McGonagall was overjoyed when Draco handed her the journals, explaining what they were. She hugged them tightly, as if she might be able to hug Hermione through them. Draco marveled at the care the woman had for the girl. Obviously, it surpassed any student-teacher bond he had ever seen. Rather, it was similar to a mother- daughter one.
Suddenly, Draco recalled hearing that Granger had lost not just one, but both of her parents during the war. At the hands of his horrid father, no less. He tried to imagine what she must be feeling. First losing her parents, then Snape, then her freedom. All in a matter of days. He started to feel how she must be feeling, but quickly realized that he didn't even want to imagine the hell she must be going through.
McGonagall sent Luna to get the other Heads of Houses and Professors together before Draco shouted for both to stop.
"If you make a big team to rescue her, Father will know you're coning and you won't get within three feet of the front gate. You have students here who are sons and daughters of my father's best friends. The information of your attack will be sent to him in a matter of minutes. You're going to have to take a small group of nondescript students on a day he won't suspect and try to do it as undercover as possible. I will help, because I know him the best, but don't expect me or the journals to have all the answers. He is one of the top Death Eaters for a reason." Draco explained and warned.
"So you're miraculously on our side now, Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall questioned suspiciously.
"If I wasn't trying to help you, why bring you the journals?" Draco replied, trying to appear his snide self. He failed miserably.
"To lure myself and the others with the best chance of saving Miss Granger into your father's trap." McGonagall snapped back.
Draco was about to snap back again when a voice that sounded like a cloud interjected in the conversation.
"I trust Draco, Headmistress. I can tell that he means no harm to anyone who is good-intentioned. I have seen a change in him for a long time. It's all in the Nargles." Luna chimed in peacefully, as she stared dreamily at Draco, who was blushing furiously at her words.
McGonagall nodded her affirmation after a second of thought.
"Alright, Mr. Malfoy. You can assist us. However, you will be under constant watch and one wrong step and I will leave your hide out to dry. Understood?" McGonagall declared menancingly.
Draco nodded his head in mute agreement, still humiliated by Luna's words moments ago. This seemed to appear to be enough for McGonagall's satisfaction. "Good. Now you're both dismissed for this evening. Be back here one hour before breakfast tomorrow morning to start planning. I will not tolerate tardiness. Good night."
The two slipped silently out of McGonagall's office and walked slowly towards their destinations together. Time stretched as Draco grew uncomfortable and Luna hummed the strangest song he had ever heard.
"I didn't need your interjection back there, Lovegood. I was handling everything just perfectly myself." Draco snided at the witch.
"You're welcome." Luna mumbled quietly, not even looking at Draco.
Draco nearly jumped out of his skin at her words. With one sentence, she had ruined his entire usually placid demeanor and unsettled him quite well. Luna, seeing Draco jump, took his hand in hers and started rubbing circles on it. Draco promptly tugged his hand back to his side and sent a terrified glare her way.
"What the bloody hell was that, Lovegood?!"
"I've seen muggles do it when someone they care about is scared. I thought it might help." She said, finally matching blue eyes to grey eyes. "The new nargles are back around your head again, Draco. You know, the heart shaped ones?"
Draco, now thoroughly embarrassed, promptly swatted at the invisible hearts mysteriously floating around his head, earning light chuckles from Luna.
"You can't shoo Nargles away, you know. They feed off your emotions and thoughts so you have really no control or effect over them." Luna remarked.
"Whatever, Lovegood. We better separate before someone sees us talking." Draco said, his cheeks a burning amber.
"Okay." Luna shrugged. Before heading in another direction. Draco let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in. "Oh wait!" Luna rushed back. "This should help rid the new Nargles." Luna said, before doing something Draco never thought someone would do out of just pure emotion and not an ulterior motive.
Luna Lovegood, in the middle of the hallway of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, leaned upwards and kissed Draco Malfoy smack on the cheek.
"Bye Draco!" Luna said very calmly, heading off down a hallway and leaving a gobsmacked Draco in the hallway.
And, for once, the ferret was speechless.
A/N: PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME FOR THE TIME GAP!!! I swear I will keep updating more and more often, I am trying to do a chapter a day. Thanks so much for you love and support!!!
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Taming the Snake
أدب الهواةHermione has always known she has fancied Severus Snape and has had an inkling he fancied her as well. When Hermione becomes the new Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, both are ready to confess and do, leaving them to begin a new relationship to...
