Thirty werewolves moved into the apartment block on the first day. It filled one court, leaving two vacant for the next creatures who would need them. The media, thanks to Luna's featured article in The Quibbler and the Daily Prophets smaller follow up article, stated that an anonymous donor had funded The Remus Lupin Foundation for Magical Creatures a living space for several werewolves at an undisclosed location. It went on to rave about the Foundation and what it's doing, and wrote a strong paragraph on the struggles that werewolves face today, and did a lovely job of reminding people that werewolves were people too. The Foundation received a few donations by owl, and some mixed letters. Hermione had sent Draco a plate of homemade cookies in thanks, and was grateful to run into him while shopping with Luna a few days later. Hermione greeted him warmly, and he stopped to chat out of politeness.

When they parted ways, she noticed that Luna's always pale and dreamy face was tinged with blush and a slight frown. When asked if she was okay, Luna replied, "Oh I'm fine. I just hadn't seen Draco for a while. You seemed friendly with him."

"Well, yes I - he helped me out a few weeks ago," she half-truthed. The platinum blond had expressly forbid telling anyone what he had done, which was a strange departure of behaviour. Maybe he really wasn't like his father.

"I guess I won't see much of him. He doesn't seem like he goes out much." It was a passable attempt for casual for anyone else, but on Luna it seemed downright silly. A gear clicked in Hermione's head. Luna had a crush on him! She couldn't guarantee that he would return the affection, but if he was lonely and seemed to be changing his ways...

"Wait here," she told Luna, and dashed after Draco, catching him just before he went into the ice cream shop. "Draco! Wait. I'm having a get together next Friday at six." Well, she was now. "Would you like to come as my guest? It won't be big, but the food will be homemade and there will be some laughs for sure. Fred, George, Luna. A few others."

Draco hesitated. "Harry and Ron won't be there," she added. "Auror training. I promise no one will make you... Uncomfortable." He nodded, and looked surprised at himself.

"Is there... Anything I should bring?" He asked.

"Just yourself," she assured. "Well, see you next Friday!" And she ran back to Luna before he could change his mind.

"Luna, you've got plans next Friday at six," she told the blonde. "We have to find you something cute to wear!"

She spent the rest of the day dress shopping with Luna, and found the most amazing shimmering blue dress. It was the colour of a clear midnight sky, and in fact the shimmering was indeed stars that looked as they did when you glanced up at them. A galaxy in a dress - and 30% off. "Is it really going to be this fancy?" She asked of Hermione's dinner party.

"I'll dress to match," she promised Luna, having already sent a new dark pink a-line dress to Fred's. "And I'll make Fred dress up, too, which means George will have to! It'll be swanky. It's fun to dress up now and again."

Fred flat out told her that she could throw a dinner party in his flat, and she could invite Draco Bloody Malfoy, but he was in no uncertain terms wearing a suit. A few minute of pleases, and pouts, and he gave in. She also informed him that she was moving in.

"Really? Why now?"

Hermione blushed. "Well, haven't you been asking me since George moved out?"

"And you keep saying not yet. I just want to know what changed."

"I love your mother, but I love you more. I want to be closer to work. And I read a study that married couples last longer if they've lived together first."

"Well - okay then. Let's go get your things!" And they moved her in.

Molly wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but they were only a few months from marriage. She made Hermione a blanket as a housewarming present when she moved the last of her things, possibly knowing Fred and Hermione weren't likely to change their minds so she wanted to appear as though she approved all along. Whatever her reasons, Molly didn't kick up too much of a fuss, and Hermione was grateful. She even gave Hermione her famous treacle tart recipe. She made it Thursday night to serve at her party, along with a few other desserts.

The main course was a full roasted turkey that she cooked all day long, giving the whole flat a scrumptious scent. She made all the fixings with stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and cranberry sauce. She even made candied yams and mince meat pies. She had also made appetizers, spending the time the turkey spent in the oven making lobster puffs and devilling eggs, even throwing together some canapés. By the time guests started trickling in the wine had been opened, the lights were just a touch dimmer than usual, and a few candles were lit. Soft music played to fill the background, and Hermione was dressed and had her hair done.

Fred came home from work and immediately kissed Hermione in a way that made her feel dizzy. Then he went to take a shower and change into his suit. George arrived a few moments later with Katie, followed by Luna. Hermione was not particularly close with her old school mates, so she had instructed Fred and George each to invite a couple. And so Lee Jordan and Alicia Spinnet, and Angelina Johnson and Blaise Zabini arrived as well. Hermione was particularly pleased that Blaise was coming as Draco would both have another Slytherin present and be shown that since the war, house lines didn't mean much anymore. At least not in her circle. Draco himself showed up promptly at six but was still the last to arrive. He walked out of the fireplace and into a group of people greeting each other.

He was rather surprised to find that everyone was dressed rather nicely. Even Luna Lovegood wore a bewitching dress... His eyes fell onto Blaise, who turned to face him and grinned. "I heard you were coming!" he exclaimed. The two shook hands and spent a second catching up before Blaise re-introduced him to Angelina. No one seemed hostile, or standoffish. Even the Weasley's were nothing short of welcoming. It did become apparent rather quickly that he and Lovegood were the only single dinner guests, though he couldn't tell if that was how Hermione's friend group shook out, or if it was a set up. When he cast a shrewd look at Hermione, she moved away to start pouring wine.

"Red or white?" She asked everyone, and started handing out glasses. Draco was between Hermione and Luna, so he took Luna's glass of white wine and passed it to her. The blonde blushed, and Hermione hid a smile.

Draco saw it too, and wasn't sure what to do about it. She acted aloof, and seemed her spacey self, but she just stopped talking when he got near, and spent a lot of time looking down at her feet. She wouldn't talk to him, but seemed to fancy him. How... Odd. It was nice, really, sort of sweet to have someone be nervous around him for a pleasant reason. His parents wouldn't have approved, though she was Pureblood. But your parents aren't here anymore, are they, he reminded himself. He had to start living his life for himself.

And if that meant chatting with a woman who fancied him and was shy about it, then so be it.

"How's the white?" Draco asked her directly. She met his eyes when he spoke to her, dropped them back to her glass and then up to him again.

"It's rather nice," she informed him, "I like sweet wines."

"You're not a fan of red?"

"I've never had it. I was given white wine first, and I suppose I just stuck with it."

"D'you want to try some of mine?" He offered his glass to her. "So you can see if you like it?"

Luna have a small nod, then took a sip. "It's different," she noted. "Spicier." She swiped her small pink tongue across her pouty lips, and Draco paid very close attention to it. "But I like this too. White wine might be my favourite though."

"Fair enough," he told her. He took the opportunity of their conversation to study the girl. She had pale skin, but seemed lit from within. Her long blonde hair tumbled into loose curls down her back, and her night sky dress hugged the gentle curves on her petite frame. "What are you doing now that you're not at Hogwarts?" he asked. Her eyes were like silver, he decided, not steely like his. Her irises were polished and shining. She had an air about her that he found thoroughly entrancing.

"I didn't want to take the train back to Hogwarts," she said. Understandable, since that was where she had been abducted. "So instead I fixed up my house and I'm taking my NEWTS through distance learning. Hermione helped me sort it all out. Now I own the Quibbler, of course, so there's full time writing, editing, fact checking, and printing. Along with about a million other things."

He had forgotten that she'd have the magazine - since her father was killed after alerting Death Eaters that Potter, Weasley, and Granger had shown up. Though he wasn't sure if he'd be alive even if they caught Potter, and it didn't look like there were any hard feelings between Luna and Hermione. "Is that what you've always wanted to do?"

"Well, I always thought I'd be travelling the world and cataloging new magical animals, studying rare ones. But until I'm ready, I have the Quibbler."

"Luna," She blushed at him saying her name, which he noticed. It was endearing. "I never got the chance to apologize for... for what my father and his associates did to you. Keeping you prisoner, I mean. And what happened to your father. I wanted to help but I..."

"I know," she said simply. "If you could have done something, you would have."

"I wonder every day if I could have done something."

"It's okay," she assured him. "I never blamed you. I don't see how you could have helped without being thrown in the cellar yourself. Or worse."

A silent moment passed between them and Luna, who earlier could not meet his gaze, was now staring at him. It was unsettling. She have the feeling of looking through him into his soul, and he wasn't comfortable with it. He wasn't sure there was much to see. "What," he finally asked her, "are you staring at?"

"I just realized," she said, "I've never seen you smile."

"Well, what's to smile about?"

"You've been invited here tonight as a guest of Hermione and Fred. There is good food, good wine, and good company. Everyone here is happy to see everyone. I haven't laughed so much in ages. Why won't you smile? Are you having a bad time?"

"No, I'm not. I just - there are so many things that weigh on me. And I was raised not to socialize with almost everyone here. It's hard to break out of."

"It seems like you're putting that on yourself," Luna commented. "Seeing as how your parents aren't here anymore."

Draco's hand tightened around the stem of his glass. "Don't talk about my parents," he said through gritted teeth. Then, as an afterthought, added "Please."

Taken aback, Luna nodded, and then mumbled an excuse and fled to the bathroom. "Is she okay?" Hermione asked. She had been keeping one eye on them since he arrived.

"Yes," Draco replied shortly.

"What -"

"She's absolutely dotty," he complained. "She bring up things she has no right to mention, and thinks I won't be upset. She lives in a haze, I think."

Hermione pursed her lips. "That's not really how she is," she argued. Granted, when they had first met Hermione had sang a different tune, but particularly spending time at The Burrow near where Luna lived, and seeing her all the time since she was Ginny's best friend, she had a new outlook on the blonde.

"Enlighten me," he requested.

"She sees the heart of people. She can't help it. She has spent her life being bullied and made fun of but she hasn't a malicious bone in her body. If I were to bet on it, I'd say she has some Seer in her. She's too... all knowing not to. But she's also a little out of touch with reality. It's like she doesn't understand why other people don't speak frankly about what's inside them, because to her it's so obvious, but when you're on the other side of it you feel exposed because she sees things others can't."

"She just doesn't get it."

"No. She doesn't. But she has a pure heart, and is well intentioned. If you can get past that part of her personality, she's a truly lovely girl."

When Luna came out of the bathroom everyone was munching on appetizers and talking to one another. She passed on the food for now, her stomach in knots. She felt like she had blown it with Draco. Not that she had ever had a chance. He was looking at her now. Probably thinking how strange she was, Luna wagered. Wishing he never spoke to her. Why couldn't for once she be normal?

Because then you wouldn't be Luna Lovegood, she reminded herself.

And all of a sudden he was there, passing her a napkin with a lobster puff and a few other canapés. "You should try these," Draco insisted, "They're rather good." He had seen her pass down previous offers, and felt bad that he had taken the spark from her eyes. The poor girl liked him, and he just shut her down. Where were his manners, even?

When she accepted the napkin he smiled at her, and she beamed back at him in response. "Yes," she said before popping a lobster puff in her mouth, "You should definitely do that more often." He felt an uncommon warmth spread through him at her approval, and was glad to take another glass of wine. He chose white this time, telling himself it was to pair with what smelled like turkey, but knowing it had more to do with Luna preferring it.

Hermione called for dinner, and they all sat around a clearly enlarged table to dine. She sat pairs across from one another, which meant that Luna and Draco, who had arrived as the only singles, were also seated across from each other. To his left was Fred Weasley, and to his right Katie Bell. Between sneaking glances at Luna, trying to figure her out, and digging into a truly wonderful turkey dinner, he couldn't remember a time when he had laughed harder. George Weasley told a bawdy joke, Angelina Johnson shared stories from Quidditch training camp, and Hermione did a spot impression of Professor Trelawney. Even Luna joined in, recounting a story from the DA.

"'Don't worry,' he said, 'I'll go easy on you' - and then she disarmed him so fast and so hard that he fell arse over teakettle!" The table howled with laughter, Hermione shaking her head but wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. Draco felt a pang of jealousy, wishing not for the first time that things had gone differently in school, but he laughed along with the rest of them. He could just see Ron Weasley puffing up in all his misogynist glory only to be put right back in his place.

After dinner the consensus was that no one could touch dessert right away, so they decided to take a night walk. The moon was high, and shone silvery on the cobblestones of Diagon Alley. It was unseasonably warm for late November, and the talking and joking lifted into the air as they strolled up the street. The couples gravitated together, and Draco found himself walking beside Luna. She walked a little slower than everyone else, and he soon found they were lagging. She just looked at everything, taking everything in with her impossibly large eyes.

"Luna." She startled out of her waking dream and looked at him. "There's a fundraiser for St. Mungo's happening next weekend. I'm... obligated to go. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me?" Remembering who he was talking to, he added, "As my date," so that she couldn't confuse his intention. He was asking a girl out and afraid she wasn't going to realize it. He hardly recognized himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had asked a girl on a date, let alone the last time he felt nervous about it. But he thought there was something between them, an energy... Free from the judgement of his family, he was willing to find out what it was.

She looked surprised, and then very pleased. "That sounds very lovely," she said dreamily. "Yes, I would like that. Is it going to be rather posh?"

"Well, yes, I suppose. These things are usually black-tie."

"I'll have to find something to wear - I think Hermione has rather good taste, she picked this dress out."

"You look truly lovely this evening," he said, and meant it. He stopped walking, and turned to face Luna. "I - this isn't going to be easy. If we start dating. I just want you to know that before we get started. I have a lot of things in my past to work through, and a lot of people are going to tell you that this is a bad idea. But I think I'm willing to try, if you are."

Luna considered him for a second, and then seemed to make a decision. She placed her hands on his shoulders and lifted herself on her toes to reach him, presenting him with a feathery kiss as though it were a gift. He leaned into her, and hardly even noticed that it had started snowing around them until he heard a distant wolf whistle. He looked up, and realized that the crowd of other guests who had gotten ahead of them had stopped to wait for them so as not to leave anyone behind, and had witnessed their embrace. "Hell with them," he murmured, and took her into her arms once more. If they wanted a show he'd give them one, he thought devilishly, dipping Luna back and really planting one on her. When he pulled her upright she looked more dazed than usual, and pink in the cheeks.

"We'd better catch up," he told her, taking her hand. A ghost of a smile touched his lips as she accepted his hand, and he felt warmed over completely.

Maybe fresh starts were possible after all.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly, between dessert and coffee and good conversation. Draco wondered when he had ever felt this relaxed - he couldn't think of a time, even when there was some playful ribbing of him and Luna. In the old days he might have said something cold to her and left. These days, having gone so long without warmth and then having her turn her silvery doe eyes on him, he accepted it gladly.

Draco left first, citing a business trip the next day. He thanked his hosts, and every one of the guests bid him a cheerful farewell. He shook hands with the gentlemen, exchanged pecks on the cheek with the ladies. When he reached Luna, he switched gears and gave her a warm but chaste kiss on the lips. "I'll owl you at The Quibbler about next Friday, okay?" At her nod he stepped into the Floo, hearing the women squeal for Luna as he spun away. Why did women do that, he wondered with a shake of his head when he made it home.

He went straight to his parents old wing of the house, and pulled their portrait off of the wall. He heard protests as his parents were tipped, and brought them to the attic. He leaned the portrait against the wall of the carefully swept space, and stood over it with his hands in his pockets.

"What do you think you're doing?" His father seethed.

"I need you out of my life."

His mother clutched her chest. "Draco, dear -"

"No, mother. I'm making decisions you won't agree with. I've changed. I'm doing the right things finally, and I can't have you here sneering at my future guests."

"What guests?" Lucious spat.

"I'm dating Luna Lovegood. I'm involved in Hermione Granger's charity to help oppressed magical creatures. And I just had a dinner party at her and Fred Weasley's flat."

His parents were already dead, but looked like they were dying all over again. He walked out of the attic to the sound of their protests. He walked to his office, pulled a magazine out of a drawer, and then called out to Gramble. An ancient house elf appeared, head bowed.

"Master."

"Hello, Gramble. I'd like my parents wing of the manor redecorated, please." Gramble risked a look up. Draco realized this was the first time he used manners to a house elf. "And I would like you to tell all of the house elves that they are no longer allowed to punish themselves in any way."

"H-how would you like to redecorate?" he asked timidly.

"I would like it to be very brightly lit," he instructed. "Light blue and cream colours. Like this." He pointed to a photo near the middle of the magazine. "I want it to look French. Do as much as you can, and if you're not sure about something, stop. There is no doing this wrong, do you understand? No punishment if I don't like it. We'll just change it. We're going to change a lot around here."

"Forgive Gramble if I speaks out of turn," the elf said, "But I thinks it is a good time for change." Gramble bowed his head again, and disappeared with a crack.

Draco pulled a sheaf of parchment and a fine eagle quill, removed the stopper from an ink pot, and wrote.

Luna,

The St. Mungo's fundraiser is confirmed as black tie. It's on Friday, January 23rd at seven o' clock in the evening. I'm hoping you'll meet me at six o' clock at my home in order to arrive together and have a drink before we leave. If this is agreeable, please send your approval via return owl. Just Floo to Malfoy Manor.

Yours,

Draco Malfoy

Because it seemed too formal, he added a hasty post script:

P.S. I have been thinking of you since I got home. We may make an unlikely match. You are a golden girl, and I am formerly of the most reviled house and family in the wizarding world, currently in public disgrace. Does that bother you?

He was pacing his study, preparing his boardroom speech for France the next morning, when his owl swooped in through the open window, dropping a letter next to its perch. The loopy handwriting could only belong to one person, he decided, and grabbed at the letter.

Draco,

Six o' clock sounds fine, I'll see you then. It will interest you to know that I have a dress shopping week planned with Hermione. I've never known her to be so keen on shopping. I think she's excited for me, and is as such ignoring her own aversion to trying on dresses. As Fred and George Weasley are also invited to the fundraiser, Hermione is going as well. We've a spa appointment at Bewitched on Friday afternoon to prepare, though I'm not quite sure what happens at those places. I'm hoping I'll leave as me still, just gala appropriate.

Truly,

Luna Lovegood

P.S. I imagine we might turn a few heads. I am willing to get to know the current Draco, and accept the past as a road to who you are now. But are you prepared to have people whisper that you must be mad to be with me? I'm not sure if you've heard, but my nickname in school was Loony Lovegood. I am led to believe that I am not a typical girl. My father always said it's because I'm extraordinary, but my classmates said it was because I'm barmy.

Draco snorted at her post script. True, the Draco of days gone by wouldn't be caught dead dating Loony Luna Lovegood - but that Draco didn't exist anymore. He had the whole Malfoy fortune that said he could do as he bloody well pleased, and that included date Luna. He never had to answer to anyone again, and quite enjoyed the freedom. He was really just exploring who he was, removed from the thumb of his father.

He sent an owl to the night clerk at Bewitched's attached hotel, and called it a night, retiring to his bed. In the warmth of his blankets in his soft feather bed, he allowed his mind to replay the dinner party and the snowy first kiss. Content, he drifted off, wondering when he became such a sop.