Stuck with Me [Harry Potter]

Chapter 9 - A Temper, A Large Cat, & New Feelings

Day 5

Winning the golden snitch his second quidditch match... beating Goyle at a long game of wizard's chess... seeing Pansy Parkinson in her beautiful green ball dress at the Yule Ball... getting a good grade on a Potions exam and having Snape pat him on the shoulder... running into his mother's arms when he went home for each holiday... producing his first patronus with the strangest girl at Hogwarts...

These were the memories that came to Draco's mind after he went to bed and forced his mind to block all the horrible, negative memories as Luna instructed, and in came the good and happy memories like melted butter.

Draco awoke with a smile on his face. Never before, even in the manor and at school, had he had a better night's sleep. He got up, transformed his pajamas into his suit and walked out into the morning air, taking a big whiff of the morning freshness.

He sat on the front step as he looked over the grass fields and conjured up a piece of toast. He looked over at the dirigible plums. He plucked one off and ate the sweet, juicy fruit and threw the pit off into the grass.

He felt great! But where was Luna? Still asleep?

Draco immediately stood as he noticed movement in the distance near the forest. He spotted blonde hair. Well, there went his good mood.

He cursed under his breath as he ran down the steps and watched Luna enter the forest. His heart started to beat harder. What if the Death Eaters showed up and found him alone? They would take him and leave Luna in the forest and later would go back to find her after gagging him to tell them where she is. And what if they were in that forest waiting for her already?

Draco huffed through his nose, and with no second thought, rushed through the grass towards the forest, wand in his hand.

~ ~ ~

Luna left early in the morning when Draco was still asleep, and the sun was not even up yet. She heard the shriek of the crumple-horned snorkack and immediately bounced out of bed, changed, and headed downstairs. She saw a sleeping Draco on the bed he conjured up for himself. She took a moment to gaze at his calm, sleeping face, a hint of a smile on his lips, and his blonde hair falling over his forehead.

"He's beautiful..." Luna quietly whispered and tiptoed to the door and shut it behind her silently. She headed off into the grass and danced across the fields until she reached the forest. She heard the shriek again, and her heart sped up with excitement. Maybe she finally would capture that cat-like creature!

She high-tailed it into the forest, sneakers on this time, stepping on sticks and fallen branches and leaves as she went. She stopped immediately when she heard her name being called somewhere in the distance, as if on the wind blowing through the trees. She let it go, thinking that she was hearing things.

Her name was called again. She knew that voice. It filled her dreams at night since she arrived home.

"Draco?" she called but was not nearly loud enough over the rustling trees.

"Luna!" she heard closer, realizing this was the first time that he said her name aloud.

"Draco, is that you?" she asked loudly, and she found a tall, thin form in a black suit making his way through branches and brush.

"Who else would I be?" he asked as he stepped over twigs and leaves to get to her. She smiled, but his expression was nothing more than a scowl. "What were you thinking, coming in here alone?" he demanded. "You know Death Eaters could come any time, right? And snatch you and me? And who knows what they would do to us!"

"I know," she said lightly. "Every day, I expect them to come." He gave her a confused look. She should explain. "Being in the presence of a Death Eater is bound to bring more Death Eaters, but you don't even seem like one."