Chapter Twenty Four

The next thing Draco was aware of was a bright, white light. He squinted against it and waited for his vision to come back into focus. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before he realized he was in St. Mungo's. He turned his head to one side and panicked when he saw Luna lying in a bed opposite him. Thinking she was ill he began struggling to get out of bed but was stopped by Hermione Granger.

"Relax, Malfoy. She's fine, just worn out. She hadn't taken a break since you arrived so finally I slipped a sleeping draught into her tea. I left her in here because I knew she would have a fit if she woke up and couldn't see you."

"She's okay?" asked Draco anxiously.

"She will be once she gets some rest. We were honestly shocked that she hadn't collapsed already. Between checking on you, overseeing production of the potion and arguing with the staff..."

"Arguing? Luna? About what?"

"About you." Seeing the look of confusion on his face Hermione explained, "When they first brought you in a young healer made the mistake of trying to bar Luna from your room because she wasn't 'family'." Hermione shook her head. "Let's just say that didn't go over very well. Between the dressing down the healer received from Luna and Charlie I don't think the poor woman will ever fully recover."

"Charlie? Charlie Weasley?"

"In fairness it wasn't just Charlie. The whole Weasley clan was in an uproar. If the healer hadn't changed her position there would have been a riot in the waiting room."

Draco was now utterly lost. "What? Why?"

"Because of the life debt."

"What?"

"As soon as she knew you were okay, Luna enlisted as many healers and potion masters as possible to get started on producing the elixir with the provision that the first dose was given to Molly Weasley."

"Molly? When did she take ill?"

"The day before you got back," Hermione said.

"Is she okay?" Draco asked.

"She is now, thanks to you and Luna. She'll need to rest for a while but all indications are that she will be right as rain."

An insect buzzed past and Hermione grabbed it, inspected it closely then released it. "Sorry. Wanted to make sure it wasn't Rita Skeeter in disguise. The press has been desperate to get in here. The two of you are quite the talk of the wizarding world right now."

"Why?"

The dark haired witch laughed. "Why? Didn't you hear me? It works. The bloody cure. The pair of you are being hailed as heroes. As soon as you are well enough the Minister himself is holding a gala in your honor. People are falling over themselves for an invitation."

Draco nodded distractedly but kept his eyes focused on Luna. "She's fine, though, right? You're sure she hasn't taken ill?"

Hermione studied his face then softened her tone. "Yes, Malfoy. I promise. All of her tests came back negative and I placed a dose of the potion in her tea along with the sleeping draught to be sure. She just needed sleep." Watching him slump back in relief, she asked, "What happened out there, anyway?"

"It's a long story, Granger. The important thing is that you can swear to me she's not sick?"

"I swear, Malfoy. Other than running herself ragged she is perfectly fine. The truth is she has been driving us all a bit batty. Why she even..."

Without opening her eyes, Luna spoke up from the other bed. "You know that SHE can hear you, right?"

Hermione whipped around, blushing brightly. She stammered briefly then darted out the door to track down a healer.

Luna turned her head to look at Draco. "Was that mean?"

"A bit..." Draco tried to appear stern but failed miserably and they both dissolved in laughter.

Luna stood and made her way to his bedside. "How are you feeling?"

"Better now, thanks to you. How are you feeling?"

"Better, now." Luna's voice hitched and a tear made its way down her face.

Draco grew alarmed and fought to sit up. "Luna? What's wrong? Are you hurt? Granger said you were okay."

Luna managed to get out the words, "Three days."

"What?"

"Three days. That's how long you were unconscious after you passed out. It took a full day for me to locate the instructions for the potion in the scroll and properly translate it. It took another day to correctly brew the first batch and another for it to work its way through your system. Three days I thought you were going to die on me. Three. Bloody. Days." She choked back a sob.

Draco recalled the times he had seen her injured during their journey. Thinking she was hurt for a few minutes had been excruciating. He couldn't imagine watching her like that for days. He
pulled her next to him and whispered, "Oh, Luna. I'm so sorry but it's okay. I'm here, thanks to you."

He kissed her cheek and asked, "How long have I been at St. Mungo's?"

"We arrived late yesterday morning. The healers thought it was best to keep you sedated a while longer to allow your system to recover from the effects of the pox and the transport."

"How did we get here?"

"Charlie's team flew us across the border to a safe haven in Hungary. From there we took a portkey to the preserve and then another portkey to directly to the hospital. Took less than a day to get home once his team found us."

"But how did they know where to look for us?" asked Draco.

"We had some assistance," said Luna.

"What kind of assistance?"

Luna reached into her pocket and pulled out the butter beer necklace. It took Draco a moment realize the significance. "You mean the elves..." She nodded. "But how..."

"I cast a patronus with a message for Charlie but in the state I was in I wasn't sure how far it would travel so I enlisted the bow truckles as back up. I sent a message with them, along with your pocket watch, to the wood elves. Once they realized what was happening they dispatched two groups - one to find us and the other to make sure Charlie was aware of the situation. I modified your locator spell so all they had to do was use the watch as a sort of compass. They found us pretty quickly and were able to provide Charlie and his team with our exact location."

"But both of those places are outside the realm of the elves."

"I suppose they decided that Lord Malfoy was worth making an exception for."

Draco took her hand. "I am certain it was more for you than it was for me."

Luna gestured towards necklace. "Be that as it may, the prince insisted upon being part of the operation. Once they reached us he even named himself my personal guardian."

Draco's eyes narrowed at the mention of Luna's attacker. "Are you okay? He didn't..."

"He was a perfect gentleman. I think he wanted to impress his father as well as wiping the slate clean between us." She smiled. "He performed his duties most admirably. No one was allowed within five feet of me without my consent as well as his express permission - not even Charlie."

Draco kissed her fingers. "If he kept you safe, then I shall send him my thanks as well as a substantial reward."

"I'm sure your good word alone would mean the world to him."

Draco fidgeted slightly, cleared his throat and said, "So...Not sure how much you heard earlier but according to Granger we are expected to attend a public event in the near future."

"So I gather."

Draco fixed his eyes at a spot on the bed just past where Luna was sitting. "I was wondering...I mean...I didn't want to assume...but, uh, may I have the honor of being your escort that evening?"

Luna kissed him gently. "The answer to that question is a definite yes."

"Really?"

"Of course. I shall count it as one of the dinners you've promised me."

Draco's eyes sparkled. "So, you're still willing..."

"Absolutely." She pushed him back and climbed onto the bed next to him. "But in the meantime, you need to rest and regain your strength, Malfoy Draco Malfoy. If a man invites me to a party then I expect there to be dancing."

Draco wrapped his arm around her waist, buried his face in her hair and whispered, "As you wish, Luna Scamander Previously Lovegood."