Summary: Draco thought he knew what he was getting himself into when he became a Death Eater. After witnessing senseless torture of an innocent, he finally realizes that he cannot be the person he has to be.
Rated: T
Genre: Angst; Friendship
Warning Tag: References Torture on a Child; References Blood/Injuries
Bleeding Moonlight
Draco turned his head away from the awful scene unfolding in front of him. Bellatrix was having far too much fun torturing the girl brought to them earlier that day. She finally ceased her spell on the girl and cackled gleefully at the twitching body at her feet.
"I bet your father will learn his lesson now." Bellatrix gave her a swift kick in the side before turning to Draco. "Make this doll passable for the Dark Lord. Wouldn't want her blood to ruin your mother's Persian rugs while we present her."
The dark witch laughed as she left the two in the gardens. Nothing but the trickle of a fountain broke the cold, night air. Draco checked to make sure his aunt was gone before he knelt in the snow beside Luna. She curled into herself, convulsing slightly from the residual cruciatus effects. He pulled a crisp white handkerchief from a pocket before lifting Luna's chin up with a hand.
The full moon bathed them in its crisp light revealed the blood and tears that trickled down Luna's face. Her lip was split and a deep cut slashed across her brow. Draco felt his heart snap at the sight of someone so innocent appearing so damaged, yet he couldn't stop it.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as he gently dabbed at her injuries.
Her silver eyes glistened in the moonlight, threatening fresh tears to pour down her cheeks like the fountain that trickled away behind him.
"I warned you. Why didn't you tell your father to stop?"
Her breath hitched while forcing herself upright. The tears fell. "Because Harry needs the support, and that is more important."
"More important than your life?" Draco hissed under his breath.
"Yes."
She looked away from him, a shiver from sitting on the snow-covered ground shook her petite frame. Draco sighed, disliking the response, but helped Luna up. He allowed her to lean into him as he led her to the edge of the fountain. Feeling the bite of cold as they sat on the chilled stone, Draco cast a warming charm over them. Luna laid her grimy cheek on his shoulder in exhaustion. He dipped the cloth in the cold water of the fountain and quietly resumed cleaning her face. If anyone saw them in such an intimate state…
He brushed the blond hair that stuck to her face in the drying blood. Its blackened colour stood out in the moonlight against her pale skin before he wiped it away. "You shouldn't keep helping me. You're putting yourself at risk enough already."
"I have a safeguard; you don't."
The Dark Lord would be arriving soon, the burn on his arm indicated this, and he will want to see them. It was vital to keep their strange relationship hidden; Luna's life depended on it. His life depended on it. His family's life… Draco was confident in his occlumency to protect them—protect her against him.
Luna wrapped her arms around his left one, making the discomfort of the Mark more noticeable as it pressed against the fabric of his clothes. Draco could feel the residual spazzing seizing her muscles this close, and it pained him to know that what he witnessed moments ago was the reality he chose, the standards he was intended to take the moment he was branded. The choice to hurt people because he thought he wanted what his father once had—power to be feared, untouched, and respected.
Luna warned him about this not so long ago when they crossed paths in Myrtle's bathroom. He dismissed her scrying foretelling about it as foolish nonsense then.
"I'm not who I thought I could be," his whisper was so quiet that his breath barely registered as smoke in the cold air.
Draco could see his confession didn't surprise Luna. "You shouldn't want to become someone else."
"But I need to. I have no choice anymore."
"But you do."
Her word struck him deep, and he remained quiet, instead, he gave Luna a gentle kiss on her forehead before standing. Swallowing, he drew his wand and bound her wrists with rope. She was a prisoner, and he had to treat her as such. Draco led her into the foyer where Bellatrix grabbed Luna violently by the hair and dragged her into the drawing room where he now waited.
Originally Written For:
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)
Monthly Challenges for All
The Houses Competition
Word Count: 723
Originally Written: August 2018
