Disclaimer: I can totally accept that you've all forgotten that I don't own the characters. It's been how long since I updated? I don't even want to think about it. Anyway, they aren't mine I'm just playing with them.

A/N: Right so until the last chapter it had been four months since I'd updated this story. I have no excuse. Seriously. Things might have been hectic later but I have no excuse. Anyway, I'm still going with the chapters about before the events of the beginning of this story simply because they're bugging the Hell out of me and demanding to be written. And the dinner stuff just doesn't want to commit to paper. I'll probably give up on it soon and maybe refer to what happened later eventually. Anyway I'm sure you just want to get on with the story now. So I will oblige you. Let me know what you think.

A Day at the Bank

Chapter Summary: Luna and her cousin are loitering in Diagon Alley. He doesn't know why but she does. She has to save Harry Potter from the ignorance and arrogance of his friends while they negotiate with the goblins. Is a seer's work never done?

Luna had always been a very patient person. Her daddy had told her that she'd hardly ever cried as a baby and never because she was hungry or wet. So she simply sat back and let events unfold as they would. She watched though and made sure that Harry knew she was around if he needed her.

He did need her. He wouldn't admit it though. A part of her admired that. Another part of her was irritated at it. She couldn't decide which side was going to win though.

Harry was becoming more and more frazzled and irritable with every day that passed. In the four months since the Final Battle Harry's every movement had been cataloged and recorded for posterity. The Weasleys had buried their lost ones and Andromeda had taken over Teddy's care. Everything should have settled down by now. For most it had. But for Harry everything was continuing to spin out of his control.

Luna leaned against the side of a building and watched as Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione made their way down Diagon Alley. Hermione was watching Harry with a worried expression. Ron looked unbearably smug as his arm wrapped around Hermione's shoulders. Ginny had her arm hooked around Harry's elbow and surveyed the crowds with a superior smug look that seemed even worse than her brother's. Harry, on the other hand, was tense and walked with his head down. Every step he took seemed to be forced and he startled at every loud noise.

"He's going to snap and hex someone soon," her cousin observed from her side. "And I'm going to laugh like a loon when he does."

Luna snickered a bit and shook her head at her cousin. "Because he hexed them or because that would humiliate him?"

He snorted. "Because they'd deserve it," he assured her. "Why can't they just leave him be? Hasn't he done enough? I really hope he snaps and hexes one of the Weasels. That I'd cheer for."

Luna threaded her arm threw his and dragged him towards the bank. "You are such a child, Draco. They're headed for the bank and we need to give Ginny and Ron something else to worry about before they start an interspecies war. They're going to offend the goblins and Harry and Hermione won't realize it until it's too late."

Draco grumbled at the Weasleys idiocy even as he allowed the much smaller girl to drag him around like her favorite blanket.

"Stop grumbling," Luna ordered. "The flutterbys say that this incident will push Harry from the Red Mater's nest. We want that. If he leaves there then he will be open to a friendship with you. And I can help him to assimilate the events of the past into his thinking. Once that is accomplished then the Wizarding World will have real peace. Maybe."

"You're the seer," Draco murmured lowly. He didn't want anyone else to hear his words. Luna's status was a well hidden family secret as had been all the females in her line. The entire world thought that the Lovegoods were just odd not that the females were without fail all seers. They were true seers not the overplayed hacks like Trelawney or any of the well-known Seers. Lovegoods were seers in that the fabric of the universe told them the possibilities and the probabilities of any event they wished to look at. It was taught from birth upwards to any family member that the information was only to be told to other family. It wasn't a secret that could ever be told. Too many horrible things would happen to the women if anyone ever found out that wasn't bound by family ties. Even spouses that refused to bond with the family were denied the knowledge.

When they finally escaped the crowd of shoppers into the bank Harry and the others were already in deep discussion with one of the goblin tellers. Luna didn't even pause. She pulled Draco along in her wake towards them. "Good morning, Harry Potter," she cut across whatever the Weasel was saying to the goblin. "Good morning to you as well, Master Teller Ironfoot." She greeted the goblin with a thin lipped smile. "I wish for your gold to multiply as your enemies dwindle."

The goblin gave her a short bow and a returned smile. Ironfoot was grateful for the interruption, if he was truthful with himself. The red heads were pushing every button he had and he'd been very close to losing his temper with them in a very short amount of time. "And to you Miss Lovegood." The Lovegoods were well known at the bank to be polite and kind humans.

"Master Teller," Draco murmured with a bow of his own. The goblin bowed back. The Malfoys were not so kind and polite but the goblins could respect their acuity when it came to business and so Ironfoot showed their progeny a measure of respect.

He eyed the new arrivals with a bit of curiosity. Miss Lovegood didn't normally butt into conversations and transactions in such a manner. There had to be a reason for her to do so now. "Did you have need of me specifically, Miss Lovegood or just business with the bank?" Ironfoot asked politely with a quick glance at Harry and his friends. The red heads were glaring at the Malfoy lad with loathing. The Muggleborn Granger girl was gaping in astonishment. But Potter's reaction was intriguing to say the least. He was beaming a bright smile at both the Lovegood girl and young Malfoy as though he couldn't be more pleased to see them. Interesting.

"Neither Master Teller," Luna shook her head her eyes never leaving Potter's face. "My cousin and I were called upon to assist Lord Potter in his negotiations. He is Muggle raised and unaware of the protocols of goblin banking." She said this as though it should have been common knowledge.

The goblin regarded the Man-Who-Conquered in a new light. He had been unaware of this detail and realized that he had been a bit unfair in his thoughts to the young man. Ignorance was much better than arrogance. Though the two Weasley were still far too arrogant and demeaning in their manner and that could mar these negotiations. His Majesty was aware of Griphook's betrayal of both the goblins and the Chosen One and was willing to meet with the boy for that reason alone. Ironfoot had only been stalling the meeting because of the red heads impoliteness. Now he was a bit regretful but also pleased as it seemed Miss Lovegood was here to assist. That would help things immensely.

Ironfoot finally nodded and motioned for the humans to follow him. His Majesty would be most interested in these developments.

"Harry," Hermione hissed quietly. "What are you doing? These talks are private. Luna and Malfoy can't come."

"He'll just get them to rip you off," Ron growled with a menacing glare at Draco. "And if she's related to him then you can't trust her either." His glare moved to include Luna.

"Ron," Harry said with a light laugh. "I'm related to him, remember? His grandmother and mine were sisters…I think. I can't quite remember." He turned to the blond pair and smiled. "Who asked you to come, Luna? Oh, right, morning Luna, Draco. My manners are a bit frayed today. Sorry." He looked a bit shamefaced but gamely carried on. Harry hadn't wanted his friends to come with him but they'd insisted that he couldn't handle the goblins alone. Maybe Draco and Luna would distract the other three long enough for him to finish his business and be gone from the bank before they erupted like volcanos.

Draco eyed him warily. Truly Potter had been better behaved than he'd expected. He'd thought a wand and curses would meet them instead of a sheepish smile and apologetic words. "You're forgiven, Potter," Draco muttered when Luna dug an elbow into his side. He'd been going to forgive Potter anyway. He'd just gotten lost in his own thoughts. "I can understand how unsettled you must feel." He'd be unsettled after having to deal with the Weasels and Mud—Granger too.

"It's fine, Harry Potter," Luna smiled softly at him. She was just so pleased to see him for the first time in nearly a month that she couldn't contain her joy. His aura was becoming a bit off color. Soon, she promised herself. It would be soon. "The wrackspurts are a menace to all society. Daddy's going to publish an article calling for the Ministry to attempt to control them. I've told him that it won't work but he feels that he must try anyway."

"Luna," Hermione groaned with a shake of her head. "Wrackspurts don't exist. You should go home. We can handle this."

Ginny eyed the blond girl with a hint of malice. Everyone wanted her Harry these days and she was determined that no other girl would get near him. "Luna," she forced her voice to be light and sweet. "It's been good to see you but we do have business to attend to and I know none of us asked you to help. It's appreciated but unneeded." She ignored Malfoy's existence entirely.

"Yeah," Ron's red head bobbed in agreement. "Get out of here and take your slimy Death Eater with you." His brown eyes glared hotly at them.

Harry sent his friends a quelling glare and then turned back to Luna and Malfoy with a smile his green eyes bright. It had been far too long since he'd seen his friend. He didn't even mind Malfoy much. The other boy had been scrupulously polite since the return of his wand. Harry had managed that trip alone at least. It might have gone differently if Ron and Hermione had known about it and insisted on tagging along. "I don't know, Luna," he told her as they entered a long hallway. "Kingsley's a good bloke. He might listen if your father goes to him personally with his concerns." He wasn't sure whether Kingsley would be able to do anything but it was an idea at least. It didn't matter that he'd never seen a wrackspurt. Before he'd been eleven he'd never seen a dragon either or a giant or a troll. So they could be real and that was all that mattered. Besides maybe the idea would get Luna to smile at him.

As if in answer to his thoughts, Luna smiled brilliantly. "Thank you Harry," she said. "I'll suggest it to him. He'll be ever so grateful for the tip." He turned around and started to follow Ironfoot down the hallway again. She tilted her head at his back. "Harry…" she started hesitantly. She thought she knew the answer to her question but she didn't want the conversation to end yet. She liked talking to Harry. "What are you negotiating with the goblins for?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at her again and pink colored his cheekbones. "I kinda made a mess when I was here before the battle. I'm negotiating the repairs." He didn't know why it embarrassed him to admit that but he knew he didn't want Luna to think badly of him.

Ginny made a disgruntled sound her brown eyes hot with fury as they locked onto the back of the goblin leading them. They should be falling to their knees before her Man Who Conquered not taking him to task for doing what he'd needed to do to save them all. Harry shouldn't have to deal with money issues. Besides the more he gave the goblins the less there was for them and their children. "He shouldn't have to pay anything," she spat out hoping the goblin could hear her. She should be at home planning the wedding not here dealing with stupid goblins. "It wasn't Harry's fault that Griphook was a lying traitor."

Harry's hand fisted at her resentful tone and he drew in a deep breath. He was getting more and more irritated with Ginny and her volatile moods. He just wanted a bit of peace. "Hush, Ginny," he murmured. He forced his voice to stay quiet with difficulty. He wanted to scream at all three of them to lay off. They'd done nothing but complain about everything since the war ended. Couldn't they just be happy that they were all alive? "I don't mind paying for the damages. In fact, I really feel that I should. I made the mess I should pay to repair it." Though he knew that by that reasoning Hermione and Ron should pay too but he wasn't going to argue the point with them when he knew he could probably take care of the expense a hundred times over without denting his bank account.

Draco scoffed and shook his head. He'd learned a lot about Potter over the years and the fact that the other man was always honorable was one of the first things. Harry seemed to have a code of ethics that was nearly unbreakable. Naïve of him but useful to Draco on more than one occasion. He fingered his wand discreetly. Very useful. "Do tell, Pothead," he taunted without the bite and anger of their previous interactions. "What did you do to the poor defenseless goblins to make you feel so guilty?"

Luna giggled. The expression on her cousin's face when he learned this news was sure to be one of his more entertaining ones. Draco always looked amusing when he'd been shocked. "He absconded through the roof with one of their Guardian Dragons?" She told her cousin lightly. Her voice was questioning but she knew that was exactly what Harry had done. It had been a move of desperation but still spectacular she was sure. She only wished she could have seen it. Maybe one of her goblin friends had been there and would share the memory with her. Harry would protest but she could work around him.

Draco grinned and tried to figure out the metaphor she was using. Luna didn't normally use real creatures when she spoke of events. He hadn't really, had he? He blinked and then stared at her serious silver eyes. She was being Luna wasn't she? His eyes skittered to the light flush he could see on Potter's cheeks and the red of the Weasel's ears. "Really?" He nearly squeaked and then cleared his throat. "You're serious?" They couldn't possibly be serious. If they were then he'd have to rethink his assessments of Potter's mental stability.

Luna giggled again and Harry nodded reluctantly. "Didn't have a lot of choice," he muttered.

"Don't tell them anything," Ron insisted. "He's a Death Eater, Harry. He'll just tell his father everything and Malfoy will use it to become a new Dark Lord or something. You can't trust them. They're both Dark."

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at Ron in disbelief. "You are seriously accusing Luna of being Dark," he hissed. "Luna? The girl that was part of the DA. The girl that was imprisoned because her father was printing an anti-Voldemort campaign. The girl that fought against the Death Eaters with us. That Luna? And don't forget that the Malfoys have been cleared by the Wizengamut. I saw to that personally and you know it. Draco did nothing that you wouldn't have done in the same situation. Do you really want to see what happens to them if you keep up that stupidness, Ron? Or what I'll do to you?"

"But Harry," Ron started to protest. Harry's furious glare cut him off and he shared a look of surprise with the girls. Harry defending Loony wasn't much of a surprise but him defending Malfoy? That was a shock and they didn't like it. Something would have to be done about this new wrinkle with Harry soon.

Harry glared at them a moment longer and then told Draco and Luna the story of how they had escaped from Gringott's over his shoulder. He left out which vault they'd been robbing and why but told the rest with a slight flush of embarrassment in his cheeks.

Draco's eyes had grown steadily larger with every word from Harry's mouth and Luna's smile grew. "Bloody Hell, Potter, you're crazier than I'd ever given you credit for! Why would you want to rob Gringott's in the first place?" Draco asked incredulously as the story wound down.

They had all been so intent on the story none of them really noticed that Ironfoot had led them into an office with a goblin sitting behind an ornate desk. The goblins had both listened to the story unfold with grave expressions. The answer to the young Malfoy's question would have great import on the outcome of the meeting.

"An evil object that imprisoned a dark soul," Luna murmured lowly. Draco stiffened as did the goblins but Harry and his friends hadn't been able to hear her words. She had said them far too quietly for even Harry's sensitive ears to hear. "He had to vanquish it."

The goblin behind the desk drew back in shock and his face paled. Ironfoot suddenly found a need to sit down and he collapsed in a chair next to Luna. "L-lord Potter," the goblin behind the desk brought everyone's attention to himself. "We have reviewed the transcripts of the day of the incident and have found some glaring discrepancies. Would you care to clarify some of the inconsistencies?"

Ginny and Ron stiffened in affront.

"What inconsistencies?" Ron growled. The goblin ignored him. The Weasley boy was an irritant and not worth reprimanding.

Ginny glared at the goblin hotly but he ignored her as well. She huffed and turned in her chair to face Harry. "If they're unwilling to talk to us then we should just go home."

Hermione blinked blankly at the goblin. None of the history books she'd researched in preparation had covered this situation.

Harry nodded but didn't know what to say until the big goblin asked him an actual question.

Draco sighed heavily, got to his feet and bowed at the goblin. It looked as though he'd have to salvage this mess before an interspecies incident occurred. "Lord Potter would be happy to assist the Goblin Nation in any capacity Your Majesty desires," Draco said in a solemn tone. "However could we request that His Majesty overlook Lord Potter's manners? He was raised by Muggles and is ignorant of the protocols that are appropriate when dealing with a personage of royalty."

Ron glared at Malfoy for daring to upstage him while Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. This was an unprecedented event. No one in memory, aside from Dumbledore and the Minister, had been invited to meet with King Ulric. Ginny only grinned smugly. Of course her Man Who Conquered was brought before the King. Even the goblins knew of his importance. She couldn't wait to tell her mother.

The goblin nodded even as Harry scrambled to his feet and bowed in his direction. "I apologize for my gross misconduct, Your Majesty," Harry winced as he spoke. "I was unaware of your status." He hoped the late night TV he had been watching when he couldn't sleep helped. He really did like those movies with the knights and the kings and queens. They were always interesting.

The goblin let out a deep laugh surprising all of them. "We however were not unaware of yours," he said. "You should have been brought before us long before this day, Lord Potter. You are among friends here. Shall we dispense with the formalities and continue on with our business?" He waved Harry back to his seat.

"If that is Your Majesty's wish," Harry said as he retook his seat. "I am honor bound but to do little else." He grinned at the king and the king let out another laugh.

"I can see that it is going to be just as entertaining to speak with you as it was with your grandfather, Lord Potter." The king said and pulled out a sheaf of papers. "Shall we begin?"

HP/LL HP/LL HP/LL

Hours later the group stumbled from the bank. Harry, Luna and Draco all wore beaming grins. Ginny, Ron and Hermione looked frustrated and confused. Harry was very pleased with the stories Ulric had about his grandfather. He couldn't recall anyone ever speaking of him before. It had been and entertaining morning so far. It also hadn't been nearly as expensive as he'd thought it would be.

After hearing the entire story of the bank robbery Ulric had been reluctant to penalize Harry in any way. Harry had insisted on paying some of the restitution and they had come to an amicable agreement. Ulric had also insisted that Harry return often so that he could hear more stories of one of his greatest friend's grandson's adventures. Harry had been only too happy to agree. He'd liked the older goblin and was anxious to hear more of his family.

"Wherever did you learn to speak to the King of the Goblin Nation with almost the proper forms, Potter?" Draco laughed as they skipped down the steps outside the bank. He'd always known that Potter was a whole different breed of wizard than he was used too this meeting had highlighted exactly how extraordinary the dark haired wizard was. Draco was very glad that he'd won the war. Life was going to be a whole lot better with Harry Potter in the world. He seemed to do the impossible with alarming regularity.

"Our Lord Potter has been relishing the end of enslavement and tyranny by sneaking off at night and rotting his brain every chance he gets," Luna giggled.

Harry laughed as well. "Why yes," he nodded. "Yes I have. And I have been enjoying it immensely."

"Have you really been sneaking out at night, Harry?" Ginny squealed at him. "Do you know how dangerous that is? What is wrong with you?" She shook her head and tightened her grip on his arm. "Well, that ends now. You are not to leave the Burrow without one of us with you. There are still Death Eaters after you," she shot a glance at Draco.

Harry pried her hand off of his arm and glared at her. "I am a grown man, Ginny. If I want to go out at night I will. Besides I only apparate over to Gran Andi's and hang out with my godson when I can't sleep at night."

Ginny returned his glare with one of her own. "Well, it has to stop," she insisted. "You are going to be marrying me and I won't have you disappearing at all hours of the night to play with someone else's baby."

Harry sighed and shook his head but didn't say anything. It wasn't like she could stop him if he wanted to leave in the middle of the night. The pressure of being at the Burrow was really starting to weigh him down. This was the last straw. If Ginny or any of the others tried to curtail his activities then he was moving to Grimmauld Place. He just wanted some peace and quiet. Maybe Kreacher and Winky could be talked into keeping everyone away.

"What are you talking about Loony?" Ron growled out as he finally processed some of what Luna had said. "Harry's brain is fine." Then he thought about it a bit and decided that maybe there was something wrong with Harry. Maybe Malfoy had cursed him. He shouldn't be so chummy with the blond ferret. They should really take him St. Mungo's to get checked out.

Harry glared at him. "Don't call her that, Ron." He ground out. Grimmauld Place was looking more and more appealing all the time. He could deal with the screaming portrait and the general uncleanliness in exchange for a bit of privacy. Besides cleaning the place would help fill the hours he couldn't fill with sleep. "We should be on our knees thanking them for their help. Not calling them names. Without Luna and Malfoy today I'm sure that meeting would have gone a lot differently." He drew in a deep breath and turned to Luna and Draco. "I am supremely grateful for the assistance. Can I buy you lunch in repayment?"

Draco sighed and shook his head. Part of him was truly regretful that they couldn't accept. The rest of him would rather eat glass than spend another instant in company with the Weasels. The looks they kept tossing at him were beginning to wear on his nerves. "Normally I'd be happy to spend your coin on the biggest most expensive meal I could find, Pothead. Unfortunately we're already twenty minutes late for lunch with my mother. Some other time?" Without the entourage, he added in his head but didn't say aloud. He hesitantly offered his hand to the dark haired man.

Harry grinned happily and his green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. "And I would have paid for it happily," he took Draco's hand in his own. "I'll owl you about another time, okay?"

"Harry," Ginny growled in protest but he ignored her as he said his goodbyes to Luna and Draco.

Luna watched them slowly make their way down the alley with a grin lighting her features. She could tell that the other three were haranguing Harry horribly but that would only further her plans for the raven haired seeker. "A most auspicious day, cousin," she threaded her arm around Draco's elbow and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I find I am sanguine about the future."

Draco snickered. "You know that means bloody as well as hopeful don't you, dearest cousin?"

Luna nodded her head against his shoulder. "Well, I'm bloody hopeful for the future so it works quite well."

"Yes," Draco nodded and patted the hand on his elbow. "It does at that, Luna."