Notes: Random little chapter that I enjoyed writing. This chapter was a chapter I knew would be added since the beginning. Ignore the errors are enjoy!
Warning: Suicidal themes, self harm, cursing, the like
Summary: He was so far under, all he could see was her
Disclaimer: See chapter one
Reminder: Please review!
Don't turn away
(Don't give in to the pain)
Don't try to hide
(Though they're screaming your name)
"I have to ask you a question." I said sometime later. Draco turned to me, waiting for me to continue. "And I hope you don't get mad."
"What?"
"Why do we keep our relationship a secret? Is it really that horrible for people to know you're my boyfriend?" I was afraid of the answer. Loony Lovegood with a boyfriend? Who was Draco Malfoy? That's a laugh.
"Because I don't want you to get hurt." He said simply. "I'm not the best person for you."
"Draco, we talked about this-"
"No, listen." He said sternly. I immediately closed my mouth and stayed silent. "I honestly believe that people would treat you differently, treat you badly-" I gave him a look "-treat you more badly than they do now if they knew."
I blinked. "Does the fact that I'm the school freak have anything to do with it?"
He looked confused. "What do you mean?"
"You aren't embarrassed because of me, or you?"
"Of course not." He said as if it was the most ridiculous thing he ever heard. "But we will make this public," he gestured towards our intertwined hands. "Not now, and not tomorrow, but soon. I promise."
I nodded, okay with that answer. I didn't even have to wait as long as I originally thought. It was a few days later and I was hurrying to Charms. That's when I saw Mitchell Ride. And it was a second too late when I saw him stick his foot out. I tried to stop or go around it, but I tripped over it and fell flat on the ground.
I didn't move, my face feeling hot with embarrassment. I heard laughter from the group behind me. I was mortified. I wanted to die.
Then I heard a voice that made my heart stop.
"You feel tough, Ride? She's a little fifth year and you're three times her size! Did your mother drop you on your bloody head when you were born or something?"
I couldn't believe it. I knew that voice.
It was Draco.
I lifted my head to see him walking towards me. Everybody in the hall stopped and was staring. They were silent.
"Are you okay?" he whispered as he grabbed my books and put my bag onto his shoulder, I nodded as he took my hand and helped me up. "Come on Luna," he said in a normal, even loud, voice, keeping his hand tightly gripped around mine.
"You better really love me," he mumbled as the crowd parted for us.
I couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry," I told him. "I do." We turned the corner and I stopped. "Thank you." I told him. I wanted to kiss him, but I controlled myself. "Why did you do it?"
"I was tired of seeing people push you around. I've been wanting to tell Ride off for a while now."
"So, are we out now?"
He nodded before he looked away. "I hope nothing bad happens." He paused. "Or things change."
Well, he was wrong. Things did change. First, Neville Longbottom came up to me and wanted to know if I was really dating Draco Malfoy, the apparent scum of not only the wizarding world, but the world in it's completeness. I felt myself get angry, but I tried not to take it out on Neville. He didn't know Draco like I did, so him being disgusted and confused and more disgusted.
The second thing that happened was better than the first. I was going to check out a couple of books from the library when I bumped into somebody. Books fell to the floor. I bent down without looking up.
"Luna, I am so sorry!"
I froze and looked up. The seventh year Ravenclaw who told me I didn't matter not only looked frightened, but bent down and started picking up my books and handed them to me.
"Um…it's okay?" I said, though it sounded more like a question.
We both stood up. "Oh, and I'm sorry about what happened over the holiday. It was just supposed to be a joke, but I could tell you didn't get it so I figured I should tell you and apologize." She was rambling. Then it hit me. She was afraid of Draco, which made her afraid of me because I'm his girlfriend.
Without saying another word, I got the books checked out and left to find Draco. When I finally found him, he looked startled. "What has got you in such a good mood?"
"All I know is we should have told everyone we were together a long time ago."
"Why? What happened?"
I explained what had happened in the library. "She looked honestly scared to death that I would tell you to attack her or something." I frowned, realizing something. "That's what you meant about things changing."
He nodded.
"Oh, I see," I said, nodding slowly. I shouldn't have told him. "This doesn't change anything between us, does it?" I asked.
He smiled slightly. "No." He said, sounding honest, but looking worried. I decided to drop the conversation.