Hello my lovely readers! I apologise a gazillion million times for the dreadfully long long time I have not been publishing! I've just been incredibly busy, not to mention this chapter has proven to plague me with extreme writer's block -.-'

But now it is done, and things should hopefully pick up again! ^-^

Draco walked out of his Arithmancy classroom feeling both refreshed and incredibly tired. The mental break from all his daily worries was a very welcome distraction. He felt focused on his work and content with the thought of having the rest of the day ahead of him, inspired to make the most of this mood.

The hours flew past and before he knew it, it was lunchtime. To his surprise, his motivation had barely ebbed as he strode over to the Slytherin dining table with a small but visible smile on his face before letting himself drop in between Blaise and Theodore, who jumped slightly at his friend's sudden presence.

"Hey guys" Draco said whilst scanning the broad selection of food, his gaze resting on the large platter of chicken drumsticks before briefly nodding and filling his plate. Blaise and Theodore were still looking at their friend, baffled. Goyle stared past Blaise with a more disgusted expression. Draco looked up to his left just as he was about to indulge in his first bite. Theodore dropped his puzzled stare to his own plate and frantically scrambled with his cutlery that almost clattered to the ground in the process. Draco rolled his eyes, looking over at Blaise, who met his stare with a raised eyebrow and a somewhat worried expression.

"What?" Draco asked, finally taking a bite out of his first drumstick.

"Mate, don't get me wrong, I'm happy you're cheered up today, but you sure you're alright? I mean, you had the worst day for classes, and you're smiling? Didn't you just have Transfiguration with McGonagall?" Blaise asked sceptically. Draco shrugged.

"Yeah, wasn't too bad. We just copied from the book so it was quiet." Draco returned his full attention to his food, masking the relief he felt when he thought about what he'd just said.

Although McGonagall never treated him unfairly like Snape had always done with Potter, sitting in a classroom with the newly appointed headmistress was not easy, not to mention all the other students who had fought so valiantly to protect their lives and loved ones.
It stung more than a little to remember what a coward he'd been, hiding behind pillars and rubble; behind his parents, like a scared little boy. There was no honour left in his family, and everyone knew it.

Draco swallowed the big bite he'd just torn off the bone in his hand audibly, and with it the acid memories he'd just conjured up.

Having a good day, having a good day, having...

At that moment Madam Hooch strode across the Hall, her frosty stare resting on Draco for an agonizing split second before she disappeared behind the doors. Draco groaned, remembering his detention this evening, and the three evenings following that. He gritted his teeth, eyes still locked at the space where the professor had swooped out moments before.

Having a good day, having a good day. Having. A. Good. Day.

Despite his minor mood-dampener at lunch, the rest of the afternoon passed quickly and without any more distractions. By the time he headed back to the common room after Quidditch practise, he was covered in sweat and dirt, and he was utterly exhausted. Nonetheless he felt the day was nothing short of successful. Draco let himself collapse into an armchair in front of the fire, willing his body to absorb some of the heat. The evenings were still bitter cold in the early spring days, and more often than not accompanied by rain and fog. As he started warming up, he began to relax his body, releasing the tension and stiffness. He stared into the dancing flames, becoming hypnotised by their movement, and slowly drifted off into a comfortable doze.

Draco woke with a start as he heard the sound of girly laughter echo from the doors of the common room. As he blinked, he recognised his girlfriend and her friends coming back from dinner.

"Astoria, hey..." He said a little drowsily. As she saw him, she didn't reply, and her friends grew quiet.

Suddenly it struck Draco.

"Shit, Astoria, what time is it?" If they were coming back from dinner it must be at least-

"Half past seven or something... Why?"

"Shit!" He hissed, almost falling out of his armchair. "I'm late for detention with Hooch..." he mumbled as he began to run out of the common room, remembering to stop in front of Astoria and leaning in for a kiss, but she pulled her head back, a cool look of disgust on her face. Baffled, Draco looked at her.

"Not looking and smelling like that you don't." She gestured to his muddy uniform he still had on. "Not to mention after the other night you definitely don't." She cocked her eyebrow and crossed her arms, and the other girls began to snigger into their hands.
Draco glared at them, shutting them up immediately before throwing one last disbelieving look at his girlfriend as he headed for the door.

Draco fell into the Trophy Room noisily, slamming the door into the wall.

"So you decided to show up; that's ever so gracious of you." Madam Hooch greeted him without looking up from the crystal case she was admiring. Draco stood silently in the doorway, his breath caught in his throat from racing through the corridors, awaiting a continuation. He was growing weary of the professor's sarcastic attitude towards him - he was not used to having his own weapon used against him, and it was infuriating.

After a brief moment of silence, Madam Hooch straightened and turned to face the ragged-looking Malfoy.

"Miss Lovegood gave me very positive feedback about you yesterday, so as I'm feeling kind I won't add on the time you missed this evening." She said expressionless. Draco nodded, adding a hasty "Thank you" before she could change her mind.
The professor silently gestured to the polish and rag on the cabinet in the corner and strode out of the door past him before he could even ask if Luna would be his 'supervisor' again this evening.

Apparently not.

With a sigh he trotted to the cabinet to grab the items and set to work, briefly scanning the shelves of the cabinet Luna and him and started the previous evening. The candlelight bounced brightly off every piece of metal in it, indicating Luna must have finished the last few dozen that were left after he had bailed on her. A wave of guilt washed over him as he sat down in front of another cabinet.

At that moment he felt a tap on the shoulder and as he turned around he saw it was Luna, standing over him with the ever-present smile on her face and a handful of cauldron cakes. At the sight of the food Draco's stomach began to growl viciously on demand, making Luna laugh. She sat down next to him and outstretched her hand.

"I didn't see you at dinner so I assumed you came straight here."

Draco put down the cloth and took the cakes gratefully without a word. Luna looked at him with an amused look on her face as he devoured them at high speed.

"Did you just have Quidditch practise?" She asked lightly as she picked up the second cloth and got started. Perplexed, he looked up at her, to which she replied with a patient smile.

Only then did it occur to him, and his dropped his stare down himself. He was still in his muddy, sweaty Quidditch uniform. His face began to heat up as he realised he'd fallen asleep in the time he'd planned to shower and change. He grabbed a rag and quickly began to focus his attention on vigorously polishing a dent in a silver plaque, his head bowed to hide his flushing face.

Pull it together man; it's just a dirty Quidditch uniform.

Draco's tense air settled after a few minutes of silence. Time passed by, and he found himself casually chatting to Luna about odd topics of conversation here and there occasionally, the comfortable silences in between were broken by a soft melodic hum from Luna, and before he knew it, she told Draco the two hours were up and he was free to go. As he looked up he evaluated that they'd managed to finish polishing one and a half more cabinets' contents. He was surprised to have such a glow of satisfaction within him, and he noticed how Luna reciprocated that feeling as he smiled at him. He smiled back, a small and unspoken 'thank you' for not letting Astoria ruin his evening, without even knowing that that's what she's done. It was like her aura radiated serenity and enveloped any negative feelings to a point where it was almost... well, magical.

He shook off his momentary daydream and headed towards the door, waiting for Luna to pass through first.

"So I'll see you tomorrow evening," Draco said as they reached the corridor intersection, knowing she had to head in the opposite direction to him to return to the Ravenclaw tower.

Luna stared vacantly past Draco over his shoulder without replying, head tilted only slightly, causing him to grow curious and look to see what she was staring at. As he noticed there was nothing but more stone corridor, he caught her gaze, confused.

"Luna?" At the mention of her name she snapped out of her trance and beamed at Draco.

"I thought I saw a pair of love-struck Pygmy puffs hide behind that suit of armour." She pointed past him.

"Pygmy-what?" he was even more perplexed now.

Luna laughed. "I could show you one next time we go to Hogsmeade; George has deliveries made to Zonko's now." As his expression didn't change, she added hastily "...that is if you're even interested in knowing. They're rather charming creatures though." And with that, she skipped off into the opposite direction, leaving a none-the-wiser Draco Malfoy stare at the back of her bouncing curls before she disappeared around the corner. Not sure of what had just happened, he turned on his heel, sighed and headed towards the Boys showers, humming lightly to himself.

So thanks again for being so patient (not that you had much of a choice ^^) and yeah, if you liked it or not, please please review, I value every opinion and criticism! And for those who liked it, favorite & subscribe! ;)