Disclaimer: I do not own Draco, Luna, Harry, Ron or any of the original characters or ideas 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 honour and respect. Amen

Summary/Warning: This was one of my favorite chapters to write. I hope that you all enjoy it as well. Happy belated Christmas, and a joyful New Year to all. I hope that your Yuletide was uplifting and heartwarming, as your continued support is to me.

Chapter Eight: The Yule Ball and Other Joys

The Yule Ball arrived at last, and Draco found that he was looking forward to attending even more than he had been last time. Having been raised in the more traditional culture of the wealthy Pure-Blood, he had attended formal affairs almost from the cradle. He knew how to dance in the formal style, and he actually enjoyed it. Part of the Auror training for the past two weeks, had been in formal dance, and Draco was quickly recruited as one of the junior instructors. Their friends found it absolutely hilarious when Ron had been partnered with Draco to polish up his skills, and Draco, as a true Slytherin, had taken shameless advantage of Ron's position by murmuring sweet nothings into his ears, until his face was almost as red as his hair. Of course, when Ron had to practice leading, Draco immediately paired him with Harry or Dean, which gave them a taste of their own medicine; just for fairness' sake.

Draco had been assigned to the off-shift for the early part of the ball, so he could lead Luna into the hall and share the first dance, as was traditional. Draco told no one, but Bill who his date was to be. He simply told them that he had a date and let them wonder. Ron and Harry were also on the off-shift for the start of the dance. Draco suspected that Bill Weasley had planned it that way, because he knew that Ron and Harry, and sometimes Dean, were the fellow trainees who Draco was the most friendly with. It was an increasingly unsurprising kindness, especially where the Weasleys were concerned.

As the evening started, couples began gathering in the foyer outside the ballroom, to meet and head into the dance in anticipation of the entrance of the three champions. Draco was waiting near Harry and Ron, who would, of course, be escorting Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger. All things considered, the Auror trainee formal robes were rather nice, certainly better than the abominations that poor Ron had to wear the last time. They were mostly black, that was true, but they had a nice style to them. They had a flowing outer mantle, with Military-style trimming and braid, and well-tailored waistcoats in gold and yellow brocade, with the standard black-tie adjustments. The badges worn in place of a boutonniere, were fashioned of gold and inlaid with precious stones. They looked more like rare pieces of jewelry than uniform insignia.

The female trainees wore the standard gown-like formal robes, their elegant trim and braid adorning Military-style shrugs or short jackets. Their badges were worn in place of a corsage. For the women the main colors were also primarily black and gold with only a few touches of yellow. Nevertheless, most women looked absolutely stunning in black, and their lovely sisters-in-arms were no exception.

The three of them had not been waiting long, when Ginny and Hermione came down together. The Hogwarts students had all agreed to wear a formal uniform as well. After all, they were representing their school on this foreign soil. The boys all wore black, with dark gray silk shirts and then waistcoats and ties in their two house colors. The girls; however, wore their gowns in various beautiful fabrics that had been selected to represent both their house colors as well. Ginny's gown was a stylish and demurely modest combination of gold lamey and red chiffon. Her red hair was done in a beautiful french braid, woven with strings of red crystal and gold beads. The ornaments in her hair were echoed in a very pretty gold and garnet necklace.

Harry was clearly enchanted, and moved immediately forward to gently take her hand and help her down the last few steps. "Ginny." He spoke sincerely. "You look amazing." Ginny didn't reply. She didn't need to; her shy smile and enchanting blush said it all.

Hermione wore a very fetching and flattering gold gown, accented with some red. With it she wore a beautiful and unusual pendant and earring set of yellow sapphire, and red and golden-brown agate. She also wore agate crystals in her elegantly turned up hair, which was sleek, shimmering and smooth as silk. She had probably used some magic to achieve the effect, but it suited her. Silently Draco had to admit that Hermione was a very pretty girl, especially when she paused and smiled shyly down at Ron, who stood gazing up at her in wonder and delight.

As she descended the staircase, he moved up to her taking her by both hands and helping her down the last few steps, as Harry had done with Ginny. "I reckon I can give you a better evening than I did last time." He told her gently. "You look beautiful, Hermione." She didn't answer him, just kissed him softly on the lips. Even Draco found himself getting a little misty-eyed.

Shortly afterwards, their beautiful ladies on their arms, Harry and Ron approached Draco. "So who did you get, Mate?" Ron joked. "An arranged date courtesy of your Mum?"

"I've never had any problem getting dates, Weasley." Draco retorted. "What makes you think I need any kind of arrangement?" Besides no one from our old crowd would take me now that we're certified Blood Traitors. The thought asserted itself in a silent bitterness, and Draco pushed it away again. He would not let this evening be marred by unpleasantness; not this night.

Just then two Ravenclaw girls, who were waiting with their dates nearby, caught sight of someone coming down the stairs into the foyer. Their faces were completely stunned. "She- she looks beautiful." One girl spoke in a soft awed voice. Their dates turned to look as well, and their eyes widened. They appeared quite thunderstruck.

Curious, Draco and his companions turned to look, and promptly joined the other boys in the thunderstruck mode! Luna was poised against the light from above, which made her seem to glow like an angel. She wore a set of stunning robes, fitted in all the right places and flowing romantically in the rest. They were crafted in an amazing shimmering fabric that, depending on the way it shifted, or the way the light hit it; could either appear silver or blue, but mostly just retained a fantastic mix of both colors. Around her slender delicate throat was a single-strand necklace of elegantly wrought silver flowers, set with pale sparkling blue stones in their centers. Her earrings were in the form of delicate, ornate eagles with raised wings, facing each other.

Her hair was piled and arranged on her head in a graceful mass of coils and curls, which shimmered like moonlight-colored gold, and was ornamented in blue asters and sweet alyssum, in white. The flowers were clearly fresh, evident from the sweet scent that drifted around her; more exotic than the most expensive perfume! Both Harry and Ron recovered from their initial shock, only to break into enchanted smiles, and Ginny and Hermione practically beamed. The flowers in her hair weren't wilting and shone like stars. Draco found himself catching his breath. She looked amazing!

"Who do you think is going with her?" The second Ravenclaw girl breathed.

Luna's eyes, shy and self-conscious, searched the crowd below until they fell on Draco. Then they softened and glowed with happiness. Draco took that as his cue and met her halfway up the stairs, to reverently take her hands. Her cheeks flushed to a soft enchanting pink. "Draco." She spoke softly, and for the first time, Draco heard uncertainty in her voice.

It only made his heart beat harder. "Luna Lovegood." He replied gently. "You look absolutely incredible." Her blush deepened without compromising the rose-leaf beauty of her complexion, and Draco slipped her arm through his own and led her down into the foyer as if she were a queen.

He almost laughed out loud, as Ron and Harry were thunderstruck for the second time that evening, but they weren't alone. He and Luna seemed to be the absolute center of attention in the foyer at the moment, and giggles whispers and astonished gasps sounded all around them. Ginny and Hermione did not seem as taken off-guard, but they practically sparkled with happiness and excitement!

Eventually the rest of the students and guests went into the ballroom, while the champions and their escorts gathered in the foyer, in preparation for the grand entrance. Gabrielle's date was the handsome French acolyte, while Etoile and Jean-Pierre escorted each other, very happily. Dolohov's date was one of his own classmates; a very pretty girl by the name of Natalia. Draco did not know what her family name was.

The time came and the group of six entered the hall to the applause of the other guests. The whispers were even louder now.

"Is that Draco Malfoy?"

"Bloody Hell; that's Draco Malfoy! He's an Auror? Impossible!"

"It's Draco Malfoy; it is! What is he doing with Luna Lovegood? Those two families hate each other!"

One thing he never heard; however, was any mention of Deatheaters, but even if he had; nothing was going to upset him tonight. Being in Luna's company, was like swimming in joy itself!

The first dance began and Draco proudly led Luna onto the floor with the other champions. They began to dance, and Draco was in Seventh Heaven! She was perfect; light and graceful in his arms, moving effortlessly and joyfully through the first few measures of the beautiful waltz, as if they had been born to it! Draco barely noticed when Madame Maxime led the school's Professor of Social Graces, Monsieur Decorlet, onto the floor; dancing gracefully and skillfully with him, despite the rather large difference in their sizes. He had also been the main coordinator of the Yule Ball, and had managed to put together a truly fantastic and wondrous affair.

The end of their first measure indicated the start of the open floor, and soon other professors and guests were eagerly joining them. They were followed quickly by students and younger guests. Draco saw Headmaster Tchaikovsky bow to Headmistress McGonagall, and lead her onto the floor; and Beaux Baton's Deputy Headmistress; Madame Lavleur, dancing with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; Monsieur Ravenante. Bill Weasley and Fleur joined them, and, much to Draco's surprise; his mother and Xenophilius Lovegood! Then the young people ventured onto the floor and Harry and Ron, with Ginny and Hermione glowing on their arms, were soon dancing at his and Luna's side, showing how much they had benefitted from Draco's training.

The dancing was glorious. Draco danced with Ginny and Hermione, and any number of attractive young girls and women. When he danced with Hermione, he was surprised again. "I'm glad you're here." She told him. "I always wanted to dance with you more than hex you."

Despite himself, Draco smiled. "Or hit me?" He asked slyly.

She blushed, but smiled back. She really had a very pretty smile. "No." She replied, just as slyly. "I wanted to hit you." And Draco threw back his head, and laughed; surprising everyone in his turn.

It was one of the best experiences in Draco's entire life. Luna was like a dream in his arms; Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were beaming; and Mr. Lovegood was smiling. Gregory Goyle partnered a pretty Beaux Batons girl perfectly through the entire evening and no longer held back the fact that he still considered Draco his friend. Even his fellow Slytherins were civil with him. But one of the best parts about the evening, was his mother, who positively glowed! She and Draco danced together several times, just as Mr. Lovegood had parental rights to partnering his champion daughter whenever he wished, and Draco was deeply gratified to see his beautiful mother truly happy again.

Shortly before it was time for Draco to return to duty, she took her leave. He walked her to the proper exit, where she held him close and tight for a very long time. "I am overwhelmed with joy to see you so happy, Darling." She told him. "Oh, My Dragon, you were perfect tonight! Your father would be so proud, as am I." Then she smiled in that knowing way that only mothers possess. "And Luna is enchanting." She winked. "And from a good pure-blood family too."

"Mother!" Draco managed to choke.

She laughed as he blushed, then kissed him softly on the cheek. "Goodnight, My Beautiful Boy. You are my light in these often trying times." And leaving him, with heart glowing; She took the main floo back to England.

When it was time for Draco's watch to begin, he and Luna walked hand in hand along a marble veranda, gazing out at the moonlight washed snow that lay smooth, sparkling and white outside. "Thank you for taking me to the dance, Draco." She told him softly.

"No Luna; thank you." Draco told her. "You were amazing. I've never enjoyed a dance more."

Again Luna's cheeks flushed pink. For the first time, she lowered her eyes. "I was proud to be on your arm, Draco Malfoy. You were wonderful."

"Luna Lovegood." He spoke sincerely. "You gave me the courage to be wonderful. I could never have done any of it without you on my arm. You made me shine."

Her blue eyes turned back up to his face, the sweet fragrance of the flowers in her hair, which were still fresh; making his head spin. "You're not being fair to yourself, Draco. I always knew that you had wonderful inside; even when you were a horrid little prat."

Draco found himself caught between a laugh and a sob. "Well, for everything that horrid little prat did to you, I promise to make up every last bit. If you're brave enough to be my friend, I will spend every moment I am with you to make sure that you never regret it. I promise, Luna."

Her soft hand touched his cheek. "You're already my friend, Draco Malfoy. You don't have to do anything to earn it. Oh look! Nargles. "

Draco had only a moment to glance up and note the sprig of mistletoe that appeared to be growing over their heads, before her soft sweet lips pressed to his in an innocent and tender kiss! It took his breath away, and he clung to that perfect connection, just to the upper limits of propriety, before drawing away with fireworks and symphonies exploding and singing behind his dazzled vision!

"They live in mistletoe, you know." Luna breathed softly into his ear, and just as Draco became aware that she was referring to the aforementioned Nargles, she had kissed him gently on the lips a second time, and slipped away into the music and lights of the ballroom. He couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the night.

Thank you, LadyMuse for your delightful and encouraging review, and thank you also to all the followers and favs that I have been getting. I did not expect such a quick response to this story, but I am so glad that it is reaching out and entertaining so many of you. You all make writing this even more pleasant and I hope that you continue to enjoy my offering. God Bless!

DoS