Perched on a ledge in the owlery, Luca stared vacantly into the forest. Frost had crept up the crumbling stone walls, the occasional hoot of an owl disturbing his silence. His hair whipped violently in the wind yet he didn't seem bothered by the cold. There were much bigger things on his mind.

Everything relied on if Adara said yes. Compared to Sirius, he was doing nothing. Perhaps that was why he wasn't put in a different house.

Yet this seemingly small act of rebellion would distance him from his family, the new long term goal of the Plan. Getting Adara to be his date would open the doors to rebellion.

He still feared the consequences of even talking to Adara. Not just for him but for her- each time a Slytherin slipped through his grasp and saw them, she became a walking target. However, she didn't know that and he doubted she would care. He'd seen how much she valued her life first hand.

But it would be worth it.

For it was only just now that he realized how far he would go for her. Which included the lengths he would go to prove to her that he wasn't a coward.

However, only one thing was certain. He wouldn't force her, trick her or lie to get her to come with him. After everything his family had done to her he owed her that much.

Yet it would drive him into an inescapable rage if she went with someone else.

A faceless stranger, holding her in his arms, twirling her around.

And that was precisely why he had to try. For that Hufflepuff who didn't care about his wrongs. For that girl who put up with him, who helped him all the time.

He'd finally figured it out last night. Around midnight he'd snuck into the library and poured over books for hours. In some way, the Plan had grown bigger than just asking Adara to the ball. It had become his own act of rebellion against his horrible family and more importantly the suffocating world of pure-blooded hierarchy.

What he could do was an act of bravery. Before, when he'd silently watched Sirius throughout his years at Hogwarts, he'd thought bravery was pointless. It was just this thing that certain people had and others did not. Bravery was something that he would never have because he was in Slytherin. A cold, cunning Slytherin.

Yet he was wrong. Bravery is not something only Gryffindor's have. It's not killing the dragon with utter confidence.

Bravery is slaying the dragon that scares the hell out of you but even knowing that you face it anyway.

So he may be in a house with a reputation for producing, cold, cunning wizards and have a despicable family but those things shouldn't define him. In fact, they would never define him.

He may not be able to completely remove himself from them without facing threats of death but he could change what made him him. The only thing that he knew for sure that Adara was a part of him whether she liked it or not. So he was going to make sure she knew how much she'd done for him by offering an invitation of his own.

"And that, Luca Malfoy, closes the debate as to what you should do," he said drily, mocking the Minister of Magic.

When he made the Plan, he only focused on the big picture. So he was going to be on his own because he needed to 'wing it'. Sighing, Luca arose to his feet. Before he could do anything, he would need a shower.

Having changed and showered, Luca was feeling as ready as he ever would be. He assumed she would be by her dormitory and he was going to walk up to her until he saw Remus.

Great.

Tired, he leaned against a shelf of flour, hiding him from view and listened to the two.

"-him. You go first," said a voice that Luca assumed was Remus.

"Alright, alright. But don't blame me if I'm crap at this," warned another. Adara. He smiled and then stopped, scolding himself furiously. He really was hopeless.

"So, erm," started Adara. She paused and then began again. "Doyouwannagototheballwithme?"

Freezing, Luca snapped to attention. No, no, no, no, no. This could not be happening. And yet it made perfect sense. Adara and Remus, best friends for who knows long going to the ball together.

"Really?" teased Remus. "Speak coherently,"

Clenching his fist, he punched the stupid sack of flour. He was lucky that he was getting asked by her at all.

Through the small cloud of dust, he saw Adara glare at him until Remus sighed.

"Yes,"

Not even bothering to look, Luca turned and left. So much for no sleep.

Smiling, Adara skipped through the hallway. Thank god Remus knew about Luca because then she would definitely bomb the proposal. He'd reviewed how to graciously accept a flat no and even practiced the Yes.

Adara hoped he would say yes.

Her nerves were everywhere but she felt strangely confident. However, it was proving to be a lot harder to find him.

He wasn't in any of the classrooms, the library or the Great Hall. She didn't want to risk asking other members of his house because she knew he wouldn't like that.

"Where would brooding Mr. tough guy Luca go?" said Adara. Several Ravenclaws stared at her and she blushed, hurrying off. However, it was a good question. Where would he be?

Suddenly, the flap of wings near the window startled her.

To her delight it was Ophelia.

"The owlery," she muttered triumphantly. He only went there when he was feeling particularly angsty. Maybe the perfect Slytherin girl he asked rejected him and now he was mourning. Fat chance. Taking a deep breath, she began to run to the tower. She was under the first floor, he was on the eighth and there was less than thirty minutes till curfew. Oh, and let's not forget I'm a nobody Hufflepuff. Things were looking absolutely great.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, he chided himself. Back in the owlery, he hugged his knees. Stupid to think he could defy society. Stupid to think she would ever want him.

Shaking his head, he let out a dry laugh. Who was he even kidding?

She had three eligible men around her all the time. Why the hell would she choose someone like him when she had her pick of the crop?

Swallowing, Luca tiredly began to think. Which Slytherin girl would make him look decent in front of his family? Parkinson? Yet she was insufferable. Maybe Firona- she was a bit odd but her family was powerful.

"Damnit," he growled, grabbing his hair. He couldn't stop thinking about her. About her laugh, her smile, the way she meticulously ordered her books, her beautiful cinnamon skin, how her hair was always sticking out. And those god-forsaken cups of coffee.

Now imagining her with Remus, dancing and spinning and doing things he could only dream of doing.

Fate really seemed to like him today.

Yet in the midst of his raging thoughts, he began to realize there were footsteps coming up the stairs. Heavy, pounding footsteps as if their life depended on it.

"Must be some owl," he said, chuckling slightly.

"Owl my ass. I'm here for you, idiot," said a very familiar voice. He turned with horror to find Adara, flushed with her hands on her knees, panting. Why now of all times?

"I just ran up eight flights of stairs for you," she accused, sitting down next to him.

Despite his anger, his sadness, he couldn't help himself. He knew her too well.

"More like six and two secret passages,"

To that she smiled and he had to look away. It hurt so bad to see her sitting right there, looking at him as if he was the only thing that mattered when she didn't choose him.

"But you should go," he added. "Only 3 minutes till curfew,"

He could tell his words stung her. She had just ran up the whole castle for him. He knew he was being irrational but the feelings he tried so desperately to avoid were not helping. That was one of the downsides of having someone pierce through your wall. Emotions go both ways.

"Wow. Someone is grumpy today," she said sarcastically.

Clenching his fists, he knew right then he couldn't take it. So much for control over himself. Right now he had to give in.

"Wonder why," he said sharply.

Taken aback, she eyed him strangely.

"I wonder why too," she said, concern seeping into her voice. As much as he wanted to stop it, he couldn't. The green-eyed monster was going to ruin everything.

"Everything is because of you. It's always because of you. Just go," he snapped. Just go to the boy you chose over me.

"Wow, Luca, just wow. I thought you were more than this,"

She was angry now and he knew it was his fault.

"Well, you were wrong,"

Adara looked at him, hurt. His heart crumbled but he couldn't take it back. She began to get up, and he wanted to tell her not to go. But it was too late. It was always too late when it came to him.

"You know," she said fiercely . "I was going to ask you if you wanted to be my date to the ball. I practiced with Remus for two hours before spending another trying to find you. But clearly you are not on the same page as me so I'll just go,"

Her cheeks were red but she didn't cry. He watched in shock as she left out the doorway.

That was for me? She wanted to ask me? She wasn't going with Remus?

His world fell to pieces as he realized exactly how much damage he caused. Without even realizing it, I had it all. And I just threw it away in one big sweep.

The amount of courage it must have taken her to do that was incredible. He knew he sometimes reminded her of Lucius and always tried to not bring up home around her. This was a person who had been hurt both physically and mentally by his twisted family. And now another person from that family hurt her. He didn't know how to feel, how to think. He just did the one thing he swore he would never do. How the hell will I fix this?

The sweet, strong girl I like wants me.

It was that moment right then that he knew what to do. If he didn't go after her now, he would be a true coward. The opposite of what he was trying to prove.

Bravery was much harder than it seemed.

Scrambling to his feet, he sprinted as if nothing else mattered across the breezeway. His hair was flying behind him, his white shirt reflecting the harsh moonlight.

"Adara," he yelled, not caring he might get caught by Filch. "Adara Patil, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"

He could see her silhouette ahead, and he saw her stop. She turned towards him, and this time he was the one out of breath.

Her skin glowed, dark, silvery strands of hair blowing in her face. He met her familiar big, brown eyes and watched as the sad smile crept onto her face. Ah, he was stupid. He still needed to apologize.

"I'm sorry for being a pompous...ass," he choked. Luca was not used to degrading himself to this level. "I was a horrible, rude jerk who does-,"

"You actually want to go with me?" she interrupted softly. Her eyes were wide, her face worried.

He smiled. Bravery was achievable.

"Of course. No one else would take a horrid idiot like me,"

"Oh, that isn't true. Hundreds of girls would line up for a chance to go with you," she retorted, skeptical.

"I trust you and If you would like, I would be honored to attend with you," he said formally, even dropping into a bow. Yet he only made it halfway before he felt her arms wrap around his torso. He blushed, surprised, before returning the gesture.

"Thank you," she mumbled into his chest. "I know how hard it was for you to apologize and, well, this,"

He looked down at her fondly. Why was she thanking him when she was the one who was doing the helping?

"No, thank you. You are the reason I'm not some depressed, crabby Slytherin nobody," he said gently.

"Still crabby," she chimed. He chuckled and they stood in silence, arms around one another under the soft glow of the moon.

Of course his brain was having a firework show but moments like these were why he liked her so much.

"It's funny, isn't it," he whispered. "It's always the owlery where you pierce through my armor,"

He felt her smile through his shirt. If he didn't have a heart attack from having her so close to him, maybe everything would work out at the ball.

Yet fate seemed to have other things in mind. Ophelia swooped down into the vacant owlery. She neatly dropped a blood-red parchment into the letter tray. Letting out a small cry, she swooped back behind the mountains.

Meanwhile, the breeze slowly turned the letter into the light.

The Magistrate is coming.

[EXTRA: HEADCANON]—-

(The Marauders in heaven)

"Oh my god,"

"What is it, James?" said Lily flatly. She was starting to get really annoyed. He had been in utter shock for the past five minutes.

"Spill the beans, my boy," said Sirius wryly.

"Look at what our beloved Minerva McGonagall had done,"

He made them look down below at a rewind of what just happened.

Sirius grinned.

"I never thought I'd see the day when Minnie would tell Peeves to make mischief,"

"The world is ending," said James dramatically.

"Oh shut up," Lily said tiredly. "Let's see how our kid is doing. You know, the one that might die right now because HE'S FIGHTING A BATTLE AGAINST VOLDEMORT AND YOU'RE WATCHING CLIPS FROM HIS FIFTH YEAR,"

The two shrunk back. Nothing was scarier than Lily Potter.