22 Years Later:
I walked along the grounds waiting for my special class to come and learn something. I was only subbing in for the magical creatures and I had a great lessoned planned. I had a creature of every kind, almost. Mostly rare species. I got my wand out and called upon them to appear in an almost petting zoo way.
I ever had two Hippogriffs. Babies. Their mother had been killed when two men wanted to take her babies, and I got there first. I heard laughing and looked back to see Albus Serverus Potter.
"Luna... are you the surprise teacher?" He asked happily and I nodded. "Awesome. This is my friend Scorpius." He said nodding to the blonde boy and I recognized him right away. He was Draco's son. Draco and Astoria's son.
"Nice to meet you. You can look around but don't touch anything just yet." I told the two and noticed more kids coming down to find the area.
I waited until I counted 26 heads and cleared my throat. "I am Luna Lovegood, and I am only going to be here a couple days. I have two rules in my class. One... don't harm the animals and if you do you will not be welcomed back. And the second, respect each other. If you don't.. you will not be welcomed back." I repeated and noticed Albus and Scorpius front row ready.
"Now... I want you to all look around. I have labeled the areas 1 through 10... name as many as you can... and the winner gets a special prize." I said and let them wander around. I watched over Albus and Scorpius and on more than one occasion I saw Scorpius telling Albus the answer.
When it came to the hippogriffs Albus reached for them immediately. I went to step in but Scorpius pulled him back and was telling him something before he bowed to them and left with Albus walking after him.
"Okay... who can tell me what each animal is called. You must get up and walk around naming them." I said and saw Albus stand up ready tp prove something. Scorpius stayed seated and let his friend get every right answer.
By the time I was done giving notes on 3 of the animals it was time for them to get to their next class. "Albus and Scorpius stay behind." I called out and they both kept seated.
"Did I get them all right?" Albus asked smugly and I looked at him and giggled.
"No... Scorpius did and you just tagged along." I told him and I saw them both turn very red. "Now, seeing as how you both did the work, and you just helped each other. I was planning on keeping one for myself, but seeing as how they are sisters they should always be closed and as best friends you would keep them close." I said and walked with them following me to the hippogriffs who were now playing around.
"We get to have those?" Albus asked and I opened the pen and nodded.
"They don't have names yet. They aren't fit for traveling like I do... or did. But they need loving people to teach them and care for them." I said and watched the two friends look at each other and then nod happily.
"We can name them?" Scorpius asked and I nodded. "What do they actually eat? Like what is the best thing to feed them?" He asked and sat down and seemed to wait while Albus followed his lead.
"Here." I said and turned to get their food for an hour later and handed them the buckets. "Put some in your palm and let them choose which one they want." I said and they both took a bunch so they over flowed their hands.
"Can we take them home after term?" Albus asked and I smiled.
"Maybe not you. You live in the city." I said and he nodded. "Do you live away from muggles Scorpius?"
"I live in the country." He said and I nodded.
"Then you might be able to keep them both." I said and he went wide eyed and jumped when one of the babes started eating out of his hand. The little one didn't even flinch, just kept eating. "You might need to ask your father about it first." I said knowing he might have a problem with it.
"I can write him tonight... you'll be here tomorrow right?" He asked and I nodded. He was a sweet little boy. Nothing like his father.
He and Albus bonded with the little ones and I heard Scorpius calling his Astoria. "Your mum might not be too happy about that." I smiled and he dropped his.
"My mum died last year." He said slowly and I gulped.
"I'm sorry I didn't know. Before last week I hadn't been in the UK for 5 years." I said and crouched down. "You know... I lost my mom when I was 8... and I know how hard it is to say those words. I am very sorry you had to tell me." I said and pulled him in for a hug when he nodded and his eyes watered. "Let's get you to class." I said and walked in front of him and in front of Albus as we walked back to the castle.
When they were written off for being late I walked back to the pens and looked at the baby hippogriffs. Astoria was dead?
It took until after lunch for me to get a summons to the headmasters chambers. I walked in and smiled as Minerva and she looked worried. I waked through the silent bubble and heard why she looked worried.
"I mean who the hell gives my son a hippogriff. What a laugh. And then they say he can have Albus Potters during break! Who is just giving these things away? And to my son!"
"I am." I said moving to sit down. I smiled at Minerva and took a biscuit she moved towards me. "Your son won that creature fair and square." I said not looking at him. I couldn't. After finding out what happened, having been locked in his dungeon and him leaving us all behind to deal with Lord Voldemort... I could never look at him again.
"Luna." He had said my name on a whisper and I just nodded.
"She is subbing for our magical care teacher while he is on paternity leave. It's only for a couple days." Minerva said and I nibbled my biscuit again.
"You gave my son a hippogriff?"
"I was going to give it to the student who won the contest... he and Albus won." I said and finished the cookie. "If you are that scared of a baby hippogriff just tell your son and he can give it up." I said and stood up. "See you tomorrow Minerva." I walked out of the bubble and moved faster than ever.
I had gone through the first conversation in 22 years without looking at him.
"Luna!" I heard his voice and I turned a corner and then another. I got to the stairs that led to the astronomy tower and went up. I waited and waited but thankfully he never followed me.
I went back down when the clock hit 6 and I walked to the front doors. "Luna... so glad I caught you before you left." I heard Harry and turned to see him walking fast to catch up with me.
"What's up?" I asked as we started walking out together.
"Well... Draco flooed me. He said that you gave our sons Hippogriffs." He said and I nodded. "We just, well, we don't have the room and even in Godrics Hallow we are still too closer to muggles-"
"I will tell you the same thing I told Draco. If you want to tell your sons they can't have it, tell them not me. They won them fair and square Harry. Give Lily a kiss for me and tell Gin we are on for the match next Sunday." I told him and he nodded as I apparated away.
I was in my little house. Taking deep breaths and started moving things around before making myself a cup of tea. I went back to my pile of mail and shifted through it. It was mostly Quibbler responses. When I took it over it basically became a magical version of National Geographic. I found that muggle magazine just before I decided to discontinue the Quibbler. But I transformed it instead.
It did a lot better. I gave up the big house my father and I lived in... and moved into a smaller one. I wasn't home much. I never dated after Draco... and I was never even close to being happy unless I was with my creatures.
I hadn't talked to Alana in 22 years as well. I didn't get close to anyone.
I didn't trust anyone. Not even Harry. Not even Ginny or Lily Luna.
None of them know where I live.
I got up early the next morning and went to the castle. I cleaned the stalls, I fed the babes and the creatures and that's when I saw the blonde hair running down.
"Miss Luna!" He called out and I waited as he got closer.
"Good morning Scorpius."
"Miss Luna my father won't let me keep Astoria!" He cried out and I felt that hit me hard and I took his shoulder.
"Albus' dad won't let him keep his hippogriff either. If I get to talk to Rolf Scamander before I leave I will talk to him about keeping these two. That way you can watch her grow and spread her wings." I said and he actually started crying.
"Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy you do not run from me!" I heard Draco and I looked up as a reaction and saw him standing there and I stood up.
"Have you dropped Draco and go by Lucius now?" I asked out and he met my eye. "Scorpius I think it is time for you to head back up to the castle. I will talk with Rolf." I told him and he nodded. He gave Draco a wide berth and I looked to the hippogriffs.
"You had no business giving my son one of those things." Draco said coming closer and I just let him try to talk down to me.
"You have no business telling me what to do. That landed a long time ago." I said and moved to leave.
"Luna Lovegood we haven't talked since things happened-"
"And so it will stay that way." I called back and moved through the bushes and towards the castle.
"You don't understand!" He called out and I ignored him and kept walking up the slight hill. "Luna!"
"Leave me alone Malfoy!" I shouted turning to him and pulling my wand.
"Really? You'd pull a wand out on me?" He asked raising his hands.
"Stay away. You ruined my life with your lies and your cousin once. You will stay away from me. You have any more problems with me letting your son near his pet I will hear it from Minerva." I shouted and turned. I went to the great hall and sat down in Rolf's usual seat.
I saw Scorpius and Albus looking at me. Draco had come in, looking around and spotted them. Happily Minerva took him back to her room and was talking with him.
When I was done and moving away from the professor table I noticed them following me. I walked back down to my creatures and smiled as a Threstal found me. I cupped it cheek and heard the boys following.
"What is that?" I heard Scorpius ask and I turned back to see him looking at the Threstal.
"What is what?" Albus asked as he moved towards the other stalls. "I think I am going to name mine Nymph." Albus said and I nodded.
"Did Scorpius tell you about me talking to Rolf-"
"Yeah! That would be awesome! And he can take care of them in the off season." Albus said and came back towards me and Scorpius.
"He isn't too keen on them he prefers smaller creatures but I think I can talk him into it." I said and smiled.
"I don't think you will." I heard Draco's voice ring out and I sighed.
"You won't have to see it Dad-"
"We have talked through your fathers fears... he was once attacked by a hippogriff and while I told him that you, Scorpius, aren't as arrogant as he once was, he gave in and will accept both creatures. On just one condition." Minerva's voice rolled over me too and I turned to face her.
"What is it? I will do anything." Scorpius said clasping his hands together.
"Luna Lovegood has to make sure that they won't get out, they won't be exposed, and that they are well taken care of." Minerva announced and I snapped my eyes to hers and then Dracos.
"Awesome! That's cool! I get that you don't want to get hurt again Mr. Malfoy but doing this is so great!" Albus cheered and I ground out my opposition when they both seemed so happy.
"Fine." I can do this. "Give me the address, the times I can work and I will do it as quick as possible." I said and Draco smirked. It was familiar and totally new at the same time.
"Oh you remember my mothers place don't you? That Spring Break we spent... yeah, I live there." I felt the rush of emotions come up and I felt the tears. Of course he knew how to play dirty.
"Ah yes... the spring break before Dumbledore died." I nodded and smiled when he stiffened this time. "Like I said, give me the time and I will be there." I said and he nodded back and worked his jaw.
"Wanna see the little creatures dad?" Scorpius asked and Draco looked down at him and his demeanor changed and he nodded. He walked over and stood between Albus and his son. "I named her Astoria after mum." He said looking up at his dad and I felt Minerva move beside me.
"That was a low blow Ms. Lovegood."
"So is that house." I mumbled and looked at her. "Thank you for talking that man into making his son happy." I told her and she gave me a smile back.
"His son is his life. Making him happy is what he aims to do everyday." Minerva told me and I just nodded.
"I should owl Harry... he was under the impression that Albus wouldn't get to keep his." I said and she nodded.
I walked back to the castle and up the owl observatory and wrote a quick note to tell Harry that Draco had surprisingly agreed to have the hippogriffs taken care of at his home.
I went back down and taught my class about 5 animals that I didn't find that interesting but were going extinct in our world. I dismissed just before a familiar voice rung out once again.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't my old friend." I looked behind the class and saw Blaise Zambini walking closer with his smile wide and his hands in his pockets.
"Uncle Blaise." Scorpius hugged him and I rolled my eyes.
"Get to your next class Scorp." He said and pushed him along.
Once they were all gone I waited and turned to my animals.
"You look good Luna." He said coming up beside me when I waited for a phoenix to come closer.
"What are you doing here? Draco still asking you to do his bidding?" I asked and shifted around a bit.
"Yeah... no. Alana sent me."
"Heard about the wedding." I nodded.
"You were invited. Kind of hurt to not even get a rejection." He said and I gave him a look and he smiled slightly.
"You all knew... you knew what Draco had to do-"
"That is what his father made him do. How do you think he got his father to back off of him? Taking the dark mark and embracing his pure blooded ways was the deal he made with his father. When he told you it was ministry work... I told him to tell you that lie. He knew you would ask and he needed an excuse." He said and I just clenched my teeth. "He did it to make sure that his father wouldn't betroth him to anyone. He did it to make sure that you two would be together when the Dark Lord was dead." He explained and I just looked at him and then at the phoenix again.
"Who would want that?" I asked on a whisper and shook my head. "Draco didn't love me. He might have wanted me, he might have used me to get close and be trusted by Dumbledore but that me, the one that needed his protection, is gone. And I don't need you, and I don't need Alana. She betrayed me just as you and Draco did."
"Did you know he didn't date anyone for 5 years? Did you know that he slept outside of his mothers house for a month after the war was over? Did you get any of his letters? Any of Alana's? Hell I sent you some."
"I traded in my bullies for liars and somehow I was worse off with the liars." I said putting my foot down.
"He told Astoria, when they got married, that she was second. That he loved her but some one would always trump that... she told Alana that she knew it was his mother. Alana told me that and she said that when she asked Draco he told her that it was you." He said and I sighed.
"Blaise... as much as the would have warmed my heart years ago... it's been 22 years. He has a son. He is a widower. He didn't come for me. He didn't show up. He didn't even try."
"He tried. He tried for a week straight. Your father... your father put him in the hospital. Draco stopped showing up after that. He wrote you every other day. Even tried muggle mail." He said and I thought about it.
"He helped kidnap me and locked me in his families dungeon." I closed my eyes and I was right back there. Sitting there alone and cold. I shook my head and looked to Blaise.
"The Dark Lord wanted you dead. To send a message. Draco convinced him that keeping you alive... in the dungeon was much worse." Blaise said softly and I looked from him and then towards the areas around us. "He said he promised you that no matter what you would be safe. He's kept his promise."
He turned and started walking towards the castle.
"What did Alana want?" I called out and he stopped.
