Disclaimer: Not JK….

A/n: The last chapter, I'm all teary eyed. I never thought I'd actually finish this story so fast when I began writing it. But you my readers have helped me a lot, I can't thank you enough. So thanks to whoever took the time to read, favorite, put on alert, review, or even just browse through the story! On to the chapter!

Chapter 7: A change unchangeable

#7: When your patronus is more hare-ish than jaguar-ish, you know she's changed you forever.

Blaise walked along the street, exhausted. His shifts at St Mungo's were long and demanding and left him feeling worn out by the end. It was another one of those days when he'd just enter his apartment and go straight to bed, not even bothering to change out of his horrible uniform(lime green, honestly? Did Bonham have something against the Healers?), or even pay any mind to his rumbling stomach. He was walking towards the nearest fireplace with a floo connection, because, fatigued as he was, he'd probably splinch himself trying to apparate. The nearest shop was two streets away, but it appeared to Blaise as if it was two countries away as he dragged himself to place step after step before he fell flat on the platform. His eyes were almost closed and he had no chance of ever knowing if anyone was coming towards him. And that was why he stumbled into another person and he thought he smelled something familiar before he was thrown back. Balancing himself on the nearby wall, he opened his eyes wide, looking at the person lying on the pavement. His sleep cleared hurriedly, leaving him with only the weariness as he stared at Luna Lovegood, as she lay sprawled on the sidewalk, her heavy bag that had slammed into him lying by her side.

Shaking aside his shock, he lent her a hand, which she took after a bit of hesitation. Her azure eyes were wary and guarded as they met his, an expression he had seen in her eyes only long back. Indeed, it had been too long since he had seen her, the last being that fateful day in the Infirmary after the battle. He flinched as her accusations came to his memory, but she interpreted it wrongly.

"Glad to know I still elicit the same reaction from you, Zabini" Atleast she was talking to him. Blaise considered it an improvement from her refusal to see him. But her words pricked him and he snapped.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but it was you that refused to see me, to be treated by me. Pardon me if that doesn't sting a bit"

"You know quite well why I did that Zabini, and don't you dare pretend otherwise" her eyes flashed with disapproval as she stood ramrod straight and glared at him.

"Oh, yes, who could forget those darn stupid incriminations you threw at me?"

"Incr…It was the truth and I was saving you the disgust of having to tend to me."

"Disgust? Who me? Listen to yourself, Luna. If you think I'm so shallow a person that I'd be affected by a little wound you had,….well, I don't have much else to tell you" she turned to go away but his scathing tone stopped her in her tracks.

"Of course, run away like always. Isn't that what you do best? Run away rather than face the fact that you made quick assumptions" she turned to him with conflicted eyes, and Blaise knew if he messed up now, he'd probably never get a chance in his life.

"Aren't you even going to ask me? Don't you trust me even that much, Luna?" he took a hold of her hands, fully expecting her to slap them away, but she only looked up at him with those seamless blue eyes, shining as bright as he had ever seen them.

"But, but I saw you turn away from me, Blaise. How could I not believe my own eyes?" her voice was softening, the nearest they had come to her original dreamy tone.

"I wasn't…it wasn't that you were hurt, Luna, never that. I just couldn't watch you suffer so much. I was afraid I'd mess up your healing process if I treated you because I'd fidget and be anxious and that might interfere with my spells"

"You mean you were afraid for me?" she dead panned, and he chuckled. He never could hide anything from her.

"I was…I couldn't see you like that. Your eyes clouded in pain and, and…I blanched" he looked away, reliving the painful memory. She removed her hand from his grip to move them to his chin, turning him to face her.

"I'm sorry." With that she pressed her lips to his, her arms going around his shoulder. Her lips were soft, and smelled of peppermint, but he couldn't be bothered to analyse anything. All he could think of was the woman in his arms, the girl who had stared up at him with innocent blue eyes all those years ago. They drew apart and he saw that she was smiling widely, as if a weight had been lifted off her. He completely empathized, since he felt that same way too.

"Am I forgiven?" he asked with a glint in his eye, but she shook her head.

"You could have confronted me about it earlier. You let me suffer for years" she smiled, showing that she was joking.

"So, what should I do to make up?" his hands circled her waist to draw her closer, if that was at all possible.

"Suffer for the rest of your life with me?" she asked it as a question, but there was no doubt in her tone.

"Doesn't sound much like a reprimand" she laughed at his amused grin before replying with.

"Oh it will be, when you have to deal with all my friends. I'm actually heading over to meet them. I should probably start with your punishment right about now. Let's go"

"Okay!" he was nervous, and Luna couldn't help but peck him on the lips. He was just being too cute.

"You might be surprised, but they, Ginny and 'Mione in particular, were adamant that you weren't like, what I assumed"

"How can I suffer, when I have such ardent supporters?"

"Oh, don't let it get to your head, there's still Harry and Ron. And Neville too"

"No worries. I'll impress them all with my endless charm"

"And dry, non-existent humor, yeah" she replied snarkily, and took her wand out of its place behind her ear, but he interrupted.

"Are we apparating?"

"No. I'm just sending a Patronus to inform them that you're coming with me"

"Why don't I do that? Won't it be a jolt for them all?"

"Why, I never thought of that. Sure" as soon as he cast his Patronus, he turned to see her watching him with wide eyes.

"What is it?"

"You Patronus…It's not a Jaguar anymore" she accused, but there was an undertone of wonder to it. She had taught him that spell in their sixth year and back then, his best memory had been of walking with her along the corridors of the castle at night. It still was, but his Patonus had changed form.

"Yeah, it…kind of, morphed into a mix of a jaguar and a hare, around seventh year I think" he seemed embarrassed, but she prodded further.

"Do you know when that happens?" she asked softly, looking at him tenderly.

"Yeah, when something, or someone affects you so much that your whole world shifts to a new axis. That's what the book said but it was in the form of poetry so I have no idea if that's the right definition or…" she placed a finger on his lips.

"Shh…don't spoil my happiness."

"What?"

"I always thought you didn't care much for me and…" it was now her turn to be embarrassed and his to exclaim incredulously.

"So all I had to do was do a spell to prove it to you?"

"No, all you had to do was taunt me, help me, stay beside me, and…pick my side"

A/n: Sappy…sappy…sappy. Why do all my last chapters end that way? Must be because I'm a damned romantic. Oh well, you know the drill…

Review! Last chance!