Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments)
Dean Thomas
The 'D' the Gryffindors want and need
(ship) Dean/Luna
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
"This will teach you to steal magic, you mudblood," Bellatrix Lestrange hissed as she tightened the ropes around Dean's wrists. With a cackle, she turned and left the dungeon.
"Looks like we're going to be here a while," Dean said lightly to Griphook. He took in the dark, cold room and noticed multiple cobwebs, a dreary place but what did he expect in a dungeon?
The goblin left out a huff and said, "We're the only survivors, that Fenrir is brutal."
Out of the corner of his eye, Dean noticed a pale blonde with silvery eyes approaching them from the far corner. "Luna?" He spoke up when he got a good look at her.
Truth be told, he never really knew Luna Lovegood before fifth year when the two joined Dumbledore's Army. He knew she was called "Loony", her possessions were constantly stolen from her, and Padma Patil was one of the only Ravenclaws to be nice to her.
"Hello Dean," she greeted gently. "You two are bleeding."
"Obviously," Griphook shot back.
Ignoring this, the blonde pulled an old nail from her pocket and approached the goblin. Patiently, she pulled the threads until the rope fell to the floor before starting at Dean's.
"What are you doing here?" The Gryffindor asked as he wiped at his bleeding forehead. "I know why they brought me here but why you?"
"They didn't like what Dad was writing in The Quibbler." The Ravenclaw used her shoe to push the ropes to the side. "Mr. Ollivander's here too."
Peeking over the top of the blonde's head, Dean noticed tally marks scratched into one of the walls and shuddered when he saw how many there were.
Following Dean's line of vision, Luna looked over her shoulder. "It's been a while," she said. "Mr. Ollivander and I have managed so far."
"Why do you stay so hopeful?"
Luna glanced at the young man before turning away. "Someone has to."
The days dragged on and the tally marks were scratched in with the old nail. To Dean's surprise, Draco Malfoy was the one to bring them meals and water, albeit the meals small and unable to fill even the smallest stomach.
Another surprise was how much Dean truly enjoyed Luna's company. While she said some bizarre things, she was a good listener and her optimistic outlook made the older boy feel somewhat better about their imprisonment.
A week later, Draco was bringing the prisoners their dinner, handing everyone their plate and cup. He glanced at the wall and said, "Happy birthday, Loony."
After the blond left, Dean turned to the wall to see someone had scratched in "Luna's birthday" under the newest mark. He looked over at Luna sitting next to him, who was engrossed in her food.
"It's your birthday?" He inquired curiously.
"It is," Ollivander piped up from one of the corners. "She mentioned it when she and I first arrived."
Dean felt his heart drop when he heard that. Luna, one of the most gentle and kindest person he had ever met, was stuck spending her birthday in a dungeon away from her father and Hogwarts. She should've been having a piece of pastry with pumpkin juice, not hard bread and lukewarm turnip soup.
"It's no big deal," Luna said in her usual dreamy tone. "No one ever really does anything for my birthday."
"This year we will," Dean decided. He set down his plate and grabbed one of Luna's hand. "I mean it, when we get out of here we will do something."
"That's kind of you to say."
That night, Luna curled up into Dean's side for comfort, her breathing slow and steady. Dean studied her closely, wondering how even in the darkest place on her birthday she wasn't even the slightest bit bothered.
The blonde's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at her companion. "Something wrong?" She asked equally worried and curious.
"Nothing," Dean smiled, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Happy birthday, Luna."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed.