Draco Malfoy was pleased with himself.
Very pleased indeed.
He knew that after last night, he had Luna Lovegood eating out of the palm of his hand.
He just had to wait for the right moment to act. Soon, very soon, he would fulfil his end of the bargain, and wipe that cocky little smirk off of Zabini's face.
And speaking off…there came Zabini now. Draco shifted in his seat, allowing room for Blaise to slip in beside him.
"Morning," Blaise mumbled, as he grabbed a plate of food.
"Morning." Draco raised a brow as he noticed Blaise's bleary eyes and his ruffled appearance, "Rough night?"
"Not exactly," His friend grinned wickedly, "Eventful, more like."
"Oh please, do tell."
"I rum, got pretty drunk," Suddenly he looked uncomfortable, "And I slept with someone."
"You did? Who was the lucky girl? Or guy," Draco smirked and Blaise rolled his eyes.
"Pansy."
Draco dropped the fork he was using and stared at Blaise, "Pansy? As in Pansy Parkinson?"
"Yeah," Zabini scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"How the hell did that happen?"
"She wanted to know why you and Luna were spending so much time together…"
"She WHAT?" Draco was furious but he kept the volume of his voice low. He glared at Blaise harshly, "Did you tell her about the bet?"
He nodded slowly, "I'm sorry mate, I was drunk."
"You imbecile!" Draco lifted himself up to his full height of almost six feet, "You actual MORON."
"Look it's fine mate, I made her promise not to tell anyone until after you had sex with Luna," Blaise smiled as if the whole problem had been diverted, "She only wanted to know that you didn't have genuine feelings for Lovegood."
Draco rolled his eyes, "Oh great! Everything's just fine then, is it?"
Then without a second glance at Zabini, he began to walk away, intending to clean up the mess friend had made in less than twenty four hours.
"Where are you going?" Blaise called after him.
Draco looked back, his grey eyes steeled over with determination, "To fix this."
….
Pansy Parkinson was on her way to the Grand Hall for breakfast when she felt somebody tug her into an shady alcove.
"Blaise," She groaned, turning around to face her assailant, "What happened last night was a one off- Draco?" She blinked up into the dark grey molten eyes of Malfoy.
"When the fuck are you going to learn to mind your own business, Parkinson?" Draco growled, pushing her up against the stone wall. She gasped when her back touched the cold surface.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Oh stop playing dumb," Draco rolled his eyes, "I know you slept with Blaise last night to get information out of him. If you weren't so damn annoying, I'd commend you on how conniving and sly it was."
"Look Draco," Pansy tried to control the way her voice was wobbling, "I just thought that you and Lovegood being so chummy was very strange….forgive me for being a little curious."
"Let me make this very clear to you," Draco pushed his body into her roughly, "What I do in my spare time, Parkinson, has nothing to do with you, unless I am doing you." Pansy blushed at his words, "If I want to bloody marry Luna Lovegood…you stay the fuck out of it."
Pansy couldn't speak. She hated the way Draco's mere presence left her paralysed. She was never like this!
So weak and submissive. Only Draco could resort her to such a bumbling fool.
"I won't tell anyone," She whispered, "I promise."
"You sure as hell won't tell anyone," Draco's voice dropped to an intimate level, "If you do, I will kill you Pansy." His breath fanned across her face and Pansy felt her entire body flush.
He was driving her insane.
"But it's just a bet, right?" She knew she sounded crazy, she needed to make sure, to be certain, "You don't actually want to be with Lovegood?"
Draco rolled his eyes and smirked arrogantly, "Yes Pansy….it's just a bet."
Pansy breathed out a sigh of relief, "Good. I was worried for a little while."
"That I would fall for a Ravenclaw?" Draco quirked a thin, blonde brow, "And one as nutty as Luna?" He chuckled darkly, "I'd have hoped you would bear more faith in me, Parkinson."
He was still standing very close to her, and Pansy was still finding it extremely difficult to breath, let alone think.
"Now I would appreciate it, if for the next three weeks you stayed out of my way." Draco wasn't making a suggestion, but he was demanding it.
Pansy shivered, "And after the three weeks."
Draco's eyes darkened with lust, "Who knows." He pressed a rough kiss to her mouth and pulled away from her.
"Mind your own fucking business Parkinson," He growled, "Or I'll make sure you regret the day you didn't."
Draco swept away from her, just as suddenly as he had come, and Pansy slid down the wall, holding a shaking hand to her heart.
He had left her absolutely breathless. His domineering attitude; the way his steely grey eyes were dark and volatile.
Everything about Draco Malfoy drew Pansy in.
And after everything was said and done, and Malfoy fucked Lovegood, Pansy would make sure that he would end up being hers.
Because that was the way things had been intended for them.
That was the way the universe worked.
People like her and Draco just fit together, like pieces of a puzzle, Pansy was sure of it.
Draco was, after all her soulmate.
….
Luna Lovegood barely disliked anything.
She was not, by nature, a disagreeable person. There was always a silver lining; a light at the end of the tunnel. Luna was certain that if you looked hard enough, you could find a sliver of good, even in the darkest times.
However, trying to plait her impossibly long hair, was something Luna decided she didn't like.
Didn't like at all.
She felt clumsy, as her usually nimble fingers stumbled across each other.
"Luna." Ginny sat down beside her friend and pried her fingers apart, "Here, let me help."
They were sitting at the Grand Hall, it was breakfast time, and Luna had been up until now, trying to unsuccessfully plait her hair.
"Thank you Ginny," She smiled up at her, "I can't seem to get it right."
Ginny nodded, "It's difficult. My mother spent ages trying to teach me when I was a little girl. I didn't get it until I was about eleven."
Luna smiled her typical dreamy smile, and both girls were silent as Ginny's fingers interweaved Luna's hair.
"So why aren't you sitting with Draco?" Luna could tell Ginny was trying not to sound disgusted at the mention of his name.
"He's not at his table," She looked over at the Slytherins, "He wasn't here when I walked in this morning."
"I saw you two, at the Christmas Ball last night."
"Why didn't you come to say hi?"
Ginny shrugged, "I don't know, really."
"Were you embarrassed, Ginny?" Luna's big blue eyes widened, "Did you not want to be seen with me and Draco?"
Her friend blushed deeply and chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes trained solely on Luna's hair.
"I can't help it, Luna," She sighed, "I hate Draco!"
"Don't say that!" Luna shook her head vehemently, "Don't ever say that about anyone!"
The only thing Luna hated in this world, was the word hate.
She couldn't stand it. And she certainly couldn't stand it being said about one of her friends.
"I'm sorry Luna," But she didn't sound very sorry at all, "There." Ginny let go of Luna's hair and allowed it to fall across her shoulder.
"Are you upset, Luna?"
"Yes." She didn't bother lying, "Why would you say that about Draco when you know he's my friend?"
"He didn't look like just your friend last night." Ginny rose an accusing brow, "Do you fancy him, Luna?"
Luna's porcelain skin burned, "So what if I do?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air.
"Come on Luna!" She cried in disbelief, "He's Draco fucking Malfoy," Luna flinched at the curse word, "His father is a death eater! He's evil!"
Luna fell silent. Ginny was breathing loudly, her cheeks red, her eyes glassed over.
A tea slid down Luna's cheek, and Ginny gasped, reaching out to her.
"Oh Luna I'm sorry I didn't-"
"Ginny," She whispered, barely able to meet the girl's eyes, "I think you had better leave now."
"What? Luna look I'm sorry."
"Please," Her voice was barely audible above the chatter of students around them, "Leave."
Ginny stared at Luna, wide eyed, barely able to believe her friends words. She bit her bottom lip and sighed.
"I really am sorry, Luna."
And then she stood, and made her way over to the Gryffindor table, settling in between a very excited looking Neville, and a very worried looking Hermione.
Luna turned away from what was once her only ally, and absently played with the ends of her plait.
For the first time in a very long time, Luna once again felt completely alone.
….
Draco Malfoy was pissed off.
He had been searching for Luna all afternoon, and hadn't found her anywhere.
It was Saturday for god's sake, their day off. Where on Earth had the strange girl hid herself?
He asked everybody he passed if they had seen her, and they all answered with the same shrug and shake of the head.
Most of them probably didn't even know who Luna was.
And then, he passed Ginny Weasley.
"Weaslette," He smirked.
"Oh shut up Malfoy," She seemed angrier at him than usual.
"Something wrong?"
"You ruined everything!" She cried, "Luna hates me now!"
"And just how did I have anything to do with that?"
"You made her…like you! Argh!" Ginny ran a hand through her hair, her jaw set dangerously, "What did you do Malfoy, huh? Cast a spell on her?"
Draco laughed at Ginny's apparent frustration.
"I did nothing, actually." He shrugged, "It seems me and your friend have more in common than you'd probably like to think."
"Luna and you?" Ginny scoffed, "That's rich Malfoy."
Draco didn't attempt to argue with the fiery redhead. He knew nothing he said would alter her opinion of him anyway. And to be perfectly honest, why did he want her friendship anyway?
He shrugged and turned from her, "Anyway. I'm going to find Lovegood, because unlike you," He gave her a disapproving glare, "I quite enjoy her happiness."
Ginny sputtered loudly and called after him, but Draco ignored her.
He glided across the hallways of Hogwarts, his silver eyes searching the crowds for a man of dirty blonde hair and big unblinking blue eyes.
Where on Earth had Luna hidden herself?
"Draco." Her voice was behind him.
"Lovegood," He smirked at her.
"Were you looking for me?" She was wearing those kooky glittery pink glasses of hers.
"Yes I was."
"Well, you found me," She grinned, "Are you busy?"
"No. That's why I came looking for you."
"I have something to show you," Her expression turned secretive, "Come with me."
Luna grabbed his hand and began to lead Draco through the corridors. He was surprised when they stepped out into the crisp December evening. Darkness had fallen, and the sky had turned black. Tiny little stars twinkled above them, and Luna smiled at the sight of the full moon.
It was perfect, really.
Serendipity, one might say.
They continued walking in rapt silence, as Luna led Draco to her favourite spot, right at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"Sit," She whispered, breaking the silence.
"Here?"
"Mmmm."
Luna placed herself onto the tall, green grass, covered by a sprinkle of snow, and against his better judgement Draco followed her.
They sat down, their hands mere inches away from each other.
Luna wondered how Draco would react if she reached out and touched her fingers to his.
"What are we doing?"
"Waiting," She smiled slowly, "They'll come out soon."
And then, Draco saw it.
A flash of light. And then another one.
It was almost as though small bolts of lightning were running across his eyes, and Draco could barely believe it.
He watched in awe, as the flashes of light transformed into dots of dull glowing.
"What is that?"
"People in the Muggle world call them fireflies," Luna whispered, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears, "They're fairies."
"Why haven't I ever seen them before?" Draco quirked a thin, blonde brow.
"They're very shy," Luna shrugged, "Nobody knows a lot about them. Just that they like to come out at nighttime, in the Winter."
"Oh."
The lights began to glow brighter, and for the first time Draco noticed that they were an array of different colours. Blue, green, red, pink, lilac.
All of them crossing the night sky.
He had to admit, it was a beautiful sight.
"It's beautiful," Draco breathed.
"Isn't it?"
He looked over at Luna, who was staring, her mouth slightly ajar, at the fairy lights in front of her.
"Not as beautiful as you, however."
Luna looked over at Draco sharply, and felt her cheeks instantly heat up.
"Oh." She stammered, "Urm, thank you Draco."
"Mmmm."
She was still staring at him, her big blue eyes unmoving. Draco knew this was his chance, he had to do something.
She was practically begging him to kiss her.
He leaned in, his lips a breath away from her own, "I think I might just fancy you, Lovegood."
And then, he pressed his mouth against hers, and smirked when he felt her melt.
She was like jelly in his hands.
He slid a hand into her hair and she responded by shifting closer to him, almost falling onto his lap. He chuckled breathily as they pulled apart for air.
"I like you too Draco." She bit her bottom lip, "Imagine that."
"Mmmm," He grinned, "Imagine that."
Somewhere in the back of his mind a small voice was crying out to him that this was wrong.
That no bet should ever take advantage of somebody as sweet and innocent as Luna Lovegood.
But Draco steeled himself against that weakness. He was Draco fucking Malfoy.
And he was going to get Luna to sleep with him, no matter what it took.
….
"BLAISE!"
Ginny screamed at her dark skinned friend, slamming her fist down on the table.
"Shhh!" Madam Prince squealed from behind her desk at the library.
"Sorry," She frowned, "Blaise, we need to talk…NOW."
Blaise quirked a brow and sighed, "GInny what is it? I'm quite busy at the moment and I don't really have-"
"I will cut your balls off," She warned, her blue eyes flashing dangerously, "Come outside, Blaise. Now."
Wincing at her words, and suddenly aware that everybody else in the library was staring at them, Blaise sighed, resigned.
"Fine." He stood, following the redhead outside and suddenly wishing he'd never made friends with her all those years ago.
"What the FUCK did you tell Draco to do?" Ginny crossed her arms angrily.
"What do you mean?"
"Luna," She explained impatiently, "He hasn't just suddenly peaked interest in her."
"And why not?"
"Because he's Malfoy," She answered, rolling her eyes hotly, "He doesn't associate himself with mere mortals like Luna."
"Maybe he's attracted to her," Blaise tried to act nonchalant, "How am I supposed to know?"
"Because you're the closest thing Draco has to a friend," She told him, one red brow quirked, "Now tell me the truth Zabini."
Blaise shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
Ginny was his childhood friend; she had helped him all those years ago, when he'd needed tutoring in Potions. Even though she was younger than him, Ginny was smart beyond her years. And since that day, they'd begun an almost secret friendship. Hardly anyone in the school, save Draco and Harry Potter, knew about their relationship and that was just the way Blaise liked it.
He cared about Ginny, but he also cared about his reputation as a Slytherin.
And being associated with a Gryffindor wouldn't exactly have a positive affect on that.
"Look Ginny…I don't know why Draco likes Luna. Honestly."
"You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
Ginny rolled her eyes, "That thing you do with your lip when you lie."
"I'm doing no such thing!" Blaise cried indignantly, a hand automatically going to cover his mouth.
"Will you just tell me the goddamn truth?" Ginny was getting impatient, "Or will I have to hex it out of you?"
"No, no," Blaise held his hands up, "No need for that kind of action."
"Well then TELL ME."
Blaise took a deep breath, "Ginny I swear to god if you tell anyone what I'm about to tell you I will your ass, girl or not."
She waited, one hip cocked, "Well?"
He took a deep breath, prepare to plunge into his confession when a shrill cry caught both their attentions.
"BLAISE!" Pansy Parkinson rolled down the hallways, "Oh Blaise there you are." She glared at Ginny, "What are you doing here blood traitor?"
"Fuck off Pansy." Ginny growled. She wasn't in the mood for bullshit, today.
"Gladly." She turned to Blaise, "Coming?"
Zabini didn't know if he was happy for the interruption, or pissed off. Either way, he knew he couldn't reject Pansy's offer. He mouthed the words 'sorry, we'll talk later,' and then nodded, following Pansy down the hallway and leaving behind a very annoyed Ginny Weasley.
"What the fuck was that about?" Pansy asked, two black brows quirked, "Since when were you and the Weaslette on speaking terms?"
"Since never." He cleared his throat and tried to act nonchalant, "I was telling her how annoying her and her little family of traitors are."
"Oh."
Somehow though, Pansy wasn't convinced.
They moved onto another subject swiftly, but one thought remained in Pansy's mind. And that was that she was going to get to the bottom of EVERYTHING, and she was going to get to it soon.
She wasn't a conniving, sly Slytherin for nothing, right?
….
A/N: I know Draco's a little OOC, but that's just to get Luna to fall for him! His old bastard ways will soon begin to show under this new, nice Draco I can promise you that! Much, much, much more drama to ensue! Thank you for reading people! I love you all xoxo