GAH!! I just went back and read over my story, and the first few chapters
are TERRIBLE!!! Went and replaced them, they still have the same story
lines; I just edited them a bit......Chapter 3 and 4 have been replaced, I
hope they make more sense now!
Does anyone know how to do italics and underline on ff.net? Help!
Thanks to (mostly) everybody who reviewed!
Amscray: Thanks. I pride myself on creepiness..........lolz.
Anna-ray: SKIPPY?!!! Don't you dare! Lolz! Yes, mother. Unfortunately, this fic is coming to an end. We're on the last few chapters............
the counter: What the fuck? I hope you're joking. If you're not, YOU are the one with no life, buddy.
Thanks again to The Dark Wanderer!!! *hugs*
Chapter 24
Draco woke up with a very nervous feeling in his stomach. It was Saturday. The bloody school dance was tonight. Shit. He headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast when he was dressed. Luna and Harry were sitting together. Again. They were talking. Again. They were holding hands. Again. They were staring into each other's eyes. Again.
An intense, burning hatred spread through Draco's body like liquid fire. LUNA WAS HIS!!!! HIS AND HIS ALONE!!! The extreme feeling of possessiveness doubled.
Storming over to sit down, Draco ate his breakfast savagely. That skinny horrible beast was touching HIS possession. In his mind, Draco saw Harry's expression of surprise as he tore out his throat............Draco shook his head and told himself to get a grip. The wolf nestled in the back of his mind was very possessive and brutal. Draco had to control the instincts. Thank goodness he wasn't getting anything from his dragon part! He'd probably start to breathe fire on Harry! Or at least try........that would be humiliating.
~Morning. ~ Luna sounded cheerful.
Draco grunted. ~Morning. ~
~My, my, aren't we in a good mood? ~
Draco scowled. Then a grin lit his face. Revenge time. ~Of course I am. ~ He exclaimed, sounding cheerful. ~I get to dance with Pansy tonight! She's so beautiful, don't you think?
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Luna felt jealously sweep through her. How dare he! She felt anger roiling inside her, unusual for Luna. She was almost never jealous. What did Draco see in that..........that.......thing?
Then a sudden realization hit her. Draco hated Pansy. He thought she was a complete cow! Call it woman's intuition, but there was something going on here.............
Luna reached out and touched Draco's mind. He was brimming with smugness and expectancy. Typical man. Trying to make her jealous. Well, even she had to admit he had done a good job. But why would he play with her mind like that? Maybe he had a point to prove.........or maybe he liked making her confused. There was no way she could let this continue. Women confused men, not the other way around. The female mind was in complete dominance and knowledge when it came to men. The male mind was confused and laughably simple when it came to women. It took women less than five years to understand men; if men had a thousand lifetimes, they could never even touch onto one topic of females. Draco wanted to play a game, did he? Well, two could play.
~If your idea of beautiful is a black and white mammal with one breast and twelve nipples that makes abnormal noises and eats grass, yes she is. ~ She said smoothly. ~ I hope you two have fun when you go on your dates. Harry and I enjoy ourselves SO much! ~
Draco very nearly choked, but kept his cool by a thread. She silently congratulated herself. Poor little Draco. Poor, poor, little fool. He was playing with fire, and he had no idea.
~Yeah, well, I have to..........finish my homework. See you soon. ~
~See you later. ~ Luna purred. Two-one for her! She gave herself a mental high-five and finished her breakfast, leaving the Great Hall like a cat full of cream.
Later that night.......half an hour before the dance........
Luna turned around in front of the mirror, admiring herself. Even she had to admit she looked gorgeous.
Her silver dress robes molded her body perfectly, defining every curve and enhancing her slender frame. The sleeves were tight to her elbows where they flared out in a wide oval. A pattern of symbols in light silver decorated the front. Dark silver scrollwork trimmed the neck, sleeves, and hem. They were perfect for her. Luna to a tee. The robes had been a present from her father. He had told her not to talk to strange boys, and then told her to stand up strait and look pretty (So strange boys would talk to her), which completely eliminated his point (Luna thought her father could be a bit strange at times).
Her hair spilled over her shoulders in loose ringlets, shiny and soft. It had taken her two and a half hours to make it perfect. The bloody Muggle hair curlers were such a bother, and Luna had almost cooked her hair. Thank goodness for Hermione, the girl would do anything with that wand of hers!
Dark silver eye shadow had been swept across her eyelids, and Ginny had let Luna borrow her eyeliner. It had taken her half an hour to do the make- up, because Luna had no idea what she was doing. Thank heaven for Ginny.
"Wow, Luna!" Ginny breathed. "You look amazing!"
Luna turned around to look at the other girl. She smiled. "Thanks to you. You look amazing yourself, Ginny! Who're you going with?"
Ginny blushed, matching her scarlet dress robes. "Neville."
"When did he ask you?"
Ginny grinned. "When Dumbledore first announced there was a dance........er, ball. He looked so nervous I thought he was going to faint."
"That's our Neville." Hermione chuckled, joining them. "We should go find our dates now."
Luna nodded, and swept down to the Great Hall to meet Harry.
Harry and Luna met at the entrance to the Great Hall.
"You look beautiful, Luna." Harry's eyes were huge. You would have thought he had never seen a girl before in his life!
"Thanks. You look good, yourself. That green is a perfect color on you."
"Thanks."
There was a moment of awkward silence. Then Harry spoke.
"Guess we should go in, eh?" Turning around, he walked stiffly into the Great Hall. Luna went stiffened.
~Burn. Doesn't even offer you an arm. What a perfect gentleman. ~ Draco swept past her in his black dress robes trimmed in silver, Pansy on his arm.
~Shut up. He just needs to be educated. ~
~Uh huh. Are you planning to give him "the talk" or will Ron? It's better to get it from your best friend than your lover. I'd start asking Ron to explain to him. Tell him to start with, "Girls don't have cooties. You don't have to be afraid. You can actually touch them without their cooties eating you alive. They don't bitch unless you piss them off...." ~
~Shut up. ~
Draco just laughed.
Luna had to admit, grudgingly, that it was Two-All.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Draco wonderer if Luna knew how lovely she looked. Silver was a perfect color on her, it lit up her face and made her hair seem almost glow. Those robes! Draco was almost drooling.
Pansy's pink robes had a large teardrop shape cut out of the chest, which showed half her bosom, and an unnecessarily low back. Draco hadn't given that a second glance, unlike the other boys, who were on their tenth or twelfth. He focused on Luna and her beauty. Not Pansy and her superficiality. He wished, not for the first time that day, that he was Harry.
"Draco, darling, if you don't so much as give me a second glance, I will begin to think that you don't find me beautiful, and I shall have to find a new dance partner." Pansy's simpering voice set Draco's teeth on edge.
Draco turned and gave her a tight smile. "I think you look beautiful." It was truth. But if Pansy looked beautiful, Luna looked stunning. Which she did anyways.
Harry still wasn't getting it. The idiot. Luna looked ready to explode.
"Hold on a minute, will you, Pansy? I have to do my good deed of the day."
She looked at him strangely. "Alright then. Be quick."
Draco nodded and swept over to where Luna and Harry were standing. "Potter, could I have a word?"
Harry spun around. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"As I said before, a word. Excuse us, please, Luna."
Luna and Harry exchanged glances, and Harry shrugged and followed Draco.
~What are you doing? ~ Luna demanded.
~Stating the obvious, my dear. Hold on. ~
Harry and Draco stood together and Draco whispered something in Harry's ear. Harry blushed and nodded, and several times glanced sharply at Luna and raised his eyebrows. Finally he stood up and nodded, bewilderedly thanking Draco, who adjusted his robes and swept off. Harry's jaw looked unhinged.
~What did you do to him, the poor child?!! Did you tell him where babies come from or something?!!! He looks traumatized! ~
~I gave him "the talk". ~
~ YOU WHAT?!!!! ~
~Not that talk, you sicko! You'll have to do that. I don't fancy explaining those things to him! ~
~Oh. What talk then? ~
~ He now knows you don't have cooties and he should hold your hand and offer you his arm and so on and so forth. ~
~Oh. Thanks, Draco! ~
~You're welcome. Enjoy explaining that storks don't bring babies. ~
~Shut up. He probably knows that stuff already. ~ At least she hoped he knew it already..........
Luna closed the conversation as Harry came over to her, smiling shyly. "Luna, listen. I know I haven't been such a good date this evening, but I'm really nervous, and I don't go out a lot, and so I'm sorry if I offended you in any way."
Luna smiled. "That's okay, Harry."
Draco made puking noises in the back of her mind. She promised herself that she'd slap him later.
Harry and Luna danced and ate and smiled until their faces hurt. They were having a great time.
Or, it should have been. She was trying to have a good time, but she couldn't. She was incredibly, totally, utterly jealous. She kept watching Draco and Pansy out of the corner of her eye. She hated it. She hated Pansy.
Draco and Pansy danced and ate and smiled until their faces hurt. They were having a great time.
Or, should have been. Draco tried to have a good time, but he couldn't. He was incredibly, totally, utterly jealous. He kept watching Harry and Luna out of the corner of his eye. He hated it. He hated Harry.
Luna couldn't stand it anymore. Harry was nice and all, but if she saw Pansy and Draco touching hands ONE more time, she would explode!
"I......I need some air, Harry." She told him, scrambling for a reason to get away without him following.
"Sure. Me, too. I'll come with you. Do you feel okay?"
"No! I mean, no, I don't feel okay. I feel sick. And you can't come...........because.............because.........."
Harry cocked his head.
Luna scrambled desperately for an excuse.
"It's okay, Luna." Cho Chang said coming up and patting her on the back. "It's such an awkward thing to explain to guys. They never understand. I'll tell Harry for you, you go fix your problem. Do you need anything?"
Luna looked at her. What was she talking ab........oh! Luna felt a dark blush creep into her cheeks. "Thanks, Cho. Um...............no, I'm fine.........I'll be right back, Harry. Sorry."
Laughing at the fact that this was poor Harry's second awkward lecture of the evening, but happy with any excuse that she could get away with, Luna headed out. She left the Great Hall and went down the staircase and through the doors, outside. She was on the Grounds. Taking a deep breath of clean air, she closed her eyes and ran into the last person she would have expected.
Draco couldn't stand it anymore. Pansy wasn't even close to bearable, and if he saw Luna and Harry touching hands ONE more time, he would explode!
"I......I need some air, Pansy." He told her, scrambling for a reason to get away without her following.
"Sure. Whatever." Pansy said distractedly, her eyes openly roaming over a Seventh Year.
Draco shrugged. At least he wouldn't be missed. He left the Great Hall and went down the staircase and through the doors, outside. He was on the Grounds. Taking a deep breath of clean air, he closed his eyes and ran into the last person he would have expected.
"Luna?!"
"Draco?!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Taking a breather. You?"
"Same."
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Luna..." Draco began.
"Draco....." Luna began at the same time.
They both stopped and looked at each other. "You first." They said in unison.
Draco smiled grimly. "Ladies first."
Luna smiled back just as grimly. "Gentlemen first."
"Ladies."
"Gents."
"Ladies, I insist."
"Gents, I insist, and back up with my incredible powers of bitching, which," Luna's smile broadened, "I will use without a second thought if provoked."
Draco's jaw dropped, and he shook his head ruefully. "Cheater."
Luna smiled sweetly. Three-Two for her!!!
Draco sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Looking over the grounds wistfully, he spoke. "Luna, I have to tell you something. You might hate me for it, or you might not, but right now that doesn't matter to me. I don't want to live my life knowing I had a perfect opportunity to tell you this and I didn't." His breath misted on the crisp air. "When Harry asked you to the dance, and you accepted, I was extremely..............."
"Jealous." Luna finished gently.
He gave her a queer look before returning his faraway gaze to the distance of the frozen grounds. "Yes. I was. I almost wanted to kill Harry. And then Pansy sort of forced me into asking her out. I was originally asking you for help to get out of it, but then I felt an emotion from you before I finished." He turned to face her. "Luna, I think I know, but I have to ask you. What was that emotion?"
The intensity of his gaze scared her. Luna smiled weakly and took a deep breath. "Jealousy. Same as you."
"Why were you jealous?"
"Why were you?"
They stared at each other, an eternity seemed to pass. Then Draco spoke.
"Because, Luna Lovegood, I love you."
Shock fired through Luna ricocheting off every nerve and cell of her being. Draco loved her? How? She thought he didn't............she had hardened her heart, extinguished her ember..........
None of that mattered anymore. The love in her heart blazed anew and love, blinding love blazed along the link.
"Draco Malfoy," She said, barely getting the words out, "I love you too."
Draco smiled, and everything was right in the world. This was love. It was like a dream. Happiness shone in the link. This was love. This was happiness; perfect, wholesome bliss. This was love.
Luna stepped into his arms, tilting her head up and closing her eyes as their lips met. This was love.
"I can't believe it." She whispered as their kiss ended. This was love.
Draco cocked his head. "Am I that good of a kisser or is it my looks?"
Luna laughed. This was love. "Both. And that was my first kiss. And it was perfect."
Draco smiled. This was love. "Yes," He agreed. "It was perfect. Like you."
This was peace. This was life. This was love. The ball abandoned, they sat together by the edge of the lake, sharing his cloak. This was peace. This was life. This was love. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her eyes were closed. This was peace. This was life. This was love. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, and he gently stroked her hair. This was peace. This was life. This was love.
She meant more to him, and he to her, than the whole world. This was peace. This was life. This was love.
The peacefulness that had settled over the lake and the two lovers was shattered in a sudden gasp.
Luna grasped her chest. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her whole body jerked, and her eyes began to glaze over. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her breath caught, and she screamed hoarsely. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
Draco was on his knees beside her in a flash. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. "Luna, what's wrong?" He cried. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
She rolled over to face him. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. The convulsions had ended. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her eyes were hollow. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. "He has come." She said in a distant voice. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
Far away, at the castle, a scream split the air, joined by others. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
The moonlight turned red as blood was spilt that night.
Does anyone know how to do italics and underline on ff.net? Help!
Thanks to (mostly) everybody who reviewed!
Amscray: Thanks. I pride myself on creepiness..........lolz.
Anna-ray: SKIPPY?!!! Don't you dare! Lolz! Yes, mother. Unfortunately, this fic is coming to an end. We're on the last few chapters............
the counter: What the fuck? I hope you're joking. If you're not, YOU are the one with no life, buddy.
Thanks again to The Dark Wanderer!!! *hugs*
Chapter 24
Draco woke up with a very nervous feeling in his stomach. It was Saturday. The bloody school dance was tonight. Shit. He headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast when he was dressed. Luna and Harry were sitting together. Again. They were talking. Again. They were holding hands. Again. They were staring into each other's eyes. Again.
An intense, burning hatred spread through Draco's body like liquid fire. LUNA WAS HIS!!!! HIS AND HIS ALONE!!! The extreme feeling of possessiveness doubled.
Storming over to sit down, Draco ate his breakfast savagely. That skinny horrible beast was touching HIS possession. In his mind, Draco saw Harry's expression of surprise as he tore out his throat............Draco shook his head and told himself to get a grip. The wolf nestled in the back of his mind was very possessive and brutal. Draco had to control the instincts. Thank goodness he wasn't getting anything from his dragon part! He'd probably start to breathe fire on Harry! Or at least try........that would be humiliating.
~Morning. ~ Luna sounded cheerful.
Draco grunted. ~Morning. ~
~My, my, aren't we in a good mood? ~
Draco scowled. Then a grin lit his face. Revenge time. ~Of course I am. ~ He exclaimed, sounding cheerful. ~I get to dance with Pansy tonight! She's so beautiful, don't you think?
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Luna felt jealously sweep through her. How dare he! She felt anger roiling inside her, unusual for Luna. She was almost never jealous. What did Draco see in that..........that.......thing?
Then a sudden realization hit her. Draco hated Pansy. He thought she was a complete cow! Call it woman's intuition, but there was something going on here.............
Luna reached out and touched Draco's mind. He was brimming with smugness and expectancy. Typical man. Trying to make her jealous. Well, even she had to admit he had done a good job. But why would he play with her mind like that? Maybe he had a point to prove.........or maybe he liked making her confused. There was no way she could let this continue. Women confused men, not the other way around. The female mind was in complete dominance and knowledge when it came to men. The male mind was confused and laughably simple when it came to women. It took women less than five years to understand men; if men had a thousand lifetimes, they could never even touch onto one topic of females. Draco wanted to play a game, did he? Well, two could play.
~If your idea of beautiful is a black and white mammal with one breast and twelve nipples that makes abnormal noises and eats grass, yes she is. ~ She said smoothly. ~ I hope you two have fun when you go on your dates. Harry and I enjoy ourselves SO much! ~
Draco very nearly choked, but kept his cool by a thread. She silently congratulated herself. Poor little Draco. Poor, poor, little fool. He was playing with fire, and he had no idea.
~Yeah, well, I have to..........finish my homework. See you soon. ~
~See you later. ~ Luna purred. Two-one for her! She gave herself a mental high-five and finished her breakfast, leaving the Great Hall like a cat full of cream.
Later that night.......half an hour before the dance........
Luna turned around in front of the mirror, admiring herself. Even she had to admit she looked gorgeous.
Her silver dress robes molded her body perfectly, defining every curve and enhancing her slender frame. The sleeves were tight to her elbows where they flared out in a wide oval. A pattern of symbols in light silver decorated the front. Dark silver scrollwork trimmed the neck, sleeves, and hem. They were perfect for her. Luna to a tee. The robes had been a present from her father. He had told her not to talk to strange boys, and then told her to stand up strait and look pretty (So strange boys would talk to her), which completely eliminated his point (Luna thought her father could be a bit strange at times).
Her hair spilled over her shoulders in loose ringlets, shiny and soft. It had taken her two and a half hours to make it perfect. The bloody Muggle hair curlers were such a bother, and Luna had almost cooked her hair. Thank goodness for Hermione, the girl would do anything with that wand of hers!
Dark silver eye shadow had been swept across her eyelids, and Ginny had let Luna borrow her eyeliner. It had taken her half an hour to do the make- up, because Luna had no idea what she was doing. Thank heaven for Ginny.
"Wow, Luna!" Ginny breathed. "You look amazing!"
Luna turned around to look at the other girl. She smiled. "Thanks to you. You look amazing yourself, Ginny! Who're you going with?"
Ginny blushed, matching her scarlet dress robes. "Neville."
"When did he ask you?"
Ginny grinned. "When Dumbledore first announced there was a dance........er, ball. He looked so nervous I thought he was going to faint."
"That's our Neville." Hermione chuckled, joining them. "We should go find our dates now."
Luna nodded, and swept down to the Great Hall to meet Harry.
Harry and Luna met at the entrance to the Great Hall.
"You look beautiful, Luna." Harry's eyes were huge. You would have thought he had never seen a girl before in his life!
"Thanks. You look good, yourself. That green is a perfect color on you."
"Thanks."
There was a moment of awkward silence. Then Harry spoke.
"Guess we should go in, eh?" Turning around, he walked stiffly into the Great Hall. Luna went stiffened.
~Burn. Doesn't even offer you an arm. What a perfect gentleman. ~ Draco swept past her in his black dress robes trimmed in silver, Pansy on his arm.
~Shut up. He just needs to be educated. ~
~Uh huh. Are you planning to give him "the talk" or will Ron? It's better to get it from your best friend than your lover. I'd start asking Ron to explain to him. Tell him to start with, "Girls don't have cooties. You don't have to be afraid. You can actually touch them without their cooties eating you alive. They don't bitch unless you piss them off...." ~
~Shut up. ~
Draco just laughed.
Luna had to admit, grudgingly, that it was Two-All.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Draco wonderer if Luna knew how lovely she looked. Silver was a perfect color on her, it lit up her face and made her hair seem almost glow. Those robes! Draco was almost drooling.
Pansy's pink robes had a large teardrop shape cut out of the chest, which showed half her bosom, and an unnecessarily low back. Draco hadn't given that a second glance, unlike the other boys, who were on their tenth or twelfth. He focused on Luna and her beauty. Not Pansy and her superficiality. He wished, not for the first time that day, that he was Harry.
"Draco, darling, if you don't so much as give me a second glance, I will begin to think that you don't find me beautiful, and I shall have to find a new dance partner." Pansy's simpering voice set Draco's teeth on edge.
Draco turned and gave her a tight smile. "I think you look beautiful." It was truth. But if Pansy looked beautiful, Luna looked stunning. Which she did anyways.
Harry still wasn't getting it. The idiot. Luna looked ready to explode.
"Hold on a minute, will you, Pansy? I have to do my good deed of the day."
She looked at him strangely. "Alright then. Be quick."
Draco nodded and swept over to where Luna and Harry were standing. "Potter, could I have a word?"
Harry spun around. "What do you want, Malfoy?"
"As I said before, a word. Excuse us, please, Luna."
Luna and Harry exchanged glances, and Harry shrugged and followed Draco.
~What are you doing? ~ Luna demanded.
~Stating the obvious, my dear. Hold on. ~
Harry and Draco stood together and Draco whispered something in Harry's ear. Harry blushed and nodded, and several times glanced sharply at Luna and raised his eyebrows. Finally he stood up and nodded, bewilderedly thanking Draco, who adjusted his robes and swept off. Harry's jaw looked unhinged.
~What did you do to him, the poor child?!! Did you tell him where babies come from or something?!!! He looks traumatized! ~
~I gave him "the talk". ~
~ YOU WHAT?!!!! ~
~Not that talk, you sicko! You'll have to do that. I don't fancy explaining those things to him! ~
~Oh. What talk then? ~
~ He now knows you don't have cooties and he should hold your hand and offer you his arm and so on and so forth. ~
~Oh. Thanks, Draco! ~
~You're welcome. Enjoy explaining that storks don't bring babies. ~
~Shut up. He probably knows that stuff already. ~ At least she hoped he knew it already..........
Luna closed the conversation as Harry came over to her, smiling shyly. "Luna, listen. I know I haven't been such a good date this evening, but I'm really nervous, and I don't go out a lot, and so I'm sorry if I offended you in any way."
Luna smiled. "That's okay, Harry."
Draco made puking noises in the back of her mind. She promised herself that she'd slap him later.
Harry and Luna danced and ate and smiled until their faces hurt. They were having a great time.
Or, it should have been. She was trying to have a good time, but she couldn't. She was incredibly, totally, utterly jealous. She kept watching Draco and Pansy out of the corner of her eye. She hated it. She hated Pansy.
Draco and Pansy danced and ate and smiled until their faces hurt. They were having a great time.
Or, should have been. Draco tried to have a good time, but he couldn't. He was incredibly, totally, utterly jealous. He kept watching Harry and Luna out of the corner of his eye. He hated it. He hated Harry.
Luna couldn't stand it anymore. Harry was nice and all, but if she saw Pansy and Draco touching hands ONE more time, she would explode!
"I......I need some air, Harry." She told him, scrambling for a reason to get away without him following.
"Sure. Me, too. I'll come with you. Do you feel okay?"
"No! I mean, no, I don't feel okay. I feel sick. And you can't come...........because.............because.........."
Harry cocked his head.
Luna scrambled desperately for an excuse.
"It's okay, Luna." Cho Chang said coming up and patting her on the back. "It's such an awkward thing to explain to guys. They never understand. I'll tell Harry for you, you go fix your problem. Do you need anything?"
Luna looked at her. What was she talking ab........oh! Luna felt a dark blush creep into her cheeks. "Thanks, Cho. Um...............no, I'm fine.........I'll be right back, Harry. Sorry."
Laughing at the fact that this was poor Harry's second awkward lecture of the evening, but happy with any excuse that she could get away with, Luna headed out. She left the Great Hall and went down the staircase and through the doors, outside. She was on the Grounds. Taking a deep breath of clean air, she closed her eyes and ran into the last person she would have expected.
Draco couldn't stand it anymore. Pansy wasn't even close to bearable, and if he saw Luna and Harry touching hands ONE more time, he would explode!
"I......I need some air, Pansy." He told her, scrambling for a reason to get away without her following.
"Sure. Whatever." Pansy said distractedly, her eyes openly roaming over a Seventh Year.
Draco shrugged. At least he wouldn't be missed. He left the Great Hall and went down the staircase and through the doors, outside. He was on the Grounds. Taking a deep breath of clean air, he closed his eyes and ran into the last person he would have expected.
"Luna?!"
"Draco?!"
"What are you doing here?"
"Taking a breather. You?"
"Same."
There was a moment of awkward silence.
"Luna..." Draco began.
"Draco....." Luna began at the same time.
They both stopped and looked at each other. "You first." They said in unison.
Draco smiled grimly. "Ladies first."
Luna smiled back just as grimly. "Gentlemen first."
"Ladies."
"Gents."
"Ladies, I insist."
"Gents, I insist, and back up with my incredible powers of bitching, which," Luna's smile broadened, "I will use without a second thought if provoked."
Draco's jaw dropped, and he shook his head ruefully. "Cheater."
Luna smiled sweetly. Three-Two for her!!!
Draco sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Looking over the grounds wistfully, he spoke. "Luna, I have to tell you something. You might hate me for it, or you might not, but right now that doesn't matter to me. I don't want to live my life knowing I had a perfect opportunity to tell you this and I didn't." His breath misted on the crisp air. "When Harry asked you to the dance, and you accepted, I was extremely..............."
"Jealous." Luna finished gently.
He gave her a queer look before returning his faraway gaze to the distance of the frozen grounds. "Yes. I was. I almost wanted to kill Harry. And then Pansy sort of forced me into asking her out. I was originally asking you for help to get out of it, but then I felt an emotion from you before I finished." He turned to face her. "Luna, I think I know, but I have to ask you. What was that emotion?"
The intensity of his gaze scared her. Luna smiled weakly and took a deep breath. "Jealousy. Same as you."
"Why were you jealous?"
"Why were you?"
They stared at each other, an eternity seemed to pass. Then Draco spoke.
"Because, Luna Lovegood, I love you."
Shock fired through Luna ricocheting off every nerve and cell of her being. Draco loved her? How? She thought he didn't............she had hardened her heart, extinguished her ember..........
None of that mattered anymore. The love in her heart blazed anew and love, blinding love blazed along the link.
"Draco Malfoy," She said, barely getting the words out, "I love you too."
Draco smiled, and everything was right in the world. This was love. It was like a dream. Happiness shone in the link. This was love. This was happiness; perfect, wholesome bliss. This was love.
Luna stepped into his arms, tilting her head up and closing her eyes as their lips met. This was love.
"I can't believe it." She whispered as their kiss ended. This was love.
Draco cocked his head. "Am I that good of a kisser or is it my looks?"
Luna laughed. This was love. "Both. And that was my first kiss. And it was perfect."
Draco smiled. This was love. "Yes," He agreed. "It was perfect. Like you."
This was peace. This was life. This was love. The ball abandoned, they sat together by the edge of the lake, sharing his cloak. This was peace. This was life. This was love. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her eyes were closed. This was peace. This was life. This was love. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, and he gently stroked her hair. This was peace. This was life. This was love.
She meant more to him, and he to her, than the whole world. This was peace. This was life. This was love.
The peacefulness that had settled over the lake and the two lovers was shattered in a sudden gasp.
Luna grasped her chest. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her whole body jerked, and her eyes began to glaze over. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her breath caught, and she screamed hoarsely. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
Draco was on his knees beside her in a flash. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. "Luna, what's wrong?" He cried. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
She rolled over to face him. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. The convulsions had ended. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. Her eyes were hollow. This was war. This was death. This was hatred. "He has come." She said in a distant voice. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
Far away, at the castle, a scream split the air, joined by others. This was war. This was death. This was hatred.
The moonlight turned red as blood was spilt that night.
