A/N: I know I promised angst, and there is a bit here, but Muse said we need one more chapter of character study. She has a giant flyswatter for the cheeky fae, so I have to do as she commands. Also, this chapter is going to make you cringe. Gather your cringe bucket and every drop of your Gryffindor side to come along for the ride.

Vine

I had been expecting pain. Ginny described this experience as "burning alive". Then again, I suppose she has probably never literally burned alive, so she wouldn't actually know what that feels like. Maybe she meant it metaphorically. Like a fire inside that can't be extinguished easily. That seems more accurate.

At present, Draco lifts me slowly, but I don't want to go, so I don't.

"Are you alright, my lovely? Did I hurt you?" he asks, concern floating on his soft tone

He doesn't occlude anymore. Not with me. The cold mask has worn away to show me every bit of worry brewing in his mind, so I hurry to set him to rights.

"I'm more than alright, kitten. No, you didn't hurt me in the slightest." I console him

The little bit of sadness growing in his eyes slides down to the tip of his nose. I kiss it away, and it's replaced with relief. The smile he grants me - the one that blooms from his chest and rises into the apples of his cheeks - has me feeling warm all over again.

He's not filling me as he was a moment ago, and I crave to feel more, so I slide back into him. He's all slippery; I move easily. We're not as close as I'd like to be. It's as if we've switched places, or changed sizes. I practice tightening my muscles around him. He groans and blushes pink. I think this specific shade might be my new favourite colour. Although it's an extremely illogical thought, I think I never want to leave this very spot.

"One more time, please?" I ask, creating circles around him with my hips

His smile grows. I'll have to paint a portrait of him one day, and when I do, I would like it to look just like this.

"Easy, lovely; you don't want to outpace yourself. Mustn't have you feeling poor tomorrow," he says, lifting me up and away from him again. I let him, but I don't go quietly. The protest escaping me sounds like a wet kneazle - a bit of a growl, a bit of a whine. He laughs softly as he pulls me down into him.

"I think I'll be fine." I say "In fact, I'm sure of it. There's plenty of snow to ice the soreness that may come. If that doesn't work, we still have a full vial of pain potion."

"Insatiable," he replies, shaking his head at me in mock pity.

He wraps me tightly in his arms, pulling me right up to his waist to situate my thigh over his. The pressure helps calm the ache, if only a bit. He casts a heating charm and covers me in the loose fabric of his cloak, brushing the tangled hair from my face as he prepares to speak. It's telling, I think, that we're naked in the snow-covered wilderness, yet this is the safest I've felt in some time.

"Give us time to rest, my love. I promise you can have your fill of me anytime you like," he says

That's not entirely accurate, seeing as I would like my fill of him now and can't have it, but I don't argue anymore. He seems determined to watch over me, so I let him. The warmth is setting in and my eyelids are growing heavier by the second. Just as I begin to dream of hot cocoa and warm fires, a twig snaps too close for my bliss to continue.

Draco is on his feet in an instant, wand drawn and muscles tensed. As I stumble to ready myself alongside him, I can't help but be tickled at his cat-like reflexes. A vicious kitten he is when he needs to be.

"Potter! Salazar's gods-damned snake are you still there?" he yells

Harry?

I see the reflection of his glasses poking out mutely from behind a tree. Good Circe. This is not going to end well.

Harry speaks -

"Well, I couldn't very well take off running into the forest, Malfoy!"

"I don't see why the bloody hell not!" Draco roars "You didn't have any qualms parading through the woods to spy on me!"

"I wasn't spying!" Harry rebuffs

Draco gives Harry his "I dare you" eyes. The same ones he gave the shopkeeper before taking our wands. His claws are out and his next words are bound to be sharp.

"Oh? And I suppose that wasn't what you were doing at school or in Knockturn either, Potter? We must so serendipitously happen to frequent the same establishments." he says with all the acidic sarcasm he's known for

What is he talking about? Is this what he meant by someone stalking him? Surely, he must be mistaken. Then again, Draco is unusually perceptive. Time will tell.

"I heard shouting, Malfoy! I came to ensure Luna was alright!" Harry is hopeless.

I interject -

"I'm alright. I didn't even bleed. In fact, I was on my way to sleep before you awakened me." Hopefully, that will set his mind at ease about any perceived threats.

"Bleed?! What has he done to you? Expelliar-"

"Silencio!" I incant before he can disarm Draco or end up cursed into finality. I'm not sure which is more likely at this point but I'm not about to run the risk of finding out.

A thoroughly disappointed sigh passes my lips. I've overestimated again. Gryffindors. Why must every word present them with a battle to fight? Draco's cloak flies up around my shoulders and I'm once again surrounded in cosy warmth. Yes, I'll be needing that fill I was promised soon.

"Potter, I wouldn't expect you to know the difference between cries of pain and pleasure, but I dared hope at minimum the Saviour of Wizardkind could get it through his thick skull when a witch doesn't wish to be disturbed by his presence!" Draco yells

I can't defend Harry from that statement. He did awaken me from sleep, and I don't tend to sacrifice my sleep lightly.

Draco continues -

"Bloody hell can I not get one moment of reprieve from your demented, paranoid fantasies of apprehending me during some nefarious deed? I can't even go to the gods-damned lavatory without you attempting to murder me out of spite!"

Murder in the lavatory? I hope this is Draco exaggerating, per usual. Harry probably tripped him or knocked into him while the floor was slick. He always has been a bit clumsy.

The silencing spell on Harry has dampened now, allowing his shouts to come at more of a level tone. Good. I don't enjoy shouting. Not the angry kind, at any rate. His pulsing veins and heavy breathing tell me he is running out of responses.

"That was an accident, Malfoy! I didn't know what the spell was supposed to do!" he yells, opening his palms to the sky

Uh-oh. That was a poor move, Harry. Draco is smiling. All of his gleaming teeth are bared to deliver a killing bite.

"So like the idiot you are, Potter, you decide to experiment with the Dark Sword on your way to the toilet!" he roars "This alone attests to the fate of the wizarding world! We are all doomed to die by the excess of your stupidity!"

Draco bleeds out burgundy hate as Harry's aura flushes gold with guilt and remorse. Did he truly almost kill Draco? With a dark spell? On accident?

Draco turns to me, speaking softly -

"Do you believe me now, Luna? These fools can't help us. They're as unhinged as the Death Eaters and twice as insipid. They simply hide their cruelty under cloaks of brashness and call it justice."

Harry says nothing. It's true then.

xoXOXox

If he had two knuts to rub together in that bespeckled head of his I'd end him today. If he wasn't my only hope of seeing the Dark Lord fall to his knees I'd break both of his and make him bow to me this instant.

"Malfoy, I don't mean any harm to you or to Luna. I just wanted to see to it that she was ok. I'll admit to suspecting you, but I never intended to murder you. Now, could you please put some trousers on so we can have this conversation man to man?"

The audacity is astounding. Absolutely fucking unbelievable. He invades my privacy, with my beloved, in the gods-forsaken forest, and somehow has the brass bollocks required to demand me to clothe myself.

"Why? Like what you see, Potter? Is that why you've been hounding me place to place? Fancied yourself a glimpse?"

The scourge of my existence responds -

"I'm actually a bit snow-blind at the moment, Malfoy. When's the last time your milky arse has seen the sun?"

Luna interjects -

"They keep it quite dark in the Manor, Harry. I believe it's meant to feel ominous and foreboding. Also, it's apparent the Malfoys all have a touch of albinism and it's quite beneath your character to poke fun at a disablement."

I love her. Although it's not a disablement, merely an inconvenience, and I'm no longer a Malfoy. Nonetheless, the chagrin on Potter's face is golden as he stumbles to retract himself -

"Luna I wasn't… I didn't… bugger, I'm sorry. Can we all just put on some clothes and have a conversation? There are wolves out here and you'd be much safer under our protection charms."

"I can cast my own damn protection charms, Potter! Not everyone desires to pander to your heroics!"

"Fine. Why are you here then, Malfoy?"

This. This is what does it. The kitten that scratched out the dragon's eyes.

I can feel the snow melting on my burning skin as I stalk closer. This stolen wand is sparking flames. I approach in range for Potter to feel the embers.

"Because unlike you, Potter, some human beings have the decency to locate their friends when they disappear and are assumed dead. Some people dare to cater to the whims of those we love, and much to my disappointment, the one I love seems to deem your life worthy of ensuring."

I turn to Luna.

"He's alive. It's been verified. I'm sure his bushy little pet is quite capable of imprisoning any who seek to trifle with this inane bastard. Can we go now?"

"We can leave in the morning, Draco. We have to eat and sleep, and we really could use Harry's help in finding a safe place to land."

Her rationality amazes me. I hate that she can ground me so while lambasting my enemies. I lament this is her way of keeping me alive, so I'll allow it. Useful little nymph, she is.

"Fine," I say, setting my sights back on Potter. "You help us disappear, and you have my word you'll never have to see my face again."

The scar-faced idiot opens his loud mouth -

"I don't even know what in Merlin's beard you're doing here, Malfoy! Give me one reason I should help you with anything before you tell me what's going on!"

The impudence this one displays! My wand is aimed at his face now. The embers jump eagerly from the end, licking at his collar in their restlessness to consume him alive. I count to ten as I hold fast the spell that will melt his insolent lips into his skull.

The truth - the truth is a rush of wind on a burst of flame, driving me forth even as it destroys me from within.

"Because you're supposed to love her, idiot, and friends don't see friends' freedom as a game."

xoXOXox

"Harry, could you give Draco and me a moment alone, please? We'll come back to the camp before the wolves get us, won't we kitten?"

Draco glares at me. I'll take that as a yes.

"Don't you think I ought to be present for whatever conversation you're going to have with him?" Harry asks

I think about this for a moment, and decide no, he doesn't need to be present, not that I mind if he stays. Still, it's a very thin line to tread when friends are quarrelling, and walking thin lines is not my lot in life.

"I would like to say I don't think you will want to be present for this conversation, but given you were recently caught lurking in the trees, I think it's better if you go unless you get Draco's permission to stay."

Draco responds immediately -

"That means no, get lost, Potter. It shouldn't be an impossible feat given it seems to be your speciality. We'll regrettably come to find your sorry arse - once again - when we're finished."

"Draco, he's not sorry, obviously." I clarify "He didn't even apologise for walking into us unannounced. I think he meant to see what he saw."

I understand Draco meant the other kind of sorry, but I can't very well let him say so to Harry and still expect him to help us. It's beneficial to be underestimated occasionally.

"I… I'm sorry." Harry stutters. "I'll go. Just... please come back to camp before the moon rises. I couldn't take it if you were eaten alive out here."

Oh, I think he could. He's much stronger than he gives himself credit for.

"Thank you, Harry," I say as he wanders off into the forest.

"And please come back wearing trousers!" he calls over his shoulder

"What's the problem, afraid your pet will be envious, Potter?" Draco yells after him

Draco can be so unnerving when he's hurt. Hermione wouldn't envy me for anything. It would be ridiculous, as we're two different people altogether. It would be like telling the sea to envy the sky. Fish don't fly, birds don't swim. That thought isn't so important at the moment, however.

Once Harry's out of sight, I begin the conversation I desperately need to have with Draco.

"Kitten, why is he so red? Is he angry that we stopped?"

"What? Potter?" he intones, disgusted "Probably. Despicable, deviated vermin…"

"No, not him," I say, dropping to my knees on his cloak. "Him."

Draco's eyes widen as he looks at me in bafflement. Confusing him is fun, but relaxing him is infinitely more enjoyable.

"Shh… it's alright." I coax, stroking my new friend gently "I won't leave you."

I take him in my mouth, and he quickly grows back to the size I prefer. It's the perfect size, really. Just a bit above average if statistics are to be believed. But I've learned not to believe anything I can't touch for myself. He tastes unmistakably like toffee.

"Merlin… gods, Luna…" I hear him swallow "Are you sure you want to...do this? I'm…" gasp "fillltthy…" he stammers.

I release my hold on him for the tiniest moment because I'm truly incapable of holding my tongue on matters of ignorance.

"Nonsense." I say, taking a second to lick him clean around the edges "Semen has several magical properties. It lowers blood pressure, causes enhanced elation, and it's good for clarity of the skin." I give myself a nod of approval at my excellent health decisions as I pull him deep into my mouth by his hips. I think of one more thing to tell him as I draw him out again. "Not to mention it can bring forth life, occasionally, although not in this context."

He grips my hair as he pulls me back onto him. With the feel of late winter breeze and remnants of toffee on my lips, I suspect I will have a long, extremely vibrant life ahead of me.

xoXOXox

I've never felt anything like this. The eagerness she shows me, the undying desire to cater to my wishes without ever being asked to do so. Her reciprocity is as strong as her character, as unwavering as her brash honesty. How could I have doubted her? How could I allow myself to forget who has let me loose from my prison? Never again.

She is the one - the only one - who demonstrated for me the possibility of singing while in bondage. In my release, I'll show her what I've accomplished.

"Luna"

I cry out for her over and over again, the melody floating through the trees to land on whatever ears may listen. She has returned to me my power, and I won't let it go to ruin this time. Never again will I take for granted the voice I've allowed to suffocate in silence. I'll use it every day to sing her songs of adoration, to worship the breaker of my chains.

"I love you, Luna."

She drinks me in, takes every drop, and in my emboldened bliss, I dare to wonder if it's I who is relishing the nourishment; if loving her means I'm loving me; if she and I are one. I never want more than this. My only desire is to have her arms around me, to hold onto me for shelter as I preside as protector over the sun and the moon.

'I'm not in charge of forever, Draco.' rings in my mind, but I don't allow it to unhinge me this time

I'll choose her every day, every time, until forever happens on its own.

That should be sufficient until the sky falls down around us.

xoXOXox

I find I quite like the sound of my name from Draco's lips as he's coming undone. The lack of breath behind it makes a pleasant sound, like the ringing of bells in the distance.

"Luna, Luna, I love you, Luna..."

If he doesn't know I love him by now, he hasn't been paying attention. Fortunately, Draco always pays attention, so I don't feel the need to stop my practice to respond. It would be a pity to have to speak now when we're enjoying ourselves so. Salted toffee and caramel creme pours from him. I've never been so excited about his penchant for sweets.

I don't have to ask about my progress this time, as he bends down to lift me into his shaking arms. He kisses me fervently, and I taste him and me, toffee and autumn, vanilla and caramel on crisp sour apples. What a delightful dessert we make together.

"Let's get you dressed, lovely." he pants

The growl-whine escapes me again. This time I wasn't even trying. It must be an effect of Draco. He continues -

"If you insist on not clothing yourself we'll be here all night, beautiful. It would be tragic to get interrupted by any more wild beasts."

We laugh together; a rare occurrence I savour.

I cast a few cleaning charms over us as I step back into my borrowed jumper and trousers. I'm so looking forward to wearing items that aren't grey, or navy, or other dull colours. Such drabbery feels so uninspiring. Bright colours and sparkles make me happy.

"Ready?" he asks, taking my hand in his

"Let's go," I say, returning his affection.

As we walk, I notice the bottoms are a bit snugger than before. My hips' sway is more pronounced as he lingers inside me. Maybe the feeling will wear away with time. If not, I suppose I'll get used to carrying him with me wherever I go.

The sun sets lower as we get closer to the camp, casting us in a purple winter glow. I feel protective charms enclose us as we approach the clearing, and the smell of campfire is close at hand.

"Oi," Ron calls "'Bout time you made it back." He's crunching on some kind of crisps beside the fire. "Glad I didn't have to come digging you out. Malfoy would be bloody hard to find in the snow."

Well, his tone has changed dramatically. I'm glad he would offer to look for Draco if he needed to be found. Harry must have talked with him while we were gone.

"Camouflage is a survival skill, Weasel. You might try it in a tomato patch sometime." Draco responds

"Gingers do it like zebras, Malfoy. We stand all together and you can't tell us apart."

This is the first time I've heard Draco laugh at a joke I wasn't telling.

"So much is explained, Weasel," he responds

We sit down by the fire across from Ron, who tosses a bag of crisps for us to share.

"Not much but it's what we have until Harry and 'Mione get back." he quips

"Were you waiting for us?" I ask

"Nah, arm's got the best of me. Can't bloody well go out to hunt without it."

It's then I see it. A deep hole marring his shoulder muscle. Looks like it's been there for a while.

"I can fix that," I say without giving it much thought. Ron gives me a look of scepticism.

"It's a splinch. 'Mione did what she could, dittany and what, but it hasn't been growing back."

"Do you want me to fix it?" I ask, moving around to take a better look at the cut. It's pretty deep, but nothing compared to Bellatrix's slicing hexes. "I've been putting people back together with far worse injuries than this, without a wand. You'll probably want all of your limbs intact to fight You-Know-Who."

"Is it going to hurt?" he asks, wincing

"Most likely," I tell him

"Bloody hell. Lemme have a shot of liquor and it's yours."

Ron goes into the tent, returning with a bottle in his mouth, guzzling decidedly more than a shot of firewhiskey.

"Ahh. There we go. All yours Luna." he says, shaking off the burn of the drink. I begin envisioning the repair as he looks at Draco, reaching out the bottle to him.

"Malfoy?"

Draco takes the bottle, sniffing the tiniest sniff at the opening. I know he's holding in his reaction to the smell. Draco hates dark liquor.

"Don't call me that," he says, turning the bottle up in a show of defiance. He doesn't even flinch as it flows down his throat.

I have a sip for myself while they chat.

"Don't call you Malfoy? Who are you and what have you done with the ferret?" Ron says through a mocking laugh

"Draco will do for the time being." he responds "But the Heir of Malfoy is dead, and he's not resurrecting, so Malfoy won't suit me anymore."

I pour the bottle over Ron's arm while he screams.

xoXOXox

A/N: Credits -

The whole Coven got in on this one. Aside from Claw, whose reviews are not reflected in this chapter. [read: Claw is plotting my murder as we speak. please-don't-let-me-die-thanks]

Jinx - That woman is a comedic genius. She came up with "Draco pink" being Luna's favourite colour.

Diva - "Why is he so red? Is he mad that we stopped?" is a direct quote of her amazingly cringey hilarity. Go show her some love on StephanieMRV

Jinx and Moon followed up on that comment with Luna talking to… Inanimate objects.

Moon had the idea of Luna finding magical properties in ordinary liquids.

Dash and I both had the idea of making Luna sleepy after this experience. Great minds, I tell ya. Hashtag-Mimsy-is-the-best-elf.

I think that's everything that made it in, but big shouts out to Snow who was completely savage in her brainstorming. "People do this more than once? Why?" Lord Snow: Destroyer of Hopes and Dreams.

If you made it to the end, I love you back.

Vine