Ron stared between Luna and Victor as though trying to solve a puzzle that refused to make sense. Then an idea entered his head.
Unfortunately, it was Ron's idea.
"Wait," he said, pointing at Victor.
"Is this some sort of blackmail? Did the Malfoys force you into it or something? Because that's the only explanation that makes sense."
His finger remained pointed at Victor.
"How can you possibly like this sadistic, always-grumpy-looking fellow?"
Victor slowly turned his head toward Ron. The stupidity was almost impressive.
Luna looked genuinely confused. "Why would I be blackmailed?"
"Because he's Victor," Ron said, as though that explained everything.
Luna thought about it seriously, then looked at Victor, then back at Ron. "I don't think that's how blackmail works."
Ron groaned. "Luna, you're missing the point."
"No, I don't think I am."
Victor folded his arms.
"Ron. Do you actually listen to yourself? You've somehow concluded that the only possible explanation is a criminal conspiracy."
He looked at him with complete disbelief.
"Have you considered that Luna simply likes me?"
Ron stared. Then he actually laughed.
Victor's eye twitched. That reaction somehow annoyed him more than the accusation.
"You see?" Ron said, pointing again. "Even saying that sounds wrong."
Luna tilted her head. "I do like Victor." The certainty in her voice made it difficult to dismiss.
"He is kind to me."
Ron immediately stopped laughing. His eyes moved toward Victor, then back to Luna, then toward Victor again. The disconnect between those two statements was causing visible damage to his brain.
"Kind?" he repeated weakly.
"Yes."
Ron looked at Victor as though seeing him for the first time. The silence stretched for several seconds before he shook his head.
"No. I've known you for three years. There is absolutely no way the word 'kind' belongs anywhere near you."
Luna looked thoughtful. "Perhaps you're looking at the wrong Victor."
Victor almost smiled at the expression on Ron's face.
Ron looked as though he was seconds away from pulling his own hair out. Nothing about this situation made sense to him.
For years, Victor had been one of the most frustrating people he knew — sarcastic, annoyingly talented, and somehow always acting as though everyone else in the room was several steps behind him.
Yet people seemed to like him. Ron couldn't understand why.
His thoughts drifted toward Hermione. Every time he and Victor argued, she somehow ended up agreeing with Victor more often than Ron liked. She always had some explanation.
Victor is being practical. Victor has a point. Victor's solution makes more sense. It was maddening.
And now Luna was standing here looking perfectly happy beside him.
Ron stared at Victor, searching for the obvious answer. Was it because he was handsome? Ron hated admitting it, but Victor had changed a lot over the last few years.
Even at fourteen he already looked older than most Hogwarts students, and girls tended to notice things like that.
Then another possibility — maybe it was intelligence. Victor somehow excelled at nearly everything he touched. Academics, magic, duelling. Even professors held him in unusually high regard. But that still wasn't enough. There were plenty of intelligent people at Hogwarts. Plenty of good-looking ones too.
So why did Victor always end up surrounded by people who liked him?
The more Ron thought about it, the more confused he became. His gaze stayed fixed on Victor.
What's so special about him?
Victor, meanwhile, was watching him with growing suspicion. The expression on Ron's face suggested he was attempting a particularly difficult Arithmancy equation. He looked no closer to an answer than when he started.
Then the sound of footsteps came from deeper inside the Burrow.
The commotion had apparently attracted Molly Weasley's attention. A moment later she entered the room, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Ronald Weasley, why are you shouting loud enough for the entire village to hear?"
Ron immediately pointed at Luna. "Because—"
"Not another word." Molly's eyes then moved to Luna and her expression softened immediately. "Luna dear, it's lovely to see you again."
Luna smiled. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley."
Molly's attention shifted toward the unfamiliar figure beside her. The smile froze slightly. She recognized the blond hair first, then the aristocratic posture, then the surname connected itself.
"Who might this young man be?"
Victor stepped forward slightly. "Victor Malfoy, Mrs. Weasley."
The room went noticeably quiet. Ron looked between his mother and Victor, half expecting an explosion. Molly, however, merely blinked — years of raising seven children had given her remarkable self-control.
"Lucius Malfoy's son?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
The answer caught her off guard. Luna looked amused. Ron made a choking noise.
Molly studied him carefully. The resemblance to Lucius was obvious, though she couldn't help noticing that his expression after mentioning his father had been less than enthusiastic.
"He's a friend of Harry's and mine," Ron offered.
That explained some things. Ron wasn't usually quick to warm up to people, so the fact that Victor was standing in the Burrow at all said enough.
"Well," Molly said, her expression softening, "you're welcome in this house."
Victor inclined his head politely. "Thank you, Mrs. Weasley."
Her eyes moved between the three of them. The group certainly wasn't one she would have predicted a few years ago, but life had a habit of surprising people.
"Now then," she continued, slipping into her usual tone, "have either of you eaten?"
Luna shook her head. "We came directly from my house."
Molly nodded as though that settled the matter entirely. "Then you'll both stay for lunch."
*****
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