Bellatrix had been bored. Being no closer to catching Harry she had become impatient. And so a game had been suggested. Draco had opted out until Bellatrix had announced the prize and had her brought out of the basement, trembling and wide eyed.
'Winner gets her for the night. Are you interested in playing now, Draco?' Draco had learnt to control his emotions, a skill which had become invaluable for moments like this.
'I'll play. I could do with someone to entertain me.'
He walked over to join his aunt at the table, feeling Luna's eyes on him as he did. He managed to stop himself from looking at her. He needed all of his concentration if he was going to be playing against his aunt. There were three other death-eaters playing but Draco could tell just from looking at them that they were no threat. Even when Bellatrix pulled out a pack of muggle cards he didn't flinch.
'We're going to do this the hard way. No magic, just pure and simple skill and luck.'
She cackled as though she was threatening them rather than explaining the rules of the game. Draco nodded, he could deal with that. He had played this way before.
And so they played.
Draco didn't look at Luna at all for the entire time he was playing. In fact he forgot about her existence. For cards you needed a cool head. And he did not have a cool head when Luna was around. But he knew the game and more importantly, he knew who he was playing against. His aunt, as erratic as she was, was so unpredictable, it made her predictable. She would play moves that were risky and up against less experienced players would have payed off. But Draco was more than experienced. He'd spent his time at Hogwarts beating some of the best cards players in the school. To the point where there was a time when half of Slytherin house owed him money. Of course, that was at a more care free time but Draco was thankful for the experience now.
Luna looked like she was about to throw up as Draco took a final card and threw down his hand. Draco noticed her shoulders relax slightly although it was the only visual sign she was relieved. Bellatrix looked from the cards to him from beneath her thick hair, grinning.
'You cheated.' Draco met her eyes.
'And you didn't?' To which Bellatrix let out a cackle of manic laughter in reply.
'Good boy.' Draco nodded cooly, standing up and taking Luna by the wrist.
'Then I'll take my prize.'
Thankfully the terror from observing the game hadn't worn off and she still looked mildly frightened as Draco lead her from the room. He pulled her at such a speed up the stairs that she stumbled as her legs struggled to keep up with him. But he didn't slow down until they had reached his room. Throwing Luna through the door, he slammed it behind him. Luna stared at him wide eyed, desperately trying to get her breath back. Draco's eyes darted around the room for a moment, his eyes finally meeting Luna's. From her expression Draco had a feeling she was expecting him to do what he did. But it didn't stop her from screaming or fighting back. She was so weak it took next to no effort for Draco to force her onto the bed and hold her down. He paused for a second. She'd stopped screaming. Inside his head Draco cursed. Bellatrix would need to hear more. Why had she chosen now of all times to trust him? His eyes met hers and through gritted teeth he told her to scream. When she paused Draco took a deep breath, whispered an apology and reached for the strap of her top. It took Luna a few seconds to process and then she started screaming again.
'It's because I can't act isn't it?'
Luna was sitting cross-legged in the centre of the bed, her hair loose around her shoulders. She had released it from its ties after most of it had escaped in the struggle that had occurred moments earlier and that, along with her underwear and the blanket that Draco had thrown at her were the only things covering her modesty. She was watching the hunched over frame of Draco as he stared blankly at the wall across from where he was sitting, his hands clasped together as though he was praying, ignoring the blood that had begun to seep out of the four scratches on his neck where Luna had clawed him. He had not made a sound since using the silencing spell on the room. The moment the words had left his lips, he had leapt off Luna as though she was on fire and moved to sit at the edge of the bed, motionless and silent.
'Draco?' Luna crawled across the bed and sat next to him but he barely acknowledged her existence. Eventually, in a voice barely audible, he spoke, addressing the wall rather than Luna.
'I'm sorry.' Luna slipped her hand inbetween his clasped ones.
'Don't be. You did the only thing you could.' Standing up, she pulled Draco to his feet.
'You saved me from Bellatrix so really, I can only be grateful.' Smiling as though the last horrific two hours had never happened, Luna strolled around the room, her fingers tracing the furniture just as they had in the room of requirement.
'And now we can talk like we used to, like we're friends.' Draco looked at the small blonde as she surveyed the room. In brighter lighting it was much more evident how unhealthy and dirty she looked. Walking next to her as she studied the pictures lined up on his dresser, Draco took her hand and turned her to face him.
'Two things, Lovegood. Then we can talk.' He pointed to a door on his right.
'First, shower. You smell like my basement. Second, food. Third, we'll talk.' He handed her a towel and had to take a step back as she flung her arms around his neck, dropping the blanket in the process and spreading her first true smile in weeks beaming across her face. With a quick whispered thank you Luna disappeared through the door and Draco flopped onto his bed, exhaustion completely overtaking him.
