October 31st, later

"So… tell me again why I should help you?"

Harry leaned back in his chair and looked at the image before him. Luna Lovegood, his childhood friend and fellow soldier in battle, was dressed as a vegetable. She was standing next to Theodore Nott, who had a nice shiner on his left eye. On Theo's other side stood Pansy Parkinson in a deep purple suit looking taller and more confident than ever.

He realized he hadn't seen either of the slytherins since school. His last memory of Pansy was her suggesting the school turn him over to Voldemort. Great choice in companions Luna, he thought.

Pansy slapped a heavy packet of paper on his desk.

"Draco Malfoy needs to be released ASAP. It is true he cast an offensive spell but it's not listed in the packet every wizard on parole receives during orientation. The confringo spell is an offensive spell yes- but statisticallyits primary source of use is during construction-based projects. It's completely legitimate if the owner of the land he was standing on – Theodore Nott - authorized the usage of such magic. Wizards on parole aren't allowed to receive a salary but are allowed to help other witches and wizards with chores and receive minimal compensation. My client, Mr. Nott is prepared to go on record stating that he authorized the use of the spell."

Harry raised an eyebrow and looked at the witch from beneath his iconic round glasses.

"So… Malfoy was… building a quarry in the middle of Nott's living room…during a Halloween party?"

A moment of silence.

The truth is relative…

"What Mr. Nott does in the privacy of his own home is none of the ministry's concern." Pansy replied as if she was explaining to a small child why the sky was blue. He had to hand it to her. Even though she knew it was a ridiculous case, she went at it with the vigor of someone with the truth behind them. Certainly a Slytherin.

Nott looked at Luna as if to say, See?

"I'm not a supervisor, manager, or department head," Harry said, sighing and taking his eyeglasses off. He massaged the bridge of his nose as he had grown accustomed to doing lately. "I can't really… do anything here-"

"Oh come off it Potter," Pansy rolled her eyes. She planted her hands firmly on his desk and leaned over him. "I know you probably have some reservations about throwing your weight around but what you don't realize is that no matter what you do – you are influential. You are currently the most famous wizard in the world. If tomorrow you told the press that it was funny hat day every witch and wizard would be going to work and attending classes in fascinators."

She gestured to Luna.

"This witch is your friend. And if her client is jailed then she could lose her job. Or worse – her reputation as a specialist. This is career ruining shit, Potter. Isn't saving people kind of your thing? Where is your Gryffindor Pride for Merlin's sake? If there was ever a time to call in a few favors-"

"Enough!" Harry said, irritated. It was true though; he was always weak when it came to the needs of his friends.

Pansy looked over her shoulder to Luna and mouthed, don't worry.

Harry put his glasses back on and stood up. Pansy righted herself and adjusted her jacket.

"Alright," he said. "Just this once, Luna. This is my fatal flaw. For old times sake."

Luna felt an unnerving tickle of anger spark but she pushed it away.

What does anger get you? Such an ugly emotion...

Luna beamed at him instead. "Thank you Harry," she said. "This is the only time I'll need a favor like this."

Harry nodded to her. "It better be."

Luna and Draco sat across from each other. He was now dressed in the drab robes of a prisoner. She was still dressed as a pumpkin.

"You'll be out by morning," she said. "Pansy just needs to file some papers and whatever else attorneys do."

Draco was surprised. He never thought Pansy would amount to anything. But times were different now and as it appeared, anything was possible.

"This may set back your rehabilitation however…" Luna continued. "Which is too bad. Why did you attack Theo?"

Draco felt like a child being reprimanded. Almost braced himself for a stinging jinx or a swat to the back of the head.

"Because I didn't like what he was doing to you," he said under his breath.

"I think," she began. "I think that will be the last time Theodore Nott kisses me."

Draco looked up at her surprised. When he had seen Nott descending upon Luna… He had been so angry. But more than anything he felt hurt. Like she was throwing him out.

"Good," he said. He was so relieved. He though… she was leaving him.

"I think you're right about him," Luna continued. "He's a collector. I'm different to him. But once he gets used to me, I fear he will grow tired and move on. He's nice for a passing fancy but…" She sighed and twirled a bit of hair between her fingers. "I like people that are in for the long haul. Like the stone giants in New Zealand – they just keep on living…"

Draco wanted to say, I can do that. I'm not going anywhere! He ignored her sentiments about stone giants he was sure they were made up.

For some reason now all inhibitions about his attraction towards her went away. He didn't care if she knew or if anyone else knew. All Draco knew was that he was the only one he wanted to kiss her.

"Harry says you'll have to attend anger management classes. And probably AA since you were inebriated during your arrest."

"Bollocks," he said.

"I have to go now I'm quite tired," Luna said. He looked up at her. She was leaving so soon?

She placed her hand on the table as if waiting for him to take it. He couldn't seem to move his arm. Feared that if he touched her he wouldn't be able to let go.

"I'll be back to pick you up in the morning and talk to the head of the department. Also I need to sober up."

She left him there. Pansy had gone home to prepare some forms. Theo was waiting for her outside.

"I want to apologize," he said as they walked slowly down the street. It would be morning soon. Luna could feel her hangover coming and didn't quite feel comfortable apparating. Luckily, her apartment was only about a twenty-minute walk from the holding facilities.

"But… My offer still stands."

She stopped and looked at Theo. He was handsome in his own way. Unobtrusively so. He was charming, smart, and independently wealthy. She knew his father was in prison and their money had been annexed by the government. Everything a girl could ask for. But.

"How do you feel about muggles and muggle borns?" She looked at him straight in the eyes now, unwavering.

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.

"Luna," he began. But she shook her head and began to walk away.

"Come on!" He called after her. "Think of the kind of life you'll have with that git! Think of everything I can give you. Luna we can travel! I'll take you anywhere. Lovegood-"

He caught up with her and grabbed her arm above her elbow, swinging her around to look at him. She knew better than to try to pull away but she grabbed her wand that was tucked behind her ear.

"Why do men always keep insisting even after a woman says no thank you?"

His grip loosened.

"You didn't technically say 'no thank you'." He said with a small guilty smile. She didn't smile back.

"Do you really think he's going to change his mind?" His voice tightened. He was fighting a battle already lost. "Draco was raised just like me. We're from a different generation – changing ones core beliefs- it's not so simple."

"I feel," she said slowly. "That perhaps he may never truly believe all beings are equal. But I believe he will at least try."

She pulled away from him and trotted down the street, turned a corner and broke into a run.

November 1st

The next morning Luna met Pansy at the jail. Theo wasn't there but Pansy said he had paid her already. She looked down at the shorter witch and sighed.

"You are the last person I imagined something like this would ever happen to."

"And what is that?" Luna asked.

Pansy smirked but said nothing.

Harry came out with Draco then. He had his cowboy costume in his arms but had chosen to stay in his plain prison robes. It wasn't muggle Halloween anymore.

"He's all yours. But you're on thin ice," Harry said solemnly. They nodded and turned to leave the office.

Once again, a twinge of irritation tried to burst forth from her. Once again Luna sent it away.

Don't let it in…

"Luna," Harry said before she turned away. She looked back at him. "Take care of yourself."

Luna nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you Harry," she said. "You're a real friend."

"Ginny wants to you have you over for dinner sometime," he said. "We'll owl you."

Pansy asked if they wanted some lunch. Draco just wanted to go home. She said she understood. He thought she might goad him, make fun of him, twist the knife, but she didn't. Instead she told him to take care. She told Luna to owl her anytime Draco went off again. She'd help her sort out the brute. She emphasized the word, again.

Luna walked Draco up to his flat. He slid the key in and pushed the door open. His room smelled musty and stale. That was the first night he hadn't spent in his apartment since he had slept over at Luna's.

He went to run a bath.

Luna opened the balcony doors to let in some air. She went to the kitchen to put the kettle on and looked in his fridge and cabinets. She would be able to write in her next report that he had adequate food in his home.

She went over to the window and was pleased to see the small podded plant happily growing in the sun. It was perhaps a bit wilted due to Draco not being home so she watered it gently then said, "What has an eye but cannot see?"

"A needle," Draco had gotten out of his bath and was standing in the kitchen door. Luna looked down to see he was only standing in a towel. Droplets of water dripped from his blonde hair. He needed a haircut and a shave.

"Technically," Luna said, unfazed and straightening up. "This is our weekly meeting time." It was Monday. 9 am. "Would you rather I left?"

Draco shook his head. "Let me get dressed. I'm hungry."

"Tea?" Luna called as he left to his room.

"Yes," he called back. He quickly changed into plain black slacks and a dark blue jumper. When he went back into the living room he found Luna sitting at the table he had bought with her. She had a teapot and two cups before her. Like him, she didn't take her tea with milk or sugar.

They sat for a bit, and listened to the radio.

"That party was lovely," Luna sighed. The morning sun made her eyes look even lighter than usual. Her cheeks were gently flushed. Draco thought she looked beautiful.

"Did you meet that Dragonologist from Australia? He had some amazing stories-"

"I'm sorry," it sounded foreign and awkward on his tongue. He never apologized.

Luna looked up at him in surprise. She smiled.

"You don't need to apologize to me," she said. "Just to yourself."

Draco wrinkled his nose and said, "Head-healer."

There was a quiet. Then they burst out laughing.

They spent the morning walking from café to bookstore to candy shop to boutique. They didn't talk about anything heavy as they were both a little tired and overwhelmed from the last nights events. They spoke about how Harry should really get an eye drop potion so that he didn't have to wear glasses anymore. They talked about how Pansy seemed pretty happy. They joked about how neither of them had many friends and then settled into comfortable silences.

But then by noon the news broke and their faces were plastered all over the front page of the Daily Prophet.

Hogwarts Heroes Behaving Badly! It read. A photo of Draco arriving at the city holding facility was plastered below the headline.

Luna was always impressed by how fast gossip turned into front-page news.

The article alleged that Draco had attacked Luna at a party and that Theodore Nott (supposed paramour) had defended her honor. It also said that once he was arrested she had pulled strings ("This girl has her claws deep within government pockets and hearts!") to get him out. The article suggested she was having an affair with Harry. It stated that Draco was an abusive boyfriend and little loony Luna was a poor girl who didn't realize she was being played. It also stated that she was his rehabilitation officer, which may have been the nail in the coffin.

And suddenly it was like wartime again. Half-baked articles trying desperately to sell copies, disturbing young people's lives. Even when Harry and Ginny went abroad what they ate for lunch seemed to show up in the society section. They left the country often to get away from publicity but the papers only twisted it to look as though they were lavish jet-setters.

And so even though the article was almost completely false, Luna suspected people believed every word. The truth had shifted within the confines of the universe and turned on its head. She felt an odd sense of calm run over her like an old blanket. This was familiar territory.

Draco grew increasingly aware of the stares and whispers from people sitting in their own booths and as they walked by. The room felt smaller. There was no air.

"Would you like to leave?" Luna whispered across the table. He nodded and with that they were out in the crisp air again, heading towards the river.

They managed to find a relatively secluded area on the water. The small beach was filled with reeds and junk, but was otherwise unoccupied. It was quiet but for the wind a crying gull in the distance.

Luna starred out at the water and Draco threw a few rocks, watched as they sunk to the bottom.

A black coal of shame burned within him.

He tilted his head back and let out a roar that sounded more like a sob. He sounded like a wounded animal.

Draco hung his head and sat on the muddy bank. Rested his elbows on his knees. What was the point? He owned second hand robes. He lived in a shit hole. His parents weren't talking to him. He was in the paper again and being called an abuser. For some reason this felt worse than being called a war criminal.

He just wanted it to be over. The words of the parole officers echoed in his ears over and over… not fit to return to society… we'll see what progress he's made in six months … you will be assigned a new specialist … don't fuck up this time…

Hot angry tears warmed his face and he was glad the wind had picked up. If the air had been too still it would have deepened the shame of crying. He buried his head in his arms and let the cheap itchy fabric of his jumper soak up his frustration.

Luna crouched next to him; her long skirt billowed around them almost like a tent. She put a hand on his back and just kept it there unmoving, letting him know that if he needed anything she was there with him.

He looked up at her and could see himself reflected in her crystal clear eyes. He let out a sob. He hadn't cried in a while.

"I just feel," he started then paused. Gathered himself. No air- Paused again. Then continued. "I just feel like it'll never end. I'll never be allowed to move on."

Luna wanted to run away. Take him and fly off somewhere. But she didn't want to leave if he couldn't come with her.

And she felt angry now. And for once she let it in and ground her teeth and felt her own tears threatening to spill. She wanted to snap like a dog at a feather in the air just because it felt good.

She wanted to say, We'll be fine! It'll be all right. You'll see. But she wasn't a liar. She was as she had been since she was a small girl - very unsure of the future.

A/N: So yeah, this is my favorite installment thus far. There will be one more. It's pretty long but not quite long enough to break into two parts. So there will be 8 chapters. I'll post it tomorrow. Till next time.