This chapter was SO MUCH FUN to write. Luna teaches Draco how to produce a rather difficult charm that will hopefully help him see that there really is a light in the darkness.

PS – I think I found the perfect theme song for this story… Stay With Me by Danity Kane. I think it's applicable, especially in the chapters coming up later. Just something to keep in mind =)

Chapter 8

Thestrals are, undeservedly, known as omens of misfortune and aggression by many wizards because they are visible only to those who have witnessed death at least once, and have fully accepted the concept…

Draco ran those lines through his head as he paced back and forth across the grass, the sun setting in the west.

He has seen death. Right in front of him. At the Dark Lord's discussion table in the manor. Draco felt his stomach twist at the memory of all that blood on the table, of those eyes of the dead woman staring back at him after her life left her body, practically begging him to bring her back to life…

He stopped and folded his arms, taking several deep breaths. To think, he could've taken a life like that if Snape never stepped in on the clock tower.

His calming process was interrupted by footsteps stepping behind him in the brittle grass. He sighed in frustration. He told her to leave him alone. He turned to face her as she walked to him and stopped a few meters away.

"I thought I said to leave me be," he said, his arms still folded and his mouth a flat line.

She nodded. "I know."

"Then why are you standing in front of me?"

"Because," she began in her light voice, "everyone needs comfort in a hard time, and I think you need it the most. The smallest things are getting to you."

"Psht, you think you know me…" he growled and looked away from her at the forest in the distance. The sun was almost gone under the horizon.

"I know enough."

He glanced back at her and saw her usual calm-despite-of-anything face. It irritated him that she could be so calm when there was so much evil everywhere around her. She just stood there, not leaving. "Okay. What?"

"Have you heard of patronuses?"

Draco creased his brows. "Of course I have. Everyone has."

"What is your patronus?"

He looked away at a random rock in the yard, probably the one Luna tripped over the other day. "Don't know."

"You mean you never produced the patronus charm before?"

"I wasn't in that little 'Dumbledore's Army' that you were in with Potter and the others, practicing all that nonsense," he spat at her.

She nodded. "Yes, I remember. I remember you following me to the Room of Requirement with Mr. Filtch and the rest of Professor Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad. And I believe it was you who dragged me into her office with the others."

Draco looked back on that memory. He recalled thinking that Luna's wrists were so small, like a child's, he could wrap one hand around both at the same time. His eyes flicked to her wrists as they were at her sides. He guiltily thought that he wouldn't completely mind trying to find out if that was still the case.

"Yes, I remember that too," he said. "My fifth year."

"And my fourth. So you haven't produced one before? A patronus?"

He huffed through his nose. "No."

"Yes… It does take a lot of practice. Harry told us that the Patronus Charm is very difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full patronus."

"So are you insinuating that I can't?" he asked with an edge.

"No. I'm just stating a fact. It was hard for me to produce my patronus."

Out of curiosity, he asked, "What animal?"

"A rabbit. Or a hare as some people call it."

Draco's brows lifted, mildly impressed that Luna knew her patronus. It meant that she had conjured one before. Along with her intuition as to guess correctly what is on his mind, this was another small factor to add to the list of impressive things she could do.

"Really?" he asked.

"Yes. What about yours?"

"I already told you I haven't produced one yet, so how am I supposed to know?"

"Simple. By producing one."

Draco stared at her blue-gray eyes. "Producing one? Now?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Why not? I'm actually really curious as to which animal your patronus is."

Honestly, Draco was curious as well. He huffed. He'll play along. "Okay." He pulled out his wand. "What do I need to do?"

Luna smiled, happy that he agreed. "Harry told us that you have to concentrate very hard on one specific happy thought or memory. Then, say 'Expecto Patronum', flicking your wand in this motion." She twisted her wrist in a circular motion, as if holding an invisible wand.

"That's it?"

"Yes. But it's harder than it looks. It took me a full hour to finally get my patronus to come out, after several attempts of producing only a stream of bright white light."

"It took you an hour for the first time of trying?"

"Yes."

Draco's determination and dominance meters elevated as he looked at her triangular face simply smiling at him. He was bound to get his out in half that time.

"Do you want to try it?" she asked, noticing the fire in his eyes.

"Of course!" He walked a few steps away. "It's just a spell."

Draco stood, feet planted firmly on the grass, and he closed his eyes, digging into his brain for any happy memory. But the moment he closed his eyes, he saw Helena being tortured in his living room a few days ago, along with the muggle studies professor being killed right in front of him... then his mother screaming as his father lifted his hand to slap Draco on the face when he was ten... then his own screaming when the Dark Mark was branded on him… then Dumbledore's dead body falling off of the clock tower…

"Ahh…" Draco let out as the memories made his head pound painfully, and he had to place his palm on his forehead. Determined still, he kept his eyes shut as he looked more into his memories…

Getting yelled at by his aunt when he was a lad for snooping around her room... getting pushed down by Angus Candrus into a vat of hot mud that scarred the skin on his right leg... growing up without a father's affection... being forced to go to Hogwarts... pushing Collin Creevy down on the stone for taking his picture and making the boy's nose bleed... Hermione Granger punching him in the nose his third year... his father swatting his hind and hands until they bled when he received poor marks on his O.W.L. ... bullying more kids, including Harry Potter and his friends, and fighting Harry Potter in the bathroom and having his own chest painfully split open from Snape's curse…

Draco felt hot tears escape his eyes and stream down his cheeks. Didn't he have any happy memories? Or even good ones for that matter?

He tried again, but found only darkness and sadness. His legs' strength gave out, and he found himself kneeling on the grassy earth. He tried yet again. And again, nothing.

For more than an hour this went on, until the sky was dark, and the only source of light was the bright, white moon in the sky, and a few twinkling stars. Cool wind blew through his hair.

"Draco," he heard Luna's voice distantly say and his eyes opened. "You seem far too tired now. You can stop."

"No," he muttered. "I'm going to do this."

He closed his eyes again, and more haunting memories came to him. Then... one of his mother came, one where she had her arms wrapped around him when he was a lad. He stood up and pointed his wand in front of him.

"Expecto patronum!"

Faded white light shot out of his wand, but was only a stream of light. No animal. He gritted his teeth.

"That's good," Luna said as she stood next to him. "But I think the memory was weak. Try something happier."

A sharp pang hit his heart and he turned to her, fuming. "What do you think I've been doing the past hour, huh?! There's nothing in my head that's even remotely happy! I've had a miserable life, and therefore only have miserable memories!"

Luna stood silent for a moment. Draco could faintly see the look on her face due to the darkness… it was dreadfully calm. Then she spoke.

"Remember what I said about how evil took over you? I think it is the same with your memories and thoughts. The sad and horrible ones are blocking all the happy and joyful ones. You just need to push back those negative memories and replace them with the good ones."

"But I don't have any good or happy memories," he spat.

"You do. You just need to let them come to the front of your mind."

Draco huffed through his nose as he closed his eyes again. He balled his hands tightly into fists as he saw all the previous horrible memories, but he tried to block them away. "Ah…" he let out at the pain it was causing in his temple. A hand touched his arm.

Suddenly, the horrible thoughts zoomed, it seemed, out of his mind, and he was left with one memory…

Himself sobbing as a small and feminine figure wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her warm and curvy body against his chest… small hands patting his back as he cried… feeling relief from the feeling of her form held tightly in his arms… the smell of her flowery scent… her long wavy blonde hair…

Draco's eyes snapped open and he pointed his wand out and shouted, his heart pounding, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

A thick stream of white light shot out of his wand and the white light was slowly being formed from the white thread of the stream, filling the darkness surrounding him. The form emerged as a long, white animal.

Draco was stunned silent. He produced a patronus. He did it!

Both Draco and Luna watched in amazement as the small, long animal hopped around the grass, around Luna, making her giggle, and around Draco, who turned around with it as it went.

"Congratulations, Draco!" Luna said happily. "What a cute little—"

"Ferret," he finished, and the animal slowly disappeared into thin air. He sat on the ground, knees up. Luna sat next to him.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

As a reply, Draco started laughing. Laughing. He couldn't believe that his patronus would actually be the animal he was turned into by Professor Moody his fourth year!

Luna remained silent. Draco said, "I was turned into a ferret my fourth year. Figures."

"Oh, yes, I remember that day. I was there in the courtyard when it happened." She turned her head to him. "It makes sense. The patronus takes shape of the animal with whom the witch or wizard has the deepest connection."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it does make sense. I never want to re-live that day again."

A chuckle escaped Luna's lips as well. "Forgive me. But I found it…"

"Funny? Is that what you were going to say?"

"Yes."

He huffed through his nose. "Sure. Funny for you."

She let out a full-on laugh, something that Draco wasn't expecting. Her laughter reminded him of a bird chirping in early morning daylight. It was light and airy, just like her voice. He felt his nerves calm a bit just by hearing it.

Luna stopped laughing and took a deep breath. "So, what was your happy memory?"

Draco stared at the darkness in front of him, recalling that memory that he he wouldn't forget for the rest of his life. His cheeks quickly filled with heat.

"None of your business," he said and got up. "I'm going to bed."

"I'll stay here."

Draco looked down at her as she sat there, and noticed that she was looking straight up at the starry sky. He looked up as well and saw a plethora of stars, very much amazed at the number of them in the sky. He found himself sitting down again, still staring up.

The two sat like that, both staring up at the sky for a while longer, then Draco went in to bed, silently thanking Luna for helping him produce a patronus. Helping him in more ways than one…