Hullo guys! It has been awhile! I'm so sorry for the long wait! Advance apology for the grammatical mistakes or if this chapter is boring. This is far from what I dreamed for it to be, so sorry guys, you deserve something better :(
Chapter 58- Stepping Stone
"Another month? Do pardon me Professor, but why?" Luna knows she would eventually understand, but still, she was just so excited with fulfilling her three months, it saddens her to know she'll stay longer than promised.
Meanwhile, on Professor McGonagall's case, she inwardly feels proud of a certain former arrogant Slytherin. It's no secret that the two of them had never tolerated each other back in his Hogwarts years. But when he stood up for himself to the dark lord, she felt proud of the man who he became.
She has to admit, when she had heard of the news regarding her two students, she was bewildered and disbelieved. How could the two possibly fall for one another? Never in her past years of observing them have she thought about them clashing. She had always thought that Draco Malfoy's future had always been certain: especially with finding a decent bride to go by his extravagant lifestyle. While Luna Lovegood- Well, she would probably live her life chasing the creatures the Quibbler talks about or who knows, discover an antidote or a rare creature in the magical wilderness.
Luna Lovegood is open with the wild things around her, wearing a flower crown upon her curious head, skipping with a smile upon her face but a lonely heart inside. While Draco Malfoy has always been locked inside metaphorical dungeon doors, dodging hateful glances. As if by fate, her own existence was the key for that door, and once he had left that prison, he held her hand- and by a blink of an eye, both of them suddenly knew they will never be alone again.
Indeed, the aftermath is truly interesting. If not, it is strangely satisfying.
"I understand that you miss your family Ms. Lovegood, it is just that we need your help with bringing the magic back in Hogwarts, our 'home'. But if you want to lea-"
"No Professor, I'm glad I could be a part of this wonderful cause. I would love to help. As you can see Professor, I can sense the evuwompus from here. We just have to tidy everything up and-"
Professor McGonagall nodded quite aloofly to the blabbering girl, her mind blocked by the plan on hand.
'Yes, everything would end up well.'
Once Luna had left the Headmaster's private chamber, Professor McGonagall started doing her role in their scheme:
With a snap of her fingertips, fresh parchments went flying to her desk, a bottle of ink next to her writing hand. The soft whips of the feather on her hand are in contrast of the revelations inside the two parchments that she is making. With giddy sensations inside her system, she smiled accidentally.
And when she smiles, everything just goes incredibly right.
As soon as Xeno entered the Headmistress's chamber, the ever so stern looking Minerva McGonagall smiled with ease upon seeing the little girl inside his arms.
"Lovely day I presume?" he asked, glad that his cute wrackspurt repellant has once again, saved someone's day.
"Oh, everyday is and can be a lovely day" McGonagall replied, her hand beckoning him to sit "I take that the talk had ended well?" and she immediately added when he just did.
"It did, and the poor boy, although a bit nervous, had carried himself quite well. I am proud of him. What a peculiar man"
"Well, that is one out of two then. The second plan with Thomas Greene is currently impending, but it would turn out fine"
Xenophilius Lovegood,
Greetings Xenophilius, by the time you would read this, you have an hour to tidy yourself up and bring a certain crystal locket on hand to the Malfoy Manor. I was assigned to send you this letter by my former student, Draco Malfoy. Because of his current situation, you are pleaded to visit him. He said he needed to talk to you about a private matter.
Regards, Minerva McGonagall
Xenophilius felt small against the huge cushion the Malfoys have. Looking around, he felt as if he is a wee ant inside the huge, huge world.. Well, he doesn't technically 'feel' like an ant because he doesn't feel like having antennas and extra feet and not being able to lift his head to look at the sky but-
Maybe more like how people perceive how ants feel against all the giant things, but as Xeno thinks about it, ants do not speculate how it must be like to be superior over their surroundings.
Erasing his failed attempt to reconnect ants, he focused on the dizzy ceiling up ahead, a sense of light headedness made it clear that he was not used to such open spaced homes. In the Lovegood household, bunch and bunch of strange, unfamiliar viles,leaves and paints or sketches scatter upon places where they could be held. The two Lovegoods could not last a day without splattering some chaos with art, it's just in their blood.
Maybe he should ask Draco if he could paint their ceiling or maybe he should just give them nargle repellants or wrackspurts specs or a pile of articles from the Quibbler. The wrackspurts infestation could easily be sensed in the place.
But the decor, although too dark for his liking, was dashingly well done. It has luxury and antique written all over it.
Speaking, or rather- thinking about luxury, he subconsciously caress the gem of the locket inside his palm, knowing how it matters too much for his daughter. Even though people may deem him as a lot off of the head and expected that he raised Luna with his outrageous beliefs-making her a bit off of her rocker as well, he has to say, he is proud of how his brave daughter grew into.
Footsteps echoed from the impact of footwear against rich, thick wood. Glancing back, his smile widens as a pale looking Draco Malfoy emerges. Well, he looks alot better than the last time he had heard of him.
Immediately, as if by planned, a house elf popped up infront of the coffee table, a tray containing of a tea set in which are a China teapot, two porcelain cups, and two bowls filled with tempting and luscious pudding.
Xenophilius analyzes Draco much more closely than before. As the young man climbs his way down the grand staircase, Xenophilius, without any judgement, knew that Draco Malfoy was raised to be the perfect pureblooded man as how his father is. Even with the young man's inner struggle, he walked with back straight and head held high. The air of superiority is as thick as his eyes could be.
Yes, the very first thing you would notice on his face will always be his eyes. The very first time he had an interaction with the man was back on Clementine's day of birth. From a distance, he saw how Draco's eyes widen in excitement as he smiles from ear to ear when the healer announced that Clementine's about to arrive. Then, to that moment when he stares so thickly at Luna, squeezing her hand, whispering things near ear.
From observations, he concluded Draco Malfoy as a young man full of thunderstorms and zigzags. But even though people might say it is really hard to see the good side of that Slytherin, and that, Luna is officially off of her line for choosing him, he knows that her daughter is correct.
"Good afternoon sir" Draco Malfoy tries to smile, but those eyes ooze the fidgety tension inside his system.
"Why it is a lovely afternoon indeed Draco!" Xenophilius smiled back, trying to ease the nerves of the boyfriend of her daughter and father of his grandchild. It is so bizarre-yes there is still bizarre things for him, to actually live in the moment of seeing his child slowly let go if his hand to clasp a new one. And now, he is sitting underneath a maple tree, watching them walk side by side together- to face the road with infinite trust that nobody would ever want to pull back.
"Please do make yourself comfortable, as well as have some tea and pudding, sir" Draco offered with icy blue eyes warm and inviting.
"Stop with the formalities Draco, just call me Xenophilius. You are already a family to me young lad-" Draco offered him a cup of tea which he gladly took with eager hand. As if by timing, the pudding on the center of the table disappeared and reappeared infront of him, all with it's glistering glory. "-and I am forever thankful to you for making my daughter so happy"
Draco was on the middle of sipping his tea when Xenophilius said those. Moved by the older man's words, he smiled with gratitude.
"That meant so much coming from you Mr.- Xenophilius. I hope I would always make her happy. She makes me laugh and smile and all that cliches, which is very indescribable, it's surreal" When Luna first mentioned Draco Malfoy's name inside his household, he saw something light up inside his daughter's eyes. She was thirteen years old back then, concerned about a certain Slytherin student who everybody seem to avoid.
Then, shifting two years later, he became a huge part in their lives, the same glint in her expressive eyes shine as if it never left.
Looking at the boy, nobody would not describe him as a dashing young man. He is full of charisma, appeal and swagger, witches are bound to notice him somehow..
Yet, his darling daughter did not just noticed those qualities of him.. She adores him. She loves him.
And he can see that Draco Malfoy does so too, to her.
His cold piercing eyes shines just for her.
"Do you not want to eat your pudding Draco? The smell acts as a repellant from fly dungders. Pesky little insects, they suck all the prolactin of a person. Maybe, if they would hold such power, which we do not want to ever happen, the world will be on deep chaos and not the good kind I assure you!" Draco nodded, noting that for a minute there, he saw Luna talking. Not just in how they both sentence each and every word out, but the way their eyes light up when they're talking about things they're passionate about. Maybe, even though he is having a hard time living without her, and besides of the reason that he cares so hard for her future, it would be the end of him if her everlasting fire would die out.
"I'm full with all this tea. Plus, Clementine loves pudding. It must be a Lovegood genetic?"
"That is correct. You just have to look for bright colors, wild hair, barefoot prints in nature, and sweets-stained clothes in able to find us Draco"
Draco remembered the first time he tried to stop himself from seeing her almost everywhere. Remembered the way he felt really, extremely annoyed with finally noticing every detail of her weird accessories and bizarre matchings of color schemes. How his eyes hurt and would automatically frown their way to her because she looks as if she came out of a carnival
He already knew she is different. And annoyingly pretty.
Her face with her overly huge eyes, pointed nose as his, and small puckered lips. Face that conveys innocence, trust, hope, and all that is beauty..
"Learned it firsthand, Xenophilius"
"Which reminds me son, speaking of firsthand, here is the locket you asked for-" Xenophilius handed Draco the crystal pendant, his eyes full of curiosity and awe to the magnificent work
"-and indeed, love could truly conquer all. I remember Bernice, oh my lovely wife. Did you know she was the one who asked me if she could marry me? I was thinking about proposing to her, mind you, but I was afraid her family would disown her. Sadly, they did, but she never let it bring her down. She said love conquers all, and it is true. She proved it to me, and you proved it to my daughter, Draco"
Draco caresses the pendant in his clutch, smoothening the dragon figure with heart tugging and mouth secretly smiling. He wishes Xenophilius was right. Luna Lovegood is surely something. She is that type of woman who, no doubt, you could spend the rest of your life with without getting a single dull moment. The Heavens smiled upon him and blessed him with a form that is her. He knows deep down, many could be prettier, or smarter than her, but nobody could replace her with how she makes him feel. He feels oh so full of himself for he has the strangest, most beautiful witch to ever graze upon the grounds of earth. She is the epitome of all the planets combine. She is astronomy, the word itself.
He felt his heart tug again, his eyes darting back at Xenophilius. Should he finally ask it?
Could he finally say it?
He could finally do it right?
But instead, all he eventually ask was
"Would you like to see Clementine?"
Draco was the first one to enter Clementine's room, eventually, as the door creaked, a tiny head full of blonde curls sprung from her crib.
"Did you have a good nap little one?" He sat himself down infront of her, his cold demeanor relaxing with the sight of her delighted face. Inside his hand, he holds a bowl of pudding-which in a much more closer inspection, is actually softer than before; and in which is probably meant for Clementine. Upon seeing the treat, her icy eyes widen in even much more delight, her throat letting out squeals of joy.
"We have an important visitor Clementine, you will love him for sure" With the cue, Xenophilius stepped inside the room and immediately, his heart welled up to his throat and his eyes widen in amazement.
It was an explosion of magic. Everything seemed as if it was taken from a flower child's imagination. The whole dark manor looked a bit off against the splutter of calm joy Clemetine's room has. To the strokes and the design's expressive way of giving peace, images of a younger Luna painting her ceiling with faces of her friends came rushing back at him.
Immediately, he knew his daughter was the one who painted the entire space.
He brought his palm to the painted wall, his lips forming a radiant smile.
"She wanted to paint the whole room. At first I thought it was surreal, really. Why would you give so much of your time for just a single wall when you can just call for people to do it for you? But, then, she still persisted. And well, your daughter can do wonders. She makes everything look possible. Even pudding applied bread. " the boy a few steps away from him, said.
Yes, suddenly, the young man looked so young. The usual sultry, scowling Draco Malfoy has his bangs hang loosely to the side of his forehead, cascading gently towards to the direction of the infant below him, who's mouth is currently occupied with the sweet treat. His face, although it always seem to be perfectly clear from all of the dirt around him, has smudges of chocolate being traced out by his sweet daughter. Then, the cold color of his eyes glimmer with warmth, his laugh reflecting to the crinkles next to his eyes. He reminded him of that young Slytherin prince his little daughter was so concerned about. So full of excitement, so full of hidden depth, yet so full of love that he hides so desperately just for that one and only to see.
"Everything is brought about by little things, Draco"
Inside Draco's arms, the infant rolled unto her back. The same little pair of cold hues were staring at him curiously, her fair brows raised and chocolate covered lips formed into her usual delight.
It was a month ago since he last saw her. The Quibbler has been buzzing with a dramatic rise of readers, thus his expedition with Newt Scamander took an extension. With just a week, it turned into a month filled of rare and fantastic findings.
"She looks a lot like you, Draco" He acclaimed, his face doing these funny faces Luna loved when she was a wee baby. Clementine's throat buzzed with little giggles, her eyes darting back and forth from his red and yellow polka dotted tie and his comical face.
"Well, she might suffer with the Malfoy arrogant look then. Which could either help or hinder her with finding her own set of friends. Luckily, she has Luna's peaceful smile and delighted expression in her eyes. I once wished she would look just like her mum, but well, to be honest, we make such attractive children" Xenophilius felt the humor despite the serious expression upon his face. Well, it was not much of a humor because it is actually true. He might believe in alot of peculiar things but he did not have Bernice with just his strange personality, thank you very much. Well, he believes everybody's attractive unless they have montinorgors' blood inside their system. Those hideous beasts do nothing but kill all those innocent ferbs and vines. Not for the very reason that they are pests, they had a choice, yet they chose to kill.
And going back to Draco's sentence, he kind of felt what the man truly intends to do, or rather, say and ask, of him.
Then, he grinned.
He cannot believe everything's happening so fast.
"Well, just as long as you keep my daughter happy, I would love to have as many grandchildren as the two of you could manage" when he first found out he would have a daughter, his mind made a mental back flip, processing thought after thought as he tries to rationalize the reality of his future daughter ever leaving him with someone who would not be worthy. Who is he kidding? He couldn't bear it if he would ever see her cry. To see her give her all to a person who would never treasure her beautiful existence.
Yet,-
"She changed me the way I just needed to accept myself. She accepted me the way I do not deserve to. She deserves so much more, yet she stayed. Who would ever love like that? Lovegoods do love good"
"Yes we do, son"
With Draco Malfoy-
"Sir, I know I will never be enough for her but will you give me-"
"Tatatata"
By jumping to the moment, suddenly, Clementine's eyes welled up with tears and her mouth opened with a wail. Upon the sudden action, Draco and Xenophilius glanced alertly to the child.
Draco stood up along with the infant inside his arms. Upon being inside her father's arms, she leaned her head to his chest, her hands clutching tightly to his shoulder sleeves as she leaves chocolate stains upon them.
Aside from being peculiar and edgy, Xenophilius is an observer. He stood up but his eyes did not leave the pair. With such affection, he knows Draco Malfoy did not lie when he told him Luna and Clementine are his saving grace. He looks at them as if they are guardian angels given by the God Above.. And maybe, they are.
"Hush now love, do not cry, I know. I miss her too" Draco pats his daughter's back, helping her digest the particles inside her system. Swaying back and forth, he got his eyes closed with only Clementine's sniffles ringing inside his ears.
He knows he could trust him
The silence was filled with questions. Xenophilius does not know if he could hold on any longer, the giddiness and the nervousness seemed to make him go quiet, he still haven't deduced his complete theory just yet, he still has uncertain thoughts for the future.
"-Or perhaps you just in deep need to burp" Clementine burped quite loudly, he was being pulled out from his consistent blabbering thoughts. He feels scared to lose her, yet, he knows he would love to see her as happy as how he was when he had his wife inside his arms- through thick and thin, for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer..
If only Bernice was with him, she would've known what to do right on that spot.
"Draco?" Draco had already sensed that Xenophilius already knew, but still.. What if he would not accept it? What if it is too early or, he would think negatively on it?
"No, I will not" Draco felt as if those four words stabbed him with a shard of glass. It dug unto his skin and made him bleed until he feels as if he is about to collapse. No it cannot be.
Xenophilius used that moment to grab his grand daughter from the man. The said being looked at him with wonder and immediately grabbed his long strands. He smiled down affectionately, grabbing the nargle looking toy that she seems to love.
"If this is all about Clementine, I wouldn't want you to feel obliged to do so. You do not love a person because you need them, you need them because you love them" Draco knows, deep down, he is just testing him. And so he loosen his muscles up,re-knotting the tightened muscles underneath his skin.
Luna deserves a traditional approach of his plan's stages-no matter how random and unpredictable his lovely witch is.
"Sir, I do not love her because I need her, or if it is just because we already produced a child. For Merlin's sake, she is wholesomely insane- she loves me, damn it. She saw me at my worst, and still she got the nerve to say she is insanely sane the whole ride. She is such a wreck and I am probably alot more, but it feels so right. It feels so nice being with Loony Luna Lovegood"
Draco's breath is starting to go shallow, the nerves became numb and all he decided was to rely upon his thoughts, never minding if a clandestine word or two would escape.
"She is this strange light that kept me from sinking. The direction that keeps me from breaking. I love her.. Oh Merlin, this would be too dramatic or romantic, but honestly, I love her more than anybody could think"
Amour vincit omia, Love conquers all
The room fell silent again. More-so that even Clementine is currently staring at her father's wide eyed face, giggling and open and closing her hands. She appears as if she knows what is happening. Maybe that infant actually does. She seems to always pay attention with conversations and scenarios.
"Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood, will you grant me your approval of having your daughter as my wife throughout our lifetime? For better and for worst?"
Sorry for the ocness of the characters, I think it is due to the nervous tension of finally asking the big Q to the father of your girlfriend and also, it has been awhile and I kind of got lost big time. Sigh, I wish you liked it! I miss fangirling.
Hullo guys! Reviews are appreciated! Oh and sorry for the grammatical errors or boring parts! I am currently improvising it in the middle of the night but I have to finish this chapter because I'm afraid I will never get the chance to do so in the next few days or maybe months? College is a freakin stress! Please, please leave an encouraging comments or just a review!
PS: Who do you think is Thomas Greene? What is his role in this plan? :)