She waited and she watched. She watched as teachers, students, townsfolk came and went. She heard gossip about the happenings in the town, rumours, bitching, arguments and an old woman who was looking for a lost cat. The Three Broomsticks could never be described as being a boring place to sit but Luna couldn't help feeling let down. She had known all along that he wouldn't turn up and yet she could help feeling hopeful every time the bell rang signalling someone's entry. But the day was wearing on and eventually she rose from her seat, thanked Rosmerta cheerfully for the butterbeer and left, feeling every set of eyes pinned to her back.

It was spring and the snow that seemed to cover Hogsmeade for most of the year had melted. The streets looked empty without it but all the more atmospheric in the drizzling rain. It was almost six o clock and the evening had brought a cold wind with it. People were beginning to go back to their homes and the square was busy. They had been given no set time to be back at Hogwarts so Luna started to amble aimlessly along the road, enjoying the change of scenery.

She stopped mid step as she noticed Draco. He was stood leaning against one of the houses opposite the three broomsticks watching her. A happy smile crawled across Luna's face. Things had gone just as she hoped they would. She had barely said hello before he

grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into the alleyway between the two houses, out of view.

'I'm the son of a very well known family, Loony. Anyone could be watching. And what in merlin's name are you grinning about?'

Luna shook her head.

'Oh nothing. I'm just happy.'

'Well good for you Lovegood.' Draco didn't try to hide the sarcasm as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

'Because you've reminded me that there's still hope.'

Draco was about to snuff out her happiness but before he could speak Luna suddenly looked at the sky, gasped and grabbing his hand, she pulled him down the alley and through several streets until they stopped next to a small, overgrown pond.

Out of breath from the sudden burst of activity, Luna continued to speak.

'Because you came to Hogsmeade, even if you didn't come to the three broomsticks. I don't think you would have come if you were completely bad. I think you need to realise that.'

'So that was the point of inviting me? To convince you that you could save me.'

They were both staring straight out ahead at the pond. They were still holding hands but neither of them made a move to change anything. It seemed natural and free, a feeling so familiar to Luna and so unfamiliar to Draco.

'You can only save someone when they want to be saved.'

'By all means, Lovegood, feel free to save me whenever you feel like it.'

'That sounds more like the old Draco.'

Draco turned his head in puzzlement. 'Old Draco?'

Luna was studying the horizon as though searching for something.

'The Draco from before Christmas. He seemed...' She tilted her head obscurely as if it somehow helped her to think more clearly. 'less burdened.'

'Things happened over Christmas.'

The lack of eye contact had been broken as Luna moved to block Draco's line of view.

'Not nice things?'

'What do you think?'

Their conversation was halted by a distinct buzzing sound that seemed to be coming from the pond. Luna's eyes lit up and she shushed Draco before he could even start to question.

'Just watch.'

As if out of nowhere, thousands of tiny, golden lights emerged from the undergrowth surrounding the pond. Then, as if someone had given them a cue, they all simultaneously flew up into the air and began to swarm, forming patterns and shapes above the pond. It was a sight like nothing Draco had ever seen before. Slowly, as though to not startle them, Luna sat down on the grass, pulling Draco down next to her.

'They're light elves. Sometimes, if you're on top of Ravenclaw tower you can see them.'

Draco turned as Luna whispered to him but his eyes kept darting to the hypnotic spectacle in front of him.

'They're usually very shy but there's a week, I've been watching you see, there's a week every three months where they dance and play. All week. And it was this week, so I thought I'd show you. They're not the most interesting but I think they're beautiful.'

There was a light in Luna's eyes that didn't come from the elves. This was where her passion lay. With creatures and their lives. The beauty of the situation could not be denied. It was so dazzling that Draco felt calmed and energized all at once and he felt as though his worries had disappeared or at least they no longer mattered. Then as suddenly as the light elves had appeared, they disappeared and the mood was gone.

'You're the only person I've ever shown them to. No-one else would come. They didn't believe that they existed when I told them, that's why I didn't tell you why we were here. I thought you wouldn't come if I told you.'

She was still whispering. The effect of the elves had still not lifted and there was an atmosphere of complete calm and trust. Luna had revealed a part of herself and so, without thinking, Draco did the same.

'My mother is terrified. She spent the entire holiday trying to help me or offering to take my place. And she cried. When she thought I wouldn't hear her. She. Never. Stopped. Crying.'

Draco was talking through gritted teeth as he tried to stop the tears from falling, his eyes fixed on the pond where now only ripples showed any sign of the night's events.

'She doesn't understand. If I fail, he'll kill her too. But she never cries for herself. It's always me. What about her life? Why doesn't she care about her own life?'

Luna sighed 'Because that's love, Draco. And I think the strongest love of all is between a mother and her child.'

'We need to get back to Hogwarts.' And that was that. The moment had passed.

But as he got to his feet, Draco realised he felt different. He was still terrified and the mission was still at the back of his mind but that was where it was. At the back. It was as though he had put it on a shelf to think about later rather than it hanging over him like a rain cloud.

He offered Luna his hand as she got up without thinking and seemed surprised when she took it.

He was a faster walker and he had longer legs so he reached Hogwarts long before Luna.

Which meant she had no idea that he saw her trip as she entered the grounds daydreaming.

And she never saw the half-hearted smile that flew across his lips for a fleeting moment.

A smile that, never the less, reached his eyes.

Oh my, 30 chapters! This is now officially my longest fanfiction! I don't know what it was about this chapter, but I loved writing it. I was toying with the ending, playing it through in my head and trying to fit it all together with the chapters I've alread planned and it suddenly all seemed to make sense.

As always, reviews are wonderful and give me motivation so if I'm taking forever, please don't hesitate to tell me to hurry up because if I know people are waiting, I feel a greater need to update faster. Thanks again for patience and support x