Broken

Synopsis: Draco Malfoy is a broken man. He finds solace and companionship in an unusual young witch who works alongside him at Hogwarts. Draco/Luna; EWE; Post-Hogwarts; one shot (with the possibility of an epilogue/continuance). Complete.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Edited: 3/25/2018 - Typo fixed.

"Astoria, please." Draco pleaded, holding his wife's pale, limp hand which was rapidly cooling as any semblance of life left her body. His eyes watered, the tears starting to fall as he slowly came to the realization that he had lost her. Hours earlier she had been in labor, laughing and joking with him while waiting for the birth of their son and then unimaginable had happened. Astoria had suffered complications during the later stages of labor and neither she nor his newborn son could be saved.

Though they had been married only a few short years, Draco had loved Astoria Greengrass with a passion that could only be described as burning. Draco was wholly committed to Astoria and thoroughly intended to love her into their old age.

And now she was gone.

Draco knelt and placed a single white rose on the top of his wife's coffin as it was lowered into the ground. As he stood, he felt the reassuring hand of Narcissa Malfoy on his shoulder. Be strong. Hold it back. A Malfoy should never be perceived as weak. As her coffin was lowered in the ground, Draco felt his will to live silently extinguish. He would never the be same again.

Six months later…

Draco groaned as sunlight invaded his bedroom. It was half seven, time to get up and pretend to lead a semblance of a life. Open your eyes, Draco. This self-talk had become his morning routine each day since Astoria and his son had passed. Open your eyes. Sit up. Breathe. Stand up. Walk to the bathroom. Piss. Shower. Robes on. Coffee.

Draco rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stumbled into the bathroom murmuring Lumos to activate the lights. He leaned against the wall next to the loo while relieving himself running his hand through his silvery-blonde locks while stifling a yawn. With a flick of his wand steamy water began to stream out of his showerhead as he dropped his clothing on the floor. Draco stood under the scalding water, silently pleading with the universe to let him slip down the drain himself. Since it never happened, he stepped out, drying his athletic body with a towel. Draco pulled on a pair of black trousers, a black button-down with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and a black waistcoat. Draco wasn't sure he could ever wear a color other than black again. He was still very much mourning the loss of his wife and son.

Coffee. Coffee was next on his list. Draco had developed a taste for the black drink after he couldn't stomach drinking a cup of tea because it reminded him so much of the mornings he had spent with her. Draco left his bedroom and descended the winding staircase at Malfoy Manor, making his way into the morning room. His cup of coffee with added cream was waiting for him, steaming. Draco settled into a plush armchair and proceeded to sip his coffee whilst reading that mornings copy of The Daily Prophet.

He sneered at the date, groaning. August 29th. He would be returning to his potion as Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in mere hours. His leave of absence had been long enough. His friends, mother, and father had been urging to move on with his life and Draco had finally conceded to their wishes, begrudgingly.

At precisely noon, Draco stepped out of the floo with a flash of green and into the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He affixed his facial features into the characteristic mask of cool indifference that he wore so often when he had attended the school in his youth. Walk. He commanded himself, his legs blindly obeying. Draco moved through the great hall towards the room where he lived during the term in a wing where students were not allowed. Doors lined the hallway, bearing the names of each Hogwarts professor on them. Draco passed Longbottom, Vector, and Flitwick before arriving at the one marked Malfoy. He passed his wand over the door and entered his room. It was exactly as he had left it, six months before. He picked up a picture of himself and Astoria who laughed and waved to him. His finger touched the glass and the smallest smile rose to his lips as he gazed up her face. Draco set the picture down and set about unpacking and organizing his things.

Half three. To the Great Hall. Move, Draco. Draco straightened his back and moved down the staircase, across the foyer, and into the Great Hall. The majority of the staff members were already present, sitting in high-backed, well-cushioned chairs in a cluster at the front of the Great Hall. Draco quietly took a seat next to a blonde witch just as the headmistress started making announcements.

"I want to offer you all a warm welcome back this term." Headmistress Minerva McGonagall held her arms out in a welcoming gesture. "Before we begin, let me introduce our newest member of staff, Ms. Luna Lovegood, Ravenclaw, who will be will teaching our Care of Magical Creatures course as well as our new Advanced Magizoology course. Please give her a warm welcome."

The blonde witch who was sitting beside Draco stood up and smiled, a distinctly whimsical expression on her face. Draco knew of her. She had been one year behind him at Hogwarts and she hung around Potter and his group, despite being in Ravenclaw. She had been held for a brief time at his home during times he no longer cared to think about.

He glanced at her as she rose. Her dirty blonde locks flowed in soft waves until they just reached her waist. Her eyes were large and almost glazed over as if she had taken some sort of potion before coming to the Great Hall today. Her lips were curled into a whimsical expression as she spoke in high, breathy, voice which had an almost musical quality to it. "Thank you, Headmistress, though I don't truly expect a warm welcome. A simple "hello" now and again will do", she stated matter-of-factly before sinking back down into her chair, absentmindedly twirling a piece of hair around her finger.

Draco's curiosity was piqued. Hadn't people called her Loony Lovegood while they were in school?

McGonagall struggled to find her words. "Well, yes. Thank you, Ms. Lovegood." Luna smiled, continuing to fiddle with her hair.

Draco despised sitting at the head table. He avoided it at all costs, normally, but it was the first day of term and the sorting was due to happen soon. It was unavoidable today. He picked at his food, idly, ready to get this day over with. Draco felt like he had a scowl permanently etched into his features after enduring the past six months.

"It's okay, you know… to be sad. You lost something very dear to you. We all understand." Draco snapped his head to stare at the blonde witch seated next to him. They'd sat next to one another in silence since the feast began and now she had chosen to open her big mouth.

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Don't presume to know anything about me."

Luna shook her head, a pair of silver star earrings catching the light as she moved. "Of course not. I only see how sad you are. Your home was lovely by the way, the dungeons not so much. They were quite cold."

Draco flushed with embarrassment, a rare betrayal of the mask he wore. "I'm sorry that happened to you." He apologized, his voice softening. "My family were not in control of your circumstances at the time. I would have helped if I could have."

"Of course. I'm glad he died, you know. Voldemort."

Draco nodded and replied quietly. "Me too."

They sat through the remainder of the meal in silence. The Sorting Hat sang a new rendition of its traditional song describing the houses, calling for inter-house unity, moving through troubles with the support of close friends, and not being afraid to be adventurous. After several students were sorted into each of the four houses, Draco was finally able to end this cursed day and retire to his room.

The days turned into weeks and before he knew it, October was upon them. Draco sat in a corner of The Three Broomsticks nursing a rather tall glass of fire whiskey as he rubbed his temples, trying very hard to not think of Astoria. His best friends had written to him as their anniversary had passed, but their advice was appalling at best. He had received letters from Goyle and Zabini. Goyle could barely string words together coherently and Draco was sure he had been drinking when he wrote.

Draco,

Sorry it happened today. Trying not to think about it. Best time to move on, mate. Best for it to just let it go.

-Greg

Zabini's letter, like most of the ones he sent, always made some sort of reference to getting laid no matter the context. He wasn't surprised when he opened it.

Dear Draco,

Thinking of you today. I know Astoria would've wanted you to move on by now. You need to get laid. It'll help you forget. Owl me. I know someone. She's expensive but divine.

Best,

Blaise

Draco had not gotten a letter from Pansy Parkinson, but he knew she was busy with her own newborn. She and Theo Nott were blissfully happy and had just had their fourth child. It made Draco sick to think about it. He should've been cradling his own seven-month-old in his arms. Shut it, you tosser. Stop thinking about it. He stared into the glass of fire whiskey and continued to rub his temples.

While Draco was trying excessively hard not to think about his wife and child, a mug of steaming hot coffee slid itself across his table. He looked up and noticed Luna standing at his table, drumming her pink, glittery nails on the table. She was wearing a crimson jumper with tiny golden snitches embroidered here and there, and an electric blue skirt. She wore her typical half smirk on her lips and her eyes were wide with curiosity.

"You look like you could use this." She said, sliding into the seat across from Draco.

Draco sighed and stared at her. "Luna, thank you… but it's not a good time." Draco rested his hands on the table fingers closing around the saucer of the cup.

"It's never a good time. Coffee helps." Luna stirred her cup of coffee with the tip of her wand and laid a reassuring hand on his. She nodded, smiling warmly at Draco. "Trust me." Draco didn't pull away, he sat there, quiet, still, broken.

Draco nodded indifferently, taking a sip of the steaming beverage. "Would you like to talk about it?" Luna said, placing her wand behind her left ear and leaning in a bit.

"No."

"Have you ever talked about it?" She pressed.

"No."

Luna pursed her lips together and thought for a moment. She squeezed his hand. "Draco, come with me. That fire whiskey is going to do nothing but give you a hangover in the morning."

He didn't know why, but he tossed a few Galleons on the table and followed her out of the Three Broomsticks without another word.

Luna led him to a small park off of the main road. Being that it was evening, the park was deserted. The sun had set and the stars were just beginning to emerge in the twilight. Luna transfigured a patch of grass into a red checkered blanket and sat down, motioning for Draco to sit beside her. She twirled her wand in her hand and breathed in the night air.

They sat in silence for what seemed like hours as the sun set and the stars emerged. Draco looked over towards her one point and noted that Luna was laying on her back, hands behind her head, simply watching the stars. She wasn't trying to get him to talk. She wasn't offering inane advice. She was just there, keeping him company as if somehow, she knew he didn't need to be alone tonight. But, she couldn't have known.

Draco pulled his knees to his chest and found himself unloading everything onto Luna. He told her how he and Astoria had met, how they fell in love, how radiant she had looked the day they married, their plans for the future, everything. His voice began to crack as he started to speak about the day she died and the days that followed. Tears flowed freely as he spoke. Luna sat up from where she lay, pulling her feet under her and rubbed his back, listening intently.

Draco clenched his fists and turned to the petite blonde witch, his grey eyes meeting her gaze. "Why, Luna? Why? Why did it have to be her? I had finally found a glimmer of happiness only to have my heart completely ripped out. I'm so broken, Luna." Luna could see his grief turning to anger. There was no answer Luna could give that would have settled his soul. She remained silent and took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently.

They sat, hand in hand, for several minutes until Luna quietly mentioned they should head back to the castle.

Draco awoke the next morning feeling as though a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. There was slightly more spring in his step and his inner voice didn't have to do quite as much convincing to get him up and moving.

Draco dressed in his customary black trousers, button down, waistcoat, and outer robes and wandered down to the Great Hall for breakfast for the first time since term had begun. He sat down, silently, next to Luna Lovegood and opened his copy of the Daily Prophet. She pushed a cup of coffee towards him, as she had done the previous night and smiled.

"Thank you, Luna." His polite thank you carried more than just thanking her for the coffee. He was also thanking her for last night. She had done what no one else had been able to do. She had gotten to move on, even if he had only moved an inch.

"Do you have plans for Christmas?" Luna asked, pushing a cup of coffee towards Draco as had become their custom. They had been sitting together at breakfast since mid-fall and had formed a somewhat odd friendship. They rarely spoke about anything substantial but instead had simple exchanges about potions Luna needed for the creatures under her care, the weather, events that had happened in their classes with different students, and other mundane things.

"I'm staying here for an extra day or two after term lets out to finish a few potions I've been working on. After that, I'll be spending a bit of time with my mother. Blaise invited me to a party, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that, yet." Draco smiled kindly at Luna. "How about you?"

"Oh, I'm staying here. Might pop into Diagon Alley for a bit one day. Ginny has been kind enough to invite me to a get together at the Burrow the day after Christmas."

Draco frowned. "Staying here? Did something happen to your father?"

Luna shook her head, a musical twinkle coming from tiny bells housed inside of her golden snitch earrings. "No. I expect he is continuing his hunt for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Last I heard, he was somewhere in South America, Peru maybe? He'll owl me when he is back in Britain."

Draco nodded, accepting the curious girl's answer, though he had never heard of the creature she spoke of. "Luna, would you care to have dinner with me before I leave for the holidays?"

Luna turned to him and smiled, her silver eyes twinkling with delight. "I think that would be lovely, Draco." She replied, absentmindedly stirring own cup of coffee with her wand.

As Luna gazed up at Draco, she realized how much he had changed over the past few months. She had read about his wife's passing in The Daily Prophet and was quite surprised to see him when he sat down next to her that day in the Great Hall. He looked awful. His skin was sallow and there were dark circles under his eyes. He almost looked as though she were under the influence of the Imperious Curse. Every moment he made appeared to be a fight against himself. Luna was a very perceptive person and instantly recognized the brevity of his situation. Her father had had a very similar look about him when her mother passed two years before she started attending Hogwarts. Something compelled Luna to let him know what he was feeling was perfectly acceptable.

"It's okay, you know… to be sad. You lost something very dear to you. We all understand." He had snapped at her. She expected that and changed the subject.

Luna had watched him over the months as fall approached. She had tried to approach him several times but had failed spectacularly. Something inexplicable called her to him and she hadn't the faintest clue as to what it was. When she finally saw him that night in The Three Broomsticks, she took her chance and brought him a cup of coffee. She took him to one of her favorite spots in the park and she waited, quite patiently, until he had worked through what he needed to before suggesting they return to the castle.

After that night, she had noticed a marked change in Draco Malfoy. Every day, his confidence returned, little by little. He appeared more in the Great Hall. He awarded house points instead of merely taking them away. He attended Quidditch matches and didn't sit there scowling the entire time. He had started smiling. Luna was rather pleased.

Luna loved color, but this occasion seemed to require a more understated look. Draco Malfoy had asked her to dinner and for once in her life, she had no idea what to expect. She selected navy-blue dress robes with gold piping along the edges. With a wave of her wand, several subtle golden seven-pointed stars were affixed to a braid which cascaded over her shoulder. She pulled on a pair of sparkly gold pumps before tucking her wand away inside of her robes.

Luna found Draco waiting for her at the entrance to the great hall. Curiously, he was dressed in muggle clothes – a pair of dark washed jeans, black leather belt, and a charcoal button-down, a black coat draped over his arm. She noted that for the first time she had met him, he was not wearing black.

Draco smiled, taking her hand. "You look lovely."

"Thank you, but I'm over-dressed." Luna laughed, taking her outer robes off, revealing a simple navy-blue dress with gold trim beneath the more elegant outer robes. The modest garment had a high rounded neckline, sleeves that stopped just below her elbows and was gathered at her waist. From there, it flared out slightly, stopping just below her knees. With a wave of her wand, she had banished the other garment to her closet and a simple navy-blue pea coat appeared in her arms.

"Better?" He asked.

"Much. Where are we going?" Luna squeezed his hand as he led her through the Great Hall and out into the courtyard. She pulled her coat around her shoulders as they moved towards the gates.

"London. I know a place." Draco pulled her close to him as they exited the Hogwarts gates. She felt the pull on her navel as they apparated, suddenly very aware his arm was encircling her waist. She pushed it from her mind, they were just friends and to apparate with someone there was always some level of touch involved. Draco and Luna walked through the streets of muggle London and entered a restaurant which was tucked amongst several shops. Draco ordered a bottle of wine as they made small talk.

At the end of their meal, Luna had been rambling about things that had happened while they had been students at Hogwarts for some time. Her large silver eyes sparkled as she spoke. Her high, clear laughter was infectious. She was charming. He found himself utterly entranced by the eccentric witch before him.

"They really stole your shoes?"

"Oh yes. I walked around barefoot for the better part of the spring term. Luckily, I love the way grass feels under my feet. Cobblestone isn't so bad, either. My things had a way of finding their way back to me though."

"It didn't make you angry?"

"No, it was all in good fun." Luna shrugged, swirling the red wine around the glass before lifting it to her lips.

"You are unlike any other witch I've ever known, Luna." Draco smiled, laughing softly.

"Thank you?" She questioned. "I'm just… me. It's important to believe in yourself, I suppose. It's easier to find happiness, that way."

Draco offered his hand to Luna, helping her rise. "We should get back."

"You're right, of course. You're leaving tomorrow and you'll need to get some rest before your travels." Did Draco sense a hint of disappointment in her voice? If he did, her face never betrayed her.

The walked in silence back to the apparition point and through the grounds surrounding the castle. Luna was comfortable in silence. She didn't feel the need to fill every moment with conversation and Draco found solace in that. As they walked across the courtyard, Draco stopped and turned to the witch at his side.

"Luna." Draco started. Luna stopped him, placing a finger to his lips. "Shh. You don't need to say anything."

He took her hands in his and gazed into her silvery orbs. "No, I need to say this." Draco took a deep breath. "You had the courage to approach me when I wanted to shut the entire world out. Your friendship has been invaluable to me over the past several months. I just need to say thank you. Thank you for being there for me when I was so utterly lost."

Luna simply smiled, knowing this moment didn't need any words. Draco cupped her cheek with his hand and ran this thumb over her cheekbone, leaning down to rest his forehead against hers. She nudged his nose with hers and their lips met in a soft, sensual kiss. Draco pulled her close to him, enveloping her in his arms. They broke apart a few moments later, Luna's head resting on Draco's shoulder as he breathed her name in a whisper. "Luna…"

A/N: I am considering writing more, but for now this story is closed. Thank you for any comments or words of encouragement you decide to leave.