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Disclaimer: Remains Unchanged
Chapter 7- The List
Draco Malfoy looked at the piece of parchment in front of him. Nothing would have prepared him for this. There was a list of people he had been acquainted with from Hogwarts. Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Eloise Midgen, and the list went on, stopping at Greg Goyle.
"Goyle?" He asked, trying to understand the mindset of his companion.
"Well umm I didn't want to limit your search. I felt it was rude if you chose to swing the other way," Luna replied quickly, chewing at her bottom lip unconsciously. It was a very distracting habit, according to Draco's opinion.
"I see, ofcourse you wouldn't want to limit your search. Why isn't Harry Potter on the list then? Or Hermione Granger? O that's right they are married. But really I wouldn't mind if the entire student population at Hogwarts was on there. It is ofcourse alright for you to decide who gets to be on the list, or if there is going to be a list at all. What is it to me, it is only my life we are talking about here," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Luna looked down. She really hadn't thought of it that way. If only Draco would let her explain. "Please, Draco I didn't mean it that way," she started, but was interrupted by her blond friend again.
"No ofcourse you didn't nobody does. You just want to play the martyr and save me from my fate. But here is a newsflash for you. Perhaps I don't want to be saved. I can tell you this right now. The list you have created is useless. All those people listed there, hardly know what I have become not just physically, but they don't know the new Draco Malfoy. And I can guarantee you that they won't be my friends if they did," he finished, staring at her with his cool grey eyes.
Luna looked at him finally, her soft eyes full of something Draco couldn't quite decipher. It wasn't pity, it was almost as if she was feeling his pain. But was that possible? He thought to himself.
"I am sorry Draco," she whispered simply, and just like the other night she took his hands in hers. To Draco's annoyance he was beginning to depend on that gesture. It gave him a strange sort of comfort.
" Here," she said, letting go of his hand and gesturing him to hand her the parchment. He did and his jaw dropped in amazement when she lit it up on fire.
" I wanted to help you," she said quietly, " But I realize this is not the way. You see I researched a little about Vemons and thought I could help you find your mate," she said, and mistaking Draco's smirk as a snub towards her she continued. " I know it was wrong Draco," she said, but was interrupted again with a gesture from Draco's hands.
" No you don't understand. It's not just the list that is bothering me, it's the fact that you are choosing to look past my situation so easily. Do you know of anyone who has seen the face of a Vemon and lived to tell the tale? Let alone be the mate. I ...If I were the person given the choice I would not choose me," he said, his voice dimming down in the last part.
Luna's heart ached for him as he talked. "Don't say things like that," she said holding his hands again.
He was about to retort with a comment on facing reality but the look on her face silenced him. She had the most expressive eyes he had seen, and hurt she felt for him shone right through them. No one other than his mom had shown this kind of feeling for him. He felt a lump at the back of his throat. No he needed to think of something else.
" Alright let's talk about something else then. What type of tea is this?" he asked, finally taking a sip from the cup in front of him.
"O Do you like it? I asked Neville to especially brew it for me. It's very rare," she said, smiling slightly.
He never knew Longbottom's name could rise such an unrest with him. He knew they had been friends back in Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy you have no right what so ever in her private business, even if she was going out with that dunderhead. His conscience berated his thoughts.
" So you two are together then?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
She looked at him with open surprise at his question, and then stated giggling.
"Did I say something wrong?" he asked, trying not to be too perturbed by her action. If he could recall he had never seen her laugh that hard. Then again, he hardly knew her before.
" Umm no, it's Neville and me are just friends. It's funny cause you asked the same question as Harry did. You two are so alike sometimes, and yet you pretend to be so different," she said, her giggles dying down to chuckles.
He grimaced at her comparing him with Potter but was pleased to know that she wasn't going out with Longbottom.
" So are you going out with some one then?" he asked, his cool eyes trying to figure her out.
She looked at him with amusement in her eyes. " Why do you ask?" she asked him, her eyes twinkling.
" Well if you could take the trouble to make a list for me for my possible mates I can surely return the favour can't I ?" he said, arching one eyebrow, and giving her a fake pompous smile.
They both cracked at that and started laughing again. She was wiping her eyes, finally when she was done and so was he, much to his own surprise. He hadn't had such a good time in a long while, wait scratch that, he hadn't laughed like that since as long as he could remember. He was lost in his memories when he felt her eyes on him.
"You are really something else Draco Malfoy," she said softly. " And I am glad I am your friend," she added, looking at him fondly.
This simple gesture stirred deep feelings inside him, feeling he couldn't place. The thirst for blood somehow felt stronger, all of a sudden. He knew what his instincts were telling him to do. But he couldn't do it. Not now and definitely not to her. He needed to leave this place.
" Well I had a good time, but I do have to head back. Lots of marking to do you know," he said getting up graciously.
" Are you a Professor?" she asked, looking interested .
He nodded. "Well I teach at the local muggle high school," he said. He wasn't surprised when she simply smiled at him and accepted that fact without asking questions, just like she had with so many others.
"That's wonderful. Will you show me around the school sometimes? I really wanted to see how they learn," she asked him earnestly.
His mind sent him warning signals about seeing her again. He didn't know for how long he could keep his animal instinct in check. " Ofcourse, I will owl you and set something up," the words slipped out of his lips before he could analyze it.
He was about to add that he was usually busy but the genuine smile on her face stopped him.
" Well have a good night Draco," she said, coming around and holding his hands, lightly squeezing them before letting go. "And I am really sorry about the list," she added looking solemn.
" Don't worry about it. I will see you around," he said, and with a curt nod apparated to his apartment.
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