Chapter Twenty: A Lunar Eclipse
Leaning against the Great Hall door, Draco was watching the students being to walk into the Great Hall, ready for another year at Hogwarts School. A year, they all believed, that would be just like any other. Except of course for the small dark cloud in the back of their mind that told them that Lord Voldemort was terrorizing the countryside. None of them knew what had happened to Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley over the summer, and frankly, none of them cared.
Draco cared, he cared a very great deal. It was why he was leaning against the door instead of sitting in his seat. The summer had been both a blessing and a curse. Nevertheless it had changed his life forever. His parents were dead. He was wanted dead by Lord Voldemort. He was the sole heir of the Malfoy fortune and the very last in his family. And most of all, he had something with Ginny Weasley that no one else in the world had.
Over the past few weeks Draco had been thinking about those things while he walked along the empty Hogwarts halls. Dumbledore had believed it was best for Draco to remain at Hogwarts for the remainder of the summer. Why, was beyond Draco and he didn't really care. He had just used the time to think and to rethink everything his life had been about and what it now as about. Things were indeed different now.
Professor Snape had hardly said two words to Draco in days, even though they were the only two from Slytherin around before the start of term. Severus didn't seem to want to say anything to Draco, and he was fine with that. He didn't have anything to say to his Potions professor either. Well he did, but he didn't want a detention as well. Why he was slightly furious with the man, he didn't exactly know, but it seemed like a good thing to do.
Who cares that Snape hadn't let him owl or go to visit Ginny over the last few weeks? No Draco Malfoy. Ginny Weasley, was as stated, a Weasley. She had red hair and she was very annoying... right down to the last freckle. Her brother was the biggest git on the face of the planet, and she was a Mudblood lover. Her parents, even the deceased one, were stupid Order members.
So why was he mad at Professor Snape? And why was he standing there waiting for her to walk into the Great Hall? Maybe it was because he had kissed her several times. Maybe it was because he had sacrificed himself for her on many occasions and that he cared about her. Maybe, he thought, maybe it was because he had something for her that he had mistakenly called love.
Or was it a mistake?
He didn't know, and he didn't know if he wanted to. Thinking about it gave him a headache. Damn those hereditary headaches. What a second... he didn't have hereditary headaches! Cursing, Draco kicked the bottom of the door. He didn't even have a good excuse for the headache.
"Draco!"
For a second he thought it was Ginny. His heart races, his eyes swept around him quickly, his hand went up to make sure his hair was perfect. When he saw it was Pansy, his hand stopped halfway, his eyes narrowed, and his heart slowed. Pansy never left him alone, not for one minute!
"What do you want?" Draco drawled.
"I think its wonderful you deciding to wait for me," Pansy began brightly, "And I want you to come and sit down with me now!"
"You pathetic girl," Draco snapped, "I wasn't waiting for you."
Pansy's dark brown eyes lowered slightly. "Oh. Well, come and sit with me anyway."
The girl did not take a hint. Draco was so sick of her stupidity. For years he had dealed with her and her pug face only for her breasts were rather large and she had a nicely sized bottom. Now her breasts seemed rather small, and her bottom way too large for his liking. Damn his hereditary shallowness. That he could most certainly blame on genes.
"No, I don't want to sit with you. And I don't think I could... your ass would take up the entire bench."
So what if he got slapped? It was well worth it. And at least she was gone now. Probably crying in some corner, but gone just the same. Her slap wasn't as blissfully hard as Ginny's slaps. Ginny. Why did he keep thinking about her? There was a good reason for that, seeing how he was waiting for her.
His thoughts wondered back to the dream he had first had the night they had rescued Ginny. The dream had returned every night since and every night Draco tried to discover more about the world he was seeing around him. So far he hadn't learned much else except that if Hogwarts wasn't careful, that would be exactly what would happen. He couldn't let that happen. Right now, Hogwarts was Draco's only home.
He, Draco Malfoy, promote House ties? It had to be the most brilliant plan since the construction of Hogwarts itself. Everyone would listen if it was Draco telling them to be nice to one another. He was a prefect after all. If they weren't nice to each other he'd take enough points off them to feed all the Weasleys for a year.
And for the first time ever, he felt slightly guilty for teasing the Weasleys. Only slightly of course, as just because he thought he had something for Ginny, didn't mean he had to be nice to all of them. Draco yawned openly, beginning to feel as if that seat at the Slytherin table would be very nice indeed. Before he had the chance to convince himself to give up, three Gryffindors appeared in front of him.
It was far too early in the morning to deal with Granger, Potter and the red-headed baboon. Instead of walking right by him however, the Dream Team stopped in front of him. Vaguely surprised, and highly annoyed he looked at them with a smirk on his face. He didn't say anything, he was sure his smirk would annoy them enough.
"What are you doing standing here?" Ron demanded.
"You just answered your won question Weasley," Draco replied in a bored voice, "I'm standing here obviously."
"You better not be waiting for my sister Malfoy!" Ron continued, his face slowly becoming the same color as his hair.
"And if I am?" Draco asked lazily.
"Then I'll...." Ron raised his fist in the air, and both Granger and Potter grabbed his arms to hold him back. Draco shook his head.
"Tsk tsk," He said softly, "Just a little violent aren't you? Maybe your too violent to be a Prefect, Weasley. Speaking of Prefects, have you forgotten I'm one? And that will be five points from Gryffindor for threatening a Prefect."
"What?" Potter joined into Ron's anger this time and even let go of Ron's arm.
"Harry no!" Granger said swiftly, "Don't rise up to his level."
"He couldn't survive on my level anyway," Draco told her evenly, "And Potter, that will be another five points for letting Weasley go and allowing a dangerous weasel its chance to attack me."
"If you don't sod off, I'll attack you," Potter hissed.
"Whoops, another five points. Oh and I was the one standing here and minding my own business. So if you don't mind, you can be the ones to sod off."
Potter grabbed Ron's right arm angrily, and he and Granger began to pull Ron towards the Gryffindor table, but not without Ron turning his head and calling, "Don't go near my sister!"
Draco of course, ignored him completely. Such an inferior animal didn't deserve to be listened to anyway. In fact at that very moment, Draco's entire attention was on anything but Ron, as he looked through the crowd of students who had just poured into the hall, in search of Ginny. He sighed when he saw no sign of her. What was taking her so long? Slightly impatient, Draco turned his head into the Great Hall to watch the students sit down. He was becoming rather fidgety.
Pansy seemed to be beside herself in tears and was sobbing herself dry on poor Theodore Nott's shoulder. Theodore didn't seem to mind much; he was just as shallow as Draco was. Crabbe and Goyle were having a sword fight with forks, very typical for them and their chestnut sized brains. Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bulstrode were chatting nearby Draco's large bodyguards, and casting Draco suspicious stares every once and awhile.
How did he get cursed with such a bunch of idiots? Sighing, Draco turned back to the task at hand. He ran a hand through his hair carefully. As he did so, another group of students entered the Great Hall, and one of which was exactly the one Draco had been waiting for.
Ginny was walking with some Ravenclaw fifth year that Draco didn't know, but had seen with Ginny before. He was reminded for a minute of a girl Pansy had called Loony once before, but he wasn't sure and really didn't care. As the two girls moved towards the doorway, Ginny's eyes widened at the sight of him. His throat catching, Draco watched as they stopped in front of him.
"I'll see you later Luna," Ginny said quietly. The other girl shrugged, and with a questioning look at Draco, stalked off to the Ravenclaw table.
Now alone in the doorway, Draco and Ginny stood there staring at one another. The unnerving silence between them caused both their hearts to pound. Eyes locked, neither knew what to say or what to do. Draco couldn't help but notice Ginny's red hair was in two braids going down her shoulders. He could stand the quiet no longer.
"Hey," He said, uncomfortably aware that his voice shook.
"Hi," She replied softly.
"Can we talk?" Draco pressed.
Ginny nodded, "Of course."
Draco suddenly felt sick. He didn't know what to say to her after all. He couldn't do this now. He needed more time to think. "After the feast," He said quickly.
"Yeah, after the feast," Ginny agreed and looked rather relieved.
"Right." Yet Ginny didn't move towards the Gryffindor table, she continued to stand there looking at him nervously. Draco shifted slightly, "Well then...Talk to you later." When they continued to stand there, Ginny smiled.
"Draco? Do you mind if you move so I can get to my table?"
It was then that Draco figured out he was standing in the center of the doorway, and was blocking several students from entering the Great Hall. Annoyed at his stupidity, he moved aside and stared at the floor determinedly. Ginny was chuckling as she walked away. Draco didn't know if he was more annoyed or more embarrassed.
Every Slytherin was staring at him as he sat down. Glaring at the whole lot of them, Draco turned his attention to the House Sorting Ceremony that was just beginning. In his head he went over all the things he wanted to tell Ginny, and tried to think of all the things she could possibly say. It wasn't until he was thinking to the background sounds of Dumbledore's announcements did he finally begin to think his situation was hopeless.
He, Draco Malfoy, the ultimate lady's man, couldn't think of a way to express his feelings to one, Virginia Weasley. What was this world coming to? No, he told himself firmly, he had to think of something good to say to her, or he would loose it completely.
"Would you like some potatoes?" Draco gave Blaise a rather hard look. She looked back at him, her round dark blue eyes neutral. In her hand was a bowl of potatoes. She held it up to him. "Would you?"
"What did you do to them?" He asked cautiously.
"Absolutely nothing," She said honestly.
Draco took them and put them on his plate, but not before inspecting them carefully. He piled a bunch of other foods onto his plate until the white was hidden, and began to eat away his troubles. Halfway through his dinner he looked up and saw Blaise was staring at him.
"What?" He asked annoyed.
"You like her don't you?" Blaise promptly asked.
"Like who?"
"Weasley!" Blaise exclaimed quietly, with a roll of her eyes.
"I don't know what your talking about." Draco said snappishly.
"Of course you don't." Blaise continued smoothly, "Because a Malfoy would never own up to that. I saw you talking with her, and you've been preoccupied all night. What did happen you over the summer? I heard that you've gone mental with the deaths of your parents. Please don't tell me your the next Potter."
Draco spit out his chicken. He had never been more insulted in his life. "You think, that even for one moment just because I may have something with a Gryffindor that I'm turning into that Mudblood loving, attention seeking, annoying and pathetic, scar-headed Potter?" He demanded.
He hadn't noticed his voice going up several notches, or the entire Great Hall turn and stare at him open mouthed. Blaise's eyes traveled around him and yet again it dawned on him slowly. Cursing silently, Draco felt unusually stupid. He also noticed he was standing up. Now he had really done it. He couldn't just sit down and pretend nothing happened. The whole hall had just heard him say he had a crush on a Gryffindor. He had to finish this scene off or it would look bad.
"What are all you looking at?" He shouted across the hall, and even caught a glimpse of the startled teachers. "So what! I like a Gryffindor. Is that illegal? Is it wrong I know a good looking girl when I see one?" He left the Slytherin table and started to move towards the Gryffindor one. His eyes quickly found Ginny, sitting there with some of her friends looking rather pale.
"If anyone has a problem that I like a Gryffindor, you can take it up with my wand when I shove it down your throat!" Draco was now standing very close to Ginny. Their eyes met and suddenly she smirked. He knew what to do. "Care to join me on a walk Ginny?" Draco asked.
From over at the Slytherin table, Draco could hear several gasps, and knew Blaise was grinning like mad. The thud was probably from Pansy fainting, but not a single teacher dared to move. They were probably savoring this moment when a Slytherin and Gryffindor were announcing their love for one another.
"Certainly," Ginny replied with a smile and took Draco's hand which he had just outstretched.
Never before had Draco made such a daring and exciting exit. He felt rather proud of himself as they walked out into the entrance hall. He looked sideways at the red-head and saw she was laughing. "Oh Draco, that was brilliant! The looks on their faces!"
"Yeah well," Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. How could she find this amusing? He was ruining his reputation! Just like a Weasley to care less about something as important as that. She calmed down and looked at him intently.
"How was the remainder of your summer?" Ginny asked.
"Quiet," Draco told her with an icy edge to his voice, "And how many times do I have to tell you about caring?" He knew he was going to get under her skin, but he loved toying with her.
Ginny's face went from surprised to angry in record time. "I thought you were over that Malfoy! I thought you knew that I'll always care about you! You did save my life you know!"
"And you mine. We're even."
"Draco don't you want to savor what we could have between us?" Ginny asked desperately, "Was all that in the Great Hall just for show?"
"Of course it was! Any decent boy knows you have a nice ass."
Slap.
That really hurt. Rubbing his cheek he gave her a dark look. "Well you do!" He said defensively. She rose her hand in the air again to hit him again but he quickly grabbed her wrist. "I really don't understand why your taking offensive to that."
"I've just remembered what a self-centered, shallow disgusting pig you are!"
"I know, but thats genes for you."
"Let go of me!" Ginny was shooting very angry glares at him.
"No! I don't want to because I have to ask you how you feel about me!" Draco said fiercely.
"I just did!"
"Weasley!"
"Malfoy!"
"Who was I kidding. I don't have any feelings for you. I just ruined my reputation for nothing." Draco let of Ginny angrily, upset that he didn't understand what he was feeling .
Instead of running away however, Ginny stayed put. Her arms crossed and dangerous expression on her face, she looked like a dragon about to pounce. Draco did not step backwards, but he wanted to. That girl was very intimidating. And her slaps hurt.
"I know you don't feel that way," Ginny said softly.
"Oh would you make up your mind?" Draco demanded, "One moment you hate me and now your being all loving again!"
"Your one to talk," Ginny said hotly, "Your doing the same thing."
"That's because I can't figure out how I feel! Your doing it to annoy me!"
"So are you," Ginny protested, "You're toying with me."
"Am not!"
"Are to!"
They both fell silent, not knowing what to say or do. They were both unsure of their real feelings, and yet, were arguing like a married couple. Suddenly Ginny smiled.
"You know Draco, maybe thats what makes us so attracted. We're spontaneous."
"Your saying you want to hate me one moment and love me the next?" Draco asked confused.
"Yes," Ginny replied thoughtfully, "It keeps the relationship interesting."
"Well... I can live with that. I still get a piece of that ass."
"Excuse me?" Ginny's eyes flashed. Draco smirked and kissed her.
This was going to be a very long and fun year.
**
Authors Note: I just want to say...WE MADE IT!! I can't believe it! This chapter is six pages, and rather odd but nevertheless it thus ends Luna Soleil! TONS of foreshadowing in the last few chapters for the sequel. It don't know when it will come out, it depends on how much time I have this week. If you'd like, let me know in your review and I'll come up with some sort of mailing list and keep you all updated via e-mail when the sequel is up and when chapters come out. It'll be easier on everyone. I want to take this time to thank all my reviews because you've just been the best! Erin, TJ, Krista, Becca, Nat and Jenn: Thank you so much for dealing with me and reading/reviewing this fan fic! It means so much to me! I'm so appreciative of you guys! Your the best!
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_Samantha Riddle aka Slytherish_