Written for THC Round 2

House: Hufflepuff

Class: Astronomy

Standard

Prompt: [Positive Pairing] Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood.

Word Count: 1135


Draco was nervous, he was standing in front of the door of the house of a friend, hands in his pockets and fidgeting. He wasn't sure they were friends per say, but she was the only one that spoke to him or even acknowledged he was there.

After the war, he had been spared from Azkaban since Potter had spoken in his favor. That did not mean that he had been accepted back into Wizarding society with open arms. It was hard to say the least, being a Death Eater had been a nightmare, but people never saw it that way. Being marked meant being branded for life, and he was afraid that it would follow him till the day he died.

Luna had accepted his presence and had helped him out a couple of times. During her stay at Malfoy Manor, he had brought her food in secret and tried to help her some way or another. After the war, Luna had 'adopted' him, including him in activities and inviting him to gatherings.

He had arrived early and was debating knocking or running off somewhere until it was time for the dinner. Suddenly the door opened, and he found an excited and smiling blond staring at him.

"The Umgubular Slashkilter told me you were here! Come on in; you can help me cook," she told him, taking hold of his hand and dragging him inside. Draco stumbled, trying to keep up, as he was dragged into the living room of Luna's apartment.

"You've got a nice place," he said looking around. The place was like an Easter basket, all warm and calm colors. The furniture was mismatched but fit his perspective of Luna. It was warm and homey, yet strange and eccentric at the same time.

"I know! The Nargles kept trying to get in so I had to place butterbeer corks all over the place." He gestured around before making her way to the kitchen. Looking around, he could see the corks placed strategically around the windows and door. He had to smile at that, it was such a Luna thing to do.

"Now come, we have a meal to prepare!" she said excitedly.

"But I… I don't know how to cook!" he exclaimed, a bit panicked, while rubbing the back of his head.

"It's not hard; you'll see."

He followed her dutifully, dragging his feet a bit. He was not sure what he had gotten himself into. The kitchen was large, with an isle in the center of the room. He wasn't sure if that was a common or normal thing. The kitchens at the manor were reserved for the elves, his mother would have a fit if he even attempted to step foot in there.

"I really don't know how to do this Luna; I've never been inside a kitchen!" he tried, hoping she would spare him.

"Don't be silly, this is going to be fun! I will teach you. You are going to cut some tomatoes!" She grinned at him, taking out her cutting board and placing a tomato on it. Taking out a knife, she motioned for him to come closer.

"Isn't there a spell for this?" he asked, trying to buy himself some time.

"Of course, but I like to cook without magic. It's fun." Luna had always love cooking, she enjoyed the smells, the heat, all of it. It was a calming, mind numbing activity that always appeased her mind.

He walked closer and nervously took the knife from her hand. He looked at it and then back at her expectantly. She stared back at him, waiting for him to do something.

"How do I do this?" he asked, trying to gauge the other blond.

"You cut the tomato, but be quick, the Nargles are roaming around." She looked around, as though expecting the creatures to appear at any second.

He took a deep breath and grabbed the tomato. He can do this, how hard can this be?

Placing the knife on the tomato, he pressed straight down. A jet of juice squirted out of the fruit and hit his shirt. He looked down at the now stained shirt and then back at Luna who was still looking out into space.

"Watch out how you cut into it, the juice can sprinkle all over," she said absentmindedly.

"Perfect! Just perfect! How many slices do you want Luna?" he asked exasperated.

"OH! Well, as many as you can manage. This big, though, as these are going into the salad." She showed him the approximate size using her fingers, before taking out a bowl and some lettuce. He observed her as she cut the leaves directly in the container and was surprised to see a look of utter concentration on her face. He had never seen her like this, her dreamy and carefree demeanor was usually on display. But he shouldn't have been surprised, she was a Ravenclaw after all.

He stared back down to the chopping board and resumed his task. He realized as he had made the second cut, that this could get messy fast. The inside of the tomato was splashing all over the board as the knife went into it. At this rate, they would have crushed tomatoes in the salad.

He tried again this time cutting in more carefully, he smiled, he had done it.

"When will the rest be here?" He asked, trying to converse with his host.

"I'm not sure. An hour or so I think, you got here early," she told him. She was happy that she had some company and help. Draco was a nice person, he just needed for someone to give him a chance to be himself.

"I was a bit early." He was fidgeting again, looking up toward Luna. But the second he looked up; he felt a sharp pain travel across his finger. He had cut himself; blood was spraying all over the counter and he could do nothing but stare at his finger.

"Awchhhh," he screamed, going paler than his usual complexion. Luna looked up startled by the cry, her eyes widened at the sight of blood.

Without thinking, she took out her wand and uttered a Episkey, he cut healed immediately.

"Well, that was an easy fix!" she told him, smiling broadly.

"I hate cooking," He mumbled, gaining a chuckle from the blond.

Draco smiled, even though he had just cut his finger—which could have had him bleeding to death—he was enjoying his time with the eccentric girl. Luna had a big heart, she had helped him and stood by him through a lot of crap, and he was thankful to have her in his life. She was a unique individual that he vowed to protect and stand by no matter what.