CHAPTER 17 The Necklace and the Wine

It had been a month since he last spoke to her. But for him, it was longer than he thought it would feel. He might not show it, and would even try his hardest to pretend that he doesn't give a damn about her, but Merlin's beard, he misses her so much, perhaps too much- more so than he could even imagine.

His cabinet progresses quite nicely. But then, he found himself crumbling. His Uncle Rabastan gave him an opal necklace along with a letter from his mother, giving him her wishes and love. For a second, he debated with himself if he should just drop it all off. He is so tired, so scared, but then he is afraid of all the consequences. He knows deep inside his heart that possibly, he is no monster- atleast that's what Luna said and she has always been so truthful to him.

Draco, you're not a killer.

He inhaled nervously. The cold breeze by the end of October passes his face like how the mark on his arm took his whole life away. There is no amount of hatred that can ever estimate the way he wants to end Voldemort's immortal life. He wants to be free. He wants to hate his father. He wants to run away. He wants to just stop fuckin' feeling.

Draco, you're not a coward.

The door of the Three Broomsticks Inn is open mainly because the Inn Keeper is preparing the tasks for the next day. Besides, it is still in the middle of the night and nobody from Hogwarts knows that he is there. And so he carried his feet, his toes carrying his weight, making them avoid any sign of noise.

Reaching the alleyway of the Inn, the door was surprisingly an easy thing to get pass through, and Madame Rosmerta's back was still turned to him.

"Madame Rosmerta?" he gripped his wand at his side, preparing himself to stride. The tall woman turned to him with her head bowed down, her eyes scanning on the parchment inside her hands. He furrowed his eyebrows together and aligned the tip of his wand unto her forehead.

"Mr. M-"

"Imperio!" he shouted the curse before she can even register what or who was standing infront of her. There was some sort of web-like silhouette that made it's way from his wand then to the woman.

He turned to look at the woman's eyes, worried that his spell might've went wrong, albeit his polished skill in the dark arts. Fortunately, the woman stares at him blankly; her eyes are filled with black and they're unblinking.

"Take this to the loo and curse a student to take this to the Headmaster's Quarters" the manipulated lady nodded absentmindedly and grabbed the small package from his arms.

Draco, you're not a criminal.

The next day, his heart pounds heavily over and over again. The whole student population were currently waiting for Professor Mcgonagall to finally announce their exit. Apparently, to Draco, it is the perfect day to make the next big step; but still, a little side of him wants the Headmaster to eventually notice his evil deeds and just kill him already. And also, thanks to fate, he has this 'school date' with Professor McGonagall.

He strolled down the empty castle with a small bottle in hand, his two feet wobbling a little bit. He took the longest walk he could have ever known and prepared himself for the worst, imagining different kinds of scenarios of what might be happening inside the Alley.

After a couple of minutes of twist and turns, he successfully placed the small bottle inside the shelf where Professor Slughorn keeps all his potions in.

Draco you're not evil.

"Mr. Malfoy, glad you've finally came" he rolled his eyes to Professor McGonagall's serious expression. It was clear to her eyes that she's not happy to see him too, and that, their time would be a torture to both of them. "Good Morning Professor" he greeted back at her with a sarcastic cheery response just to tease her. The Professor gestured her hand towards the seat next to her table, and Draco not-so-happily waltzes his way towards it.

"Professor I'm goi-" There was a little voice coming from the door. His head turned to look over the small figure standing on the frame. He eyes the girl with radishes that still, somehow, makes his heart beat faster. Seeing her so close to him ever since their confrontation, it seems as if it is the very first time he would ever lay his eyes on her.

He raised his eyes and they landed on her own pair; which are awkwardly- or perhaps, they are bluntly staring back at him.

"Thankyou Miss Lovegood, I'll be expecting a great performance from you" He doesn't care if Professor McGonagall is looking at them with a hint of surprise in her eyes. It is really obvious that Luna isn't listening to her. She's still busy figuring him out, trailing her eyes curiously on him and in him.

He can't help but to melt from her stare, those eyes that he longed to make contact again are finally staring and in some weird way, connecting to him. He knows to himself that he really has to look away but he can't find the strength to do so, instead, he found his own eyes memorizing every detail and curve of her face and body. Mentally building a statue of the ethereal beauty that is Luna Lovegood .

"You-you're welcome Professor" she looked away when she found him eyeing her with so much-so much something inside his piercing eyes. On prior of his flattering attention, a small hint of pink has colored unto her cheeks.

He is waiting for her to look back at him, even with just a small bit of time, because he felt as if it had been so fast.

But then she turned away, sadly, without looking back at him. At first, he tried to grab her attention, having this deep feeling of wanting to chase her, but when he turned his head to look at Professor Mcgonagall, he realizes what Professor Snape wanted him to do, of what he really is.

Draco, you're not a death eater.

He wishes that he could believe in what Luna had told him, but it appears to be wrong everytime he tries to think about it.