"Thank you for going with me to Gringotts, Draco." She threw him a small grateful smile as they walked up the steps of her father's home.
Draco opened his mouth to reply but a loud almost static noise mixed with what seemed to be a chugging and whoosh sounds came from inside the house. Luna gave a laugh at Draco's confused expression.
"Daddy's printing new editions of The Quibbler." She explained as she opened the door of the house and the sounds became even louder and clearer.
"You were able to buy new machines then?" He looked around the living room and noticed that not much change since the last time he was there, except maybe their were maybe more piles of papers and journals.
"Yes. Would you like some tea?" Luna asked and then plucked her wand from behind her ear and cast a wordless-spell to start the kettle when Draco nodded. "I should thank you again for helping me get them at a lesser price."
"Thank me then." He replied, shooting her one of his trademark Malfoy smirk.
Luna rolled her eyes with a laugh before moving to the spiral staircase, "Lysander! Lorcan! I'm back!"
"Do you think they'll hear you with all the -?"
"Mum!" Two voices said as they the twin brothers made their way down the stairs. He could tell the boys apart now because after all the countless photos Luna showed him and the encounter at the train station after Yule Holidays, he finally learned the small difference between the two boys. Lysander had more freckles scattered on his face and Lorcan had slightly bigger eyes than his brother.
Lorcan almost beamed when he noticed Draco standing in the middle of the mess that was the Lovegood living room.
"Good day, Mr. Malfoy." Lorcan greeted.
"Lysander, you can call me Draco." He teased and when he noticed how his shoulders deflated. Quickly, he let out a laugh and smiled down at the boy. "I'm kidding, I know you're Lorcan."
Lorcan seemed to regain his composure and Lysander nudged his brother, giving Draco a wave and a polite hello, before dragging him and his brother to the kitchen.
Draco frowned at the gesture but swiftly pushed it aside, thinking that Lysander was merely uncomfortable with the presence of someone as unfamiliar as him. He had heard from both Luna and Scorpius that Lorcan was a nice lad, was more cunning than he made himself to look like, especially when it came to bullies.
Lysander, Draco observed, was more opinionated but reserved. Maybe he just needed more time to warm up to him.
"Would you like to stay with grandpa while he finishes for the day or would you like to help me back at home?" Draco heard Luna talk to her sons.
Draco found out that Luna and Rolf did not leave with Xenophilius at the Rook, they had their own house not far from it but after Rolf's death and with the children at Hogwarts, Luna ended up staying with her father for most of the year. They only go back to the house when the kids were back.
"Will Mr. Malfoy be with us?" Lysander asked, obviously not trying to prevent Draco from hearing him. That caused another frown and a huff from Draco.
Luna looked up from preparing the tea and blinked at her son before turning to look at Draco from the other side of the room, "If he wants to."
And when their eyes met, he knew she was asking him - Do you want to?
In truth, he never gave it much thought nowadays. Spending time with Luna almost seemed natural and innate to him.
Did he want to?
He looked away from Luna to gaze at her sons and was caught between Lorcan's hopeful smile and Lysander's judgmental scowl.
"I would love to, however, I need to head back." He said dismissively and Luna gave him a curious look. "I don't think I reminded the house-elves to feed the peacocks."
He could see the curious look on Luna's face turn into a full look of confusion, but it was the best he could do with two preadolescents watching him with wide eyes that they inherited from their mother.
Draco could tell that Luna's mind was processing this before nodding, "I'll show you out then."
"I'll do it!" Lorcan volunteered brightly and a little bit too enthusiastically.
"Well, right then. Show me to the door, young Scamander." Draco said after regaining his composure himself.
As Lorcan opened the door, he stepped outside with Draco.
"Hey, Draco? Can I tell you something?" Draco saw the young lad fidgeting with his fingers.
"What is it?"
"I'm really glad that you and mum are friends."
"Really? Why?" Draco's eyebrows raised in shock.
"Because," Lorcan looked up at Draco with eyes that didn't altogether resembled Luna's but he could see the same glint of wonderment and dreaminess that Luna looked at the world with. "Her smile isn't broken anymore."
Draco and Scorpius Malfoy found themselves in the Malfoy family cemetery at the end of summer. Dark circles under Draco's eyes reflected how all attempts at sleep the night before had failed repeatedly, each time the room he used to share with Astoria fell silent was a reminder that she was gone. He usually blocked out those thoughts with a glass or two of firewhiskey at night, but it was different during the anniversary of her death. He didn't want to blockade those feelings. It would be disrespectful to Astoria.
The silence that surrounded them was broken when he heard Scorpius make a sound from the back of his throat that sounded like a mix of a harsh sob and a whimper. Draco turned to his son and could see the unshed tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
"I should have been there, I should haveā¦I should have just listened to you and stayed in the house." Scorpius spoke softly as he looked at his mother's grave. " I could have had that time with her, but I was scared. I hated seeing her sick. I should have been there when she died!"
It had been two years since Astoria's passing and this was the first time that Draco saw his son so distraught, a part of his mind told him that this wasn't the first time he displayed such emotions, he was just too busy in his own grief to notice, - the thought made an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach.
Draco stared at him processing his words, in truth, he had been angry with him for refusing to be with his mother during her final hours but overtime he understood. It was just too painful for him.
"Scorpius, it's okay. She understood." Draco placed a hand against his son's shoulder, making him look at him - at this age, Scorpius was almost at eye level with his father. "I know it's hard, but she wouldn't want you blaming yourself. She'd want you to be happy."
The closer time got to the anniversary of Astoria's death the more guilt and shame the young Malfoy felt at the reminder of him escaping from the Manor for temporary freedom he found in the arms of denial.
"I'm sorry, father." He said, swallowing another weak sob. "I was selfish and a bad son -"
Draco moved to hug his son, he knew his friends - especially Potter - did their best to stay with Scorpius and keep him from feeling alone when he couldn't, and for that, he was thankful to them beyond measures. But now, he knew he needed his father.
"You are not a bad son." He said, "Don't you ever say that. Your mother loved you, I love you and we couldn't be happier when you came into our lives. You were a blessing, Scorp. Don't ever think otherwise."
Draco took an unsteady breath. Words were not his strongest ally but he prayed to the Gods that they would at least give comfort to his only son. An audible breath. The silence stretched before Scorpius pulled back from his father's hug.
"Thanks, father."
Astoria was still at the forefront of Draco's mind and he realised, in Scorpius' as well. She was right where she belonged -in their hearts and minds. But he knew she wouldn't want them to dwell and stay plastered on the grief of her passing, it was time to learn to live again.
It had almost been impossible to schedule a dinner with all of them but a week before the end of summer and the children had to go back to Hogwarts for the new term, they were able to have it over at Harry and Ginny's house. It was the usual group with the addition of Neville and his wife Hannah. Ever since Neville became the professor for Herbology at Hogwarts, it was difficult to synchronize all their schedules. However, there was a miracle and all of their itineraries were free on the week before the start of term.
Harry had to use an engorgement charm on the table to fit them all.
After the mandatory updates on how they were and how the children were doing at school- Rose was on top of her class, Lysander got the highest mark in his class in Herbology, and how Lily was enjoying being a Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and everyone was unsurprised when they brought up how Lily and Hugo were almost at par with George and Fred had been in terms of being troublemakers - the adults had their own conversations while the children were engrossed in their own.
Luna noted fondly how Lorcan was having an almost animated conversation with Al. She could make out a few details of their discussion - she heard them mention about Slytherin winning the House Cup.
She brought herself to pay attention to her friends when suddenly the topic was about the Malfoys. She chanced a quick glance at Al, who was either still engrossed in conversation with Lorcan or was just good at not showing he took notice of the adults' topic.
"What does Malfoy do anyways?" Ron asked when Ginny mentioned that she saw Draco at the Prophet's head office.
"He's a businessman, Ronald," Hermione replied to her husband. Of course, Hermione would know, Luna thought. She knew everything.
"Business? What business?"
Hermione was about to answer when Luna spoke first, "He has investments in several wizarding companies, including The Daily Prophet." Luna answered, all the adults' eyes moving to look at her curiously. "And recently, if I'm not mistaken, he's starting to invest in non-wizarding companies as well."
"He also has ties in the company that makes the Firebolt," Al said, adding to the conversation from the other end of the table, all eyes moving to him. He was aware of their discussions. "That's why the Malfoys always got the newest models."
Luna saw the look Harry shot his son and Al turned back to his food, muttering something under his breath.
The rest of them paused, the children's voice quieting down a bit as the adults' returned to their conversation and their attention to Luna. Even though it was known to the rest of them that somehow Luna and Draco were friends, it still mystified them on just the amount of knowledge the former Ravenclaw knew about Malfoy.
"And how do you know that?" Except maybe for Neville, who was always busy during the rest of the year teaching at Hogwarts and barely rarely got to spend time with the group during summers and holidays.
"Oh, we were talking about it once during tea," Luna replied, her attention returning to her food. "I think we even had some lovely blueberry and lemon scones."
"You had tea with Draco?" Neville looked around at his wife and other friends, searching their faces if they already knew this fact. They did.
"On a regular basis," Luna answered, nonchalant. Then paused, before speaking again, not noticing the look on Neville's face. "And well, since he is very disciplined with his money, I asked for his help regarding the money Rolf left us."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Well, you see I'm not very good in managing money nor is my father and I would hate it for me to be ever so careless of the money Rolf left me and the twins." She glanced at her boys as she said this and was glad that they seemed to be enjoying themselves once again at the discussion at the other end of the table.
"So, what?" It was Harry who spoke. "He's your accountant now? Finance manager?"
Luna paused to think for a moment then blinked at her friend, "Well, no, however, he's the one who helps me budget some of my expenses. Especially since daddy had to buy several new printing press for the Quibbler and you know those don't come cheap."
"Luna, you mean, Draco is an investor for your dad's magazine?" Ginny asked looking at her.
"No, he has never given money for the Quibbler," Luna explained, shaking her head slightly. "But sometimes he helps me with the expenses."
A loud crash from the other end of the table caused all of their attention to turn at Hugo who was looking guilty
"Oi, what'd you do this time?" Ron's eyes focused on Hugo as he scowled at him.
"Nothing!" Hugo defended but with the way Lily was laughing, it wasn't just nothing. Even Rose was unable to fight the urge of giggles that escaped her.
"Your mother's the bloody Minister of Magic!" Ron said, clearly showing his displeasure at his son's antics. Luna watched her own sons fighting their laughter but clearly, whatever Hugo did was pure amusement for the children. "You'd think you could behave better in front of guess."
"Ronald! Language!" Hermione scolded her husband and gave Hugo a sharp look when he laughed. "And just for that, you'll be doing all the dishes on your own for your Aunt Ginny."
Another grumble of protest from Hugo but with one look from both Hermione and Ron, he slumped back against his chair.
As everyone was saying their goodbyes for the night, Ginny and Hermione pulled Luna to the side to talk to her privately. Luna searched the room for Lorcan and Lysander, who were saying their goodbyes to Neville and Hannah.
"We're worried, Luna," Hermione said softly.
"Why?" Luna asked, turning to look at her friend.
"Well, you're spending a lot of time with Draco lately," Ginny explained as she and Hermione exchanged a quick glance before both of their gazes settling on Luna.
"I suppose I have, haven't I?" The blonde agreed with a slight nod and a serene smile.
"And we're just worried that maybe you two are maybe getting too close," Hermione remarked, her fingers interlocked in front of her abdomen.
"What do you mean?" She questioned, wrapping her arms around her body as she shifted from one foot to another, and once again Hermione and Ginny exchanged a glance. Some part of her knew what they were talking about but she hasn't even admitted to herself the growing feelings she harbored towards Draco over the year, let alone admit it to anyone else.
"Look-" Ginny raised her hand to place on Luna's arm in a show of tenderness and care. "We're worried and we just want you to be careful. It's only been a year since Rolf died."
Ginny quickly realised that that wasn't the right thing to say because then Luna shrugged her hold from her arm. Both witches faces expressed remorse as Luna's usually dreamy voice turn sharp with an edge.
"Yes, well - thank you, Ginny," Luna responded, taking a step back from them both, a scowl on her face. "I know exactly how long my husband has been dead!"
With that, Luna marched to where her sons were and hurriedly ushered the to the Floo network, grabbed a handful of Floo Powder and then yelling 'Lovegood-Scamander residence', before being engulfed by emerald green flames.
They found themselves near the lake in Ottery St Catchpole at the night after they send their children back to Hogwarts.
He told her his conversation with Scorpius that day at the graveyard during Astoria's death anniversary. He could feel the sharp, howling pain that came in the moments after Astoria's passing creeping back into him as he remembered the look on his son's face that day. He tried to be strong for Scorpius, but he couldn't manage to fight off the tears any longer and they cried together at Astoria's graveside.
This was the first time he allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of anyone except Scorpius after Astoria's death. When he cried there was a rawness to it, like the pain was still an open wound. And Luna - he realised then and there - was the only one who could heal him.
"Luna," Draco said her name after a long silence, the two of them just staring in front of them. "Merlin - does it ever stop hurting?"
"Losing someone can change you forever." She said in her dreamy voice of hers, but Draco could tell there was an ever slight edge to it. "Because there's a little bit of you in them, and it's just as gone as they are when they say goodbye."
"How-? I mean if you don't mind me asking." He stuttered, trying his best to choose his words. They never mentioned how Rolf died, always careful to skim away from the topic, he was worried that it wasn't something Luna wanted to recall.
Luna gave him a sad smile. "It was during one of our expeditions before the summer. We left the boys at my father's as we went to South America." She began, the memories flooding back into her mind in a bittersweet blur.
"South America?" He inquired, a memory of a conversation they had months ago appearing in his mind.
Luna nodded, "We were camping in the forest and there was a fire in the nearby town. Rolf wanted to help as best he could. He was that type of person really." Again, the sad smile reappeared on her face, but he could see the unshed tears in her eyes. "But not even magic was enough to stop the building collapsing and then..."
She couldn't finish her story as she choked back a sob. Luna bit on her lower lip and her eyes turned glossy with tears. She tried to blink them away and when she realised that she couldn't, she turned to look away from Draco.
Draco draped an arm around her shoulders and she buried herself in his chest as she continued to cry.
"After I saw my mum died and the war, I never thought that I would see someone else die." She said as she pulled back, his arms still wrapped around her in a tight embrace. "I was wrong."
Draco could imagine the pain, but after everything Luna went through before, during and after the war - he realised that Luna was stronger than he first came to believe.
"It was the hardest to tell the boys, of course." She continued, wiping the tears with the back of her hand and pulling away from Draco's hold. "But I managed. We manage."
A heavy pause lingered between them as Draco allowed her the time to recuperate.
"I understand." He finally spoke. For a moment, he closed his eyes, the feeling of loss, the feeling of having lost Astoria, once more overwhelming him. His vision clouded by tears when he opened his eyes, a quiet sob left his mouth. "I barely manage raising Scorpius alone, but I manage."
"You're a good father, Draco." She said, cupping his cheek in her small hand. "Scorpius is wonderful, kind and -"
"And everything I wasn't when I was his age." He cut her off, his tone not angry nor bitter. It was a clear statement. "Scorpius, he may look like me, a Malfoy in looks but his heart, it's Astoria's."
"And that alone is enough for you not to give up on life." She gave him a genuine look that showed how much she meant her words, before turning back to the serene look in front of them.
They never discussed such matters but he supposed it was obvious. The sharp features of his face looked weary now, with his skin paler than usual, and swollen eyes with dark circles beneath them. Luna noticed, of course. Luna always noticed even the small changes in people, yet didn't push them to open up or to talk about it. She let them be and gave them an escape that he wondered if she herself had.
The sun was strong and warm, but the wind was cool and breezy enough for it not be bothersome to work in the garden. The garden behind the Lovegood-Scamander household was smaller and less extravagant compared to the one back at the Malfoy Manor but Draco could see the smile on Luna's face as she continued to work with the different magical and muggle plants and flowers.
He wasn't one for gardening, even though Astoria had tried to get him into it, but he preferred to watch her work, lost in her own little world. And even now, he sat on one of the garden chairs watching as Luna knelt down beside the neat raised beds of herbs and self-fertilising shrub with pruners in hand and gloves on.
The tranquility of the scene was disturbed when a shadow above caught Draco's attention, he looked up to see an owl above before it swooped down and land next to Luna.
She held out her hand and the owl hooted before dropping the letter in hand and hooting again before flying away.
"Whose it from?" Draco asked, making his way to stand next to Luna as she stood up as well.
Luna broke the seal of the envelope and began to read the letter, "It's from Rolf's publishers." She answered as her eyes continued to scan the parchment. "They want me to write the foreword for one of Rolf's books."
Draco noticed the slight frown that appeared on Luna's forehead.
"Isn't that good?"
Luna blinked at the letter once more before turning her attention to Draco, "I suppose it is. Yes - yes, it is." She nodded.
"Hey, what's the matter?" A frown of concern lurking on his face.
"It's just - well, the book was supposed to be published last year before he - before the accident." She said, her breath catching in her throat. "Rolf wasn't able to send the final draft to them. I was debating if I should send it to them, but I realised it wouldn't be fair to Rolf. He worked so hard on that book, so much time and research, so I sent them the final draft last week. I didn't expect them to write to me about it, less alone write the foreword."
"Why not?" He asked, "It's good news, isn't it?"
Luna blinked and shook her head, one of her ever serene smiles made its way to her face.
"Yes, this is wonderful!" She clapped her hands together. "The boys would be thrilled that their father's final work will be published."
Draco noticed the slight edge in Luna's voice when she said the word 'final', but then he realised that yes, this book was Rolf's final work, there wouldn't be any more after it. It was a reminder that Rolf was truly and forever gone.
Honestly, it happened out of the blue.
They were once again on one the patios of Malfoy Manor overlooking the garden, nothing unusual there, but when she dropped the question in the most nonchalant manner, he had to pause to process her words.
One minute she was discussing about a new breed of Runespoor discovered in Africa by one of her wizard naturalist colleagues, the next minute she caused him to almost choke on his tea.
"Do you like me, Draco?"
Well that had come out of seemingly nowhere. He looked her in the eyes, searching for any emotion that maybe she was pulling his leg or was just simply checking to see if he was listening to her story, but no. She was staring at him, unblinking and it was etched on her face that she was completely serious.
She was watching him expectantly, turning the full force of those bright, wide grey eyes of hers on him as if there were nothing unusual about the question.
The silence stretched between them until Luna finally looked away as she casually took a bite from her biscuit as though they weren't talking about drastically changing everything between them. Draco blinked and continued to stare at her.
"Of course, I do, Luna." He replied, the look she was giving him causing him to uncomfortable. "You're my friend."
There were a number of thoughts swirling in his mind. For starters, if he was to be honest with himself, he had began to see Luna in a different light. Over the months, he had realised that he now counted Luna as a true friend. He enjoyed her company, found solace whenever he was with her and he found himself smiling and laughing more. He also recalled the conversation he had with Lorcan, and it made him think; did Luna feel the same?
"Just as a friend?" Luna tilted her head, she met his confused gaze, allowing him to see that she was serious about this.
"Luna, what brought this on?"
It shocked him when Luna broke eye contact and looked at the ground, and was she...? She was blushing!
"It was Ginny and Hermione who brought it up last month." She explained, eyes still not meeting his. "And, I think it's time I finally let you know, but I think I might fancy you and maybe, more than just fancy."
"I don't want to lose you as a friend." Was his first response when he finally got his mind to function again.
"Why would you lose me as your friend?" She looked sharply at him, her face expressed confusion and Draco realised she was genuinely bewildered by his statement. A part of him wanted to be outraged because she was the one making outlandish questions that discombobulated him. However, this was Luna, after a year of being her friend, he knew that this was just simply how she was.
"I don't know, Luna -"
"I admit to myself that I think it's too soon, it's only been over a year since Rolf and of course Astoria but... I care about you, Draco."
"I care about you too, Luna." He admitted, "More than I thought I ever would."
"Then why can't we at least try?" She asked. "Maybe we'll do this and immediately decide we're better off as friends, I'm not a Seer and I don't know what the future holds, but we were friends first; that won't change. I won't let it."
At those words, Draco could almost hear the cracks in his resolve forming.
The expectant look he gave her, the way her eyes were so solid, so bright, and almost metallic, rivaling the most excellently polished suit of armour. His gaze moving down to her nose, her button nose with a few speckles of freckles on them, but her eyes and nose were nothing compared to her lips. They were thin, with the lower lip more plush than the upper but pale pink that reminded him of a rosebud.
He had the sudden urge to find out if they felt as good as they looked. But that would be a bad idea. Touching her would be bad. If he touched her he wouldn't want to stop touching her.
He found himself balling his fist in an attempt to hold himself back from just reaching across the table and caressing her cheek, from running his finger over her lips, until the knuckles of his hands were white.
"Draco?" She called out his name, her eyes trained on him, after he still didn't reply.
'Oh sod it! To hell with it.'
"I want to try as well, Luna."
Her shoulders slumped, and he realised she must have been more worried about his reaction than she wanted to show, but the smile Luna gave Draco was blinding and reminded him of sunlight. He stood and moved over to the other side as Luna followed his movements as she stood as well.
Cupping her face in his hands, his eyes dropped to her mouth again, and he brushed his thumb against her lower lip. He leaned down slowly, pressed his lips to hers in a firm, deep kiss.
Well, that happened!
Now, I do have a few questions for you, my lovely readers.
1. What's your opinion of the framing device? Is it too much? Too little? Entirely unnecessary? Confusing? Are the events happening too fast?
2. Do I spend too much time on dialogue and action? Has the setting not been developed well enough?
3. Are there any parts that are just confusing?
4. Is there anything you would like for me to add? Any characters you think deserve mentioning
