Theo flicked the remains of his cigarette into the evening air and closed the window. Luna's single in Ravenclaw was all the way at the top of the tower, and felt like its own little world within Hogwarts.

Luna was sitting cross-legged upon a collection of pillows, piles of books on either side of her. There was a fleece blanket wrapped around her trembling form, but her shivering wasn't from the cold. Draco sat on the floor with his elbows resting on his knees, positioned so that he could see both the windows and the door.

Astoria was looking through Luna's assortment of candles. "Stress relief, focus, relax, energy, revive, restore-fuck it, we need them all," she said aloud to herself. She carefully arranged the candles on the windowsill, and then lit them all with her wand.

"Right, so who's going to tell me what the hell is going on?" Theo asked.

"Merlin, Theo, don't interrogate-"

"It's okay, Astoria." Luna's voice still sounded as detached as it had outside. "One night at Malfoy Manor, Dolohov came down to the basement, dragging Draco with him. Then he Stunned Ollivander...and did things to us."

Draco winced at Luna's words like he had just been hit.

Astoria reached out, but Draco backed away.

"It's alright, love. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do," Astoria said.

Draco stared straight ahead; Theo could see the walls going up in his eyes.

"Can I ask a few questions?" Theo said to Luna. She nodded.

"Did this happen more than once?"

"Three different nights."

"Who knows about this?"

"Only the people in this room. And Dolohov." Luna paused. "I thought we would never have to see him again," she whispered.

Theo walked over to Luna's nest of pillows.

"May I join you...Lady of the Tower?" he said in a gently teasing tone. Theo didn't know if it would work, but he didn't want her to think he only saw her as broken, a tragedy to be observed from a distance.

She smiled faintly. "Permission granted."

"Luna, I've already encountered more sadistic people than I ever wished to, and I know how they get in your head. I need you to know that it was not your fault."

"I know." She pointed to a frayed piece of paper taped to her wardrobe door. It had fold marks, and Theo guessed she'd carried it around with her all summer. It had a quotation written on it: I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.

"It's by a famous Muggle. He had many interesting ideas, like he thought creative expression could help restore people. I hope he's right."

"Can't say I've read much of what any Muggles have to say."

"You can borrow some of my books, if you like."

"Alright."

Astoria's voice reminded them of more pressing matters. "Draco, please, you're safe here, I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Theo and Luna went over to the other side of the room. They sat down on the floor in front of Draco.

"I need you to listen to me, mate. You've been through hell. It won't be easy. But you can't just occlude your way out of this," Theo said.

"I know that!" Draco growled. He folded his arms in on himself. "I tried. But Occlumency only works for memories; you can't escape what's happening in the present. Couldn't even control my own mind...all the sick games...my own house..."

Astoria reached for her boyfriend, and this time Draco let her hold him.

"When it was happening, I used to imagine us at school, if there never had been a war at all," Luna said in a confessional tone. The Slytherins turned silently to listen. "Wandering through the library stacks looking for interesting books, talking to the owls in the Owlery, working on a Transfiguration project together." She paused, looking to Draco. She paused. "As a little girl, I always dreamt of having friends at Hogwarts, but at the Manor I realised it would be rather nice to have an older brother."

Draco looked at her with a quizzical expression.

Luna raised her eyebrows meaningfully, but the message didn't seem to sink in, so Theo gently elbowed his friend.

Draco turned his head, but Theo could see that his friend's eyes had glassed over.

But then he turned back. "Lulu, come here," he rasped.

Theo looked into Luna's blue eyes, several shades lighter than his own. "You can let go now," he told her softly.

As soon as Draco's arm was around her, she started sobbing. He pulled her closer, hiding behind her blonde hair so Theo couldn't see his face. That was how he knew Draco had to be crying too.

Astoria rested her head on Theo's shoulder and they waited until Luna quieted and Draco regained his composure. Draco offered the sleeve of his jumper for Luna to wipe her eyes. Theo conjured two glasses and filled them with water, which both teenagers silently accepted.

Theo cleared his throat. "Luna, I have to tell you something-if you've got him as a brother, there are six more siblings that come with the agreement. Welcome to the family," he said in a droll tone. Astoria grinned, and interlaced her fingers with Draco's.

Luna's eyes brightened a little. "I think I can live with that."

Theo paused in thought for a moment, and then a determined look swept over his sharp features. He called for one of the former Nott house-elves, who was now working at Hogwarts, and the elf quickly returned with a briefcase Theo kept under the two single beds he and Daphne had Transfigured to fit together.

"It's locked under Fidelius," he explained. "I'm Secret-Keeper, so now you three will be able to open it too." Theo paused. "I will not be taking any questions about how any of these objects were acquired." He winked at Astoria, and she smirked in return.

Theo continued, "Right, so we've got old Nott family wands that haven't been used in ages so they'll be hard to trace...now, this is an unsanctioned Portkey to France, so don't press that button unless you're ready to go...these are Muggle identification documents, Muggle cash...here's Polyjuice, Blood-Replenishing, bezoar, it's all labelled so don't worry...this thing is called a switchblade, let me demonstrate…"

He looked up from his inventory to see three astonished faces.

"What? It's important to be prepared."

"Why did I go to Borgin and Burkes in sixth year when I could have gone to you?" came Draco's typical drawl.

"I wouldn't have helped you kill Dumbledore," Theo said drily.

Draco sulked in response, reminding Theo of a much younger version of him and bringing a half-smile to his lips.

Theo went over a few more objects, and finally held up a metal box. "Astoria, you've seen enough Muggle films, you might be able to guess what's in here. But none of you are even close to that level yet, and it's loaded, so for the love of Salazar do not open it," he warned. Astoria tossed her hair, clearly a bit stroppy. Theo sighed. "I'll take you out into the forest over break and teach you, so happy early Christmas and shut the fuck up." Astoria laughed and did a little celebratory cheer. Draco rolled his eyes, but at the same time put his arm around her affectionately.

"We can talk more about security later," Theo said, closing the briefcase. "But for now this is the best I can do." He paused. "I should go back to the dungeons before it gets too late. Are you two coming?"

Before Draco could answer, Luna spoke first. "Stay," she pleaded. "You too, Astoria."

"Alright," the two Slytherins said at the same time.

"I remember when Daphne and I had sleepovers with our friends," Astoria said wistfully. "Feels like a lifetime ago." Draco kissed the top of her head.

Back when we had parents who could look after us, Theo thought to himself. It was a distant memory.

Theo would never admit it to anyone else, but that night he tucked the three teenagers into Luna's magically-expanded bed. He still didn't know either of the girls well enough, but he had spent hours upon hours playing with Draco when they were small. He leaned over and ran his fingers through Draco's hair a few times, because it was the boy's favourite source of comfort.

He walked back to the dungeons alone, letting his mind take him away whilst he kept up his unaffected appearance.

Daphne greeted him when he walked into his room, but it didn't really register with him. He put up a silencing spell, eased his shoes off. But once Theo's eyes met Daphne's, he broke down. Daphne didn't ask any questions, she just caught him in an embrace and held him as he cried, knowing he was internally berating himself for being so weak. She never demanded, never prodded with questions, never tried to manipulate him. Merlin, he loved her.

Theo took a shuddering breath, and then looked into Daphne's eyes once more. He signed the three words he had been so afraid of for so long.

"Now you've got me crying too," she whispered, with the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

She kissed him and he finally understood what it meant to come home.