FIC - Hopelandic (Draco/Luna)
Title: Hopelandic
Rating: Teen to Adult
Warnings: Harsh language, implied sex
Canon: Not epilogue compliant
Summary: Draco gets a little inebriated for his 30th birthday and stumbles into a relationship that will redefine him over the next year.
Author's Notes: Hopelandic is a made-up language (created by the band Sigur Ros) which the sound of the word is a meaning and a story to each individual.
part 1 part 2 part 3
*~*~*
Draco felt he got better at being a real boyfriend. After their last tiff, he tried to talk things out instead of getting all defensive. It did not always work, but sometimes it did. Sure he and Luna had bumps and bruises, but he tried. She seemed pleased when he did try. She never asked him to be other than he was either. She made allowances - just as he made allowances for some of her kookiness. He adored her kookiness. Luna said at times she found his deplorable behavior endearing. It was nice, she said, because she knew how wicked he could be, but he chose not to. She said she liked that about him.
They divided their time between his friends, hers and the Three Broomsticks. The MacDougals all treated him with a certain amount of respect since punching Brody, which Draco found odd, but he was not about to complain about it.
He had only seen his mother a few times since the night he and Luna had found her in his flat. Luna was hopeful that he could mend things with his parents, and Draco had tried to explain his parents to her, but her family was so different. Her father actually liked him. Well, Draco won by default there because Luna liked him. Her father liked what she liked. So long as she was happy, Xeno liked Draco.
Time had started passing quickly again because he was vastly contented.
He was sitting at a big table in the back yard of the Burrow, letting his mind drift as it tended to do when he was at these big gatherings with Potter present.
“Ron and I have an announcement,” Granger said, grinning wildly at her husband.
Draco frowned as he looked at the both of them. A thought suddenly occurred to him. “Oh, bloody hell. You’re spawning.”
Luna elbowed him.
“I mean pregnant.”
“How did you…”
She was drowned out with excited cries and words of congratulations. People were up and hugging and kissing cheeks. Draco just sat back and watched. He didn’t do babies or hugs. In fact, he could not stand children. He had not even liked them when he was one.
“Oh, Draco, isn’t this exciting,” Luna said and she took her chair again. “A baby.”
“Yes, a wailing at three AM poo producer,” he said in a dry tone. “I’m terribly excited. Can barely contain myself I’m so excited.”
Luna swatted his arm and gave him a playful scowl.
“I am happy it makes you happy,” he conceded. “Just don’t expect me to hold it when it comes. Babies are nasty.”
Everyone else had a look of distaste or horror at his remarks, except Luna and Arthur Weasley. She was grinning at him, and Mr. Weasley was chuckling softly.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Luna said with one of her dreamy secret smiles he adored.
________________________________________
“She smiled?”
Draco gave an exasperated sigh. “Yes, Blaise.”
“She’s pregnant.”
Draco choked on his tea, spraying across his newspaper and the table in his kitchen’s eating nook.
“What in the bloody hell makes you say that? Also, not possible. She’s on the potion, and we use charms.”
“You know the only true form of birth control is abstinence.”
“Shut your piehole. Luna is not pregnant.”
________________________________________
Draco had spent all night thinking about it.
It was not wholly impossible that Luna was pregnant, and the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself it might be true.
He snapped at Daisy no less than five times before the morning was over. He was supposed to meet Luna for lunch, and he was terribly nervous about it. He did not know what he would say to her. What if she was pregnant? Obviously she would be afraid to tell him with the comments he made and just his general demeanor. He could not be someone’s father. He could barely take care of himself, let alone another person.
But she had better not expect him not to be uninvolved. He would own up to his responsibilities. He’d take care of her and the baby. He’d make sure they never wanted for anything. He knew he was not the ideal choice, but he’d step up.
He hoped she didn’t think to hide it from him and do this on her own. Maybe he should marry her to prove that he was serious.
By the time she finally joined him, he worked himself into a right state.
“Hello, Draco,” Luna said as she finally joined him.
“Don’t think that you’re going to run off and have my baby by yourself. I’ll take care of you and him or her, and we’ll be a family. I know how I talk, but I’d marry you. I’d give the child a home.”
Luna blinked at him.
“I mean it. You’re not running off with my child. I know I’m not the ideal father, but I can learn. I want to learn. I can learn new stuff. Please don’t run off with the baby.”
The waiter had stopped at their table. He did an about-face and left.
“Draco, I’m not-“
“Running off with the baby? Oh, good.”
“Pregnant.”
“Oh.”
“So it’s going to be pretty impossible for me to run off with the baby.”
“Right then. Sorry about that.” he looked down, feeling his face flush.
Luna made a face at him. “Wherever did you get such an idea? We’re very careful. You’ve said before you’re not ready for that. Well, I’m certainly not. Leave you and take the baby, indeed. And they call me loony.”
“Who called you a loony?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re so funny, Draco.”
“I’m very glad I can amuse you,” he snapped.
“I didn’t mean funny ha ha. I meant funny queer.”
“I think all the time we spend in the bedroom should tell you that I am not a homosexual.”
Luna made a face at him. “I meant queer as in odd, but I understand you. You get all ranty and irritated, but I am not bothered. And sometimes you jump to conclusions. Or you say mean things. Your words don’t have the same meaning to me as they do to others, though. I hear the tone, see the way they are said. Each utterance has a story all its own that tells me everything I need to know about how you really feel about me, Draco.”
He blinked. What did you say to that?
“Thank you?”
Luna just started laughing and put her hand over his.
________________________________________
Someone just entered Draco’s apartment, and Draco assumed it was Blaise.
“Well, she’s not pregnant, so thank you for putting that idea into my head, you git. I looked like an idiot because I got all worked up over it and then basically told her she was not running off with my child.”
“There was the possibility of a child?”
Draco jumped and turned. “Mother.”
“You would have married this girl because you got her pregnant.”
“Actually, it would be that and because I happen to like her, and she thinks I speak a language only she understand, but yeah, I’d have taken responsibility.”
“Draco-“
“What can you possibly dislike? She comes from a pureblood family.”
“Her father-“
“Happens to like me despite everything.”
“They aren’t our kind, darling.”
“Oh. Because she’s poor. You know, holding out hope for myself and Astoria isn’t a good thing. Flint would skin me. She is very much his, and Daphs? A little gay. I have one too many appendages for her. So who does that leave? Pans? Having too much fun being a singleton and going through men like tissues. Luna doesn’t happen to care about money.”
“They all care about money, darling.”
“I think you’ve been in pureblood upper crust society too long. Some people don’t care about money at all. I know this is a foreign concept to you.”
“Draco…”
“I like her. I wish you would try to. She makes me happy, and I’ve spent most of my life pretty unhappy. I’d like to try happy now.”
His mother looked sad.
“Look, don’t be upset.”
“How can I not be upset, Draco? You’ve just told me I make you miserable.”
What? How in the hell did she make that radical leap? Now he was beginning to understand where his ability to jump to conclusions, usually the wrong one, came from.
“Never once did I say you made me unhappy.”
“You implied it.”
Draco threw his hands up in surrender. “You don’t make me unhappy, Mother. Bloody hell.”
“Watch your mouth with me.”
Draco sighed. Loudly.
“Well, since I am so very vexing, perhaps I should go.”
She stormed out of his flat before he could say anything. Draco threw himself face-first onto his couch and screamed into the cushions.
________________________________________
Draco glared at Blaise’s wife as she laughed wholeheartedly.
“You’re about to be a widower, Blaise.”
“Touch her and die, ferret.”
Draco ground his teeth together.
“Oh, Draco, you’re so amusing," Hannah said, chuckling. "You got yourself so worked up over one of Blaise’s stupid ideas-“
“Hey!” Blaise said. “Sitting right here, you realize.”
“That you,” Hannah paused to laugh some more. “Were going to argue with Luna about her running off with your imaginary baby because in your mind she would do so because you think she thinks you’d make a bad father. Oh, it’s too comical.”
“Happy to amuse,” Draco said dryly.
“Oh, don’t be cross, Draco. I think it’s very sweet that you did that, that you’d consider committing because it would be the proper thing to do.”
“But that’s not all,” he said. “The idea of basically hanging about with her for the next hundred years doesn’t bother me. I can’t recall anyone I’ve been like that with. Sure we fight, mainly because I’m an idiot, but we also make up. We have fun. She doesn’t treat me like I’m a plague because I was epically stupid when I was a teenager.”
“So you want to marry her?” Blaise asked.
“Well, I don’t actually want to marry anyone, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. You know? What am I saying? You guys know. You know firsthand.”
Hannah gave Blaise a hooded look and started giggling. Yeah, they knew.
________________________________________
Draco was attempting to have lunch at the bar in the Leaky when someone sat down right next to him. He hated that. There were at least a dozen empty stools and this pillock had to sit in the one right next to him. Draco looked at the guy and groaned. Of course. Potter. Of course he had to be a pillock. The world wouldn’t spin properly on its axis if Harry Potter wasn’t acting like the giant wanking arsehat Draco knew him to be.
“You know, I overheard Luna telling Ginny how you thought she was pregnant and you were all set to marry her to keep her from running off with your baby.”
Draco dropped his spoon into his almost empty bowl of stew.
“I am not having this conversation with you of all people, Potter.”
“What?”
Draco turned to face him. “I don’t like you. You get on my sodding nerves. You don’t like me either, so just go on. I am not discussing Luna with you. Not today, not ever. Yeah, real funny. Go on. Make fun of me for overreacting. Go on then.”
“I was going to say that the fact that you were going to step up surprised me.”
“Yes, well, I was mistaken about things.” Draco picked up his spoon again.
“But you were really going to marry her?
The spoon clattered loudly in the bowl again. “Yes. Yes, I was going to marry her. Why is that so hard to believe? You don’t think I know how special she is? How I’ve changed just for knowing her?”
Potter looked surprised.
Draco took the opportunity to throw some money on the bar for his lunch, grab his jacket and get out of the Leaky before the conversation started up again. He knew he’d messed up, but he was not soulless. He would not leave a child of his or the child’s mother to fend for themselves. What a monster Luna’s friends much think him to be. They probably thought it a pity she would not leave him.
Well, they could piss off. He was sticking around as long as she’d have him, and sod anyone who got in his way.
________________________________________
“Your mother spoke to mine.”
“Hmm?” Draco replied, looking at Astoria.
His mind was utterly somewhere else.
“What on earth are you thinking about? Nevermind. I know. Lovegood. You have a disgustingly dreamy look on your face. It has to be about her.”
“Sod off.”
“As I was saying,” Astoria continued. “Narcissa spoke to Mother. They’re very upset. They can’t understand why you think Daphne is gay.”
Draco snorted.
“I know. What my mother doesn’t know is a lot. She lives in her own little world. She’s still holding on to the fantasy that I’ll marry you and Blaise will have Daphne. Nevermind that Blaise has been married for five years now.”
Draco started laughing. “Nevermind the fact that Flint would rip off my arms and bludgeon me to death with them.”
Now Astoria laughed. “Oh, he would not.”
“What Marcus Flint are you seeing? He so would. And with great relish, I might add.”
Astoria laughed again as if she knew something Draco did not. She probably did, but he didn’t want to know. Not about Marcus Flint.
________________________________________
“I was thinking we should have a party for your birthday.”
Draco choked on his bite of sandwich. He’d met Luna for lunch at this little café in Diagon that she liked. Things had been going smoothly for months. He might have known a disruption was on the horizon.
“What?” he rasped. “No. I don’t need to. I never celebrate my birthday anymore. Not since I was sixteen.”
“Then we should. We can invite all your friends. Have it at Three Broomsticks. You know, where the real Draco and the real Luna first met.”
Draco considered.
“Oooo, I know that face. This is the face of thinking about it. I like that. Keep making that face.”
“You seem like you really want this," Draco said.
“I want it for you. I think it would be nice to celebrate your life for once. You do so little of that, and I think there are things within it worth celebrating.”
“Well, you’re worth celebrating.”
She gave him a playful glare.
“Fine. If you like," he conceded. "You’re certain Brody MacDougal will allow me in there again?”
“I’ll tell him you promise to behave.”
“You should make no such promises.”
________________________________________
“Hannah told me that Ginny was going to make Potter come to your birthday, but then Luna told her not to because it might ruin the night for you.”
Draco looked at Blaise. “Huh?”
“This big birthday party your girlfriend is throwing for you? She personally came by the manor and invited Hannah and myself.”
“Oh, hell.”
“I know you no longer like to celebrate, but I think this might be all right. There will be plenty of firewhisky. That should help.”
“Why do I get the feelings she has invited half the wizarding world?”
“I think it’s nice that someone who is not your mother is doting on you, and in a healthy way. Narcissa always catered to your worst traits, you know.”
“And your mother did not do the same?”
“We aren’t talking about my mother,” Blaise said, a wry smile on his face.
“No, that’s a whole other conversation. Well, I don’t want any presents.”
“Too late. Already bought.”
“What?”
“Hannah’s had your gift practically since the day after we got the invite, Princess. My wife wastes no time. She has never had the urge to experience the joys of procrastination.”
“I still think it amazing that she puts up with you.”
“So do I.” Blaise made a face. “And with you always shouting at her and jumping to conclusions and generally acting like a maniac, I’m equally surprised Luna tolerates you.”
“Well, I’m pretty.”
Blaise snorted. “I’m prettier than you are, and something tells me Lovegood’s beholder eye doesn’t see like other people’s do.”
“True.”
“Are you excited?”
Draco met Luna’s eyes in the mirror. Tonight was his birthday. One year ago today, she had asked to sit at his table in the Three Broomsticks since everywhere else was full up. So much had happened since then, so much had changed. He was a little nervous about a party, but Luna had assured him it would be fine. The last party had been the summer before his sixth year. That was when everything had gone to crap in his life.
Maybe he had things to celebrate again.
“You aren’t ready yet,” Luna said. “I got ready more quickly than you, and I’m female.”
“It’s my birthday. Don’t rush me, woman.”
“Well, we have to go soon or we’ll be late. I want to be on time for the girl that jumps out of the cake.”
Draco blinked and turned to face her suddenly.
Luna started laughing. “Just kidding. About the girl, not the cake. There will be cake. Unless the Three Broomsticks happened to develop a nargles infestation and it’s been stolen.”
“Bloody nargles best not have stolen my cake, the bastards.”
Draco did not believe in nargles, but she did. It was a quirk of hers he had first found annoying, but now played along with. The funny part of it was that he was fairly certain she knew he was only playing along with her. Draco got the feeling she appreciated that more than if he actually believed in nargles.
He’d at least gotten her to agree to apparate to Hogsmeade instead of flooing. Draco would never understand her fascination with that. He finished in the mirror and they exited the flat, immediately apparating once they walked to the secluded side street. Draco and Luna walked into the pub with her arm still linked through his. Draco smiled when he saw his friends there.
Hannah waved excitedly at him while Blaise just smirked and saluted Draco with the glass in his hand. Pans and Greg had showed as well as Tori, and someone must have blackmailed Marcus to be there. Flint didn’t look especially thrilled either, but he could get over it. Tracey Davis was also looking especially pinched, but Pansy had probably threatened her if she did not come. Of course Daphne was already at the bar and drinking. He hoped she didn’t get plastered and start hitting on Hannah like at the last gathering. Draco thought Blaise was going to hex her face off for that. He also hoped Greg didn’t start a fight, and Pansy did not start hexing people.
Mainly because he noticed that some of Luna’s friends were there. Scarhead and the Weasley gorilla were notably absent, but that was fine by Draco. He also spotted Daisy and a few other people he did not absolutely hate from his office. The only person he was unsure of was Longbottom, who was eyeing the Slytherins in the room with unease.
“Drinkin’ and dancin’ or cake first,” Mac said as she leaned over to Luna.
“Oooo, I think dancing. Cake then robust dancing might equal vomit.” She looked at Draco. “But it’s your birthday.”
“I think dancing first. Once everyone eats the cake, I’d really rather not see it again if it’s all the same to you.”
Luna giggled.
Mac started playing a lively tune on her violin. Several MacDougals started clapping and a few even join with instruments of their own. Mainly some sort of drum that resembled a bongo, but Draco did not think it a bongo, and some sort of wooden flute.
Draco immediately grabbing Luna and set a bracing pace for the area cleared for dancing.
________________________________________
He was limiting himself on firewhisky this time. He wanted to recall the ending of this birthday. The pub had not closed for the night, so a great many townspeople were in there. Some had joined the festivities. Draco did not think they realized it was for him. Either that or they were too drunk to care. His parents would definitely call this low class, but he was having fun.
Pansy had been wrinkling her nose in distaste until one of the MacDougals got her good and soused. Now she was laughing and dancing and about as free-spirited as Draco had ever seen her. Astoria had never left her feet once she started dancing. Draco had always joked with her that she was half Gypsy in the way she moved. Flint was not dancing, but he was very carefully observing every partner Astoria had, including Draco.
Currently Pansy was telling some story to Longbottom. She kept laughing and touching the man’s chest. Longbottom looked like a bunny caught in a trap. Draco could tell he wanted to run, but he was too polite to insult Pansy in that way. It was a bit humorous.
Hannah had tried to match shots with Greg, and was now unable to exhibit proper motor function. Draco did not envy Blaise having to get her home tonight. This was only the second time Draco had seen her intoxicated.
It was when the cake was wheeled out that Draco adopted a pinched look.
It was custom made - in the shape of a giant white ferret.
Blaise laughed so hard he could no longer stand upright. Everyone was snickering. Draco glared at Luna. The Draco from a year ago would have started hexing people, but he knew she had not done it to be mean. Luna was not mean. She’d likely meant it to be fun and funny, so Draco felt it best he see the humor in it, and spare her feelings - and everyone else the hexing they so richly deserved for laughing at him.
“It gets better,” Luna said excitedly as she handed him a knife.
Draco’s brows furrowed. Dear gods, there was more. He took a deep breath and cut into the cake.
It was red velvet.
Draco grinned. It would look like they were slicing into an animal.
“I thought that would amuse you.”
“You’re terribly clever,” Draco replied, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I’m quite over being annoyed about all of this. Perhaps I can celebrate my birthday after all. Thank you, Luna.”
“Did Draco just thank someone?” Pansy asked. “I think someone spiked my drink with a hallucinogenic potion because that can’t be true.”
“Oh, sod off, you lush.”
“Don’t make me hex you.”
“Don’t worry,” Greg said in quiet tones. “I took her wand earlier when she started slurring her words. She did not even notice, so she won’t be hexing anyone, or herself accidentally like last time, tonight.”
“Appreciated.”
“Not a problem.”
The celebration carried on well into the night, well past when Three Broomsticks usually closed. Greg had taken Pansy home. Marcus got the unhappy task of helping Daphne. He had refused at first until Astoria had glared him into it. Blaise had taken Hannah home as well.
The end of the celebration was spent passing a bottle of Ogden’s old around the table. Draco was honestly surprised Longbottom had stayed. He was also surprised by how much the Gryffindork could drink. Even all the MacDougals save Brody and Mac had retired for the night. Rounding out the table was Daisy, who was also shocking Draco. He was friendly with her, for him, but she was so much more interesting outside of the Ministry with a few drinks in her.
Brody had already insisted everyone still at the table take a room for the night instead of trying to apparated home. He didn’t want any splinching.
When the bottle was empty, everyone retired for the night.
________________________________________
Draco groaned and sat up. It was like déjà vu. He was thinking they were even in the same room. He had a headache from the drinking and Luna was sprawled out next to him wearing only her hair and the bed sheet. She was on her stomach, so he had a nice view of the tattoo on her back. He propped himself on his side and started tracing the wings.
It occurred to him that he was a completely different person for this birthday than he had been last year.
Part of him worried that he had lost his edge, but another part suspected he had just finally grown up. It had only taken him thirty years and the right woman to do so. He’d always thought he’d hate feeling settled, but he didn’t really feel settled. He felt understood. It was like she had said; he spoke a different language to her. She translated him differently than other people. She understood the varied meanings to his words and applied them in a way they were meant to be applied in his heart of hearts.
There was also the fact that she believed he had a heart.
“Mmm,” she groaned. “What time is it?”
“Not really sure. Don’t care.”
He’d taken a personal day so that they could do as they had done last year - shop in Hogsmeade.
“Oh, balls. You know what I forgot last night?” she asked and she clutched the sheet to her chest and rolled to face him.
“Last night was near perfect. I don’t think you forgot anything.”
“I forgot the spankings,” Luna said mischievously - right before she gave a very silly cry and attacked him.
Draco started laughing and shouting. She was not just trying to spank him. Luna was tickling as well. He was terribly ticklish. He grabbed a handful of her hair and jerk. She shouted loudly then started laughing. Draco rolled them and pinned her to the bed as best he could. Luna got one of her legs loose and started trying to tickle him with her toes. It was very silly, and he should be annoyed.
He stopped for a minute and took stock, though. He had a naked woman climbing all over him and trying to spank him while ticking his sides.
He’d had birthdays that were far worse.
Draco leaned down and started kissing her. She gave a little sigh into his mouth that told him she was far more interested in snogging than tickling or spanking now.
Someone banged on the door and Draco groaned. This had just been about to get good.
“What?” Draco snapped.
“Brekkie from the bakery in town downstairs ‘less yer busy,” Mac called through the door.
“Sounds fine,” he said to Luna. “I forgot we weren’t wholly alone earlier. Best we press on with our day, yeah?”
She giggled.
“What?”
“We could stop at my cottage after brekkie for an hour or two and then press on with the day.”
Draco smirked at her. “Have I mentioned that I do happen to like the way you think?”
“Did you know complimenting a Ravenclaw’s thought process is a sure way to get a good reaction?”
“I’d heard such a thing, yes.”
“Because Blaise dated Ravenclaws in school?”
“Lots of them,” Draco replied.
“He dated lots of everyone.”
Draco laughed loudly as he rolled off of her and out of the bed in one swift movement. He grabbed his trousers from the chair and grinned at how her clothes were strewn all over the room. They had been dropped where they were removed. She was very untidy about certain things, but she had her reasons. Other things she was very organized about. Her knickers could be hanging off the arm of a chair and that was fine, but Merlin help them if Newt Scamander was filed before Miranda Goshawk on her bookshelves.
“Did you have a good time last night?”
He looked at her, catching a glimpse of her backside right before the long sundress she slipped over her head covered it up.
“I did, actually. Thank you again.”
“You better stop thanking me. People will suspect I’ve got you under the Imperius or a love potion or something.”
“Oh, my gods,” he said with faked dramatics. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t hex everyone about the ferret cake.”
Luna snorted.
“First off, I am resistant to the Imperius Curse. Second, you would never do that to anyone. Not in your nature. And C, I take a potion once a week that makes me resistant to all love potions.”
Draco was glad Luna decided not to bring to his attention that his points had switched from numerical to alphabetical mid-speech. He was perfectly aware. Sure, not while he was saying it, but shortly after his words caught up with his brain. Draco did stuff like that when he was annoyed. He knew Luna found it amusing - which only annoyed him more.
“What is this?” she asked. “Two lies and one truth?”
“Which is the lie?”
“You taking the potion, of course,” she replied with a grin. “There’s no such thing.”
“How do you know?”
Luna gave him a look of exasperation. He loved that he could do that to her when most other people only saw her dreamy doe-eyed look.
“Now I do suppose we should head down for brekkie before they think we’re rattling the bureau drawers loose with our wild sexcapades.”
Draco’s brows shot into his hairline. Sometimes she said stuff, and he was just amazed. He would not have suspected she spoke that way, but upon knowing her better, he realized she did not say such things to be shocking like he did at times. She said the things she did because she was matter-of-fact. There was quite a refreshing bluntness to her.
“Why does the sex have to be wild?” Draco asked as he slipped his shoes on. “Maybe we have nice sex. They don’t know. Unless you told them. You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“First off,” she began, mimicking him from earlier. “You could not have nice vanilla sex if you tried, Draco. It’s not in you. And second, it’s most certainly not within me either.”
“Well, if we hurry and go eat, it can be in you.”
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. He also dodged the pillow she tried to smack him with. Draco grabbed her around the waist and tackled her to the bed. They hit a bit hard, he supposed. So hard, if fact, that the frame cracked. Luna shouted when the bed bowed in the middle and hit the floor hard. They looked at one another in alarm before both busted into helpless laughter.
Everyone was staring when they finally came down the stairs. Longbottom and Daisy were sitting at a table with Mac having what looked like the full.
Draco set a bank note on the bar near Brody. “That’s for the damages.”
“Damages?”
“The bed’s a bit… broken.”
“Ahhh,” Longbottom said, covering his ears. “My brain needs a cleansing charm now.”
“Your brain needs a great deal more than just a cleansing charm,” Draco remarked.
Luna elbowed him.
“Right then,” Draco said as he moved over and grabbed two strips of bacon and a piece of toast from Daisy’s plate.
He had most of the bacon eaten before she could even get her “oi” out. Then he licked the toast before offering it back to her. She glared and shook her head 'no', so Draco started eating it happily.
“That was rude,” Longbottom said.
“And?” Draco replied, glaring.
Just because he smiled more often did not mean he wasn’t still Draco Malfoy. Rude just so happened to be one of his best qualities.
Luna giggled and stole some toast off of Longbottom’s plate.
“And now you’re a bad influence on sweet Luna.”
“Luna’s not as sweet as you think,” Draco said seriously. “She likes to hit people. Oh, yeah, she tried to give me belated birthday spankings just this morning.”
Longbottom shouted and covered his ears again. Draco shook his head. Like you could un-hear something. So ridiculous.
Luna pulled him out of the door before he could make any more remarks.
She was walking them down the street with their clasped hands swinging between them. If it had been anyone else, Draco would have vomited, but something about her made him tolerate and even like it.
“Where shall we go first?”
“Um, hello,” Draco said, making a face. “To your cottage so that I might shag you properly in peace.”
An elderly woman passing them gasped at Draco’s loudly-given answer. She hurried past them and Luna giggled. She then started a leisurely pace through the town. Her cottage was on the far end, past the run off to go to Madam Puddifoot’s. Draco did not mind the walking. He was sort of a fan of anticipation.
They even stopped and window shopped a little, discussing things and making little noises that only they understood. It was ironic to Draco that the woman who seemed to get him and his nature was one that everyone else had thought a little crazy. She was not crazy, though. He knew this now; he had discovered it by knowing her better. She saw the world through eyes that were wide because they took in as much as possible.
He’d been sitting alone a year ago, and she’d seen him when not even his friends and family could find him hidden in the shell he had been starting to become. The bitterness was like a slow poison working through him over the years. In the back of his mind, Draco had felt like he’d had few choices that were his own, and it had made his life become a waste.
He now saw that it was not. It was just not exactly normal, and that was okay. He was just as odd, just as loony as she was, but in different ways. It made them work. They complimented one another. She made him better, and he made her more able to be free. He was not good. He’d never be good, but that was not so tragic.
Now he could deal because hope had landed on him rather unexpectedly.
*~*~*
finis
Rating: Teen to Adult
Warnings: Harsh language, implied sex
Canon: Not epilogue compliant
Summary: Draco gets a little inebriated for his 30th birthday and stumbles into a relationship that will redefine him over the next year.
Author's Notes: Hopelandic is a made-up language (created by the band Sigur Ros) which the sound of the word is a meaning and a story to each individual.
part 1 part 2 part 3
*~*~*
Draco felt he got better at being a real boyfriend. After their last tiff, he tried to talk things out instead of getting all defensive. It did not always work, but sometimes it did. Sure he and Luna had bumps and bruises, but he tried. She seemed pleased when he did try. She never asked him to be other than he was either. She made allowances - just as he made allowances for some of her kookiness. He adored her kookiness. Luna said at times she found his deplorable behavior endearing. It was nice, she said, because she knew how wicked he could be, but he chose not to. She said she liked that about him.
They divided their time between his friends, hers and the Three Broomsticks. The MacDougals all treated him with a certain amount of respect since punching Brody, which Draco found odd, but he was not about to complain about it.
He had only seen his mother a few times since the night he and Luna had found her in his flat. Luna was hopeful that he could mend things with his parents, and Draco had tried to explain his parents to her, but her family was so different. Her father actually liked him. Well, Draco won by default there because Luna liked him. Her father liked what she liked. So long as she was happy, Xeno liked Draco.
Time had started passing quickly again because he was vastly contented.
He was sitting at a big table in the back yard of the Burrow, letting his mind drift as it tended to do when he was at these big gatherings with Potter present.
“Ron and I have an announcement,” Granger said, grinning wildly at her husband.
Draco frowned as he looked at the both of them. A thought suddenly occurred to him. “Oh, bloody hell. You’re spawning.”
Luna elbowed him.
“I mean pregnant.”
“How did you…”
She was drowned out with excited cries and words of congratulations. People were up and hugging and kissing cheeks. Draco just sat back and watched. He didn’t do babies or hugs. In fact, he could not stand children. He had not even liked them when he was one.
“Oh, Draco, isn’t this exciting,” Luna said and she took her chair again. “A baby.”
“Yes, a wailing at three AM poo producer,” he said in a dry tone. “I’m terribly excited. Can barely contain myself I’m so excited.”
Luna swatted his arm and gave him a playful scowl.
“I am happy it makes you happy,” he conceded. “Just don’t expect me to hold it when it comes. Babies are nasty.”
Everyone else had a look of distaste or horror at his remarks, except Luna and Arthur Weasley. She was grinning at him, and Mr. Weasley was chuckling softly.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Luna said with one of her dreamy secret smiles he adored.
________________________________________
“She smiled?”
Draco gave an exasperated sigh. “Yes, Blaise.”
“She’s pregnant.”
Draco choked on his tea, spraying across his newspaper and the table in his kitchen’s eating nook.
“What in the bloody hell makes you say that? Also, not possible. She’s on the potion, and we use charms.”
“You know the only true form of birth control is abstinence.”
“Shut your piehole. Luna is not pregnant.”
________________________________________
Draco had spent all night thinking about it.
It was not wholly impossible that Luna was pregnant, and the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself it might be true.
He snapped at Daisy no less than five times before the morning was over. He was supposed to meet Luna for lunch, and he was terribly nervous about it. He did not know what he would say to her. What if she was pregnant? Obviously she would be afraid to tell him with the comments he made and just his general demeanor. He could not be someone’s father. He could barely take care of himself, let alone another person.
But she had better not expect him not to be uninvolved. He would own up to his responsibilities. He’d take care of her and the baby. He’d make sure they never wanted for anything. He knew he was not the ideal choice, but he’d step up.
He hoped she didn’t think to hide it from him and do this on her own. Maybe he should marry her to prove that he was serious.
By the time she finally joined him, he worked himself into a right state.
“Hello, Draco,” Luna said as she finally joined him.
“Don’t think that you’re going to run off and have my baby by yourself. I’ll take care of you and him or her, and we’ll be a family. I know how I talk, but I’d marry you. I’d give the child a home.”
Luna blinked at him.
“I mean it. You’re not running off with my child. I know I’m not the ideal father, but I can learn. I want to learn. I can learn new stuff. Please don’t run off with the baby.”
The waiter had stopped at their table. He did an about-face and left.
“Draco, I’m not-“
“Running off with the baby? Oh, good.”
“Pregnant.”
“Oh.”
“So it’s going to be pretty impossible for me to run off with the baby.”
“Right then. Sorry about that.” he looked down, feeling his face flush.
Luna made a face at him. “Wherever did you get such an idea? We’re very careful. You’ve said before you’re not ready for that. Well, I’m certainly not. Leave you and take the baby, indeed. And they call me loony.”
“Who called you a loony?”
“Don’t change the subject. You’re so funny, Draco.”
“I’m very glad I can amuse you,” he snapped.
“I didn’t mean funny ha ha. I meant funny queer.”
“I think all the time we spend in the bedroom should tell you that I am not a homosexual.”
Luna made a face at him. “I meant queer as in odd, but I understand you. You get all ranty and irritated, but I am not bothered. And sometimes you jump to conclusions. Or you say mean things. Your words don’t have the same meaning to me as they do to others, though. I hear the tone, see the way they are said. Each utterance has a story all its own that tells me everything I need to know about how you really feel about me, Draco.”
He blinked. What did you say to that?
“Thank you?”
Luna just started laughing and put her hand over his.
________________________________________
Someone just entered Draco’s apartment, and Draco assumed it was Blaise.
“Well, she’s not pregnant, so thank you for putting that idea into my head, you git. I looked like an idiot because I got all worked up over it and then basically told her she was not running off with my child.”
“There was the possibility of a child?”
Draco jumped and turned. “Mother.”
“You would have married this girl because you got her pregnant.”
“Actually, it would be that and because I happen to like her, and she thinks I speak a language only she understand, but yeah, I’d have taken responsibility.”
“Draco-“
“What can you possibly dislike? She comes from a pureblood family.”
“Her father-“
“Happens to like me despite everything.”
“They aren’t our kind, darling.”
“Oh. Because she’s poor. You know, holding out hope for myself and Astoria isn’t a good thing. Flint would skin me. She is very much his, and Daphs? A little gay. I have one too many appendages for her. So who does that leave? Pans? Having too much fun being a singleton and going through men like tissues. Luna doesn’t happen to care about money.”
“They all care about money, darling.”
“I think you’ve been in pureblood upper crust society too long. Some people don’t care about money at all. I know this is a foreign concept to you.”
“Draco…”
“I like her. I wish you would try to. She makes me happy, and I’ve spent most of my life pretty unhappy. I’d like to try happy now.”
His mother looked sad.
“Look, don’t be upset.”
“How can I not be upset, Draco? You’ve just told me I make you miserable.”
What? How in the hell did she make that radical leap? Now he was beginning to understand where his ability to jump to conclusions, usually the wrong one, came from.
“Never once did I say you made me unhappy.”
“You implied it.”
Draco threw his hands up in surrender. “You don’t make me unhappy, Mother. Bloody hell.”
“Watch your mouth with me.”
Draco sighed. Loudly.
“Well, since I am so very vexing, perhaps I should go.”
She stormed out of his flat before he could say anything. Draco threw himself face-first onto his couch and screamed into the cushions.
________________________________________
Draco glared at Blaise’s wife as she laughed wholeheartedly.
“You’re about to be a widower, Blaise.”
“Touch her and die, ferret.”
Draco ground his teeth together.
“Oh, Draco, you’re so amusing," Hannah said, chuckling. "You got yourself so worked up over one of Blaise’s stupid ideas-“
“Hey!” Blaise said. “Sitting right here, you realize.”
“That you,” Hannah paused to laugh some more. “Were going to argue with Luna about her running off with your imaginary baby because in your mind she would do so because you think she thinks you’d make a bad father. Oh, it’s too comical.”
“Happy to amuse,” Draco said dryly.
“Oh, don’t be cross, Draco. I think it’s very sweet that you did that, that you’d consider committing because it would be the proper thing to do.”
“But that’s not all,” he said. “The idea of basically hanging about with her for the next hundred years doesn’t bother me. I can’t recall anyone I’ve been like that with. Sure we fight, mainly because I’m an idiot, but we also make up. We have fun. She doesn’t treat me like I’m a plague because I was epically stupid when I was a teenager.”
“So you want to marry her?” Blaise asked.
“Well, I don’t actually want to marry anyone, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. You know? What am I saying? You guys know. You know firsthand.”
Hannah gave Blaise a hooded look and started giggling. Yeah, they knew.
________________________________________
Draco was attempting to have lunch at the bar in the Leaky when someone sat down right next to him. He hated that. There were at least a dozen empty stools and this pillock had to sit in the one right next to him. Draco looked at the guy and groaned. Of course. Potter. Of course he had to be a pillock. The world wouldn’t spin properly on its axis if Harry Potter wasn’t acting like the giant wanking arsehat Draco knew him to be.
“You know, I overheard Luna telling Ginny how you thought she was pregnant and you were all set to marry her to keep her from running off with your baby.”
Draco dropped his spoon into his almost empty bowl of stew.
“I am not having this conversation with you of all people, Potter.”
“What?”
Draco turned to face him. “I don’t like you. You get on my sodding nerves. You don’t like me either, so just go on. I am not discussing Luna with you. Not today, not ever. Yeah, real funny. Go on. Make fun of me for overreacting. Go on then.”
“I was going to say that the fact that you were going to step up surprised me.”
“Yes, well, I was mistaken about things.” Draco picked up his spoon again.
“But you were really going to marry her?
The spoon clattered loudly in the bowl again. “Yes. Yes, I was going to marry her. Why is that so hard to believe? You don’t think I know how special she is? How I’ve changed just for knowing her?”
Potter looked surprised.
Draco took the opportunity to throw some money on the bar for his lunch, grab his jacket and get out of the Leaky before the conversation started up again. He knew he’d messed up, but he was not soulless. He would not leave a child of his or the child’s mother to fend for themselves. What a monster Luna’s friends much think him to be. They probably thought it a pity she would not leave him.
Well, they could piss off. He was sticking around as long as she’d have him, and sod anyone who got in his way.
________________________________________
“Your mother spoke to mine.”
“Hmm?” Draco replied, looking at Astoria.
His mind was utterly somewhere else.
“What on earth are you thinking about? Nevermind. I know. Lovegood. You have a disgustingly dreamy look on your face. It has to be about her.”
“Sod off.”
“As I was saying,” Astoria continued. “Narcissa spoke to Mother. They’re very upset. They can’t understand why you think Daphne is gay.”
Draco snorted.
“I know. What my mother doesn’t know is a lot. She lives in her own little world. She’s still holding on to the fantasy that I’ll marry you and Blaise will have Daphne. Nevermind that Blaise has been married for five years now.”
Draco started laughing. “Nevermind the fact that Flint would rip off my arms and bludgeon me to death with them.”
Now Astoria laughed. “Oh, he would not.”
“What Marcus Flint are you seeing? He so would. And with great relish, I might add.”
Astoria laughed again as if she knew something Draco did not. She probably did, but he didn’t want to know. Not about Marcus Flint.
________________________________________
“I was thinking we should have a party for your birthday.”
Draco choked on his bite of sandwich. He’d met Luna for lunch at this little café in Diagon that she liked. Things had been going smoothly for months. He might have known a disruption was on the horizon.
“What?” he rasped. “No. I don’t need to. I never celebrate my birthday anymore. Not since I was sixteen.”
“Then we should. We can invite all your friends. Have it at Three Broomsticks. You know, where the real Draco and the real Luna first met.”
Draco considered.
“Oooo, I know that face. This is the face of thinking about it. I like that. Keep making that face.”
“You seem like you really want this," Draco said.
“I want it for you. I think it would be nice to celebrate your life for once. You do so little of that, and I think there are things within it worth celebrating.”
“Well, you’re worth celebrating.”
She gave him a playful glare.
“Fine. If you like," he conceded. "You’re certain Brody MacDougal will allow me in there again?”
“I’ll tell him you promise to behave.”
“You should make no such promises.”
________________________________________
“Hannah told me that Ginny was going to make Potter come to your birthday, but then Luna told her not to because it might ruin the night for you.”
Draco looked at Blaise. “Huh?”
“This big birthday party your girlfriend is throwing for you? She personally came by the manor and invited Hannah and myself.”
“Oh, hell.”
“I know you no longer like to celebrate, but I think this might be all right. There will be plenty of firewhisky. That should help.”
“Why do I get the feelings she has invited half the wizarding world?”
“I think it’s nice that someone who is not your mother is doting on you, and in a healthy way. Narcissa always catered to your worst traits, you know.”
“And your mother did not do the same?”
“We aren’t talking about my mother,” Blaise said, a wry smile on his face.
“No, that’s a whole other conversation. Well, I don’t want any presents.”
“Too late. Already bought.”
“What?”
“Hannah’s had your gift practically since the day after we got the invite, Princess. My wife wastes no time. She has never had the urge to experience the joys of procrastination.”
“I still think it amazing that she puts up with you.”
“So do I.” Blaise made a face. “And with you always shouting at her and jumping to conclusions and generally acting like a maniac, I’m equally surprised Luna tolerates you.”
“Well, I’m pretty.”
Blaise snorted. “I’m prettier than you are, and something tells me Lovegood’s beholder eye doesn’t see like other people’s do.”
“True.”
“Are you excited?”
Draco met Luna’s eyes in the mirror. Tonight was his birthday. One year ago today, she had asked to sit at his table in the Three Broomsticks since everywhere else was full up. So much had happened since then, so much had changed. He was a little nervous about a party, but Luna had assured him it would be fine. The last party had been the summer before his sixth year. That was when everything had gone to crap in his life.
Maybe he had things to celebrate again.
“You aren’t ready yet,” Luna said. “I got ready more quickly than you, and I’m female.”
“It’s my birthday. Don’t rush me, woman.”
“Well, we have to go soon or we’ll be late. I want to be on time for the girl that jumps out of the cake.”
Draco blinked and turned to face her suddenly.
Luna started laughing. “Just kidding. About the girl, not the cake. There will be cake. Unless the Three Broomsticks happened to develop a nargles infestation and it’s been stolen.”
“Bloody nargles best not have stolen my cake, the bastards.”
Draco did not believe in nargles, but she did. It was a quirk of hers he had first found annoying, but now played along with. The funny part of it was that he was fairly certain she knew he was only playing along with her. Draco got the feeling she appreciated that more than if he actually believed in nargles.
He’d at least gotten her to agree to apparate to Hogsmeade instead of flooing. Draco would never understand her fascination with that. He finished in the mirror and they exited the flat, immediately apparating once they walked to the secluded side street. Draco and Luna walked into the pub with her arm still linked through his. Draco smiled when he saw his friends there.
Hannah waved excitedly at him while Blaise just smirked and saluted Draco with the glass in his hand. Pans and Greg had showed as well as Tori, and someone must have blackmailed Marcus to be there. Flint didn’t look especially thrilled either, but he could get over it. Tracey Davis was also looking especially pinched, but Pansy had probably threatened her if she did not come. Of course Daphne was already at the bar and drinking. He hoped she didn’t get plastered and start hitting on Hannah like at the last gathering. Draco thought Blaise was going to hex her face off for that. He also hoped Greg didn’t start a fight, and Pansy did not start hexing people.
Mainly because he noticed that some of Luna’s friends were there. Scarhead and the Weasley gorilla were notably absent, but that was fine by Draco. He also spotted Daisy and a few other people he did not absolutely hate from his office. The only person he was unsure of was Longbottom, who was eyeing the Slytherins in the room with unease.
“Drinkin’ and dancin’ or cake first,” Mac said as she leaned over to Luna.
“Oooo, I think dancing. Cake then robust dancing might equal vomit.” She looked at Draco. “But it’s your birthday.”
“I think dancing first. Once everyone eats the cake, I’d really rather not see it again if it’s all the same to you.”
Luna giggled.
Mac started playing a lively tune on her violin. Several MacDougals started clapping and a few even join with instruments of their own. Mainly some sort of drum that resembled a bongo, but Draco did not think it a bongo, and some sort of wooden flute.
Draco immediately grabbing Luna and set a bracing pace for the area cleared for dancing.
________________________________________
He was limiting himself on firewhisky this time. He wanted to recall the ending of this birthday. The pub had not closed for the night, so a great many townspeople were in there. Some had joined the festivities. Draco did not think they realized it was for him. Either that or they were too drunk to care. His parents would definitely call this low class, but he was having fun.
Pansy had been wrinkling her nose in distaste until one of the MacDougals got her good and soused. Now she was laughing and dancing and about as free-spirited as Draco had ever seen her. Astoria had never left her feet once she started dancing. Draco had always joked with her that she was half Gypsy in the way she moved. Flint was not dancing, but he was very carefully observing every partner Astoria had, including Draco.
Currently Pansy was telling some story to Longbottom. She kept laughing and touching the man’s chest. Longbottom looked like a bunny caught in a trap. Draco could tell he wanted to run, but he was too polite to insult Pansy in that way. It was a bit humorous.
Hannah had tried to match shots with Greg, and was now unable to exhibit proper motor function. Draco did not envy Blaise having to get her home tonight. This was only the second time Draco had seen her intoxicated.
It was when the cake was wheeled out that Draco adopted a pinched look.
It was custom made - in the shape of a giant white ferret.
Blaise laughed so hard he could no longer stand upright. Everyone was snickering. Draco glared at Luna. The Draco from a year ago would have started hexing people, but he knew she had not done it to be mean. Luna was not mean. She’d likely meant it to be fun and funny, so Draco felt it best he see the humor in it, and spare her feelings - and everyone else the hexing they so richly deserved for laughing at him.
“It gets better,” Luna said excitedly as she handed him a knife.
Draco’s brows furrowed. Dear gods, there was more. He took a deep breath and cut into the cake.
It was red velvet.
Draco grinned. It would look like they were slicing into an animal.
“I thought that would amuse you.”
“You’re terribly clever,” Draco replied, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I’m quite over being annoyed about all of this. Perhaps I can celebrate my birthday after all. Thank you, Luna.”
“Did Draco just thank someone?” Pansy asked. “I think someone spiked my drink with a hallucinogenic potion because that can’t be true.”
“Oh, sod off, you lush.”
“Don’t make me hex you.”
“Don’t worry,” Greg said in quiet tones. “I took her wand earlier when she started slurring her words. She did not even notice, so she won’t be hexing anyone, or herself accidentally like last time, tonight.”
“Appreciated.”
“Not a problem.”
The celebration carried on well into the night, well past when Three Broomsticks usually closed. Greg had taken Pansy home. Marcus got the unhappy task of helping Daphne. He had refused at first until Astoria had glared him into it. Blaise had taken Hannah home as well.
The end of the celebration was spent passing a bottle of Ogden’s old around the table. Draco was honestly surprised Longbottom had stayed. He was also surprised by how much the Gryffindork could drink. Even all the MacDougals save Brody and Mac had retired for the night. Rounding out the table was Daisy, who was also shocking Draco. He was friendly with her, for him, but she was so much more interesting outside of the Ministry with a few drinks in her.
Brody had already insisted everyone still at the table take a room for the night instead of trying to apparated home. He didn’t want any splinching.
When the bottle was empty, everyone retired for the night.
________________________________________
Draco groaned and sat up. It was like déjà vu. He was thinking they were even in the same room. He had a headache from the drinking and Luna was sprawled out next to him wearing only her hair and the bed sheet. She was on her stomach, so he had a nice view of the tattoo on her back. He propped himself on his side and started tracing the wings.
It occurred to him that he was a completely different person for this birthday than he had been last year.
Part of him worried that he had lost his edge, but another part suspected he had just finally grown up. It had only taken him thirty years and the right woman to do so. He’d always thought he’d hate feeling settled, but he didn’t really feel settled. He felt understood. It was like she had said; he spoke a different language to her. She translated him differently than other people. She understood the varied meanings to his words and applied them in a way they were meant to be applied in his heart of hearts.
There was also the fact that she believed he had a heart.
“Mmm,” she groaned. “What time is it?”
“Not really sure. Don’t care.”
He’d taken a personal day so that they could do as they had done last year - shop in Hogsmeade.
“Oh, balls. You know what I forgot last night?” she asked and she clutched the sheet to her chest and rolled to face him.
“Last night was near perfect. I don’t think you forgot anything.”
“I forgot the spankings,” Luna said mischievously - right before she gave a very silly cry and attacked him.
Draco started laughing and shouting. She was not just trying to spank him. Luna was tickling as well. He was terribly ticklish. He grabbed a handful of her hair and jerk. She shouted loudly then started laughing. Draco rolled them and pinned her to the bed as best he could. Luna got one of her legs loose and started trying to tickle him with her toes. It was very silly, and he should be annoyed.
He stopped for a minute and took stock, though. He had a naked woman climbing all over him and trying to spank him while ticking his sides.
He’d had birthdays that were far worse.
Draco leaned down and started kissing her. She gave a little sigh into his mouth that told him she was far more interested in snogging than tickling or spanking now.
Someone banged on the door and Draco groaned. This had just been about to get good.
“What?” Draco snapped.
“Brekkie from the bakery in town downstairs ‘less yer busy,” Mac called through the door.
“Sounds fine,” he said to Luna. “I forgot we weren’t wholly alone earlier. Best we press on with our day, yeah?”
She giggled.
“What?”
“We could stop at my cottage after brekkie for an hour or two and then press on with the day.”
Draco smirked at her. “Have I mentioned that I do happen to like the way you think?”
“Did you know complimenting a Ravenclaw’s thought process is a sure way to get a good reaction?”
“I’d heard such a thing, yes.”
“Because Blaise dated Ravenclaws in school?”
“Lots of them,” Draco replied.
“He dated lots of everyone.”
Draco laughed loudly as he rolled off of her and out of the bed in one swift movement. He grabbed his trousers from the chair and grinned at how her clothes were strewn all over the room. They had been dropped where they were removed. She was very untidy about certain things, but she had her reasons. Other things she was very organized about. Her knickers could be hanging off the arm of a chair and that was fine, but Merlin help them if Newt Scamander was filed before Miranda Goshawk on her bookshelves.
“Did you have a good time last night?”
He looked at her, catching a glimpse of her backside right before the long sundress she slipped over her head covered it up.
“I did, actually. Thank you again.”
“You better stop thanking me. People will suspect I’ve got you under the Imperius or a love potion or something.”
“Oh, my gods,” he said with faked dramatics. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t hex everyone about the ferret cake.”
Luna snorted.
“First off, I am resistant to the Imperius Curse. Second, you would never do that to anyone. Not in your nature. And C, I take a potion once a week that makes me resistant to all love potions.”
Draco was glad Luna decided not to bring to his attention that his points had switched from numerical to alphabetical mid-speech. He was perfectly aware. Sure, not while he was saying it, but shortly after his words caught up with his brain. Draco did stuff like that when he was annoyed. He knew Luna found it amusing - which only annoyed him more.
“What is this?” she asked. “Two lies and one truth?”
“Which is the lie?”
“You taking the potion, of course,” she replied with a grin. “There’s no such thing.”
“How do you know?”
Luna gave him a look of exasperation. He loved that he could do that to her when most other people only saw her dreamy doe-eyed look.
“Now I do suppose we should head down for brekkie before they think we’re rattling the bureau drawers loose with our wild sexcapades.”
Draco’s brows shot into his hairline. Sometimes she said stuff, and he was just amazed. He would not have suspected she spoke that way, but upon knowing her better, he realized she did not say such things to be shocking like he did at times. She said the things she did because she was matter-of-fact. There was quite a refreshing bluntness to her.
“Why does the sex have to be wild?” Draco asked as he slipped his shoes on. “Maybe we have nice sex. They don’t know. Unless you told them. You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“First off,” she began, mimicking him from earlier. “You could not have nice vanilla sex if you tried, Draco. It’s not in you. And second, it’s most certainly not within me either.”
“Well, if we hurry and go eat, it can be in you.”
He wiggled his eyebrows at her. He also dodged the pillow she tried to smack him with. Draco grabbed her around the waist and tackled her to the bed. They hit a bit hard, he supposed. So hard, if fact, that the frame cracked. Luna shouted when the bed bowed in the middle and hit the floor hard. They looked at one another in alarm before both busted into helpless laughter.
Everyone was staring when they finally came down the stairs. Longbottom and Daisy were sitting at a table with Mac having what looked like the full.
Draco set a bank note on the bar near Brody. “That’s for the damages.”
“Damages?”
“The bed’s a bit… broken.”
“Ahhh,” Longbottom said, covering his ears. “My brain needs a cleansing charm now.”
“Your brain needs a great deal more than just a cleansing charm,” Draco remarked.
Luna elbowed him.
“Right then,” Draco said as he moved over and grabbed two strips of bacon and a piece of toast from Daisy’s plate.
He had most of the bacon eaten before she could even get her “oi” out. Then he licked the toast before offering it back to her. She glared and shook her head 'no', so Draco started eating it happily.
“That was rude,” Longbottom said.
“And?” Draco replied, glaring.
Just because he smiled more often did not mean he wasn’t still Draco Malfoy. Rude just so happened to be one of his best qualities.
Luna giggled and stole some toast off of Longbottom’s plate.
“And now you’re a bad influence on sweet Luna.”
“Luna’s not as sweet as you think,” Draco said seriously. “She likes to hit people. Oh, yeah, she tried to give me belated birthday spankings just this morning.”
Longbottom shouted and covered his ears again. Draco shook his head. Like you could un-hear something. So ridiculous.
Luna pulled him out of the door before he could make any more remarks.
She was walking them down the street with their clasped hands swinging between them. If it had been anyone else, Draco would have vomited, but something about her made him tolerate and even like it.
“Where shall we go first?”
“Um, hello,” Draco said, making a face. “To your cottage so that I might shag you properly in peace.”
An elderly woman passing them gasped at Draco’s loudly-given answer. She hurried past them and Luna giggled. She then started a leisurely pace through the town. Her cottage was on the far end, past the run off to go to Madam Puddifoot’s. Draco did not mind the walking. He was sort of a fan of anticipation.
They even stopped and window shopped a little, discussing things and making little noises that only they understood. It was ironic to Draco that the woman who seemed to get him and his nature was one that everyone else had thought a little crazy. She was not crazy, though. He knew this now; he had discovered it by knowing her better. She saw the world through eyes that were wide because they took in as much as possible.
He’d been sitting alone a year ago, and she’d seen him when not even his friends and family could find him hidden in the shell he had been starting to become. The bitterness was like a slow poison working through him over the years. In the back of his mind, Draco had felt like he’d had few choices that were his own, and it had made his life become a waste.
He now saw that it was not. It was just not exactly normal, and that was okay. He was just as odd, just as loony as she was, but in different ways. It made them work. They complimented one another. She made him better, and he made her more able to be free. He was not good. He’d never be good, but that was not so tragic.
Now he could deal because hope had landed on him rather unexpectedly.
*~*~*
finis