I'm so sorry for not updating for a really looooooong time, I didn't mean to keep you guys waiting like this. I'm sorry .

Chapter 45 Illusion

"Are you coming Luna?" Dean sipped the last remains of his herbal tea, while Bill was clutching his business bag as a signal of their nearing departure. Luna looked at Dean as if distracted, though not a single thing in mind. Within three seconds of waiting for her reply, she finally nodded absent mindedly, burying Clementine's face closer to the crook of her neck. She closed her eyes, furrowing her eyebrows as she can feel the ache inside her heart. She had thought about it over and over again, and it was difficult. Not knowing if she would even live after the war, or if she would ever get to see her daughter ever again. But she knew that she has to take her part. She has to help Harry, she has to be there for Draco. They were in 'this' since from the beginning, and they would end it with what fate has in store for them. But still, what would happen to little Clementine if- . She exhaled slowly, her eyes stung as she fought the tears from falling.

"Now you'll be a darling to auntie Fleur won't you Clementine? We don't need any wrackspurts roaming around here" Luna bounced the baby infront of her, smiling as she stared right to Clementine's icy blue eyes that remind her so much of Draco. Clementine burped and opened her little mouth, giggling and stretching her chubby arms as if she understands why her mother was being enthusiastic.

"Mommy is going with daddy for an adventure alright?, we'll be back soon" she pecked the child's cheek, lingering her lips to the rosy cheeks that were belonged to the small infant, upon feeling the contact, the child wiggled distractedly. She gave one last eye contact with her daughter and finally let a single tear fall, tightening her hold to her daughter- but still as gentle as ever. "We would end this war. And soon, my darling, we will be free"

She sighed deeply from her nostrils, bringing her daughter up to rest Clementine's head to the crook of her shoulder. Slow and with eyes shut tight, she cradled the child as if it would be the last time she would ever touch the fragile creature.

"I promise" she lingered one last kiss to the child's forehead and placed her gently to Fleur's awaiting arms. Automatically, as if sensing that her mother had removed her, Clementine begun to thrash her limbs wildly, and her eyes were shut tightly with tears starting to pour from her little face.

With one last look, Luna clenched her hands and walked away.

"Luna?" She managed to form a weak smile on her face, relaxing her shoulders as she prepared herself to get smothered by her red headed friend. As Ginny pronounced the syllables of her name, as if a dangerous spell had been enchanted, the room went silent as everybody turned their heads to look at her. A pregnant pause was shared, the aura of the room thickens with indescribable emotion. She turned her gaze to everybody but ending up with Ginny. Her weak smile lessened and her eyebrows furrowed, bowing her head, she mindlessly shrugged. Soon, her shoulders shook, and her eyes reddened but remained dry.

She can hear Ginny gasp, and later on, found herself inside her best friend's arms. "I left Clementine, I-" her voice held no emotion but her hands tightened their grip. She can feel several pair of eyes were on hers, some had gasped while some gave her their sad look. But apparently she did not care, all she can ever think about was her daughter, and how she had failed her.

"-what kind of mother am I? How can I be so selfish" She whined, a tremor lingering inside the thickness of her gentle voice. As if sensing her distress, her bestfriend tightened her grip around her, implying that whatever would happen, she's not alone in this. Somehow, it made her feel somewhat, a little better.

The aura had lessened it's thickness; something that she was grown to get used to ever since she started having relations with Draco;not that she cared anyway. One by one, she felt every single one of them coming closer to her, a. if they were showing their support for the young mother. Though with closed eyes, she can hear Lavender Brown and the Patil twins crying in her right, Cho Chang saying sweet encouragements to her, Neville rubbing her back every once in a while, and a random whisperer that words were consisted of: "Wait, Malfoy and Luna did the deed?" which earned the random person a slap on the back from-well, probably their best mate- and a slight redness on Luna's cheeks.

A wide hand rested itself on her shoulder, wide enough to know that it was indeed, not from Ginny. "You sacrificed your life so that she would have a better life ahead. Tell me, how can that be selfish?" she swallowed a thick batch of guts to go straight down to her tummy. Feeling a bit hopeful, she only wishes that if ever she would die there, along with Draco and the others, she hopes that Blaise's wisdom would enter inside Clementine's mind and wouldn't feel left out; like what and how she felt when her mother died.

One by one, they formed a bee line to the exit. She stood on the edge of the magical arc, memorizing each single faces as she smiled and waved to each and every single one of them. Fortunately, she was allowed to stay inside the Room of Requirements. Since nobody except the DA and Blaise knew that she had finally returned, they decided to let her stay away from the torturous way of education that had been happening ever since Dumbledore died. Her body is still recovering from childbirth and surely enough, the cruciatus curse would end her.

She sighed and let her imaginations take hold. Closing her eyes, her bare feet started functioning. The power of the room started with a blink of bright light, making her eyebrows furrow with the sudden harshness of the contact to her eyelids. Down to the center of the room she sat, feeling the swirls of magic work along with the strokes of chilly air. The magic has so much force that the strands of her hair went waving along with each strokes of the mists. She felt the room had changed, the light outside her closed eyelids were warm compared to the brightness before. Slowly, as if sensing that the operation was done, her eyelids lifted up slowly and soon, her blue irises were to be seen.

She stood up, scanning the room with every bob of her head. There was curiosity in her eyes. Truth to be told, she only desired to know if Draco and Clementine are safe.

She walked straight to the fireplace, the warmness of the fire was too real that she felt as if she was transferred to a different place. The fireplace was made of marble, almost like the one Draco has in their manor. She shook her head, trying to stop herself from thinking about the nightmares that she had encountered there. That manor held too many bittersweet moments; she almost lost Clementine with a violent fall, but also, felt Draco's affections for her much more clearer. But still, the memories still make her shiver.

A photo frame appeared at the top of the fireplace. She leaned in a little closer, scanning the small picture frame with a moving picture inside of it. There was a small family on it, all of them grinning right infront of her. The woman, whom she finally recognized as herself, was being wrapped inside the arms of the man- Draco, in-between them was an infant-Clementine, who was thrashing energetically inside the arms of her mother, giggling with a single tooth on her lower gums. Luna smiled softly, a wave of satisfaction came rushing inside her system. They all look content. happy. at ease. Something that she was hoping for ever since she found out that she was pregnant.

A distant cries were heard as a crib made it's appearance. She was about to take the task at hand because she knew that that light cries were from her little infant, but then, a new character popped up next to the crib with his back on her, making her stop.

The man has blond hair, perfectly gelled along with his perfect black suit. She knows too well who the man is. She had imprinted him in her head ever since she started falling for him.

'Hey darling, we don't want to wake up mummy, do we?" Draco whispered softly to the infant-who somehow, appeared older than the real one. Clementine giggled inside her father's arms, making Luna see a few teeth inside her mouth. "Mu-mu-mummy?" the infant babbled, her eyes as blue as her father's. Draco nodded, a grin in place.

"Yes. And you know how hot you're mother is, especially when she had a good night's sleep" he winked towards his daughter, who in return, just giggled to his father's words, not knowing what he had meant but was actually happy to see her father happy.

Luna rolled her eyes, a blush on both of her cheeks. She stepped closer to the two, raising her hand as she grew closer to the man.

"Draco-" she froze in her spot once her fingertips touched the silk of his suit. The Draco figure didn't made any signs that he had felt her against him, he just continued rocking the toddler back and forth. She tried once again, only to see that her hand passes through the figure's body. Like a mist. No, it is a mist.

She sighed, reminding herself that she was, indeed in the Room of Requirements. She was somehow thankful though. The room was kind enough to let her see Draco and Clementine. Even if it was all just an illusion.

And so she sat down to the center of the room again, crossing her legs and trailed her eyes towards the illusion, just watching Draco cradle the infant in his arms and listen to him hum a lullaby.

There was a bed that appeared right behind her, signaling that she may sleep on it. She jumped right in, resting her head to the side so that she could still watch her little family.

After a couple of seconds, she yawned, her eyes fluttering to close. She furrowed her eyebrows, begging her eyelids not to close. As tired as she was, she needed to see them. Even if it was just another illusion.

A fee moments later, due to Draco's lullaby, she finally let her eyelids fall. But just before she finally drift to unconsciousness, she heard the illusion version of Draco say: "Sleep now Luna, we have a big day ahead"

This was sort of a fil chappie before the big day. Just wanting you guys to know that ai'm not going to abandon this. Oh and.. guys, we're so close to the final! Thankyou For all of you who favorited, reviewed, story alerted, and read this! You guys are the best!

Yup, I would rewrite this story after I would finish it. Well, not sure... I tend to get lazy alot.