CHAPTER 6- An Unplanned Date?

"Oh Malfoy, look what sweet ol' Pansy found" It was mid afternoon and the cacophonous sound belonging to a shrieking Pansy hurt his ears. Draco rolled his eyes and turned around, the annoyance obvious on his pointed face.

"What are- Oh hi Luna" Draco smirked at the slightly dazed girl infront of them. He could see from her eyes the bewilderment and curiosity. He betted it was from his surprising and sudden special treatment for her.

"Hullo, Pansy said you need me?" Yet, still, Luna smiled back. It was clear that her questioning eyes were not due to a negative thought. Knowing her, Draco thinks she might have believed in that rare, seemingly nonexistent side he must have projected, or doesn't even have at all.

Her eyes settled to Blaise, who was currently wearing a shock expression upon his face.

"Yes, Luna. Precisely. Oh, don't mind Blaise, he's just shocked with a certain 'loss' he'll get over it eventually, won't you Blaise?" With it, Draco eyed him pointedly. Blaise nodded sharply, he showed Luna once sheepish grin that clearly did not stop the Ravenclaw's concern.

He wasn't sure if Blaise was trying to hinder him from winning, or if he wants them to be noticed so quickly, but one thing for sure, Draco wouldn't let that happen. He's close to perfecting his story plot. If Blaise wanted his christmas gift so badly, he would have to crawl just to get them.

He waved at the two with a sharp knowing look and the pair of blondes retreated.

Luna and Draco walk side by side, their hands an inch away from each other. Draco eyed her from from his peripheral vision, watching her as she stared relaxed up to the azure sky.

Luna knew he was watching her, but she cannot bring herself to look back, fearing that whatever tingly feeling he does to her would fade away once his eyes would avert their stay.

After a moment of awkward silence and loud clashing of two sides in his inner debate, Draco placed his hand on Luna's lower back. If he was watching her closely, he would have seen a small smile on her face. Yet, he did not. Instead, his head was elsewhere, trying to think about things Luna would like to go to or would like to have.

Because he was lost. Unaware and clueless.

What would Luna Lovegood picture as a date?

When he was with Astoria, she mostly pulled, begged him to go clothes shopping with her. Which would lead them to a pointless arguing session when she would go on for hours nagging him about how bored he was getting. Well, to his defense, he is a boyfriend material minus the false reputation he has of being a playboy. But shopping with a clothes maniac? He would rather spend his time in detention with Mcgonagall. And that says something.

"I don't want to be rude but, what is it that you need, Draco?"

To say he was shocked was an understatement. She blew him completely out of words. He decided Luna's innocent bluntness is something he could get used to.

They stood halted unto the center of the walking path, their eyes transfixed to each other. Him, shocked, and her, challenging. To be honest, even before her intimidating question, he wasn't still quite sure either. Yet, deciding to have the upper hand, he leaned in to what he does best. Manipulating.

"Well" He took a step forward. To his surprise, she didn't even cringe from his bold move. She simply raised her head to look at his face. "To tell you the truth dear, I want you" he formed the most charming smile that can surely make any witch melt. His index finger made it's way on her jaw, gliding down slowly to her collarbone. He traced the bone lazily, slow strokes upon her warm skin.

But he underestimated Luna Lovegood's naiveness when it comes to the part in life called 'flirting' and all it's rendezvous.

She blinked a few times and an excited smile formed itself on her lips. For a moment, Draco thought that Luna has a bit of knowledge about being sultry and all that stuff. She looks painfully innocent and her lips were all too tempting. Yet, he was wrong. "Draco, this might hinder us from our quest to wherever we might go, but do you mind if I go and buy some Bertie Bott's every Flavoured Beans?- Would you like to join me?" He was about to refuse since he hated those freakish beans, but the glee written on Luna's face made it hard for him to resist. He had never seen anybody so joyous over something so.. unworthy. Especially when it is leading to a choice between a handsome man and such ordinary beans. "Alright, alrighty. Why not?" he shrugged and rolled his eyes, completely annoyed with how his move just went unnoticed and disregarded.

After they bought some sweets from the shop, Luna carried the two packages of the beans, a few sherbet lemon and chocolate frogs inside the pockets of her silvery pink jacket. There was a look of content upon her face, her eyes had metaphorical heart looks inside them. She was surely in Candy Heaven.

"Have you been eyeing a dress lately? Madame Gofnin has the prettiest dresses as I recall" He inwardly prayed that she wouldn't want to go to that place, they could get lost for a day if ever Luna would persist. But Draco had no choice, he was utterly lost. If it wasn't Luna with him, he can easily plan a date, win them over with the use of that old lady, but today, he doesn't know a single thing on what to do and where to go.

She is strange and unpredictable. She is clearly Luna 'Loony' Lovegood.

"You've done so much for me Draco. You know you didn't have to pay, yet you spoiled me rotten. I am sure daddy, especially his teeth, would appreciate this sweet treatment. Thank you." He blinked at her. It was the very first time a date would ever thank him for small things. If he would ever give a wealthy pureblooded witch a package of that beans, they would surely skin him to death. Secretly, a small part of him rejoiced, choosing Luna is one of the rightest decision he had ever made in his seventeen years of living.

"My Mum used to say-" Her voice was a whispering enchantment inside a labyrinth-liked cave. She is noticable, even if her voice is soft and melodic, it is something you can't help but to pay attention because it felt like medication. It was probably what his favorite childhood lullaby his mother used to sing to him morphs to."-'if you're lost, just keep on walking. You would know the right place at the right time, you don't have to rush through things'" She raised her head to meet his eyes. He took a moment to notice her pair of blue orbs, those shinning crystals are bright as the stars and soft as the moon's beam. They are so warm and inviting, they can be the death of men if men would be smart enough to pay attention. How it would lit up whenever she would talk about happy things and how they sink deep whenever she would be in her witty state. It is beautiful actually, and to add it all up, the things that comes from her mouth are unbelievably wise and well, actually makes sense, except the bizarre creatures and all those accessories.

But thankfully, men are too thick to even take a moment to surpass the ordinaries

"Nice jacket" He doesn't like how her clothes can easily make him see her even the most overwhelming crowd. Her wardrobe shouts vibrance and weirdness, it made her stand out.

"Thankyou, I'm sure my Mum would appreciate that" Luna beamed with her eyes sparkling just for him. There is a sense of satisfaction and selfishness on his part, knowing that he was the one who found out about this girl and she looks at him with innocence and fondness. "You should tell her that" He looked at the worn out glittering pink jacket hanging upon her shoulder blades. He was being sarcastic with her a while ago, but her eyes were smiling and he can't help but to take his words personally.

She sighed, wrapping her arms around her petite waist as her eyes went a bit cloudy for just a spun of a second.

"Oh, there's a beautiful spot there Draco!" He frowned immediately. She was wrong to think that Draco wouldn't see that her eyes were hiding something and somehow, that made him feel quite hurt- if that would even make sense. He isn't even her friend, why would he even want to know, nonetheless, care about her?

He let Luna pull him by the end of the cliff. At that spot, his eyes widen infront with the scenery being presented to him. Over the huge dip ahead, the curves of every healthy hill and the sharp edges of every single pine tree were complementing each other. The blue sky surrounding the top of the earth made him feel overwhelmingly small. It made him see what peace would have looked like if he was simply not who he was. For a moment, he relied on that imaginary life he has with her. Sitting upon the grass, living their lives as if breathing was that simple.

At the center of the mountain is the bright sun, casting a soft light upon the greenery of the landscape. "It is beautiful isn't it?"

She makes it look as if it was that simple.

"Yes, very" He stares at her as she does at the landscape. Come to think of it, against the happening of the nature, he saw the real beautiful thing reflecting upon them, and it was Luna's eyes; they are light and warm, her irises were reflecting the images of what's infront of her. Once, twice, he saw her close her eyes and her eyelashes meet her pale cheeks like raindrops falling effortlessly to the silver pavement.

With her presence, she could strangely calm him. Like how she reminds him of a painting his Aunt used to stare at. She often traces every curve of the woman's face and would call her 'weird and beautiful'. Even if he was too shocked to hear those words from his Aunt without any sarcasm behind them, he approves of her compliment. Infact, the girl has light blonde hair and a pair of dreamy light blue eyes. The girl in the painting was too bright next to the other girl in the painting, while she was dreamy, the other one was filled with dark features. He even asks himself of what or who those people are, but he knows too well it probably belonged to his Grandfather.

"My Mum died when I was nine. I was there." she stated rather abruptly, those brilliant eyes looking back at him. She waited for him as if he would shrug her off, but when he didn't, she turned her eyes back to the brown ground below them, continuing the intimate tale of a magical girl with one frail wing.

"Luna-" He tried to protest. He wanted her to stop. He feared that sooner or later, she wouldn't think twice on jumping off of the cliff. And he wouldn't want to see that, he wouldn't want that. And the more he frets about it, the headmaster's image began to form slowly inside his head. What if she jumps though? Would it be a foretelling scenario? Another memory that would prove how he would never really have a choice?

"Sometimes, I still remember the way she fell infront of me" she bit her lower lip and wrapped her jacket more tightly around her. Draco knew it's still wasn't his cue to reply to her. With the sorrow building in her eyes, it was enough to make him runout his breath. "She was a very brilliant student back when she was still in Hogwarts. She was in Slytherin" Luna smiled sheepishly at Draco's comical expression, he was really listening to her alright! But who would blame him? Who knew Luna has some Slytherin within her? And what was the name of her mother anyway?

As if she had read his thoughts, she answered his question before he can even form the words "Her name is Berenice Nott-" And before he can even close his surprised mouth, she continued: "-She was the only sibling Cantankerous Nott has, and believe it or not, she was more of the mystical believer more than my Daddy" He watches closely as her eyes closed, the blonde eyelashes rested upon her soft cheeks. "My father was in Ravenclaw, people called him weird because of his beliefs but it's alright, my Mum still appeared to be attracted by him. She even introduced him to the nargles and wrackspurts! Oh, how I wish couples do end up like that! But ofcourse, things didn't end up well. Even if they have loved each other, my Mum was forced to be disowned by the Notts' and even her bestfriend ended their ties just because she would marry a crazy blood traitor" The sweet dreamy smile on her lips disappeared. She was back to that little broken angel who forgot how to fly. He stared at her in complete disbelief and snaked his arm around her waist, he held her close to him like he feared that she was going to give in. Like she was going to disappear low enough to reach his level of cynicism.

And no, that's not her. He would not let her become such creature.

Without any further battle with his thoughts, his arm around her waist tightened it's hold, pulling her closer. Much more closer.

"When my Mum refused to stop, she became depressed. The light in her eyes were lost and haunted and she kept on persisting that she has to cure her bestfriend. She proclaimed that she needed to help her, she needed to cure people who lost their sanity. My father said she was only hurting herself but she just- she just loved her best friend" He wasn't sure why she just trusted him enough that she was telling him everything if she was breaking all over again. And he wasn't sure why her head upon his shoulder, and her warmth inside his arm felt comfortable. But would it be rude to say that he feels relieved?

"She never stopped, for six years she was making her potion. We always thought she would succeed. She was really determined that she would make it right. But life wasn't like that. On that very day, I went up to her workplace as she took a break to drink a cup of tea. I always wanted to surprise her, to be like her. When I picked the cauldron she was stirring, she came up behind me and-" If she wasn't crying, he might've thought their position was awkward but surprisingly, all he ever wanted was to make this dreamy, always her head in the clouds Luna Lovegood, smile and spread hope again. Terrifyingly, he grew the realization that yes, she calms him, but at the same time, she makes him lose his control. "And it fell, and everything happened so quickly, my Mum wrapped her arms around me and a flash of green light erupted from the cauldron. And you know what was the last thing she ever said to me?" She whirled her face violently to look at his face, only an inch away, less than a breath apart. Her eyes were dark and blurry, it was a new look, it was something that tells him that Luna Lovegood cracked. Infront of him. Beside him. With him.

"She said 'Luna love, I love you dearest, please remember that. And whatever happens-" She fights back a sob and her hand automatically went to rub her eyes

"Don't stop believing"

They stayed silent for a while, both of them unsure of what to do to the other. Luna knew Draco was new with people sharing their feelings to him and Draco knew Luna never talked about her Mum to anyone that much. They were two broken souls clinging to each other's haunted lives. One with one frail wing, the other with two chirped wings.

And so he did what his mind can ever think about, he placed his frigid, uncertain head atop of hers with his eyes squinted close, accepting the shallow breaths that came from her lungs.

Indeed, Luna was stronger than every negative aspect in life. Instead of crying, she smiled, wide and inspiring, and started rummaging her hand on her pocket.

"And since that day, I promised not to stop believing in the things I have faith into. And I know, one day, I would see her again. So please Draco, I as a friend, would want you to never stop hoping." Luna enlarged a pack of beans and begun plucking random kinds of them from the box. She poked a color red one and chewed it absent mindedly inside her mouth. Draco was impressed by her sudden arise from such sad emotions. He raised one faint eyebrow as her watery eyes looked appealing with her happy lips. He, Draco Malfoy, was the Prince of the Slytherin house, he is actually manipulative, cunning, handsome, sexy, and also, the master of controlling his feelings. But Luna Lovegood was different, she might be a lunatic, but she is who she is. She is Berenice Nott and Xenophilius Lovegood's daughter. She has her darkness but her own wellbeing is the light. Everything about Luna seems to glow and everything she touches seems to turn into gold.

"Draco? Are you alright? Did the wrackspurts intrude your head again?" He came face-to-face with Luna's smiling, glorious face infront of him. He furrowed his eyebrows together and his eyes fell on her lips. Between her pink pair stood a shinning red bean shimmering to him almost as if it was tempting him to lean in. He rested both of his hands at the sides of Luna's knees. Seemingly caught off guard, the girl fell backwards with a thud "I want some of those" He lingered his gaze to her lips and back to her eyes. At first, he watches her closely to see if she shows any signs of panic but surprisingly, there wasn't, so he leaned his head slowly, his face a few inches away from hers.

Her eyes kept on shining, but somehow, there was something else, something deep and dark inside those innocent orbs that he can't somehow place. That surely cannot be it, could that finally be a proof that Luna Lovegood do possess teenage hormones inside her body?

She puffed out a large supply of breath. Her smile grazed upon her face once more. She pulled a bean right from the box without removing her gaze at him and plucked the bean inside his lips. Mustering the most sensual chew he could possibly release, he playfully and sultrily began devouring the candy inside his mouth. While the grin on Luna's lips began forming, his frown also became evident on his face "Bloody bullocks, what is this Luna? Is this the puke flavoured one?" She bit her lip and nodded at him with that sweet smile she always seem to wear. Damn it! How can he be mad with a face like that?

"Why you!" He swallowed the sweet- or was it a prank candy?- with terror written upon his face. He raised both of his hands to tickle her sides, and immediately, the girl started wiggling violently and her mouth kept on opening and closing, shrieking with laughter that sounds very much like lovebirds in an autumn afternoon.

They kept on and on about tickling and shrieking. Strangely, it does feel nice. Draco used to think it was sort of pathetic, to share such intimacy with someone. What good would you gather with such tiring activity? Yet, it was clear from their smiles how they both enjoy what life had to offer for them in that moment. As much as Luna felt like she was going to pee with all those tickling and laughing, Draco's touch do some wonders and made goosebumps appear on her skin- it felt nice. And Draco, well, he just likes watching Luna for alot of reasons.

"Draco st-" They rolled at the very end of the cliff, half of her body was hanging stiffly at the end of the cliff and the other half was held supportedly by Draco, his arms were wrapped at her waist. As the moment their faces met, Luna smiled and started giggling again "Please be a dear and pull me up please?" She rested her hand across where her heart lies. He doesn't want to make any careless actions so he wrapped her gently inside his arms, ignoring the heat of her body, and placed her her on top of him for a moment,

She clenched to his chest tightly, inhaling the smell of earth and Draco Malfoy altogether.

His breath was caught inside his throat, ignoring her scent that crosses temptingly to his nose.

"That was fun!" She stayed still on her position just to stare directly to his eyes "This is the funnest first date ever! Thank you Draco" Then she stood up, pulling him with her. There was a huge smile on her face. The sun was shining behind her, the back strands of her hair were shining with warm gold. She looked carefree and happy. Like someone who came from one's dream.

He watches her as she watches him. With her pink jacket and wild hair, she reminds him of a nymph, swaying and floating gracefully beneath the ground. Upon the dirty ground, he stood with an indescribable smile plastered to his face, surprised that he forgot about all his pureblood responsibilities and instead, was hanging out with a loopy girl with a whole heart. With tossled hair and wrinkled tailor made clothes, he chuckled whole heartedly as she dances quite silly. He doesn't know. But he is pretty sure Luna Lovegood is definitely something.

this would probably be my favorite chapter for now, well, I enjoyed writing this one :)

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