Hello, everyone! I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Happy Mardi Gras Season! I'm sure most of you don't celebrate this holiday, but being from New Orleans, I couldn't resist; it is, after all, my favorite holiday! I also wanted to apologize for the lull in updating. First and foremost, I am a student, and my studies do some first. With that being said, I do try my hardest to get the chapters written to my standard and published in the shortest amount of time possible. I do hope you all understand. As always, thank you so much for the support and encouragement. It means so much to me!
**Some of the text in here is taken directly from Deathly Hallows; there were things I didn't want to change about the original text. I mean so offense nor do I take credit for J.K. Rowling's masterpiece. I simply did not want to destroy what she had already perfected.**
There was an aching silence in the basement dungeons. Luna was staring at the metal bars before her, locking her within the small cell, and the lantern hanging haphazardly beside the magically sealed entrance. She wondered what it would be like to be a firefly, to fly around the sky with no worries about darkness. She wondered what it would be like to be free, to bask in the glow of the moon, to see the stars twinkling once more. A sigh of despair escaped her lips before she could hold it back; she heard rustling beside the stairs signaling that Draco heard her. She heard him stand up and walk towards her cell, his feet splashing in the puddles. He stopped in front of the cell, his face illuminated by his wand.
"I'm sorry, Draco," Luna said airily, her jaw protesting talking with aching pain. "I was just lost in thought; I'm alright."
Draco said nothing, but instead continued to look at her, his arms came up on their own accord as if trying to get to the girl inside the cell, but Draco, instead, grabbed the metal bars hoping Luna didn't notice the awkward movement. Though her face was bruised from his forced abuse, Luna serene nature made it seem as if nothing was out of place. He wondered how she managed such peacefulness, such tranquility. As he looked at her, Luna's eyes seemed to glaze over as she peered back at him, her eyes nearly swollen shut, shadowed in bruises. Without warning, a large commotion sounded above them; Luna's eyes snapped open, alert and alarmed, no trace of dreaminess in sight. She looked to Draco who seemed frozen in his spot, hands immobile around the metal bars from where he tried to play off reaching out for her.
"Draco, something is wrong," Luna said, her voice small and slow.
"I know," Draco said looking towards the cellar door.
Loud footsteps thundered overhead, careless and heavy as they clambered towards their goal. The cellar door wrenched open; Draco jumped away from the cell in shock as if the metal bars had caught flames. He shot a look to Luna, warning her to remain quiet, to act like the prisoner she was. Heavy breathing echoed throughout the cavernous space; the door never closed behind whom ever was walking down the stairs as they creaked horribly.
"Draco!" the voice called, his father's voice. "Draco, you must come at once! He's here! Harry Potter is here!" Lucius Malfoy shouted from his position halfway down the stairs.
"Yes, Father," Draco said his eyes locked with Luna's. "I'm coming now."
Lucius did not acknowledge his son's response before walking back up the stairs and slamming the door shut behind him in his overly gleeful disposition. The sound reverberated throughout the dungeon, the loud commotion bouncing off the stonewalls, the metal bars shaking. Draco felt as if everything in the last few seconds had taken place over a year. Though he was extremely bright, his mind was having a difficult time comprehending the possibility of Harry Potter being in his home, being captured, not being the savior everyone believed him to be. He was so lost in his own mind, he almost didn't notice Luna was standing against the metal bars; her long fingers wrapped around one as the other hand reached for him. Without hesitation, much to his shock, his feet walked to her; Luna's hand reached for his cheek, her skin cool on his.
"Be brave, Draco," Luna told him with the upmost faith in her eyes. "Be brave and do the right thing."
"I'm no lion, Luna," Draco whispered feeling dread pool in his stomach as he fought the urge to lean into her touch; he remained stoically still, eyes cast down at the wand clutched in his hand.
"No, you're not," Luna said simply, embarrassingly honest as usual. "But you are a dragon, and they can be exceptionally brave when protecting what they treasure most."
Draco's grey eyes found her misty blue orbs; a few droplets fell from them, but a small smile remained on her full lips. He reached up, his hand settling over hers on his cheek, fingers intertwining slightly with hers. He wanted to tell her to not put so much faith in him, to not believe in him like she did, but the words wouldn't fall from his lips. He hadn't realize how much he depended on her trust, on her confidence in him to do what they both knew was right, to do good. Despite all of his attempts to stay away and all of the walls he incased himself in, Draco had allowed himself to become close to someone, allowed someone to know a sliver of who he wanted to become. The realization made him both horrified and elated; someone saw him and liked what they saw, trusted him despite is past sins.
Draco stepped back from the cell; Luna's hand dropping to her side though his remained on his cheek for a second longer. Draco gave her a curt nod wishing he could rid his mind of those piercing eyes, so that he could focus on whatever mayhem awaited him upstairs. Ascending the staircase, Draco felt as if his shoes filled with lead; every step felt as if he were dragging the world behind him. In some ways, he was. Once upstairs, the cellar door closed behind him sealing Luna away from immediate harm, Draco followed the echoing commotion into the drawing room. The sight before him was one he quickly learned he never wanted to see.
His mother and father stood beside the fireplace, a perfect image of unity. Once Lucius saw him, he beckoned wildly for Draco to come forward; he forced himself to comply. Draco's eyes scanned the room trying to assess the entire situation. His father had been standing to the side, his disposition emitting waves of eagerness, excitement, and just a touch of apprehension. His mother, however, standing beside her husband, gave no inclination to her thoughts or feelings. Draco followed his father as he pulled him forward at a faster pace delivering him right before a line of captured teenagers all kneeling and bound with ropes.
Though he didn't show it, Draco recognized each of them immediately. Hermione Granger, her hair a right mess as usual, glared at him with such intensity he wondered, despite it being impossible, if she could do wandless magic; he thought he could feel a burning sensation on his cheeks. Ron Weasley, in his redheaded glory was next to her, his face an image of defeat. On the end, Dean Thomas rested on his knees, head bowed, his height much greater than the goblin beside him. However, the boy in the middle, the person with a horribly bloated face, was undoubtedly Harry Potter. As Draco stood there, his grey eyes calculative and menacing, he could feel Harry trying to restrain himself from making a comment that would give him away.
"They say they've got Potter, Draco," Narcissa said from her position by the fireplace. Her mask of indifference never faltered.
"Draco, is it him?" Lucius asked walking around Draco practically giddy; Narcissa stayed still and silent. "Draco, is it?"
Be brave and do the right thing echoed throughout his mind, a dreamy voice filling his ears.
"I-I can't tell," Draco lied. "Give me space, would you?" he barked to his father. "I just need space."
"Draco," Lucius said calmly coming to his only child's side. "Draco, if we are the ones who hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be forgiven, we'll be—"
"Now we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Malfoy?" Greyback growled; Draco hadn't noticed his presence until that moment.
"Of course not, Greyback," Lucius responded through gritted teeth. "What is wrong with his face anyways? What did you do?"
"Didn't do a thing," Greyback said defensively, his lips curling over his teeth in a snarl. "We didn't touch him."
"Looks like a stinging jinx, Lucius," Narcissa said as she peered at the boy. "It should wear off in a few hours; perhaps we should put them in the basement."
"No, Narcissa," Lucius said pushing Draco forward once more. "If this is truly Potter, the Dark Lord must know immediately. Draco, go on, take a closer look."
Draco stepped closer peering at Potter's face with dedicated scrutiny. He needed to pull this off in order for it to all work in his favor. Looking at Harry, he wished he could place a warning into his mind, but it would have been too obvious. Draco leaned forward, his face inches from Harry's, his lips pursed in concentration. The scar, though stretched thin, was apparent on the boy's forehead, his eyes a shocking green. Draco could feel his father breathing down his neck; he snapped his head back to give him a glare.
Do the right thing.
"Father, do back away so I can concentrate," he said with a steely glare.
"Lucius," Narcissa said stepping away from the fireplace and towards her husband, "Give him room." Lucius huffed at being told what to do, but with such high stakes, he did not protest.
Draco, crouched down to be level with Potter, stared intently at the Boy Who Lived, the boy who could save the girl downstairs. He willed his eyes to be sincere and trustworthy; the change in his demeanor flickered a spark of curiosity from Harry. Draco hoped this would work; it had to work, for all of their lives depended on this single moment.
Be brave and do the right thing.
"Moon girl," Draco mumbled careful not to say her actual name lest he be heard. "Basement. Save her."
Harry's swollen eyes narrowed further as he tried to make sense of Malfoy's babbling. The boy in front of him, pointed features cloaked in shadows of sleeplessness and stress was somehow different from the boy he knew at school. This Malfoy was desperate; he was scared. Harry could feel his fear rolling off in waves. Yet, Malfoy had asked him to "save her." He didn't know who "her" was; how could he save her? And how did he know this wasn't a rouse to prove his identity? Harry didn't say a word but continued to study Malfoy's face though squinted eyes. Draco pulled away, keeping his eyes contacted with Potter's, his mouth in a grim line.
"I don't think it's him," Draco said looking to his father whose face turned red with anger.
"You don't think?" Lucius said eerily calm as he stepped closer to Draco. "Is it him or not, Draco. Yes or no."
"I don't know, Father," Draco seethed, the tips of his ears burning red. "If you can't tell, whoever it is has a highly deformed face."
Lucius Malfoy was livid; his family had been disgraced by the Dark Lord, and there shot at redemption was standing right before them if the boy truly was Potter. Lucius glared at his son who was walking away to stand beside his mother. Nearly a head taller than her stature, taller than most women, Draco was appeared poised and indifferent though he could feel his hands shaking. He gripped them behind his back willing Hermione to cease staring at him with such a burning intensity.
"We had better be certain, Lucius," Narcissa said wanting nothing more than to reach out to her son and comfort him; however, she remained still, her voice cold and unfeeling. "If this isn't Potter, the Dark Lord would not appreciate his precious time being wasted. Remember what happened to Rowle and Dolohov?"
"Well, what about the Mudblood then?" Greyback growled, the predatory gleam in his eye shining brightly; Draco remembered when the disgusting wolf had looked at Luna with that exact look in his eyes.
"Wait," said Narcissa sharply. "She does resemble the girl who was in Diagon Alley. I remember her picture from the Prophet, I believe. Draco, is that the Granger girl?"
"It's possible—maybe, yeah," Draco said squinting at Hermione who stared back at him dumbfounded; he wondered if she had given up trying to make sense of him or if she had already figured everything out.
"And certainly this the Weasley boy!" Lucius shouted. "If these are Potter's friends, Draco, then surely this is Potter!"
"Yeah," Draco nodded noncommittally. "It could be."
As Lucius turned to his son, his mouth ready to reiterated the severity of the situation, the complexity of everything around them, the drawing room door slid open, slamming uncaringly into the walls. Bellatrix Lestrange stood there in her maddening glory, her dark eyes curious to the scene before her.
"What is this? What's happened, Cissy?" she asked, a gleam of joy in her eyes. She walked around the prisoners, listening as her younger sister relayed the circumstances resulting in the four teenagers and a goblin captured and delivered into her home. "Well, surely this must be the Mudblood girl? Is this not Granger?" Bellatrix asked standing before Hermione with a gleeful snarl.
"Yes! Yes, it must be Granger!" Lucius cried. "And beside her, we think, it must be Potter! Potter and his band of merry heroes, caught at last!"
"Potter?" Bellatrix gasped in a breathless whisper, her lips pulling into an unbelieving smile, a glimpse of herself as Bella Black when she had been free from the grips of dark magic and insanity. "Are you sure? The Dark Lord must be called at once!"
Bellatrix uncaringly hoisted up her black sleeve, the dark lace ripping slightly. The Dark Mark stood prominent on her white skin, slightly raised and menacing. She pulled out her gnarled wand, pointing the dark tip towards her skin eager to summon her beloved master.
"No, Bella," Lucius growled pushing her arm down away from the tip of her wand. "I was about to call him! I shall summon him; Potter has been brought to my house, and it is there for my right, my authority to—"
"Your right? Your authority?" Bellatrix laughed, a maddening cackle that shook the crystals of the chandelier. "You lost your authority when you lost your wand, Lucius. How dare you deny me my duty the Dark Lord's most trusted Death Eater. It is I who—"
"This has nothing to do with you! You didn't capture the boy!" Lucius roared his hands reaching for Bellatrix once more as she attempted to touch her skin once more with her wand.
"Begging your pardon, Malfoy," Greyback interjected. "But it's us that caught Potter and it's us that'll be claiming the gold an—"
"Gold!" Bellatrix laughed whirling around to face Greyback, her face contorted into a haughty sneer. "Take your gold, you filthy scavenger. What would I want with gold? I seek only to honor the great— Stop!" she yelled suddenly, her smug face turning horrified so suddenly Draco wondered what she had seen. "Do not touch your Mark, Lucius! We shall all perish if the Dark Lord comes now!"
Lucius, index finger hovering over his mark, froze with terror as he looked at his sister-in-law. She was never fearful, nor did she ever do anything that would cause her to fall from the Dark Lord's ranks. Looking at her, Lucius had never seen such an expression. She wasn't just scared; she was horrified.
Bellatrix's eyes studied the item hidden behind the snatchers leg; though she could only see a portion, the goblin made object, glimmering under the chandelier's light, was unmistakable. Yet it was impossible for it to be there; it was locked away, safe from discovery. The Dark Lord had trusted her to keep it safe; seeing it there, however, meant that she had failed.
"What is that?" Bellatrix said, her voice low and growling.
"A sword," the snatcher said in a grumble as he shifted his weight from one foot to another.
"Give it to me," Bellatrix said quickly, so desperate in tone, "Give it to me now."
"It's not yours, missus, it's mine, I reckon I found it."
Before anyone could react, there was a large bang and a blinding flash of light as Bellatrix casted a silent stunning spell, her mouth contorted in snarl. There was a roar of fury from the other snatchers. One dared to draw his wand though he would never stand a chance. Everyone in the room, captured students included, stared at Bellatrix Lestrange in fear and confusion. She still wore a look of complete shock and fear.
"What do you think you're doing, woman? Have you gone mad?"
"Stupefy!" Bellatrix screamed as she pointed her wand at the snatchers. "Stupefy! Stupefy!"
They were of no contest for her; she easily stunned all for of them without a problem. Whirling around, she forced Greyback into a kneeling position, his arms stretched above his head as her wand pressed into his chest with surprising force. In her hand, Bellatrix clutched the sword of Gryffindor to her side, her face waxen and worried. She stared at Greyback with such disgust, it was a wonder he was the one she kept conscious.
"Where did you get this sword?" she said eerily calm through her teeth as she snatched away his wand. "Tell me!"
"You bitch!" Greyback seethed wishing the full moon was near so he could rip her to shreds; she was a talented witch, but he doubted her speed when faced with a werewolf. "How dare you! Release me at once!" he demanded, pointed teeth bared.
"Where did you find this sword?" she repeated with more urgency, brandishing it in his face. "Snape sent it to my vault at Gringotts!"
"It was in their tent," Greyback growled, staring dangerously at Bellatrix.
Bellatrix removed her wand from his chest; he sprang to his feet but didn't approach her, for she still had his wand. He walked away from her nearing the armchair close to Narcissa and Draco. His glare never wavered. Bellatrix paced the drawing room; no one dared to utter a sound. It was deathly silent other than the crackling fire and her manic footsteps. It was impossible; it couldn't be real. There was no way the sword could have gotten out of her vault!
"Draco!" Bellatrix barked causing everyone in the room to jump. "Take this filth outside; dispose of them as you wish. If you haven't got the stomach for it, I'll do it myself later," she commanded motioning toward the Stunned snatchers as she glared at her nephew willing him to argue with her; he wouldn't.
"Don't you dare speak to Draco as if he hasn't proven himself to you, Bellatrix. Don't you da—"
"Shut up!" Bellatrix screamed effectively cutting off her sister's rant. She didn't have the time to listen to it; she had to figure out how to save herself from disappointing the Dark Lord. "This situation is graver than you can possibly imagine, Cissy! This is a very serious problem!"
Narcissa looked taken aback by her older sister's outburst, but it lasted only a second. Before anyone could look deeper into her reaction, Narcissa had composed her face back into a look of indifference. However, as Draco moved to follow his aunt's orders, his mother placed the back of her hand on his chest keeping him standing where he was as Bellatrix began muttering to herself.
"If it is indeed Potter, he must not be harmed. I must not hurt him," she mumbled to herself. "The Dark Lord wishes to do so himself, even though I want to. I want to hear him—but I mustn't. For the Dark Lord… But if he finds out, I must… I must know if—"
Bellatrix turned back to her sister and nephew.
"The prisoner's must be placed in the cellar, while I think of what to do! I can't think with them all breathing around me, taking all of the air. Take them down, Draco," she said as a string of fire erupted from her wand; a hole burned into the carpet.
As his mother's hand dropped from his chest, Draco stepped forward pulling the newly captured prisoners to their feet by the end of the rope. He started to pull them out of the room, but Bellatrix called for him to stop. Turning around, he saw Bellatrix throw Greyback his wand before digging into the folds of her skirt to retrieve a silver dagger.
"All except for the Mudblood," she grinned madly before cutting Hermione free from the rest of the prisoners. "Take them."
Ron protested loudly, vocally; his yells of panic and despair pulsing in his ears. Draco wondered if he would act the same way if Luna were in Hermione's situation. However, he didn't wonder too long, because he already knew the answer, for it had already happened. He wouldn't say anything; in fact, he would be the one to hurt her. Shaking his head in attempt to rid himself from such thoughts, Draco pulled on the rope harder walking down the stairs. He could sense Luna's eyes on him the second his foot touched the stone floor. Hermione's yells echoed throughout the stone room though the door had been shut; Draco almost cast a silencing charm but thought better of it.
"Draco," Luna said pressing her face against the bars in attempt to see him. She could sense he was not alone; she could feel more people in the large space. Once he heard her voice, Harry understood what Draco was trying to tell him. Moon girl he said in code: Luna. "Draco, what's happening."
Leaving them tied together, Draco abandoned his new charges for the girl in the cell. Waving his wand over the metal bars, Draco opened the door allowing her to step out. She looked at him quizzically wondering what change at occurred. He pointed his wand toward the new prisoners watching as Luna's face lit up as if he had given her the world; he supposed in someway he had. Luna had a deep, uninhibited love for her friends. The love she held for them was so deep he wondered how she could feel anything else. Luna ran from his side straight into the arms of Harry Potter, or rather, slammed into his body, for he was still tied up; though he tried to ignore it, Draco felt his stomach clench painfully.
"Harry, what's happened to your face?" she asked immediately. "Oh, I'm so sorry you're here; I didn't wish you to be captured."
"Hermione! Hermione, no!" Ron yelled in despair, his blue eyes sharp with urgency. "We have to help her, Harry!"
"I'm trying to think of a plan so that we can, Ron, Stop yelling for once second so I can," Harry gritted out; Ron didn't stop. "Luna, can you untie these ropes?"
"Yes, of course,' Luna said before scurrying back to her cell where Draco still stood. Giving him a bright smile, Luna went into the metal box and removed a stone from the wall revealing a rusted nail. Draco was mildly impressed. As she walked back, Luna grabbed Draco's hand pulling him with her. "Here, hold still. Ron, please do stop moving I can barely see!"
"The Deluminator is in my pocket; it's full of light!" Ron said in a panicked voice. After a few moments and a soft click, soft orbs of light floated above their head. Luna struggled to say focused as she tried to cut the tight ropes with the small nail as Hermione's screams became louder, more pained. Luna understood; she had been there before.
"Draco, could you please help me," Luna said looking to him, her blue eyes pleading under the shadow of bruises and swollen skin. "I'm not fast enough; the nail is too dull."
He nodded his head, his white hair flashing with movement under the glowing lights. He went to Ron who snatched his arms away as he continued to yell. Draco gave him a menacing look before trying to untie the ropes once more only to have Ron kick him squarely in the shin.
"You bloody prat!" Draco fumed. "I'm trying to help you, idiot!"
"I don't want your help, Malfoy! Do you not hear what they're doing to Hermione?" Ron seethed his freckles disappearing into the heat of his cheeks.
"Do you think me deaf? Of course I do! The faster you're untied the faster you can save her," Draco glared. "The faster you can save Luna," he added quietly. Ron said nothing but extended his wrists out begrudgingly. Within two minutes, they were all untied.
Looking up from her last stand, Luna peered at Harry for the first time under the light. He was digging into his shoe; when he pulled out a piece of glass, Luna cocked her head to the side. Harry began to speak to the glass, asking for someone to send help in a desperate tone as Hermione's screams of agony grew impossibly louder. Despite the circumstances, Luna's curiosity got the best of her.
"That's a curious thing to keep in your sock, Harry," she said with her usual airy tone; Harry looked up but was unable for form words at the sight of her.
Harry gasped at her appearance. He knew she had always been a thin girl, long and willowy, waif as if she was made from air, but the girl before him was positively skeletal. Her cheekbones jutting out sharply, her jaw defined, no longer soft and delicate. Her large eyes seemed to protrude from her face as it was so sunken in. Her clothes hung loosely on her as if any movement could send them to the floor. However horrible her health was, he noticed the injuries she sustained: cuts and bruises, a broken nose, black eyes, and busted, swollen lips. Harry's hand reached out to touch her cheek, to see if she were even real; a part of him expected for his fingers to go right though here as if she were nothing but a ghost who had decided to stay on Earth.
"What happened to you," Harry questioned as his stomach churned with anger, with an unfiltered rage. "I'll kill them, Luna. I swear it; who did this to you?"
"Don't say such things, Harry," Luna sighed dreamily. "It really wasn't his fault. He didn't want to do it."
Harry needed to further explanation. Turning around sharply, his fist swung blindly for Draco's face. Much taller than Harry, Draco was able to dodge the attack, but he stumbled backwards, crashing into the stonewall behind him hitting his head fully on a protruding rock. Luna gasped as she rushed towards him, stepping in front of Draco to prevent Harry from taking any more swings at him. Luna raised her hands before her in a motion to stop Harry. His face was burning red, his vision turned pulsing scarlet as he stared at Malfoy with such hatred, such violence in his flashing green eyes. Luna, however, remained calm.
"Harry, please. There isn't time to explain now, but Draco has helped me; he's protected me," Luna pleaded.
"Sure, that's why you look so healthy," Harry spat venomously. "Have you seen yourself, Luna? He didn't protect you from anything!"
"He did! Harry, I wouldn't lie," Luna assured him as she took a step back from Harry's horrifying face, her back pressed firmly into Draco's chest, his breath in her hair. Though the swelling had gone down and his face returned to normal, he was still nearly unrecognizable as the fury he felt contorted his face. "Please, Harry. He's not bad; he's kept me as safe as possible in such a situation."
"He should have done better," Harry growled, his hand subconsciously reaching for his wand though the snatchers had confiscated it.
"I don't think you'd say that if you knew the whole story," Luna sighed, Draco's fingers bushed against her wrist. "But there isn't time at the moment. We need to—"
"How did you get into my vault?" Bellatrix's voice carried down into the basement cutting Luna's voice silent. "Did that dirty little goblin in the cellar help you? Did he?"
"We only met him tonight!" Hermione sobbed, her voice watery and choking. "We've never been inside of your vault. It isn't the real sword; it's just a copy! I swear!"
"A copy?" screeched Bellatrix, Draco could only imagine the look of outrage on her face. "Oh, a likely story! Do you think me dumb, Mudblood?"
"It's easy enough to find out," Lucius' voice carried, confident and assured. "I'll have Draco bring up the goblin."
"Griphook," Harry ran over to whisper into the goblin's sharply pointed ear. "You must tell them that the sword is a fake, they can't know it's real, Griphook, please, we—"
"Draco! Bring up the goblin!" Lucius' voice said from the top of the stairs. Draco slid out from behind Luna's protective shield, his fingers lightly touching her wrist once more.
"Come on," Draco said pointing his wand menacingly at the goblin before pulling him up the stairs. Once they were gone, both Harry and Ron looked to Luna for clarification on what was going on; however, before they had a chance, a loud crack echoed throughout the cellar.
"Dobby!" Harry shouted in a hushed voice; he could hear Draco's footsteps overhead. "What are you doing here? How did you know?"
"Harry Potter," Dobby said in a squeaking voice. "Dobby has come to rescue Harry Potter and friends."
"Yes, but how did you know?"
Before Dobby could answer, a blood-curling scream shook the house; they didn't have time for a round of questions. It could all wait. Right now, saving Hermione was the priority. Harry thought for a moment about what to do, his brain racking over every possibility.
"Can you Disapparate out of this cellar?" Harry asked a plan formulating in his mind. Dobby nodded, his ears flapping like bat wings. "And you can take humans with you?"
Dobby nodded once more.
"Okay, Dobby, I want you to take Luna and Dean—"
"And Mr. Ollivander!" Luna chirped from beside him. "He's in the cell right over there; he's very weak, you see."
"Right, okay, so I want you to take Luna, Dean, and Mr. Ollivander to, well, take them to—"
"Bill and Fleur's," Ron said suddenly, his voice hoarse from yelling so harshly. "Shell Cottage on the outskirts of Tinworth!"
"And then come back," said Harry. "Can you do that?"
"Of course, Harry Potter,' Dobby nodded enthusiastically. Dean walked forward, silent in shock at the day's events and stood next to Dobby. The small elf looked at Luna expectantly.
"I can't, at least not yet," Luna said. "I have to tell him; I must tell Draco."
"You don't owe him anything, Luna," Harry barked harshly hating himself when Luna jumped at his tone.
"I owe him my life, Harry," Luna said simply. "One day, when you're ready to listen, I'll tell you, but right now you just have to trust me."
Though he hated it, Harry nodded knowing that Luna's mind would not be changed. He told Dobby to go into the cell with Dean and Disapparate from there with Mr. Ollivander; a loud crack signaled their departure. The loud crack was heard from upstairs; Bellatrix stood from her menacing crouch over Hermione and looked at Draco expectantly.
"Draco, go see what that was at once!"
Without having to be told twice, Draco went down into the cellar noting immediately that Dean Thomas was no longer there. He looked to Luna for an explanation knowing Potter would not be forthcoming with information. However, Luna looked distraught, her bottom lip quivering slightly. He slowly walked to her, standing close yet not touching. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, keep her from the evil of the world, but instead, his arms stayed glued by his sides suppressing the urge to do so. It wasn't the right time; it would never be the right time. He knew in that moment what she was going to say; Potter, as always, had a way to rescue his friends, to keep them truly safe. It was more than Draco could say for himself.
"You once told me," Luna began with a watery voice, her emotions getting the best of her. "You once told me that Dumbledore offered you protection," she said grabbing Draco's fingers with her own feeling their coolness against her skin. "Well, I would like to do the same. Draco, please come with us."
He wanted to. With every fiber in his being, Draco wanted to leave, to escape from the cursed house, to escape his father and his aunt, Greyback and the other vile Death Eaters. He wanted a way out from it all, and there was Luna, innocent blue eyes shining through dark shadows he had caused, offering him safety, protection. He wanted to say yes, more than anything.
"I can't," he finally responded, her blue eyes clouded over with sadness. "I can't leave my family here, my mother, he would kill her. I can't let that happen, Luna."
Luna nodded her head as words escaped her; she couldn't find the right syllables to utter in order to properly encapsulate just how grateful she was to him. He had kept her safe, or as safe as was possible. Before she could stop herself, she flung her arms around Draco pulling him into a tight hug, her face buried into his neck, her lips resting softly against his skin. Despite himself, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tighter against him. He could feel Potter and Weasley staring at them in disbelief, in disgust, but he didn't care. Luna was going to be safe, and that was all he could ask for.
As a loud crack sounded in the basement once more, Draco heard Luna let out a shaky breath; he felt it too as her warm breath fanned across his neck. He fought for control of his body as it let out an involuntary shiver. She squeezed him tightly before stepping back, her blue eyes filling with tears as she reached her fingers up to trace along his cheekbone.
"I will never be able to thank you for all that you've done for me, Draco," she sighed dreamily. "I will see you again."
Words evaded him; he only nodded as she stepped back once more placing her hand into the elf's. She gave them all a serene smile as a tear fell down her face. Harry gave the elf orders to come back as soon as Luna was in safety; Draco could hardly focus as Luna stared at him with such faith and trust. He knew he would somehow disappoint her in the end; he always did.
"Whenever you're ready, sir," Luna nodded at Dobby who smiled at her brightly.
"Sir? I like her very much," Dobby grinned before whisking her away in a blur.
Draco didn't know what to feel after she was gone. He was simultaneously relieved and distressed. She was no longer here for him to protect, yet she was far safer somewhere else, and he knew that. He just did not like it very much. It felt odd to be so dependent on the consistency of someone's presence. Everyday, Draco would go to bed knowing that no matter what, Luna would be in the basement for him to see, to talk to, to understand him, to care. Now that she was gone, in the blink of an eye, a strange emotion came over him. He missed her. Draco Malfoy missed Luna Lovegood with a ferocity he never imagined possible.
However, he didn't have time to ponder his feelings or emotions at the time. He had to find away to protect himself while getting Luna's friends back to her in one piece. As Dobby Apperated back into the cellar, Draco, for the first time in his life, looked to Potter for guidance. Being the hero was not his strong suit, of this he was aware. He would surpass his pride if it meant keeping both his family and Luna alive; for them, there wasn't much he wouldn't do.