Chapter 12: The Date

He was floating in darkness, eye lids heavy against his eyeballs. Everything throbbed in pain. Distantly he could hear some whispering, though it didn't interest him. Slowly he could see light shining through his lids. He let out a groan.

"Draco," said a voice breathlessly.

"Luna," Draco muttered almost inaudibly. He opened his eyes slowly, forcing them to focus.

It wasn't Luna. Instead of the blonde hair and blue eyes of Luna Lovegood he was looking at Astoria Greengrass. She obviously hadn't heard his rude misnaming because a smile broke across her face making the worried etchings disappear.

"Thank goodness you're okay," she said.

"Barely," Draco said. He attempted to sit up, but paused as his ribs sent a thrill of pain up his body. He grimaced and Astoria leaped forward, holding his elbow to help him sit.

"Madam Pomfrey says you're still healing. I rushed all the way to the castle and found the aurors with Hermione Granger. They came as fast as they could and the man who attacked you left."

"Did anyone identify him," Draco asked.

"No," Astoria said sadly. She looked over him again. "Are you sure you're okay? Did you know him?"

"Old friend," Draco said slumping down. He looked moodily at the ceiling. Where were his brave Gryffindor protectors now? Abandoning him with a faulty portkey and some Knight of Templar to have at him. As if they could hear his vindictive thoughts Potter, Granger, Weasel, and Weaselette appeared in the door.

"Astoria, right," asked Granger. Astoria nodded.

"Do you mind if we have a moment with Draco," asked Potter.

Astoria looked at Draco nervously, then nodded and stood. She moved away from the bed, but paused snapping her fingers and pulling a chocolate frog from her pocket, placing it on the table next to him. Draco looked from the frog to the girl as she hurried away. What an odd girl.

"What happened, Malfoy," demanded Weasel.

Draco turned his head sharply to face the redhead. Too sharply because his neck sent a throbbing sensation down his back.

"I could ask you the same thing," Draco snapped. "Some protection you are. I get to school and get jumped by a Knight of Templar and you lot are nowhere to be found."

"You weren't suppose to show up there," Potter said.

"Really, Potter," Draco said in mock surprise. "That's not what you intended to happen? You didn't intend for my portkey to put me in the perfect secluded area for an attack? You didn't intend to get separated from me?"

"No need to be nasty, Malfoy," Weaslette snapped back, flames rising behind her eyes.

"I think this is the perfect time to be nasty, Weasley," Draco drawled back. "I almost got beaten to death and you don't even know where the bloke went. It's a wonder Potter survived seven years with you lot around."

"That's enough, Draco," Granger said firmly.

His grey eyes darted to her and narrowed in betrayal, but he fell silent and crossed his arms. He likely looked like a pouting child to them, but who needed them anyway? They hadn't been any help to him so far, so he didn't care how he looked to them.

"We found this," Potter said holding up a ring. "Does it look familiar?"

Draco said nothing arms still crossed.

"Don't be a baby," snapped Weaslette her rage getting the better of her again. Draco gave her a nasty look.

"Madam Pomfrey," he called. "Madam Pomfrey I'm feeling weak. I don't think I can have visitors yet."

The nurse came bustling out and shooed the rest away, Weaslette looking as if it was taking all her will power not to send a bat-bogey hex his way.

With the Gryffindorks sent away Draco rolled over with a hiss of pain and stared determinedly at the seat Astoria had been sitting in. He felt his face relax from it's scowl. It was lucky she had been there or he would be done. She was better protection than those git aurors. It was also nice of her to wait for him. She had looked so worried.

He smiled despite himself imagining her worried eyes. She wasn't half bad, that Astoria. He glanced at the table and reached for the chocolate frog, pulling it towards him. There was the sound of metal scrapping across the table, then a drop, and the sound of it spinning on the floor. Draco took his time, careful not to injure himself, as he leaned over to pick up the dropped metal. It was the ring.

Draco opened the chocolate frog, sticking the head in his mouth as he looked over the ring carefully. As expected it had a large cross with a crown around it, worn from years of use and a spot of blood staining it. Draco touched his cheek self consciously. He felt sure it was his blood. He turned the ring over in his hand in thought as he continued to munch the chocolate. Just as he finished the last toe he spotted some worn writing. He reached for his wand and muttered, "Lumos."

The wand tip lit and Draco held it to the inscriptions, trying to make out the writing. On one side of the ring was the expected motto of the Knights of Templar: In hoc signo vinces. As Draco turned it in his hands he could see another phrase added just beneath the cross and crown: vita ad mortem.

"Life after death," Draco said thoughtfully. He frowned. That wasn't part of the Knights of Templar saying. He put the ring back down on the table, his head feeling groggy from being awake. Half-halfheartedly he picked up the chocolate frog card. A familiar face with messy black hair and emerald eyes blinked back at him. Draco made a sound of annoyance and tossed the Harry Potter card to the floor before turning over and falling back to sleep.

Draco left the Hospital wing a few days later to find that Weaselette and Granger had gone back to ignoring him. He was fine with it. He didn't hear from Potter or Weasley either, and that was even better. In the corner of the library he drew himself into his studying. With N.E. just a few months away he wanted to get ready. He wanted to get it all over with and leave. he didn't even want the graduation ceremony. He hadn't seen Luna since his attack, but he was sure she was taking care of herself. At first he was worried, but he had no one to ask with Weaslette and Granger ignoring him. He supposed if something were really wrong they'd tell him. Maybe not.

In February Draco received a letter from his mother. The owl was an unpleasant snowy owl that pecked his hand before flying off.

Draco,

Your father and I would prefer you be at home under protection with us, but we know you want to finish school. We are here for you whenever you wish to return. Our connections in Europe would be happy to assist us if we need.

Love always,

Narcissa

Draco pushed the window of the library open to let in a breeze behind his wall of books. With a quick flip of his wand the parchment folded itself into a plane. Catching the wind it projected itself out the window and for a moment hung suspended in the air.

"Incendio," he said lazily. The plane lit into flames then disappeared into ash.

"Can I sit?"

Draco leaned back in his chair and put a foot on the table looking at Astoria who looked timidly back at him, though her head was still held high in the air.

"Sure," he said. He flicked his wand and the chair moved out for her. She smiled and sat. With another flick he pushed in the chair. She rolled her eyes though her smile widened.

"Just wanted to see how you were" Astoria said unloading her books onto the table and opening the charms book.

"Like brand new," Draco assured her.

"Good," she pushed a stray hair behind her ear.

They fell into a comfortable silence for some time until Draco heard a humming near by, growing closer. He looked up, quill posed above his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. Astoria paused as well. Well, he wasn't crazy. She heard it too.

"Where's that-" Draco began, but he spotted the source before he finished. Luna Lovegood, so elusive for the past few weeks, was standing on tip toes just one book aisle away humming to herself as if she hadn't a single care in the world.

"I think it's from Looney Lovegood," Astoria said.

"Don't call her that," snapped Draco without thinking. Astoria looked surprised, but busied herself with her homework again. Draco tried to do the same, but he could see Luna trace her hand across a book, pause, then shake her head. Not the one she was looking for. She continued humming as she moved away.

"I'll be back," Draco said. He stood and moved after Luna, determined to see what the girl was doing.

She continued to trace her finger across the book bindings as she half skipped down each aisle. She certainly was living up to her nickname, thought Draco. At the end of an especially long aisle she paused and turned, smiling at him warmly.

"Hello Draco," she said dreamily.

If it had been any other student, it would have been unnerving.

"Luna, what are you looking for?"

"You," she said with a smile.

"You saw me back there, why not just join the table."

"You were studying."

"So you just hoped I'd follow you?"

"I thought you might."

Draco made a sound of annoyance. "Where have you been?"

"Just around. I've been making a plan."

"A plan," Draco repeated.

"Yes, ever since you were attacked. Her face was etched with concern again. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Draco said. "Not that you cared enough to check when i was in the hospital wing."

"I couldn't," Luna said surprised by his insulted tone.

"Why not?"

"Because I was talking to the Headmistress about my plan."

"What is this plan?"

"I can't tell you."

Draco made another sound of frustration, this one making Luna's smile widen.

"Stop looking so pleased about it," Draco snapped.

"That's why I had to avoid you, I had to make sure it was all worked out."

"And it is?"

"Yes."

"So can I know the plan?"

"No."

Draco ran his hand through his hair annoyed. The girl was a nightmare. Luna looked apologetically at him.

"I'll tell you what," suggested Luna. "I'll tell you at Hogsmeade."

"Hogsmeade," Draco repeated in an exhausted tone.

"Yes, the next trip."

"I really don't want to see Weasleette and Granger again," Draco said. "Can't you just tell me now?"

"No," Luna said spotting a book to her left. She reached for it on tip toes, slowly moving the binding out bit by bit. Draco sighed and stood above her, pulling it down with ease and handing it to her. She looked delighted at the cover, though Draco couldn't read it through the grime on the cover. "Besides, Ginny and Hermione won't be there. They'll be with Harry and Ron."

"Why," Draco asked suspiciously. Luna looked up at him again with a smile.

"Nothing to do with you, it's just Valentines day related. Save me a seat in class tomorrow, won't you?"

The blonde went skipping and humming off and out of sight leaving Draco to realize he had just been invited to Hogsmeade for Valentines day.

A/N: SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT. ANOTHER CHAPTER IS COMING SOON! REVIEW!