Chapter 6

"If," Voldemort said, stopping Lucius's thankful rambles, "you kill Draco Malfoy."

Although he knew what was coming, Draco's eyes still widened in horror. He was trapped once again in his uncontrollable dream, repeating almost word for word, the same actions, same consequences. His mother lay lifeless on the floor, killed unknowingly by his father. And now, it was his turn...

"Draco... my boy... you must understand-"

"I don't understand! I'm your son! You're only son!"

"It's the only way."

Draco shook his head disbelievingly as his father's wand came level with his chest, struggling to kill his son but the fact that he was attempting was enough. Lucius's glare cut through him, hating him as he spoke the two last words he would hear...

"Avada Keda-"

And like last time, he stopped mid-incantation. Draco stared, confused for a moment, into his father's stunned looking eyes. The man fell lifelessly in front of him, and Draco's eyes followed him to the ground, a new wave of fear overcoming him. As realisation hit, his eyes snapped up to The Dark Lord, his wand still pointing where his father had been standing.

Now, it was just the two of them.

"Annoying when people break their promises, isn't it, Draco?" Voldemort taunted, indicated Lucius's dead body. Draco couldn't speak. "What will you do without mummy and daddy?"

There was no way out. If Draco so much as reached for his wand, he would be killed in an instant. And he was sure words could hardly defend him here.

"Lost for words in my presence? Come now Draco, any follower of mine should feel free to speak their mind."

Draco's face screwed up in disgust. Not only was he well aware that none of the Death Eaters could speak their mind if it wasn't to Voldemort's liking, but also the thought of him being a follower to the man that had rid him of his family? He couldn't sink that low. Not even for his own life.

"I thought grovelling ran in the family. Clearly I was wrong."

"I'm nothing like my father," Draco hissed.

"My dear boy, what are you fighting for? Everything that was any good to you died in this room. You've got nothing."

"That's not true," a kind voice said delicately, changing the atmosphere completely. Draco looked to his left to see Luna, fixing the Dark Lord under a stare close to that of a mother telling her child he was doing wrong. Voldemort snarled, and Luna smiled encouragingly at Draco, as if she was sure they could win this.

"Luna..." Draco breathed. He shook his head. Her smile seemed so confident, but although he held so much faith in that smile he feared more for her. "What are you doing here?"

"Saving your life, of course," she said, the smile remaining. How could she seem to content in front of the most evil wizard known?

"No Luna... you can't be here... you have to go!"

"I was thinking very much the same," Voldemort's chilling, hollow voice said, his snake like features twisted with malevolence. Draco felt light headed as he turned to look at him, begging him more than ever not to take her away... the one person that had shown his life that was ignorant of light a little hope. He couldn't lose her. She was far too special...

Draco watched as the bone like wand was drawn once again, held out in front of him pointing directly at Luna. He tore his terrified gaze away to look at her, and was horrified to see her smile so confident a few seconds ago had faulted, staring glassy eyed at the weapon that promised no compromise.

"Draco...?" Luna asked, before looking up at him with confusion and innocence in her eyes. He felt like he was passing out, the scene fading out of his vision as a vivid green light filled the room, still present in his mind as his eyes snapped open...

His breath shuddered and he realised he was crying. He curled up into a helpless ball on his bed, in terror of his own thoughts. It was impossible to rid the image out of his head, and he had no idea why it terrified him so much; Luna in fear. As his head began to clear, he realised it wasn't just the fact that for the first time ever he had seen her afraid, but also that it was at his hand. As if his existence had endangered her...

A new feeling of horror past through Draco as he realised there was a little reality in his dream. Was he really putting Luna in danger? He was a bad person. There was no point in sugar coating it. He came from a Death Eater family and was now under the bidding of the darkest wizard on Earth... and Luna was one of the kindest, nicest people he knew.

'But I can't block her out of my life...' Draco thought guiltily. He couldn't lose the best thing that had come into his life in such a long time. But at the same time, he couldn't cast his tainted shadow over her...

Deciding his racing mind definitely wouldn't rest, he decided to get up and take a walk. It was a little more risky to do so now; the sky outside was still pretty dark, and the dorm was sound asleep. He decided his sanity was a little more important than a slap on the wrist, and continued to get up, dressing in his robes and leaving the common room. If he got caught, he would just apologise.

To some people, the castle was quite a scary place at night, as it got very dark and was a mysterious place. For Draco, he sometimes found the shadows of the castle comforting; the darkness made him feel hidden, not exposed to judging eyes. He could relax.

There was a chilled breeze blowing in from the windows, and Draco sighed as the gentle wind caressed his heated skin, cooling him down. He looked through the windows, seeing the artistic form Hogwarts grounds took at night. Although you couldn't see much, the clear night sky allowed the moonlight to sprinkle a dusting of light over the grounds, creating a texture in the trees, and the stars twinkled happily above them.

His eyes stayed on the sky, fixated. It just seemed so much easier out there... he was looking at freedom, what it was like without the pressure and expectations hanging above his head. Up until now, he never minded the demanding price that came with his rich life, as it came with power and admiration. He didn't rely on the fun to stop. He'd almost forgotten his dad worked for the darkest wizard of all time...

"Hello Draco."

Draco physically gasped, turning to see Luna was leaning on the window sill of one of the open windows, staring out. He didn't know how he didn't see her before. Unlike him, she was dressed in casual clothes, which included a flowy, blue-green skirt and a purple vest top, complete with big red shoes and grey tights. He smiled at her, but she wasn't looking at him; she was looking up at the sky. He wondered how she'd seen him, but was more concerned about if she was ok.

"Luna?" He asked, approaching her. As he got closer and could finally see her face, he felt his heart contract; it wasn't that she was crying, but there was obvious sadness on her face, and her eyes were glazed over in thought. She seemed even more distant than usual.

"Good morning," she said quietly. Even her voice didn't seem to be all there.

"What's wrong?" he asked her in a small voice, leaning against the wall next to her.

"I was just thinking about my dad," Luna replied wispily. "It's been getting to me lately... the way people talk about him." Despite what she was saying was obviously hurtful to her, she said it like it was the simplest thing.

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, though he thought he knew the answer.

"The way people talk about him sometimes... I know he's seen as a little strange but... he's still my dad, you know? It can seem like people forget that sometimes. They think I don't see the looks they give each other when I talk about him but I do. And I get sad when I think about him because I know he's all alone. He keeps busy but still..."

Draco looked at her unsurely. He wanted nothing more than to make her happy, like she had done for him, but he didn't know how. He hesitated for a moment, before awkwardly putting an arm around her bare shoulders, stroking her shoulder reassuringly.

"I sort of know how you feel... people talk about my dad all the time," he said. Luna looked round to meet his gaze with the same intrigue she always focused on him, urging him to elaborate. "They never used to, but now that he's in Azkaban they just make fun of him, and because he's in Azkaban, if I try to stand up for him they just tell me they don't have to answer to me anymore seeing as the one person keeping me held so high was my dad. The press say things like he's going insane, and being in Slytherin, instead of getting comfort, I get mocked," he finished, chuckling humourlessly. Luna still had him fixed under her intrigued gaze, but it was now more of a look of understanding.

"I'm sorry about your dad," she whispered. Draco gave a small smile, looking down. It was a whole other thing for people to show sympathy for his father.

"I'm sorry about those people making fun of your dad. They don't understand what it's like I guess," Draco said, looking back up at her and suddenly overcome with feeling; he felt that they'd made some form of connection. He smiled shyly at her, and she smiled back.

"It's nice having someone that understands, isn't it?" she said.

"I can't say it something I'm used to," Draco replied honestly. "I think people just don't bother trying to understand me."

"That's a shame," Luna said sadly, though she still smiled. She briefly turned her head to look out at the forest, and then back at Draco. "I'd like to show you something, if you wouldn't mind going into the forest."

"...the forest?" Draco clarified, looking out the window into the darkness. He looked unsurely back at Luna, but she still seemed perfectly content.

"It'll be beneficial, I promise," she smiled. "Come on," she said, taking his hand and leading him away. Draco was shocked, feeling butterflies in his stomach as he closed his own hand around Luna's. A blush returned on his cheeks but he was sure Luna wouldn't be able to see it in the darkness, even if it was a rare addition of colour on his face.

"Was there any particular reason you were up so early this morning, Draco?" Luna asked. Draco noticed that when Luna asked questions like this, she always left them open so Draco had room to back out if he wanted.

But that was if he wanted... he wasn't sure if he did want to. He knew he could trust Luna, he knew she made him feel better... maybe she could help?

"...Yeah there was," Draco replied. "I've been having a hard time sleeping lately because of these repetitive dreams I keep having. Well, nightmares."

"A lot of the time if you have the same dream, it means something's bothering you. Dreams are very powerful," Luna said. Draco knew this was a hint to elaborate, but being Luna, she gave him the space again to back away.

"It's not just that they're the same... now and then, another part will be added on to the dream and just make it that much worse."

"Maybe the situation is getting worse? It could mean something. It depends what it is really."

Draco turned to look at her, and she looked back, immediately catching the anxiety in his eyes. They slowed down a little before stopping, and Draco reluctantly let go of Luna's hand.

"I thought you would've known... it's always all over the papers and seems to pop up in conversation frequently... that my family are... involved... with the Dark Lord. When people talk about it, they don't really know what they're talking about, but it's... there's truth in it," Draco said, feeling as if he was tripping over his words. There was no surprise or disgust in Luna, but he could've sworn she seemed a little let down. "I've never been the best person, but I never really wanted to get that deeply involved with... with that side," he continued, trying not to use the words 'death eater' at all. "But I've been sort of thrown in the deep end. And I guess the dream reflects that."

"What happens?" Luna said quietly, looking at him with soft intrigue.

"I... I'm in this room... a dark room... with my father and mother and... and You-Know-Who," Draco said, feeling stupid that he couldn't even say his name. "He tells me I've done something wrong..." he tried his best to dismiss the panic that was growing in his voice, "and I have to pay for it... and then he puts my father under the imperious curse to... to torture and... kill... my mother..." Draco put a stressed hand over his eyes, biting the inside of his lip so he didn't cry. It was stupid of him. Just thinking about this dream now was enough to make him cry? He was shocked when he felt Luna's hand comfortingly hold his other hand, stroking it with her thumb. When he took his hand away from his eyes, there was the tiniest of smiles lingering on her lips, and the urge to cry almost returned; only this time it was more of disbelief.

"Then... he turns to my father," Draco continued, looking away from Luna's accepting eyes, feeling more and more anxious as he came closer to the part where Luna entered the dream. "My father's crying over my mother, realising what he's done... and seconds after, he begs for his own life. You-Know-Who tells him he can keep his life, if... if he kills me." Luna's hand tightened round his for a second, but he felt almost guilty now having her comforting him. "He approaches me and goes to kill me, but then You-Know-Who kills him, and it's just the two of us, and then..." he drew a deep breath, and before he could think about it, said, "you come in."

He felt the clutch on his hand falter, and he dared to look at Luna's face. Her eyes were wide, as if she was still absorbing what he had just said, but otherwise there was nothing else he could understand from her expression.

"You kind of tell off the Dark Lord... you look down on him like a small child, and then you look at me as if you think we can beat him... and then I tell you that you have to go, and then..."

He tried, but he couldn't choke the words out. He slipped his hand out of Luna's weak grip, covering his face with both hands. She must hate him now. Or at least see him differently. But now she knew who he really was.

"Draco," she said softly, wanting him to take his hands away from his face. She said his name again, but he refused, hiding his emotion. He was trying his hardest not to cry, and Luna wasn't stupid; she could tell. To his surprise, Luna wrapped her arms around Draco's torso, into a hug.

A hug.

Draco's hands moved from his face in shock, staring down in complete awe at the girl, who despite hearing the trueness of his character was now hugging him perfectly contently. She had somehow gotten closer to him, instead of hearing his story and running away as he had expected her to.

Gratefully, he hugged her back, wrapping his arms tenderly around her shoulders and resting his cheek on her head. The story he had just told on top of the affection he was now being shown was overwhelming, and despite his efforts, he caved in to his urge to cry. He held on to her tighter, so grateful that she was here for him now, doing exactly what he needed her to. He was sure that if the sun never came up, he could stay like it forever.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"Anytime," Luna replied, giving him one last squeeze before pulling out of the hug. She smiled up at him and he returned it, though feeling slightly embarrassed that his face must now be blotchy and red from crying.

Without warning, Luna took Draco's hand again and continued to pull him into the direction they were walking in before. Draco almost tripped over, not expecting to be speeding off again like this.

They walked all the way out of the castle and on to the grounds. It was still dark, but it seemed to be a little lighter, and Draco wondered how long they had actually been talking for. She led him across the grass, and he became alarmed that they were heading towards the forest.

"Luna... where are we actually going?"

"We're nearly there," she replied, not really answering his question. He began to get very paranoid, checking over his shoulder every so often and around at the floor, to make sure there were no secret creatures of the night that would lash out and eat them. With all his attention on what was behind him and what was on the floor, he missed what Luna was leading him to, and when they stopped he felt his heart thud hard before coming to a complete stop –

Thestrals.

He stared, wide eyed, at the great horse-like thing standing in front of him, looking back at him with no emotion. He felt frozen. It was only when Luna squeezed his hand he actually remembered he was alive.

"They won't hurt you," Luna told him. "They're really quite gentle. Unless they feel threatened, they wouldn't hurt a fly."

He nodded, trying his best to take in what she was saying, but the fear was still there. "Why couldn't I see them before..?" He asked in a low, shaky voice.

"You can only see them if you've seen death," Luna replied. A new feeling of guilt past through him, which somehow seemed to melt away his fear a little. "You're not the first to react the way you did. They may look frightening, and sometimes their behaviour could be mistaken for threatening, but really they're actually quite gentle, and a little afraid."

She turned to look at him, and Draco suddenly felt exposed under her gaze. She looked at him as if he should know where she was going with this, but he was really too scared to sit down and think with a Ravenclaw state of mind.

Luna walked away for a second, and returned with a few apples. She held one up to the thestral closest, and it ate it out of her hand. Draco looked petrified.

"Once you get close to them, they're lovely, see? You try," Luna said, holding out her hand. Draco took it, taking a cautious step closer to the creature, not taking his eyes off it. Luna handed him an apple, and Draco hesitated before taking it from her, holding it carefully in his hands.

"Now hold it up to him," she said patiently. Draco did as he was told, though slowly and with much more fear. The thestral sniffed at the apple, as if sensing Draco's fear as well as the fruit, and bent its head almost respectfully before delicately nibbling it out of Draco's hands. Draco seemed shocked that the animal didn't strike at him.

"You see? Harmless," Luna smiled, petting the thestral. Draco reached out and caressed the thin skin on the thestral's neck, and the creature nudged his arm affectionately with its nose. A smile broke on Draco's lips.

"You're right," he said, looking over at her and seeing how proud she looked.

"They're just like you, you know," Luna said, bowling an apple over to one of the babies. "They might be seen as scary and horrible, but really they're just misunderstood."

"Is that why you brought me here?" Draco asked, though he was secretly happy she did because she was completely right. Luna smiled in reply, and Draco chuckled to himself at how clever yet crazy this whole thing was. It turned out clever and crazy was exactly what worked for him.