Let your heart sing and tonight
We'll light up the stars
Luna hums a tune. She picks up her tea cup and curls her feet underneath of her. The summer night is hazy and beautiful, the stars twinkling brighter and brighter as the sun sinks toward the horizon. She relaxes against her cushy chair, letting the breeze play along her face. She looks down off the deck to her blooming garden. She smiles at the sight of the vibrant flowers. The memory of Draco proposing surfaces to mind, making her grin grow.
She releases a long breath, smoothing down her long hair. She wonders when he will be home. Though he only left early this morning, she misses him.
She wonders if it's normal to miss someone after only a few hours. She wonders if it matters, if anything in their relationship has ever been what anyone, like Hermione, would consider normal. She thinks, with amusement, about how Hermione had viewed her and Draco in the very beginning; she hadn't thought the couple would last. A lot of people hadn't, of course, though they would last; thought that they were a good match at all.
Luna knew they were a good match. Instinctively, even when they had both been children, she had known. Perhaps not at the very beginning, when he was mean to her like so many other of her schoolmates had been, but after that day at the lake – deep inside – she had known.
And Luna's glad, so very glad, that it's Draco. She can't imagine sharing her life with anyone else. Others thought that she would marry someone as fanciful as herself and Luna had, at one point, thought that too. But it hadn't been someone fanciful she had fallen in love with. She had fallen for stern faced, gray eyed, practical thinking, Draco Malfoy. And he was better for her than any dreamer; she was enough of a dreamer for the both of them.
Luna lets out a yawn, focusing on the bright moon above her. Draco Malfoy. Had she ever heard a name so sweet?
She's just thinking that it's beginning to get cold when she hears footsteps on the deck. She barely turns her head before a blanket settles over her. She moves to the other side of her seat so Draco can squeeze in next to her. They fold in around one another and she ends up in his lap but neither of them mind. She rests her head against his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat through his shirt.
"You stole my spot," she accuses with a laugh.
"And what are you going to do about it?" Draco says arrogantly.
Luna shrugs, having no reply. She burrows deeper into him, breathing in his scent. Draco jostles her gently, getting her to look back at up him.
"I have something for you."
"You didn't have to get me anything," Luna feels a blush rise to her cheeks. She stills feels awkward accepting presents.
Draco kisses her on the forehead. "It's our ten year anniversary, silly. I couldn't ignore that."
There's a glow in the pit of her stomach when he says ten years. Ten years since their wedding day and she still lights up when she sees him; she's still as in love with him as the night she first got the courage to tell him so.
She plays with a lock of his hair and meets his eyes curiously. He adjusts her as he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a green velvet box. She takes it hesitantly, opening the lid. The necklace there takes her breath away. It's a simple design – she's not one for elaborate things – but she loves it. The long silver chain leads way into a full moon pendent but on the surface of the moon, depending on which way the light caught it, there was the silhouette of a dragon.
"It's beautiful," Luna murmurs as Draco latches it around her neck.
"Not quite as beautiful as you," he says, wrapping his arms securely around her middle, holding him tightly to her.
She's about to mention the bedroom – and not just because of the pocket watch that she has waiting for him there – when there comes a small interruption.
"Mum; Dad." Scorpio is standing at the deck doors, his light head peeking around the corner.
"Yes darling?" Luna's rising to her feet, Draco just behind her. "Is something wrong?"
The seven-year-old wipes tiredly at his eyes. "Lorcan is crying. Can't you hear him?"
Luna moves to go inside, dropping a kiss on the top of her son's head. "Daddy will take you to bed."
Once she's inside, she can clearly hear her month old baby wailing for her. She turns to glance back at Draco and Scorpio before she goes to collect him. Her husband is curling Scorpio – the exact copy of himself – into his arms, holding the small boy high above his head. She commits the image to memory and goes to greet her wailing child.
All that you are
Oh, I feel... all the faint morning light
Luna feels her heart twisting, sinking, and falling away from her. She looks up at Jean – trusted Jean who has been Draco's dearest friend at St. Mungo's; Jean who is capable; Jean who is old now like the rest of them; Jean whose lined face is betraying the depth of his sorrow – and shakes her head. Her fine blonde hair, faded as the decades went by, blurs her vision as she denies what he's said.
"Jean," her voice is weak and trembling.
He reaches out, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder. "I wanted to tell you myself, Luna. I didn't want anyone else telling you."
She grasps him, holding onto him for comfort. "You have to be lying. He can't be gone – he just can't."
Jean rocks her back and forth. "I'm so sorry. You know we did everything but he was just so sick for so long."
"I know." Luna steps away from him, struggling to keep her eyes dry and her emotions calm. "I must let our sons know."
"I'm here for you. Whatever you need."
"Thank you," she whispers.
She leaves Jean, going to the bay of phones that is part of the new addition to St. Mungo's. Both of her children have telephones and this new thing called cellular phones, and she knows it is the quickest way to reach them.
"Scorpio," she breathes at her child's deep 'hello'.
"Mum? Is everything all right?"
"Draco . . . " Luna breathes his name, feeling the well of hot tears bubbling over and scarring her face. "This morning, darling, he's gone."
There's a long pause that follows. She can hear Scorpio's breathing and the small sniffles that break free. She knows her son and he is more like Draco than Lorcan. Scorpio is strong; he won't dare to let his emotions show, just like Draco wouldn't have. She wishes, for a moment, that he would let himself cry – release his emotions and let go. She knows he won't though, she knows much better than that.
"Will you come?" She asks, knowing that he's already on his way.
"Yes, Mum. I'll call Lorcan too." He offers. "Do you want us to meet you at the hospital or at home?"
"Home," Luna says absently. "Yes, home."
"Are there," Scorpio swallows, "any arrangements that need to be made?"
"No. Draco took care of all of that before. He said he didn't want us to have to worry after he was gone."
"See you soon," Scorpio bids her goodbye. "Love you."
"Love you too." She says in a breath.
She hangs up the phone, letting her weight lean against the wall for a long minute. She takes a deep breath trying to steady herself; trying to accept the truth. Draco is gone. He is gone from this life. After countless decades of being side by side every day, she's alone. She's without his strong presence and his glinting eyes; she's without his steady heartbeat and she's without the knowledge that when she wakes, she will be able to look up at him, to greet him with a kiss. She's without him and for the first time she feels lost. She feels not herself.
She walks up to the room where he still lays; left by the Healers so she can have her last goodbye. She can barely stay in the room a minute. He is too still; too pale. His presence is so utterly gone from his elegant face, from the room, that she can only stand there and cry. It keeps hitting her over and over again, with every breath she takes it feels like a cheat – there are no breaths left for the love of her life.
She manages to dart forward for a brief moment. She runs her hand through his hair – silver grey now but still there – for the last time. She remembers the thousands of times she's done it before, laughing as he smiles down at her, his hands in her own long hair. She holds onto the moment long after it's passed knowing that this will be it.
She kisses his forehead and swallows sharply. "I love you," she tells the empty room but knows, somehow, he hears her.
Filled with hope cause you're here in my life.
"I'm worried about Mum."
"Me too Lor. I know we all miss Dad – it would be impossible not to – but it's been almost a year. And she still looks like she's waiting for him to walk in the door. I don't know how to describe it; she looks alone."
"There's no words for it. Alone doesn't begin to cover it; she looks stranded."
Luna turns away from her sons' conversation; she shouldn't be eavesdropping anyhow. She's touched they're worrying but they have no need to be. It's true she misses Draco – has missed him every day she woke up without him; has missed him every time her heart beats – but she's all right. It's hard when someone you love leaves the physical world, especially one you loved so deeply, but Luna knows he's not truly gone. She knows that she will see him again. She knows that he is still with her. Death, despite how most view it, is not an absolute thing. She knows that. After all, her mother still visits her – and she knows she does not imagine her mother's visits.
She steps loudly, letting her children know she is approaching, and then breezes into the kitchen. In all truth, she's glad they're here. Though she knows that Draco, nor anyone she loves, will always be with her – that there's not finality – it's still hard when it's their wedding anniversary and there's no hand holding hers.
"Tea, boys?" She offers, putting on the kettle.
"Please, Mum." They chorus, like they did when they were tiny.
Luna gets down three cups and saucers, studying her wedding ring as she does so. She hasn't taken it off since the day Draco put it there. She wishes he were here now.
She's just picked up the whistling kettle when there comes a sharp knock at the door. She and her sons look toward the front door, confused.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Scorpio asks.
"No," Luna answers, already heading for the door, "but that's quite all right."
She can't think of who it might be. Most people she knows will call before arriving on her doorstep, though Luna has tried to convince her friends that it's not necessary – she likes having unexpected guests. She opens the front door with a smile and is surprised to find a young man, flowers in his arm.
"Hello," she greets.
"Hello," he answers with a polite smile. "Are you Luna Malfoy?"
She nods. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"I work with a delivery service. Your husband arranged to have us deliver these to you."
Luna watches his movements, a tear welling in the corner of her eye. The young man presents her with the flowers before reaching into his pack and handing her an elaborately wrapped package.
"Thank you," Luna breathes, feeling the weight of the box on her palm and feeling Draco's spirit.
"You're welcome." The man smiled. "Have a nice day, ma'am."
"You have a very nice day as well!" Luna trills. She shuts the door and returns to the kitchen, where Scorpio and Lorcan sit sipping their tea and pretending not to be as curious as they are.
"What is it?" Lorcan asks as they hear her footsteps growing closer.
"Your father sent me a package." Luna whispers, unbelieving. She feels the room go very still at the words – Scorpio and Lorcan both lock their eyes on her.
"What did Dad send you?" Lorcan is the one to say the words, eyes glimmering as Luna sits down across from them.
"Hmm," Luna ponders, plucking at the perfectly tied gold bow on the top of the box, "I honestly have no idea."
She slowly undid the ribbon, wanting to hold onto this last gift from Draco. She remembers the last time she ever saw him alive, how his hands shook as he kissed her and told her he loved her. She is touched by how, even before then, he was assuring that she knew he was never going to leave her. She runs her thumb along the top of the box and takes a deep breath. She gently pulls the top off, a soft glow coming from inside. She reaches both hands in – feeling as though the object is extremely fragile. And when she cups her hands around it – the surface is cold and hard under her aged palms –, lifting it out, she realizes just how precious it is.
It's just like the ball he had on the table the night he proposed. There are images of the two of them on the globe but it's every memory they've ever shared; over half a century of their life together. Every moment is recorded – the first kiss to the last one; doing the dishes to the first dance. She feels tears spring to her eyes as she watches their youthful faces slowly age through his memories. She places her hands around the sphere as though she's cradling his face again.
"I love you, Draco," she breathes, swearing she could feel him next to her.
And voile! The end!
Thank you to all my readers and reviewers – I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
I own nothing recognizable. Thanks to my beta: Noble6. The song is All That You Are by Goo Goo Dolls.
~TLL~