第27章

'You're displeased.' Luna said after Draco closed the door behind them. 'You—'

Her remarked melted into a surprised noise when Draco swiftly wrapped his arms around her middle, hoisting her up against him in a tight clutch.

'I'm what now?' He asked, not in challenge, rather in genuine curiosity.

'Tense.' Luna answered unhesitatingly, her feet hanging a little ways off the ground. She adjusted herself in her husband's arms to tread her fingers through the base of his hair. He heaved an immediate sigh of contentment, nearly groaning at the necessary feel of her soft body gazing lightly along his as she shifted angles to massage his scalp. He could think of no better time than carefully spilling her onto his bed and enjoying more of her attentions, curling her up around him. 'I could feel it.' She trailed. 'All I wanted was to relieve you.'

'Was I that transparent?' He asked, raspy and, for once, uncertain. The relaxing spell of her delectable hands working down his nape clashed with the slight concern of having his well-veneered feelings sussed out so casually. Had he acted snappishly without realizing it? Zabini's lab partner had evidently been quick to frame him as high-handed. He hadn't felt angry for it, she'd seemed angry enough for the both of them. While her assumptions were not really his problem, the last thing he wanted was for Luna to misinterpret his general impatience with the situation as something to worry over. In spite of years tightening his hold over himself, both long-buried and new aspects of himself were slipping out of his control—and Luna was expectedly perceptive. 'Did I behave—hmmph.' His question tapered off to nothingness when her hands found a particularly gratifying pressure point.

'You were perfectly behaved.' Luna reassured. She watched a spark of relief pass through her husband's anthracite eyes while they held hers as tightly as his easy grip on her form. 'Which is why I thought you could use a break.'

Draco gazed down at her with undisguised awe. It was the damndest thing, he realized, but as it stood, nobody had ever told him he could use a break—and went on to secure it for him in the same breath. A pleasant thrill raced through his blood, crackling along his epidermis and galvanizing an extra jolt in his chest. Her small attention meant more to him than words could let her know.

'So telling your family you needed a nap was a stratagem for my sake?' He hid his face in the crook of her shoulder, already knowing the answer and wanting to hear her say it just the same.

'Yes,' Luna sighed, continuing to caress her way through his locks. 'I don't think half a day of being watched put you at your ease. Aunt Cassandra probably saw through it, though, since she was quick to convince my father that he was feeling sleepy when he clearly wasn't.' Luna shrugged. 'Not to mention I never take naps, my brain is too fuzzy with all manner of thoughts in the day to let me sleep. Things to draw, video ideas to film, general musings about the past, the future...'

'Can I recommend the present?' He muttered boyishly against the exposed skin of her neck. 'It's really good.'

'I'm glad you think so,' she smiled, fastening both arms around him and letting herself sink against him, her mouth fluttering down his neck as she spoke. 'You could use some rest. You woke up so early. It is Saturday.' She paused. 'And your birthday.'

'Sweet of you, looking out for me.' He said, his voice muffled by her own skin.

'Feel free to get used to it.'

'Don't mind if I do.' He moved his large hands to enfold her hips and pulled her up, bettering his hold on her as he walked them to bed. 'I'm not sleepy though.'

'What are you?' She asked, settling neatly between his legs as he sat back against the headboard.

'Hmmm,' he pretended to think, pushing her hair behind her ear. With a youthful smile that made her heart ache, a fleeting openness that wasn't there before, he swept down to capture her bottom lip between his teeth, gently scraping the full, supple flesh, before dragging her mouth against his for delightful, languid kisses. It was different from the urgent need for proximity that had her helplessly taking what he offered this morning, he had held back from her then—she knew. This was like a shared understanding, a wordless communication, warm and emotionally fulfilling, filling out every inch of her swelling heart.

Draco decided right then that there would be no room for ambiguity between them.

'I promise to protect you.' The vow was whispered against her lips between kisses. 'You'll always be safe with me.' He said next, needing her to know this. He laced his arms around her, just holding her, breathing her with a possessive tenderness that stumped him. He was suddenly, inexplicably afraid of the unknown, the incalculable. Nothing would ever hurt her, he reassured himself. Not under his watch. And, just to be safe—

'Tomorrow.' He said. 'The residence will finish setting up your training room.'

'Oh,' Luna blinked, dazed from his embrace. 'Oh, training?'

'That's the idea,' he laughed softly, kissing her temple. 'We'll see what you're made of then.'

'You'll train me?'

'Of course. When I can't, there's a training complex in Malfoy Manor. Dobbs trained me when I was a kid.'

'William?!' Luna gasped. 'He trained you?!'

'He's deceptively good, too, for a butlery name like William.' Draco smiled at her reaction. He paused, considering something. 'I will be honest with you, love,' he said in her hair. 'I can't...weaken you until you've gone through an important basic program all the Malfoys go through.' He saw the question in her eyes. 'I can't make unprotected love to you knowing I could get you pregnant.' He added, blushing at his own bluntness.

Luna turned a glorious shade of red.

'Sorry, have I startled you?' He asked.

'No. It's just...do you...um...I don't...mind it if...' she cleared her throat, willing herself to stop stammering. So much for her vague seduction plans. 'I can take the pill—'

'No. It's bad for your health.'

'Then...then you could...'

'I don't want our first time to involve a rubber glove.' He said, almost grouchy. Was this why he was holding back from her? Stupidly technical considerations of...

'Um...actually, I've heard of...natural contraception.' Luna ventured, playing with her hands.

'What's that?' He asked, clearly interested.

'Well, it's a method based on calculating things like the basal body temperature and planning...things...to fall in the least fertile time slots...which is highly doable, and the success rates are nearly perfect...'

'According to?'

'Aunt Cassandra.'

'That's...convenient.' And unsurprising.

Luna nodded vigorously.

'So...I will consult her while she's here...actually maybe that is why she's here in the first place.' Luna murmured. 'I love her, but she's a sheer force of nature.'

'Well then,' Draco said, trailing his lips against her ear. 'Let me know.'

Luna gave a shy nod, unsure how she hadn't imploded from that alone.

oOo

Ginny entered Hogwarts' portal, immersed in the love guide gifted to her by Luna's aunt, and nearly rammed into a tall, chestnut-haired stranger.

'Oh so—' she looked up, frowning at the guy looking down at her through black shades and a stetson hat. Huh? Luna's classmate Lavender whom she had met at the Halloween party would have probably expired on the spot, deuced by the unfortunate fashion faux-pas.

'Hi,' he said. 'I'm sorry to bother you. I'm a friend of Draco. Draco Malfoy?'

'Oh.' Ginny brightened. 'I know the guy. Quick hint, he's not here.'

'Yeah I know, I looked all over for him. Do you know where he lives? I heard he got married lately, can't believe he didn't invite me.'

'How do you...know?' Ginny pursed her lips suspiciously, immediately recalling that even Blaise hadn't been in the know.

'Like I said, we're friends.'

The guy's dazzling white smile nearly impressed her. If it weren't for the unfortunate cowboy hat, he did appear to possess a promising face shape...

No, Ginny frowned. He smelled fishy.

'Are you some sort of pap?' She asked.

'Seriously.' He sighed in frustration. 'Do I look like a pap?'

'Sorry, can't help. See ya.'

'Wait—ugh.' The guy took off his hat and threw it to the floor. Why was it that nobody in this school knew anything about Malfoy. Didn't he go here?! That bastard was going to be the literal end of him.

No. This was just an attempt at taking a shortcut. Obviously his opponent was smart and discreet, the best place to extirpate intel would be his annual meeting.

Picking up his hat, he disgustedly dusted the top and pushed it down his head before sidling away.

This was short and light! Sowwy, I am super busy rn. Hope you still enjoyed. Love you all!

MuffinMoe: thank you darling, as always, for your precious input!

dm: here you go! hihi