neutral_omens | (no subject)

Date: October 8, 1999
Setting: Mostly in Draco’s room.
Status: Private (Draco, Luna)
Summary: Draco invites Luna to have dinner with him.

Draco was seriously annoyed. It had been enough of a shock running into Potter in the bar. Although he had managed to make that situation work for him. However, it was hard to see how the appearance of Luna Lovegood could make his life anything but difficult. She had to be prevented from alerting anyone about Harry’s whereabouts. She also had to be stopped from letting Potter know who he really was. But how?

Come on Draco, this isn’t impossible, he said to himself. Just use the old Malfoy charm and wit. Talk things over with her, and see what comes to you. Smiling slightly, Draco sat down at his desk and started to pen a letter.

Dear Ms. Lovegood, he wrote.

It was quite a surprise to see another person from school here at the Manor. I would love to catch up with you. Would you be averse to dining with me at 8 o’clock this evening, in my room? I am by no means disparaging the skills of the Manor’s resident chef, but we would have more privacy here than in the bar, and I am also quite a capable cook. My room, located on the right hand corridor of the third floor, has been equipped with a small kitchen and a larder. It’s the door right next to the stairs. I do hope you will be able to make it. I am certain that we will have lots of things to talk about.

Hopefully,

Draco Malfoy

Draco’s eagle owl hopped up to the desk eagerly, since it hadn’t received any tasks in quite some time. Draco attached Luna’s letter to its leg, and watched as it flew out the window.

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To be honest, Draco was just slightly taken aback by the promptness of Luna's response. Not that he wasn't grateful to have Luna turn out to be such a cheap friend, but it was still surprising. After all, she had been friends with Potter at school. Oh well, she hadn't been brainwashed into living out some set of ideals like the Gryffindors. That was probably it. Still, better to keep talking as if it was all for Potter, just in case. Draco had been paranoid for most of his life. In some ways, growing up in the Malfoy Manor was like being in Hell, because they really were out to get you.

"Well, I'm helping Harry out right now, and I wouldn't mind helping you out as well." Helping. That was a good way to put it. "It really isn't a problem. You may have heard about some financial problems I've had in that rag, the Daily Prophet," that's right, slam her competitors, "But I've sill got quite a bit of excess cash, and I'm all too willing to donate to the worthy cause of any friend." Draco raised his own glass, and clinked it with Luna's.

Luna was a little surprised - well, make that a lot surprised - when Draco called her a friend. That really was very nice of him. She was slightly startled when he clinked her glass, but figured it was an aristocrat thing. Actually, in a certain light, she could see why some of the girls in her dorm had been swooning over him.

"Well, I guess then I'd be happy to accept, friend." She smiled, and clinked her glass against Draco's. It would be such a load off Daddy's shoulders. she thought. Then she had another thought. "Oh, and um, since we're friends, and I heard that there's going to be a Halloween party at the end of the month, I was wondering if you'd like to trade costumes?" At Draco's puzzled look, she continued. "It's sort of a Ravenclaw tradition among friends, that they get to design each other's Halloween costumes, and surprise their friends with their Halloween costumes on the day of the party. You see, I'd never been part of that tradition, because, well, I didn't really have any friends in Ravenclaw who were that close." Perhaps closer to the truth was that Luna didn't have any friends in Ravenclaw - just acquaintances. "Would you mind? I mean, if you don't want to we don't have to, really."

"Great! Just let me know the exact amount, and I'll send an owl to Gringotts for you."

Draco felt slightly uncomfortable when Luna directed a gaze that he wasn't willing to describe as 'ardent' upon him, but quickly forgot his discomfort as he considered her offer. On the whole, Slytherins didn't like surprises, but he didn't want to offend Luna and make her back out on the deal. Also, he felt the tiniest bit sorry for her for having to miss out on a House tradition. Tradition was very important to him. Also, he'd just gotten the most brilliant idea for a costume for her...

"No, I don't mind at all," Draco said, smiling reassuringly. "It sounds like a nice practice. You can drop my costume off here before the party, and I'll have yours ready by then as well. Sound good?"

"Oh, thanks. That sounds great. I'm sure that I'll have your costume ready for you by then. I've had the most marvelous ideas for costumes; it's just that I never had the chance to realize them. I'm so glad you agreed." Luna said happily, finally taking a mouthful of lamb. Draco did not want to think about the costumes ideas Luna had had; he held the stem of his wineglass pointedly, then realised that the gesture was wasted on her.

"Well, here's to us!" said Draco, lifting his wineglass. "Oh wait, let me pour you some more wine first." He emptied her wineglass of water, and filled it halfway with the Manet Chandon, taking great care to follow protocol. Then he lifted his wineglass again, saying, "To us!"

Luna hastily swallowed her mouthful of lamb and lifted her wineglass, saying, "To us!" and followed Draco in drinking just a mouthful. However, she couldn't quite discern just what was going on in that mouth. Suddenly, he swallowed, and she followed suit. Luna looked up to see Draco gazing enquiringly at her. Blinking, she said, "I was trying to follow your method of drinking wine, because I don't know anything about drinking wine, you know."

Draco's features cleared. "Ah, yes. Well, you see, the thing is, to truly appreciate fine wine, you have to start by learning how to discern the aromas, and of course the taste. Generally, women tend to like white wines as they are sweeter, so this Manet Chandon might come on a little strong." They lapsed into small talk about wine appreciation, with Draco instructing Luna as to how to choose a fine wine, and the little tips and tricks, such as that little spell that had been placed on this particular bottle of Manet Chandon. Then Luna turned the conversation to her Crumple-Horned Snorkack expedition, and all the other animals she hoped to find, especially with regards to the Blibbering Humdingers. Draco gave a small inward wince. I hope she doesn't want me to pay for all that! he thought. She's really cunning though; worthy of being a Ravenclaw after all. She didn't even mention a single word about money!

They had nearly finished the lamb when Luna, having eaten a little quicker than Draco, started on the marigolds on her plate. She thought that it was a little odd that people would eat marigolds, but decided to try them gamely anyhow. Upon noticing Luna spear her first marigold and eat it, Draco's hand instinctively went out and held back her hand. "Luna, you're not supposed to eat the marigolds;" he said pleadingly, "they're just garnishes!"

"Oh. I'm sorry." Luna put down her fork contritely, feeling an unfamiliar heat rise through her face as Draco withdrew his hand. Draco shook his head, rising, and Luna made to stand up to. She thought she had probably botched this 'friends' thing.

"No, you sit down. I'm just going to get the dessert." said Draco, walking towards the kitchenette. He brought out a really nice dessert that Luna couldn't remember the name of, and set it afire. She gasped as he smiled in pride.

Over dessert they discussed the costume trading tradition, and Luna finally got Draco to give her his robe measurements. As Draco saw her to the door, she thought that he had never looked more handsome. Oh dear, he really is very nice, but the expedition must come first, she thought resolutely. After that, well, we'll see.