Disclaimer: I do not own Draco, Luna, Harry, Ron or any of the original characters in this amazing series. They are the property of J.K. Rowling and her subsidiaries, and are used here without permission.

This story is for entertainment purposes only, and will not be used for profit or financial gain in any way. I make no money from this, and would never want to.

I pray that in my usage of this incredible work for my own purposes, that I will always do Rowling and all the others who have put their time, talent and dedication into its well-deserved success, true honor and respect. Amen

Summary/Warning: What is only alluded to by Draco, but not yet fully explored is that all the Malfoys were imprisoned and put on trial during the summer, even after Lucius Malfoy turned himself in. But only Lucius was sentenced to Azkaban. There will probably be some point where you will see a few flashbacks of their arrest and trial, but generally neither will be shown in any detail.

Chapter Two: An Important Conversation

He had set up a really nice tea on one of his mother's newly acquired china sets. He had even summoned the first set of tarts and tea with his own wand, which he would never have dreamed of before. When he called her downstairs, she looked first delighted and then concerned.

"What has happened?" She asked nervously. "Are you all right?"

Draco laughed. "Mum, can't I do something nice for you without having you get anxious and suspicious about it?"

"Draco." She spoke, and it was her "mother" tone, so Draco decided that this was not the time to tease her.

"Alright, Mum." He admitted. "It's not just about doing something nice for you, but at least sit down and have a cup."

She studied him carefully, as if looking for signs that he wasn't feverish or delirious; then nodded. "Very well. It is a lovely tea, Draco dear."

When she had taken her seat, he poured her the first cup of tea and offered her the tarts. She took a raspberry one nibbling daintily, though he knew that it was absolutely her favorite treat. "Why, Draco these are very good. Did you summon them yourself, or did Topsy make them?"

"I did it myself." He told her. "It was quite fun, actually."

She smiled at him somewhat tremulously and laid one of her smooth elegant hands gently along his face. "You're growing up so fast now."

"Actually, Mum." Draco spoke, not one to pass up a good opportunity. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about." She stroked one more time along his cheek and then picked up her tea assuming an attentive, and somewhat apprehensive, expression. "I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do with myself now that school is over and I've come to a decision." He took a deep breath. "I want to become an Auror." His mother's eyes widened and he rushed on before he lost his courage. "The Aurors were on the front line in the battle against Voldemort, and next to the Deatheaters and the Snatchers, their casualties were the most severe. They'll be starting a new academy class early next month, the 5th actually, and because of their need for new recruits, enrollment fees are particularly low; and the Minister of Magic himself, will be teaching some of the classes." He looked at her, hoping she could see in his eyes all the reasons for his choice, even if she didn't approve. "I know that I should talk to Father first, but I don't think that anything he says is going to change my mind. Mother, please don't be angry. I really want to do this."

His mother was silent for a short profound moment before tears filled her eyes again, but then a smile followed that was almost as bright as Luna's. She reached out and fingered the sleeve of the blue coat that he had purchased right after his meeting with Luna in Diagon Alley. He had also purchased a number of other items of clothing in blue, silver-gray and other dark rich jewel tones; enough to replace every one of his former black outfits. Offering the shopkeepers, who had waited on him so warmly and eagerly some of Luna's Dirigible Plums, had actually cut the price of the new clothing by a fair bit, but the richest gain for Draco, had been the fact that he had actually made other people happy.

The Dirigible Plums were, overall; a big success. Luna was right. They were very sweet, made good jams jellies, tarts and pies, and eating them actually did seem to lift one's mood. His mother had said that she would actually love to plant some, if the Lovegoods were able to get the product marketed after all. Now she sighed gently. "First the new colors and now the career of an Auror." She spoke softly. "You are the first Malfoy in generations who has had the courage to choose a different path from the one our family has often taken. I won't stand in your way, but perhaps you can tell me your reasons now, so you can fully express them to your father, when you send him your owl."

Mail was another new kindness allowed to the prisoners, but it was actually the clever crows that carried the messages in and out of Azkaban. Crows were among the beasts of the field (or the sky) that got along particularly well with Wizards; they always had, so they enjoyed assisting with new boons whenever they could. Besides, they were the only birds who reliably knew the way to that isolated prison. Still, that was not important currently and drawing a deep breath, Draco concentrated on answering his mother's question. "Friendship, Mum." He finally said "And kindness and love, and the bravery to die for what you know is right. Those are things Voldemort knew nothing about, and the people who displayed those virtues were usually branded Blood Traitors. But every kindness I've ever seen or been shown, has been by those very Blood Traitors whom Voldemort wanted to destroy."

He raised his eyes to look at her, his face pale. "Luna has no reason to be kind to me after she was imprisoned in our cellar for months, but she is; she always was. Even when I was calling her "Loony" behind her back, and God; even to her face, laughing at her odd ways and silently cheering on the mean-spirited housemates that stole and hid her things.

And Harry Potter had no reason to feel sorry for me, even when he ignorantly fired off Godfather's Sectum Sempra curse at me, but I saw it; the horror and regret in his eyes as I lay bleeding into the water swirling around us in that bloody bathroom. He didn't have to save my life in the Room of Requirement, or testify in our defense at the Trial this summer either, but he did; he always did what was right.

Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley had no reason to stick with Potter when he was off on that lonely, dangerous quest to find and destroy Voldemort's horacruxes, but they did; even though it put them in mortal danger. And when they were captured, Hermione (it was the first time he had called her anything, but "Mudblood" or "Granger") never broke, even when Aunt Bellatrix was torturing her."

Here, Draco's voice caught and tears sprang unbidden to his eyes, for he had personal experience with the Cruciatus curse and the slow, cruel carving of a wand on flesh. "Did you see how Ron held her after they broke out; the love and pain in his eyes? No one's ever loved me like that, except you and Father and Godfather Severus, who even took on the soul-destroying task of killing, to save me. And Godfather; God! He was the bravest man in the world to work so dangerously as a double agent. He spent his life working against darkness and protecting a boy he despised. He was the worst of Blood Traitors; he knew what would happen to him if Voldemort ever found out, but he did it; he did it all, because of love."

Now Draco looked back up at his mother and tears were in his eyes once more. "I've never had the courage to be like that. Potter did; the boy I swore eternal enmity towards without even knowing him, just because he associated with the Weasleys and didn't believe that Muggle-born Wizards should be exterminated. He was willing to die to save everyone, not just people like Luna or the Weasleys, but me too; and every other Deatheater and Snatcher out there, who would gladly have killed him themselves.

Look at the other people who have shown us goodness: Xenophilius Lovegood, when he forgave us for imprisoning Luna; Aunt Andromeda, who is so willing to forgive and reconnect with us, even after everything that she's lost; the Minister of Magic himself, who pardoned us; and Madame Rosemerta, who made sure we got a hot breakfast every morning, while we were in the Ministry Holding Cells before our trial: All of them Blood Traitors with no reason to help us, but kindness.

I want to be like them, Mother. I'm tired of a selfish, cowardly life; hiding behind our wealth and damned pure-blood arrogance! I want to stand up for something good, something right. I want to start making a difference that counts!"

Without a word, his mother stood up. She came around the table and embraced him tightly and tenderly. "You are more of a treasure than we could ever have asked for." She told him, her voice choked with emotion. "Oh, Draco; your father and I have made many mistakes in this life, but we must have done something right to bring forth a son like you. You go become an Auror, Darling. Write everything that you just told me in that letter to your father, and I promise you; he will support you every step of the way, just as I do."

Draco stood up and pulled his mother close as powerful emotions filled him up like never before: joy, wonder, relief and love. They swelled his heart, fed his soul, so overwhelming that they caused the tears that were still in his eyes to spill over and run softly down his cheeks. "I love you, Mum." He whispered. "Oh God, I love you so much!"