Hello, everyone! Sorry for the bit of delay in updating. School has resumed, so updates will be a little more sporadic than before. I do hope I don't lose any of you lovely readers because of such. Thank you for all the support, the reviews, follows and favorites. I do a happy dance at each and everyone as well as trying to respond to everyone. Thank you all, so very much. -Lillie

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Chapter Seven

Fenrir Greyback could feel the full moon approaching. He flexed his crooked knuckles willing for the claws he loved so dearly to emerge early so that he could sink them into warm flesh. Though he kept his nails long and meticulously sharpened, they were nothing compared to those in his wolf form. Those claws, those blades of destruction, were perfect for slashing through anything in order to release sweet, pulsing blood. His lips raised in a snarling smile showing his yellow, pointed teeth. Just a few more days and his time would come; he nearly howled with joy at the thought.

Because the full moon was drawing closer, Greyback's senses were heightening. He could hear better, his vision was sharper, his reflexes quicker. Though he may have fooled himself into believing so, he could just make out the sweet smell of fresh blood in the basement, irresistible and decadent; he couldn't resist. Ignoring the pestering, cowering house elves' offerings, Greyback stalked out of the kitchen, his nose trained on the luscious scent as he hunted his prey. Walking down the stairs, Greyback blinked a few times adjusting his sight to the darkness; because it was so near to his time, his vision was clear without the use of a light. Sniffing the air soundly, he closed his dark, beady eyes reveling in the sweetness, his top lip forming into a snarling grin.

"My, my, what big eyes you have, my pet," Greyback grinned peering into the cell as his claw-like hands wrapped around the metal bars. The frail girl within continued to stare back at him steadily, her misty blue eyes never leaving his though she could barely see him.

"I think you're stealing my line, sir," Luna replied calmly remembering the muggle fairytale her mother once read her. Though Greyback spoke Little Red Riding Hood's words, he held the look of a wolf getting ready to swallow a girl whole.

"Why don't you come out and play, little girl," Greyback smiled hungrily. "Wouldn't you love to feel the sun on your pretty skin?"

"If I am to have an option, I'd rather stay here," Luna said in a sigh.

"Pity I'm not giving you one, girly," Greyback growled waving his wand over the cell unlocking the metal and reaching his hand in to grab Luna from the floor.

Luna was still weak from two nights before when Draco had sent the birds to attack her upon her request. However, her lack of severe cuts had not escaped her notice. She knew Draco had healed her deepest wounds putting himself in considerable danger due to the role he was meant to play. Luna couldn't help but worry as to the reason she had not seen him in the past two nights. Their meals were shoved under the cell in the corner nearest the stairs; she had never seen as much as a hand push the metal tray under. As Greyback hauled her gangly form from the cell, Luna feared the worst: Draco had been discovered. Her eyes filled with tears for the fate he could possibly be facing if he hadn't already.

Fenrir Greyback stopped just as they stood before the staircase. He leaned down, placing his nose beside Luna's ear inhaling deeply as a rumbling growl escaped his lips. She smelled delicious, like apples and honeysuckles beneath a layer of dirt and blood. Saliva pooled in his mouth as the thought of sinking his teeth into her supple flesh; his only wish is that she was a bit fuller figured. However, he would take what was available. Unfortunately for Luna, Greyback very much enjoyed playing with his food.

As she was dragged up the stairs and into the great room where she and Draco often came, Luna blinked the tears back from her misty blue eyes and held her chin high. If she was going to die here, she would not give the Death Eaters the satisfaction of seeing her cry, seeing her emotionally and mentally weak. Greyback released her arm and took a step back. Luna looked around the room slightly noticing how different it looked in the sunlight. It didn't hold a special, chilling glow as it did at night; in fact, the room seemed rather dull. However, the sun felt glorious. Though winter was nearing, the sun felt warm and luxurious on Luna's chilled skin; she fought the urge to close her eyes fearing that if she gave in to the sensation, Greyback would strike. Luna returned her eyes to Greyback to witness him raking his eyes over her figure with an uninhibited hunger in his eyes. Luna's stomach rolled in revulsion.

"I can't wait to take a bite out of you, girly," Fenrir snarled as he licked his cracked lips.

"Then go ahead," Luna shrugged wanting to hurry her fate along.

"Oh no," he grinned madly. "I want to savor this experience," Greyback said lowly, his eyes darkening at the thought.

He walked closer to Luna sending a shiver of disgust down her spine. He lifted a lock of her matted hair to his nose inhaling deeply as he twirled the strand around a sharp finger. Luna could feel her hands trembling; she gripped the bottom of her dress to hide the evidence of fear. Greyback trailed a hand down her arm as he walked behind her; his hand followed as he moved, skimming over her lower back, her hip as he circled her. Luna pushed down the feeling of nausea willing herself to stay alert and focused. She knew Greyback was sloppy; he relied heavily on his animalistic instincts instead of human intuition. She could easily beat him in a battle of wits, but the possibility of overpowering him physically was nonexistent. Without a wand, there was no way for Luna to effectively defend herself; she knew there was very little hope in such a situation. However, it wasn't in her nature to be hopeless.

"I could Imperio you into doing whatever I please. I've heard you scream so many times, little one," Greyback said as he stood before her once more with ravenous eyes. "I always wondered what it would feel like to have that noise made for me from your sweet mouth. Crucio!" he yelled with a smile as he aimed his dark wand at Luna.

The force of the curse knocked her back a few feet; she landed with a thud on the hard floor as she slashed wildly around, her screams echoing in the cavernous room. A portrait on the far wall shook her head before walking from her painting leaving the intricate, gilded frame empty. Luna felt as if her veins were being filled with boiling potion, thick, pulsing, and bubbling wildly as if it meant to burst her apart. Greyback's curse rivaled that of Bellatrix's; like Bellatrix, Greyback wanted to hurt Luna, he wanted to hear her screams and see her agony. However, unlike Bellatrix, Greyback wasn't the most skilled wizard, so the effect of the curse lasted only a few seconds before it faded leaving her breathless and twitching.

The few seconds were all that was needed to alert the inhabitants of Malfoy Manor as to what was occurring. Narcissa stood from her sitting room where she was daintily sipping a cup of tea as she read the Daily Prophet. Abruptly, she dropped the publication, abandoning her tea, and ran to her only son's quarters. However, before she reached his bedchambers, she heard quick footsteps heading her way. Draco emerged looking frazzled and panicked; upon seeing his mother, he stopped in his tracks a lost expression on his face.

"I can't let him tear her apart," he said as an explanation. "I don't know why, but I just can't," he added brokenly as he pulled on his hair with this left hand.

"Go now, Draco," Narcissa urged him. "Be quick before he bites her."

With that horrific image in mind, Draco bound down the staircase two steps at a time. He pulled his wand from his robes readying it for conflict should it arise. Stepping into the room, Draco's breath caught in this throat. Luna was lying on the ground, her pale hair all around her face as Greyback loomed over her with a frightening expression etched on his scarred face.

"What do you think you're doing?" Draco said suddenly as Greyback leaned down closer, his sharpened teeth bared towards Luna's pale neck. "Release her at once."

"Or what?" Greyback said looking up with a lazy smile. "Is she your little pet, Draco? Do you care for the little peach?"

"Don't patronize me, wolf," Draco seethed feeling the blood rush up his neck, his temples throbbing with fury. "Your absurdities hold no merit. However, she is mine, and I do not share with others."

"Is that so?" Greyback said standing up and pulling Luna with him. Her eyes, though slightly dazed from pain, found Draco's immediately as Greyback stood behind her holding the back of her head close to his, his fingers digging into her scalp painfully. "Such a pity, no? Such a lovely thing she is," he said leaning down to sniff her neck soundly. "So sweet and fragrant."

Greyback peered at Draco for a few seconds gauging his reaction before placing his tongue on Luna's skin trailing it from where her neck met her shoulder to just below her ear, a horrendous grumbling exiting his mouth as he did so. Luna stiffened visibly as Draco's vision blurred red; he aimed his wand at the werewolf, his mouth set in a grim line. Greyback only smiled in a menacing way, his lips curled over his gums in a snarl as he tightened his grip on Luna's hair. Draco willed his face to stay impassive despite the fury welling inside of him disgusted that such a villainous, revolting creature dared to defile someone so pure.

"Very well then," Greyback shrugged. "However, if you want her back, you'll have to hand me your wand. I don't trust you to play fair," he smirked.

"Not a chance," Draco scoffed tightening his grip on his hawthorn wand. "How will I curse you without it? After all, you touched what is mine. I warned you to stay away from her," he glared.

"How could I obey such a demand? Haven't you ever wondered what she'd taste like?" Greyback questioned his mouth nearing her skin once more. As his teeth grazed Luna's skin, Draco saw her lip tremble.

"Fine, half-breed," Draco surrendered throwing the wand directly at the wolf's face; Greyback caught it easily before pushing Luna towards Draco harshly. Once he had Luna's arm in his hand, his grip surprisingly gentle, Draco looked to the animalistic man before him. "Alright, give it back now."

"I'm rather interested in seeing how you use the girl," Greyback said twirling Draco's wand around his sharp, hairy fingers. "Do show me how you make her scream so loudly. I can think of a few ways myself," he said with a wink.

"If it's a show you want, I'll need my wand," Draco said lowly sending a murderous glare to Greyback.

"You wizards depend on magic too much," Fenrir Greyback tsked shaking his head in a show of mock disappointment. "Aren't you curious as to what it would feel like to have her bones crushed beneath your hands? Her blood running down your skin? I have, Draco. I've wondered what her blood would taste like, what her skin would feel like ripping beneath my hands."

"I'm not an animal," Draco spat. "Give me my wand. Now."

"Not until you do as I say, little Malfoy," Greyback taunted waving the hawthorn wand in the air tauntingly. "Treat her like the muggles she loves so much would. Strike her."

"I don't take orders from filthy half-breeds, Greyback," Draco seethed. "Return my wand now or my aunt will hear of this."

"Always hiding behind Mummy's and Auntie Bella's skirt tails," Greyback mocked. "You're pathetic, little Malfoy. A pathetic excuse for a Death Eater, you are. You don't have the stomach for it. You cowardly, son of a—"

"I wouldn't advise you to finish that sentence, Greyback," Lucius' cool voice sounded from behind. Draco turned his head to see his father standing stoically beneath the arched entry. "However, I wouldn't mind an excuse to hex you into obedience, to treat you like the mangy dog you are."

"I see you have Father on your side now," Greyback laughed heartily throwing his head back and howling with amusement. "He must be so proud of his weak little boy. Couldn't even curse an old man; someone had to rescue you then."

"Shut up," Draco fumed. "Give me my wand, wolf, and I'll show you just how well I can curse someone."

"Just strike her, Draco," Greyback taunted. "Just once and I'll give this back to you. It shouldn't be an issue; after all, she means nothing to you, right?"

"Of course she doesn't," Draco huffed feeling his father's gaze burning into his neck. "I simply refuse to take orders from you."

"Do it, Draco," Lucius said with indifference. "Strike the blood traitor and get your wand back. Do it."

An icy dread settled in Draco's stomach; his father's tone was absolute, no wavering or room for negotiation. Releasing Luna's arm, Draco took a step back and looked at her face. Determination and understanding reflected from her misty eyes; his shoulders squared firmly. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Draco slapped her soundly, his fingers burning where his hand met her cheek; a red, whelped handprint was already forming on her face as tears of pain formed in her eyes. Draco wanted to apologize, to take away his mark on her skin, but he couldn't.

"That's all you've got, little Malfoy?" Greyback laughed mockingly. "Such a weakling. How did you even survive infancy?"

"Again, Draco," Lucius commanded. "Try closing your fist this time."

"I don't see why I have to act as a filthy muggle," Draco said willing his voice to not crack with the turmoil he felt within.

"You may be in a situation where your wand has been compromised. You must learn how to defend your self physically as well as magically," Lucius said with disinterest.

"I'm not foolish enough to lose my wand," Draco huffed.

"Then how are you standing before me wandless?" Lucius asked pointedly looking at the extra wand in Greyback's possession. "Get on with it, Draco. I haven't got all day."

"Yes, Draco, do hurry," Greyback chuckled. "Be sure to leave a mark. I'm sure one of those big eyes would serve as a great target."

Draco turned to Luna, her chin held high but her jaw trembling slightly. This was different than cursing her with magic; hurting her this way, physically, with his own hands was more intimate, more personal. He looked down at her hands clutching the bottom of her ruined dress tightly to hide her shaking hands. He wondered how someone could be so strong yet so fragile simultaneously. His eyes returned to her face, the red handprint visible on her ashen cheek. She looked all wrong; the sunlight was too harsh it shadowed her in might, incased her in blinding light. It didn't allow her to glow as the moon did; it overpowered her.

"Draco," his father said in a warning.

With his father looking at him so pointedly and Greyback's taunts echoing in his head, Draco knew there was no choice. He looked into Luna's misty blue eyes begging her to understand, to forgive him for what he was about to do. He willed her to know this wasn't his choice, but he had to do it. He had to protect himself, to protect her. He pulled his arm back squeezing his fist into a tight ball and threw his arm forward. His top knuckles connected with her brow bone, a sickening crack echoed throughout the room as a cry escaped Luna's mouth. He felt her cheekbone shift under the force of his blow as if it shattered. Luna fell to the ground; the left side of her face already scarlet from his first strike landed was streaming with blood from where the Malfoy crest resting on his ring finger split her skin. Her bottom lip was bleeding from where she bit them anticipating the attack. He had never seen her look so pained, so hurt.

"I didn't think you had it in you, little Malfoy," Greyback cackled.

"Again, Draco," Lucius commanded silencing Greyback's laughter. Draco looked to his father in horror. "Now, Draco. Again."

The young Slytherin looked to the crumpled girl on the floor, a mixture of blood and tears streaming down her face. Her breathing was labored, her chest heaving with the effort it took to keep her cries silent. Draco loomed over her looking deadly yet so frightened. Luna wanted to reach up to him, to comfort him and assure him that she understood but she couldn't. Her eyes shifted over to Lucius Malfoy as he stared at his son with a grim expression. Shifting her eyes back up to Draco, she willed him to listen, to do as he asked. Both of their lives depended on it.

"Do it, or I will," Lucius said coolly, his tone clipped with aggravation.

Luna heard a soft cry fall from Draco's mouth though she knew no one else heard the sound; it broke her heart in two knowing what the young man above her was being forced to do. She wondered how Draco had maintained what humanity and morality he possessed while being raised in such an environment. Her admiration for the young man above her grew just a bit more as his mouth discretely formed the words I'm sorry before he struck her again. This time he hit her jaw, a pop eliciting as his fist connected. Luna's eyes fogged over as her cries of pain reverberated around the room. She felt another punch against her nose, her stomach; she was sobbing the pain just as bad as the Cruciatus curse.

This pain wasn't an illusion of magic; it was real. It pulsed throughout her entire body even after the attack was over. She could feel the bruises blooming on her skin, the blood rushing to her head. Her ears pounded so forcefully she wondered if her eardrums would burst. As another blow hit her mouth, Luna felt her teeth rattle, her lips split even more than they had before. Then there was silence except for her muffled sobs. Her body ached more than it ever had; her heart broke for Draco knowing that whatever physical pain she felt was nothing compared to the mental and emotional pain he was going through.

After the room remained quiet for an unbearable amount of time, Luna opened her eyes as much as they allowed; the swelling inhibited her from opening fully. For a moment, she thought she had been left behind; the room was silent save for the quiet cries of pain. However, Luna realized the cries were not coming from her, but from the figure next to her. Draco sat next to her, his face buried in his hands as his shoulders shook with emotion. Though every move brought a new wave of pain over her, Luna reached over placing her hand on Draco's arm. She felt his muscles tense under her gentle grasp, but he didn't pull away.

"Draco," Luna said in a trembling voice. "Please don't cry."

Removing his face from his hands, a small gasp escaped from Luna's bloody mouth. Draco's eyes were swollen; the intensity of his tears caused his face to turn red and splotchy. His face was streaked with tears. Luna had never seen such emotion coming from him; his normally stoic façade has finally cracked before her eyes revealing the scared and tormented young man before her. Luna's fingers closed around Draco's wrist as her other arm struggled to push herself up. Once she was sitting upright, though painfully so, Luna moved so that she was sitting closer to Draco, their legs brushing slightly.

"I don't have the right to cry," Draco said smearing the back of his hand effectively spreading the tears into his white hair. "Look at what I've done to you."

"I'm sure I look no worse than you do, Draco," Luna shrugged smoothing her thumb in calming circle on his skin. "You know I don't blame you, right?"

"You should," he barked. "You should hate me, despise my very existence. How can you be so bloody forgiving? How can you treat me as a person when I've never done anything but harm you!? I don't understand you, Luna, I just don't," Draco sighed before lowering his head into his hands once more. "How can you not hate me?" he cried.

"I think you hate yourself enough for the both of us, Draco," Luna said softly releasing her wrist to wrap her arm around his torso pulling herself closer to him. "You've been nothing but good to me. It's the others using you as a tool to cause me harm; it isn't you. I know the difference, Draco. I know you don't want to do this."

"And yet I do," he said with a cracked voice. "I don't know why, Luna, but I don't want to hurt you. It just feels—I don't—I can't explain it."

"It's because you aren't a bad person, Draco," Luna assured him wrapping her other arm around him as his shaking grew stronger. "You know that, right? You're not a bad person; you're not like them. Your father, Greyback, Bellatrix, you're not like them. You're not evil."

"It's because of me that Dumbledore is dead," Draco said in a mangled cry as he lifted his head to look into Luna's bruised, swollen eyes. "I brought Death Eaters into Hogwarts. He offered me help, to bring my family into safety, and I didn't take it. He would have protected us, and I let him die."

"But you didn't kill him, Draco," Luna said. "You lowered your wand. Harry told us. Snape killed Dumbledore, not you."

"It's still my fault, Luna. This is all my fault," he said shaking his head as lifted his face to peer as Luna.

His breath caught in his throat at her close proximity. She was sitting there, her arms wrapped around him in a comforting embrace. Her chin resting on his shoulder as she peered up at him with swollen, blackened eyes, her lips split and bloody, face smeared with blood and tears. There was a cut on her brow, a sunken look to her left cheekbone as if it had shattered. Yet, she looked so peaceful and forgiving as if she had barely felt a thing. His bottom lip trembled as he looked at her, looked at what he had done to her. He was a violent force, destroying everything he touched. Draco raised a shaking hand, his fingertips barely touching her broken cheekbone; Luna fought the urge to flinch, for she knew the sudden movement would frighten and break Draco even more. Instead she smiled encouragingly despite the stab on pain the movement caused.

"I am so sorry, Luna," he croaked out dropping his head in shame.

Luna's grip on his tightened as she brought him closer to her, pulling his head to rest on her right shoulder as she traced patterns on his trembling back. She could feel every vertebrate down his spine, for he was so thin. Her other hand came up to rest as the nape of his neck, his white hair tickling her fingers. Though she was tall, her willowy frame seemed so small as Draco leaned on her, his arms wrapping around her back hesitantly as if being comforted was a foreign concept. Luna supposed that for Draco, it was.

It's going to be alright, Draco," Luna said in a hushed whisper as she lightly ran her fingers through the fine hair on his neck. "I promise you."

Luna pressed her cheek against his, feeling his cool skin against hers as the early winter sun beamed down on them bathing their intertwined forms in warm light. Closing her eyes, Luna took a deep breath in willing Draco to do the same in order to calm his heavy breathing. He continued to mumble apologizes under his breath in muffled sobs as Luna continued to trace patterns on his back and running her fingers soothingly against the back of his neck and into his hair every few minutes. Eventually, his breathing regulated, his posture relaxed; Luna wondered if he had fallen asleep. However, Draco was very much awake; he simply did not want to move. Though it frightened him completely, it felt nice to drop his walls in front of someone, to be held by another person with complete acceptance and understanding, to be comforted by someone who cared for him regardless of his past sins. Though he was more comfortable now than he had ever been in another's embrace, Draco knew the current position they were in could lead to dangerous outcomes. Should anyone other than his mother walk in, there would be dire consequences to pay.

Begrudgingly, Draco lifted his head giving Luna a weak grin; she saw right though it. Her arm released his back, but the other remained on his neck and she leaned forward resting her forehead on his. Her misty blue eyes hidden behind the dark bruises, her blonde eyebrows matted with blood, yet Draco couldn't find it within himself to be disgusted with her. Her nose was crooked, possibly broken from his blow; he ached to heal it. He wanted to heal every injury he caused her, but he knew he couldn't. Instead he brought his hand up to rest on the back of her head, his fingers sinking into her dirty hair as he let out a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry, Luna," he said once more before releasing her head.

"It's time for me to go back," she said rather than asked still not removing her forehead from his.

"Yes," Draco said with a slight nod which Luna repeated removing all contact as she backed away from him and pushed her self onto her feet.

Once she was standing and steady, Luna nodded extending her arm for Draco to grasp as if he were dragging her. Draco picked up his wand Greyback had thrown onto the floor and shoved it into his robe pocket before lightly grasping her forearm. He walked to the basement, down the dark staircase, and after waving his wand over the metal bars, pushed the door open for Luna to enter. Once she was inside, she turned to look at him, her eyes nearly shut due the swelling, yet he could still see the care and concern she had for him shining though. He closed the metal door sealing it with magic once more before resting his forehead on the cool metal.

"Something is about to change, Draco," Luna said suddenly causing his eyes to look to her quickly. "I have a good feeling."

"Let's hope you're right," he sighed letting go of the cell bars before turning to walk away.

"I usually am, Draco," Luna said. "I was right about you."

Draco didn't respond, but instead, he continued to walk away hoping that whatever feeling the dreamy, confusing girl was having would soon come to be true. Change was something he desperately needed at the moment. That night, just before the sun had set, a group of snatchers walked into Malfoy Manor with four teenagers, one with a severely deformed face, and a goblin in tow. As usual, Luna Lovegood's feelings were correct and change was quickly approaching, and as Draco sat watch in the dungeon, he has no clue as to what choices he would soon have to make, choices that would forever change his life.