Chapter Twelve

The following day as Draco was in the kitchen preparing tea, Luna began sorting some of her recently neglected post. When he returned to the sitting room he was alarmed to see her on the divan, holding a letter as tears rolled down her face.

"Luna? What's wrong? What's happened?"

In a voice so small he could barely hear it, she replied, "Garrick Ollivander has died."

Draco sat down the tray and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, Luna. I am so sorry. When?"

"The day after Daddy's funeral." She sniffed then whispered. "All gone..." They sat in silence for a long time before she asked, "Draco? Have you ever not realized that you had a dream until there was no chance of it coming true?"

"Sorry, love. Not entirely sure I understand the question?" The endearment came out so effortlessly that neither of them noticed or acknowledged it.

He watched as she struggled to put her thoughts into words. "I mean...I don't know that I ever thought about it in detail but in the back of my mind I always had this...vision, I suppose." She stared off into the distance. "I am walking down Diagon Alley, holding hands with a little girl - my daughter. We are going to Ollivander's so she can get her first wand. I pictured Mr. Ollivander making a big production out of the selection process and afterwards we would visit my father, who would sweep her up into his lap and tell her fabulous stories about the wood and the core of her wand and plan all of the wondrous things they would do together..."

Her voice broke. "Except now, none of that will ever happen." She bit her lip in an attempt to stem the tears. "So now I must not only grieve the loss of my father and my friend, but also the loss of my dream as well."

Draco held her close. "I think I know what you mean now." He swallowed hard. "I think there are a great many dreams that need to be grieved because of this bloody war." He gently kissed the top of her head. "But maybe there will be new dreams to take their place, eh?"

"Maybe..." Luna gave a weak nod before rising to her feet. "Thank you, Draco, but I believe I need some time alone right now. I will be outside if you need me."

Draco spent the rest of the day near the window, keeping an eye on Luna as she sat in the field among the flowers. She came back inside for dinner but remained unusually quiet. She read in front of the fire after the meal but retired early to her room. Draco tidied up and went to bed, wishing he knew some way to help her cope with this latest blow.

xoxoxox

That night a violent storm blew up and the wind managed to loosen the shutters on the guest room window. As Draco got up to correct the problem he was startled to see Luna out in the field. She was wearing the same nightgown and robe as before but this time she was standing motionless, face up to the sky, arms outstretched. He couldn't tell how long she had been there but it was evident even from a distance that she was completely drenched.

Draco grabbed his robe, his wand and an old umbrella he had noticed propped next to the front door then rushed out to shield her from the downpour. Even though he was standing quite close he was forced to raise his voice in order to be heard over the storm. "Luna?! Come inside. You're going to catch your death out here. I don't think the fairies are going be out in this weather."

"I'm not here for the fairies, Draco." A sudden burst of lightning revealed that her eyes were red and swollen. "Mum used to say that rain had the power to make everything clean and new. It washed away the bad things that had accumulated and gave everything a fresh start. I want it to do the same for me."

Draco began to protest but she pleaded, "Would you stay out here with me, Draco? Please? I just want the pain to stop."

Draco thought quickly and countered, "One minute. If I stay out here with you for one minute will you promise to come right back inside?"

Luna nodded then wrapped her delicate fingers around his wrist, lowering the umbrella. She stepped away until their joined arms were completely spread. She tilted her head back towards the storm clouds and indicated that he should do the same.

Draco was now convinced that he had lost whatever vestiges of sanity he had left. He counted out the requisite minute and decided that he wasn't going to give her the opportunity to rethink the agreement. He scooped her up and carried her limp body back to the cottage.

He could feel how cold she was through the soaked fabric of her gown and robe but it was her complete lack of resistance that frightened him the most. As soon as they came through door he flicked his wand towards the fireplace and deposited her in front of a now roaring fire. He performed a quick drying charm on both of them and hurried to the kitchen to fix her a hot cup of tea.

When he returned a few minutes later she was curled up on the floor, asleep. He levitated the divan closer to the fire and placed her gently onto it, summoned a blanket and tucked it around her. He settled into the easy chair across the room and kept watch until he eventually nodded off, all the while hoping that the rain had washed away at least some of her pain.