Unexpectedly Expecting

25: Signing On The Dotted Line Pt. 2

Luna

After New Years and coming back to school, the eccentric Ravenclaw witch took her first anti nauseam potion on the Hogwarts Express. She looked at the simple diamond filigree ring on her ring finger, smiling to herself, and letting the sunlight refract off of it as she sketched in her sketch book. She sketched Hermione in one of her fine gowns by the Christmas tree, and how her belly curved out at the bottom. She looked like a refined pureblood witch, and married life seemed to have relaxed Professor Snape as well somewhat. But she could never sketch him, he always intimidated her somewhat.

After a while of staring out at the familiar moors and valleys that stretched into the borders of Scotland where Hogwarts was located, Luna began to get bored. She found the Gryffindor compartment easily enough, and found Ginny Weasley, her brother Ronald, and a few Quidditch teammates talking and laughing.

Ron greeted her, "Hey Lune, we were just going to break out some wizard's chess. Do you want to play?"

"Sure."

They played for a bit, and while she was normally good at the game, her heart wasn't in it. She sacrificed her Queen and Rook pieces too early, and conceded defeat to Ginny. "Sorry, guys. I think I'm going to see what Draco is up to."

"Oh no, you too," Ron observed, noticing her engagement ring, "What is it with the Slytherins lately?"

Ginny chuckled, "Oh hush, Ron. Better a snake than a mangy lightning scarred lion, right? At least with a snake you know where you stand."

Everyone was uncomfortable with that statement, but then Ron laughed, "You're right, Ginny. We don't need weak links like him in our House."

Luna yawned, "Oh, sorry everyone. I'm going to go now. Bye."

Luna was halfway to the Slytherin compartment when she ran into her ex Neville Longbottom. He eyed her new ring, and looked more resigned than sad, because it was an amicable breakup. "Oh. Hey, Luna. So, I guess it's true: you really are gonna be a Malfoy?"

Luna nodded. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Neville. I just...it sort of happened with Draco, and well, I quite like a wizard who knows what he wants."

He frowned. "But he shares blood with that LeStrange bitch. You know what she did to my parents, Luna alongside that psycho husband of hers! You more than anyone else at this school does."

Luna stamped her foot. "Draco lost his mother to Bellatrix! She drew the deatheaters away from all of the fleeing witch prisoners, and Bellatrix murdered her own sister in cold blood. I could lose my father to You Know Who's goon squad, so don't talk to me about loss, Neville Longbottom."

"Luna, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"Well, now you do."

She opened the door to the Slytherin compartment, and Draco was chatting up his friends. The other Slytherins thought it was mighty peculiar for a Ravenclaw to be in their midst, but Draco hugged her. Millicent Bullstrode said something to Goyle, and Draco cut them off, "Shut it, guys. She's going to be a Malfoy soon enough, so leave her be. Come on, cherie, let's get some private time away from these guys. How about it?"

Luna smiled. "Oh, that sounds lovely, babe."

They found a quiet cabin alone, and he sat next to her, noticing her distress. "Hey, what's wrong? My friends are kinda territorial but not bad lots over all."

Luna sighed, "I know that. You know that, but at least I'm not outright ignored the way I am now by my own House. Harry Potter is a taboo subject among the lions, and the Weasleys really hate him now. But me? I'm not sure where I fit in."