Thanks to everybody who's still following the story! It's been a busy semester, and my exams are just beginning, but I promise to update more from now on. There's not too much left of the story anyway ;) I hope you are all enjoying reading. Please keep sending me your wonderful reviews :)

Twenty-six: A Lover's Lament

"So, what did Weasley want?" He asked her the next day at work.

"She wanted me to quit my job and marry Neville," Luna responded.

Draco sneered. "Not bloody likely. To just think of you with an oaf like Longbottom makes me want to vomit. Ha! I would've thought that a close 'friend' like Weasley would know what kind of a guy you deserve."

Luna seemed strangely disturbed by this, so Draco decided not to say anything more on this matter. Instead, he ruffled her hair gently and pressed his lips upon her forehead. The little bells on her newest pair of handcrafted earrings jingled as she moved her head to look up at Draco.

"Are you sure it's a good idea for me to come over?" she asked for the fourth time that day.

Draco rolled his eyes impatiently. "Of course it is."

"What about Pansy?" Luna's face turned grave as she said the name.

Draco grimaced. "I told you to stop bringing her up. I don't like to think of her, alright? If she comes by, I'll tell the house elf to get rid of her."

"And your parents?"

"Father's at work, and mum will be off to tea at one of her friend's house. They won't be back anytime soon, trust me."

"But – weren't they angry when you spent the entire night at my house?"

Draco smirked. "I told them I was at Goyle's. No big deal." He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. "There's nothing to worry about, Luna. No one will even know."

Draco had been waiting impatiently for his shift to finish, and when he did, he grabbed Luna by the hand and dragged her to the fireplace. They reached the living room of the Manor, and he nervously checked around to make sure that his parents were indeed away.

Luna had been strangely quiet the entire time. She barely glanced up, absorbed in her own thoughts, and Draco assumed that she was likely uncomfortable being here after all the nastiness she had been through in the very same house. "I'll have the house elf fix us a lunch," he murmured. "We'll eat out in the garden.

He had been sure that Luna would be delighted by his garden, but she didn't look even a little impressed. "Are you thinking of – you know, those few years ago?" he asked uncomfortably.

Luna shook her head as the cucumber sandwiches and juice appeared on the table. "Well – would you like to explore the rest of the garden then, if you don't find this bit interesting?"

She shook her head again, much to Draco's anxiety. "It's only the untamed portion of nature that's ever intriguing, isn't it?" Her words sound distant and melodic, and she sounded like she was singing rather than talking.

But to Draco's relief, she returned to her old carefree self as they ate. After they had finished, Draco showed her around the Manor. There was an unspoken awkwardness at this part, and he was sure that the nature of Luna's previous visit to his home had forever tainted her impressions of it.

"Well, there's at least one part of the house which you haven't seen yet," Draco told her as he opened the door to his bedroom. He held the door as Luna entered, taking in the surroundings.

Draco's bedroom was as large as the rest of the house. It was an airy chamber, with large French windows and a balcony looking over the Manor gardens. A large Slytherin crest was hung on the walls, on which several quidditch posters were plastered.

"Make yourself comfortable," he told her, and she sat down on his bed.

There was a knock at the door, much to Draco's irritation, and he pulled it open to see the house elf carrying a pile of linen.

"Master," it squeaked, "Madam told me that your room needs to be tidied. If you would allow me-"

"Not now!" Draco snapped. "I'm busy! I have an important guest over, so don't come and bother me again!"

"But master! Madam said –"

"I'll take care of that! No go away," he hissed.

The house elf bowed. "So sorry to have disturbed you, master," it squealed as Draco slammed the door shut.

He turned to Luna, who was delicately tracing his satin bed sheets with her finger. He sat next to her on his bed, gently taking her hand and closing his rosy lips on hers.

"Being alone with you is like heaven," he murmured when their lips had parted.

Luna's fingers twisted around his brilliant yellow hair and she kissed his soft, white neck. "You're still wearing the necklace I made," she remarked in her dreamy tone, fingering the shells around his neck.

Draco grinned. "It reminds me of you," he said as he captured her lips once again.

Within minutes, their clothes were shed and lay strewn at the foot of Draco's bed. Luna laid her head on Draco's fluffy white pillow, and he let himself gently fall on her. They locked lips and lay together with their bodies entwined.

Luna gasped as he entered her. The moment Draco pulled himself into her, the two bodies become one, sharing the same delicious and exhilarating sensations. The scents of their fresh, youthful bodies blended together and their wild curls tangled into one chaotic heap of gold. Every bead of sweat, every breath, and every tender moan seemed to emanate from a single being. They were one single being now, and neither had ever felt as alive and vigorous as they felt now.

Luna felt as if this sensation should last forever. It was like an entire world would be lost once it was over – the perfect world in which she and Draco now lived, hidden somewhere far, far, away from everyone else.

Nonetheless, their pleasure drew to a close and Draco poured himself into Luna. They lay still in each other's arms, both of them disarmed by the overpowering ecstasy that came to envelope them. But then it was over, and once again they lay side by side rather than as one glorious, single being.

Luna sighed, already lamenting the fact that this magnificent union was doomed to fail.