Woo, the 25th chapter! I didn't think the story would become this long and so successful. Thank you for everyone who's been reading, and thanks to each and every one for your reviews. Enjoy!

Twenty five: Unwanted Advice

After they had finished their breakfast and had gotten dressed, Luna heard a knock at the door. "Who could that possibly be?" she wondered out loud. She never had visitors.

Draco grimaced. "I wouldn't be surprised if my parents sent a house elf to look for me. It's probably Twieck at the door, wondering what I've been up to."

Luna bit her lip. "I guess you had better go then. I wouldn't want to get you in trouble."

Draco nodded, grabbing his cloak. He followed her to the door, but they were both surprised to find that there weren't any house elves there at all. "Ginny!" Luna exclaimed.

She embraced her friend warmly while Draco scowled. "Luna, I heard the strangest thing from Neville," Ginny began, but she broke off suddenly when she noticed Draco's presence. "Um...what's going on? Why is he here?"

"Don't worry, I was just leaving," Draco said hastily, pulling on his cloak. He turned to Luna and said, "I'll see you in the shop then. Thanks for... well, you know." He grinned slyly and disappeared.

Ginny gazed at her friend in astonishment. Luna seemed to be oblivious of her presence, as she was smiling ecstatically in Draco's direction. "Are you feeling alright?" Ginny asked, interrupting her reveries. "What nerve he has, to come and bother you in your own house!"

Luna sighed as they both stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "Anyway, I came here to talk to you. Neville said that something was wrong, but I had no idea it was this bad. Frankly, I think you should get out of that job as quickly as you can."

"Why would I do a thing like that?" asked Luna, startled.

Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why should you work for those Death Eater scumbags? You're better than that! You could easily get a much better job, never mind how much those bastards pay you."

"But I like it at Onyx," Luna replied. "I don't think I shall quit anytime soon, but thanks for your concern."

Ginny ignored her. "Neville told me you haven't been talking to him. What's the matter? Why did you reject him? He's perfect for you, Luna, I thought you'd be happy to marry him."

Luna giggled, which astonished Ginny even more. "He's really not my type."

"What do you mean he's not your type? He's a wonderful friend! He's always been there for you! How can you break his heart like that?" Ginny demanded.

Luna was no longer amused by Ginny's words. "It's my decision," she responded curtly. "Now, shall I fix you some tea? I also made scrambled eggs, if you'd care for some."

"Don't change the subject! I'm not leaving here until you put an end to all this nonsense. You're making a really big mistake."

Luna had heard enough. "Well I think it's rather rude of you to come in here and tell me what to do with my life, especially when you haven't even talked to me or visited me in many months."

Ginny's jaw dropped open. She had never heard Luna's voice become this cold before, nor seen her eyes glaring the way they did now. She closed her mouth in embarrassment and answered, "I guess it has been quite a while since I visited, but honestly I've been too busy. I'm sorry about that, and I promise I'll be here for you more from now on." Luna's eyes became less cold, so she continued gently, "but can we please talk about this? I'm just worried about you."

"There's nothing to worry about," Luna argued. "I just can't marry Neville. He's a great friend – my best friend, for that matter – and that's all he'll ever be. I can't help that."

Ginny sighed but finally nodded. "I guess I understand. But Neville is going to be crushed."

"There's nothing I can do about that."

Ginny sighed again. "And I am really sorry I haven't been much of a friend," she continued. "I should have really been there for you, especially because of your father..." she broke off. "Will you be alright?"

Luna nodded. "I'm perfectly fine. Tea?"

Ginny nodded, and Luna poured her a cup. "Just promise me one thing," Ginny said. "Quit that job of yours. We'll help you find another one."

"I can't do that," Luna responded quietly.

Ginny was growing frustrated. "Why not? That job isn't good for you. It's not worth being treated like vermin just for a few Galleons. Malfoy will drive you insane if you keep working with him."

Luna couldn't help smiling at the mention of Draco. "He's not that bad."

"Not that bad?" Ginny repeated, raising her eyebrows.

"You just don't know him like I do."

There was a moment of silence, and then Ginny spoke. "Luna - do you have a crush on Malfoy? Is that what this is about?"

Luna didn't reply. Ginny was stunned. "Really? Draco Malfoy?"

"Like I said, you don't know him like I do."

Ginny shook her head slowly. "Maybe you're just overwhelmed. You have no idea what you're doing. You and – and Malfoy? It'll never work. Besides the fact that he's a git and that you're a million times better than him – it'll just never work. Luna, do you know what you're saying?"

Luna still didn't reply.

"Just forget about him. I'm saying this as a friend. You've just got a crush on him because you're alone right now. You don't really like him."

Luna's features once again grew cold. "That's not even remotely true."

"Fine, suppose that you actually do like him – even then, even if he liked you back, this just won't work. Think about what kind of a family he comes from. He'll hurt you, Luna. Do you really expect him to stay with you forever? It'll just be a huge mess in the end, and you're the one who'll suffer the consequences."

A small tear escaped from Luna's eye, which she wiped away before Ginny could see. "Just listen to me on this one point. Forget about Draco. It's just not meant to be. It won't lead to anything good. He'll just hurt you in the end."

At this, Luna stood up and busied herself with cleaning the table. Ginny said nothing else and there was a long silence. Luna ignored the tears that were threatening to emerge and choked back the huge lump that was rising in her throat. It wasn't the bluntness of Ginny's words that was tearing her insides, but the knowledge that on some level, what Ginny was saying was true.