'And you're sure you don't want us to stay with you? Or you could come and stay with us for the holidays, I'm sure mum wouldn't mind.'

Ginny had been trying to reason with Luna for the entire morning but all to no avail. She hadn't believed Luna's excuse of wanting to have some time to herself to study and had instead resorted to providing better options to try and tempt her. Luna smiled at her friend.

'I'll be alright. I've got lots to do and I know there'll be someone I can talk to.'

She looked across the hall to where Draco was sat eating his breakfast. Ginny followed her gaze and crinkled her nose.

'Malfoy's staying. That's bad luck. Oh well, as long as you're alright. I'll see you after Easter, Luna.'

Ginny got to her feet and hurried to meet Ron and the rest of her red haired family.

'She not coming then?' Ron looked over to where Luna was still sat reading her newest edition of the Quibbler.

'No, I can't imagine why she'd want to stay. Just her, Malfoy and a handful of people she doesn't know.'

Ron shrugged. 'It's Luna, she'll probably start talking to the trees if there's no-one else there.'

And with that, they waved their goodbyes and set off home.

From where he was sat at the top table, Dumbledore watched the looks exchanged between the two remaining blondes over the top of his teacup and smiled his wise smile. He was glad that in his last year as headmaster he was able to see something as rare and special as a friendship that left behind all past prejudices and it gave him comfort to know that although he could do nothing to help Draco, he could rely on Luna to stand by the troubled Slytherin as he struggled.

Draco had left moments earlier and as Luna stood up, she caught Dumbledore's eye. He nodded reassuringly and a slight smile appeared on her lips before she skipped off in the same direction as Draco. Yes, if there was one thing Dumbledore could rely on, it was that Luna would be loyal to whoever was lucky enough to earn her friendship.

Draco was waiting for her outside in one of the courtyards. He was leaning next to the door frame and she would have walked straight past him if he hadn't spoken.

'You didn't have to stay. You could have gone home. I wouldn't have cared.'

Luna tilted her head to one side in mock thoughtfulness. 'But then I never would have been able to complete my mission.'

Draco took a bite from the apple he had taken from breakfast and looked inquisitive. 'Mission?'

'To make you smile.'

'What makes you think I'll cooperate?'

'I think you want to smile too. You just need reason to.' As always, Luna's analysis was spot on.

'And you think you can give me that reason?'

'I can try.'

Without thinking about it, Draco had been constantly checking no-one was around. They were out in the open, talking as though they didn't hate each other as much as the world thought they did. The school was deserted. In total seven people had remained behind over the holidays. There were the three who didn't have families to go back to and who's friends could not have them. All from years below Luna. Then there were four who had chosen to stay. Apart from Draco and Luna there were two final year Ravenclaws who Luna knew were perfectionists. They were unlikely to ever surface from the library so to all intents and purposes, Draco and Luna were safe to do whatever they wanted without it getting back to their friends.

Draco still looked doubtful so Luna tried a different angle.

'This is the last normal holiday we're going to have. I don't know what, but I know something big is going to happen at the end of this year.' Draco's face was expressionless, revealing nothing to her. 'And what with this.' She took Draco's hand, pushing up his sleeve to see the dark mark. 'I don't think you'll be coming back next year unless Hogwarts changes for the worse. Our world is getting darker and darker and if we don't have happy memories to look back on, the dark will one day take us over completely.'

Draco was close to agreeing to do what she wanted. He wished is was all as easy as she made it seem but it wasn't.

'I'm not really up for your airy fairy happy clappy nonsense, Loony. I stayed at Hogwarts because I have a job to do. One that doesn't involve you. So if you know what's good for you, you'll keep out of my way.'

He pushed past her, the anger he had managed to work up growing with every step. Unfazed, Luna marched after him. Eventually the conflict inside Draco became too much. He was fighting between what he wanted to do and what he felt he had to do and it was all Luna's fault. He stopped dead, turned on her and like a cornered dog he began to snarl.

'Leave me alone, Loony. You're just like all the other pathetic little girls who bother me. You think somehow that you can change someone by being nice or pretending you care. You think with a few kind gestures I'll fall crying into your arms and become one of the good guys. Well I'm bad. I fight for the wrong side but it's. my. choice.'

Luna was taken aback by his outburst but to Draco's surprise she rose to the challenge.

'But it's not your choice. You've been so moulded by other people's opinions you can't listen to your own anymore. You're surrounded by so much darkness. What if one day that's all that's left? It'll consume you and you'll be blind to anything good! I don't want you to go blind!'

Her last analogy would have made Draco laugh in any other situation but the single tear that had managed to escape from Luna's right eye as she spoke stopped him.

She wasn't like other girls. Other girls had cried after or because of him. No other girl had ever cried for him.

'I'll do it. But on my terms.'

Luna nodded and smiled as though she had always known he would agree.

It's getting dangerously close to exams now so I just thought I would do a quick update before they all start. Thanks again for the reviews and I promise that once exams are over I will get going with the updates!