Chapter 14

Confession

"Your sure, Draco?" Snape asked watching his favourite Slytherin closely over the desk.

Draco sighed, he was lounging back in the most comfortable chair in the room, "Yes, I'm certain, Creevey took the pictures, Seamus Fingan changed them,"

"How do you know?"

He sighed again, "I just know."

"Who else is involved?" Snape wondered linking his fingers together.

Draco shrugged, "My guess would be Weasley and Longbottom, but I can't prove it because I don't know where they meet."

Snape was silent for a few minutes, just sitting and contemplating what Draco had said, "What about Potter and the others? Anymore information?"

"None, and unless I find out where they are nothing is going to help is it?"

"Where are you getting this information from, Draco?"

Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Suppose we say that's my business."

The muscles in Snape's face tightened at the reply but he said nothing in contrast. "I have heard from your father, Draco, a letter arrived late last night. Apparently the Weasley's are to be arrested, so your information was of some help."

Draco snorted, "what good will that do?"

"We are hoping that it will bring Harry Potter out of hiding to try to help them. He is rather fond of those people." Snape replied with a sneer. "I am not sure how effective this will be, but anything is worth a try."

"Potter will turn up." Draco said, "He can't resist playing the hero."

Snape only nodded and bent over some parchment as a sign that the meeting was over. Just as Draco reached the door Snape spoke quietly, "It wouldn't be a good thing if the Head Girl was involved in all of this, Draco."

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean just that." Snape glanced up at him, "She would receive a severe punishment as one of Potter's friends who was deemed trustworthy enough to help run the school, and then went and threw the goodwill back in the faces of those in charge. The Carrow's do not like to be humiliated, Draco."

"I don't know if she's involved or not." Draco replied stiffly. He kept his face blank but his heart was speeding inside his chest, his fright at Snape's warning curling through him.

Snape turned away from him and stared out of the window over the grounds. "I wonder if you think I am blind, Draco?"

He blinked, "What? Why would I think that?"

Snape sighed heavily, "I am not an idiot, Draco. I can see perfectly well what is between you and Miss Lovegood, perhaps, " he added thoughtfully, "I see more than you do."

He scowled, "I don't know what your talking about."

"Fine, if that's how you want to play it." Snape agreed with a sardonic smile. "Here, this letter for you came with mine, it's from your father. I already know the contents of course."

Draco moved to retrieve the letter, opening it he scanned the contents quickly, the blood draining from his face he glanced up at Snape trying to portray the image of a young man who was not afraid of the order his Master was issuing. Swallowing nervously he nodded, "This is fine."

"As you know, Draco, Miss Lovegood is currently under my guardianship, it is down to me to ensure her safety at the present time." He fixed Draco with a knowing look. "If you care at all, Draco I would suggest that you keep your distance."

Draco didn't reply but quickly left the room. He would have to find out for certain what Luna's involvement was in this rebellion, he wasn't totally sure how good Snape's protection of her would be against the fury of the Carrow's. But he had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't tell him if he just asked her, but he didn't want to trick her into telling him either.

Perhaps if he brought the subject up and let her know what the consequences would be to those involved she would pull out on her own accord? At least he hoped so, after all, she was a Ravenclaw, she was smart.

Running his hands through his hair Draco hurried along the corridors to his class room, he had potions right now but it wouldn't matter if he was late, Slughorn wasn't likely to dock him house points or even give him detention, not with Slughorn being Head of Slytherin and extremely aware of who he was.

Draco was annoyed to enter the potions class to find the only available seat was next to Pansy. She on the other hand looked delighted by the outcome and flashed him a generous smile when he slumped into the seat next to her.

Biting on his bottom lip Draco scribbled out the class notes from the board and allowed Pansy to chatter at him and make the potion while he totally ignored her. How could a day that had started off so lovely turn so bad so quickly?

It felt like days ago since he woke up in front of the fire with Luna wrapped up in his arms not merely a few hours ago. This whole keeping her safe business was going to be a lot more complicated than he first thought, he needed to get her to admit to her involvement in everything, but how to do it was a mystery to him.

"Draco, are you ok?"

"What?" He looked blankly up at Pansy.

Pansy frowned down at him, "I said are you ok? You seem a bit out of it."

"I'm fine." He muttered.

She pressed her palm to his forehead, "Your hot, did you sleep last night?"

"I said I'm fine." Draco replied between grit teeth as she began to smooth his forehead. "I'm not a cat, stop doing that,"

"I think perhaps you should go and lie down, you're very snappy." Pansy observed stroking his hair.

"That's because you won't leave me alone, not because I'm ill! Will you stop behaving like you're my girlfriend, your not!" Draco lost his temper and yelled angrily at her. "Just leave me alone, Pansy!"

"Is there a problem, Mr Malfoy?" Slughorn asked coming over to their desk.

Pansy's face was bright red and she focused her eyes on the bubbling caldron in front of her. Draco was also aware that all eyes in the room were on them. Scowling with complete annoyance he nodded his head vigorously, "Yes I have a problem, she is my problem." He told Slughorn pointing an accusing finger at Pansy.

"Perhaps you could keep your private affairs private, Mr Malfoy." Slughorn suggested looking uncomfortable.

Draco's annoyance grew at this suggestion, "She is not my private affairs, Pansy is nothing to do with my private affairs! I've had enough of this, my father is going to hear about this." Angrily he stood up and stalked from the room.

He knew he wasn't going to tell his father anything, there was nothing to tell him apart from the fact that Pansy did nothing but irritate him, his father had a lot more to worry about than things like that. But Slughorn didn't know that and he would enjoy watching the professor who had slighted him since he first arrived at Hogwarts worry and sweat for a few days.

Draco decided to skip the rest of his lessons, he even missed lunch, but he was waiting outside the charms classroom for Luna when she emerged to walk her back to the common room in an effort to stop her meeting with the other rebellious students.

Luna had no choice but to go back with him, she couldn't tell him she what she was supposed to be doing so she meekly allowed him to escort her back. "How has your day been?"

"Shit. I didn't go to class today." Draco replied, all his anger seemed to disappear whenever Luna was around and he felt a lot more relaxed than he had earlier. "You looked a bit put out that I came to meet you. Afraid your friends might figure out there's something going on between us?"

Luna shook her head, "I don't think they would believe me if I told them. Who would believe that you would want me?" She asked quietly.

Draco paused in the entrance to their common room, but Luna walked past him and up the stairs. He stared at her retreating back totally stunned, she had thrown him completely. Quickly he followed her, taking the stairs two at a time. He arrived in her room just as she was retrieving her skirt from the floor, Draco took a few seconds to admire her underwear before speaking, "What are you talking about, Luna?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him as she hung up her school clothes, "Just what I said. Who would believe that Draco Malfoy would be interested in Loony Lovegood, blood traitor and friend of Harry Potter? Sometimes, " she added with a small sigh, "I don't really believe it."

"Why not?" A lump had formed in his throat at her words and he suddenly had the burning urge to hex everyone who had ever made fun of Luna into oblivion.

She shrugged delicately, "Because we're so different and I'm… me, I guess."

Draco frowned, "What does that mean?"

"It's strange, after being on the outside for so long to now be involved in something, and I guess sometimes it feels as if it's not really real." Luna admitted truthfully her voice low, the dreaminess gone from her.

"Not real?" Draco spluttered in shock. He crossed the room to her in three long strides, scooping her up against him before she had even registered he had moved. "How can you say that? You of all people? How can you say that this isn't real?"

"Because I've been alone for so long," She whispered lowering her head to get away from the anger she saw in his eyes.

Draco was angry, not at Luna but at everyone else, himself included for making her believe she wasn't good enough. And he was hurt as well, hurt that Luna would have misgivings about him now, after everything that had passed between them she still had reservations. "How can you doubt me, Luna?" He wondered, "You didn't doubt me when I kissed you for the first time did you? You didn't doubt me the first time I touched you. Why now?"

When she didn't reply he cupped her chin, forcing her head back. "Why now?" He persisted.

Luna wet her lips nervously, "because… because I'm scared."

"Of me?" This time it was impossible for him to hide the pain he felt at her words.

She shook her head quickly, "No, of how I feel about you, of how I feel when we're together. I… I'm falling in love with you, Draco."