A/N: If I have any artists here skilled in drawing people, I have a few scenes that I'd like to see come to life and use one as a cover photo. Sooooo, if anybody is interested please PM me! Also, I've been on a roll. Whose proud of me? Nobody? Okay :3
The Snake and The Hand: Self Awareness
When Blaise arrived to Luna, he had expected to just kick up on the cushioned seat near the bed and pass out. He had quite enough excitement for the day and wanted it to be over. However, when he pushed back the curtain, he was surprised to see she was sitting up and wide awake. The curtain fell closed behind him and he stood like a statue, staring at her. She lit up when she noticed his presence, smiling brightly at him.
"Hello, Blaise. Did you find my book for me? That was rather thoughtful..." She said airily, holding it up so he could see it. He scoffed, annoying the heat that rose to his cheeks to hear her sickly sweet voice say his name again. He was trying to ignore the relief he felt. He stepped closer, moving to sit on the chair he'd plan to sleep on, musing his ability to ruin this.
"I was the one who took it, Luna." He frowned, looking away from her and out the window idly. There was no doubt she was going to be angry with him for not telling her in the first place. For taking it in the first place.
"Oh, isn't it wonderful? My mum left so many good notes on potions- it's very helpful to me. Potions aren't my-"
"You aren't angry?" He was looking at her now, obviously shocked that she had carried on like nothing was wrong.
"Well, I don't think you took it to be mean."
"I... well. No I didn't.." He said slowly, leaning back in his seat. She always surprised him. When he thought she'd be angry, she carried on as if there were no problem. When he thought she'd be okay, she fell apart. She consistently kept him guessing. "I was curious about it... and you." His eyes pinned her this time and she tilted her head.
"Curious? I never thought you would be interested in this sort of thing, but I supposed the potions notes would be of importance to you..." It was well known that Blaise was a star student in potions. It was his best and favorite course. Blaise shook his head, unable to believe what was falling from his fucking mouth.
"Well, I can say they were beneficial. But not curious like that." He took a deep breath, standing to move to the edge of her bed. Slowly, he sat down- not much space between the two. "You could be dead right now, Luna. And it would have been my fault. Doesn't that make you angry?"
Luna blinked at him for a moment, a bit shocked that he chose to sit so close to her. A lazy smile graced her features. Was he finally warming up to her? For a moment, she sat in silence, taking in what he had said and considering it carefully. Blaise felt as though he was beginning to sweat. Why did he have to point that out to her?
"No, I'm not. You didn't take my book with the intent of harm. Fate has a funny way of working out." She shrugged, Blaise stared at her in awe.
"Luna, I-," he sighed, ashamed that he was unable to bring himself to apologize, even though he was so clearly at fault. He really was a coward. But, perhaps it would be better this way. He wanted her anger. He wanted her to hate him. He wanted her to think he was weak. He wanted to go back to hating her.
It wasn't working.
"I know," she smiled knowingly, reaching a hand out to rest a top his. "Madam Pomphrey said you carried me all the way here. I don't remember much... I do remember thinking I heard a strange noise and then I was flying. Could you believe that? Anyways, I'd like to thank you for carrying me up here. Madam Pomphrey agreed that I may have died had you not brought me right here. She also said you were quite concerned..." Normally, Blaise would of cut her off. He would have jerked his hand away and told her he was going to bed. But, he couldn't. Her hand on his stunned him so badly he couldn't move. The fact that she knew he was trying to apologize and accepted it without him even having to speak the words. Why was her bar so low? His mind was spinning so fast he could barely hear what she was saying- much less pay attention. "... Friend..."
Blaise drug himself from his thoughts, slowly (reluctantly) pulling his hand away. "Huh?" Luna giggled at him.
"Wackspurts...," she wafted her hands around his head, smacking some imaginary creature away from him. "They make your brain go fuzzy. I said thank you, for being a good friend."
There it was. Friends. Something Blaise hardly looked for aside from Draco. He used people, abused them, left them for dead, killed. There was blood on his hands and she claimed them friends. The thought that would of originally repulsed him, a friend like her. Now... now it wasn't enough. It wasn't nearly enough. It was the realization that he would only be a friend in her eyes. She wasn't feeling what he was feeling in this moment. Her heart wasn't pounding like his. She was able to think straight, well- as straight as Luna was able to think, and he had wackspurts. His stomach clenched and twisted. No matter how badly he didn't want to believe it. However much he wanted to fight it and go back to thinking she was a crazy blood traitor. There was no denying what his body was telling him.
He was falling in love with Luna Lovegood.
Sucking in a sharp breath, he stood as if hot coals had just appeared below him. "You should rest." He quickly said, slumping back down into the chair near her, obvious to anybody (aside from Luna) that he was sulking. Luna tilted her head- obvious confusion on her face.
"I've been resting, Blaise. I'd very much like to stay awake for now. Care to go on a walk?" Blaise blinked at her.
"You're not allowed to leave, yet."
"You're a curious type of Slytherin." His eyes narrowed at that comment and he scoffed.
"Oh, I'm not worried about breaking the rules. Come on." He stood, waiting for her to slip her shoes on. Once she was ready, she grabbed his arm to steady herself and stood. She was quite obviously using him for support as she walked, so he took it slow, shamefully basking in the way she had to hold on to him. He escorted her towards the entrance of the hospital wing. Madam Pomphrey looked up from her desk with wide eyes.
"Ms... Ms. Lovegood, you weren't supposed to wake up until tomorrow." Luna smiled at her.
"Well, I feel much better. Blaise was just going to take me for a small walk."
Still shocked, Madam Pomphrey nodded the pair dully, and they quickly left before she came to her senses.
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/
It had been quiet between Draco and Hermione. They had been sitting in the common room, studying just has Hermione intended. The silence wasn't awkward, however, as it seemed to be most of the time between the pair. It was content. Hermione felt rather proud of herself, in doing the right thing and Draco? Draco was grateful, truly. The only person he had fully been able to rely on in his entire life was Blaise. They were brought together at a young age- both cocky and entitled, coming from wealthy, pure-blood families. But, he never once doubted his friendship. In the silence, he mused what level his anger would of reach, if not for Hermione's quick wit, if Blaise was on his way to Azkaban. Ginny Weasley would not have escaped him. Slowly, his eyes lingered to Hermione's form, curled up with a charm's book.
"Thank you, Hermione." He said, disturbing the silence and causing her to look up at him. She cocked a brow, as if confused for a moment- before she realized what he was referring to. "I don't think McGonnagal would have taken the whole 'how she was dressed' bit from two former death eaters."
"Well, to be fair, I initially thought he had done it too." She was closing her book now, moving to sit up better in her chair. "I wouldn't have come to the correct conclusion if I hadn't witnessed your conversation." She paused for a moment, looking to him earnestly. "I don't think anybody should be punished unfairly, regardless of who they are or where they come from."
Her statement momentarily stunned Draco and he tilted his head in curiosity. That was a rather specific thing for her to say- however it was true to form. He did seem to recall Hermione chasing down the Elves of Hogwarts with scarfs and the like. He gave her a soft laugh, free of malice.
"I'd also like to apologize on behalf of Ginny. I don't know what she was thinking, but I feel like I should of realized that she was up to no good. Her being a friend of mine and all." A flash of guilt passed across her features and Draco's lighthearted smile faded.
"It's not your fault. The only way I knew, is cause Ginny has been switching between the two of us after she got her heart broken by Potter before the war. I know the look she had in her eye." Hermione's face twisted with a bit of disgust.
"I really had no idea she was like that..."
"I think after everything that's happened, it's not too far fetched." Draco shrugged, his eyes finally falling off of her and back to the book. "Everybody has changed, for the worse or for the better. Maybe, aside from Luna." He heard her chuckle quietly and open her book back up and he smirked as they settled back into silence.
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/
Hardly anything eventful happened over the next couple of weeks. It seemed that the whole group was slowly turning a new leaf- not only coexisting, but getting along for the most part. Blaise had been surprisingly less nasty to Hermione, despite her blood roots. He owed her his life at this point, and as entitled as Blaise was, he wouldn't soon forget that he was in her debt. Luna had returned to their dorm the day after she woke up, still asked to take it easy, but at least she was back.
And currently, to the naked eye, one wouldn't even be able to tell that she had a brush with death, as she skipped about the common room, gathering her things for the day. Blaise was leaned up near the portrait, patiently waiting for her. Once she had collected her things, he held open the portrait and she bounded past him into the hall. He'd come to grow used to her antics. In fact, he might even admit that he enjoyed it. Walking out of the common room with the intentions of going to class, with her, never meant that they would make it there. At least not on time. But, he liked that. Blaise had come to realize that he most certainly needed a challenge to feel satisfied. Every girl prior to her had thrown themselves at his feet, begged him even for his time and affection. Luna did none of that. Fuck, Luna saw him as her platonic partner. It was annoying, but it very much kept him interested. He could probably chase after Luna for the rest of their lives and never ever get bored, even if he never caught her. There was simply nothing boring about her.
Blaise couldn't even deny that he had it bad for the blonde witch. He was nearly obsessed.
The other thing about Blaise, was that he was wildly possessive of what he believed to be his. And while Luna was no item to be claimed, he certainly wanted to. And he certainly couldn't stop the jealousy that reared his ugly, green head every time her attention was on something other than him. Usually, he quelled it. He reminded himself that she wasn't one of his playthings to use up and get rid of, that she was her own person of her own will.
Today was a bit different. Their paths crossed with a certain individual that also harbored intense feelings for the Ravenclaw. Harry Potter.
Blaise had seen him coming for a while. The boy who lived had a group of younger girls around him, looking rather pleased with himself. Blaise was glaring- as if he hadn't ever acted like Potter was in this situation. Flirting with a bunch of girls, maybe take one for a snog. It was in his playbook, sure. Maybe that's why it pissed him off so much. Although, nothing compared to the rage he felt when Potter's eyes settled on Luna and he excused himself from the group of fans. He sauntered towards the pair, sporting a friendly smile that Luna returned. Blaise could gag.
"Good morning, Luna- Zabini," Blaise tried not to notice how truly disgusted Potter sounded spitting out his name. "I was wondering if you would like to accompany this evening, just the two of us-" Blaise was pulling Luna back against his chest before he could stop himself. His arm had barred her collar bone and he held her tightly against his body. She didn't struggle. He sent a glare over her head, towards Potter. The funny thing was, he really didn't care how obvious he was acting- if people were staring. He didn't even care if Luna noticed. He wanted to send a very clear message to the parasite that was Harry Potter. The thought of them alone together made him sick.
"She can't." He said bitterly, his eyes burning holes into Harry's glasses. Harry returned the annoyed stare, scoffing. When he opened his mouth to speak, it was Luna's melodic voice that stopped him.
"Blaise is right, I have to stay with him at all times, McGonnagal's orders. We could all go together! What do you have in mind?" Harry blinked at Luna, shocked. Blaise was smirking triumphantly, because there was no way Harry could pull anything with Blaise leering over his shoulder. He most certainly had the upper hand. Luna was bound to him by duty- something she took quite seriously. Harry made an annoyed sound.
"Well, I'd prefer not spend my time with a death eater. So maybe if you ever get some free time," he spat the death eater part out like venom. Blaise unknowingly tightened his grip on Luna's shoulder. Luna cleared her throat.
"Former, and very well." She shot him a smile, so sweet that Harry momentarily felt bad for insulting Blaise. "Blaise?" She questioned, lightly and it prompted him to drop his arm. "See you around, Harry!" She shot him a happy smile and skipped past him in direction of their first class. Blaise's glare remained locked on the Golden Boy.
"Stay away from her," he warned, before roughly pushing past him to catch up with Luna. Harry scoffed, turning to watch the pair leave before a giggle distracted him.
"So, we both want what we can't have. Want to work together?"
A/N: Little transition chapter. Harry and this mystery girl ( we all know who it is) are going to cause some issues in the romance department. The real shit is coming after Dramione becomes official. Bellatrix, Fenrir- two of my favorite villains will return. Some other's too!