It was a bright Sunday morning, one of those rare September days that still retained a hint of summer. Situated in her favorite chair in her personal library at the modest Black property in a forgotten corner of Wales, Narcissa sat, legs tucked under her, reading though Draco's latest letter. He had only been back at Hogwarts for a week, but she suspected that some small part of him needed reassuring that she was doing well. Indeed, she took great note of how many times he'd told that he was fine, as was Hermione. The witch must have been sitting with him at the time for she saw her identifying curling script, admonishing Draco for writing about her as if she wasn't there, and asking after Narcissa. She could imagine the two sitting in the Great Hall or the library, heads bent, passing the parchment back and forth. Whilst some would be shocked at how closely the two had grown,Narcissa was not surprised. Draco had not really had any true friends, merely people that fawned at and over him because of his status, because they wanted to be connected with the Malfoy heir in some way. But at his core, her son was loyal to a fault, and once he grew to care for someone, that was that. She was proud of him, proud that he had decided to reach out to her, that he was not trying to face his demons alone like Lucius. Her requests to talk to him in Azkaban had been denied, by him. Her husband did not wish to see her. She could accept that, or at least try to, but it still hurt.

She glanced around, taking in the sprawling vista of the Welsh mountains that peeked out from the gauzy cream curtains over the glass doors that led down to the side garden. Narcissa used to bring Draco here when he was a boy, when Lucius was away on business and the Manor felt too big, too cloying. Draco had loved it, from the secret passageways to all the green space. And, of course, the dragon aspect of Wales and all the great stories. Draco had not been here since before he left for his first year at Hogwarts. Narcissa had been back in that time, only once, after the Triwizard Tournament, when Harry Potter told the world that Voldemort had returned. She had wanted a moments peace before her world was turned upside down, before she would have to meet her responsibilities as a Black, as the wife of a Death Eater, the wife and mother of a Malfoy. Even her husband did not know of it, her little slice of peace. There were no house elves, and she liked doing things for herself. The Manor had been seized almost immediately after the War, but even if she had the choice, she would not go back, not to that place of such darkness and treachery.

She was ashamed. Narcissa Malfoy was ashamed of what she had done, what she had let her husband do, what danger he had dragged them into. Her precious boy, almost lost, saved by the boy she was supposed to despise. The boy who had saved them all. She folded the parchment neatly and set it aside on her desk, knowing that every time she walked past it that it would make her smile. Narcissa went into the kitchen to make herself a drink, pulling out her favorite sweet tea mix, putting the kettle on to boil with a flick of her wand.

As she cut the lemon with a swish of magic. She thought, inexplicably, of Hermione's parents, living a life without any sort of magic, and in comparison how reliant Narcissa was on it for the smallest of things. Finishing off putting together her drink, she carried her glass back to the library, setting it down on a nearby coaster. Just because she's changed her Pureblood ways didn't mean she was going to start acting like a heathen and get drink rings on her fine furniture. Deciding that since she was in the library, the least she could do with her Sunday was go through her collection and see if she could find anything of use to Hermione and her parents' predicament.

Setting the gramophone in the corner playing softly, Narcissa laid her robes over a nearby chair and got to work.

It was a cherry Sunday afternoon, what her mother would of said was a 'happy-looking' day, so Luna was sitting by the Black Lake, occasionally waving at the squid when it bopped up it's head. Luna wasn't upset about anything in particular, and whilst her week had been tiresome it was nice to see all her friends again, except Harry, of course. But when shed woken up this morning, she'd had a feeling she just couldn't shake, a nagging in her head like when you've think you've left the oven on, but know you haven't, yet you worry anyway. She decided that such a feeling should be dealt with in solitude. Now, sitting alone by the shore, all she could think about was being locked up in Malfoy Manor. Draco had been nothing but kind to her all week, and she was starting to gradually change her opinion of him, so she couldn't understand what had brought such thoughts on. Maybe it was the Battles. Thinking that maybe she could get a snack from the Great Hall, Luna turned at the approach of someone. It was Hermione, carrying a large picnic hamper, a blanket tucked under one arm.

"Luna," Hermione said standing before her, the sun at her back making her hair shine, "would you like to share lunch with me?"

"Is this an excuse to ask if I'm okay?" Luna asked bluntly, but not unkindly.

"Even if you don't want to talk, we can still have lunch. You haven't eaten and neither have I. I know it's not healthy but this past week I've found myself either grabbing something and bolting or eating very quickly and then bolting, depending on how brave I'm feeling."

"I suppose talking to someone couldn't hurt, I haven't felt like myself today anyway."

Hermione laid out the blanket with expert precision, taking out plates and napkins and glasses and enough food to cater for a sizeable gathering.

"Are you sure you've got enough food?" Luna joked.

Hermione looked down, as if noticing thee was only just enough room for the two of them with all the food she had put out. "I can always save some for later, or give it to the Elves in the kitchen, they could always do with more food."

Luna smiled. Although most people thought Luna made up all the creatures she talked about, they didn't even pay attention to the ones just under their noses, so it was nice that Hermione cared so much. But maybe that was the problem.

They are lunch in a companionable silence. She had just finished her cucumber sandwich when Hermione asked, "What was on your mind today?"

Luna paused, apple suspended in mid-air. "I guess I feel like the War's not quite over. Like I'll wake up and Voldemort will be alive and I'll ave to keep fighting. Or I'm back at Malfoy Manor, worrying about my father. I think that was the worst bit, not knowing if he was okay. After my mother died, it was just us, and sometimes he'd forget to do things, like eat or sleep. Sometimes he'd be a bit mani, working away on something. Other times, he'd just sit and stare out the window, as if waiting for mum to come home. I've always been there for him, and even while I was here I'd still send him letters every week, if not more. I don't like thinking about him all alone, scared for me."

Hermione gently nodded. "I think, deep down, maybe that's a part of why I Obliviated my parents. I knew that they would've constantly worried about me, scared for my safety. I couldn't have done what I needed to do with that constant distraction in the back of my head, the distraction of what I was doing could hurt them. I know that sounds selfish..."

Luna gripped her hand. "That's not selfish, Hermione. Love is difficult, and life comes with few guarantees. The most we can hope for is that those that love us will always forgive us, or learn to, in time. But you saved the world, Hermione. It cost you dearly, but you still did it. That's why I'm in Ravenclaw and not Gryffindor; I don't think I've got that in me."

Hermione threw a napkin at her head. "Luna!" she admonished. "You're one of the bravest people I know. And there are many types of bravery, many small acts of heroism that are no less brave for their lack of scale or grandeur. You fought with us at the Ministry, you helped Harry find the lost diadem. Do not doubt your worth or your heart just because you don't wear the colours of the lion."

"You're right, Hermione. I like blue more, anyway. Red only goes with so much. Do you think my dad will be okay? I suppose with the war going on, I didn't really get a chance to think about what I wanted to do after I left school. Maybe I should stay and look after him."

"It's your life, Luna, and I would never tell you what to do," Hermione began. Luna gave her a look.

"I'm going to choose to ignore that. Anyway, I think you should talk to your dad about it over the holidays. Whilst it's noble of you to want to look after him, you should not throw away your own life after having just fought so hard to keep it. There are many career options out there, and not all of them involve sitting at a desk in the Ministry. You could do something part time, perhaps, if it's something you're really worried about. And I think that, given time, your father truly will get better. It's all going to take us a while to come to terms with what happened, and your father's lucky that you care so much."

The two had almost finished lunch when Luna blurted, "Is sat with Draco on the Hogwarts Express. Me and him and Ginny played Exploding Snap. He's not very good."

Hermione laughed. "I'm glad. It's nice to see him venturing out of his comfort zone."

"How are things between you two?"

The girl smiled shyly. "They're great. We've only been friends for a few weeks, but Draco had come a long way, and it's nice to have someone to talk to, especially with Harry and Ron gone. He's intellectually competitive, and we have some really great debates. His mother is also a delight, despite her affiliations. I'd be lying I said I wasn't surprised with how willingly and eagerly they came to trust me, but I think it's admirable that they're open to a new way of thinking. A sense of community is important, more so for the Wizarding population, and that sense of unity won't come unless we change things."

"I agree. But you don't have to do that alone, Hermione. I've seen you go into Mcgonagall's office three times this week. I know she wants you to head this Inter-House Committee that people have been talking about."

"That's true," she conceded.

"I think it's a splendid idea, but you should co-run it with someone. I think you should ask Draco."

"He's got so much on his plate right now," she protested.

"And you haven't. I think it will be good for him, thinking from a logical standpoint."

Hermione's shoulders dropped. "That's true. Okay, I'm sure it's won't hurt to ask."

"Good," Luna said, tossing some of the leftovers to the squid, who had just surfaced. "Even a Nargle needs help from it's fellow Nargles. That's not a sign of weakness."

"I know."

"Thank you for the talk, Hermione. And the food."

"Any time. I know we've never been close -you were always Harry's friend- but feel free to talk to me whenever you want, about anything."

"Sure. As long as you bring pudding."

Author's Note: Hello. It is I, back with another chapter. I hope you are enjoying them so far, and we will have more Draco and Hermione in the next chapter. Until then, happy reading!

All my love and gratitude, Temperance Cain.