It was five years ago. Christmas, in the middle of Harry's 7th year. He had stayed behind at Hogwarts, as usual. Though Ron had invited him home, Harry knew it would be safer for everyone if he stayed at Hogwarts. Luna had stayed behind also, her father having been killed by Voldemort the year before.
No one told me
Even though they were friends, Luna had always been closer to Ginny than to him, but over Christmas, they had begun to bond. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had all gone to the Weasley's that Christmas, so that only left Luna and Harry at Hogwarts. . .
Harry quickly left Gryffindor tower on Christmas, eager for Christmas dinner. He was unsurprised to find Luna waiting for him outside the portrait hole.
"Hello, Harry," she said, handing him a crudely wrapped package.
Harry stared at the package, then looked back at Luna, "Luna, I thought we'd decided not to get each other gifts," he said.
Luna smiled, "It's not really a gift, more like something that I have that you deserve to have. I have a copy, it's time you did, too," she said.
Harry looked inquisitively at her, wondering what could possibly be in the package. He unwrapped it to find a picture frame. On one side of the frame was a picture of Harry and Luna that Colin had taken a few days before when they were goofing off in the snow. On the other side was a picture that Harry had never seen before. It was a picture of two young girls; they had to have been only about 13 or 14. They were laughing, arms around each other, smiling at each other and the camera. Harry recognized his mother instantly from other pictures he had seen, but couldn't place the other girl. He looked back up at Luna.
"My mother," she said, simply, "they were quite good friends, you know, your mother and mine. I know that you have lots of pictures of your father, but you don't seem to have that many of your mother, and I always liked that picture. I thought you would like to have it."
I was going to find you
Harry surprised both Luna and himself when he pulled her into a hug. "Thank you, Luna, thank you very much. Let me put this in my room, and I'll be right back."
He came back out a few moments later and they walked to the entrance hall together. Only a few students had stayed for Christmas. Most felt that they were safer at home and that Hogwarts was more vulnerable the emptier it was. In fact, only five students had stayed: Harry, Luna, Colin, Dennis, and to their great dismay, Draco Malfoy. Like in Harry's third year, one large table had been set up instead of the four house tables. Harry and Luna took seats across from Colin and Dennis, beside Professor McGonagall. Draco was seated at the other end of the table. His eyes were on the entrance hall doors.
Professor Dumbledore came in, whispered something in Draco's ear and then took a seat across from Professor McGonagall. He smiled at them all, "I would like to wish you a very merry Christmas everyone. Now let's eat," he said and food filled the dishes.
Unexpected
Harry noticed during dinner that one person was missing. Having spent six of the past seven Christmas' at Hogwarts, he knew who ate dinner with them and who didn't. Professor Snape was missing. This was odd. In fact, now that he thought about it, Harry couldn't remember seeing Snape at all over the past few days. He shrugged it off and turned his attention to what Luna, Colin, and Dennis were discussing.
After dinner, Harry and Luna headed outside. It had become a habit over the last few weeks for them to take a walk together. They had just walked out onto the grounds when they heard a voice behind them, "Potter," Draco called, "We need to talk."
Harry and Luna both turned, confused. For the past two weeks, Draco had avoided them, and they him. What could he possibly want? Harry turned to Luna, "Go ahead, I'll catch up with you," he said.
"You sure?" she asked, glancing suspiciously at Draco.
Harry smiled, "yeah, I'm sure. This won't take long."
She walked off and Harry turned back to Draco, "What do you want, Malfoy?" he asked.
Draco sneered, "Still don't trust me, do you Potter," he asked.
Harry crossed his arms over his chest, "I have no reason to trust you."
"But this summer, you helped me," Draco said, "and I've been wanting to ask why?"
"It's in my nature. I'm not so mean that I won't help someone in need. I still don't know if I did the right thing that day, either."
"I have chosen not to join Voldemort!" Draco hissed, his voice getting louder.
"Yes, fine, but you also haven't chosen to fight him, either, have you?" Harry yelled, "you know what, I might end up being on the losing side of this war, but at least I've chosen a side, unlike you." He lowered his voice, "And at least it's the right side."
Draco opened his mouth to retort when the cool night air was pierced by a bloodcurdling scream. Harry and Draco both turned toward the sound and Harry felt his heart clench in his chest, "Luna..." he whispered, as he took off running full speed in the direction the scream had come from. It took him a few moments to realize that Draco was right behind him.
What you did to my heart
Luna screamed again, and Harry heard the entrance hall doors open, but didn't look behind him. He was focused on the girl that had become increasingly important to him over the past few weeks. He ran to Luna, and followed her gaze to where a body lay a few feet away. Even through the mutilations, Harry could see the distinctive features of his least favorite Professor. He gathered Luna in his arms, turning her face to his chest. She was shaking and cried softly into his shirt.
Draco approached the body of his mentor and the man who had become like a father to him, "Professor," he whispered as he dropped to his knees. He felt tears of anger and loss come to his eyes. He hadn't cried in years. Someone had to pay for this. He lost it and buried his head in his hands.
Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Vector and Hagrid came running up behind them. Professor Vector knelt down beside Draco, Professor McGonagall conjured a stretcher and a sheet, while Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid surveyed the forest around the area.
Professor McGonagall placed Professor Snape on the stretcher as Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid walked back over to them, "Inside, everyone, quickly," he said, his eyes unusually grim. Professor Vector pulled Draco from the ground and led him to the castle. Harry followed, leading Luna.
They all made their way to the infirmary. Draco, Harry, and Luna sat side by side on one of the beds, Luna holding Harry's hand for dear life. She hadn't said a word and was still shaking. Professors Dumbledore and Vector placed Professor Snape on a bed where Professor Dumbledore began to examine him. He replaced the sheet and then turned to the three on the bed.
When I lost hope
He paused in front of Luna, "Miss Lovegood, I know this is a great shock to you, but I must ask you a few questions. Do you feel up to it?"
Luna nodded, sitting up straighter and moving closer to Harry, "Yes, Sir," she said.
"When you came across Professor Snape's body, did you see anything else out of the ordinary? Perhaps a person or even an animal that you normally wouldn't have seen in the forest?" he asked.
Luna shook her head, "No, Sir. I saw a shape on the ground at the edge of the forest. I was worried someone had gotten hurt. The forest was unusually quiet." Her voice wavered a bit.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and Malfoy, "How about you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy, did you see anything?"
"No, Sir," they answered together.
"Very well, we must for now assume that Professor Snape's position was compromised. I'm sure you would feel safer tonight if you did not have to spend it alone in your house dormitories. Am I correct, Mr. Malfoy, Miss Lovegood?"
They both nodded solemnly. Dumbledore nodded, "Very well, I shall retrieve and inform the Creevy brothers, and you can all spend the night in the Gryffindor common room. I will ask that Professor McGonagall stay with you. Will that suffice?"
All three nodded, and Draco turned to Dumbledore, "I know that I have been a jerk and a tad bit arrogant lately, but today I have made my decision. With your permission, Professor, I would like to join the Order."
"That will be discussed with the other members of the Order. We will talk about it in the morning," Professor Dumbledore said as he led them out of the room. I'll be going to inform the Creevy brothers. Minerva, alert the Order. Hagrid, you, Filius, and Argus need to patrol the grounds. As for you three, I will meet you at Gryffindor tower. I trust you will need things from your common rooms," he said as the Professors filed out the door.
By unspoken agreement, the three stuck together and made their way to the Ravenclaw common room. Draco and Harry waited outside while Luna went in to gather her things. While they were waiting, Harry turned to Draco, "If you don't mind me asking, Malfoy, why the sudden change of mind?" he asked.
You were there to remind me
Draco turned to him, "My mind has actually been made up for weeks. I just needed something to jar me, and this certainly did that."
"Then why wait so long to announce this decision?"
Draco looked at the wall, "Just put yourself in my shoes. Say you found out that you and everyone you've ever cared about are on the side of the most evil wizard in the world. You know it's wrong and that you need to switch sides, but you keep thinking of everyone you love," he looked Harry in the eye, "Imagine that you know that you will one day have to lift arms against Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny. Just imagine that you would one day have to fight everyone you ever loved. That's why."
Harry felt a strange sensation come over him. It took him a moment to realize that he understood what Draco was trying to tell him, "I understand, but it's going to take more than that to earn my trust."
Draco nodded as Luna came back out of the Ravenclaw common room. Harry turned to her, "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
She nodded, and in silence they made their way to the Slytherin common room and finally to Gryffindor tower. Dennis and Colin were both unusually quiet and Professor McGonagall had set up sleeping bags for them. The five students stretched out within arms distance of each other. "Try to get some sleep," Professor McGonagall said quietly, "tomorrow things will be different." She paused and lay down on the couch, "Very different."
This is the start
Harry turned to Luna and reached out to take her hand in his. He looked into her eyes, surprised to realize just how much he had come to care about her in the past few weeks. He saw the same thing in her eyes that he knew was in his own.
After that night, things did indeed change. Harry and Draco found they had respect for one another, Voldemort began to attack more and more, Draco joined the Order, and Harry and Luna became virtually inseparable.