Luna had been observing. It was a hobby of hers she put into practice most days. And today was a particularly interesting day. Valentines day. Already she had seen several gifts being exchanged and letters received. She had seen Ron turn the same colour as his hair as Hermione had commented on the ridiculous nature of the holiday. Just as Lavender chose to lavish her affections on the redhead. Yes, today was a particularly interesting day for people watching, apart from one thing. Her usual point of interest was not sitting brooding in his usual place, not that any of his friends had noticed. They were too busy stuffing their faces with breakfast. She decided to not let it bother her and, scooping up her bag, she went to feed the thestrals.
As she walked she saw the very person she had been 'not thinking about'. He was sat slouched against one of the trees, a pile of envelopes and fancy pink writing paper next to him, along with a multitude of generic valentines day gifts.
It was with a certain amount of nosiness that Luna conveniently walked right past the very tree Draco was resting against. She smiled her hello and tried to continue on her way. As a part of her had hoped, Draco called out to her, a look of disdain written across his face.
'I bet you love this holiday. Everyone's just as stupid and dreamy as you for once.'
Luna stopped, threw down her bag, knelt down next to him and picked up one of the discarded letters, scanning her eyes over it, a fake rose clutched in her other hand.
'You're very popular, are you going to reply to any of them?'
'They're just silly little girls with their pathetic muggle fairy tale fantasies. Why would I ever waste my time on them?'
'It's sweet that they care though. I bet they're in Gryffindor, you have to be brave to confess to someone.'
Draco snorted.
'Oh please, their 'love' is no more real than this.' He took the plastic rose out of Luna's hand, throwing it over his shoulder and using his wand, he set the remaining pile of letters alight.
'But surely, if you're willing to do something. It can't be completely meaningless. Actions speak louder than words.'
Draco turned to look at her in disbelief. 'You really believe that romantic crap?'
'I believe in a lot of things.' She was giggling blissfully at one of the letters she had salvaged from the burning pile. Draco tore it out of her hands and threw it back into the fire. As Luna looked up to complain, Draco met her eyes challengingly.
'And how many of those have turned out to be real?'
'You don't have to see something to believe it's real. That's what faith is.'
'So you believe that because some air-headed third year has sent me mindless gibberish on scented paper she is in love with me?'
And then Draco did something he hadn't done since he had come back to Hogwarts. He laughed. Not a proper, happy laugh. More a laugh of disbelief but it was a laugh all the same. He was smiling.
'I just mean that words can hide their meaning but actions always betray their true meaning.'
Luna met his eyes seriously as Draco shook his head.
'You're wrong. People can manipulative, cruel. Their actions can pretend to portray one thing so they can get another. It's simple enough to do.'
'I don't think that's tru-'
Luna didn't finish because Draco had pressed his lips to hers at such a speed she could only look shocked, her eyes wide open in surprise.
He didn't stay there for long before leaning back and fixing her with his hardest glare.
'See. It means nothing. Because...' He seemed to struggle to form his words and his hands were shaking. 'You mean nothing to me.'
Luna tried to stop him as he marched away. He escaped but not without Luna noticing the fear that still remained in his eyes.
She had been right, actions did speak louder than words.
Only in this case it had been re-actions that had screamed out their meaning.