Chapter Six

"Trust me, Luna. I would rather go with you but I have an obligation that I can't push off."

It was an unseasonably warm day and Luna was standing in his kitchen, wearing a bright yellow sundress and sandals, trying to persuade him to join her at Fortescue's for an ice cream sundae. She had a firm grip on his elbow and was attempting to maneuver him towards the door. "Whatever it is, Draco, surely it can wait an hour or so."

Draco held his ground. "Sorry, Luna. I really want to but I can't."

She saw his gaze drift to a letter sitting on the counter and stopped, her face now full of concern. "Okay. Spill. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Really? You actually think I'm going to accept that answer?" She placed her hands on her hips and glared. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Draco Malfoy? He's much cleverer than that."

Draco was unable to suppress a chuckle at the sight of the diminutive blond trying to look intimidating. "Fine. I have been graced with a rare communication from my mother. She 'urgently' needs some items she left behind at the manor and she insists that I procure them and send them to her 'immediately'." He rolled his eyes. "Damn it, I was really hoping that I was done with that place."

"Don't you have a caretaker for the manor now?"

"Yes, but what she needs is in the safe. It is charmed so only immediate family can open it and since she can't be bothered to come back and Father is indisposed..."

"Would you like some company? I could go with you."

He waved her off. "I couldn't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I offered. That's different."

Draco picked up the note to avoid looking at her. "Why would you want to go there?"

"Because my friend needs me."

He started to turn away. "Wouldn't you be scared to go back in there?"

She took the piece of paper from him and moved into a position that forced him to look at her. "Not at all. I'll be with you. I can't think of a safer place to be." She smiled. "How about we go right now? Then we can get ice cream after, okay?"

He made a face. "Is there any chance you are going to take 'no' for an answer?"

She giggled. "Oh, Draco. Do you really need to ask that question?"

Realizing further discussion was pointless once Luna had set her mind to something, Draco took hold of her arm and apparated them to the front lawn of the manor. He glanced over at her. "Are you sure you want to do this? You can wait out here until I'm done. I should only be a few minutes."

She nodded firmly. "If you can go in there, so can I."

Draco seemed unconvinced. "I wasn't a prisoner here."

Luna tipped her head. "Really? Weren't you?" Without waiting for an reply she marched straight up to the entrance and through the front door. She stopped and gazed about at the lavish furnishings. "It's very pretty but at the same time quite cold and severe."

Draco muttered, "My family in a nutshell." He took a deep breath. "Right. Let's get this over with, shall we?"

He hurried through the foyer, almost running past the large room on his left. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping that would somehow drown on the screams of pain that echoed around his head - the cries of innocent people being tortured and killed. It was the one of the reasons he had left as soon as he was able after the war. To remain in these surroundings would have caused him to go mad.

Luna sensed his pain but didn't press for details. Instead she took his hand and whispered, "The past can be quite noisy, can't it?" He said nothing but she noticed that he did not release his grip on her until they reached the study.

Draco quickly located the items his mother required and started to leave but as they reached the door to the hallway, a mouse scampered past them and down the passage. Luna exclaimed, "Rupert!" and dashed after it. Draco faltered momentarily and then took off after them, begging Luna to stop. She continued her pursuit and Draco soon found himself in the very last place he wanted to be - the cellars.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and saw Luna crouched on the floor, holding the little mouse in her hand. When Draco stepped into the room, the creature jumped down and scuttled away as Luna called out, "Bye, Rupert."

Draco moved towards her. "Rupert?"

"He was my friend when I stayed here." She stood and looked around. "Funny. It's smaller than I remembered."

Draco fought a lump in his throat. "Luna….I-I am so sorry." He hesitated, not knowing if he should reach for her or not. She resolved the issue by taking hold of his hand. Draco stared at his shoes and whispered, "I wish I had been braver. I should have done more for you…all of you."

"It was a war, Draco. We all did what we had to do." She became very quiet then said, "Did I ever tell you what Daddy did while I was in here?" Draco shook his head.

"He tried to turn Harry and the others in to Voldemort. Harry, Ron and Hermione came to him for help locating the horcruxes and he contacted the death eaters in attempt to gain my freedom. If it weren't for Hermione's quick thinking they would have been captured and the dark lord might have won."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "That's why Daddy travels so much now and I think it's the reason he didn't want me to go with him. He believes everyone hates him for what he did. He struggles with the idea that he wasn't brave enough to sacrifice for the cause. He feels guilty that Voldemort almost triumphed because of what he did."

"He shouldn't feel guilty about that. What he did was out of love for you…to protect you." Draco swallowed hard. "That is what family is supposed to do."

"Exactly." She fixed him with a compassionate stare. "Don't you see, Draco? It's the same thing. We all did what we could to protect those that we loved. Daddy with me. You with your mother. I wish you could forgive yourself as easily as you can forgive my father. You both deserve to leave the past where it belongs – in the past."

Draco looked doubtful as she rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. "I'm free from my prison, Draco. I truly wish you could be free from yours."

Draco remained motionless for a moment before squeezing her hand. "Are you ready to leave now?"

Luna squeezed back. "Are you?"

"Definitely." He apparated them back to his flat and, after sending the items off to his mother, they made their way to Fortescue's for possibly the best ice cream Draco had ever tasted.