Draco sat in a meeting with the other death eaters, absentmindedly turning a ring on his finger.
"We still haven't heard from the western forces." Dolohov said, "I sent Nott and Rowle to find out their fates, but they're silence is worrisome."
"In a few days," the dark lord started, "if we have not heard from them, take a cohort and go west, the west needs reinforcing anyways." He looked over at Draco, "anything to report, wolfsbane?"
Draco's ears perked at the title, it had taken some getting used to, Higgs and Montague were responsible for the title being spread amongst the legion, along with the story behind out, he couldn't turn a corner without a soldier saying the title, with many of them saying it with an almost reverent awe s, he assumed only the men would use it, not the dark lord himself, "still no word from my contact my lord," Draco said, "I sent Zabini to seek her out three days ago in Windsor, her last known location, in three days time, if he hasn't returned, then I will personally take a squad to investigate myself."
He nodded, "how fares Young Nott and his comrade?"
"Miss. Lovegood tells me that Young Nott will be able to walk again in a few weeks, though he did loose his arm," Draco said, "Marius is still weak, and his leg is damaged beyond repair, she says it will heal…but he won't walk normally again."
"A shame," the dark lord rasped, "I had heard that the boy was sculpting into a fine warrior, it's a shame that he won't be able to join the legion again…anything else to report?"
"No my lord."
"Excellent, disperse, and carry out my commands."
Draco stood and strode out of the room, right outside the room, Higgs, Goyle, and Montague were waiting, "any new orders?" Montague asked.
"None yet, but be ready." Draco started walking, the three soldiers following, as they walked, servants and soldiers quickly parted, murmuring apologies for getting in the way.
"Well if it isn't the wolf pack!" someone said in amusement, Draco looked to his right and found Lestrange and McNair leaning against the wall, McNair was sharpening his large battle axe, a favorite pastime of his, Lestrange had his hand resting on the pommel of his broadsword, "gracing us lowly mortals with their presence."
Draco ignored him, he looked back at the three, his so dubbed 'Wolf Pack' so named mockingly by the other death eaters, and respectfully by their fellow soldiers, "get some rest," he said, "tomorrow I want to go out and visit the graves, it's been over three weeks since you laid them to rest, I want to make sure no one desecrates the grove."
They nodded and walked away, Lestrange walked out into the courtyard, striding over to Xavier.
"And where are you going Young Malfoy?" Lestrange asked, walking side by side with McNair, they had followed him the instant they knew he was alone.
"I don't believe it's any of your business Dolohov." Draco muttered, checking over Xavier's saddle.
"I think it is," Lestrange growled, "you see, the rest of the legion may think you're hot shit, but we know better don't we?"
"Sure do," McNair muttered, resting his axe across his shoulders.
"And what do you know better?" Draco asked, not bothering to look at him.
Lestrange drew his sword, "look at me when you address me you disrespectful brat," he snarled.
Draco felt his lip twitch slightly as he urged himself to continue preparations.
"Don't think I don't notice you sneaking out of the castle every other night, not returning until the early hours of the morning, when you don't think anyone's awake." He stepped forward and prodded Draco in the back, "you're walking on hot coals traitor."
Draco quickly spun, drawing his own sword and hitting Lestrange's out of his hand before putting the point to his neck, "you dare accuse me of treachery?" he asked, deathly calm, "you dare presume that I would go against the Dark Lord?"
McNair brought his axe into fighting position, only stopping when Dolohov held his hand up, "I do," Dolohov said, "what else would you be doing every night."
Draco took a few steps forward, keeping the side of his blade against Lestrange's neck, "I check on my soldier," he said, "make sure he's comfortable; see, unlike you, I care for the general welfare of my men, especially the ones who are injured." He slowly removed the blade and returned it to it's sheath, "next time you question my honor, I will not remove the blade without first removing your head." He climbed up onto Xavier and dug his heels into the beast's side, taking off at a dead sprint out of the castle, leaving Lestrange fuming with anger.
Luna watched the window, as she did every other night, waiting for Draco to come, as he did like clockwork every night for the past three weeks, his claim was to check up on Marius, but Marius had been moved into the local healers hut earlier the other day, so he could be watched over closely by the healer, and his family, she had let Draco know by sending a letter with a passing soldier, and yet he still showed up at her door, claiming, "I was just in town seeing Marius, thought I might as well see you." it was a flippant, weak excuse to come see her, and Luna looked forward to it. She smiled as she saw a dark shape leave the castle an go into town, no doubt it was Draco, gone to see Marius to legitimize at least some of what he said, but she assumed, and was correct in doing so, that in fifteen minutes or less, he would come up the hill, hesitating, as he did every night, at her door before knocking so she could let him in. with this thought in mind, Luna walked over to her cauldron, stirring the contents inside with a hum, smiling slightly when she heard a knock at the door, she stood up and smoothed heir skirt out slightly before walking to the door and opening it, revealing a worn and tired Draco Malfoy, who tried to hide his smile upon seeing her, "Loony," he greeted.
"Luna." She corrected, as she did every night, all the while smiling softly, "Were you seeing Marius again?"
"Ah…yes, that I was." He said, hesitating, "and um…I was wondering if I could sit a spell."
"Of course," she said, walking in, "go ahead and sit down, it's good you came when you did, stews finished."
Draco walked in and sat down, the familiar musk of dozens of different herbs reached his nose, but it wasn't as overwhelming as it used to be. He watched her work at the cauldron with a smile tugging at his lips, a smile he hid as she turned around with two bowls full of stew, "thank you," he said, taking the bowl from her.
Luna sat down across from him, "How was your day?" she asked politely.
"It was rubbish," he said after his first mouthful, "my contact still hasn't showed, I had to send Zabini to go find her."
"I know that," she said, "Zabini stopped by before he left."
"He did?" Malfoy asked in surprise.
She nodded happily, "he stops by every now and then, so does Goyle and Higgs…oh! That reminds me!" she stood and went over to a chest beside her bed.
"Looks like you have more visitors then before." Malfoy said, taking a drink of his cup.
"Mhmm, they're sweet too, Goyle brought me some rare herbs that I've been looking for, and Zabini brought me some sweets, they always thank me for helping them."
Draco smirked, "it seems they've adopted you as our unofficial healer." He said.
"Mhmm…Close your eyes," she said to him, making him look over with a raised eyebrow.
"What?"
"Close your eyes." She said again, she had her back to him, clutching something in her hands that he couldn't see very well.
"And what are you going to do when I do close my eyes?" he asked uneasily.
"Just close them," she urged with amusement. Draco rolled his eyes and closed them, waiting; something soft and heavy was put into his hands, "okay, open them now." She said giddily, Draco complied, his eyes widening when he saw a wolfs pelt in his hand, it was the same sleek gray and white as the wolf that had attacked him, it even had the bite mark on it's ear, he slowly stood up and looked at it, "it's the Direwolves pelt…" he murmured.
"I had Goyle help me clean and skin it," she said, looking down with a smile on her face, "I made it to where the head could be used as a kind of hood…I know it's getting colder…and…it can be held together easily enough with a brooch…or a pin…it's just my way of saying…thank you…"
Draco looked at her; he slowly put the pelt down and walked over to her.
"Do…do you not like it?" she asked hesitantly.
Draco stopped right in front of her, "I like it." He admitted, looking down at her, she was still looking at her hands, nervously playing with a silver ring on her finger, "In fact…" he took her hands into his, making her look up at him, "I love it."
A small smile appeared on her lips, "I'm glad you do…" she said softly.
Draco let a rare smile break through his usual stoic expression, the smile caught Luna off guard, having never seen him smile, "Draco…" she said softly, 'you're smiling…"
"Am I?" he asked, "I hadn't noticed."
"You look…Handsome when you smile." She said, putting a hand on his cheek, then quickly withdrawing it "not to say…that…you're not handsome all the time…I mean…you look extra handsome…and…your smile really is magnificent…and…and…"
"Luna you're rambling." he said with a small chuckle.
"W-what?"
"I said you're rambling."
"n-no…before that…"
"What? I said your name; Luna is your name isn't it?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
She let out a light laugh, "yes…it is…"
He put his hands on her hips, bringing her closer and making her blush, "thank you," he said, "for the pelt…"
"It…it was nothing…" she mumbled.
"No…you didn't have to make that for me…you didn't have to help me when I was injured...nor did you have to help Nott and Marius…"
"You know I couldn't just let you stay injured…" she said softly, "My heads not full of wrackspurts…"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe it is…now…" she mumbled.
"Are you blaming me for it?" he asked, leaning forward a little, putting one under her chin and tilting her head up slightly.
"You're certainly not helping it." She mumbled leaning forward a little, putting a hand on his chest.
Draco craned his neck down, his lips mere centimeters from hers, when there was a knock on the door, breaking the two out of their moment; Luna stepped back from Draco, blushing a beat red. Malfoy looked at the door with a scowl and walked over, wrenching it open, making the messenger jump in fright.
"S-S-S-Sir M-M-M-Malfoy." He stuttered, "I…um…I…uh…uh…"
"Spit it out," Draco drawled.
"S-Sir Zabini S-Sent me." he said, "h-he said he f-f-f-found Miss Edgecombe…dead…"
Malfoy closed his eyes, "damn…" he muttered, "where's Zabini, why didn't he come tell me this himself?"
"t-there's…t-t-there's trouble in Windsor, a…a detachment from Dumbledore's Army took over the small town and barricaded the outskirts…we…can't reach the ferry's…which means…"
"They've cut us off from the northern cohorts…" Malfoy said, his eyes widening, "go to the castle, let the guards know, ill be along shortly." He turned and looked at Luna, who was now sitting in her chair, hugging her arms, "I have…I have to go…" he mumbled.
"Okay…" she whispered.
Draco started walking away, but then stopped and went back in, grabbing the wolfs pelt, 'thank you," he said to her again, and walked out, undoing the brooch keeping his cloak around his shoulders, he let it fall to the ground and replaced it with the wolf pelt, pinning it with the emerald and silver serpent brooch and jumping onto Xavier, "HYAH!"
The dark lord was sitting on his throne, absentmindedly petting his snake Nagini, there was a knock on the large doors, "enter," he said.
Draco strode in, the wolf pelt cloak on his shoulders, he fell to a knee in front of the Dark Lord, bowing his head, "my lord, I bring urgent news from Windsor, a detachment of Dumbledore's army has taken the town and is holding it."
The Dark Lord stood up, "how has this come to pass?" he asked.
"I do not know my lord, a messenger barely delivered this news a few moments ago."
"This is disturbing." The Dark Lord said softly, pacing, "Windsor is our only ferry across the Thames, and until Nott and Rowle are able to drive our enemies back in the west, we won't be able to go around the river…we could always try to go through London, but I fear their home guard will not allow us through "
"Allow me to take my Cohort to Windsor." Draco said, "We'll retake the town."
The dark lord strode over to him, "yes, that will be good," he said, "I will join you, to better assess the situation.
"My lord?" Draco asked in shock, "you haven't left the castle since…"
"I know, it's about time I remind them why I rule." He said with an evil glint, "We leave first thing in the morning, let your men know, you are dismissed."
"Yes my lord," Malfoy said, standing and turning on his heel, walking towards the door.
"Draco,"
Malfoy stopped, "my lord?"
"That is a magnificent pelt." He said, "You live up to your title."
"Thank you my lord…"
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Luna watched from outside her cottage as the cohort that had marched back into town almost a month before set off once again, their standard flying high, five men in dark armor sat atop horses, riding at the front of the column, in front of them, on a pure black stallion rode the dark lord, his hood up, covering his face, Luna felt a shiver go down her spine at the sight of him, she continued to look at the column, trying to pick out Draco, after five minutes Luna laughed at herself for not seeing him sooner, he was one of the men in dark armor, easily discernable from the others because of the pelt resting on his shoulders, as they got closer she could easily see his face, he looked up at her, his expression unreadable for a couple of seconds, until he raised a hand, a smile on his face, Luna let herself smile and waved. The other Death Eaters watched their exchanged with silent amusement. Luna felt tears wet her cheeks, and she quickly turned around, wiping the tears away, she looked again, meeting Draco's eyes, he held her gaze for a little while, before looking ahead. She closed her eyes and sent a silent prayer to whatever God was listening,
Please…bring him back…please….
