Draco found Luna still in McGonagall's old office, asleep on the sofa. He sat down in the chair across from her. She woke almost immediately and smiled at him dreamily.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, reaching over to brush her hair away from her face. "I've never even asked you how you were feeling, whether you've been sick or anything."
"We're fine," she announced, placing her hand on the baby bump and sitting up. "Everything's gone very well so far, according to the healer."
"I'm glad," he told her honestly. "I know my mother and her sisters all had a hard time. My mother lost three children before I was born and Aunt Bella could never have any."
She nodded solemnly and then gave him a wicked grin. "I just didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
After the incident with the bottlecap necklace, they had fallen asleep tangled together. He had awoken some time during the night with a hard on and a beautiful girl more than willing to take care of the situation when he woke her up. Just as the sun had begun to peek above the horizon, she had returned the favor by waking him for round three.
He mentally kicked himself and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. No, actually, I'm not sorry, but I shouldn't have..." he broke off, a smile on his reddened face.
She leaned over and kissed his nose. "I wasn't complaining."
He sighed and looked at his hands. "Look, about earlier..."
She took his hands in her own. "It's okay." she whispered.
"No, you need to hear this," he looked at her. "I know I keep saying this today, but I'm sorry. Really. I should not have blown up at you like that. You didn't do anything wrong. I know you wouldn't take any chances with our baby. I should not have accused you of lying to me because I know you haven't. And if anything I said made you feel like a freak, I regret it. Because that's not what I think of you at all." he sighed and looked back at their hands. "I was surprised and didn't know what to do. Malfoys do not deal well with those kinds of situations. I'm not saying that as an excuse. I'm telling you that because it would probably be helpful for you to know in the future. I mean, not that I expect you to never surprise me again, I just mean..." he shook his head. "Fuck. I'm talking to much and rambling."
She giggled and kissed his nose. "You're adorable when you're nervous."
He sighed and looked down, at his hands, at the floor, at something.
She reached over and laid her head against his. "And you're still upset about something."
He didn't answer. She took his left hand in both of hers and began massaging his hand. "It would actually be much more relaxing if I massaged your feet instead of your hands, but you have shoes on right now."
It was actually working, at least a little. His muscles weren't quite so tense.
"Now tell me what you're upset about," she whispered.
He ran his free hand through his hair. "When you came to me at night, and I thought you were a dream, I told you I loved you. You never said it back. I thought it didn't mean anything because I was dreaming, but I wasn't." he looked up, his eyes full of raw emotion. "Please tell me you love me."
There was a terribly long silence as her eyes filled with tears. "I can't." she whispered.
He shoved her hands away, practically leaping off the chair and stomping to the window to stand with his back to her.
Her arms snaked around his waist and her head rested against his back. "I do, I just can't say the words. That's why I kiss you on the nose. That's what I'm telling you then."
He pulled her arm loose and slowly turned. The tears were rolling silently down her face. She tipped her head up and kissed his nose.
"My mother, when she died, she was working on a protective spell. She thought there was power in the word love and kept saying it over and over, different variations and incantations, trying to make her spell work. Then there was the explosion and she was on the floor and I kept telling her that, all day and all night and the next day, trying to get her to wake up. I've never said it to anyone since."
He crushed her against his chest and for the first time in many years, Luna cried. He kissed the top of her head and held her.
When her sobs finally slowed to hiccups, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the sofa, sitting down with her in his lap.
He turned her face to look at him. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. I shouldn't have pushed you..."
"N-no, it's ok, you-you're right, you didn't know."
He wiped her tears away with his thumbs and kissed her forehead.
"Does it upset you when I tell you I love you?" he asked.
She gave him a shaky smile. "No, I like to hear it from you."
"I love you," he whispered. "I'll say it enough for both of us."
She snuggled her head against his shoulder. "You were worried about your darkness consuming me. You should have been worried about my own darkness."
His arms tightened around her. "We'll make a deal. Pull each other out of the darkness when we need it."
She nodded against his neck.
He lifted her off his lap and deposited her on the sofa. Before she could ask what he was doing, he was down on his knee in front of her.
"Luna, I love you. I've loved you for a long time, I just couldn't and wouldn't admit it to myself until the battle. I tried to push you away, because I thought you deserved better than me, and I still do."
He fumbled in his pocket. Oh shit, where is the fucking ring? After a moment of panic, his fingers closed around it.
"But I love you and I love our son and I want to be with you forever. I know I can be a pain in the arse sometimes, but you make me want to be better. I can't promise you that I will never make you angry or never make you cry, but I will promise that I'll try not to. Luna," he slipped the ring onto her finger. "Will you marry me?"
She kissed his nose with tears in her eyes again. "Yes, but..."
Oh shit.
"I want to finish school."
He let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and his face broke into a huge grin. "Okay," he nodded. "We'll talk to McGonagall, see what we can work out."
The headmistress was thrilled at their news, and assured them that Luna could continue her classes until the baby was born, and resume as soon as she was able afterwards, but felt it might not be appropriate for her to live in the dorms, being married. She suggested they look into getting a flat in Hogsmeade during the school year.
Luna returned to her room to pack an overnight bag, as they were going to stop by and tell her father, and then much to Draco's dismay, he was going to bring her back to the Manor so she and Narcissa could work on wedding plans.
McGonagall turned to him when they were alone. "And may I ask, Mr. Malfoy, what your plans are for taking care of your family?"
He shrugged. "I suppose I need to get a job. I have a trust fund of course, well, several actually, but I don't want to live off the Malfoys and Blacks forever. My father is hoping I'll take over running the family businesses, but I've never had any desire to sit at a desk and sign papers all day."
"Well, the reason I asked is because we have several positions open here at Hogwarts. Two in particular I feel would be a good fit for you. Madam Hooch did not return, so we need a flying instructor slash Quidditch coach."
He nodded, mulling that over. That might be something he could do.
"The other is that we are in desperate need of a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. For the past week we have had aurors take turns filling in as substitute teachers, but they need to be able to continue their own work. We lost so many during the war that they're rather short handed as it is."
He frowned at the old woman. "But I'm only 18. Uncle Severus had begun applying for the position when he was 25, and he was told he was too young."
"Yes, but you are far matured beyond your years, Mr. Malfoy." she walked over, patted him on the arm, and led him out of her office. "Please think about the positions and let me know your answer next week."
They apparated to the Lovegood home first, where Luna's father had greeted them with a shout as soon as he saw them together. He was thrilled to hear that she had accepted Draco's proposal, but was rather busy sorting supplies for his trip. They promised to keep him posted on the wedding plans.
Next Luna wanted to go to the Burrow and share the news with the Weasleys. She practically skipped down the hill, and Draco nearly had to jog to keep up with her. At some point he noticed that she wasn't wearing shoes.
Luna knocked at the door but then pushed it open without waiting for anyone to answer, which she explained later, she had done there since she was a child. Mrs. Weasley looked slightly surprised to see them together, but Luna held out her left hand and squealed "I'm getting married!". Molly threw down her dish towel, clapped both hands over her mouth, and then swooped Luna into a maternal hug.
"Oh, sweetie!" Mrs. Weasley released her with one arm, which she then used to grab Draco and drag him into a three way hug. "You've got to tell me everything. Oh my goodness! Have you set a date yet? We have so much to do! Fleur! Come here, you've got to hear this!" she hustled Luna off into the kitchen, leaving Draco in the sitting room.
He looked around the room, noting for the first time he wasn't alone. Mr. Weasley, Scary, and the one eared twin were all looking at him in amazement. Well, two of them were, anyway. Probably nothing surprised Scary.
Mr. Weasley recovered first, jumping to his feet. "Oh, come here, my boy, have a seat. Well, this one was a surprise, let me tell you. I really expected Hermione to be the first to come in telling us she was engaged. Of course, I wasn't expecting that one for a while, and probably not until she had knocked Ron over the head, mind you, but still."
Draco sat down, feeling like the fly who had been invited into the spider's parlor.
Mr. Weasley chattered on. "I'm so happy for you and Luna. That poor girl, she deserves some happiness in life. Oh, not to say that you don't, it's just that we've known her all her life and know what all she's been through. She's a good girl, son. I hope you'll be good to her."
"I'm going to try," Draco answered, still feeling somewhat lost.
At that moment, the floo activated and the Minister of Magic called out "Arthur,"
Mr. Weasley stood. "Hold on Kingsley, let me go to the bedroom and I'll call you right back."
The face in the fireplace disappeared as the red haired man bounded up the steps.
Draco fleetingly thought of running after him after looking at the faces of the two remaining Weasleys.
"So," the surviving twin began, not a trace of friendliness in his voice. "You forgot to cast a contraceptive charm before you raped your prisoner and figured marrying her would keep your arse out of Azkaban. Again." He folded his arms as if daring Draco to disagree with him.
Draco shook his head. "No, you were there at my trial. You heard what she said. I watched over her to make sure no one messed with her at the Manor."
"More like guarding your property for your own use," the twin snorted.
"No," Draco insisted. "Nothing happened while she was at the Manor. We didn't, um, get involved until later. But I love her, she loves me, and we're getting married because of that."
Scary Weasley stood, hands on his hips. "Just remember one thing. You hurt her, or the kid, and they won't find your body in an alley. They'll find your body in several alleys."
Draco stood and stared right back at him, hoping his knees weren't shaking. "I won't ever hurt either of them intentionally. But if anyone else does, that's the person they will be finding in several alleys."
Scary smirked at him and held out his hand. "Welcome to the family."
A/N - Oh, don't think they're going to start living happily ever after now. We've still got Theo Nott Sr running around and Lucius's past is going to come back to disrupt Draco's life in a big way.
And since someone asked, yes, Scary Weasley is Bill. Remember that Draco never really knew the Weasleys, other than Ron and Ginny at school, and wasn't friends with them then. He didn't know the older kids's names. In one of the earlier chapters, he thought Bill was one scary looking son of a bitch, so in his mind Bill has been Scary ever since.
If you like the story, I'd love to hear it. ;-)