nervously. Harry looked over to see Draco's expression stunned before Draco decided to flee the Great Hall.
Luna got up and ran after Draco before Harry followed. Draco had sweat on his forehead as he steadily walked down the hall, loosening his Slytherin tie before entering the boy's bathroom. Upon entering, Draco approached the sink with a mirror facing him before quickly removing his sweater vest over his head and leaned over the sink, looking up at his reflection noticing how much stress has affected him. Draco then began to break down crying as he crouched over the sink in tears. Then moments later, he spotted a figure in the corner mirror - it was Luna. Spotting her in the doorway, Draco turned around fast to see that Luna was there despite the mirror. Luna witnessed him crying and knew something he was hiding must have been very bad. "Draco, i want to talk to you..." Luna said softly, she didn't know exactly what to say but said something. "I don't like seeing you hurt." she added. Draco had paused for a moment from his breakdown and as he was about to respond, Harry showed up and stepped in front of Luna and took a couple steps inside. Draco's expression changed, worried about being exposed and he instantly casted a spell at Harry but missed and hit a lamp in the bathroom, causing it to shatter. Harry draws his own wand and casted a spell that hits a cistern before Draco ducked, causing water to spew out to the ceiling and rain to the ground. Draco was full of rage having Harry there, fueled by hate and jealousy before he casted another spell, having it hit a corner wall where Harry ran behind before silence became deafening with the sound of running water. Luna had stood there stunned at the fight going on before her eyes, hoping they would come to their senses before anyone got hurt. Harry then bent down on the ground to look under the row of stalls before Draco had the same idea and shot a spell at Harry, causing Harry to stand up and run down the walkway, passing the stalls. Draco appears and points his wand at Harry. "Cruci-" Draco was about to cast one of the unforgivable curses before Harry cut him off, hitting him with a spell. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" Harry casted, not knowing what it would cause but had only read the scribbles in his potion book.
Draco had fell onto the puddle of water on the floor of the bathroom, blood spurting from his face and slashes oozing with blood along his body as the water around him turned into a pool of blood. Once Luna saw Draco get hit, she ran down the hall to find a professor. "Help! I need help!" Luna shouted in panic. Luckily, Snape had just turned the corner after not only hearing the ruckus from down the hall but Luna's pleas for help. "Professor Snape, Harry and Draco were fighting and Draco is seriously hurt." Luna stated as she followed Snape. "Where?" Snape said in a rushed tone. "Boys bathroom." Luna replied, following him back to the boy's bathroom. As Luna approached the bathroom doorway, she peered in to see Snape rush over to Draco who was laying in a pool of his own blood and whimpering in pain. He didn't want to die. Harry slowly approached towards Draco before coming to a halt. "Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me!" Draco spat out to Harry through his whimpering. Harry looked at Snape before Snape looked back at him, causing Harry to feel guilty and leave the bathroom. Luna stood there watching Snape sit down and do the counter curse as she dared to step into the boy's bathroom and stand a couple steps away across from Draco. "Vulnera Sanentur..." Snape repeated several times as his wand went over every wound, the blood in the pool of water drawing back into Draco.
As Snape did the counter curse, Draco turned his attention to Luna in order to focus on something positive for a moment as his wounds were getting healed before he would have to return to his stressful life trying to fulfill this mission. Luna locked her eyes with Draco's as he was being healed, in shock that Harry would do such a thing. After Snape was finished with the counter curse, Draco's wounds had gotten healed despite a couple blood stains on his water soaked cut up shirt. Snape sent Draco to the hospital wing to make sure he was one hundred percent healed and Luna followed. Meanwhile, Harry told Hermione, Ron and Ginny what he had done from guilt and Harry and Ginny went up to the Room of Requirement to hide the potions book with the scribbles before discovering the vanishing cabinet and opening it to see the black bird fly out of it. In the hospital wing, Draco laid on the bed in his cut up shirt while Luna sat beside him and watched as Snape talked to Madam Pomfrey before leaving and she went to check his chest and face before pouring something in a cup for him to drink. "Drink this, it should make sure there's nothing internally wrong." Pomfrey insisted. Draco took the cup and took a gulp, squinting his eyes to the taste of sourness before laying his head back down on the bed. "I can't believe Harry did that." Luna said softly. Draco sighed. "Well, your new boyfriend almost killed me." Draco replied, of course in jealousy. Luna frowned. "Harry is not my boyfriend, he's just a friend." Luna corrected him. Before looking down at her hands before looking at him again. "So, you're not with Potter?" Draco asked. Luna knew right there that Draco was jealous. "No. I only feel that way about you." Luna confessed.
Draco felt a little relieved on that part before taking another sip from the cup, again it was sour. "Ugh, this is absolutely disgusting." Draco said out loud. Pomfrey looked over at Draco from another student's bedside. "What did you think it was? Pumpkin juice?" Pomfrey stated. Draco rolled his eyes. Luna was giggling. "Want some?" Draco offered Luna who shook her head. "No." she replied, still giggling. Draco scrunched his nose after seeing how much he had left to ingest as Luna calmed down. "I am worried about you though. Didn't like seeing you cry. I miss you." Luna stated, once again taking his hand into hers. Draco missed her too but he still had to finish his mission, he had no choice. "Honestly...I've missed you too, more than you could Imagine." Draco trailed off, looking down at their hands as he got lost in his thoughts. Luna smiled at his words, she could tell that he did too especially when he broke into the Christmas party. "I think our break should be over, you know. If you want." Luna insisted. Draco looked back up at her, thinking. He knew once he killed Dumbledore, he wouldn't be welcomed back to the school, at least for the rest of the year and Luna would no longer trust him. "i do...but one thing...for whatever reason, please don't change your mind about me." Draco replied, making sure his dark mark wasn't showing. Luna tilted her head a little as she looked at Draco, furrowing her eyebrows. "I won't. Like last time with Umbridge, then your dad, i know it's not the real you." Luna explained. Draco hoped that she would not go back on her words. "I trust you." Luna added. Draco then was convinced she trusted him. "Good." Draco replied.
Draco set the cup down on the table next to him and began to sit up on the bed. Pomfrey had exited the room with the other student who was healed which left the hospital wing empty with just he and Luna. Draco placed his right hand onto Luna's left cheek and pulled her into a kiss, kissing her softly as she gave into it. Draco, deep inside, truly missed Luna. The kiss was then interrupted when Madam Pomfrey walked in which left them feeling awkward. "Oh, sitting up are we? You must be feeling better, Mr. Malfoy. Best be up and on your way." Pomfrey ordered. Draco then got up and walked out of the hospital wing with Luna. Little did they know, within the next day, Draco would be face to face with Dumbledore.
