12 Months in a Year

Summary: 12 one-shots about each month of the year. Draco/Luna

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

December

The mistletoe thought it could outsmart Luna Lovegood, so it quietly waited for her to walk underneath of it. It watched with caution as she came skipping lightly down the hall. The Dungeons had been freezing since the beginning of winter and now with only a week left before the break, the students were really beginning to feel the cold. Snow was already blanketing the hills and forest outside and inside Christmas trees and decorations had already begun hanging itself.

The mistletoe that had thought it could outsmart Looney Luna Lovegood was sitting right above the entrance of the Potions classroom. A student had hung it as a joke, trying to get guys caught underneath it for a good joke. The mistletoe was lying in wait for anyone and it seemed to know that Luna did not trust anything that was green during winter. Luna stopped just before, almost like she could sense the "hiding" little red demon above her, but she was actually stopping because just at that moment the potions lesson was letting out. The mistletoe thought that this was the perfect opportunity and waited as she stopped and was pushed aside by Pansy Parkinson, currently snarling and ready to cry about something. She pushed Luna away and the rest of the class hurried out of the cold room, some even able to see their own breath. Luna watched them with mild interest and when the doorway looked clear she went towards it.

Now, the mistletoe only almost outsmarted Luna Lovegood. She looked up just in time to see it and stopped inches from being underneath. Like she could sense it laughing and inviting her into the room, she stood stock-still. The little devil of a plant was blocking her from her class. She made a face that looked a bit like annoyance, but it mostly looked like her usual dreamy state. Harry Potter suddenly appeared right in front of her, almost running her over as he was talking to someone behind him.

"Luna! I'm sorry," he said, getting his balance back and smiling at her as Ron and Hermione stopped right behind him, trying to get by.

"Look," Luna said, staring right at the mistletoe. It had thought for a moment that she was caught, but it soon realized that she had taken a precautionary step back to avoid it. The mistletoe was not to be bested by some little witch, and it was going to make certain that something happened. Harry looked up and saw the mistletoe and smiled a little. Ron and Hermione did not notice it in time and walked right underneath and Harry did not get the chance to explain. They were arguing like they always did and were soon down the hall. Opportunity missed.

But the failure was not in the fault of the mistletoe, for it had a plan on how to ensnare Luna Lovegood. It watched her intently, certain that she would be the one to fold first.

"You want me to take it down, Luna?" Harry suggested and pulled out his wand.

"No, I'm fine. I will just run through," she said dreamily, certain that the evil incarnate would not have its way with her. She was determined to not give into the demands and threats of a terrorist!

"Heh, okay. I'll see you later Luna," Harry said, waving and hurrying after his friends down the hall. The sound of distant laughter prompted Luna to know that the rest of her classmates were coming and she need to quickly get into the door before they ran her over too.

The mistletoe did not hesitate, as she was about to run right in because just at that second a body appeared and she ran right into it. Draco Malfoy was standing tall, dark and cold. He stared right down at Luna, who was as close to him as a girl could get. The mistletoe had won the day! She looked up at Draco curiously and he sneered.

"What are you doing?"

She did not answer but stared straight up at the mistletoe and quickly pushed Draco backwards into the classroom. Professor Snape was busy lecturing a timid Neville Longbottom during this, so he did not notice. Draco had been kept after to discuss the fact that he was failing terribly and Draco could have cared less.

"What are you doing, woman?!" he snarled and she smiled at him.

"Hello, Draco, how are you?"

"Out of my way," he said, and the mistletoe was defeated. It did not get the kiss that it had always demanded and it was a little disappointed. Draco pushed past her and just before he was out the door again the mistletoe had a sudden hope. Though it had been outsmarted and outwitted by the interesting and strange Luna Lovegood, it could easily best one angry, rude Draco Malfoy who was storming off to sulk. She reached out to stop him and he stood right under the mistletoe, and it cried out in success.

"What are you doing?"

"Mistletoe," she said, pointing upwards. Draco finally noticed it but it was too late. He had been caught. He glared at it, but the mistletoe was already celebrating its victory. Draco looked at Luna.

"Don't even think about it."

"What?" she asked innocently. She had heard of the tradition but she refused to go under mistletoe for a very good reason. Of course she could not quite remember what it was that particular reason was, but she refused to let that stop her. Draco tried to wriggle his hand free from Luna's grasp and just when he was about to escape Luna did what had to be done. Certainly the rule that one must kiss underneath the mistletoe suddenly seemed like almost a cure. Perhaps that was it. Draco would not be set free by the mistletoe until he was kissed. And who better to remedy the poor Prince of Slytherin?

So in one quick tug, Draco was leaning towards Luna and she kissed him lightly before turning and walking towards Professor Snape. Draco stood in the doorway, dumbfounded and angry at the same time.

"W-Woman! What was that for?" he demanded, and Luna turned around. The mistletoe was content and happy at the little display.

"The mistletoe," she said simply, and he glared at her. Hurrying out of the classroom, Draco was certain that it was just the wind that was making the loud sound that was drumming in his ears because it was certainly not his heart!

- Don't you love a story where an object is personafied? I certainly do! This is the final of my 12 months, so I am super happy! Writing about December in August was a little hard, but who doesn't love a good story where Luna battles wits against something that isn't real, or is a plant? Come on! That's just awesome. Thanks for all of the reviews, they're awesome. Thanks for reading!

Invader Hog