"Daphne." The girl didn't turn quickly, instead she took her time, putting the book down, marking her page, and closing it carefully before she turned to look up at him. Daphne had known, the moment he said her name who it was. She knew the sound of his voice. Knew the sound of his feet against the carpet, knew his smell, it didn't hurt that they'd been having these meeting's regularly for the past month or so.
"Ronald." She tried to keep her voice hard, in case anyone were listening or watching. Though the raven haired girl couldn't help the smile growing on her lips. His smile, bigger than her happened every time he looked at the girl who made his heart beat so furiously. Reaching a clumsy hand out, Ron touched her hair gently, moving his hand down to cup her face.
"Meeting once a week is killing me." Daphne smiled pressing her face into his hand no longer caring if anyone saw them.
"Is that why you came three days early?" She kissed his hand as he pressed it against her cheek. "Not that I'm complaining." The way her blue eyes looked at him, Ron felt the fire in his chest dance. He'd never been in love before. The closest he'd come to it was with Hermione, still it hadn't been the same.
"I might have come three days early but, you were here non the less. Do you come here every day?" Ron teased moving to the seat across from her, loosely intwining his fingers with hers. The way she giggled at him, squeezing his hand, Ron heard his heart beat frantically in his chest.
"No I do not come here every day Ronald. I do have to do some studying every now and then, you should too actually if you want to get a good job." Ron waved her off with a smile.
"My Dad's already guarenteed me a position in the Auror office. I'll have the necessary skills, hell I already do have them." Ron let his free hand trail up and down Daphne's thigh. She never complained when he did. In fact, Ron would have gone as far as to say that she liked it just as much as he did.
"Oh yes I forget, the boy everyone used to call Weasel is now the ron of the Minister of Magic, Mr. Famous." Daphne laughed, running her hand through his hair, ruffling it a little bit, though she stopped when Ron's smile slipped off his face.
"Is that why you talk to me?" His voice was dark, giving the girl chills. She tried to remain chipper though.
"Is what why I talk to you love?" Daphne scanned his face quickly, searching for a hint at what he was talking about.
"Because my Father is the Minister of Magic." From the way he said it, Daphne had no doubt in her mind that some girl had already tried to capture her Ron's heart because of that. Quickly she captured his hand in both of hers.
"No! No! Of course not. Not to be rude dear but, I don't need to further my name. Greengrass is rather prominent in the wizarding world and I have plenty of money." Daphne tried her hardest not to sound snide, or conceited but she couldn't help the way it came out. Ron looked relieved by her admission though.
"Sorry, I'm stupid. I didn't mean to," Ron shook his head. ", never mind ignore me. I came up here to ask you something any way." Daphne felt her heart beat faster, having a pretty good idea at what he wanted to ask her, at least, she hoped that was what he wanted to ask her.
"Yes, Ron?" He loved the way she batted her lashes at him. He always noticed them, they were lighter than her hair, impossibly straight.
"Will you, well uh, what I mean to say is," He rubbed the back of his head looking down at their hands clasped together. ", well you know there's the Halloween thing. I was thinking, if you were going, and and I was going, maybe we might, you know, some how, meet up before the dance and go together." His face was impossibly red as he asked her, Daphne pushed her lips together trying not to laugh, he was impossibly cute though.
"Of course I will. I just wanted to know why it took you song long to ask me. I'd hoped to wear matching costumes, I've already purchased mine. It doesn't matter anyway, I'm sure we wouldn't have agreed on an animal." Ron took her by surprise as he cut off her babbling by planting a swift kiss on her lips. Daphne protested for a moment, before melting against him.
"Thank you! I won't look ridiculous this year like I did in Fourth year." Ron promised her standing up suddenly, pulling Daphne with him kissing her again, those this time quick pecks, four in a row. "I've got to go get my suit ready. I'll see you on our normal day, we can meet in the dungeons before the party." Ron left her in a whirl of emotions and freshly kissed lips.
Draco stood swiftly, closing the book he'd been studying from. Stepping around the aisle he stood watching as the Weasel left, leaving Greengrass standing among the books, a flushed look on her face. He watched as she pressed her hands against her cheek, letting one fall to her chest. He couldn't help the cold tone of his voice. Draco felt enraged, did Hermione even know that her precious Weasel and Greengrass were shacking up. She was probably asking him to go to the Masque with her right now, thinking he hadn't had the balls to ask her.
"So, shacking up with Weasley are you Greengrass? Do you actually have feelings for him or do you just think he's a change of pace that you need?" Daphne's face changed rapidly, baffled, angry, then finally the emotion faded completely a cold look in her eyes as her back stiffened. Slowly her hands fell away from her face and chest.
"I didn't know that the things I did were any concern of yours. Unless of course you're still on about what happened in Fifth year." Daphne smirked, as he expected her to. He knew what she was talking about and had expected nothing less of her, than to bring up the worst thing possible. "I know I took your virginity Draco but honestly, we were drunk off our rockers and we both know I was a substitute." Daphne picked up the book she had every intention of borrowing, she did need to study. "To answer your question though I don't need to, I like him." She said it simply with a shrug of her shoulders. Pushing past him, Daphne stopped looking back at Draco. "He's got a goofy vibe to him but there's something else, something I've never found in another boy."
"Bad hair and red eyelashes?" Draco snorted in laughter knowing that if he wasn't laughing, he'd get angry instead. Daphne's eyes hardened.
"No. Good intentions. Something no one in Slytherin has ever had. I'll see you around Draco." Her words hit Draco though. Made him think. Had that been what Granger saw in him? Draco didn't know. In fact he had wondered many times just what it was that Granger did see in that stupid, ginger-haired weasel. He didn't want to ask though.
Draco pushed off the book shelf he had leaned against, heading back to the table in which he had been studying with Theo and Luna. The two had invited Draco to come study with them. Though it had been a well covered way to officially introduce Luna to Draco as Theo's girlfriend. Looking at the two of them, Draco questioned it at first but the way they looked at each other. The way Theo's eyes lit up when Luna began to speak of something neither of them knew nothing about, or when she smiled at him. Frankly it made Draco sick, it was so sweet.
"You know, those two really go well together. I never did think that Hermione and Ron would last. In fact I figured they'd be unhappy and divorced before they were both thirty." Luna's ever dreamy voice broke into Draco's thoughts. He smiled wryly at the girl.
"I like her Theo she's a keeper."
"I know that Draco, I intend to keep her around for a very long time indeed." Draco looked away at the dark, animal look in Theo's eyes. A look Draco had never wanted to see come from his best friend. Luna giggled looking at Draco, her impossibly pale cheeks becoming haunted by the lightest shade of pink.
"Theo and I are going to Halloween Masque as peacocks. Have you decided on your costume Draco?" Draco shook his head trying not to laugh as he looked at Theo, guessing peacock's had been Luna's idea. Theo was one of his best mates and he didn't want to insult her.
"Peacocks, aren't male peacocks incredibly beautiful and the females a little drab?" Malfoy didn't know a whole lot about animals, but he did know that much. His mother had an obsession with peacocks after all.
"Traditionally yes, Luna and I have decided to go against the grain though. I'll be dressed in white, brown, and a little red, while Luna will be dressed in blue, cerulean, green, and brown. We've already had our costumes and masks designed. They are elegant after all. Cherie did them." Malfoy smirked, of course Theo had paid for Cherie to design their costumes.
"They are quite lovely, I was happy when Theo suggested them." Luna's dreamy response surprised Draco, though not too much. After all, Theo knew what he liked. "So, what are you going to be Draco?" Luna repeated her question curiously. Draco's mouth pressed into a line. He had thought about it long and hard. If he went as a black wolf it would be stereotypical. Though, as of late, Draco hadn't given the Halloween Masque too much thought. "Ginny told me today that Hermione's costume is spectacular." Hermione. Hermione would be there. She wouldn't know who was in which costume. Draco's eyes brightened.
"I'll be going as a Dragon."
"How fitting." Theo smirked despite the look Draco shot at him.
"A plan on words. Oh I love words on play. Draco. Dragon." Luna mused for a moment. "A dragon, I haven't heard as anyone else going as a dragon. You'll certainly be unique, that's for sure. I can't wait to tell Ginny." Though Luna's words oozed enthusiasm, she looked the same never changing.
"Actually Luna," Draco addressed her by name. Shooting a look at Theo, for his help just in case she didn't want to oblige his request. ", I'd prefer if you didn't tell anyone. I've got another costume lined up. Just depends on which one gets here first." Luna smiled, patting Draco on the arm lightly. Though her little hand could have been a hummingbird wing, it barely felt as if it were there.
"Nargle's the word Draco!" It sounded like an assurance, even if Draco didn't have an idea what she was talking about. He accepted it.