Luna Lovegood was aware of two things.
One was that she was getting kissed; and very thoroughly indeed by Draco Mafloy. The other, was that something sharp and pointy was sticking into her skin.
"Ouch," She pulled away from their embrace and watched as Draco's Ravenclaw pin fell to the ground, "Oh that's what it was."
She looked up at him, dazed for a moment by everything that had just happened.
A silence had fallen over the entire canteen, but Luna barely noticed. She smiled softly.
"Thank you Draco," She whispered, nodding slowly.
He smirked, "No problem."
Luna wasn't sure if she was strong enough to walk yet. Her legs felt like they were going to give way at any moment.
"Well I must be going now Luna," Draco's grin widened at the bewildered look on her face, "I'll catch you around later." And then he was gone, just as quickly as he appeared.
Luna felt herself fall backwards a little, and she sat down on the Ravenclaw table once more, not noticing the way everybody was staring at her.
"Did he just kiss her?" Some Hufflepuff whispered.
"Loony Lovegood and Draco Malfoy?" A girl with auburn curls scoffed, "I can barely believe it!"
And to be perfectly honest, Luna could hardly believe it herself.
She had just been kissed, in the middle of the Grand Hall, by none other than Draco Malfoy. Granted, they had been standing under mistletoe and almost forced into kissing, but Luna couldn't say she hated it.
On the contrary actually. It had been a very enjoyable experience.
What did that mean? She touched a forefinger to her tingling lips and closed her eyes.
Did this mean that she…fancied, Malfoy?
No, that would be absurd! They were just friends. That was the whole point of their entire relationship, anyway.
Malfoy wanted to be her friend. And Luna wanted to be his friend.
Nothing more, nothing else.
But she couldn't shake the warm feeling that had settled comfortably in her chest from Draco's touch.
He had left her mind reeling.
Luna also couldn't shake the feeling however, that something was wrong about all this.
That Draco's sudden interest in her, and the fact that he wanted to be her friend so badly perhaps really did hide deeper rivers, as Ginny had told her before.
But she shook the thought from her mind, wanting to cherish the feeling of her first kiss forever.
….
"I can't believe you snogged Loony Lovegood," Pansy sounded disgusted as Draco walked with her towards the library.
Draco rolled his eyes, "It was nothing, Pansy."
"What do you mean it was nothing?" Her eyes widened, "You kissed her in front of the entire canteen! And then proceeded to continue kissing her until she broke away from you!"
"We were stuck under the mistletoe," Draco shrugged, "What else was I supposed to do?"
Pansy shuddered, "I just…wouldn't like to think of where she's been."
"You're not really in the position to be judging Pansy," Draco didn't know why he was coming to Luna's defence but he was anyway, "Sharing is caring after all, right?"
Her mouth dropped open and she grabbed his arm pulling him around to face her.
"Draco! Why are you defending her?"
"I'm not defending her!" He countered, shaking his head, "I'm merely stating fact. Luna can't have possibly been with more men than you, Pansy. Come on even you can't be daft enough not to know that."
"Do you fancy her Draco?" One dark eyebrow quirked, "There's no other explanation for this sudden outburst of niceness towards one of the weirdest girls at Hogwarts!"
"Fancy her?" Draco scoffed, "Of course not, Pansy. God, what do you take me for?"
"Prove it then." Her tone was smug, "Because the way I see it, you sat by her, you kissed her and now you're defending her. If that doesn't mean you fancy her then I don't know what does."
"Fuck's sake Pansy you are quite irritating." Draco pushed her against the wall just outside the library and pulled her into a dark alcove. He pressed his lips against hers roughly, pulling her up, "Wrap your legs around me."
Pansy did as she was told and shivered in delight when she felt her bare thighs touch Draco's skin.
"I thought you said this was over." Pansy panted, as Draco peppered kissed over her neck and chin.
"Fuck what I said," He answered, "If this doesn't prove I don't like Lovegood, then I don't know what will."
Pansy lost all coherent thoughts as Draco's hands slipped past the band of her lacy pink underwear, "Nice," He grunted against her skin, "Trying to impress me?"
"Uhm."
And just as Draco was about to begin his ministrations, they heard a pair of feet walking towards them. Draco's heart froze over when he heard one of them speak.
"Ginny I know you're looking out for me," Luna's dreamy tone filled the air, "But honestly, me and Malfoy are just friends!"
"You kissed him Luna, in front of a canteen full of people!"
"Well what else were we meant to do?" But Draco detected the hint of uncertainty in her voice. Despite himself he smiled, "We were under a spell!"
"I just don't understand why you would willingly allow Draco Malfoy to take your first kiss." At this Pansy sniggered.
Her first kiss? God, that was pathetic.
Draco gave her a stern look however, and shut her up.
"He's not that bad Ginny," Luna's tone was airier than it normally was, "He's kind and sweet when he wants to be."
Ginny scoffed, "That's hard to imagine."
They paused just outside where Draco and Pansy were covered by a thick velvet curtain.
Draco held his breath. If Luna caught them in the act, he had no doubt she would be furious.
Everything he had been working towards would be crumbled.
"Please Ginny," Luna sounded desperate, "Please just trust me."
A beat of silence, and then Ginny sighed, surrendering.
"Fine." She answered, "But don't expect me to like this."
"Thank you Ginny! Oh thank you!"
Luna squealed in happiness, and Draco breathed out a sigh he hadn't realised he had been holding in when he heard them walk away.
"See," Pansy whispered, "Even Weaslette agrees that your relationship with Luna is absurd!"
"Oh for god's sake Pansy," He rolled his eyes, "Jealousy is very unbecoming."
Then he smashed his lips onto hers, and continued where they had left off.
….
Luna was good at a lot of things.
But asking Draco Malfoy to be her date to the first annual Hogwarts Christmas Ball, was not one of them.
She fixed her hair one last time and took a deep calming breath. She stood up, preparing to slip out of the bathroom cubicle she was sat in when she heard girls approaching.
"Can you believe he had to kiss that Loony girl?"
"I know," A second girl sighed, "Poor Draco!"
"God she's probably in love with him or something."
Something icy gripped Luna's heart. They were talking about her.
"I'll bet she'll ask him to the ball," Another girl laughed, "Yeah right. Like Draco Malfoy would stoop down to that level."
Luna should have been used to their words, but the thought of Draco finding her repulsive struck a chord. She chewed on her bottom lip as tears brimmed on her eyelids.
"He's going with Pansy Parkinson anyway."
"Of course he is. At least she's good enough for him."
Luna had heard enough of their abuse.
Summoning up all of her courage, she pushed down her tears and opened the door, revealing herself to four very snotty looking girls. Slytherins, of course.
"Oh." They at least had the decency to look a little bit uncomfortable, "We weren't-"
"Save it." Luna shook her head, "Jealousy really is a powerful thing." Then she flicked her hair behind one shoulder and strolled out with as much confidence as she could muster.
Inside Luna felt like she was about to crumble, but she refused to cry. She had spent so many years taking their words without offence, she wasn't going to let them hurt her now.
Especially when she had such an important task to fulfil.
Trying to ignore the Slytherin girls and their words, Luna made her way towards the library where she had told Draco to meet her.
She took a deep breath and rounded the corner, not at all surprised to see him waiting there for her, leaning lazily against the stone wall.
"Lovegood," He smiled when she approached him.
"Hello Draco," For the first time in her life, Luna felt afraid of rejection.
"So?" Draco raised a brow, "Why did you want to meet me?"
Luna cleared her throat, "I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away," He smirked, finding a little pleasure in Luna's obvious nerves.
"Will you go as my date to the Christmas Ball tomorrow night?" She asked quickly, chewing on her bottom lip in apprehension, "I know you probably already are going with someone else but I thought if you weren't we could go together you know…as friends." Luna rushed it all out, squinting up at a very bemused looking Draco.
He chuckled a little, "Are you nervous Luna Lovegood?"
Despite her nerves Luna laughed, a pink blush working its way up onto her pale cheeks.
"A little," She answered truthfully.
Draco shook his head, "There's no reason to be. Of course I'll go with you to the Christmas Ball Lovegood. I was going to ask you myself, but you beat me to it."
Luna smiled widely and squealed, "Really?"
Draco felt his ego puff at her reaction, "Really."
"Oh Draco thank you!" She threw her arms around him and pulled him down into an embrace, "You're the best!"
"So I've been told," He smiled against her hair.
As they pulled apart, Luna was feeling positively giddy. She grinned up at him and then suddenly fell into his pools of silver.
As always, Draco's eyes sucked her in, and Luna was beginning to find that she didn't mind it all that much, if that meant feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
God. She shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts, but to no avail.
Between the butterflies swimming around her stomach and the way Draco made her feel all dizzy, Luna was beginning to think she really was loony!
….
Draco shifted uncomfortably on his feet as he waited for Luna to emerge from her dormitories.
He was wearing a suit, and looked every inch the dashing man he was becoming.
Luna would fall powerless to him tonight, Draco was intent on sweeping the blonde haired Ravenclaw off her feet.
Then suddenly, Luna herself stood before him, looking absolutely divine in a floor length powder blue ruffled dress; her hair pulled back into a low bun and a dash of make up covering her already flawless skin.
Despite his best efforts, Draco knew he hadn't been able to keep the shock from seeing her off his face.
Luna shuffled around a little, "Do I look okay?"
OKAY? She looked bloody fantastic!
He didn't say that of course, instead just nodding and smiling.
"You look lovely, Lovegood."
"Thank you Draco," In her typical Luna fashion she blushed, "You look very handsome yourself."
"I know," He smirked and held out an arm to her, "Shall we?"
Luna nodded and looped her arm through his, "I'm ready."
They entered the Grand Hall - which had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with red, white and green tinsel hanging everywhere, and a huge Christmas tree sitting in the centre of the room, adorned with tiny little shimmering lights - and Luna swore the whole room fell quiet. Everybody stared at Draco and Luna as they strolled in, and for the first time in a long time she suddenly felt very self conscious.
For a moment Draco almost felt his steely resolve to take Luna's virginity crumble. But he refused to let them dictate his decisions, and instead of letting go of Luna, he slipped his hand down her arm and interlocked their fingers.
He swore in that one moment, everybody unanimously gasped.
"Draco?" He heard Pansy's strangled cries from a group of people standing to his left.
And then, the spell was broken, and everybody almost forgot about Draco and Luna's surprise entrance, and went back to doing whatever it was they had earlier been doing.
Pansy emerged from the crowd, looking very red faced and annoyed as she reached Draco, pulling him away from Luna roughly.
"Draco what the fuck are you doing?" She hissed, still wearing that hideous shade of red on her lips, "Coming here with…that." Her eyes snapped onto Luna.
"Hello Pansy. That dress looks lovely on you," Luna complimented the Slytherin innocently, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
Pansy ignored Luna and turned her glare back on Draco, "Well?"
"Not now, Parkinson," Draco growled.
"I think now is a good a time as ever," She placed her hands on her hips, "I can't believe you would embarrass me like this!"
"Pansy, for Christ's sake, how deluded can you be? We were never going out!"
Luna finally sensed the tension and looked between the two slowly, "I think I'd better go," She turned to leave but Malfoy's grip on her hand stopped her.
"No," He demanded, "You stay."
Luna didn't know what to say so she said nothing.
"So the past six months?" Pansy sneered, "They meant nothing?"
"Not a thing," Draco confirmed, nodding his head, "We are just friends Pansy. If that."
"You little asshole!" She screamed, and for the second time that night, everybody's eyes fell on Draco once more, "You lying, cheating, conniving son of a bitch I can't believe-"
"Miss Parkinson!" Professor Snape barked, "What do you think you are doing?" His steely gaze was fixed on her.
"I just, I uhm," Pansy stammered thinking of some way to get herself out of this.
"Exactly." Snape replied grimly, "Come this way, please."
Nobody dared to utter a word, as Pansy was led out of the room by Professor Snape. She glared harshly at Draco, and Luna the girl who had taken him away from her.
In that moment, Pansy realised what had just happened to her. Luna Lovegood had stoled Draco from her arms!
Her Drakey! God, the nerve of that little bitch.
She had brain washed him obviously, or cast a spell on him. That was the only excuse Pansy could think of for Draco's words.
As Snape took her to his office and began to scold her, the only thing Pansy could think about was how badly she wanted to destroy Luna Lovegood.
And she would. She was going to crush that loony Ravenclaw like a grain of rice.