A/N: To the anonymous reviewer- thank you so much for your thoughts! I also really like Draco/Hermione but at some point, there's only so much one can contribute to such a huge fandom. I think my favorite thing about DM/HG is that I can imagine having a lot of fun writing about them fighting.

Maybe I'll write one in the future. For now though - DM/LL has been my favorite pairing since I was like…12 and I don't think there's enough fanstuff for it.

The last chapter was a bit short so here's a decent length one.

July 11th

"I'm just concerned, Miss Lovegood."

"I understand completely."

Elijah Mink looked worried. He was a middle-aged man thin in the bone and thinner in the hair. He wore a dusty suit that at one time might have been a vibrant purple. Thick-rimmed glasses covered his owl like eyes. He reminded Luna much of herself in fact, but only if she was constantly anxious and sweated much more often.

"I hear things. I pride myself on not being an overbearing supervisor but when Hermione Granger herself asks me to give her an update because she thinks your getting too close to your clients- " he made a sweeping gesture with his hand accidentally pushing several papers onto the floor. "What am I supposed to do Luna?" He leaned in close to her. "I know you're not incompetent. I know you run an ethical practice. But Merlin. What am I supposed to do?"

He hissed as if he was whispering but his volume stayed the same.

Luna felt bad she really did.

"Tell Hermione nothing but the truth." She looked him in the eye. There was no sense fighting it. If she got caught, she got caught.

Elijah sighed and leaned far into his chair as if he wanted to become one with it.

"Just please don't give me an excuse to call you in again," he said.

Luna stood up and gathered her purse.

"Watch out for Bed bugs, they're booming this summer." With a smile she turned away and walked out.

"What the bloody hell are bed bugs?" Elijah muttered to himself as she left his office.

And so this was their routine. Every week they would go somewhere else. Once they even went to the muggle cinemaplex and watched a romantic comedy from the 80s. Luna thought it was funny and charming. Draco said it was stupid but was becoming increasingly interested in kitchen appliances.

Luna continued to ask Draco intrusive questions and he continued to answer them in the shortest sentences possible. One day she asked, "What would you tell your 13 year old self based on how your life is now?"

He looked at her and said, "What would you say?"

She blinked and thought for a moment. "I would say," she began. "To remember who your friends are, not to despair, keep reading, continue to question everything, and do not trust anyone blindly, ever."

He was impressed with her candor and suddenly felt badly for giving her such shit answers. She seemed to flighty sometimes but here she was appearing surprisingly and refreshingly pragmatic. He took a breath.

"I would tell myself that my parents would forget about me on vacation the next summer and instead of owling them ten times - to run away and live in Spain instead of going back home."

Luna nodded as if he had told her the weather was nice today.

After that, whenever Luna asked him a question she answered it herself first. He found that her openness made him feel not so awful.

Slowly, he found his answers to her questions about muggle and muggleborns becoming more and more ambivalent.

He also found himself wanting to kiss Luna again. They hadn't spoken about that night but he didn't think it was because they were both pretending it hadn't happened. Rather, he felt that they didn't have much more to say about it. At least, that's what he hoped.

He couldn't let himself feel too comfortable. But he could already feel himself slipping into comfort. Every time he yelled at her, stomped away from her, threatened to leave, or anything else, she would say, "See you next week". And what was better – she actually did see him the next week. It was as if the stupid girl didn't expect anything from him in return. How naïve.

September 13th

July turned into August and August into September. The weather was still warm but growing chilly. Luna finally insisted that they purchase Draco furniture. So they went down to the local second-hand store in his neighborhood.

"I was just here the other day with another client," Luna said as they walked slowly through the aisles of old furniture. "We bought him some nice winter clothes."

Draco tried to act like this didn't bother him.

"So you go out with your er, other clients?" He hoped the twinge of pain he was feeling wasn't too transparent.

Luna nodded. "I go out with most of my clients. But…" She paused. "Not like you and I go out."

"What do you mean?" He grinned but walked behind her so she couldn't see. He was secretly so pleased that he was different. Special. He goaded her on, wanting her to talk about them more like they were a singular special entity. "What's different?"

"Well for one thing," Luna picked up a lamp and appraised it carefully before placing it back down and moving on. "With my other clients we mostly talk in my office. We only go out when they need clothes, or food, or other things. You won't talk to me if we're just sitting. So we go out every time. And do special things. And usually we spend the whole day together. And…" she realized she had been rambling. She stopped and moved onto the next aisle.

"…And what is your goal this week mine is to re-pot my mint plant it's growing so fast…"

Draco felt like whistling. He walked around smugly, despite being surrounded by furniture that smelled like incense and mothballs. How far he had fallen and yet, he felt important next to this luminous girl wearing a neon yellow baby doll dress and lime green cow boy boots.

"My goal of the week is to try to not think about how little is in my savings account right now." He mused not really caring.

They finally settled on a simple dark wooded square table that came with a matching set of four chairs. Draco wasn't used to haggling but Luna got it down about 40 galleons lower than it was set as. She shrunk the set down and placed it in her purse. They stopped by a flower shop and Luna bought hydrangeas and a simple glass vase.

She rattled on about how she loved the idea of owning a flower shop and how she hadn't been to his apartment in ages how excited she was to see his plant she had a book full of poems in her purse. She seemed to forget that the last time she had been over he had kicked her out. He tried not to dwell on it.

And so that's how they were as they made their way up the creaky stairs of his building. Luna appeared as if she was already accustomed to his building, gliding up the stairs effortlessly. Draco wondered briefly if she walked atop snow rather than sink into it.

But as they drew closer to his flat he felt a migraine coming on. Leaning on his door reading a magazine was Marigold. Her long black hair was now cut short so that it just graced her chin. It made her look even thinner and unhealthier. He wondered if she'd sold it.

When she saw them walking towards her - two blondes, one carrying a large vase of flowers – she scoffed and threw the magazine down letting it fall awkwardly to the floor.

"Draco, love!" she flung her arms around his neck and gave him a peck at the side of his mouth. "Where've you been I've been waiting all day and I lost the key to your apartment."

"I never gave you the key to my apartment," Draco said, frowning not meanly down at her.

"That's what you think." She grinned up at him and then set her eyes on Luna. "Are you Draco's sister or something?"

Luna shook her head calmly.

"She's my rehabilitation specialist." There was no point lying. This area was full of ex death eaters and other wizards who had pledged themselves to the dark lord. This was nothing new. In a way that's why he enjoyed Marigold's presence. Nothing he did made her shrink from him in disgust. Sometimes it seemed to make her even more attracted to him.

"I see." Marigold looked Luna up and down. Deemed her a non-threat. "Nice plants. Celebrating something?"

Luna nodded at her in greeting. "Just sprucing up Draco's apartment."

"Thank Merlin," Marigold smiled and leaned towards Luna as if they were already friends. "Isn't his place just the worst? But my place is no better." She turned back to Draco, instantly bored with Luna. Draco quirked an eyebrow – he'd never really thought about Marigold's flat.

"Draco, it's nice meeting your officer but I could really use a spot of something…." She tried to whisper in his ear but he refused to bend closer to her so she had to settle for murmuring into his chin.

"Why don't we place your new table in your flat and then I'll be going," Luna said. "I have plans anyway." She didn't look upset but she didn't look her usual serene self. Draco didn't want her to go. But he knew Marigold wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"You finally got a table?" Marigold exclaimed.

"And some chairs too…" Draco muttered as he shuffled for his keys.

Liar! She was a liar. She never lied! Why!

Luna kicked herself mentally as she walked along the river. She had walked out of Draco's building and had kept walking passed the art district and then further towards the water. It was growing chilly and she didn't have a cloak but the warm burning in her chest helped her ward off the cold.

This was not an emotion she was familiar with. What was it- jealousy? A feeling of being thrown aside for something better? More straightforward? Less odd?

Draco had never mentioned any girls before. But it made sense. He was a handsome man. Even in school she knew he had dated several girls. It made sense that he had someone waiting for him. Maybe he did all the time. Maybe that's why he hadn't tried to kiss her since that night.

Put it away Luna, she told herself. This is good. She could now write in her report that Draco was learning how to create stable and fulfilling relationships. Bloody damn hell.

Most of all, she felt embarrassed. Just this afternoon she had gone on and on about how special he was to her. Foolish Luna. Always placing your faith in people and having them backfire. Remember when they would hide your shoes in school? Remember when they called you names behind your back?

But that was the past. Life was different now. She had lived through a war. They all had. And yet, she still felt tossed aside. And yet she still felt extra.

"Excuse me!"

Luna looked up. She had been so lost in thought that she had walked into a wall. At first she felt excited because she thought she had walked into a wailing stone – a magical piece of rock enchanted to be polite. But it wasn't a wall at all. It was a man. A very tall man that looked like –

"Theodore, it's good to see you again." She smiled up at him forgetting her own rudeness.

"Miss Lovegood. What are you doing walking alone at night?"

Luna blinked and looked around. Indeed it was nighttime now. Hadn't it been the afternoon when she left Draco's flat? Where had the time go? You're losing time again Luna….

"Just getting some fresh night air," she replied. But now that she realized how late it was, she shivered. Her stomach growled. She would have blushed it she found basic human necessities embarrassing.

Theodore frowned. He took his cloak off and held it out to her. When she didn't protest he draped it gently over her shoulders. It was a light wool but still very warm. "It seems you've been walking for a while. Are you meeting anyone?"

Luna shook her head.

"You know," he looked up in thought. "I was just going to get some dinner. Would you like to accompany me? I have some follow up questions from the party you attended and this would be optimum time. If you're free."

Surprised, Luna didn't know what to say. No one ever asked her to dinner. She hadn't been on a real "date" in ages. But this wasn't a date. She barely knew this man. Still, she was hungry, and it might be nice to not be alone right now. So she followed him as he masterfully made his way through the crowded streets and into a small restaurant. They were seated immediately.

"Order anything you want," Theodore gestured towards the short menu that was set before her. Luna didn't know much about restaurants but was under the impression that the shorter the menu the more expensive the food. And there were seven items on this piece of parchment before her. None of them had prices next to them.

When Theo learned that Luna didn't know what type of wine she enjoyed, he ordered a tasting tray and then purchased a bottle of her favorite. "You government workers," he said as swirled his drink around. "Either wallowing in indulgence or forgetting it exists all together."

He ordered a salad and the lobster. She ordered soup and a filet of fish. She thought it may be one of the cheaper items of the menu but in fact a chef came out and fileted the fish right before her on a separate portable counter. Apparently it was a delicacy. She found it delightful and special. She briefly worried about Theo spending too much on a simple meal but then remembered that he'd recently been promoted and so he was probably fine. Luna knew she came off as flighty at times but there was a solid pragmatism that lay at her foundation.

Somewhere over the course of dinner, between her first and fourth glass of wine, Luna ended up telling Theo everything. About how Draco had snogged her after Theo's party. About how her supervisor was in trouble because of her and how she may lose her job. About how she wasn't really upset about that notion. About how right before Theo had found her, she had run away from Draco and his paramour like a school child. About how she was more of a paramour, from a legal standpoint.

Theo nodded along and ate his meal while she spoke. When she finished she set her glass down, realizing she had been holding it close to her body for quite some time. She took a big bite of fish and set her fork down.

"And that's my sad story," she mused, tilting her head to the left. She forgot how much she enjoyed being tipsy. She felt that it helped her open her third eye.

"You certainly are going through it," Theo smiled and clasped his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on the table. It looked as though they were plotting something. Luna giggled. She liked this. This was nice. Sitting in a fancy restaurant, pouring out her troubles to someone else for a change. Theo was a good listener. Perhaps that was because he was always surrounded by people full of so many stories. Confidentiality be damned, she was already half the way to an ethics hearing. And Theo was Draco's friend. He wouldn't use this information to hurt him.

The little bell above the door sung out.

Luna's eyes widened as she saw who was entering the restaurant. It must have been "date night" as Ginny often called it. Hermione walked into the small room, her fiancé on her elbow. They looked easy and in love and perfectly comfortable with one another. Luna watched the way Ron's eyes gazed lovingly at Hermione and she thought about how at one time she too had found him charming in his own awkward way.

Theo followed Luna's gaze and landed on the happy couple, waiting patiently for a table. They wouldn't wait long they were two of the most well known wizards in the world.

Hermione locked her eyes on Luna – widened and then smiled. She was her boss, yes, but also a friend. She raised a hand and wiggled her fingers, bent over to whisper something in Ron's ear.

True to form, the hostess swiftly ushered them over towards the area where Luna and Theo sat. There was a lovely little table with a beautiful view of the river just over this way…

Before they went over to their table the couple stopped by Luna and Theo.

"Luna how are you!" Hermione beamed and gave her a hug, kissed her cheek. Ron did the same and nodded at Theo. "I hope we're not interrupting we just wanted to say hi."

"Not at all," Theo flashed a disarming white smile and kissed her hand. So old fashioned this man. "Theodore Nott. We attended school together. Luna is gracing me with her presence for an impromptu date." If Luna were a dog her ears would have perked up. "It's nice to meet her friends." Not the most famous witch and wizard in the world, just her friends.

Hermione looked taken aback by his ease but recovered quickly and gracefully. She smiled down at him.

"Of course I remember you Nott-"

"Theo please."

"-Theo then. I've heard you're doing great things at Quazar & Holmes."

"Writing and ensuring wills is a morbid business but someone's got to do it," This must have been a line he'd said one thousand times. He looked so slick and settled in his corniness. Luna wanted to giggle more.

"Well we won't keep you any longer. We really should see each other more often Luna. We'll see you at Ginny's next month? Enjoy your date, you two."

Luna smiled and nodded. Ron winked at her slyly and then placed a hand on his fiance's lower back as the two finally left to have their own dinner.

Luna looked out the window for a moment then back at Theo. She realized he had been staring at her.

"Are you going to ask me why I told Hermione Granger we're on a date?" He asked.

"I suppose it was your clever way of helping me out. If she thinks we're on a date she has less to worry about Draco and I being involved." It came out easily like a fish falling down a stream. Luna sighed and took another sip of wine.

Theo shook his head and smiled. "You are a surprising little thing aren't you Miss Lovegood."

Luna shrugged. "I've been called worse."

This made him laugh for some reason, a unselfconscious almost defiant laugh that rang through the small restaurant.

He bought her some hot chocolate from a street vendor as he walked her home.

He stood at her door with her as she fumbled for her keys. She tried to give him back his cloak but he told her to return it when she saw him next.

"I suppose I owe you one," Luna said. "For helping me out."

"All I ask is that you go to lunch with me sometime."

Luna blinked. That sounded easy enough. She did enjoy it when people bought her food.

"Alright then. Goodnight."

Theo waited until she had locked the door from the inside. She could hear him turn and whistle a nameless tune as he took a few steps before apparating away.

That night Luna dreamt she was a hare running in the forest. All the creatures of the night ran along with her – predator and prey alike. She turned to look back at their pursuer – a great beast of fire was on a rampage through the brush. It would burn the whole world down if she let it. She stopped running and felt the wind of the other forest animals speeding by her. Felt their fear and fury recede into the distance. The fire beast reared up before her like a great wave...

She awoke to a freezing room. Her head pounded that special rhythm that only arises after drinking too much sweet wine.

Her fireplace had gone out during the night. She shivered and pulled her blankets close around her.

A/N: Oddly enough this is my favorite installment so far. Don't think poorly of Marigold. I love her. Till next time.