Forever Home | Draco Malfoy

Chapter 7-8: He's Like an Onion

Desiree still had no sense of time down in the cellar, but Dean mixed with her nightly talks with Draco, made staying there a bit more bearable. Draco had still yet to know that she had heard his conversation with his mother some nights ago. Desiree couldn't understand how even after all this time, he felt as though he wasn't worthy of her love. Even when she was bent and broken, just fighting to get up out of bed, he still felt as though he didn't deserve her. That he would ruin her.

It upset her to know that Draco wasn't able to look past the darkness that enveloped him, to see the bright, pure person he was just underneath. He couldn't look past his demons to see who he truly was without them. That's what Desiree spent her time doing. She spent her time reflecting his light, his purity, back onto him.

"Desiree," a voice whispered.

"Desiree," it whispered again.

"Hm?" she asked, slowly awaking from her slumber.

"Luna's here," Dean's voice whispered.

"Luna? Here?" Desiree asked, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Hi, Desiree," her faint voice sounded. Desiree snapped her eyes open, Luna was indeed standing before her.

"Luna! It is you!" Desiree smiled, throwing her arms around her.

"Well, of course, it's me. Who else would it be?" said Luna.

"Wait, you shouldn't be down here. Why did they bring you?" asked Desiree.

"My father's been publishing information about Harry, and the Death Eaters didn't like that, so, here I am," Luna raised her arms to show off the cellar. "Oh, but your family is doing well. They're in their safe house and working with the Order whenever they can," Luna whispered.

Desiree felt a surge of relief wash over her, they were alright, "Thank you, Luna."

"Although, they have been quite worried about you. They've spent all their time looking for you when they aren't on a task. At least, according to father," Luna shrugged, sitting down on the cold tiles.

"I suppose I'm not surprised. They would do that with anyone close to them," Desiree grinned to herself. Her parents would do anything for those they held most dearest to them. That's what made them so admirable.

"Has it been hard to stay down here?" Luna asked, letting her gaze slip to every nook and cranny of the cellar.

"It's had some challenges. But, I had Ollivander to keep me company for some time. Then Dean and Griphook came. Oh, and I speak with Draco every night," said Desiree, intentionally leaving out the details of her arm. She was too exhausted to have to explain it again.

"Do you enjoy those talks with him? Even though you're stuck here, in his house, and he gets to walk free?"

"Well, when he isn't blaming himself for my capture, they help take my mind off of this reality. Believe me, he would much rather be stuck in here with me, or help me escape rather than let us continue the way we are," said Desiree.

"It's strange," said Luna.

"What is?" Desiree asked. She and Dean shared the same confused expression.

"How differently we perceive people. While some see one person as the worst, others see them as the best. It's like there is no such thing as a perfect person because we all perceive people differently. Like with Malfoy, most people at Hogwarts see him as a terror. But you, you see him differently, you swear to others that he isn't what he appears to be," said Luna.

"He's not. He's loving and caring, and he always knows just how to lift you back up in your worst. The truth is, he acts mean because he's scared to be vulnerable around people. Now, I'm not saying that excuses some of his behavior, because it doesn't, but, it's because he's been taught growing up that showing weakness is the greatest failure a man can hold. I despise his father for raising him to grow up fearing him because his mother shows nothing but compassion in the absence of Lucius. But, they are both so terrified of what Lucius is capable of, they try to stay silent. He is so broken on the inside but refuses to let anyone see it," Desiree sighed.