Chapter 21:
When the Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson was over, Draco dawdled behind the rest of the class to wait for Elena. He knew he should be making his way to his next class but he wanted to make sure she was alright. Everything she had told him about Katherine had been circulating around his head throughout the lesson and he knew standing next to the vampire that seemed to be out to ruin your life couldn't be easy.
The blonde didn't have to wait long—as soon as Snape dismissed her Elena was hurriedly gathering her stuff and heading towards both him and the door.
"You shouldn't have waited for me," she said.
"Hello to you to," he replied sarcastically before continuing softly with concern, "I just wanted to see how you were handling Katherine being here."
"I'm fine," Elena said quickly. At his look, she relented. "I am, I'm just worried about what she might be up to."
"Dumbledore won't let her do anything too drastic," he assured her. "I've got to go, but I'll see you after lunch," he added, leaning forward and lightly kissing her lips before pulling away and heading towards his next class.
-HP/VD-
Elena watched his retreating back for a few seconds before remembering she had Herbology now and practically running towards the greenhouses. As she made it outside, however, she had to skid to a halt to avoid crashing into Ron.
"Ron, what-?" She began, and then noticed both Hermione and Harry were with him.
"We just wanted to see how you were handling everything," Harry elaborated when she continued staring at them mutely.
"Yeah, especially after hearing what she's done from you," Ron added.
"Basically, what we're trying to get at is that should she cause trouble—which according to some light research I did on her after you mentioned her months ago, is highly likely—you won't have to deal with it by yourself. Or the others who came with you," Hermione concluded.
"Thank you." The brunette managed to get out, stunned. True, she had known them for quite awhile but she hadn't expected them to be willing to stand behind her when dealing with her vampire doppelganger. "Aren't we going to be late?"
"We have…" Hermione glanced down at the watch she carried with her. "…five minutes."
"We better run, then," Harry said, and the four of them took off towards the greenhouses, making it to their seats just as the bell signaling the beginning of class rung.
-HP/VD-
"Something's bothering you." Luna stated bluntly when her and Damon were alone in the classroom.
"Really? I thought everything was just peachy." The vampire replied sarcastically. As Luna continued to stare at him, a mixture of concern and steely determination along with her usual dreamy look, he sighed inaudible. "It's nothing. Just… a certain manipulative bitch I have a history with as reappeared. Looks like getting rid of her isn't easy." He finally relented, muttering the last part to himself.
"Katherine Pierce."
"No, Jane Austen." It seemed he was back to being sarcastic.
At that he noticed her lips twitch upwards at the beginnings of a smile which she quickly failed to hide. Before he knew it he was smiling along with her.
Much to his surprise, when the humor had faded Luna put her arms around him and gave him a brief hug. "You looked like you could use one," she said softly and he briefly returned it.
Just before they broke apart, Alaric's head poked around the doorway and he said with a hint of smugness, "Are you two coming?"
The blonde girl and vampire quickly sprang apart, with Damon shooting a glare at his friend who only gave a small knowing smirk in response before disappearing again.
"I think that's our cue to join the rest," he told Luna dryly.
As they proceeded to leave the classroom, he felt Luna reach over and gently grasp one of his hands in her smaller, warmer ones. "It'll be fine," she said.
He just squeezed their clasped hands in response, hoping she was right and he could get through this one time without running into Katherine and her starting something with one of them.
-HP/VD-
"Ignore them," Hermione muttered to Elena as the entirety of Herbology was spent with some of the fellow students staring at Elena every now and then. She could practically see the cogs turning in their heads while they tried to deduce how she and Katherine were so different and if they were somehow related. They were, but Elena chose not to dwell on it much.
It was kind of disturbing how she was starting to get used to it by now. That didn't mean she didn't have a hard time focusing on the task. Thankfully, they weren't working with anything that could be potentially harmful.
When it was time to leave, she was one of the first ones out the door with Hermione, Ron, and Harry following her.
"They'll stop soon." Harry offered helpfully as the four took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. "Few people stare at me anymore."
"The first years still do." Ron corrected.
"I'm already getting used to it," Elena told them. "For now I'll just keep acting like it doesn't bother me- no use giving Katherine more ammunition."
And she did just that throughout the remainder of lunch.
-HP-VD-
"This is going to be interesting," Tyler muttered as him and Draco made their way towards their next class.
"Why do you say that?" The blonde inquired, glancing at his friend.
"Damon has a…let's say, interesting, history with Katherine," the other boy replied. His tone of voice told Draco all he needed to know.
Again with Katherine. So far it appeared everyone who had come from Mystic Falls held some sort of grudge or dislike for the brunette vampire, though the only one he knew the true reason for was Elena.
Stepping into the classroom, the Slytherin's grey eyes skimmed the students that had already arrived and found Elena sitting at their usual table. He noticed how she was stubbornly staring at the front of the room.
Frowning slightly, he stood next to her and followed her line of sight to the blank stone wall.
"I don't see it. Is there something I'm missing?" Brown eyes snapped up to meet his grey ones as his voice startled her. He gave her a small smile as he sat down next to her.
"You startled me," Elena responded. "And no, there isn't. I'm just…"
"Avoiding the stares the others are still sending you at times?" He guessed. She nodded. "You're probably sick of hearing this but they'll stop soon. Very few stare at Potter anymore—well, the first years do."
"So I've heard."
"It gets annoying. You'll be trying to get to class and there will be a thong of them just standing in the middle of the corridor, gaping at him like he's Merlin himself," he continued.
Much to his delight, Elena laughed faintly at that, a smile on her face in the process.
Unfortunately, Damon and Alaric chose that moment to walk in and start class. On the bright side, those who still chose to stare at Elena stopped after being glared at by Draco and then called out by both professors.
When class was over the couple walked to the Great Hall together, telling each other how their day had gone. About halfway there an idea dawned on Draco.
"Wait here," he told her hurriedly. Confusion crossed her features but she did as he asked. He could feel her curious and puzzled gaze on his back as he hurried down the corridor and towards the kitchen.
As expected, the house elves stared at him as he entered. He couldn't blame them, knowing he hardly ever came down here to sneak food like so many of the other students.
One of them opened their mouth to ask what they could do, but he cut them off. "I need a basket if you can spare one, full of food."
They did as he asked, grabbing one of the empty baskets that once held some sort of fruit and piling it with sandwiches, sausages, treacle tarts, and crumpets. They also added two bottles of butterbeer after he requested it upon spotting some.
Briefly inclining his head in thanks—he could almost hear Elena scolding him even from where she was—he retraced his steps back to her, feeling a smug burst of satisfaction at the surprise on her face when she spotted the basket.
"You looked like you could use time away from everyone else," he said before she could ask, grabbing her hand with his free one and leading her to the grassy courtyard.
The sun was just beginning to set when they reached their destination, painting the sky with the beginnings of gold and orange hues faintly visible over the castle walls.
Settling on a soft patch of grass, Draco handed Elena one of the two butterbeers and gestured to the basket, indicating she can take whatever she wanted.
Silence reigned as the two finished a couple of the sandwiches and some of the sausages before choosing to indulge in the treacle tarts. The blonde couldn't help but smirk at Elena's blissful expression when she took a bite out of one of the tarts.
"Better than American food?" He teased.
"Mmm…not quite. But close," she replied.
The smirk morphed into a smile as he reached over and draped an arm over her shoulders, prompting the brunette to lean into him as she finished the dessert.
"Thank you," Elena said softly when she'd finished, curling just a little bit more into him.
"You're welcome," he replied.
"How did you manage to get all this food?" She asked, looking up at him.
"The kitchens," the blonde answered, shrugging nonchalantly. "The house elves are more than willing to give food to you."
"House elves?"
Mentally, Draco kicked himself for forgetting the tiny fact she hadn't grown up in the Wizarding World and therefor didn't necessarily automatically know what he was talking about.
"Tiny creatures that usually serve wizarding families until the day they die. There's a whole staff here at Hogwarts," he explained, hoping she wouldn't press further. He really didn't want to ruin this evening by admitting to how he'd treated the house elf his family used to own years ago, back when he'd been younger and quite an arse to almost everyone minus fellow Slytherins.
"Do they like it? I mean, do they not mind spending their entire lives working?"
"They love it," he assured her.
She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder while he absentmindedly began tracing nonsense on her arm lightly with his fingers. Together they sat and watched the sun set, content to just be there and let the worries of the day fade away.
-HP-VD-
Luna was practically skipping down the corridor as she made her way to the abandoned classroom her and Damon had started holding their secret meetings in.
The moonlight shone faintly through the windows and illuminated her path as she slowed down every now and then to listen for anyone else that may be up and about. Though she had a note written by Damon on the off chance she was caught, she preferred to not have that happen.
Lately—ever since the Christmas ball and the start of the new term—their meetings seemed to have…changed somewhat. There was a more comfortable atmosphere, friendly and at times almost tension filled. At times one of their gazes would linger a little too long on the other or unnecessary brushes of skin would occur as they handed off books.
The blonde didn't mind, for she was coming to the conclusion she had begun to gradually develop more than simply platonic feelings for Damon Salvatore. The question she chose not to pursue was whether he even faintly returned them.
The Ravenclaw was so caught up in her thoughts she hardly noticed the figure materialize from the shadows in front of her. Stopping suddenly, she took in the person's features.
It was a woman, whom had a curly brunette hair, brown eyes, and a very familiar face…
"Katherine," she said.
"Well, well, look who's not afraid of breaking the rules," the vampire said, moving closer. Luna didn't react. "Where are you off too at such a late hour?"
"Can't sleep," the blonde lied.
"Or maybe you're off to see a boyfriend?" Katherine fished, starting to circle the other female.
"Luna?" Damon's voice echoed, and the girl in question could practically hear his footsteps as he made his way towards her.
Something flashed in Katherine's eyes and Luna could see her begin to smirk.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd somehow gotten…" Damon continued when he spotted her, but he halted immediately when he spotted who was standing next to the unmoving blonde. "Katherine," he growled, his eyes hardening with hate and anger.
"Hello Damon. Long time no see," the brunette answered. "Finally moved on from little old Elena have you?"
The dark haired vampire didn't respond instead just continued glaring.
"I must admit, I never thought blondes were your type. Much less ones like her," she continued, resuming her circling. "Though, she is pretty—in her own way, and young."
Katherine took a step closer until she was invading Luna's personal space and moved the girl's long blonde hair away from her neck. "I wonder…what she would taste-"
She never got a chance to finish, because it was then that Damon's carefully maintained control snapped. Without really processing it, he used his enhanced speed to grab Luna and yank her away from Katherine, putting himself between the two.
He'd already lost enough because of Katherine; he wouldn't lose this however faint shot at happiness as well.
Much to his surprise, she didn't do anything else, just merely smirked a little more widely as if he'd just confirmed something. With one last look, the brunette vampire turned and disappeared back into the shadows.
It seemed he had yet to regain careful control over his emotions because after doing a quick once over to make sure Katherine hadn't done anything he found himself bending down and kissing Luna.
And if the night couldn't get more bizarre, after a few heartbeats he felt her respond and reciprocate the kiss.
-HP-VD-
I'm sorry this is late… my inspiration was dead and then band camp started. And just as my muse is coming back band camp now begins eight freakin' hours a day, meaning I probably won't be updating for awhile because I just won't have the energy. And then school starts. Sometimes my muse has the worst timing possible.
I will still work on this and my other stories, especially 'Twist of Events' and possibly 'Blood, Love, and Gold' and one of my NCIS/VD ones. Along with plotting out a Criminal Minds/Doctor Who idea that just hit me and won't leave me alone. But the updates once again might be odd.
Onto the chapter: what did you think? I enjoyed the last Damon/Luna scene, with the confrontation with Katherine. And the Draco/Elena picnic-type scene.