Narcissa did not go back to Thailand. She informed Draco that Luna had moved back into the flat over the cleaner's shop where she had lived before moving in with Draco. But no matter how much his mother pleaded, whined, nagged, or played the guilt card, Draco refused to call or visit Luna. He even refused dinner on his birthday at the Manor, certain that his mother had ulterior motives.
Surprisingly, the only one of Luna's friends and family who confronted Draco directly was the Weasel King. He had raged and thundered about how Draco was still the selfish, stone hearted bastard he had always been. Draco waited patiently until he finished.
"When you've buried a wife and four children, come back and we'll talk about it again." Draco informed him coldly. "In the meantime, maybe you should talk to your brother."
"Which one, the one you maimed?" Ron growled.
"No. The one who knows what it's like to have no reason to live." Draco turned and walked out of the room, even though it was his office, leaving a gaping Weasley to wonder how Malfoy knew of George's suicide attempts.
Three weeks and a day after Draco walked out of St Mungo's, Harry Potter stood in the middle of Draco's office.
"Head Auror." Draco gestured at Potter's robes and then continued working. "Impressive. But I don't recall inviting you for a celebratory tea."
"I'm here on official business." Potter said softly.
"Some hysterical housewife reported suspected Death Eater activity and it's time for me to be questioned again?" Draco rolled his eyes.
"It's Luna."
Draco froze in the act of shuffling the papers on his desk. He ground his teeth, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
"She's in intensive care at St Mungo's." Potter continued.
"She's lost it then." Draco responded in a voice devoid of emotion. "Ten weeks. She made it farther than Astoria the first time."
"The babies are all right, so far."
Draco's head snapped up so fast it should have caused whiplash.
"Twins." Potter glared at the shock on Draco's face. "It's Luna. She's having morning sickness to the point that she can't keep down any food or drink. Not even water. She's severely dehydrated. They're trying to give her fluids and restorative potions. Right now she's losing weight because the babies are drawing what nutrients they can from her."
"Parasites." Draco snorted. "Sounds about right for my offspring."
"She's helped you a lot." Potter observed. "You've got your sarcastic, dry personality back. For the longest you were too depressed to snipe at me."
"You missed it?" Draco hitched an eyebrow at him.
"Believe it or not, I did." Potter shrugged. "There were several times we were called to do welfare checks on you that I honestly expected to go in and find your body."
Draco went back to shuffling papers on his desk, suddenly uncomfortable. "Couldn't get that lucky, now could you?"
"Malfoy."
The blond didn't look up.
Potter sighed. "Draco."
The head popped up in shock again.
"I know you've been through more than one man should have to endure." Potter shook his head. "I mean all the way back to sixth year, and everything that's happened since. But Luna loves you, and she didn't give up on you for two very dark years. Don't let love like that go to waste."
Draco stared at the door for a very long time after Potter left.
Narcissa was shocked when she stepped out of the floo to find her son sitting in the dark.
"Draco?" she rushed to his side. "Sweetheart, what are you doing here?"
"Were you at the hospital?" he asked softly.
"Yes, of course." she brushed his hair back, looking him over for signs of injury.
"You were with Luna." he said flatly.
"Yes." she took his hand in both of hers. "She's very ill right now, but she's going to be okay. This is something they can treat."
"Potter said she's in intensive care." Draco looked down at his hand, voice cracking. "The babies are going to kill her. She needs to get rid of them."
Narcissa pulled him into her arms, pressing his head against her shoulder. "Sweetheart, this is just a temporary condition. The babies are healthy. Luna will be healthy once her system settles a bit."
"She's going to die and the babies will die with her." he moaned. "I can't do this again."
"I won't let them die." his mother promised. "Not this time. Not any of them."
Draco's mother had coddled him, falling into the role of nurturer as easily as breathing, and Draco for once let her. She made him eat soup and a cheese sandwich, one of his favorites when he was young, practically poured Dreamless Sleep down his throat and tucked him into bed in Greg's room. The old mansion had so many bedrooms from days gone by when there had been so many more Malfoys and they all clustered together for protection, there were some guest rooms that only one person had ever slept in during Draco's lifetime. Draco's childhood bedroom had been converted to the nursery and he couldn't bear the thought of even setting foot in the room he shared with Astoria, much less sleeping there. His mother seemed to know, as a mother should.
He grudgingly choked down tea and toast after Narcissa insisted he had to eat something for breakfast, and then flooed home.
The first thing he saw when he stepped out of the fireplace was the throw pillows on the couch. Luna had brought them, shortly after he had moved in, proclaiming his furniture too stuffy and uncomfortable. She had used them to snuggle up when she read, and there was a matching throw blanket under the cushion. After she had moved in, she had a habit of curling up on the couch under that blanket and reading in one of his shirts or even just her underwear. He had fussed the first few times, asking why she wouldn't put on more clothes if she was cold and she would tell him to come keep her warm, until he realized it was her way of telling him she didn't really want to be reading.
There was a squawk from the utility room off kitchen, and he walked in to find Apollo, his owl, protesting that his dish was empty. Draco automatically opened the bottom drawer and scooped a cupful of feed, discovering the container was almost empty. He tried to remember the last time he had bought owl food, but then realized he hadn't. Luna did.
He stepped back into the kitchen, realizing that Luna had bought nearly everything in it. Draco only replenished the tea and eggs and bread when he ran out. He headed upstairs, past the picture in the hall Luna painted, to the bedroom where he had slept with Luna, to the bathroom stocked with his favorite toiletries, all bought by Luna. He took a shower, hoping to clear his head, but when he was done, he found his face buried in a towel that smelled like Luna's unique cleaning charm. Once dressed, he whistled for Apollo. He scrawled a note and sent off with the bird, then huddled in the sitting room.
Twenty minutes later, Harry Potter stepped out of the floo.
Draco looked up at him, drained and defeated. "More bad news?" he asked hoarsely.
Potter frowned. "No. Your secretary sent me."
He didn't say "Again" but they both heard it.
"Melodramatic bint." Draco huffed without any real emotion. "I sent her a message."
"You wrote 'I'm not dead.'" Potter snorted. "That frightened her more than not hearing from you at all."
Draco shrugged but didn't answer.
"A bit early in the day to be drinking, don't you think?" Potter motioned at the cup in Draco's hands.
"It's just tea." Draco rolled his eyes. "I don't drink alcohol."
Potter made a noise of disbelief. "You, by all accounts were the one who used to sneak the firewhiskey into the Slytherin dorms. Since fourth year."
"I quit." Draco answered softly. "After I woke up one day face down in a puddle of my own vomit and realized if I died that way, you would probably be the one to find me. The thought of that scene being my final legacy was rathering sobering."
Potter quickly smothered his grin. Cheeky bastard.
"I'll go tell Julia that you're all right." Potter offered, stepping backwards. "Anything else I should tell her?"
"I probably won't be in for a few days." Draco sighed. "I'm going to move."
"Okaaaaaay." Potter drew out the word. "Are you going back to the Manor?"
Draco gave him a look that silently conveyed a shouted 'are you really that stupid?' "No, just going somewhere else."
"What are you going to do with this place?" Potter looked around the room.
"Luna can have it if she wants it." Draco shrugged, taking a sip of his tea.
Potter shook his head. "You threw her out of the house and now you're giving it to her?" Realization dawned on his face. "There are too many memories of Luna here. That's why you don't want to stay."
"Don't you have some Dark Lord wannabe to arrest?" Draco grumbled.
"Put your shoes on." Potter ordered.
"This is still my house." Draco looked at him pointedly.
"I'm taking you to see Luna." Potter folded his arms.
"Fuck you." Draco growled.
"Ginny wouldn't like that." Potter taunted. 'Now put your shoes on. Either you go with me willingly, or I'll arrest you and take you."
A/N - The comment by Harry there at the end was just a smart aleck statement, along the lines of "You don't have to call me Sir, professor." It was not intended as foreshadowing. This will not turn into a Drarry story. Please take a deep breath.