Things from here on will be less fluffy! Aww Druna, just love them! I'm rekindling my love for them as well as for the series :D so here you go! Chapter 4!
Luna ran down the corridor all the way to the dorm she shared with Ginny, Cho and few other girls. She was thankful post the war, house-unity was given utmost importance and that she got to stay with some of her close buddies owing to this. After all, they all needed someone by their side, someone to hold on to and move on from rumbles to a better tomorrow.
She needed to see Ginny now. Ron had seen her with Draco. How could she have kissed Draco again? That too when her friends knew she was going to meet the slytherin in context? She should have known it. She should have guessed they would keep an eye on her. She should have.
Finally reality seemed to have hit her hard. She couldn't just roam around kissing Draco Malfoy. Not forever. She needed to face the world with him, be a part of his world and make him a part of hers. What did she think, it would be easy? She should have known it would never work out. No one would accept them. Draco himself might laugh it off some day, calling her Loony. Sure he changed a lot post war. But he was still a Malfoy and her friends wouldn't like her to be associated with him in any way.
Few minutes later.
After that dramatic fall when Ronald Weasley opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by Madam Pomfrey, Hermione and Harry. He found himself in the same library, lying at the same spot.
"He's fine," Pomfrey said as Ron got into sitting position.
Madam Pince was glad and didn't dwell into the matter further.
"Off you go. Library's closing. Go get your dinner."
Harry, Hermione thanked them both before moving out with Ron.
.
Ron hadn't spoken while going down to the great hall or while eating. It was uncharacteristic for the red-head to keep quiet. Harry, Hermione were equally perplexed.
Ron was almost done with his dinner when Harry spoke.
"What knocked you off Ron?"
"Nothing..." came a reply from the Weasley boy.
"Say it Ron. What happened?"
Ron looked at Hermione. She looked worried to him and he would never want her to be so.
"It's just- Look- Relax! It's just I have seen something that kinda knocked me over."
"What's it?"
"Forget it 'Mione. You guys won't believe."
But Ron being Ron, couldn't help but give a brief account of what he saw before he fell unconscious. His friends looked shocked at first and then laughed it off.
"Hit yourself with a bludger? I can't believe this! I mean Malfoy- Malfoy and Luna?" said Harry shaking his head.
"This has got to be a joke!" added Hermione.
"Bloody hell! It's not a joke! I have seen it with my own eyes. I bloody know I wasn't dreaming!"
Ron gave an angry grunt while gulping a glassful of pumpkin juice in one sip. Harry's fists tightened. Hermione too was equally pissed.
"So this means Malfoy has been forcing her into doing this! Harry, it's time to teach that ferret a lesson again."
Harry nodded to Hermione. Before he could speak Ron gave an angry snort.
"It didn't bloody look like he was forcing her-"
There was a pause as his friends analysed this.
"What do you mean- You mean they were- They can't-" Harry's mouth was agape.
"But they did Harry. I swear that was scary. I mean think of it Luna and Malfoy?" Ron spat the last word with utter disgust. Malfoy.
Just then Luna, Ginny came into his sight. He wanted to say something but he was stopped by Hermione who held him back by squeezing his hand.
Ginny greeted their friends with a smile. Luna gave an awkward smile before they sat down for dinner. She could feel the trio's eyes on her. Oh bugger!
"So you're done helping Malfoy?" Harry asked tentatively.
Luna nodded wordlessly stuffing the pudding in her mouth. She should have skipped dinner to avoid this. But she couldn't. Damn her hunger.
"Ron says... he saw you and Malfoy... ummm.." Hermione trailed off not knowing what to say.
"Come on 'Mione! You know that's not possible. They both are so different. It won't just work out."
"I know Harry. I know they are hard to imagine. They'd be a disaster even on paper. I don't know how Ron had imagined it all-"
Ron began to protest but Hermione shushed him again. The matter was laid to rest thankfully. Luna finished off her pudding real quick and made a dash towards her dorm wishing her friends good night.
A week passed since then. Luna hadn't spoken anything about the incident or of Draco Malfoy. She buried her head in studies, never let others guess what was in her head. It was hard for her to keep her thoughts in control but she had no choice.
"Give it time Luna, " she remembered Ginny's words, "Only time will decide what's good for both of you. I'm not saying Malfoy is evil or something. Just don't rush- take it nice and slow."
Those words had left a significant impact on her. She couldn't help but think if Ginny should be in Ravenclaw. She had smiled and nodded at the advice and of course, hadn't forgotten thanking her fiery haired friend.
She was walking down a corridor on the third floor that day, yes walking and not skipping, when someone caught her by the arm pulling her roughly into a nearby broom closet. Her scream only came out as a muffled whisper as the person whoever pulled her in had succeeded in pressing her mouth with his palm. That touch however seemed to calm her a bit. She could guess the person and it only brought a different kind of fear. Tingles ran down her spine as she thought of it.
She was in a broom closet with Draco Malfoy, her crush, her love, err whatever it was. She blushed at the thought. Did she say love?
The person seemed to sense she had stopped struggling. He slowly retracted his hand, prepared to speak, but she was the quickest.
"Draco?"
There was no response from other side. All she could hear was a loud sigh. And then-
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
She smiled at the apology. The person lit his wand after whispering a 'muffliato'. His handsome features shone in the bluish light giving him a cute appeal. Luna found him adorable. So he was Draco Malfoy indeed!
"But you were avoiding me!" Draco said looking at her, running a hand through his hair, releasing deep breaths.
"I thought you'd like it, not being bugged by me, " Luna said calmly.
"I- you didn't answer my question Lovegood. You kept me hanging there."
After a few puzzled moments Luna understood what he was saying. She felt it would be better to avoid him. She certainly didn't know what this Slytherin wanted and where their actions would lead them to. She surely couldn't afford another Ron Weasley walking up to them while they were here. She moved aside hoping to escape but that only brought him closer than before. The wand slipped from his hand and her back hit the closet's wall. In a blink she was encased in Draco's arms on both sides.
"What- What are you doing?" she asked ignoring her heartbeat that quickened.
"Answer my question Lovegood. I'll let you out, I promise."
"What's the question?" she asked him innocently.
"Oh!" he laughed before continuing, "don't tell me I'll have to narrate you the story again. Merlin! Why can't you just answer me? Why did you kiss me damn it!?"
"I told you. It was those whackspurts-"
"But we kissed again! I thought there were no whack- whatever they are the second time!"
"It's you who kissed me!" she argued innocently.
"Yes but you kissed me back and I thought we kissed again before Weasley passed out and I want to know why!"
Luna gulped as Draco slammed the closet wall with one of his fists.
"Lovegood just open that dick mouth of yours! When you are too good at blabbering about those damn creatures, I bet you can give me a good reason here. Come on-"
"Because..." she began weakly.
She was thankful that she couldn't clearly see Draco's face in the dimly lit closet. If not it would have been even worse. She heard him sigh again.
"Merlin! I've never been desperate! Just say it-"
"Because I like you Draco!"
Luna said it in one go, released her breath that she had been holding till then. When she looked up, she found him smiling.
"I thought how it would be to-" she looked away hanging the sentence in mid-air.
"To kiss me?" he laughed again.
She found it adorable and cute again. She looked away feeling sheepish. He backed off letting his arms fall to his side, looking apologetic as well as satisfied.
"Sorry I didn't mean to offend you."
She smiled wide when he cupped her cheeks to apologise. It seemed so surreal and beautiful. She loved his touch, his laugh, his kisses, everything about him and she knew she's falling. Falling in love with Draco Malfoy.
"Draco..." she whispered his name letting her eyelids shut.
"No one calls me that. Not very often," he said, letting his arms fall back again, backing away from her considerably.
She hid her disappointment. What was she expecting? Another kiss?
He looked away and continued, "Except for few of my close friends and family. I don't know if I have many of them left who..." he trailed off looking away, " who still love me. Except for Blaise and Pans of course."
He turned to look at her-
"Thank you. For considering me as Draco always. And not a Malfoy. I remember you never called me Malfoy even when you were a prisoner in my manor. I feel so sick when I think back you were actually captive in my place..."
There was a pause before he went on.
"I don't know Lovegood. I took a lot of pride in calling myself a Malfoy, but now associating myself with it gives me a feeling that I'm... I'm evil. I was, probably..."
"Oh Draco..."
He looked away ashamed but she stood on tiptoes while reaching out to him and gently held his face with her hands. That comforting touch made him sigh again and before he could think straight he captured her lips with his. He kissed her with all the passion he could muster. She returned it with equal fervour. Holding each other close they were lost in their own little paradise where neither their friends nor the wizarding world, not even their identities could tear them apart.
"Y- you shouldn't think about those things Draco... " She told him as they pulled apart, "and... This is wrong-"
"It can't be wrong when it feels so right Lovegood."
They still had their arms around each other. It took a few seconds for them to realize that they were actually hugging each other. Were they?
"Do you think this is a prank? Or that I'm the same Draco Malfoy who liked to bully everyone? Who was proud of his heritage and blood status? I was misled Lovegood. I walked down the wrong path. By the time I realized, I was too late. I stuck to my beliefs. I still side with some of them even now. I'm still a Malfoy but I guess I'm not as bad as you all think-"
"I don't think you're bad..."
He chuckled at that.
"How sweet! So what do you think then?"
It was almost like a teasing. She chose to ignore it.
"Hermione thinks we'd be a disaster!"
"Since when did you start caring for what others said."
"I don't care. But-"
"Look Lovegood. I think we both need to do a bit of talking. But not here. Not like this. I've got to go to the court. They'll hear us again. I don't know if I will be spared this time... But before I go, I just wanted you to know something... I don't know what it is between us, I'm not supposed to think of you or talk to you. But being around you makes me feel good. Feel like I'm just someone like you and everyone. Not a ferret or an ex-death eater. Anyways, see you later Lovegood. I'll be apparating from here to the gates. You can go to your class now. I'm sorry for... err holding you back."
He was about to apparate from his spot after picking up his wand and that was when Luna made him turn around. He was immediately rewarded with a quick but sweet kiss on his lips. It was short but really sweet like an assurance. He couldn't help but grin when it ended. She smiled back turning pink but managed to say her words.
"Everything will be fine Draco."
Saying this she dropped something into his cloak pocket.
"It's the good-luck charm. I think you need it more than I do. I know you'd hate to wear it. But I read somewhere, it works the same when stuffed in pocket!"
He laughed at first, then smiled at her.
" I don't know what I should say Lovegood, you're a mixture of craziness and sense!"
She merely nodded smiling again.
"Good luck Draco. Be back soon."
"I'll be waiting..." She added in her head as she watched him disappear with a small pop.
Vodly man- thankxie! I'm glad you liked. Yep Love Druna. I amended that small mistake. Thanks :D
Bumble Bee Kawaii- thank you so much for your review. I edited the previous chap with your suggestions. :)
AN: Alright it was ages since I read HP. So I dunno if students can apparate within the castle. Correct me if I'm wrong. And wasn't Draco a little OOC? Ahh but I think he can be sweet sometimes. At least while around with someone he loves, what say? ;)
Reviews will be most welcome.
And err I hope its not terrible. The update I mean. And thanks for reading! :)