第11章

'This feels like déjà vu…' Ginny muttered grimly, lying back despondently on the sofa, pushing a piece of caramel popcorn through her lips, 'why am I always hurting myself when Harry's around…' she threw her head back, 'ugh, caramel….,' she snapped it back up, scrunching her nose disapprovingly, 'is it some kind of romantic curse?'

'You were thinking about impressing Potter but you also wanted him to bandage you up again so your body got mixed signals and shut down, a classic system error.' Hermione suggested, snatching a few glazed popcorns from Ginny's bag with an impish smile. Cross-legged in her pajamas, a lacy pink scrunchie holding her hair up in a high ponytail, Luna focused on treating the injury on Ginny's elbow with disinfectant and gauze; welcoming the distraction from the stream of thoughts swirling in her head. She had not expected to get the job. Much less, of course, the marriage proposal. Thrill and wariness alternated over her in waves, and in retrospect, she marveled how odd it was, how impossibly unexpected, and yet, how detached, casual, business-like. Draco Malfoy had a pragmatic reason for asking her to be his wife, and he wouldn't be fazed if she declined. She only wondered why she hadn't declined straight away. Perhaps the lost, quixotic art of a direct proposal had caught her favorable attention. Hearing him say he wanted to meet her father had oddly pleased her. Of course, it was a pragmatic proposal, Luna knew the world of business because her father spent his career being belittled and sneered at by its occupants, but it wasn't something she had ever expected to be at the recipient end of after leaving Japan. Many of her Japanese neighbors practiced Mimai; first-time meetings with the presence of the family, with the intention of marriage. Perhaps it had made her think of that? But he had taken her by surprise, and it was her mistake for not taking last night's warning seriously. She wouldn't make that mistake again when dealing with her new boss. She wouldn't let herself be drawn into unknown waters, she couldn't indeed.

'It's coach Gryffindor,' Ginny grimaced, 'he didn't go easy on me at all and I got dirt all over my swanky new outfit. He's testing me…he expects me to give up!'

'Will you?' Hermione asked.

'When hell freezes over!' Ginny said, reaching blinding inside her bag of treats. 'Plus,' her mouth stretched into a large grin, 'I already won my first victory, hehe! I'm inside the team's SnitchApp group! That means I have Harry's number!'

'And what do you intend to do with it, exactly?'

'What any girl should do with a boy's number,' Ginny snickered, and Luna lifted her head attentively. 'Send scary you-have-three-days-left-to-live texts!'

Luna frowned. Nanka chotto chigaimasu…

It wasn't quite right…

'Just kidding, I've got a way better strategy!' Ginny fluttered her fingers conspiratorially, 'I will spam the group with pictures of the new fluffy pancake café in the city center saying how much I am dying to go there and Harry will get the hint and invite me.'

'Yeah no that's one hint I'm pretty sure he's not getting,' Hermione scoffed.

'You'll see!' Ginny moved briskly, slipping her elbow from Luna's gentle hold. She jumped to her feet. 'Okay, where's the nosh I saw you sneak in, Hermione?'

The evening lapsed quietly. Luna worked on a new homework, shifting distracted glances at her phone. Draco didn't have her number. Should she send something…? What would she say?

She began typing: Thank you for...she wiped it quickly, trying again…I am grateful for your…another delete. She had no idea what was appropriate of her to say, and the idea of texting him became more intimidating the longer she considered it. She decided to thank him by responding to his email tomorrow.

After a miraculously restful night, she woke up to an email from a certain Dorothea.

Dear Miss Lovegood,

Congratulations, Malfoy Motors is delighted to inform you that your proposal for our new ad campaign has been accepted. Please find attached your contract and send back a digitally signed copy at your earliest convenience. You will find instructed your working hours, pay, and date of termination. Do not hesitate to write back with any questions or concerns.

Best,

Dorothea Kreecher|Executive Assistant, Malfoy Motors HQ.

Luna remembered that Draco told her she would be a full-fledged employee—and treated accordingly. He didn't have time to personally write her emails, she should have known. She decided to read the contract at the end of the day and headed out to class. The day seemed to run out quickly, her thoughts keeping her hazily above, gliding across the hours without really coinciding with them.

It was now dinner time and she sat with her flatmates, tasting her pudding thoughtfully.

'Wassup ladies,' Blaise smiled, swaggering over in a black T-shirt that read Hot Geek Alert in neon blue. 'Holding this out for me? Aw, you shouldn't have.' He took the empty seat facing Hermione, who slurped her spaghetti, staring at him. 'So I realized we didn't go about introductions properly, last time,' He said, looking at Luna. 'I'm Blaise, you?'

'I'm Luna.'

'Luna-chan!' He smiled. 'You know I've been practicing my Japanese these couple of days for you?'

'For me?' she asked.

'Yup. Hopefully soon we can hold conversations and stuff.'

'Ah, ii ne.' She smiled. (How nice)

'Ganbarimasu!' He beamed. (I will do my best.) 'How's my accent?'

'It's quite good.' Luna encouraged.

'Yeah,' he rubbed his nape unassumingly. 'I just need a bit more vocabulary, I reckon. Have you met the cool people yet? Implying you can check me off the list.'

Hermione rolled her eyes.

'Something tells me you've met my friend?' He raised his eyebrows, remembering the way Draco had asked about her. 'Draco Malfoy?' He added, smiling as Luna's face lit up with recognition. 'So you have.'

'You have?!' Ginny asked. 'Omg, no way!'

Luna nodded silently, brushing her hair behind her ear.

'Why? What? When? Where?' Ginny strafed, squeezing her knife and fork over a double serving of lasagna.

'We crossed paths around campus.' Luna explained.

'You must have made quite the impression,' Blaise smiled knowingly. 'I mean, am I surprised? You're really cute.'

Luna quieted, her eyes flickering up at him. Were all the boys at Hogwarts so forward?

'I'm warning you,' Hermione said ominously, not raising her eyes from her plate.

'What? It's true. I'm already yours, though, Rin-chan. You know that, no need to get jelly, honey.'

'Shut up, Blaise.'

'But like, did you speak?' Ginny asked Luna, her eyes wide with curiosity. 'What does his voice sound like?! What did he say?! Is he, like, human-human, or did you spy a few wirings and stuff?'

'HA!' Blaise snickered. 'You think he's a robot, Ginnette? Girls have a different impression from the school blog.'

'Don't call me that, it sounds like the razor blade brand! I'm an investigative journalist, I'll have you know!' Ginny said. 'I wouldn't rule anything out. He's so freaking distant like! I've been trying to locate him for an interview all week!'

'You should have come to me,' Blaise said. 'Remember we live in the same flat?'

'Oh, you do?' Luna asked with undisguised curiosity.

'Yep, we've been flatmates for two years, though he's moving out soon because reasons.' His smile welted a little. 'I'm gonna be one lonely hot geek…'

'You won't have time to be lonely. We have a lot of work to do, remember? I'm not gonna go easy on you.' Hermione said, throwing him an apple. He caught it in the air, his smile reigniting, fully charged.

'Are you telling me I'll still have you, my sweet?' He fluttered his lashes, entwining his hands over the apple like a blushing damsel.

'Er, Blaise?' Luna asked.

'Yes cutie pie?' Blaise grinned, blinking up at Luna, wedging his chin on his hand.

'Don't patronize her!' Hermione said.

'It's called an endearment, Rin, honey. It's what I use with you all the time. Truly, jealousy doesn't become you.'

'You're irredeemable…'

'Listen, Luna here is gonna get snatched and just because I'm taken doesn't mean someone else won't get to her.' He said. 'I wouldn't be surprised if even Draco is crushing.'

Luna's eyes widened. What should she respond to that? Of course, it was not the case, his marriage proposal did not mean he had feelings for her…why would he?

'You've lived together for a while. Have you ever seen him crushing?' Ginny asked.

'Eh. I suppose in that sense, he really is a robot, even I don't get it. The only time I've seen him talk to a girl was when this pretty Frenchie visited campus.' He shook his head. 'Turns out she was his cousin. Whenever I point out a cute girl, it's like he doesn't react. Nothing. There are three possible reasons for that, and the people on the school blog have been holding polls over which one they think is true.'

He looked at them with a sneaky smile, as though the information he was about to reveal was top notch CIA grade confidential.

'Option number one,' he raised a finger. 'He is an herbivore, if you know what I mean.'

'Herbivore?' Luna asked.

'Yup. He's not interested in…you know. The thing.'

'You mean the newspapers are lying?' Hermione asked.

'Duh.' Blaise said.

'Hermione called him a lecher,' Ginny snitched.

'Not in this theory,' Blaise gave Hermione his sweetest smile.

'Second possibility?' Hermione said quickly, throwing Ginny a dirty look.

'Second possibility,' Blaise said, 'he has had his heart broken badly before. I know that didn't happen in university, but I didn't know him back in high school. This theory supports that there is a mysterious gal lurking in his past. I've seen fanfiction going around on this trope, I don't know what he'd do if he found out. Or maybe I should tell him?' He turned to Ginny, who was returning his smirk. 'It might trigger him to confess!'

'Out with it!' Ginny nodded, 'Out with the truth!'

'Third possibility?' It was Luna who asked this time.

'Third,' Blaise focused on her, 'he's just next level hard to please, which is a given anyway, and the day he does fall for someone, he'll fall hard. The poll is a tie between the last two options. Needless to say, fanfiction material here is immense. Don't tell him I said that, but I did read a few. My innocence is scarred forever.'

'Hermione,' Ginny stroked her chin mischievously, 'your man is going to be very valuable for my article. Let's get the truth out, partner! Gimme five!'

'You're on Malfoy's team, now?' Hermione rolled her eyes.

'Hmm…am I? I am just interested in figuring out what happened with his scandals. But hey, if I end up having a filthy rich man in my debt, who am I to complain? Imagine all the fluffy pancakes he could buy for me to express his undying gratitude,' she salivated. 'I'm so broke…'

Luna was listening so attentively to the unfolding conversation that her phone ring made her start. She looked at her screen. It was her home number. Her father was back from visiting Aunt Cassandra!

'Hello?' she replied.

'Hullo,' warbled a woman's voice, 'we found this number on speed dial?'

Luna frowned. 'Er, I'm sorry, who…?'

'Oh, we're the new tenants on 77 Ottery St Catchpole Street?'

'That's…I'm sorry I don't understand. That's my home address.'

'Oh great, so you were the old tenant, perfect, we were just calling to ask about the heating, there seems to be a problem with the pipes and…oh Rodney, not now! I'm on the phone.'

'I think…there must be a mistake,' Luna said shakily, 'is my father there?

'Your dad? Now why would your dad be here, dear? Oh Rod! Stop! Here, go shush your sister! Wash that pacifier first, the dog's been at it!'

Luna gasped wordlessly, realization striking her like lightening.

'I…forgive me, when have you moved in?'

'Just today.'

'Oh…I, I am sorry, I need to make a call.' Luna hung up. Her eyes blurred. Her father…her father had been evicted? Had he finally defaulted on his payments?

Silent tears welled in her eyes.

She knew something was off this summer, it wasn't like her father to have secretive, sharp movements around her, but he had given her abundant reassurances, maintaining that it was nothing for her to worry about, that she ought to focus on her own work, he would handle his. She found her father's number. Her thumb hovered on the call button for a moment, before retreating.

Her father didn't want her to know. He was safe, he was with Aunt Cassandra. If she called him now, he would know that she knew their home of ten years was being taken away, and he would be crushed by guilt.

What could she do? A burdensome sadness weighed on her and she looked up, breathing deeply, letting her tears dry before they could fall.

'S'everything all right there?' Blaise said.

'Yeah, Luna, you look funny…did something bad happen?' Ginny asked.

'It's just…' she looked at them uncertainly.

'You can tell us, Luna. We're all friends here.' Hermione encouraged.

Luna nodded gratefully.

'My father is in financial trouble,' she said. 'He was evicted from our home. I think…I think I'm going to go see him now.'

'Oh, Lunes!' Ginny exclaimed.

'It's pretty late, now,' Blaise said, checking his watch. 'Who's gonna drive you to the station?'

'Ask Malfoy to drive her!' Ginny nudged his arm. 'He's a whole company of drives!'

'I would, but he's in Hungary right now.' He looked at Luna, who was biting her lip, staring at her phone. 'I'll see if he can send his butler to the rescue.'

Luna looked up sharply. 'No, it's all right, I will take a taxi.'

'Nonsense, we're thick as thieves, he and I. He won't refuse me a favor.'

Ginny held Luna's shoulder encouragingly. She watched Blaise hold his phone to his ear.

'…Oh heya, Drake. Everything good? Good, good. See I have a friend who's in a bit of a pickle. Her father's been evicted and she needs someone to drive her to the train station asap…could you send your butler? You do, it's Luna…oh, okay,' he held out his phone, 'he wants to speak to you.'

Luna blanched a little. How embarrassing.

'Hello?' She spoke hesitantly.

'Have you read your contract?' His voice sounded so calm, hard and steady. It washed over her like an inexplicable balm and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She brushed them away quickly.

'I'm sorry, I didn't have time to read it yet.'

'Read it now. Sign and send it back tonight. Your first payment will be transferred to you.'

'No…I…I don't want to…be in your debt.'

'I'm not doing you any favors. Your contract stipulates an immediate down payment; the same designed for anyone else.'

'It does?'

'You're not working for an obscure startup, Luna, it's how things are done. I'll send my family butler, he'll be there in half an hour in front of the gates. He'll take you to the train station.'

Luna sighed with relief, her tears just hanging over the edge, threatening to spill. She wouldn't let them, not yet.

'Thank you so much, Draco.'

'I have to go.' He paused. 'Be careful.'

'I will,' she nodded.

He hung up.

There. After this, things are dipping straight into a (short) slow-burn thing where Draco is literally letting Luna make (or not) the first (second?) move.

Poor baby Luna, hurry up and let Draco take care of you :') (I'm rooting for my own ship because stories do have a way of escaping my creative intents...and come alive with a mind of their own. I suspect the Ginnies are behind it.)

MuffinMoe: Your thoughts and ideas are always precious and appreciated.

Dearest readers, as always, thank you ***\(^-^)/***

weeeeeeeee~ L.