Melancholia | Drarry

the hidden paradise

"Nothing like stale cake at one AM, huh?" Justin says jovially as he passes Luna a plate. He found half of a sheet vanilla cake in the freezer, apparently forgotten, but thankfully still edible.

Luna glances apologetically at the unconscious Harry. "He probably won't miss it."

"Exactly." Justin pokes his fork into the cake, and it crumbles a bit more than it should. "Cake cannot go to waste! That'd just be tragic."

Luna laughs in agreement. They sit on the floor, Justin kneeling and Luna cross-legged, one of Harry's many knitted blankets spread beneath them. The lamplight burns as steadily as ever, casting the apartment in a cozy orange glow. On Justin's temporary worktable, the computer hums tirelessly away.

A lock of blonde hair falls over Luna's shoulder, dangling precariously close to the frosted cake. Justin's hand twitches as he deliberates whether to tuck it behind her ear or not. Before he can decide, Luna does it herself without a second thought.

It's silly, he thinks, how he hesitates at laying a hand on her shoulder, or touching her hair, but can easily pass her a blunt or hold her by the waist as they kiss. It feels like young love, though young for them means the eve of their thirties. Justin decides to take the childish butterflies in his stomach as a good sign.

"I feel really lucky to be here," Luna says. Justin looks up, smiling, but her gaze is on the erasing equipment. "We're witnessing the dawning of a new technological age! Manipulating minds - um, that makes it sound bad." She chuckles. "But there's a lot of potential to do good with the research we do at Lockhart."

"Yeah." Justin loves when Luna gets like this, all starry-eyed and passionate when she talks about tech and science.

"After all, just look at what Padma, well, Dr. Patil has done. Giving people a fresh start."

The admiration for Dr. Patil is not new for Justin to hear. He gets it; what she's done is incredible. But given the past...

He recalls a manila card in the post, addressed to a Mr. Justin Finch-Fletchley.

"I don't think I'd ever get one done, though," Luna says seriously, interrupting Justin's thoughts. "I see the benefits, of course. But losing such a big part of my life, no matter how painful it may be... it's not worth it." Her luminous eyes turn on Justin.

"Yeah," He says again. Earnest, sweet Luna. Justin would put up with her chattering about Dr. Patil to keep her. Hell, he already does. "I don't think I'd do it, either."

With a sigh of satisfaction and an empty plate, Luna lays back on the knitted blanket. "I'm glad Pansy left," Luna remarks.

"You don't like her?" Justin asks. He can't blame her for that.

"She's okay. I just like having time alone with you." Luna smiles, looking up adoringly at him. He wishes she'd sit up and kiss him, but she doesn't. So, he leans over and kisses her instead.

It's too early for "I love you." But when Justin pulls away, fingers laced with hers, he feels like saying it.

∞ ∞ ∞

Afternoon light filters through the curtains, casting orange, red, and gold on Draco's face. Harry, staring at him, thinks at first that they're still in the forest. But he shifts, feeling the couch beneath him, and realizes they're back in the apartment.

"What are we doing to do?" Harry asks.

Draco, curled towards him, doesn't answer for a moment. His hand moves absentmindedly over Harry's thigh, fingertips against bare skin. Harry's breath catches at the way Draco fits perfectly against him, narrow shoulders encircled by Harry's arm.