WISHLISTS: Life Lessons (Draco/Luna)
Author: a_gypsys_dance
Recipient: downjune
Title: Life Lessons
Character Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Luna Lovegood
Prompt: Draco/Luna; Bravery can mean lots of things, just like love.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 720
Summary: As Luna is locked in the Malfoys’ dungeon, Draco trades her food for hope.
Author's Notes: I’ve been wanting to write Draco/Luna, so I hope I did your prompt justice!
“You said you wouldn’t be back,” Luna says softly when the door to the dungeon opens. She can tell who it is by the cadence of his footsteps.
“Shh,” he hushes her, not because he is truly afraid that they will hear her - after all, does the Dark Lord really care what a couple of blood traitors have to say? - but because she unnerves him when she speaks. Draco avoids eye contact as he places a bag of food in her hands. “It’s all I could get without them noticing,” he says stiffly, uncertain as to why he feels the need to explain himself to her.
“It’s wonderful,” she says, handing the majority of the food to Ollivander and that goblin, both of whom sit quietly against the wall, determinedly not paying attention to the pair of them. She bites into a chunk of bread and a smile breaks out on her face. “It’s still warm.” She sounds like she’s forgotten what warmth is. Luna sits where she is, in the middle of the dirty dungeon floor, and he can’t help but be repulsed by the foul conditions.
Yet for some reason, when she says, “Sit with me,” he sits, and she scoots forward so that their knees are touching. She places her hands on Draco’s thighs and he pretends not to notice the intimacy of the gesture; he’s sure that it’s lost on her.
Draco says nothing, because he can never think of anything to say. She doesn’t seem to mind; she sits there, leaning forward, connected to him through her knees and her hands. She stares at his face as if memorizing every angle.
“You’re a good man,” Luna tells him, and he laughs bitterly. “You are,” she insists. “You’re very brave for helping us.”
“If I were a brave man, I’d get you out of here. That’s what Potter would do,” he adds, unable to keep himself from sneering as he thought of the hero.
“And where would that leave you?” she asks, cocking her head sideways like a bird. “Dead. No help to anyone, especially the family that needs you. No, Draco. You are brave.”
There is quiet for several minutes. “I guess bravery means something different to you than it does to me,” he finally says.
She nods as if she knows exactly what he means. “Bravery can mean lots of things. Just like love.”
“Love?” he scoffs, shaking his head. What do you know of love? he wants to ask her. But he’s too scared to voice the question, no matter what she says about his bravery.
But as if she has heard the voice in his head, she responds anyway. “I know more of love the more I stay in this dungeon.” Draco’s heart quickens, to his despair; she can’t possibly be talking about him. She’s surely referring to her fellow prisoners.
Without warning, Luna rises to her knees, using his thighs as leverage. Her face gets closer to his as she leans forward, and his breath catches in his throat. Her tiny hand picks a spider off of his shoulder and she sits back down. He sighs.
“Run free, little guy,” Luna whispers, setting it on the ground.
“Why not just kill it?” he asks her, watching the spider scurry off into the darkest corner.
“You don’t have to kill something just because it’s at your mercy, Draco. You can help it survive.” She stares unblinking into his eyes and reaches for his hand. “That’s bravery, and that’s love.”
“I think I’m learning the more you stay in this dungeon, too,” Draco admits, his voice very quiet. “But I still wish you’d get out.”
“Oh, I will,” Luna promises, a smile burgeoning on her face. It lights up the whole room. “And then I can teach you even more.” His pale face flushes and he looks away. “Something tells me you have a lot to learn,” she adds, and he looks back at her, certain that she’s mocking him. But when he turns his head, he finds her face right in front of his.
Her dry lips meet his for the tiniest instant; when she pulls back immediately, he cocks an eyebrow at her. “That will be your first lesson,” she promises, and for the first time, his heart swells with hope.