Well, here goes :')

Please enjoy!

Not Long for this World

'Excuse me,' Hermione said to the dismayed group, draping her shawl tighter around her shoulders, 'I want to hear this.'

While Ginny allowed herself to be lead by Luna like a soulless automat, Hermione trailed behind them, sustaining an angry scowl on Draco's back.

'This has to be some external compulsion,' she shrilled under her breath. 'Luna wouldn't consent to this, and I don't see why Malfoy would either…'

They moved away in silence, Luna propping Ginny up by the shoulders, guiding her back to the castle. Then, as they entered the castle, Ginny sobbed suddenly.

'I SAW it. I KNEW it! There was a vibe and you said no, I shouldn't have believed you!'

Luna shushed her as best as she could.

They reached the courtyard, where a few Slytherin students clustered together talking and cracking jokes.

Leo craned his neck, spotting Ginny (the carrot was back to pretending to be a witch, it would seem). His eyes shifted to Hermione, Draco? Wait, was that French doll beside him?

He tapped Blaise's shoulder, nodding at them. Blaise snapped his head up. His smile at noticing Hermione turned into a frown at noticing her company, standing together…close? He measured the distance visually; about 3 centimeters, give or take. Yup, close.

Ginny ran up to Leo immediately and clutched his sleeve, removing him from the Slytherin group.

'What's wrong, Ginny?' He blinked. 'Why the waterworks?'

'Leo, you're friends with him, right?' she said, pointing accusatorily at Draco. 'He did something to my bestie!'

Sighing stoically, Draco abandoned the prospect of calling it a day; as much as he wanted to get his wife alone without a care for discourtesy, his friends deserved the decency of hearing it from him. He was mostly doing it for Luna, though, a soppy, overdramatized moment with his friends and hers didn't crack his to do list for the night.

He walked up to the group followed by Luna. Blaise looked at them blankly, then watched Hermione's vexed face with complete confusion.

'What's the matter, Rin Rin?'

'The matter is that he,' Hermione replied, glaring at Draco, 'is up to absolute evil.'

Ginny nodded frantically, giving Leo's sleeve a pointed tug.

'Your friends are snitching on us to mine,' Draco turned to Luna, 'did I miss something?'

'They spent the holiday together.' Luna explained calmly.

Draco raised a silent eyebrow.

'Oh, there were circumstances to that,' Hermione clarified quickly, 'Zabini's family offered to keep me safe.'

'And I barged in!' Ginny hiccupped. Leo smiled.

'And it was perfectly proper, Malfoy,' Hermione insisted, 'unlike whatever questionable dealings you've had with Luna this holiday!'

'Questionable what?!' Blaise shouted in disbelief. 'Rin, are you saying my guy made a pass at Luna? That's not likely, though it wouldn't be for want of…wanting to…' he smiled smugly.

'I obviously don't know what or how this happened, but see for yourself.'

'See what?'

'The ring, Blaise!'

'Ho—I never,' Leo said in his fist. 'Zabini, that's…'

Blaise pushed him aside, seizing Draco's hand and inspecting it with wide, gawking eyes.

'What. The. FRICK?!' He yelled. 'You got HITCHED?!' He looked up at him, 'Without me?,' he added, as though that were the greater offense.

'There was no ceremony involved, it was rushed.' Draco said, retrieving his hand.

'But…did you really marry Greengrass? I've heard some funny rumors; is her sister bitter about it or something? Was it arranged?'

'I don't think it's Greengrass…' Leo said, noticing Draco's hand slide down Luna's back. Her own ring flickering in the moonlight confirmed his guess.

'Malfoy married Luna!' Hermione said heatedly. When would everyone get as outraged as she so that they could do something about it? 'This Luna,' she pointed down at the blond witch, 'and I'm quasi certain blackmail was involved.'

Blaise recoiled a few steps, as though shirking a bucket-load of icy water. Leo's eyes flashed with silent surprise.

'You…Luna?' Blaise said. 'HA?!'

'Yes,' Draco said impatiently.

Leo whistled. 'I'm impressed…shocked, but impressed. Say,' he looked at Luna, 'I can see why he'd want to pine after you, but why did you agree to him? And marriage at that? That's some binding stuff.'

'It was made possible to me, and I accepted.' Luna said.

'Okay, I clearly didn't see this coming.' Leo said with a lopsided smile. 'Sneaky…though I should have taken the hint from Draco singlehandedly upsetting Longbottom's plan…'

'I have,' Blaise said, 'I suspected something…'

'Oh my God!' Ginny screamed, 'I suspected something too!'

'You did?!' Blaise said.

'Yes! I've read so many romances I can smell a mood from a mile.'

'Yeah, I guess I saw that too on a couple occasions.' The Butterbeer incident suggested that Drake cared for the Ravenclaw more than he let on, and the dorm scene suggested that Luna was not indifferent either…

'Are you serious?! There was no mood!' Hermione interjected. 'I never saw anything!'

'Wait…that means…the newlywed wing everyone's jabbering about, that's you?' Leo asked.

'Oh, I didn't think about that!' Blaise exclaimed. 'It's you!'

'If I wasn't this mad I'd have thrown a housewarming party right now.' Ginny grouched. 'I'm so curious to see what those rooms look like. It would have been so fab. But no. Not me…not that I'm so shocked, I could definitely have shipped it, but Malfoy is…Malfoy, and Luna betrayed me.'

'I don't think they'll need us for housewarming either way…' Leo winked.

'Watch your tongue, Leo.' Draco warned. He was already less than happy with the current Q&A session, he wasn't about to tolerate innuendos involving his wife from anyone beside himself.

'My bad,' Leo smiled unrepentantly. 'Though, I have to ask, how did this happen?'

'Yes,' Blaise pressed, 'how did it happen? And when will the ceremony be? I demand to be your best man! I can't believe Luna is my sister in law…'

'You and I were related?' Draco said.

'Shh, let it happen, Drake. Rin Rin, you should get along with Drake, you're gonna be his sister in law too one day.'

'Have you lost your mind?!' Hermione cried irately.

'Shh, it's happening, Rin Rin.'

'And I should be the maid of honor,' Ginny chimed in, 'but no, I didn't even know my bestie was getting married!'

'Ginny, of course I will invite you to the real ceremony if we do have one,' Luna said, 'but it's not our priority in these times. Please understand, Ginny, Hermione, I do value your friendship so much, but my personal life is a separate matter.'

Draco fixed her with a satisfied, barely-there smile.

'If you value me so much,' Ginny said, 'why didn't you tell me you and Malfoy had a thing?'

'We didn't, darling. Everything happened during the holiday. I was taken into his manor by death eaters, and Draco had to hide me in his room because the floos in his house had a tracing spell.'

'So you were taken…! Wait, his ROOM?'

'It was nothing improper, love, I assure you.'

'Wow…I knew this but wow,' Blaise smirked, 'Drake is a real prig…'

'You mean, were we in that situation, you would have taken advantage of it?' Hermione asked Blaise coldly.

'I dunno…I'm no prig...' Blaise muttered unintelligibly.

'Hey!' Hermione glared at him with arms akimbo.

'So what happened? If Malfoy was all gentlemanly and stuff why did the marriage situation need to happen?!' Ginny sulked.

'He was engaged to someone else at the time.' Luna said.

'Let me guess, Greengrass?' Leo said.

'It's not my place to say,' Luna said, then looked back at Ginny, who was flushed from the night's unexpected excitements, 'Draco's mother kindly offered to help me escape by disguising me as his fiancé who was sick and couldn't attend. His uncle knew my mother, however, and he discovered who I was. By his suggestion, the engagement was off, and I was married to Draco soon after.'

'You mean there was no compulsion and you just wanted to marry him?' Hermione asked.

'Yes.' Luna nodded.

'And you?!' Hermione glared at Draco.

'Free will, Granger.' He replied.

'What…,' a sob escaped Ginny's throat, 'oh my God…who wrote this?! Is this a novel?!'

'I'm done! Nobody's listening to me!' Hermione threw her hands in the air, walking away. Blaise ran after her.

'Hey wait up, Rin, listen. Draco is not who you think he is. He's serious about this stuff. Don't worry about Luna too much, okay? You've seen and heard her, they're clearly into each other.'

'I don't care, Blaise. It's Malfoy we're talking about.'

'Yes,' Blaise said, 'he's my friend.'

'I—you know what I mean!'

'They made their decision. We should respect it.'

'Whatever,' Hermione sighed. 'I'm going to the library.' She stopped, looking over her shoulder. 'Are you going to follow me?'

'Library with you? Ah…that brings back memories.'

'I suppose I'll allow you at my table so that you don't have to stare a hole into my back.'

'Sounds good to me!'

Luna held Ginny's hand.

'Ginny, I didn't have the chance to tell you for these reasons, so please don't be mad at me, okay?'

'Fine,' Ginny sniffed. 'I suppose it was one of those shock-romance plots where the relationship is established in a minute, and the poor friends don't see it coming. Of course I'm sharper than your average friend and I had suspicions all along but whatever. I want all the details. All. The. Details. And, oh my God, you're gonna need protection for marrying the list's top candidate. This is becoming more and more like a frigging story I love it! Oh boy, I need to get a bodyguard outfit...'

'Luna, we need to talk.' Draco told her lowly. This had gone on long enough.

'Yes. Please excuse us Ginny and…Leo, right?'

'At your service, Miss Luna Malfoy.' Leo curtsied.

'Don't be late for breakfast, we have A LOT to talk about. I need all the details, I said!' Ginny wiggled. She was still latching onto Leo. Luna noticed. So did Leo. 'And…you did hear everything I said about you?' she asked Draco hesitantly.

'I don't know what you mean, Weasly.' Draco lied. The last thing he needed was to stretch this discussion a second longer. 'Come, Luna.'

'Good night,' Luna pecked Ginny's cheek.

As the couple left, Leo turned to Ginny, who now stared blankly into space.

'I can't believe she's leaving with him...what am I saying, LIVING with him...kyaaaa.' she covered her face with her hands.

'Where is your mind wandering off to?' Leo teased.

'Shut up!'

'So...Miss Carrot is into romances?'

'She is, Cavarpin. Unashamedly, too.'

'Release my sleeve?'

'I will not!'

'You're going to follow me to my dorm, then?'

'Can't you be more understanding? I'm suffering from post traumatic stress here. And it's wildly…exhilarating!'

'Aw, my bad,' Leo said, patting her head.

'Hey what are you doing?'

'Being understanding.'

'I don't think I can sleep tonight.' Ginny moaned. 'I feel too excited, and nervous, like I'm the one who got shock-romanced by proxy!'

'You can sleep just fine. I've seen you at it. You're a lot like my cat, you only have two modes; hyper and asleep.'

'At least that means I'm cute.'

'Fishing for compliments, now, are we? Didn't know carrots could do that.'

'I'm not a carrot anymore. My bestie's gotten married. I can't look silly beside her now.'

'You're fine being silly, Weasly. It suits you.'

'Hey! Why does it feel like you said something nice when you're clearly making fun of me?'

'Hehe…skills.'


Draco circled his arms around Luna as soon they had stepped into their new room. It had a silky smooth comfort to it; draping cream curtains hanging loosely on a large four poster bed, starry moonlight from the tall sash windows, a tranquil sitting area for guests by the fireplace, and an adjoining bathroom where Luna had already lined up her favorite bath salts to make every bathing experience like dipping into a galaxy, a flower field, a frothy pink sky, or a silver lake.

'I missed you.' Draco said, watching her with unbridled heat.

Luna smiled, helping him off his cloak with a fluidity of movement that wasn't there before.

'How did it go with Leus?'

Draco nodded at the parcel wrapped on the wooden nightstand.

'He didn't ask questions. He just gave me what I wanted. Told me to thank you for the potions you left him; they're a reprieve.'

'What a fascinating character,' Luna mused. 'He might be blind, be one gets the feeling that he can see right through us…I am glad he trusted you, Draco.'

'Can't say why he did. Didn't want to jinx it by asking.'

'I had the impression he was biased in our favor,' Luna smiled, 'didn't you?'

Draco unbuttoned his shirt, looking insistently at Luna. She licked her lips reflexively.

'Would you like to sync with my shower time?' He asked.

'You mean…' she connected her forefingers, 'coincide?'

'Space and time,' he urged.

Luna fell quiet, as though she was considering something important. Her eyes shifted down with questions.

'Luna?'

She looked up quickly, chewing on her bottom lip.

'Ah…well…can I ask you something? It's not important…I'm just wondering, you see…'

He held her gaze as he waited for her question. A rising flush spread across her cheeks.

'Draco…you know…I...well…'

'I know you what?' He stroked her hair delicately in encouragement, 'It's not like you to hesitate.'

'But...last night…do you remember what I—'

'How could I forget?'

'Well…did I—' she glanced up at him uncertainly, 'did I shock you?'

'Shock me?' Draco repeated, his surprise melting into a slinky smile, 'that's my line, Luna.'

Luna shook her head. It had dawned on her when she was sitting alone in the room earlier. She had never had 'the talk' with anyone before, and the sheer abandon she had experienced with her husband was both new and unexpected. Was she being ungraceful as a girl?

'I hadn't been aware of…myself…I wonder if I am not a bit…strange?'

Draco gripped her elbow, drawing her close, his free hand holding the basque of her skirt.

'Did you just call yourself strange? Of all the words that don't begin to do you justice, you pick the relative one?'

'I want you…too much.' She avowed, 'I couldn't stop thinking about being with you…in that way…all day. Isn't that odd?'

'Luna…,' Draco heaved, collecting her into his arms like a little girl, 'You expect me to be offended by that? You're my wife. We've barely breached that aspect of married life. I will learn what pleases you, and you will learn what pleases me. Nobody else can explain it to either of us.' He kissed the corner of her mouth, 'Besides, I knew you were sensual just watching your every move.' She stood up a bit taller to kiss him back with soft, delicious urgency. 'Hmm yes,' he smiled, 'I love it.'

'Are all girls like this?' she asked quietly.

'I don't think so, neither are all men alike. Everyone has a different pace. And that's perfectly natural. As long as the couple is in accord, it's free range, Luna.'

'I want to be in accord with you, Draco.'

'Luna…' he whispered defenselessly. When did he get this blessed?

'Look,' she said, picking up her pendent, 'it's gone a light pink, do you see? And it has been glowing all day.'

Draco watched the crystallized raindrop.

'All day? What did you say its proprieties were?'

'Clarifying, from what I have read. I thought it would be a good ingredient for Filter, but I'm still dabbling, really…'

'Well…I have a theory.'

'Yes?'

'It could be acting like a storing recipient. Storing energy.'

'Oh…' Luna looked down at the pendent, 'energy…' she looked up at him with tinted cheeks, 'love?'

Draco's eyes, having momentarily attached to her lips, moved to look into her eyes with a subtle, hypnotizing smile. 'You tell me.'

Luna tilted her head, 'Perhaps Severus will know about it.'

'Why ask when we could experiment with it right now?' His fingertips dipped past her skirt's band, trailing hotly across her lower back, drawing tantalizing circles around her hipbone. 'See if we can crank up the pink a few shades darker.'

Luna buried her face in his chest, arching her body against his with quiet desperation. 'Come to me, lover.' He tugged her lightly by the hand, backpedaling toward the bathroom.


'Congratulations are in order, it would seem!' Dumbledore said in his easy, affable voice, rising to welcome Snape's protégées. 'Sit, please, sit. Severus, have you explained to our young friends the subject of our discussion, or should I make the introductions?'

'They are in the know.' Snape said.

'Good, very good.' Albus bobbed his head, readjusting his half-moon spectacles up the crook of his nose. 'Draco, I understand you have been charged with a delicate task, have you not?'

'To put it gracefully,' Draco said.

Albus crossed his arms behind his back.

'Miss Lovegood,' Albus began, 'ah! Forgive me, Miss Malfoy. I have asked to see you because it was made known to me through your potions professor that you are in possession of a few extremely rare ingredients for an extremely rare potion,' he breathed, 'phew, that was a mouthful. I ought to make shorter sentences at this age...' He smiled with congenial self-deprecation.

'Indeed Professor. Draco and I are working on an important potion, you see.'

'And you are in want of the Philosopher's stone, hmm?'

'Yes, but we don't know where to look.'

'Well, I am afraid all the stones have been exhausted. The last authenticated stone was destroyed by the ministry not two years ago.'

'You mean there are none left?' Draco asked. There had to be a way; it was their last ingredient. All that stood between them and that cursed potion.

'There are false stones, many, too.' Albus trailed. 'It is nearly impossible to know if a real one can still be found, and if so, where. But I have a friend of mine who collects artifacts…he has lost his mind, I am afraid, but if I remember correctly, he is in possession of a few shavings gifted to him by Nicolas Flammel himself. Severus, you could pay him a visit, hmm? Of course, you may go too,' he said to Draco and Luna, 'provided you are not missing any classes, of course. But do be careful. The man is far gone, his mind has turned into mush.' Albus laughed. 'Right, off you go to breakfast, do let me know how your little quest goes…oh and Draco?'

'Yes?'

'Either way, whatever the outcome, you will need not kill me.' Albus sighed, a sad smile stretching his mouth, 'I am not long for this world.'


Wow, I wonder who this nutcase with the stone shavings is. To OC or not to OC, that is the question.

Yours, L.