She was there. This time he was waiting up for her.
Even so, she startled him, apparating into the room silently while he read a book in front of the fire. He put the book aside and rose to greet her.
"I'm glad you came," he whispered, kissing her softly.
"You said please," she answered sweetly.
He led her over to the chair by the fire and conjured a second one. "Are you okay? Ginny Weasley told me what happened last night." He held onto her hand, unwilling to break contact with her.
"It's fine. Really." she told him. "Those poor girls are having such a terrible time with bandenbruits, and I just haven't been able to convince the house elves that we need to have chicken soup every night."
It suddenly dawned on Draco that they'd been having chicken soup a lot more often at the Manor and he was sure Luna had something to do with it.
He sighed and pushed her hair back from her face. "I'm just worried about you. I think maybe you should reconsider on finishing this year of school."
"I'm perfectly fine. And if you think I could have handled Death Eaters, why do you not think I could handle a handful of mean girls?" she tilted her head curiously.
"This is what I was worried about back at the beginning. Being associated with me is hurting you. People who should be your friends are saying terrible things to you and someone actually threw you on the floor on and tried to kick you in the stomach. You can't tell me they weren't trying to hurt you and the baby." he had let go of her hands and was clenching his fists. "You don't deserve this."
"No, I don't," she agreed with him easily. "But I walked into the situation with you willingly, and I'm strong enough to handle it."
"Luna," he ground out. "Don't you get it? They attacked you in the Great Hall this time. There were a lot of other people around. But next time, they'll be smarter. They'll catch you alone somewhere, or pull you into an empty classroom. There won't be anyone around to protect you."
"I'll cast a shield like I did last night," she told him calmly. "If I have to, I do know a good bit of defensive spells. Harry and then Neville taught us, in preparation to take on the Death Eaters if we ever had to. And I've had to."
"Luna..." he sighed.
"Draco, you just have to trust me. When I was in the dungeon here, I didn't have any guarantee that once you left my sight, the Death Eaters wouldn't kill you. I just had faith they wouldn't, and everything turned out just fine."
He didn't answer.
"If the only reason you asked me to come here was to talk me out of finishing school, maybe I should go back." she said, starting to stand.
"No!" he snapped a little too loudly. He had warned his parents that she would be there, but they probably wouldn't appreciate be woken up. He stood and put his hands on her arms.
"I was serious. I have missed you." he continued softly. "I did really want to see you."
She smiled. "You've seen me now. Is it time for me to leave?"
"No," he whispered. "I want you to stay. I want to you show you how much I've missed you."
She kissed his nose. "You talked me into staying."
He sighed. "I want to say one more thing first. I know you've heard some talk about my past, um, experiences."
"Draco, it's not important..." she began.
"It's important to me to say this. Almost none of it is true. Some stories and rumors got started. I didn't stop them because I thought it made me look cool, if everyone thought I had slept with half the school. You're the only one at school now I've actually been with. And you're the only one I want to be with from here forward."
She kissed his nose again. "See? The butterbeer necklace and chicken soup are working."
On Friday afternoon, Draco arrived at Hogwarts early to meet with Headmistress McGonagall.
"If the position is still open, I'd like to accept the flying instructor and Quidditch coach job." he informed her. "I'd like to start on the 29th, if that is satifactory."
"Well. We are most grateful to have you in that capacity. However, I truly wish you would consider the Defense Against the Dark Arts post instead. It is much easier to find someone who can fly a broom than someone with your deep understanding of the Dark Arts subject matter." she leaned across the desk hopefully.
"Yeah, well, I'm trying to forget how much I know about the Dark Arts," he smiled grimly.
She nodded. "I quite understand. However, if you change your mind in the future and the position is still open.." he nodded. "It would probably be best for you and Miss Lovegood, who I understand will be Mrs. Malfoy by then, to live in Hogsmeade and come to Hogwarts daily for classes."
"Which brings up something you may should know about. Were you aware of the fact that Luna can apparate in and out of Hogwarts?"
The old woman suddenly sat up straight. "How is that possible? We have the strictest of security here! No one can apparate through other than the Minister of Magic and myself! The wards would alert if someone even tried."
Draco shrugged. "We don't know how it works, but it does. She's apparated in and out several times. She can also apparate through into Malfoy Manor, which has an Anti-Apparation Jinx on the house by order of the Ministry."
"Can she bring someone through Side-Along Apparation?" the headmistress looked most distressed.
"Don't know, we've never tried it," he grinned. "I'm not fond of being splinched."
"Who else knows about this?" she asked.
"Just the two of us and Luna," he answered. "I think Professor Dumbledore may have known. But she hasn't spread the word around because she's had enough of being called a freak. And while we're on that subject, I've heard there are a few people who aren't happen about Luna's association with me."
"Yes, well," McGonagall looked abashed. "You know how teenage girls can be. The staff and prefects are all keeping an eye on the situation, to make sure things don't get out of hand."
He nodded. "I appreciate that. I'm not sure whether my being here on staff will make that better or worse."
The headmistress opened a file on her desk, made a few notations on a parchment, and slid it across the desk to him. "Here is your contract. Everything is standard, of course. I trust the salary is satisfactory?"
He glanced over the document before signing. "It's not about the salary. I just need something to do before I die of boredom."
"Very well then. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the staff. If you can spare a few hours one day next week, we can go over the expectations and responsibilities for the staff members."
He nodded.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll go see if Miss Lovegood is ready." she put the contract back in the file and left the office.
About as soon as the thought crossed Draco's mind that it was odd for her to go look for Luna, Snape's portrait spoke.
"Draco, you cannot change your past or run from it. It is and shall always be a part of who you are. Perhaps the best course of action would be turn the training you received for the service of the Dark Lord into a positive by channeling your knowledge into the Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Uncle Sev, that sounds like something Dumbledore would say."
"Yes, curious how that happens, isn't it?" Dumbledore's portrait said. "Perhaps it's from hanging around together."
Draco buried his face in his hands and hoped Luna came along soon.
Their first stop was in Hogsmeade, where arrangements had been made for them to view a flat and two houses. They both liked the first house best. It was a small manor house, maybe only one fourth the size of Malfoy Manor, but it was plenty of room for a couple and a baby, and situated on a hill opposite Hogwarts, with a grand view of the castle and grounds. Draco owled the solicitor to make arrangements for it.
Next they returned to the Manor, to find Narcissa and Molly Weasley waiting for them.
"What took you so long?" his mother asked. "We have so much to get done this evening because tomorrow Molly is going to take Luna, Ginny, and Hermione to London to get fitted for their dresses."
Draco wondered when his mother had gotten on a first name basis with the Weasley clan, but somehow felt it was probably wise not to mention it.
"That's not fair," he protested. "She's my girlfriend. If I wasn't marrying her, you wouldn't even have a wedding to plan. When do I get to spend some time with her?"
"After the wedding, she's all yours." his mother smiled.
Draco shrugged, swiped an apple from the bowl on the table, kissed Luna a quick peck on the lips, his mother on the cheek, and then Molly Weasley when she turned her cheek to him as well, and left before he got roped into picking silver patterns or something.
A/N - Up next - Hermione's birthday. You know that party is going to get crashed, right?