A/N: I'm so sorry for this overdue update, actually overdue isn't the word! Hopefully I can make it up to you all now with regular updates again.

Enjoy!


One of the hardest things in life is knowing when to speak up, act and make a difference or to sit down, be quiet and let destiny run its course. This wasn't a decision Luna was good at making, and she really didn't enjoy it, in fact it made her stomach churn inside until she felt sick.

'Luna, come with me.' Narcissa had told her earlier that morning and now here she was, outside in the type of day you could neither call pleasant nor disastrous, it was simply a day: nothing else special about it. She knelt near the array of flower beds towards the left side of the mansion where row upon row of beautiful flowers laid waiting for their winter fate to be decided.

The house elves were all busy today as the Malfoy's were holding an upper class (in other words strictly pure-blood) dinner, and as they lady of the house Narcissa could simply not let anything go amiss. So every elf was indoors today, preparing decorations, cleaning from floor to roof and every sparklingly fancy nook and cranny between.

Luna was being made useful by picking flowers from the garden, and it didn't bother her that she was being treated any differently to a house elf, she was just thankful to finally have time to breathe. To breathe and to think.

The image of Remus's face swam in her vision like a plague, and all she wished to do was to bat him away. She was growing used to not seeing her friends, to not knowing what was happening outside of the manor, but now that she knew her friends' lives weren't as easy as she remembered, she couldn't shake the feeling that her imprisonment here was becoming more and more restricted: despite that fact she was now allowed outside.

Because no matter how hard she tried, all she wanted to do was break down those front gates and run hard and fast into the countryside, in some hope of getting home.

All thought of Pansy had been dimmed now, for she didn't know she was even threatened. But Remus knew he was, and knowing him and Tonks he wouldn't have kept his mission from her for longer than a breath's pause. She instantly felt guilty for not caring about Pansy. Luna's conscience was like a lead anchor weighing her down sometimes, keeping her low and making her wish for nothing more than to be rid of it. But she knew that kind of thinking was silly and, more importantly, seflish.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she pricked her finger on the thorn of a rather striking rose.

'Ouch, that wasn't very nice…' she mumbled to the flower, now sucking her cold and stinging finger.

A laugh from behind signalled Draco's approach. His warm coat hugged him tightly and as his boots sunk into the muddy grass they gave him the look of a hiker, on his way home from a walk in the woods.

'Here,' he threw a pair of gardening gloves down at her feet and she put them on gratefully.

It's strange how things happen, how one minute you consider someone an enemy, and the next they're handing you a pair of gloves to save your skin. And the next, Luna sighed hearing his footsteps fade away they're gone.

Concentrating on the flowers she noticed how they'd been planted in concentric circles, their sizes alternating the further out from the centre they got. On the very edge were a few beautiful big blue flowers that she didn't know the name of. But they were very beautiful, and Narcissa struck her as someone who would like blue.

A colour to calm and soothe, yet its neutralness meant it would appeal to both men and women at the dinner. Luna's hand swooped upon the flowers, carefully but quickly plucking their roots from the soil; like a bandage being removed swiftly.

At the other edge of the garden she caught a glimpse of Bellatrix. Two house elves trailing slowly behind her, leaving enough distance to feel safer yet still hear whatever it was she would be ordering them to do.

She flailed her arms around pointing to things here and there, pulling sour faces as she passed anyone or anything. Her long raven hair was pulled into a horrendously messy bun on top of her head; she sort of looked like she was wearing a huge hat. Yet, Luna noticed, Bellatrix was still rather striking in appearance.

One of the elves caught Luna watching.

He or she seemed like they'd seen better days. Apparently the elves here were not looked after well at all. Harry had once mentioned how he rescued Dobby from being enslaved to the Malfoy family, and though Luna found the story rather boastful at the time, she realised now that perhaps a few more of these elves could do with rescuing.

Unfortunately, she mused as her bare feet brushed the soft grass as she stood back up, Luna was fresh out of socks.

She gathered a few of the pretty blue flowers in the basket Narcissa had provided and then ventured over to another part of the garden. Here, a little further from the house, the flower beds were literally more like beds. Row upon row of small flowers rested their petals, in honesty Luna was amazed any of these flowers were blooming when given the chill of winter that was ever present. A few creamy white lilies finished her make-shift bouquet which she found planted near a small pond. It seemed that life within the garden was ever growing.

Inside the manor was a different story: it remained dim despite the sudden voluptuous attendance of people for dinner. Later that evening Luna watched through her window as people began to appear down the bottom of the garden path. She noticed there were many ladies, all dressed smartly, yet few men. Perhaps there were to be more acquaintances rather than death eaters here tonight.

As far as Luna knew the only significant female Death Eaters were Draco's aunt and mother. She'd rarely heard others being mentioned.

A little before the sun went down another tray of food landed on her table. Luna nibbled slowly at the bread, mouse like bites that gave her no satisfaction. Overwhelmed with worry for her friends, she was not hungry. She sighed and put her food down.

The instant she touched the corner of her bed sheet, ready to go to sleep, a thin nightgown appeared folded on the pillow. Her fingers softly brushed the cream cotton and she whispered a silent 'thank you'.


Downstairs Draco sat at the table playing with his food before shovelling it into his mouth greedily. His mother, watching, shook her head; Boys would be boys. Narcissa spoke in turn with most of the women sat at the table, and then a few of his father's friends. He watched with curiosity as she continued to chatter away, while his father's seat at the head of the table remained empty.

Nobody inquired as to why Draco was there and not at school, it was now into September and normally Draco would be lounging in his common room humouring Crabbe and Goyle and their ridiculous attempts at male banter. As it was, with his father imprisoned and mother left with a house to look after on her own, not to mention a certain other dark complication it simply hadn't seemed appropriate for Draco to return this year.

He was not sure if missing his final year at Hogwarts would make that much difference to him now anyway. In replacement of his school studies his mother had hired an old wizard named Ronan to tutor Draco.

The man was old and quite slow, but he was an old family friend and so if keeping him in work meant Draco had to bite his tongue a few times a lesson then so be it. Draco was not really too bad a guy.

Ronan sat across from him now, giving him a small smile as he noticed Draco's silence. Draco tried not to laugh as, whilst talking idly to Madame Figglethorn, Ronan's spoon repeatedly missed his mouth.

Instead a small pool was gathering on the man's chin and though it put Draco off his own soup a little he found it more amusing than anything.

'These centrepieces really are lovely Narcissa,' Ronan's unamused neighbour remarked.

'Thank you, fresh from our garden they are. Those blue flowers you see there,' she pointed to the blue flowers that Draco couldn't name. 'African Lilies,' she smiled proudly. Draco remembered seeing Luna picking flowers earlier, in fact was it not those very flowers? His mother must have appreciated the girl's taste.

Draco didn't quite know what to do about Luna. His conscience pulled to one side whilst his heart pulled to another. He wasn't quite sure who had hold of which reign, Pansy or Luna. It seemed as much as he wanted to help Luna his feelings for Pansy prevented any course of action he could take. No, for now Luna did not need his help, she was not in danger. Pansy on the other hand was.

Mrs Greengrass, Draco stiffened a little and his eyes glazed over, Astoria's mother had clearly had a few too many glasses of their wine. She lolled a little in her seat and as she told his mother it was time for her to leave, Narcissa mouthed to Draco to see she got to their gates ok. Draco took her hand and led her down the steps at the front of the manor. She wobbled against him, the smell of wine was a little overpowering and Draco hazarded a guess that she'd been drinking long before she'd arrived.

'Will you be ok from here Madame?' Draco spoke politely, his pureblood relation to Mrs Greengrass not letting his manners slip in formality. She nodded and Draco noticed a trace a tears in her eyes, they shone in the falling moonlight and Draco pitied her. It must be awful to lose a daughter.

'She always liked you, you know Draco.' She hiccupped, shaking a little though he could not tell if it was the cold, the wine or sadness. 'Ast-astoria. Such a lovely girl.' Draco had never been good with crying women. He looked around and seeing that nobody would be coming to his help right now he placed a hand on her shoulders.

He spoke quietly but with an attempt at confidence. 'I understand you miss her, she'll be missed by many of us. I cared for her too, but I'm sure you already know that.' His heart hurt a little at his own words but he blocked it out. Draco had never been one to deal with emotions, it was better to shut them away.

'You don't-' hiccup, 'understand.' She said to him.

'I know why my dear daughter was killed Draco.' Her eyes darkened, the wine not quite having any effect on them. 'It was him. I know it was. They all tell me differently but I know...' she sighed, 'I know.' The words hung between them like a rope waiting to be caught, Draco would not talk though. He let the rope dangle back and forth, back and forth.

Mrs Greengrass lent in closer, as though she were waiting to tell him something she'd been told not to. She looked around and seeing nobody close went on. 'I know your duty Draco. Pansy is a lovely girl too, I'd hate to see anything happ-' hiccup, 'happen to her,' she said.

'Pansy is fine, there's no need to worry about her.' Draco said, opening the gate and not entirely paying much heed to a drunken woman's words.

'There will be, dear, there will be' she said, touching his cheek lightly. He fought the urge to bat her hand away.

'What do you mean will be?'

'Let's just say everything he wants has a way of coming about in the end.' She looked away, her eyes glazing like his had earlier. She seemed to be seeing something that wasn't there. Probably, Draco thought, hope.

Filled with a fresh wave of unease Draco let his hand drop back to his side. Mrs Greengrass gave him a smile, one that didn't quite seem genuine, before she popped into the air, leaving him alone to shut the gate again.

Full well knowing it would be considered bad manners to not say goodbye to other guests but not caring, Draco took a right upon re-entering the manor's front doors. He ascended the staircase his mother had taken Luna up the day before. Decidedly avoiding the dining hall and all the idealistic light hearted talk within Draco knew the best way to avoid unwanted conversation with guests right now was to make a shortcut upstairs, past the guest bedrooms and the upstairs library. In other words, a little voice in his head told him, on the way past Luna's room. He shot the voice down.

Opening a door about halfway up the stairs Draco stopped, unsure why it had been left unlocked. Letting it slide he walked slowly, not sure if she would be awake or not. He paused outside the room with a tray full of uneaten food, knowing full well it would be hers and leant his head against the door. Needing a moment to just be quiet Draco leant his body against the wood and in a unexpected lurch it swung open. It was partly due to his sneeker-like reflexes that Draco instantly regained his balance. Why on earth was her door unlocked? Draco's eyes took a moment to readjust to the darkness but they quickly found Luna sleeping peacefully on her bed when they did. He supposed she must have not known her door had been unlocked, otherwise she could have easily slipped out unnoticed by now since nobody had checked on her since tea-time.

Draco sighed and gently shut the door again, this time locking it for good measure, just as his foot kicked the food tray on the floor. He stared at it, frustrated, before calling a house elf.

'Murphy!' he whispered.

The elf appeared next to him in less than a full second, bowing low and paying an awful lot of attention to the floor.

'Clean this up will you, and don't just leave it laying out here again you lazy elf!' Draco stalked away.

'I is sorry young master, nobody even been up here to take it out of girl's room.' He wasn't a particularly articulate elf. 'I isn't quite sure why it be getting left out there,' the elf picked the tray up before popping away.

Luna must have put it there. But then, Draco wondered, why had she stayed inside her room anyway? He went back to her door, unlocked it and had a quick check inside. It had definitely been unlocked. She must have known it was open and she must have left the tray there. This puzzled him to no end. She was actually helping him, him. He couldn't believe it nor see any other explanation for why she had not left. She probably didn't want to endanger Pansy and Draco was instantly glad he had told Luna the truth about it all. He crossed the room quickly, intending to wake her up but his hand stopped a few inches short of prodding her. Tears rolled down her cheeks and her forehead glistened a little in the light. She must be having a bad dream, he thought.

Shivering beneath the thin sheet that covered her Luna seemed to be hugging herself and it made something in Draco's hard expression soften a little. He conjured a thick blanket and placed it over her to keep her warm. His fingers brushed hers and in that deep silence he whispered, 'Thank you.' Perhaps there was hope for her afterall.