Darkness Rising Chapter 10: Malfoy Misfit, a harry potter fanfic

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A/N: ;; Cheers to those who had waited for so long! To the dearest people who wanted Luna Lovegood to be officially in the fanfiction, here it is! (OMG, you guys are so going to kill me for making this chapter... I mean... I've read your reviews!)

Although, I'm going to tell you, I'm a bit of a screwed up person, so don't expect me to make everything easy for Harry and Luna and the rest of the characters. I'm a difficult sadist in fanfiction, and I want my characters to suffer. Hahahahaha! (evil!plotbunnies of doom!)

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Chapter 10

Malfoy Misfit

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A woman was standing at a cliff: her dirty-blonde locks swirled and swayed as the gentle breeze played with it; her sleeveless white dress flittered along with the sway of her hair. A white tulip was perched behind her left ear, her hands behind her form.

She began to look back at the person looking at her ever so slowly. It felt like forever before she was completely before him. She sat and reached out her hands to him.

"Come…"

Albus shot his eyes wide. He was in his room at the Malfoys'.

"It was a dream?" he asked his self as he rolled on the side. "It almost seemed real…" Albus noticed a small picture beside him: it was Ms. Luna Lovegood's picture. He pulled it from its original place, and held it out in front of him. It wasn't the same picture as in his dream, but it was the same woman, smiling at him as if they knew each other. Albus placed the picture back beneath his fluffy pillow, "… I hope we see each other soon… Ms. Luna Lovegood…"

Albus Severus Potter did not notice the door close quietly as he sank into another deep, yet dreamless sleep.

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Chirp, chirp…

"Ugh… don't… please… stop…"

Albus' hand touched a rather glossy flat thing beside him, he immediately opened his eyes.

'…' he muttered as he covered his face with his hand. Albus rolled to his side as he averted his eyes to the picture once again. It saved him from his nightmare—or lack of thereof. It was wrong, but he found his self wondering when he could meet the lady in the picture—malice not included though.

"She does live here…" said Albus mentally. He bolted upright, "Of course! Why haven't I thought of it before?! Drat it, Albus Severus, you're such an idiot!"

He rushed outside, only to be knocked backwards.

"So early." Said the whimsical voice that belonged to nobody else but Diana. She wore a periwinkle blue night gown that flowed to her ankles. She was sitting in a seemingly disgraceful way on the floor but she stood up as if nothing had happened and proceeded to ask Albus, "Are you going to do ten impossible things before breakfast?"

Still on the floor, Albus gaped at her comment, "I… ah, no. I don't do impossible things."

"You sure?" she asked, bending so that they could look at each other's eyes.

"I… ah… yeah." He stammered. Why was he always the one with such luck—or lack of thereof?

"I see… well, better go off and walk upside down!" she exclaimed happily, flouncing away. Albus then remembered that it was her mum that he (desperately) wanted to see.

"Diana!" he called out at her. She looked back, "Yes?"

"I… could you… could you…"

"Could I?" she tilted her head sideways.

Albus took a deep breath and said, "Could you take me to your mother?"

Diana gave him a look of surprise, a look that will forever be etched in Albus' memory for it was one of the rarest that existed. "Why… why do you ask?"

"I… I… just… I just felt…" he trailed off, unsure of what to say. Indeed, why did he suddenly feel the need to know a complete and utter stranger? It was not because she was Diana's mother, neither was it because she was considered as Aunt Luna by Scorpius… maybe it was because of curiosity.

Then, why was he curious?

"I-if you don't want t-to… i-it's fine—" but his words were cut off by Diana herself. She took his hands and held it tightly, "That's really nice!" her eyes were widening with happiness—a happiness that he couldn't manage to grasp. He then found his self being pulled by her to the staircase. Since Diana was almost running, Albus had to run too. She seemed really excited.

"Here we are!" she exclaimed as she pointed a door that looked very much every other doors in the manor: strange. Flying—moving—multicolored butterflies danced on the surface of the door, but not really touching the plane. It was surreal.

"Don't you think… she'll be disturbed?" asked Albus, feeling rather unsure of what was happening. Diana shook her head, "Actually… I think she would love to see you."

"B-but…"

It was too late, Diana had already opened the door.

Inside the room, it was spacey but empty, except for a single accessory: a beautiful cobalt blue bed embedded with sapphire crystals on its embroidery and a woman who seemed to be in graceful slumber. Albus' feet seemed to have a life of its own as it started to walk towards the bed: the closer he got to her, the livelier the room seemed to be. The seemingly blank walls were from where he could see, was painted with glittering white crushed pearl-like something, the carpet of the room seemed to have the same surreal butterflies as was on the door. The cerulean blanket seemed to be alive, for when Albus touched it, it was cool like the ocean and slippery too.

But it was nothing to the woman on it.

Though not extremely beautiful as what princes and other people would expect, she was beautiful in her own right—it was despite Albus being a mere twelve year old boy. Her extremely long dirty-blonde hair fanned across the surface of the bed, as if a halo of her being, she was pale but not too porcelain like, nor too fake. She was in a deep slumber—or at least that was what Albus thought.

"Won't she be angry when she wakes up?" asked Albus, still fixated at the older woman before him.

"I don't know." Answered Diana, a trace of sadness on her voice. "But maybe not, since Mum isn't the one who is easily angered."

"Hn…" Albus tilted his head. His heart wanted to stay with her, for some unknown reason, but his mind screamed that he should leave. He turned his back on Ms. Lovegood, "I think I should leave…"

"Why?"

"I… I'm…"

A growl erupted from his stomach; Diana gave him a stare and she giggled. Albus blushed.

"Of course."

Albus started to walk away from Luna, but his heart felt heavy. Something in him really wanted to remain beside her, so that when she woke up…

"Should I ask Mel to make you breakfast?" asked Diana. Albus stopped on his tracks and his thoughts: digesting what she had just asked, he nodded.

With a deep regret building on his stomach, Albus cast one more glance at the sleeping form of Luna Lovegood.

A sole butterfly fluttering on the background was the last thing Albus saw before the door closed.

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"I envy you!" exclaimed a very flustered Rose as Albus recounted his visit at Diana's mother's room. "It's so unfair! How come Albus get to see Ms. Lovegood?!"

"But she was asleep at that time, no big deal!" retorted Albus. He was becoming irate with Rose's constant badgering of how lucky he was and all because he 'met' Diana's mother. "How can we meet if she's sleeping?!"

"But you still—"

"I told you—"

"BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!" the usual drawling voice that belonged to Scorpius shouted with seemingly compressed exasperation and irritation, "Can't you even read in peace?! And you're supposed to be COUSINS!"

"But he—"

"I told you—"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Scorpius pulled his hair in annoyance and was at the verge of banging his head on the wall as the cousins bantered of useless things. Diana on the other hand was busy poking a snapping book, Albus wondered whether her hobbies included poking something weird.

They were in Stellar's library, which contained almost a thousand books on different genres: there were Muggle stories, Stories of Beedle the Bard, books on potion making, transfiguration and other stuff. It was all because Rose said to their parents that they were going to the Wiltshire Manor for research and stuff—not because of Quidditch and things like that, which were supposed to be the real purpose of their stay.

"Shh! It's a library." Diana suddenly popped, placing a finger before her lips.

Scowling, Scorpius returned to his reading, "Hogwarts, A History" wherein he had to make a three foot essay on wizard-goblin wars, Albus had already finished his and was now starting his essay on Potions. Rose, being the book-smart, had already finished all her tasks before she even set foot outside of Hogwarts on their last week at the school; Diana on the other hand… Albus had no idea, but since she wasn't doing any kinds of essays and such, he thought that she may have finished hers already.

Albus felt a prick on his back. He looked back, and there she was, with Stellar. Luna Lovegood was standing beside Stellar, clad in a shocking yellow dress, her feet covered with what seemed to be orange-yellow doll shoes.

"Hello, children! How about a little tea?" said Stellar clapping her hands. Luna Lovegood smiled nonchalantly at him and the rest. Something told Albus that there was something wrong…

"Sure," Replied Scorpius; Rose nudged him, he hastily added, "Mum."

Stellar blushed at the addendum, and smiled. She turned at Rose, "How about you?" Rose nodded. And so did Diana and Albus. Stellar and Luna left the room.

"Oh my God…" Rose gasped, then turned to Diana, "Diana! Why didn't you introduce us to your mother?!"

"Oh, you would like to meet Mum?" Diana blinked. "I thought you didn't like to meet her… she was once an editor of the Quibbler."

"No… I mean, I haven't even read the Quibbler, and only relied on Mum, Aunt Ginny's and other people's comments about it… but, well, since Auntie Stellar—"

"You're calling her Auntie Stellar?!" Scorpius gave her a bewildered look, but Rose ignored him.

"—told us about their discoveries and stuff like that… I think I'm, you, know, wrong about it…"

"I… I didn't know." Diana murmured, placing her right thumb before her lips, as if wanting to bawl.

Rose sighed in defeat, "It's okay… we can always ask her… but, I was wondering… Is your mother always like that?" asked Rose, a little surprised, "She didn't even talk…" Scorpius was looking from his book. "I mean…"

"Not really. It only happened recently." Answered Diana rather sadly. "She's not herself, you see." Rose raised a brow, but did not speak.

Albus took a breath, "W-What happened?"

Diana looked at him with her great eyes, "My…"

"It's OK if you don't say anything." Said Scorpius, closing his book. "They will understand that, won't you?" Scorpius stressed every word, so it was hard to say that it was misunderstood.

"Thank you." She smiled at him; Albus felt a frown was forming on his lips. She turned to Rose and Albus, "I hope you don't mind if I won't tell."

Rose pursed her lips, "It's not like we can force it out of you, can we?" she turned to Albus, who also nodded.

"Thank you." Muttered Diana, as she smiled at Albus and Rose. Scorpius shrugged.

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Albus sighed.

It was already their third week at the Manor, and all they did were to read and read and read more books, although they were amazing and really odd, it was getting rather boring. Yes, they did play Quidditch sometimes, but since Rose was always complaining of various things (like practicing for their Transfiguration and essays for History of Magic).

He heard a cough. Albus turned his head, Scorpius was on the door of his room. Scorpius seemed to bring something with him. (Albus thought that it was food)

"Thanks." Said Albus as he was about to grab whatever Scorpius had. The blonde boy pulled away what seemed to be a tray of cookies.

"Never said they were for you." Replied Scorpius, as he took a cookie and bit off a little from it. "Oi!" Scorpius exclaimed as Albus suddenly took a handful of cookies.

Albus replied with a smirk, "Never said they were yours either."

"Nice. Really learning, are we?" said Scorpius, plopping down on Albus' bed. He placed the cookie tray between him and Albus. "…"

"Mmm… these cookies are great. Who made them?" asked Albus.

"Mum and Aunt Luna, although Rose and Diana helped… Lyra wanted to help also, but Dad took her with him to Diagon Alley."

"For what?"

"Dunno… they said something about… uh… what was it… ah. I forgot about it." Scorpiua replied. "Say, Albus, is it just me or—" a shriek reverberated from outside, "—it's Rose." Albus gave him a surprised look, "She's been shrieking with delight these days, since she got to ask Mum loads of stuff…"

"… how about Diana?" asked Albus, as he suddenly found the floor interesting.

"Hn?"

"…"

"What about Diana?" asked Scorpius.

"…"

"Hello? Wizard to wizard, hello?"

"…"

"You're hopeless."

"… it's not like that…" Albus frowned, "It's just that…"

"That…?"

"… I dunno… I just… nah, just forget it. It doesn't matter." Replied Albus, although he cannot hide the fact that he was disappointed by his lack of will to talk about it.

"Tell me, why is it that you're so fascinated with Diana's mum?" asked Scorpius. His brows furrowed. Albus sighed, "I don't know… I don't know either…"

Scorpius raised his brows, "… are you sure you don't know why?"

"Why… did you ask?"

"Nothing." Replied Scorpius, grabbing another cookie which was almost forgotten, "I was just wondering if… well, just if…"

"If what?"

"I dunno… maybe you're looking for a person who you'd want to be your mother… and since Aunt Luna's Diana's mum…"

"That's ridiculous, Scorpius!" scowled Albus, "Why would I want to look for another mother when I have my mum?"

"I dunno. Maybe because Mrs. Potter suddenly changed her attitude towards you?" asked Scorpius, although for Albus, it was something to be confirmed by a nod from him. Albus could feel Scorpius was staring at him.

Albus shrugged, "Nah… I think I got over it already… my mum being upset about me being in Slytherin and all, I guess she'll be back to her usual self when I come home."

"Well, if that's what you think. Fine. It's not like whatever I say will change what you want, right?"

Albus replied with a grin on his face. He was expecting the worst, but hoping for the best.

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A lightning stroke from the dark clouds, creating an eerie picture of light being drawn at the black sky; whooshes and gusts of strong winds could be heard crashing on the front lawn. A storm was raging outside the manor, and the children were huddled together, listening to a pale young woman before the fireplace.

"… a heliopath is a large spirit of fire that guards the cave where Grindelwald is!" with her oddly misty eyes widening, Luna Lovegood was telling her father's story to the children who were grouped together for the night.

"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

A loud thunder roared, echoing through the four walls of the sitting room. Rose covered herself with a thick woolen blanket, she was almost crying.

"Why… why… why does thunders exist…" she whimpered. Luna tilted her head sideward, and asked, "You're afraid of thunder?"

Rose nodded, but quickly withdrawn in the blanket as another lightning stroke. After some seconds, another deafening thunder echoed.

Diana was clung on Rose's arm, making half of her body covered by the blanket; Scorpius was beside Diana while Albus was beside Rose; Stellar and Draco was nowhere in sight, as Lyra was bawling her eyes out earlier, causing the unmarried couple to hush her to her bed.

"Why, there's nothing to be afraid of!"

"But… it's… scary! What if we get hit by thunder?!" she cried. The boys panicked, while Diana and Luna stared at them.

"Come on, Rose! Don't cry like that!" exclaimed Scorpius, his hands flailing before him.

"Rosie, it's just a thunder—"

"It's just a thunder?! It's just a thunder" she was in hysterics. "What—"

"You should calm down, you know. It's bad for the health to have high blood pressure at such a young age." Replied Diana calmly, although Rose was already squeezing her arm tightly.

"Calm down—" another boom of thunder "—how on Merlin's beard can I calm down when we are in a middle of a storm and earsplitting thunders?! HOW?!"

"Oh it's easy." Replied Luna, as she pulled Rose and hugged her. Not too tight and not too loose. Another thunder rolled and Rose gasped. But she no longer screamed, and Albus thought he knew why.

As the thunder growled and roared at the atmosphere, Rose was quivering with fright. She no longer shouted: her arms were around Luna's middle and was hugging the grown woman.

"You only need a companion." Said Luna serenely as she brushed Rose's bushy locks with her hands. She then looked up at Albus, "You've been here for almost a month… but I don't know you."

"Oh, sorry… I… I'm Albus Potter. Albus Severus Potter…"

"Albus Potter Albus Severus Potter, what a strange name!" she exclaimed. "But don't you have two words that are repeated—"

"It's only Albus Severus Potter, Miss Luna." Rose mumbled.

"Is that so?" she tilted her head, "Why… it sounds awful. Don't people laugh when they hear your name?"

Albus looked up at her and there was no malice whatsoever in her way of speaking, and in her facial expression. She was being and completely honest of what she was telling them… not that Albus felt otherwise. He certainly had an odd name.

"No… my dad said it's a good name."

"Really? I think we should meet so that I could tell him to look for a more convenient name, rather than something that was like a raffle ticket or a game of MASH."

Albus felt a titanic piece of boulder was crushed on his small back (comically, though). He couldn't help but agree… it was a rather ridiculous name, and he wondered why of all names—Albus and Severus… of course he knew it was after two headmasters of Hogwarts, but still… it was overkill.

"You know… I think I remember knowing a person with a name of Potter." She said thoughtfully, seemingly lost in a daze.

"That's fantastic, Mum!" exclaimed Diana.

"I know!" Luna clapped her hands in delight, "Now where were we?"

Rose, who was now feeling more comfortable despite the stormy weather, and Albus looked at each other with raised brows.

What was happening?

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"What?!" exclaimed the two cousins as they took their supper at the Malfoys. It was only the children and Stellar who were at the grand dining room of the manor. Draco, Scorpius' father, and Luna was nowhere in sight.

"Calm down, children." Said Stellar, putting her fork down. "It's not like it's the end of the world for you. You just had to go home earlier than we expected."

"But we were having a great time here!" frowned Rose, "I… I was having a lot of fun with Quidditch… and your cookies were great… I don't want to go home yet." She looked really down.

"Couldn't we send an owl to my parents that we need to stay here?" asked Albus, knowing that Rose was really upset about it. In their home, Rose was always the one who needed to be really smart and book-smart like her mum.

Stellar gave a smile, "I would love for you children to stay here… but it seems that your parents still cannot leave their prejudices." She sipped her coffee. "I wouldn't be too surprised when they find out about your injuries—", she pointed Albus with her brows, "—they'll say it was attempted murder. Typical Gryffindor."

"Not all Gryffindors are like that." Muttered Rose.

"Hn… if you say so." Chirped Stellar.

Although they perfectly know, through their first year albeit in an infinitesimal way, that what Stellar said was true.

"Seriously, if you have to ask me, blood doesn't matter." Stellar said, more of passing than anything else, "But neither does what Hogwarts House you were in determine what kind of person you are…" Frown etched on Stellar's face, "Oh, why aren't you eating? Poor Mel will be devastated if you won't eat! She made sure that when you eat your last dinner here, it will be fabulous!"

Albus, feeling a little embarrassed and disappointed at the same time, returned to his food. He glanced at Rose; the frown on her face wasn't wiped away.

"Do you like strawberries?" coughed Scorpius. Rose nodded. "You can take mine then." Scorpius took a spoon and rolled the strawberries on his plate to hers.

"Thanks." Murmured Rose, as she gave a small smile to Scorpius.

"Hn." Was Scorpius' reply. Albus smiled at him, Scorpius shrugged. Diana was playing with her food, which was Italian spaghetti.

It was sad.

He wasn't able to fully explore the manor, nor was he able to go beyond the field that they used for playing Quidditch.

Maybe next time, they really should make something like a to-do-list to make things easier.

Not only will he leave too early, but, he wasn't able to talk to Miss Luna Lovegood as he wanted. She was always seen with either Stellar or with Draco, and she seemed to be always nowhere in sight. Her room, despite being unlocked when he and Diana went there a couple of days ago, seemed to be always locked.

He wondered whether seeing Ms. Lovegood in her room was just a dream after all.

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"We'll miss you, Auntie Stellar!" Rose and Albus embraced Stellar, who was the one who led them to the gates of Wiltshire manor. Draco, Lyra, Diana and Luna had already given their byes and whatnots to the kids, stayed at the manor.

"I'm sure going to miss you." Stellar kissed the foreheads of the two children. "Mwah, and I'm sending you lots of love from Wiltshire manor."

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were the ones who fetched the children; Ron snorted at the given affection for his child. Hermione gave him a glare. Ginny was rather stone-faced, and Harry just couldn't understand why.

"Thanks, Auntie Stellar." Rose sighed, "It was really great. And Ms. Lovegood too." Albus nodded in agreement.

"Lovegood?" mouthed Ron at the other three, "Do you think it's Luna?"

"Hn… I don't think so." Ginny replied coolly, "Might be her kid though, James told us about meeting the grandchild of Mr. Lovegood. Might be her."

Harry saw, at least he thinks he saw, there was a look of triumph was etched on Ginny's face.

"Well, that's… uh…" Hermione was looking at Harry, "…uh…"

"That's nice." Harry cleared his throat. He felt an icy feeling of regret in his chest despite his reply.

"Of course, that's nice." Smirked Ginny. She patted Albus' shoulder, "Well, little tyke, let's home." Albus nodded.

"See you at Hogwarts Express, Your-Four-Eyed-Highness." sneered Scorpius, Albus replied with a smirk, "As you wish, Your Honorable-King-of-Snarks." Ginny looked aghast. This was not the Albus Severus Potter she had raised! Harry wondered whether George was in Wiltshire manor too.

Scorpius turned to Rose, "And you too, Your-Bossy-All-Knowingness."

"Why thank you, Monsieur-King -of-Snark. See you soon. Beh." Rose stuck her tongue out. Ron looked like he was going to faint.

His Rosie was being Slytherinized! Hermione only gave a surprised look of amusement.

The three kids approached the rented Muggle car, which was a good few meters away. When they were out of earshot, Ron approached Stellar, fuming.

"What have you been teaching my daughter, you Slytherin… scarlet woman!" he pointed his wand at Stellar. Harry swiveled his head, Scarlet woman?

"Ron! What are you doing?!" Hermione exclaimed, she held the wrist of Ron's wand hand.

"Haven't you seen, 'Moine?! Haven't you bloody seen?! Rosie's acting strange!" he whirled his head at Stellar who was just staring at him, pointing the wand at her throat. "What did you do, you… you're your filthy pureblood madness—"

"Ron's right, Hermione. Even Albus is different." Snarled Ginny, she too brandished her wand, "Lady, listen, if I hear anything more about you getting acquainted with my family, you'll pay."

"Ron, Ginny, this is stupid." Said Harry, causing Ginny to drop her jaws. He turned to Stellar, "I'm sorry about this. They're just too overprotective of the children." He turned to Ron, "Ron, put that wand down."

"NO!"

"Expelliarmus!" a seemingly drawling voice chanted, and both Ron's and Ginny's wands left their hands. Draco Malfoy, in a long leather coat that billowed as he walked to the gates.

"What are you doing to my wife?" Draco snarled at the wandless opponents. "I heard something like pureblood madness? Looks like you went to the wrong place."

"Wrong place?!" Ron shouted, "You and your filthy pureblood family—"

"Aren't you a pureblood?" asked Stellar, but she was ignored.

"—you were the ones who were… with that crackpot aunt of yours who almost killed Hermione because she's a Muggleborn!"

"Ron, this is stupid, you know it!" Hermione was flustering. She turned to Stellar, "I'm really sorry about this. I'm really, really sorry."

"It's fine. I don't expect him to be not narrow-minded about Slytherin." She said. Harry whirled at her. "The Weasleys are very much known to have prejudices against Slytherin, no matter who it may be."

Ron and Ginny turned beet red.

"Why you—"

"Ginny, cut it out." Harry turned to Ron, "Ron, I know you're worried about Rose and Albus, I am too, but just… calm down!"

"This crackpot lady?!" Ron was in hysterics and pointed at Stellar. Draco glared at him, "I can't believe how stupid I was when I had let Hermione say 'yes' to this crazy woman!"

(Stellar: Oh look, he's in hysterics! Mr. Weasley is in hysterics!

Draco: Stellar, you can joke later. This is serious.

Stellar: But I am serious!)

"If you have any problems with Stellar, talk, don't just throw out your wand at her." Draco rolled his eyes, "It's not like she's can't talk and only opens her mouth just to perform curse."

His ears deep red already, Ron took a sharp breath, "Listen. If I see you talk to my children, or even dare get close to them—"

"It's not my fault that they like me, you know." Stellar said, smiling happily.

"What?!" Ron gaped at her. Draco raised a brow.

"Yes." She replied, "It's a shame, you're supposed to be their parents and despite being with them all their lives, you don't know what they really want to be and force them to be something they aren't. Isn't that the same as an Imperius Curse?" Draco remained silent, as if he was letting her do all the talk. He twirled Ron's and Ginny's wands on the air, next to him.

"Imperius?!" Ron was eyeing the wand, then turned at Stellar, "Do you know—"

"I perfectly know what an Imperius Curse is." She replied, still smiling, "And I must admit that it's rather handy—"

"See, I told you she's a crackpot!"

"One more word against Stellar, Weasley, and your wand is toast." Draco hissed as he pointed his wand at Ron's own. Harry brandished his wand out, and so did Hermione, and pointed it at Draco.

"Draco, we don't want to fight here." Harry said, "But if you're going to destroy Ron's wand, I cannot let that pass."

Hermione took a deep sharp breath and lashed out at the two men, pointing her wand first at Ron, then at Draco, "We settled this already, didn't we, now why are you two trying to kill off each other again?!"

"It's because Malfoy's an idiot." Ginny jeered. Stellar raised a brow, she placed her hand inside her robes, and Harry sort of figured it out that she was hiding her wand there.

"Shut up, you're just adding insult to injury." In everyone's surprise, Hermione snapped back.

"I'm supposed to be the person you're agreeing with!"

"Hermione's right, Gin. Stay away from our problem." Harry said, his wand still pointing at Draco. Ginny was simply aghast.

Stellar let out a whoosh of air and took her left hand out from her robes. Much to Draco's irritation, she then smiled happily at them, "Now, now. You might forget the real reason why you were shouting."

"—ar!!"

"What's that?" asked Hermione.

"-aco!"

"Oh. I wonder what happened inside!" exclaimed Stellar.

"Stellar! Draco!" a whimsical voice caught Harry's attention. From the graveled path of the manor, a woman with straggly knee-length dirty blonde hair in a shocking egg-yolk yellow knee-length dress was flouncing.

Harry dared believe what he was seeing. He did not see Ron nor Hermione's reaction to the approaching figure.

"What's wrong?" asked Draco. Harry shot his eyes up.

Since when was Draco friends with Luna?!

"I'm sorry, but Lyra was looking for you and she just won't stop crying." Her whimsical voice was music to Harry's ears. It has been such a long time indeed… and yet, here he was, speechless and rooted to his place.

"I'm going." Draco said, turning away. "C'me on, Luna."

"Wait! Can't we talk to Luna?!" Ron exclaimed. Stellar looked shiftily at Luna, while Luna tilted her head sideways, as if watching a rather interesting show on television.

Harry felt his heart skip a beat.

What should he do now that Luna's finally back?! What should he say?! Now that he was thinking about it… he had no idea what he was going to do when he sees her! How can he be such an idiot not to think of it. Harry wanted to kick his self mentally for being such a pathetic idiot.

Draco stared at Ron with an expressionless face.

Harry's hand was quivering. Should he say 'hi'… but that wasn't enough for the pain he had caused her!

"Luna, how are you?" Hermione approached Luna, who stared at her. For a moment, Harry thought she was just going to stare at Hermione.

"Oh… I'm… I'm rather fine, thank you." Hermione furrowed her brows.

"So… how's the… er…" Hermione looked at Ron.

"Uh… Wackspurts?" Ron said, more of a guess than anything.

"Oh, those malevolent little critters!" Luna exclaimed happily, "Those fuzzy invisible bugs surely can't easily be shooed away of course!"

Ron looked at Hermione, he mouthed something to her, and somehow Harry understood what it was: She's pretty normal to me.

Harry then averted his eyes to Draco, who was still frozen in place, just like him, and then to Stellar who was completely… expressionless.

"Luna…" Harry murmured. Luna turned to him with her oddly misty eyes pure with something that Harry could not decipher yet, "Yes?"

"I…" Harry bit his lower lip. What was he going to do now? His knees were feeling rather weak, and his lips were getting rather dry. Was it just him, or he could definitely hear his heart thump faster and faster? He wanted to raise his hand and wave, but he seemingly couldn't command his arms to do so; he wanted to smile at her, but he wondered what her reaction would be… would she be angry at him? Would she be disgusted? Would she be ashamed of him? Harry had no idea…

But… he had to know… he had to say sorry… he had to ask for an acceptance of apology that even he knew, he did not deserve… he began to walk to the only woman he—

"What are you going to do?" he heard Ginny hiss.

Luna was just less than a meter away from him. It was now or never.

With a sharp intake of breath, Harry took Luna's hand. He pulled her to him, and enclosed her in an embrace.

"Luna… I'm sorry…" he muttered in her ear.

He wanted to cry, he wanted to shout, he wanted to thank all the gods that Luna was fine, that Luna wasn't involved in an accident, that Luna was alive and well, that Luna…

"Excuse me but…" he heard Luna say. He loosened his embrace on her and looked at her in the eyes. Harry felt his world collapse into ruins when he heard her say…

"Excuse me, but… who are you?"

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

A/N part 2: WHOA… frigging fourteen pages?!

A/N part 3: I am now ready for criticisms and whatnot. I know you already have your pitchforks and stake because of what I have done, I am ready. XD I told you, didn't I? I'm probably a lot more screwed up person than JK because I want characters to suffer and I too can pull off those cheesy, vomit-like passages… burn me now. Hahaha. Have you read any shippy subtexts? I hope you did, cause when I was rereading the whole chapter, I was like… o.0 Did I put that there?! I hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I did when I was typing it (I've got to admit though, I can't do fluffy nor adventurous themes well… I'm more of a drama/tragedy writer…)!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE IDEA OF SURREAL MOVING BUTTERFLIES ON SURFACES—IT WAS xxxHOLIC, BY CLAMP. There, before I get sued.

RECOMMENDING AN H/L FIC: Empathy Beyond Measure and Luna's Year