I got more story alerts and reviews for the last chapter, so I'm pleased to see that people are reading. Here is an extra long chapter. I have the next few chapters already prepared, and I'll post them as soon as I get some reviews! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, and I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Seven: Charity

The hours seemed to soar for Luna. She had expected to have been put in charge of the cash registers or to aid customers, but Draco had surprised her by giving her very odd tasks. After dusting the back room for nearly an hour, Draco had finally allowed her back into the shop for a few minutes. She had remarked that though dusting had been relaxing, it would have been more practical if he'd allowed her to use magic. Moreover, she didn't understand why Draco had wanted all the cartons dusted when nobody was using them or would even see them anyway.

After the dusting, Draco had put her in charge of counting all the boxes she had dusted. This was a tedious chore, but Luna finished it nonetheless. Bored and wishing to get out of the back room, Luna emerged from the dark, stifling chamber and found Draco by the till.

"Luna! We have customers! Go back in the back room!" Draco hissed.

Luna was confused. "But why?"

"Because I said so, Looney, now if you don't want to follow directions then you are more than welcome to quit," he snapped.

"I'm afraid I'm not particularly fond of that room," Luna announced. She seated herself next to Draco. "I'll take over here now. I've already finished counting the boxes twice, but if you still want to make sure you can do it yourself."

Draco looked angry for a minute. "You know what? You've been working so hard that you deserve a break. Go, Loon – er, Luna, get some lunch and take your time. I mean that. Take as many hours as you need – perhaps you'd even fancy some time to get a bit of shopping done or something."

Luna shook her head. "That wouldn't be responsible of me, would it? Besides, I've already brought a lunch."

Draco desperately scrounged his pockets and pulled out a handful of gold coins. "No matter. Take this and buy yourself a better lunch. Buy anything. Just make sure you take a long, long time to find something perfect."

Luna frowned. "I don't want anything, thanks. Is there anything you wanted? Why don't you take a nice long break and get something to eat, while I look after the shop for now."

"Yes, there is indeed something I want," Draco said quickly. "I'm starving, and I bet Pansy is too. Take these coins and buy us something to eat."

"Alright!" Luna pocketed the coins. "What shall I get you?"

"Anything, anything," Draco muttered, trying to shoo her away. "Bring us a nice surprise. Remember, take your time. Go to every shop until you find something special, okay?"

Luna nodded, content to have this fun errand. "I won't disappoint you," she promised as she stepped out the door.

"I know you won't," Draco muttered, shutting the door loudly after Luna.

Not long after Luna left the shop, the bell on the door began to jingle. Draco groaned and Pansy scowled, dreading the possibility that Luna was back. Instead of Luna, it was Goyle, Pucey, and Bulstrode who sauntered in. "Yeah, I'd like to buy a dress robe please, sir," Ajax announced, clearing his throat.

"Father's not here," Draco answered dully.

"In that case..." The boys pulled out a handful of beer bottles and passed one to Draco. Adrian offered one to Pansy, who wrinkled her nose in disgust and stormed away in irritation at having her time with Draco interrupted.

Draco took a swig of his Butterbeer and sighed. "When will this bloody day be over?"

"Say, what happened to Looney Lovegood? Where is that gorgeous thing you couldn't keep your eyes off of?" Goyle broke in.

"Shut up, Gregory," Draco snarled. "It's not funny. She's been driving me insane."

"But we thought that she's a real woman, brimming with confidence. We were expecting to see her limping after you'd banged her hard and fast...but where is she, Draco?"

The others hooted with laughter as Draco tipped his bottle in anger, leaving a puddle of Butterbeer on the floor. He was grateful that Pansy was out of earshot, otherwise he really would have had it. "She's a nightmare, honestly. I've only just managed to get rid of her. For now, at least."

Draco wiped away the floor with his wand and took another swig. At that moment, one of the family house elves apparated into the shop, carrying a large parcel. "Ah, lunch has arrived," he said, satisfied.

"Madam sent this for you, sir," the elf squeaked. Draco took the parcel, thanked the house elf hastily, and set it next to the cash till.

"Great timing too; I'm starving," said Adrian, and the boys began unwrapping the food at once. Pansy came to join them. Mrs. Malfoy had packed extra food today, knowing that Pansy would be joining Draco for lunch; hence the lunch tin was overflowing with a delectable prawn dish, salad, fruit, and custard.

The boys lingered around the cash counter, not bothering to seat themselves as they ate. Pansy sat alone at the small table she had demanded the house elves to set for her, still displeased that Draco's friends had joined the two. Luna Lovegood had slipped their minds entirely.

While the group was immersed in conversation and the scrumptious meal Mrs. Malfoy had prepared for them, the door opened once more. A short, young man with a flushed round face entered, looking thoroughly confused. This was the very shop he had been looking for, but it seemed to him that he was in the wrong place. The shop was surprisingly empty. A few house elves were scattered here and there, tidying the place, but he could see no workers or customers.

The man walked further inside, immediately spotting a group of young men dining at the till. He cleared his throat nervously. "Er, excuse me...could you tell me where I may find –"

One of these men, the pale blonde-haired one, looked up at him sharply. A spark of recognition flashed in both men's eyes at once – "you!" they both exclaimed in surprise.

"What are you doing here, Longbottom?" the blonde haired boy snarled. "This isn't the type of shop your kind of scum shops in."

Neville was infuriated. "I have no intention of giving you any business, Malfoy," he sneered. "Clearly I'm in the wrong place. I must have mixed up the name of another shop with yours."

"That's not surprising. You were never bright, were you?"

Neville ignored his insult. "I was looking for a friend who I heard is working here. Obviously I'm wrong – I'll leave at once."

As he turned to leave, the door burst open and in skipped a young, blonde lady, whistling to herself and carrying a small parcel. "I've brought lunch!" she announced blissfully. "Sorry I took so long."

It had taken her longer than she had anticipated. She had not been sure what Draco and Pansy wanted, and the amount of gold Draco had given her had made shopping awkward. Luna had never spent this much money on a meal, and she definitely wasn't comfortable doing so for someone else. She hadn't been sure if Draco had meant for her to use all of it, or if he had intentionally given her extra gold.

"Luna?" she heard a familiar voice call, and she turned to see Neville.

"Neville!" Delighted, she ran over and threw her arms around him. "I thought you were in Wales. Why didn't you tell me you're coming?" Neville was still in shock and thus unable to hug her back. "Why – what – you work here?" he spluttered out.

Luna nodded, her eyes wide and her loose blonde locks bobbing as she moved her head. "Draco's father gave me a job here! Isn't it wonderful?"

Neville was stunned. "Er – I don't know what to say."

Draco and his friends were now watching with intense curiosity. Even Pansy had left her cosy table and was now standing next to her boyfriend and clutching his arm, glaring at Neville and Luna in disgust. Luna was the only one who didn't seem to notice the sudden tension that had filled the room.

"I didn't know what to buy," Luna said, turning to Draco. "So I went into the pie shop and bought a variety of pies. There are two sausage pies with potato and melon, and three each filled with asparagus, radish, cheese, and chocolate pudding. Plus a few of my favourite: ham, tomatoes, bacon, chives, raisins, and peanut butter. Here's the change; it really wasn't expensive."

Draco stared at her, dumbfounded. "Thanks, but though as delicious as all that sounds, we've already eaten."

Luna's jaw dropped open. "But – you sent me to buy you lunch –"

Draco sighed. "Well, yes, but then our house-elf appeared with a freshly prepared lunch from my mother. I can't hurt her feelings by not eating it, can I?"

"Oh, I see." Luna couldn't stifle her hurt feelings in her voice. "That's okay, though. You can save the pies for later – and here, the change."

She reached out her hand to give Draco his money, but he ignored it. "It's alright. You can keep the change. What's a few gold coins to me? You can even take the pies for you and your – er, friend. How nice it was of him to have come all the way here to meet you." Draco glared at Neville in disgust as he spoke these words. "You've worked hard, take the rest of the day off and enjoy your lunch."

Luna, however, did not budge. It suddenly dawned on her at that very moment what the Malfoys really thought of her. Using all her might to stifle the tears that were threatening to leak out of her eyes, she shook her head strongly. She laid the coins carefully on the counter in front of Draco, as well as the parcel of pies. "You can be as rude as you want to me," she said quietly, her voice quivering slightly. "You can treat me with contempt and hide me in the back room so that no one of your class has to set his eyes upon a pauper like me. I'll take your rudeness, and your insults, and the shame and loathing with which you see me. But I will never accept your charity."

With that she turned around, leaving the shop with the same dignity and poise with which she had entered it.