Harry, Ron and Hermione receive quite the shock in this chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

A group of around a dozen people were gathered around Draco.

"His popularity has sure grown," Hermione commented as she, Ron, Harry, and Luna walked down a corridor on the way to classes the morning after everyone witness Draco singing and dancing in the courtyard.

"People love to be around those who are happy," Luna said.

"Yeah…it's just strange to see him that happy," said Ron. "And scary. He's constantly smiling."

Draco suddenly caught sight of them and stood up from the stone bench he was sitting on. He walked up to them, and Luna noticed Ron's eyes widen the closer he came.

"Hello, you all," Draco said cheerfully.

"Hello, Draco," Luna said, since her friends were speechless.

"I just saw you all and wanted to say something," he said, and looked at Hermione first. "Hermione." Her eyes widened at him using her first name for the first time. "I just wanted to apologize for calling you a mudblood all those times. That was absolutely horrid of me."

Hermione cleared her throat, glanced at her friends, then back at him. "Um… thank you, Draco. That… means a lot."

He smiled at her, and she looked away awkwardly. His glance turned to Ron. "Ronald. I want to apologize for ever making fun of your family. To be quite honest, I was always jealous of your big family and how happy you all were. I wish I had that."

Ron remained silent. All he could do was purse his lips and nod, so much was his shock. Draco turned to Harry.

"Harry Potter." His smile broadened. "Blymee, do I have a lot to say to you, mate." All Harry did was nod, and Draco went on. "For everything. I apologize for everything—the bullying, and really, all the hell I put you and all of your friends through in the past years… I'm sorry. I suppose I was just jealous of you being so popular, and being The Chosen One and all."

Luna eyed Harry as he stared at Draco. "Um… thank you, Draco," Harry said. "Thanks a lot."

Draco put out his hand. "I can't promise I'll be apologetic after this potion wears off—in fact, I know I won't—so, I apologize ahead of time for what I might say and do next."

Harry stared at Draco's hand for a moment, then shook it. Ron's and Hermione's eyes widened, and people walking by and stopped and looked at the shocking scene of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy shaking. Luna smiled. That's when Draco's eyes shifted to her. He let go of Harry's hand and stood in front of her.

"Luna. I apologize for calling you 'Loony Lovegood' before."

"Oh, it's alright," she said. "I don't really mind it when people call me that. I know I'm a little loony."

"All the same, though."

He stood there for a moment staring at her, and Luna couldn't help but stare back at his blue eyes. Someone called his name from that group he was in, and he snapped out of whatever trance he was in.

"Looks like I have to go," he said, smiling at them all. "Let's go down to Hogsmede for a butterbeer sometime."

He left to that group of people, Harry, Ron, and Hermione staring after him.

"That was bizarre," Ron commented. "Draco… apologizing? I didn't even know he was capable."

"The euphoria elixir has that effect," Hermione explained. "The person does anything that could make him the most happy."

"It presents hidden desires which creates that happiness," Luna said, and they all looked at her. "I researched it. The elixir brings to the front of the person's mind the things that he most desires to do to make him happy. Apparently, Draco has wanted to apologize to all of you for quite a long time. Look at how much happier he is now."

"Thought it was just the potion," Ron muttered.

"It is," said Luna. "All of it is."

"So he meant it all, then?" Harry asked.

"I believe so," Luna said.

"She's right," Hermione said. "Draco was very sincere—too sincere. It's all after-effects of the elixir."

The three looked at Draco again as he was in happy conversation with a girl from his group, and then they started walking on to class. Luna looked at her friends as they started walking on as well. She could tell that they were still in shock. Luna smiled. She knew this would happen. Giving the elixir to Draco simply to make him happier wasn't the only reason she gave it to him—she could tell he wanted to do say something to her friends, judging from the way he's treated them over the past years.

Luna walked along the corridors as she headed back to her common room. She had her wand out, casting small sparkle charms that sent glitter in the air from the tip of her wand. A few people walking by noticed.

She chanted the charm again, and the sparkles ended up hitting someone, covering the front of their sweater vest with little sparkles. She looked up to see Draco looking down at his shirt.

"I'm sorry, Draco. I didn't look to see who was in front of me."

He met her eyes, and a smile grazed his lips. "No matter." He brushed some of the sparkles off and they glittered to the stone floor. "I guess I needed a little more sparkle in my life."

Luna couldn't help but let out a bubble of laughter. "How are you, Draco?"

"I'm great! Day four on the potion, and I feel happier than I've ever been."

Luna smiled, and Draco stared at her.

"I think I know why you gave me the potion," he said. "I was a miserable sod, I admit. I couldn't handle the things that were set upon me."

Luna nodded. "That's right. I figured you needed it more so than me or anyone else."

"I guess it's really sad to think that I was so miserable out of anyone, that you chose to slip me the potion."

"Everyone is unhappy in one way or another—you just more so than others."

He nodded. "Or everyone."

"It's very likely."

The clock tower gonged, signaling that everyone needed to head back to their common rooms.

"Thank you for talking, Draco, but I must get back to my common room." She paused. "I'm curious, though. What things where you referring to? The things that were set upon you?"

"Um… since we have to get back to our common rooms, how about we talk about it tomorrow?"

Luna smiled. "I would like that."

She walked off, leaving him standing there, looking after her. Luna skipped her way to her common room. She had an idea of the things he was dealing with, if what her father told her of Lucious Malfoy was correct, but she couldn't be sure.

More people started to hang around Draco, none of which were his usual Slytherin posse Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy. They were all a mix of all the houses, about a dozen total. The next afternoon after classes, Luna watched as the group walked across the courtyard as she sat on one of the stone benches.

A blonde first year boy walked in their direction, and one of the Slytherins of Draco's group intentionally tripped the boy and walked on, and the books the boy held toppled to the ground. Luna was about to get up and help him, but Draco was already there helping the lad up, as well as helping to pick up his fallen books and parchment.

"Thank you," said the boy—Luna heard it faintly since it was a ways away. When the boy looked up at who helped him, he gasped, and backed away a bit.

"Easy, it's alright," said Draco, giving the boy a friendly smile. The boy still looked frigid. "I don't bite."

"Draco… Malfoy…" said the boy, and Luna noted the fear etched in his face.

"Yes, and what might your name be?"

"Uh… Daniel. Daniel Bartley."

"Pleasure. Sorry about Henry there. Probably wasn't watching where he was going."

Daniel swallowed and suddenly ran away. Draco watched after him and pursed his lips. His glance landed on Luna and his expression changed to a smile. She smiled back. He went on with his group, but only for a few seconds to tell one of the boys something. They went off as Draco headed over to Luna.

"Hello," he greeted her.

"Hello, Draco."

He sat down next to her on the cold bench and looked off in the direction Daniel had gone. "You saw that, right? Poor lad. I guess people are really afraid of me. I tried to comfort him a little."

"It takes some people a long time to get used to—the school bully suddenly becoming the nicest, happiest person at Hogwarts."

He looked at her and smirked. "You're rather blunt, aren't you?"

"I am. It gets me into trouble sometimes."

He smiled and looked off into the courtyard. People were staring at them. He looked back at Luna. "Could we go somewhere else? Away from people?"

"I know the perfect place."