Chapter Twenty Five

The healers released Draco early the next day and provided a private floo connection so he and Luna could leave St. Mungo's without having to endure the hordes of press camped outside the hospital.

They appeared in the sitting room of Draco's country home and were immediately set upon by Mitzi the house elf. "Master is home! Master is home!" The excited elf jumped up and down before throwing herself into Draco's arms.

"Hello, Mitzi," laughed Draco. "Good to see you too." He set the little creature down and turned to Luna. "Mitzi, I'd like to introduce..."

"Mitzi knows Missy Luna! Missy Luna and Mitzi are friends!" Mitzi exclaimed, twirling in happy circles.

"But how do you know..." Draco started to ask but Mitzi cut him off.

"Missy Luna contact Mitzi as soon as Master arrive at the hospital. She send many messages so Mitzi know Master is okay and she even made the mean lady at St. Mungo's let Mitzi in to see Master while he was sleeping!"

Draco looked at Luna who smiled and said, "I didn't want her to read any of Rita Skeeter's gross exaggerations and be worried about you."

Mitzi turned up her nose at the mention of the reporter from the Prophet. "Puh! Nasty Skeeter woman and some other presses came by a few times while Master was on his journey. Mitzi finally cast many house elf wards around the property. No yucky reportsers come back since." The elf reinforced that thought with a firm nod.

"Excellent work, Mitzi, as always!" Draco patted her on the head proudly. "I'm glad the two of you have already become acquainted because you are going to be seeing a lot more of Luna."

"Yeah!" Mitzi danced around then whispered loudly, "Missy Luna! I have the Master's surprise in the library. Is it time now?"

"Hold on. What surprise? What are the pair of you up to?" asked Draco.

"I think now would be an excellent time for the surprise, Mitzi," Luna said before turning to Draco. "But first, you need to close your eyes."

Draco looked a touch suspicious but complied.

"Now cover them," said Luna.

"What are you..."

"Cover them," repeated Luna firmly.

"Oooo, bossy. I like it," teased Draco.

"Behave, Draco," chided Luna softly as she took his arm and guided him along. He could hear Mitzi giggling and opening a door then felt himself being led into another room. He was getting ready to ask another question when a familiar scent of lavender and jasmine stopped him in his tracks.

Suddenly Luna's voice was next to his ear, whispering, "Open your eyes."

Draco's hands dropped from his face and he momentarily froze before bursting into tears at the sight in front of him.

"Mother?"

He rushed across the room and into the waiting arms of Narcissa Malfoy.

Mother and son clung to each other until Draco became aware of a sobbing noise behind him. He turned to see Mitzi clasped onto Luna's leg, crying her eyes out. Luna was attempting to comfort the elf while at the same time dabbing her own eyes with a tissue.

Draco laughed through his tears and tried to regain his composure. "Sweet Circe! Are we a picture or what?" Wiping his face with the back of his hand, he gestured to Luna. "Right. Okay. I believe proper introductions are in order. Mother, I would very much like you to meet..."

Before he could finish Narcissa stunned Draco by pushing past him and wrapping Luna in a fierce embrace.

Draco was dumbfounded. His mother was many things, but an overly demonstrative person was certainly not one of them. He was even more surprised when Narcissa began kissing Luna's cheeks, repeating the words, "Thank you" over and over again.

When his mother finally took a breath, Luna clasped the woman's hands in her own and said, "It is I who ought to be thanking you, Mrs. Malfoy. I sent you a letter after the war. I don't know if it ever reached you but..."

Luna stopped when Narcissa produced a tattered envelope from her pocket and pulled out an obviously well worn piece of paper. The older woman beamed. "I received this just before being exiled. I have read it many times since and it has always provided me with a great sense of hope. I thought if a young girl who was treated so cruelly in my own home could forgive me then perhaps one day others could see me as something more than just the wife and sister of a Death Eater."

Draco's mother glanced at him with tears in her eyes then turned her attention back to Luna. "Then to learn that this same girl saved the life of my son? I cannot even begin to express indebted I am to you, my dear."

Luna shook her head. "You don't owe me anything. Your son saved my life many times as well. I'm simply honored to have played some small part in reuniting the two of you."

"I hardly think your part in all of this has been 'small', my dear.," sniffed Narcissa. "As a matter of fact, I got the distinct impression from Kingsley that my being here today is almost entirely your doing."

"It was!" exclaimed Mitzi. "I hear Dragon Weezy tell Miss Andromeda all about it this morning."

"Dragon Weezy?" Draco looked confused then laughed when he realized Mitzi was talking about Charlie.

"Yes! He tell Miss Andromeda all about how Missy Luna get angry when she find out Mistress Narcissa was tied up in scarlet rope."

Luna giggled at the look on Draco's face and translated, "I believe she means that your mother's case was tied up in 'red tape'."

"Ah...got it. Thank you for clearing that up..." said Draco. He turned back to the elf and said, "Please, Mitzi, tell us more of what 'Dragon Weezy' had to say."

Mitzi, thrilled to be the center of attention, hopped onto a small table, smoothed out the folds of her little blue dress and began acting out the scene she was describing. "Missy Luna say that Mistress Narcissa's exile need to be lifted right away so she could see for herself that Master is okay. But someone at the Ministry say that more papers need to be signed first so Missy Luna floo to the Ministry, march down the hall, barge into Mister Kingsey's office and tell him to get Master's mother here in a hurry or else!"

Mitzi punctuated that last point with a scowl on her face and a firm stamp of her foot.

Draco looked at Luna with eyes wide. She waved her hand dismissively and said, "First off, I wouldn't go so far as to say that I 'barged in'. I suppose you could say that I walked purposefully and entered without asking. Then I simply told Kingsley that he needed to allow Narcissa access to her son immediately per the agreement you signed prior to leaving on the expedition or I would be forced to take matters into my own hands."

Draco's eyebrows continued to rise. "Wait. You mean to tell me that you threatened the Minister of Magic?"

"I wouldn't call it a threat. It was more of a...promise," said Luna.

"A promise to...?"

"To get his mother involved."

At this point Draco's eyebrows were in danger of leaving his face altogether. "You threatened to call Shacklebolt's mother?!"

"Again, it wasn't a threat, Draco, and besides, I didn't need to call her...I brought her along with me. She was waiting in the hall."

Seeing the expressions on both Draco and Narcissa's faces Luna explained, "It seemed like the logical thing to do. I thought it would take someone who truly understand what that might feel like to explain to Kingsley the importance of a parent seeing their child under these circumstances. Who better than his own mother to convey that message in a way he would best understand?"

"And what, exactly, did his mother say to him?" asked Draco.

"I don't know. I left the room while they chatted but whatever she said must have worked. They had your Mother's paperwork sorted within the hour. Once they assured Narcissa that you were okay, she made the decision to meet with you here instead of the hospital so there would be less chance of the press intruding on your privacy."

Draco stared in amazement before crossing the room in two quick steps and sweeping Luna into a passionate kiss, only pulling back when the need for oxygen forced him. He was irrationally pleased with himself when he saw that his action had momentarily rendered Luna speechless.

He brushed his fingers over her cheek. "You did all that for me?"

Luna finally caught her breath enough to answer, "Of course. Your mother's freedom of travel was part of the agreement you signed."

Draco fought to contain the emotion in his voice. "You do know that, for me, this stopped being about the agreement a long time ago, right?"

"I know. That doesn't mean the terms in regards to you and your mother shouldn't be honored." Luna collected herself enough to kiss him quickly then added, "Speaking of your mother, it's been far too long since you two have talked in person, so I'm going to leave and let you catch up. I will see you later."

Draco held on to her arm. "Please don't leave the property yet. I really need to speak with you some more before you go home, okay?"

"As you wish, Malfoy Draco Malfoy. You have your visit and in the meantime I'll ask Mitzi to give me a tour of the gardens." Luna turned to Narcissa and said, "It was very nice to properly make your acquaintance, Mrs. Malfoy. I hope we can talk again sometime?"

"Please, call me Narcissa and yes, I would like that very much, Luna."

Luna made her way out of the room and as soon as the door closed behind her, Narcissa chuckled and said, "Bringing in the Minister's mother as leverage? Are you sure that girl isn't a Slytherin?"

Draco shook his head. "Regardless of what some silly hat might say, Mother, one thing I can promise you with complete certainty is that Luna absolutely defies any sort of categorization."

"Well, I don't have to ask if you love her or if the feeling is mutual. Even before that kiss your feelings for each other were written all over your faces." Narcissa smiled then asked, "So, will you be needing access to the vaults to select a ring or are you going to be terribly romantic and design one of your own?"

Draco gave her a sheepish look and his mother snorted, "Sweet Merlin. You've already had one made, haven't you?"

"I may have owled a jeweler last night with a design," admitted Draco.

"When do you plan on proposing to her?" Narcissa asked.

"Soon enough but I want to try and court her properly first. In the past, people haven't always treated Luna with kindness or respect. I want her to know that she deserves the effort."

Tears filled Narcissa's eyes causing Draco to blush. "What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, little dragon. It's just a special moment when a mother sees her child truly in love for the first time." The woman motioned for Draco to take a seat. "Now, we have a lot of catching up to do. I heard a brief outline of your adventure from the Minister but there has been an unholy amount of speculation and conjecture in the press. Please - sort out the fact from fiction for me."

Mother and son sat and talked for a long time, with Draco recounting the highlights of his and Luna's journey and Narcissa filling him in on her time in Switzerland.

"Other than being separated from you, I find that I actually prefer my life there. For the most part, people tend to leave me alone and I've even made some new friends inside the European magical community. Andromeda has been allowed to visit more recently and she sometimes brings little Teddy along with her. He reminds me of you at that age - talented and precocious."

"So no chance of you moving back to Britain then?" asked Draco.

"No, at least not at the present. Too many eyes would be on me, I think. But the Ministry has granted approval for an international connection for our floos so we can visit as often as you would like." She gave a sly grin and added, "I promise to send word through first before popping in so I don't barge in on anything a mother ought not see."

"Thank you, Mother. That will be..uh...most appreciated." Draco flushed and ducked his head then said, "But while you are here I hope you will at least stay for dinner tonight?"

Before she could answer, Mitzi stuck her head inside and said, "Master Draco? Sorry to interrupt but it's about Missy Luna."

Narcissa marveled at the speed at which Draco was out of his chair. "Luna? What's wrong? Is she okay?"

"Missy Luna is fine," assured Mitzi, "but she fall asleep on the ground under the rhododendron. I put a blanket over her but now Mitzi's ears are starting to itch which means it will rain soon but Missy Luna seem so peaceful that I wasn't sure if I should wake her up or levitate her inside instead."

"Don't bother waking her, Mitzi. She needs the rest more than any of use. If you'll go and prepare the guest room then I'll fetch her."

While Mitzi scurried off to take care of the accommodations, Draco and Narcissa walked into the back garden where they found Luna sleeping peacefully under one of the massive rhododendrons. To Draco's amusement curled up alongside her were a pair of young garden gnomes that had made themselves at home in the folds of her robe.

Knowing that Luna would be fond of the little creatures, instead of hurling them over the wall Draco nudged them gently with the toe of his shoe then bent down and said softly, "Okay, you two. Nap times over. I'm bringing her inside now so scram."

The gnomes huffed indignantly but scampered off without making too much of a fuss. Draco wandlessly levitated Luna off the ground just high enough to loop his arms under her. He started back to the house and when he reached the back door he simply spoke the incantation causing it to open smoothly and quietly.

Narcissa looked most impressed. "When did you become so proficient in wandless magic, Draco?"

"I wouldn't call myself proficient yet," said Draco. "Luna's the real master. Compared to her I'm an amateur. You should see what she's able to accomplish - especially when dragons are involved."

"One shudders to think," smiled Narcissa. "It seems I can take great comfort in the knowledge that such a kind and powerful witch is looking after my son."

Luna shifted in his arms and murmured something drowsily under her breath. Draco whispered, "Yes, love. You're right. We do. Now go back to sleep, okay?"

As Luna nuzzled into his chest, Narcissa quietly asked, "What did she say?"

"She said that we look after each other," said Draco, pushing open the door to the guest room. He levitated the blankets off the bed just enough to slip Luna underneath then tucked her in snugly and crept out of the room.

"So, it looks like it will just be the two of us for dinner tonight."

"No. Dinner can wait until another day. You and Luna still need time to rest and recuperate from all that you've been through." Narcissa turned her son back towards the guest room and gave him a gentle but firm shove. "So get in there and get some sleep yourself. You can come to my home for dinner in a day or two."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Thanks to you and Luna, we can visit each other whenever we'd like. Besides, you haven't yet seen where I live. I think you'll quite like it."

"May I bring Luna with me?"

Narcissa leaned in and gave her son a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, don't even think about trying to get in to see me without her, little dragon."