A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #3 Etymology Task #12: Tantalize (Tantalus - An evil king who tried to serve up his own to the gods and goddesses at a feast): Write about someone receiving a tempting offer/opportunity.

word count: 1135

The sound of the metal pitcher hitting the tile floor yanked Lucius from his thoughts. Luna was standing there, her hand still curled as if the pitcher was still in her hand. Tears were running down her thing face as the milk trickled into the crevices of the tile floor. Lucius walked over to her, grabbing the pitcher from the floor and a rag from the counter.

"There's no need to cry over spilled milk, Luna, it's not like the shop doesn't have a whole fridge of the stuff in the back," Lucius stated. Luna blinked, looking at the mess and then at Lucius.

"It's not just that, I mean, it isn't even this. I've really messed up this time, Lucius. I said I was bringing a date to Ginny's wedding, and well, now I'm expected to and Dean and I broke up."

"Then take someone else?" Lucius suggested. Luna was now kneeling on the floor, using the grey rag to clean up the milk.

"Who? I haven't found anyone else."

"Then go alone?" Lucius suggested. "I'm sure there will be plenty of single men lining up to dance with you."

"I guess I could, but Cormac's going to be there and I know he's single again," Luna answered, rising to her feet and tossing the now dirty rag into the sink. Lucius debated asking for more information, although what did he care about what little drama was going on in Luna's life? She was his coworker, she worked the counter while he made the overpriced fancy coffee drinks that somehow made The Caffeinated Peacock famous.

"Who's Cormac?"

"An ex, an ex who somehow wiggled his way into getting himself invited and if I have to face him alone, I will punch him in his mouth," Luna muttered. Lucius smiled, picturing Luna punching someone. It was so out of character. She was always the sweetest girl he knew, not that she was really a girl. He knew for certain she over twenty-one, although by how much, he'd never actually cared to find out.

"I'm in a real pickle here. Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face, and the wedding's on Saturday."

"What can I do to help?" Lucius asked, wondering if maybe he could set Luna up with someone, maybe his son was free. The thought of Luna and Draco made a twinge of jealousy rise in his chest. He pushed it down, he hadn't felt anything like that since Narcissa had died in childbirth with Draco. He had always been the jealous type though, not wanting to share when he found something, or someone, he liked.

Luna smiled at him, "Just asking how you can help feels like a lot, I mean, a little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference. I think we're unaware of how the little things for us can be so huge for others."

"I mean it though, I know! I could go with you, to the wedding."

"Really?" Luna asked, raising her eyebrows at Lucius. "You'd go to a wedding where you know no one, so I don't have to go alone?"

"I'm doing it to protect you from your ex," Lucius stated.

"Right. You're really willing to do this for me?" she asked.

"I am, Luna. Now, should I wear a tux, a suit, nothing?" Lucius asked, blinking as the last word slipped from his lips. He'd meant it, but the fact he'd never even told Luna that he liked her, would she suddenly hate him? Instead she burst out laughing.

"Nothing would be hilarious. Ginny's brother has offered to wear the same actually. I don't know if you really want to be wearing the same type of clothing as him," she laughed, putting her hand on Lucius' shoulder while she held her stomach laughing.

"You're not offended?"

"Heaven's no, I had no idea you had such a sense of humor. I mean, I knew you had a snese of humor, but I guess I just never noticed...how much you make me laugh."

"I'm glad you noticed. Now, I am serious, what should I wear?"

"Just a nice suit would be fine," Luna answered finally.

"I have just the one, emerald green, with silver accents. You will need to find a dress to match, or at least coordinate if this is going to appear to be a real date," Lucius said.

"I have a dress that will work," Luna agreed. "We should probably start closing up, I don't think anyone's going to be coming in," she added, glancing around the empty coffee shop. Lucius nodded and strode across the shop the door. He flipped the sign from open to closed and locked the door with a soft click.

"You can dance, right?" Lucius asked. Luna blushed brightly, looking down at the floor.

"I can, sort of, I mean, I'm not very good."

"Nonsense, I am sure you are wonderful. Here, why don't you show me and maybe I can give you a few pointers?" he suggested. Luna bit her lip, glancing around. "It's just us. You don't have to be shy."

"Alright, but I really am horrible at it, I step on people's feet and I have two left feet of my own," Luna started to rattle. Lucius put an arm around her waist, pulling her to the center of the shop, the open area were people usually stood to get their drinks.

"Shut up and dance with me," he whispered. Luna nodded, letting him lead her across the floor, between the tables.

"You're wonderful at this," she whispered.

"I am wonderful with you, I do not know why you thought you weren't any good at this, you're a natural, all the others you have danced with must have been terrible. Now, twirl," he said, twirling Luna. Her blond hair fly out around her head.

"I'm glad you're going to the wedding with me, Lucius. I wish I had thought to tell you about it sooner," Luna said, giving Lucius a slightly embarrassed looking smile.

"I feel the same way. I've always noticed you, Luna. Not in a creepy way, but just the way you laugh, the way you smile. The way you manage not to murder all of our customers," Lucius said, causing Luna to burst out laughing again.

"I might have noticed you too, how you care so much about making the drinks perfect, how you scowl at the customers who are idiots, the way your hair swishes back and forth when you walk," Luna said. Lucius twirled her again, bringing her back into his arms, their faces met and slowly they brought their lips together. Lucius could smell the coffee on Luna's breath, and she the mint on his as they kissed for the first time.