Chapter five:
Mood Swings
It was summer break and the students had been home now for weeks. Draco had barely ever gone out of the Malfoy mansion unless his mother wanted to take him shopping in which he felt he was forced to. Instead of interfering with his father's meetings that occurred on a daily basis with death eaters visiting at the mansion, he resided in his large bedroom that had a gothic look to it aside from the Slytherin house colors and crest lying around here and there. His bed consisted of black silk sheets, black and dark green pillows with a black comforter, his black bed frame elegantly carved while his walls were a charcoal with victorian print. His one lounging chair in his room were a dark green and the leather sofa at the other end of his room was black. His tables were stainless steel and silver in color not to mention the chandelier played a gothic essence with being black victorian rimmed and dangling crystals. Draco was spoiled as everyone knew but he was the only child.
To be honest, he was afraid of Voldemort to which was why he remained in his bedroom whenever he visited unless his parents called him out for something in which he dreaded. His mother knew whom he had taken to the ball but she was merely happy that he had a fun time. Meanwhile, when he was alone he had a hard time taking his mind off of Luna. He was still confused on what he said that might've upset her and honestly wasn't sure what would happen when he arrived back to Hogwarts at the end of summer break. A knock came from the direction of his door, his mother popped her head in. "Draco...we need to speak with you." Narcissa stated. Draco sighed before nodding, he knew he was more than likely to meet Voldemort officially which made him uncomfortable. Getting up from his leather sofa, in his charcoal suit, Draco exited his room towards the huge living room.
Luna was back at home in the countryside of the wizarding world with her father in the small cottage they called home. Pruning the bush covered in the orange, radish-like fruit, Luna was still thinking about her time with Draco when they went to the Yule ball and of course when they kissed. She often wanted to tell her father about it but she was afraid her father wouldn't like her being kissed, at least right now. "Is everything alright, my Luna?" Xenophilius asked his daughter once he stepped out from the cottage. Luna smiled. "I suppose." she replied. Her father watched as she pruned the radish bush before he went to inspect then other plants and trees they had planted. "You never told me exactly who took you to the wonderful Yule ball. Mind telling your poor father?" Xenophilius asked playfully. Luna laughed softly before she turned her attention from the bush to her father. "Well. As it may shock you, Draco Malfoy is the boy that took me." she replied. Xenophilius was surprised at what he heard but also took it as a compliment as to how high the Malfoy's standards are. "I'm glad that you had fun pumpkin, but do be careful around the Malfoy's...as you know, i have suspected them to be working for you-know-who." he explained. Luna furrowed her eyebrows before she glanced at the open field. "I don't think Draco would be working with him. I can't see it. But, time will tell i suppose." Luna replied.
Soon after summer break had ended, it was now time for their fifth year. There had been a rumor about Harry using magic outside of Hogwarts in front of a muggle and having to face the ministry about it but besides that, tension due to Harry's claim of Voldemort being back was the talk of the Wizarding world let alone Hogwarts. Everyone had boarded the Hogwarts Express with their new school supplies for the year and were chatty as usual, Draco had not spotted Luna or the trio although he sat in the back as usual. He knew that his world was far more darker than Luna could imagine and by the talk he overheard at his house, its only bound to get darker - and he was in the middle of it unwillingly. A part of him didn't want to drag her into that but then other part of him found himself falling for the Ravenclaw girl. Draco had an idea what Hogwarts was going to be like this year, overhearing that a woman from the ministry named Dolores Umbridge would be having a position at the school to monitor them. He had no idea what that meant but he knew she was somehow cooperating with Voldemort which made him feel uneasy having a spy for Voldemort basically at his school where he couldn't be out of character too much.
Deciding to catch the trolley for a snack, Draco got up and walked passed several open compartments, in which one of them contained Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna. Passing by their compartment, Draco couldn't help himself not to look inside the trio's, spotting Luna who was reading a Quibbler before he noticed Harry and Hermione looking at him. "What are you looking at, Potter?" Draco sneered before locking eyes with Luna then deciding to continue walking to find the trolley. Luna immediately got up, setting the Quibbler down on her seat and followed Draco. Draco had caught the trolley and had handed the lady the money for the red licorice wand before he was tapped on the shoulder. Draco turned around as the lady left with the trolley to spot Luna inches away. "Uh, hi." Draco stated in surprise, he figured she was still mad at him.
Luna smiled as he turned around but she knew she wanted to apologize. She wasn't one to hold grudges and she cared for Draco. "I wanted to see you before summer began but, i couldn't find you before we got to London." she began to explain as they stood in the middle of the walk way where several Ravenclaws and Gryffindors were sitting and talking. "I wanted to apologize for how I acted, you know, the last time we...kissed." she added, whispering the word 'kissed'. Draco was surprised to have gotten an apology and got curious as to why she had acted that way. "So what were you so mad about?" he asked. Luna looked down for a moment, a little embarrassed before looking back up at him. "Because i suppose i was jealous. Knowing you have kissed before having kissed me." she explained. Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "It doesn't mean anything, the other girls i kissed before i met you. They don't mean anything to me." he explained before having to step aside for a few students wanting to pass by. "If it makes you feel any better, those girls were who my parents set me up with years ago, purebloods, and they were a bloody nuisance." he explained further, looking away irritated thinking about the exes. Luna had gotten amused by his last couple of words explaining his exes and let out a soft chuckle. Draco looked back and smiled briefly at her chuckle. "Is that funny?" he asked in amusement. Luna nodded slightly. "Yes." she replied, taking his hand into hers. The soft laughter from her caught the attention of the trio from their compartment. "Looks like they made up." Ginny stated from the compartment across from the trio. "Bloody serious? I think im going to be sick." Ron commented. Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes at Ron.
Luna had decided to stay sitting with the trio since her things were there and Draco went back to where he was sitting in the back until they arrived to the school grounds. That was when they took carriages to the school, pulled by thestrals although very few students could see them if they only witnessed death. Draco had taken a carriage with Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise as Luna did with Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville. Once arriving to the school and settled back into their house dormitories, they had to sit through another introduction speech from professor Dumbledore but this time Draco spotted one person in particular that was different up where the rest of the teachers sat, the one he overheard in his house - Dolores Umbridge all dressed in pink. Draco knew this wasn't going to go so well as he planted a nervous expression on his face.
Dumbledore then went to announce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. "We also like to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge. I'm sure you all will join me in wishing the professor good luck. As usual, our caretaker, Mr. Filch asked me to remind you-" Dumbledore was speaking before being interrupted by Umbridge's intentional coughs, causing Dumbledore to look behind him as she walked up to the front of the Great Hall. Harry leaned over to Hermione. "She was at my hearing." Harry whispered. "Thank you headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. And how lovely to see your bright, happy faces smiling up at me. I'm sure we are all going to be very good friends." Umbridge spoke, pausing to look at the students. Fred and George Weasley sounded unamused. "Less likely." they remarked. Umbridge went to speak once more. "The ministry of magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be a vital importance. Although each headmaster had brought something new to this historic school. Progress for the sake of progress must be established. Let us preserve what must be preserved, prefect what must be perfected and prune practices that should be prohibited." Umbridge explained, ending the speech with a strange giggle.
The students didn't seem thrilled, nor did Draco. He had kept his eyes on Luna for the most part of the speech, admiring her. He felt guilty for knowing what he overheard from home but also that if they were to ever become a thing, he would be unintentionally dragging her into the dark world that surrounded him outside of school. He didn't want her to get hurt and he didn't want to hurt her from avoiding her either. He was afraid of Voldemort and knowing that Umbridge was cooperating with him and being a Malfoy, Draco had to live up to expectations on their side or risk his family being punished. At least he didn't have a mission solely for him to do - yet. Once Dumbledore stated to go ahead and mingle, everyone did so. Draco was going to attempt on pretending that he didn't over hear his parents and the talk about Umbridge back at home because all he felt was guilt. Draco picked at his food, before taking a bite and listened onto the talk from the Gryffindor table.
He knew that the trio and their friends were speculative of Umbridge and he found himself sort of amused by it since he had been assigned the position of Slytherin prefect before dinner although he had to be it alongside Pansy Parkinson. Hermione and Ron were also prefects. Once dinner was finished, Draco found himself staying at the table to think as most left the Great Hall except some other students at various tables that were eating, talking and playing Wizards chess. Luna walked over from the Ravenclaw table and took a seat across from Draco at the Slytherin table, taking his hand into hers in a way to get his attention. Draco's eyes turned his attention from staring straight ahead and onto Luna at her touch. "Is everything okay?" Luna asked, slightly concerned. Draco didn't know how to explain it and if he did, he was afraid to mention it although his parents most likely didn't think he overheard it. "...yes. I'm fine." he lied, intertwining his fingers with hers, watching as he did so.
Luna could tell that it wasn't the truth. "You sure? You looked quite deep in thought." Luna stated. Draco looked away for a mere moment before looking back to her. "What if i told you that...Umbridge is not good." Draco said in a hushed tone. He was trying to word things in case others were overhearing. "What do you mean?" Luna asked. Draco wanted to warn her because he really liked her but didn't want to risk his parents lives. "Just trust me, i know she's not a good person." he spoke softly, looking back at their hands. Luna assumed he was trying to tell her something but wasn't sure what to make of it, perhaps her friends would understand it. "If that's what's wrong, think positive. She's only one professor after all, it could be worse." Luna tried to encourage. Draco figured she wouldn't understand without him risking exposing his family's dark secrets involving Voldemort. So he decided to keep it to himself and knew that he tried to warn her. He knew that it would be worse. Seamus Finnegan seemed to have a hard time believing Harry's claim that Voldemort was back and therefore their friendship was put on the back burner.
As time went by, Umbridge had been questioning and judging nearly every professor in the school, marking those she had deemed to be unfit for their position. As she did so, she had also taught Defense Against the Dark Arts which there was no performance of magic. Although Draco would play a smug on his face whenever it came to Harry and the trio getting into trouble, he didn't like Umbridge either though he felt as if he was playing two roles in front of two different audiences - his parents and Voldemort's followers which was the fake role then everyone at the school, but when it came to Luna it was his real self. Harry had gotten detention for speaking out in the class verses Umbridge, coming back to the Gryffindor common room and Hermione spotting his wound from the spell on the quill he used but Harry refused to tell anyone about it. When it came to dinner time, the students were in the Great Hall and Luna joined the Gryffindor table once again as Draco remained at the Slytherin table. "You have to tell Dumbledore." Hermione stated in concern. Harry shook his head and simply got ready to eat.
Luna looked over at them as she sat not far down the table. "Is something troubling Harry?" Luna asked curiously. Hermione sighed. "Professor Umbridge is vile. She made Harry use one of her custom quills to write that dug into his skin." Hermione explained. Luna furrowed her eyebrows before looking over to Draco at the Slytherin table who seemed to be briefly chatting with Crabbe and Goyle before remembering what Draco told her earlier. "Draco said something about her on the first day back, but i didn't understand it then." Luna pointed out. Hermione let curiosity get to her, Harry had also placed his attention to Luna. "What exactly did he say?" Hermione asked. Luna looked back at Harry and Hermione. "Well, he said that Umbridge wasn't good and to trust him that she wasn't a good person. I figured he just thought she seemed strict." Luna explained. Hermione looked back to Harry, knowing exactly what was possibly going through his mind. "It sounds like to me its a warning. He knows something that we don't." Harry began speculating. Hermione sighed. "Sounds like it. But i assume he wanted to, well, give Luna a forewarning. Because he likes her." Hermione gave her input, having it end in a softer tone.
It wasn't too long after when Umbridge didn't approve of Professor Trelawney and had let her go from the school, making an attempt to even banish her from the school grounds but Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore had refused to let her be banished from the grounds. "Professor McGonagall, might I ask you to escort Sybil back inside?" Dumbledore requested and doing so, McGonagall escorted Trelawney inside. "Dumbledore, may I remind you that under the terms of Educational Decree #23, as enacted by the Minister..." Umbridge began stating before Dumbledore took his turn to speak. "You have the right to dismiss my teachers. You do not, however, have the authority to banish them from the grounds! That power remains with the headmaster!" Dumbledore snapped, very angry. "For now." Umbridge replied arrogantly. Dumbledore then stormed off. This was the beginning of the hardships that would take place at Hogwarts this year.
Harry and the trio had began forming Dumbledore's Army in which Luna had joined of course. She had fun learning to do a patronus and learning defensive spells. Umbridge had noticed the group walking together to and from Hogsmeade for some time. After a while, Seamus apologized to Harry and started to believe him, especially after seeing how Umbridge is acting which he joined the group as well in the Room of Requirement for practice. Umbridge was determined to find a way of Dumbledore rebelling against the ministry ever since he defended Harry at his meeting but she was also cooperating with Voldemort.
Once the Defense Against the Dark Arts class was dismissed, Umbridge cleared her throat to gain Draco's attention as he was one of the last students to get his things besides Crabbe and Goyle. "Mr. Malfoy, can i see you in my office?" Umbridge requested. Draco knew this wasn't going to be good and Crabbe and Goyle smirked as they left, obviously had already spoken with her. "Certainly." Draco sneered before taking his things and followed her up to the office. When in her office that was pink everywhere with cats framed on her walls, Draco was motioned a seat and he took a seat. Umbridge stirred her tea in her porcelain cup before setting the spoon aside. "Mr. Malfoy, i have a position for you that i believe would be quite hard to pass up." she began to explain. Draco knew this was perhaps going to be against the school and knew it would be a matter of double roles again. "I'm forming an Inquisitorial squad to keep watch of any suspicious behavior in regards to an army forming at this school. I would appreciate your participation in addition to your prefect position, Mr. Malfoy." Umbridge finished. Draco wasn't entirely interested in it due to possibly having Luna dislike him even after having just made up. "If you are contemplating on it, i would advise that you agree to it...for you and your family's sake..." she threatened passive aggressively. Draco bit his cheek, he didn't want to work with her one bit. "I suppose I'll do it." he replied, not thrilled but knew exactly what she meant since he overheard at his home. Umbridge was delighted and had Crabbe, Goyle and a few other Slytherins come in for their badges.
Upon leaving the office, Draco was in a morose yet irritated mood. He knew that he was going to have to be considered the bad guy again and even seem strict in the eyes of Luna. Draco straightened up his Slytherin tie from nerves as he headed down the corridor, heading to the bridge to possibly get some fresh air though it was snowing. As he got to the ground floor, he exited the castle passing by students to the bridge. As Draco stood in the middle of the bridge, his folded arms laid on an window-like opening as he looked out, simply ignoring them as they passed. Days and weeks went by when Draco had to keep spying on the group entering and exiting through a wall that formed a door but would only disappear into a broom closet. Of course from time to time, Draco and Luna met up for a small quality time a few times a week, in which involved some kissing, despite his busy schedule of prefect and Inquisitorial duties alongside school work and exams. It was only going to get busier when quidditch begins again as he was the seeker for Slytherin.
He had to work beside Pansy being prefects, walking the halls near the Slytherin dungeons about an hour after bed time to make sure no other students were out of bed after hours, duties assigned by their head boy. Draco basically ignored Pansy as they did their duties as Pansy attempted to break him by making rude remarks about Luna and his actions but it didn't crack him until the very last remark she had made about Luna. "If i was Looney Lovegood, i would probably drown myself from embarrassment or rather strangle myself with her pathetic, ratted long hair." Pansy spewed. Draco had snapped and shoved Pansy against the wall in the hallway as he towered over her. "Shut it before i turn your mouth into a zipper." he threatened before backing off. "Besides, she has something you'll never have." Draco added as he began walking off, of course he couldn't stand Pansy but he had no choice in working with her. Pansy followed him up the hall after getting over her surprised reaction from him being defensive. "And what exactly is that?" Pansy scoffed. Draco formed a smug expression as he turned around. "Me, of course." he arrogantly stated. Pansy formed a glare towards him and then walked passed him, angry and humiliated. Draco cracked a smile before walking again, knowing he shut her up. After the hour, Draco turned into bed.
It was the beginning of Spring and that meant It was the start of the first quidditch match at Hogwarts. The first match usually consisted of Gryffindor versus Slytherin so each team had to practice. Although Luna normally cheered for Gryffindor, she would sit and watch the Slytherins practice, just to see Draco. Draco had nothing much to do besides sit up there on his broom as he waited for the snitch to be brought out for practice and as he did so, he noticed Luna from the stands that put a rather confident smile on his lips but also distracted him when the snitch was released, having to zoom off to catch it. Eventually the practices stopped and the day after would be the first game. After getting off the field, Draco, who was in his green Slytherin quidditch uniform holding his broom noticed the blond Ravenclaw walk over to him after leaving the stands. "You did good." Luna complimented. Draco smiled briefly. "Thanks. I'm glad to see you were watching." he replied. His team mates passed by him to the quidditch locker room, patting him on the back roughly. "Come on, Malfoy." one stated as they walked into the locker room. Draco looked from them and back to Luna. "I'll see you later, alright?" he insisted before Luna grabbed his free hand and Draco was pulled gently back over. "Well, if you insist." he joked arrogantly as Luna blushed and he have her quick, soft kiss before walking off into the locker room that had echos of the team's voices "Ooooh Malfoy has a girlfriend." Following a response from Draco saying, "Shut up...at least i have one, unlike some." Luna overheard the locker room talk and smiled to herself.
The next day, the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor had begun which most of the students attended to cheer on their favorite house team. Luna had taken a seat with the Gryffindors wearing her roaring lion hat in support of Gryffindor although she was with Draco who was in Slytherin. When both teams took the field, Draco noticed Luna up in the stands sitting with the opposing house, cheering on Gryffindor. Draco was rather bothered by it even though he knew she had friends in that house including his rival. As the quaffle was released, the game began and every player was swerving and making goals as Draco and Harry as seekers waited on the release of the snitch, with Harry of course smirking to Draco to provoke him in the game over Luna cheering for Gryffindor. Draco glared as there were now chants from Slytherin house chanting "Weasley is Our King", to unnerve Ron who was keeper and nervous as it was while they wore badges saying it as well. They chanted:
"Weasley cannot save a thing,He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing: Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin. He always lets the Quaffle in.
That's why Slytherins all sing: Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King,Weasley is our King,
Weasley will make sure we win
Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King, Weasley is our King, He didn't let the Quaffle in.
Weasley is our King.
Weasley can save anything,He never leaves a single ring,
That's why Gryffindors all sing:
Weasley is our King."
The snitch was then released and Draco zoomed off on his broom following the snitch while Harry trailed after him also, both racing to grab the snitch in order to win the game. Despite the discouraging chants from Slytherin, Gryffindor had won the match once Harry had gotten the snitch. After the players landed on the field, Draco's last nerve was struck, causing him to spout out words to the mocking song about Ron. "Saved Weasley's neck, haven't you?" he said to Harry. "I've never seen a worse Keeper...but then he was born in a bin...Did you like my lyrics, Potter?" Draco taunted. He noticed Harry's temper was boiling but Harry simply ignored him as he went to hug Alicia and Angelina from his team. Draco decided to continue. "We wanted to write another couple of verses!" Draco stated, adding, "But we couldn't find rhymes for fat and ugly - we wanted to sing about his mother, see..." Draco taunted. Alicia rolled her eyes. "He's just being sour from the match." Alicia said to Harry. "We couldn't fit in useless loser either for his father, you know..." Draco added. Draco knew that they were trying to hold back from getting angry but Draco wanted to continue his taunts, letting off steam through his own way, steam from everything else that had built up to this point, up to losing the match, despite knowing Luna was watching. Alicia and Angelina were trying to calm down the twins.
"But you like the Weasley's, don't you, Potter?" Draco sneered before he continued "Spend the holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I supposed when you've been dragged up by Muggles even the Weasley's hovel smells okay..." Draco kept up his taunts. Draco noticed Harry and the rest of the chasers had to hold back Fred and George, being quite amused. Draco was competitive but mostly when it came to the Gryffindor house. Harry looked around for Madam Hooch to handle this but she was too busy grilling Crabbe on his illegal bludger move. Luna was watching from the stands with the rest of her friends, seeing Draco facing the Gryffindor team and the twins being held back by others but didn't know what was being said.
"Or perhaps," said Draco, leering as he backed away, "You can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it." he taunted further. Harry was not aware that he had accidentally let go of George, but from the last remark, Harry found himself joining George in the fight. Luna watched as they jumped on Draco from the stands, in shock about what was happening deciding to make her way down to the field. Harry had completely forgotten the fact that all the teachers were watching as the fight occurred, Draco being clobbered two against one although he too threw in some punches before Harry threw the last punch into Draco's stomach, causing Draco to curl up onto the ground from the pain as he whimpered with his nose bloody as Madam Hooch broke up the fight with a spell, knocking them to the ground. George had suffered from a swollen lip as Fred was still held back by the chasers. Crabbe began cackling in the background from the fight and as Madam Hooch went to help up Draco to the hospital wing. "I've never seen behavior like this, back up to the castle, both of you, and straight to your Head of House's office! Go! Now!" Madam Hooch ordered George and Harry. Once Madam Hooch and Draco began heading to the hospital wing, Draco managed to slip out a few words to Crabbe along the way. "Shut up, Crabbe." he groaned as he walked.
Luna had caught Draco in time, noticing he was in pain but was very confused on what happened so she followed them to the hospital wing and was allowed to stay since Draco said it was okay. Madam Pomfrey fixed up his bloody nose with a simple spell, Episkey, causing a short pain for Draco and which was when Luna learned the spell, taking note of it as Draco laid topless so Pomfrey could inspect his bruising stomach from the punch. He then was laid on the bed to rest his aching stomach that was now gently wrapped as his Slytherin quidditch jersey hung over the end of the bed. Luna couldn't help herself from checking out Draco's lean chest. "What happened down there, Draco?" Luna asked curiously, moving her bright eyes back up to meet his. Draco wasn't exactly in the mood to explain how it was his fault but he was also bothered that she had cheered for his rivals. Taking notice of her lion hat, Draco looked back at her. "I see you cheered for Gryffindor." he deflected. Luna frowned, feeling bad but she always cheered for them. "Well, they're my friends. I always cheered for them." she explained. Draco looked down at his wrapped stomach in silence for a moment. "I was letting off steam, i got too competitive, so i was ganged up on." he shrugged lightly.
Of course that wasn't the full story and surprisingly Luna caught on. "Is that true?" she asked, reassuringly. Draco's eyes flickered back to hers. "Half of it. The rest i rather not talk about." he stated, meaning Umbridge and everything, including his jealousy of her hanging around his rival. "Draco, tell me. Please." Luna tried to convince him, taking his hand into hers. Draco didn't want to give the full story to her as it involved Voldemort and his parent's sake and not to drag her into his dark home life but also his pride. But he was willing to admit his jealousy, a little. "Fine. I was jealous, okay? Other than being competitive, i was jealous that you were cheering for Potter...over me." he slipped out, looking at the window that was straight across the room from him. Luna was taken back by what she heard, she never had a boy jealous over her before. "I didn't mean to make you jealous. Harry is my friend. I cheered for both of you, despite the hat. I just like how the lion roars." Luna explained innocently. Draco bit his cheek as he looked at Luna before Madam Pomfrey came over. "I think its best we let Mr. Malfoy rest, so he will be better by tomorrow, dear." Madam Pomfrey expressed kindly to Luna. Luna nodded, picking up her hat and left Draco with a smile on her face as she skipped out of the hospital wing.
As Draco remained in the hospital wing, George and Harry ended up having to go face Umbridge who had decided to ban Harry and both Weasley twins from quidditch, once leaving the office, George had gotten his swollen lip treated at the hospital wing, simply ignoring Draco before leaving. McGonagall of course had refuted. "And you see now, don't you, Minerva, how right I was in attempting to stop the Gryffindor team reforming? Dreadful tempers. So I really think I will have to ban these two from playing Quidditch ever again." Umbridge stated.