Draco was sure it must be a mermaid. Or a nymph. Those things existed, didn't they? Because there was definitely a figure sat on the end of his bed with flowing blonde hair and Draco was almost convinced it was glowing. Rubbing his eyes disbelievingly he realised it was Luna. She turned as she felt the movement when he sat up, her eyes meeting his. It was only when she stood up and walked over to him that he realised she was wearing nothing but his bath robe which just about swamped her petite frame.

'My clothes smell of the basement too.'

'Your clothes are in pieces on my floor, Lovegood. It wouldn't matter if they smelt of basement or not, you'll not be able to wear them again.'

Luna looked extremely uncomfortable, her hands folded uncharacteristically across her chest. He slid himself to the end of the bed and opened his wardrobe, his eyes clearly searching for something. He finally found what he was looking for and moments later, Luna appeared from the bathroom in a pair of pyjamas that were several sizes too big for her and a grin to match. Her expression was infectious and as she bounded up to sit beside him, he couldn't help but smile at how comical she looked.

'Are you hungry?'

Luna nodded, watching as Draco pulled out a box from beneath his bed. It was filled to the brim with every treat Luna could imagine and more besides. To a half starved girl who'd survived mostly on bread and water for over a month, it looked like heaven.

'Where on earth did you get all that, Draco?' Luna questioned, picking up a chocolate frog, 'You've got enough sweets to run your own trolley on the Hogwarts express.'

Draco just shrugged and sat back down on his bed, smirking at the expression of glee that was creeping across her face as she sat on the floor beside the box and began to tuck in.

'I win a lot of card games.'

If things were different, I'd chastise you for gambling. But given what just happened, I can't say I'm sorry you've had the practice.'

The smirk on Draco's face wavered. The Luna he was observing now was too carefree, she was too smiley, too trusting and it unnerved him. For a girl who had come close to facing torture, she was too calm. How could she be joking about his gambling habits when only moments ago her safety had depended on them?

'Is it difficult to gamble? I mean it must be, I'd imagine it's quite fun though, taking risks. I had a great uncle once who gambled away his entire collection of red nosed…'

Luna's words faded out as she noticed the cloud that had descended over Draco's expression.

'Draco?...'

'Do you really think what I just did was easy? Do you think I enjoyed risking your safety? Merlin, Luna, you say some ridiculous things.'

Luna's happy expression vanished. 'Draco, I didn't mean… I was just… I just thought when the stakes aren't as high…'

'But they were high, Luna. Those death eaters weren't in the game because they wanted to have afternoon tea with you. Merlin, you were so scared. I saw you. How can you laugh about it?'

Luna shook her head and began to speak but Draco continued,

'Do you know how close I was to losing? You have no idea how bloody scared I was. So please, by all means laugh. But don't laugh about how close I came to losing.'

Luna stood up, taking Draco's hand.

'What else can we do to make terrible memories bearable than to try to laugh about elements of them? You didn't lose. And it was because of a habit you developed at a much happier time. I prefer to draw on the happy times that saved me, rather than the scary times that put me in danger, don't you?'

Draco shook his head, baffled. 'You're unbelievable, Lovegood.'

Luna just smiled dazedly 'Lots of people have said that. I think people should start believing in me more. They might benefit from it, I think. For example, right now I'm not going to waste the time we have thinking about every bad thing that is happening in the world. Because what can we do about them from inside this room?'

'But what about Potter?'

'I don't really think there's much I can do to help Harry from the inside of your bedroom, do you?'

The smirk suddenly returned to Draco's face and Luna raised her eyebrows questioningly but his smirk only grew in response.

'I was just thinking…' He stood up suddenly, spinning Luna around so her back was pinned against his chest, his mouth level with her ear, his hands, clasping hers as he wrapped his arms around her.

'What would Mr Potter think, if he knew you were in my bedroom?'

He could feel her heart racing, and one quick glance in the mirror opposite them revealed the half smile that was playing around her face.

'And what's more…' He whispered, placing a gentle kiss on her neck before meeting her eyes in the mirror. 'You're happy to be here.' He kissed her again. 'In my arms.' He tilted her face towards him. 'Letting me kiss you.'

Although in fact, it was Luna who kissed Draco first, cutting his final observation short.

But this time there was no Griphook clearing his throat, no Ollivander watching out of the corner of his eye, and although the world outside seemed to be tearing itself to pieces, the worry was momentarily forgotten.

And yet ten minutes later, looking down at the wide expecting eye of the Ravenclaw lying beneath him, Draco hesitated, refastening the button hole he had moments ago undone.

'I can't do this, Luna.' He stroked her cheek gently. 'Not now.' As her eyebrows furrowed, he lay down next to her. 'I mean I want to but you're different.'

'I'm not that different, Draco. I'm pretty much anatomically identical to every other girl on this planet.'

Draco shook his head, entwining his fingers with hers.

'No. I mean you're different to me. You're not like the other girls. It didn't mean anything with them, it was just physical. But now…' He swallowed, running his free hand through his hair.

'Half of the people in this house think I'm raping you, the other half think that and are hoping that I'll get you pregnant so they can treat you like a little pureblood baby farm. No matter how you twist it, to the rest of the world, I'm still captor and you're still prisoner. I don't want it to happen this way.'

Luna shuffled closed to him, her head resting against his chest.

'When I'm free Draco…' Luna's voice was distorted by the sound of a huge yawn and Draco stroked her hair gently.

'When we're both free, Luna.' Draco tried to sound confident but he couldn't silence the voice in the back of his mind that taunted him.

Don't be ridiculous, Malfoy. As if you're ever going to be free. And even if you manage to be, do you really think when this war ends she'd choose you?

Hi again everyone! I realise it has literally been months so I'm going to try to post some chapters over the next week and get this show back on the road again. Apologies for vanishing and hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas!