Chapter thirteen:

London

Draco had left the headmaster's office in a huff, irritated that he had to clean the bathrooms and without magic. "Wait until my father hears about this!" Draco spat steps away from the office, Snape overhearing it but simply ignored it as he was used to Draco's feeble complaints by now. Draco marched into his last class of potions where Slughorn was teaching, five minutes late to the class. "Ah, Mr. Malfoy...i was beginning to worry..." Slughorn stated in slight concern. Draco rolled his eyes. "I was in Professor Snape's office." Draco informed hesitantly before slamming his potions book on the table while the other students were following Slughorn's instructions of a particular potion, not yet have begun the ingredients yet. Draco didn't like how this new school takeover was going, especially with Snape in charge. The students began making the Fire Protection Potion which protects the drinker from being burned, something only for seventh years to learn. Draco was slow at putting in his ingredients, instead of focusing on the potion itself he was rather focusing on many thoughts passing through his mind. Seamus' potion once again blew up in his face upon adding the wrong amount of bursting mushrooms, causing the purple color to mask his face. While Draco was in potions class, Snape had used the counter spell to release Amycus Carrow from the paralyzing spell and the furious Carrow wanted to punish the Malfoy in his own way but Snape refrained him in doing so.

Once classes ended, Draco made his way into the Great Hall to possibly meet with Luna but before he could reach the door, Snape had cut him off. "Put away your things and Filch will get you your cleaning supplies, Mr. Malfoy..." Snape commanded. Draco's expression turned into disdain. Draco then marched to the dungeons, obvious that he's in a bad mood before putting his bag into his trunk and exiting the dungeons to follow Snape. Snape directed him to Filch who held an arrogant smug before telling Draco what to use on the bathrooms and such. Standing in the first floor boys lavatory, Draco frowned. "This is servant's stuff." Draco complained. Filch rolled his eyes. "Just get it done." Filch grumbled before walking off. Draco glared at Filch walking away before mumbling to himself. "Clean the bloody bathroom..." Draco mumbled in a mocking, irritated tone before he looked at the cleaning supplies and his wand, deciding to disobey Snape and just use magic anyway. "Scourgify." Draco casted, beginning to clean the toilets with magic as he decided to mop the tile floors with the mop and bucket incase Snape passed by the hall. Moments later, Crabbe and Goyle entered the bathroom, spotting Draco before Crabbe began to cackle. "Malfoy, you're cleaning the bathroom?" Goyle asked humorously. Draco frowned. "It's my punishment, you git!" Draco spat, throwing a sponge at Goyle. Goyle began laughing with Crabbe, knowing why Draco was punished before they left. "Idiots..." Draco muttered before looking where else to mop.

Meanwhile, Luna and the rest of the D.A. met back up in the Room of Requirement, having used the same coins that Hermione had made a couple years ago to call the D.A. members into meeting once again. Entering the Room of Requirement, Luna met with Neville as they waited for the rest of the members to sneak in that evening. "Time to resurrect the D.A. and get this started." Neville declared, watching the room make beds, desks, radio equipment and much more for basically camping out. "I hope Harry, Ron and Hermione are doing okay out there." Luna pointed out in thought. Neville nodded. "I'm positive they're okay. Harry had faced many things up til now, this should be no different." Neville explained. Luna smiled. Neville began looking around the room, noticing something even more interesting on a wall, seeming like a hidden tunnel. "Wonder where this leads to?" Neville asked rhetorically. Luna took a couple steps forward to spot the tunnel. "Did you think of a specific escape tunnel? Perhaps it's a secret exit." Luna speculated. Neville leaped up to crouch in the tunnel, seeking a gloomy darkness inside before looking back at Luna. "Stay here and wait for the others, I'm going to see where this leads to." Neville commanded. Luna furrowed her eyebrows as she was a little concerned for her friend Neville. Neville took out his wand before going in the tunnel further. "Lumos." Neville casted, the light brightening the tunnel and he began walking further and further into the tunnel until after about ten minutes he would reach a wall where there was a crack to where it would open. Neville remained cautious, wand remaining in hand as he dared to knock on the wall to see who would answer. A minute passed and Neville figured it was nothing but a mere wall before he almost turned to go back before the wall opened to reveal man standing inside his room, a man that looked very similar to Dumbledore.

"I assume you're a student at Hogwarts." the bearded man spoke. Neville turned out his light from his wand before parting his lips to speak. "Yeah, yeah i am. I was wondering where this tunnel led to." Neville explained. The man motioned for Neville to step inside the room and Neville did so. Meanwhile, Seamus and Dean along with Ginny and others arrived in the Room of Requirement to seen only Luna there. "Where's Neville?" Seamus asked. Luna pointed to the hole in the wall. "He went to see where that led to and wanted me to wait here." Luna explained. Neville looked around at the man's room before turning back to the man. "You're in Hogsmeade, at the Hog's Head. I own this pub. I'm Aberforth Dumbledore." Aberforth introduced himself as he poured two cups of iced tea. "I'm Neville, Neville Longbottom. So, you're related to Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked. "He's my brother but I'm not surprised he didn't tell anyone. He didn't even let a murmur escape him about his sister either." Aberforth stated, pointing to the portrait of Ariana that covered the tunnel. Neville didn't know how to respond as he took a glass of the tea. "I was wondering if you would be able to help us, well, somehow watch Harry since Hogwarts is taken over by-" Neville explained but cut off by Aberforth. "Death eaters? Yes, I've heard...of course i will help." Aberforth replied. Neville was appreciative and went back into the tunnel to the Room of Requirement and told the others before deciding to get back to their dormitories after they trained a bit before dinner.

Draco had finished the cleaning of the first floor boys lavatory and found himself walking back to the dungeons, irritated that he had to spend half of his evening cleaning a bathroom but he didn't care if Snape knew he used magic or not - he'd get away with it. After entering the dungeons, Draco had gotten himself cleaned up and departed to the Great Hall for dinner. Once taking a seat at the Slytherin table, he noticed Luna walk in with the Gryffindors - Neville, Seamus, Dean, Ginny and others. Of course he assumed she didn't know of his punishment and honestly to save himself the embarrassment, he rather she not know what he had to do. Luna had sat at the Ravenclaw table, since the new rule at the school the students had to sit at their assigned house's table. Draco glanced over at Luna from afar before turning his gaze onto his food. After everyone ate, Draco had gotten up from the table and headed towards the doors of the Great Hall. Luna had gotten up to catch Draco, putting her hand into his to grasp his attention. Draco turned to look at Luna at her touch, forming a soft, loving smile on his lips. "I hope you didn't get into too much trouble." Luna said with a smile on her face to match his. Draco sighed as they left the Great Hall hand in hand and turned the corner to a hallway. "It's not too bad. But i don't enjoy it, doesn't matter really. It was worth it." Draco explained, shrugging. Luna felt special that he said she was worth it and she liked that. "What was it?" Luna asked curiously. Draco was rather embarrassed to speak of it but didn't want to lie to her either. "I, uh, have to clean the boys bathrooms for the week...disgusting but could've been worse." Draco explained hesitantly. Luna attempted not to laugh, pressing her lips together. "Like i said, entirely worth it." Draco added. Draco then looked over his shoulder to see the hall empty before leaning in to give his girlfriend a soft kiss. Luna complied and did the same before they turned into bed. The next few days the classes remained in the same cycle and the event that occurred in the Dark Arts class had caused tension between Draco and Amycus Carrow. Nonetheless, Carrow didn't dare to touch Luna unless otherwise commanded by Snape or Voldemort though he made the work and exams rough for Draco in the meantime. Draco had continued cleaning the bathrooms and surprisingly, Snape hadn't caught onto Draco using magic to do so either since Draco only mopped by hand, finishing the punishment that week.

Then as Fall approached and it was October. Luna, Neville and Ginny planned to take the Gryffindor sword from the headmaster's office to help Harry by sneaking in while Ginny watched the door as Luna and Neville looked for the sword. "Found it." Neville stated in a low tone, spotting the sword in a glass case. "Finestra!" Neville casted softly, shattering the glass, he then took the sword. A moment later, Snape walked in on them, spotting Neville with the sword in hand. "Drop...it." Snape stated firmly. Neville stopped in his tracks, setting the sword onto a table. "Twenty points from Gryffindor...each.." Snape began stating. "Sixty points? That's it?" Neville asked. "...and detention, all three of you." Snape added before he glided over to the sword, taking it into his hand and placing it back to where he had it. "You three will be helping Hagrid in Forbidden forest. Tonight." Snape ordered. Neville sighed before he left with Luna and Ginny. Snape had plans for the sword of Gryffindor but it was not time yet to comply with them, therefore he repaired the glass and it was back to normal. "Sounds like fun." Luna stated, having them be friends with Hagrid. That night they ended up going to the Forbidden forest to help Hagrid with something none of them had any idea about. "What are we helping you with, sir?" Luna asked Hagrid. Hagrid was informed of their detention by Snape. "Well yer can help me take care of the bullfrog problem, yeh? " Hagrid stated. Neville furrowed his eyebrows. "Thats it? Nothing atrocious?" Neville asked curiously. Hagrid motioned his hands at them to shush before motioning them to follow him. As they entered the forest, Hagrid looked at them. "I didn't want Professor Snape knowing i had nuthin' for yer to do, so i made sumthin' up. I actually was hoping yer would help me with Grawpy. Keep him entertained until yer to go back." Hagrid explained. Ginny smiled. "I never met Grawp, but heard about him from Harry." Luna explained.The three went deeper into the forest and had came across the giant named Grawp. Hagrid had explained that Grawp was his half brother and they stayed in the forest for nearly an hour before the three students left back to the castle.

The months passed by and the D.A. members have kept up radio sightings through the months up til the holidays where they got to go home but of course Snape made it very clear that they were to return back to the school a day after New Years. Draco wanted to take Luna home to show her his place but it wasn't exactly safe for her to be at, so they stayed at their own homes during the holidays. Of course, Draco would send her an owl in Hogsmeade, a place he knew his letters wouldn't be traced once sent out from but first he wanted to find her a gift for Christmas. Looking through the shops in Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve, he couldn't find the perfect gift. No amount of money he had to spend would seem to help with a genuine gift. Of course he could simply buy her an expensive necklace or a gold quill, something like that but he wanted thought put into it. Looking in the bookstore Tomes and Scrolls, he went up to the lady at the counter. "Can i help you, sir?" the auburn haired woman asked. Draco took a moment before responding. "Do you, perhaps, have any odd kind of books? Books normally people would pass on by?" Draco asked, knowing Luna liked things that were different than the norm. The lady thought about it before directing Draco to a section of odd history books along with mating habit books. "Eh, thanks." Draco replied before she walked off. Draco scanned briefly at the books while thinking of which she would be most fascinated by before pulling out a book titled 'Mating habits of Winged Horses - Abraxans, Aethonans, Granians and Thestrals' Draco figured she would enjoy that book so he decided to get it. He had also spotted the book 'The Mystery of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and Wood Nymphs...do they exist?' deciding to get that one for her father as he remembered them mentioning such creature.

Draco then went to the counter, paid 5 galleons, 2 sickles and 9 knuts with an extra galleon to have them wrapped before exiting the store with the bags. He headed to the Owl post office. Once he sent his letter, he decided to stop by Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and bought a golden quill with a bottle of the best quality ink in addition to her father's gift, knowing he was a writer. Draco had another thing planned for Luna once he would arrive, he wanted to give her a heads up before he did so. Draco had Christmas shopped for his mother and father the previous day but made an excuse to go back to Hogsmeade, his mother Narcissa most likely knew. Draco also changed some of his wizarding money for muggle money. Luna had been in her kitchen at the cottage, making odd looking cookies when she saw an owl on her window sill with a letter in it's beak. Opening the window, Luna took the letter and opened it before the owl left swiftly. Luna read:

'Dear Luna,

I wanted to come and visit since my place isn't particularly safe. I also got you and your father Christmas gifts, hoping you will like them. I prefer to deliver them in person.

Be there remotely soon.

Xx

Draco.'

Luna smiled at the letter and walked shortly into their tiny living room where Xenophilius was proof reading his written work. "Dad, Draco sent a letter that he's on his way here...he wanted to bring us presents in person." Luna informed her father. Xenophilius was surprised to hear Draco was arriving but also knew he was trying to impress him, though hearing about him taking the cruciatus curse for his daughter was impressive as it was. Minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Luna opened it in her quirky apron to spot her boyfriend, Draco. "Happy Christmas." Draco spoke, flashing a smirk on his lips. Luna blushed before noticing the gifts in his hand. "Happy Christmas. Come in." Luna greeted. Draco stepped inside and noticed Xenophilius' presence as well. "I, uh, have your Christmas presents." Draco searched the bags for the correct presents before taking out one wrapped book and quill set, handing it to Xenophilius and the other wrapped book to Luna. "I hope you both like it...i also have something else planned for you and i this evening as a form of another gift for you, Luna." Draco explained, he didn't expect any gifts in return as his family was wealthy already. Draco watched as they opened their gifts, Luna loved the winged horses book as Xenophilius was actually thrilled about his book yet overwhelmed by the gold quill. "You didn't have to get me all this, Mr. Malfoy...i feel quite privileged for such things..." Xenophilius stated. Draco sighed. "I knew you're a writer and figured you could use it for your work." Draco explained. "Oh no, no i do like it. I'm just overwhelmed is all i suppose. Very appreciative." Xenophilius replied. Luna took Draco's hand into hers. "Thank you for the book. What's the other thing planned?" Luna asked curiously. Draco looked over at Luna, his hand embracing hers. "I actually figured we could venture out to London and go out to the festival. I know you are fascinated with muggles and though I'm not particularly fond of them, i wanted to give you the experience." Draco explained. Luna liked the idea and her dad was surprised, knowing that the Malfoy's didn't like muggles but knew Draco had been showing good intentions towards his daughter.

Luna liked the idea of the festival in London and looked to her dad for approval. "Have fun, pumpkin." Xenophilius approved. Draco was glad that he approved of it and watched as Luna walked to the kitchen, grabbing a cookie shaped as a niffler and handed it to Draco. "I made cookies...they're pumpkin and cinnamon. I'll be back down." Luna explained, rushing off to change for the date. Draco looked at the odd cookie, taking a bite before bringing his eyes to Xenophilius. "Nothing of sexual or dark nature, alright Mr. Malfoy?" Xenophilius warned. Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "I know. I wouldn't dare to." Draco stated. Xenophilius was glad to hear that Draco knew his terms with dating his daughter. Luna then came down in a pair of black trousers, long sleeved purple shirt with her purple coat and purple sneakers, catching Draco's attention. "Beautiful." Draco commented. Luna blushed then they set off to London, apparating halfway in field, Draco being seventeen already was able to do so though he got away with doing so anyway. Appearing in Diagon alley, remaining hand in hand, they entered the Leaky Cauldron and passed through to enter a crowded London. Luna watched as the muggles passed by in excitement before Draco directed their path towards the Christmas markets and the fair nearby. "Want anything from the market? Or rather go straight to the fair?" Draco asked, he wasn't used to muggle things and wanted to spoil his girlfriend. "We can go to the fair. Looks exciting." Luna replied. They both knew they couldnt use magic in front of muggles but it was a challenge for both of them to be a normal couple. Entering the fair once Draco got the tickets with his muggle money, they gazed at the colorful lights and Christmas decorations along with games and a few rides. Luna found herself drawn to the pink and blue cotton candy which caught Draco's attention. "Want that?" Draco asked, basically willing to buy her anything. Luna nodded. "Yes. The pink one." Luna replied, reading the sign saying it was candy. Draco bought the cotton candy and handed it to Luna who curiously felt it before trying some, loving it. "Yum, its quite good. Try some." Luna offered. "Er, no thanks." Draco refused nicely, he was uneasy about muggle things. "Please, Draco." Luna begged sweetly. "Okay." Draco sighed, giving in. Luna smiled before putting a piece into his mouth, Draco finding himself enjoy it. Luna and Draco walked more through the fairgrounds, finding themselves stopped at a basketball hoop game with stuffed animals hanging for prizes. Luna spotted one in particular that she liked. "A unicorn." she pointed out at the game. Draco noticed and knowing Draco, he would get it for her. "Gotta shoot hoops and get 100 points for the unicorn." the game host stated. Draco figured he could do it, even if he had to bend the rules on using magic since the death eaters had infiltrated the ministry, its more of a chance he will get away with it.

After shooting his first ball, barely missing the hoop, he began shooting the ball into the hoops each and every time as he silently used wingardium leviosa to levitate it in the hoop. Luna spotted a brunette girl checking out Draco as he played the game and this irritated Luna. The host gave Draco the unicorn after getting 100 points, in shock how he got nearly every hoop. Draco planted an arrogant, crooked grin on his face as he took the unicorn and then handed it to Luna. As Luna took the stuffed unicorn, she placed her right hand onto the back of Draco's neck and pressed her lips against his, kissing him softly. Draco gave into the kiss, assuming it was a 'thank you' for the prize and kissed her back softly, tenderly. After they both pulled back, Luna noticed the girl left and smiled to herself, knowing Draco was in fact hers. They continued through the fair, going on a couple of rides such as the ferris wheel and had fair food for dinner before leaving the fair and back out to the Christmas market. Luna noticed the sunglasses on one stand in the market and picked up a pair of green mirror Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, putting them on Draco. "Do they look good?" Draco asked in amusement. Luna chuckled as she nodded. "Yes, you look very handsome. Very Slytherin i must say." Luna replied. Draco looked at himself in the mirror at the stand. "I suppose so. How much?" Draco asked the male at the stand. "116 pounds." the male spoke, pricing the designer glasses. To Draco, that was nothing and simply paid it before they walked off to Charing Cross road, entering the Leaky Cauldron then Diagon alley. They were out for a couple of hours and had just returned back to the Lovegood cottage.

Xenophilius noticed they were back and noticed how happy Luna was. Luna and Draco approached the cottage but stopped at the front door. "I had fun." Luna confessed, intertwining her fingers with his. Draco smiled softly as the space between them got smaller, placing his forehead against hers gently; Draco was taking it all in, knowing it was going to be a rough road ahead for them let alone the wizarding world soon. "I'm glad that you did, i did too..." he replied softly. Draco kept his eyes locked with hers, knowing he had fallen head over heels for Luna. "You're so beautiful." Draco slipped out, admiring her in the moment. Luna blushed, she wasn't used to being called pretty nonetheless beautiful except by her dad but she was flattered hearing it from Draco. "And you're handsome." Luna replied, causing Draco to chuckle softly with a smile forming on his lips once again. "Thank you, Luna." Draco replied before bringing his lips to meet hers, kissing her tenderly for a few moments. Xenophilius opened the door, intentionally breaking up the kiss at his front door and causing the two to look at him. "Hi daddy." Luna greeted. "Did you have fun?" Xenophilius asked. Luna smiled as she held her stuffed unicorn. "Yes, plenty. I got a unicorn too." Luna pointed out. Xenophilius motioned for her to say goodbye to Draco and doing so, Draco then apparated back to the front gate of the Malfoy manor, entering the mansion. "So, how did it go?" Narcissa asked, she had an idea what he was up to. "Fine, actually." Draco replied, nervous that she caught on. Narcissa smiled before approaching her son. "My handsome son, finally found love." Narcissa remarked, fixing his coat jacket. Draco shrugged, a little embarrassed by his mother. Draco then turned in for the night, placing his new sunglasses on his nightstand, having them remind him of Luna as Luna had slept with her stuffed unicorn, reminding her of Draco. Soon, it would be back to the unhinged school once more, where things will escalate soon.