Chapter 23 Eavesdrop

"Are you sure Draco?" Narcissa patted his cheek worriedly, her face blank but eyes firing with doubt. "I'll be fine Mum" he shrugged his shoulders limply, a small fake smile planted on his face just to lessen his mother's worries. Luckily, it did made his mother relax. With a sharp intake of breath, she puffed the air out from lungs and hugged Draco tightly, closing her eyes, trying to control her worry. It saddens her to see him grow too early. She never wanted this-never wanted for her son to have so much worries. She tried to make him feel safe and loved, but like him, she was also trapped. Inside the house that families supposed to feel safe, everyday, they can't sleep without worrying if they were going to live the next day.

"I'll be fine Mum" he reassured her, trying to convince his mother, and at some point, even himself.

sssss

Draco made his way inside the castle, the gate was open, free for the visitors to roam around lazily. He inhaled a big breath to adjust his air supply, taking some guts just to enter the empty Great Hall.

He stood with his back straight with pride. His mother taught him not to show emotions in public. Be calm, polite, and wise because it makes people curious and that would make you superior and deadly. That was her secret, the Black blood running through her veins made her even more powerful. And besides, if he would play his role perfectly, he will master his parent's skills or infact, greater than they have- with their blood combined inside him, he guesses he must be a manipulator and a superior.

It took a lot of wishful thinking but finally, he earned a bit of confidence.

He heard some steps approaching to where he was currently standing. A small panic rushed to him but thankfully, with his Slytherin slyness, he whisked his way to his right, on the staircase up to the Astronomy Tower. Hiding himself from the intruders.

"I'm so glad you accepted to be my date tonight"He scoffed as he heard Harry freakin' Potter's voice. It was annoying to think about getting caught by him, especially when the saint was suspecting something about him- tthat was true he may add.

"Oh it's nothing Harry, thankyou for asking me. It feels quite lovely." There was a sudden chill travelling inside his body, the voice sends sparks that cannot be denied. Out there, just behind the wall that was made to be his hiding spot was Luna Lovegood. The girl he once had. The girl he stupidily gave to Harry Potter.

"Well, shall we?"

"Okay" his body tenses with annoyance and well, anger. She smiled her sweet smile to that boy no doubt!. He would immediately fall inlove with her and maybe, she does to. And what would happen to him? He wouldn't want to be the one who would get sad at the end. Luna was his. She was his. She was fuckin' his. That was unfair, that was a cruel turn of reality. Fate must've been playing with him all over again. Why does Harry Potter has to have everything he ever wanted? Why him? Why fuckin' him? Why can't he be the one to make Luna feel beautiful all over again?.

He stood stiff, watching the two students walk past his hiding place, with hands attached to the other. He decided that she was beautiful-scratch that, radiant and literally glowing. She dresses so like herself, the silver did match the way she shines. Those glittering sparks makes him remember the way her eyes lights up everytime he would see her. She looks like a christmas tree, shining with so much light- she was unbelievable.

Luna could feel him. She wasn't sure if she had lost her mind, but then, people already told her she already did, even before Draco Malfoy. But this time, it was powerful. As if he was really there.

She shrugged her thoughts and her hand immediately shot to grab Harry's hand. At first, Harry furrowed his eyebrows, startled with Luna's action. She was the same old Luna, he thought. But tonight, he saw something crumbling the way Luna held his hand. It was clear that she was thinking about something, and by that, he was sure that she was thinking about Draco.

Luna squeezed his hand and flashed him a smile, one that Harry can see that there was something broken beneath her strong action. She was the strongest person he would ever knew, and to see her almost close to tears made him went to his over protective mood-as if she was truly his little sister.

"Are you alright Luna?" he asks, sadness and concern clear to his voice.

She flashes him another smile, one that can easily fool anyone. Harry nodded absent mindedly, trying to erase the thought of Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood.

The party started with the guests grouping and chatting to each other. Passing compliments such as Oh you look lovely and I am infatuated with your dress. Luna was glad to know that Harry erased the thought off of his mind and instead, he was having a great time. She never liked keeping secrets from her friends, and now, she feels like it was still not the time to tell them about her feelings.

She was standing next to table, talking to Mr. Worple whom she met a few seconds ago. They were talking about thestrals when Mr. Filch decided to make his appearance on the middle of the party. Everybody immediately turned to look at the wreck, and beside Mr. Filch was Draco Malfoy.

"Mr. Slughorn, I believe we have a gate crasher right over here" Mr. Filch pulled Draco by his collar and made him turn his head. Luna stared at Draco and him to hers. She tightens her hold to the glass inside her hand, swallowing the small lump inside her throat. He stared back at her with the same look that she had, inside those blue orbs hides a hidden meaning. The feeling of longing and forgiveness.

But, was it time for her to forgive him so easily? What if he really doesn't have any feelings for her and that, she was only fooling herself?.She wanted to have him back so badly, but she was scared. Something inside her makes her hold on to that stage that was scared to trust him again.

"Oh, Mr. Malfoy! Come, join the party" Professor Slughorn cheerily said, but just as he was about to take an advance towards Draco, Professor Snape was the first one to grab Draco.

They both turned to look at each other, from Draco then to his Professor. "I shall be going then"

The two turned their backs slowly to the party, both of them turned Harry Potter suspicious.

"Excuse me for a moment" he whispered to Luna and Hermione as they both nodded in response. He followed the bee line Draco and Professor Snape made, and somehow, he tries to lessen his footsteps as silent as he can. A few left and right turns, down the second floor hall, he can hear harsh whispers.

"Listen to me. I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I made the Unbreakable Vow, Draco -" he heard Snape say, his usual bored tone was slightly worried. He inched a bit closer, trying to make his ear hear his words more clearer.

"Looks like you'll have to break it, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I'm doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!" He furrowed his eyebrows, his thoughts getting more clearer as the secrets began to unfold. But what was his mission? What does he want?.

"If you fail-"

"It doesn't matter anymore, what do I fuckin' care if he would kill me? I've got nothing left to leave!" Draco was shouting now, his voice rough and a little hoarse. "She was the only reason-" for the first time in his seven years in Hogwarts, he had finally hear Draco Malfoy wail in agony, his tone heavy with hidden tears and it was because of her. It was all because of Luna Lovegood.

"-I loved her"

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AHHH, FINALLY THE L WORD. WHO KNEW DRACO WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY IT? ;)

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Snape and Draco's convo was taken from the actual script (only the first and second one though, not the Druna part)