Chapter 30. The Aftermath Pt. 2

POV Draco

Once all the statements were taken and Ginny's hex reversed, the Aurors escorted Ginny to the Ministry for more questioning. Hermione had told the Aurors that she didn't want to press charges against her, that she was just acting out of anger for all that her family had gone through.

Bloody, bleeding Gryffindor heart. She should rot in a cell next to her brother.

"You alright Drake?" Theo asked, slapping him on the back, "Hermione was pretty badass back there, huh? She could take us all out in one swing."

He chuckled, "She does have a decent right hook on her."

"That's right! I forgot she clobbered you third year."

"She didn't clobber me. It was one punch… one punch that broke my nose, but just one nonetheless."

"Shall I give it another go?" Hermione said as she walked up beside them.

"I think you made your point all those years ago sweetheart, Theo here, however, seems to be misremembering the incident, maybe you could remind him instead?"

"That's fucked up mate. We're supposed to be friends."

"I'll literally pay you to do it, Granger," Pansy said, joining the group.

"Guy's I'm not going to punch Draco. I've honestly had enough drama for the day, so if we could just finally go eat before I go mad, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Alright, come on Princess." Theo said, throwing his arm around her, "Luna? Would you care to join us?"

"Oh. Well, thank you, Theodore, that is very kind of you."

"No worries Lovely Lovegood."

"So Hermione, how are you?" Luna asked as they all sat down at the private table in the back of Madame Beaumont's.

"I'm alright. The past few days have been very difficult, but I'm surrounded by wonderful friends who take great care of me and I am grateful for that."

"I'm so happy for you. It seems the Wrackspurts have cleared from your mind, so that must be a relief."

"What are Wrackspurts?" Theo whispered in her ear.

"They're invisible creatures that float into your ear and make your brain go fuzzy."

Theo recoiled, covering his ears with his hands, "You stay away from me princess, I don't want anything crawling in my ears."

"You'll be alright Theodore, your aura is positive enough that I think they won't be very interested in your brain."

"I feel like I should be offended, right?" he asked, looking at Draco who simply shrugged his response.

Hermione smacked Theo on the arm and turned her attention back to Luna, "What have you been up to Luna? Why aren't you at Hogwarts?"

"Oh! I decided to leave. I will be going to Romania to work alongside Charlie Weasley for the next two years. He was looking for a partner for his breeding program project. His hope is to take breeds of dragons that have been hunted to extinction and breed them back into existence, reintroducing them into protected land on their respective continents."

"Are you sure that is a good idea, Luna? There is a muggle movie explaining why that is a very bad idea."

"Dean warned me about Jurassic Park too, but it's not the same. We're trying to breathe life into species that were eradicated by humans, not ones who were lost to natural selection."

Hermione nodded; she could understand getting behind a cause like that.

"What about Longbottom?" Draco added.

"Oh my goodness Luna, I didn't even think about that!"

"You've been busy Hermione, it's okay." She said, taking her hand, "Neville and I broke up, we just weren't on the same path. He wanted to take over for Professor Sprout and I wanted to travel and see the world."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's the best for both of us."

The group continued their meal, exchanging memories, and Draco couldn't help but smile, happy to know that Hermione wasn't as alone as she could sometimes feel. She had many friends surrounding her that would have her back in a heartbeat, and he was grateful for that. When they were all sated and worn out from the day, they all stood to leave. Luna took his arm and pulled him to the side.

"Draco. Do you know much about seer's?"

"I can't say that I do. I know that we had one in the Malfoy line many generations back, but I don't believe she made any prolific predictions."

"Persephone Macnair nèe Malfoy. She was sold off to Alistair Macnair at 15 and married off to his son Joseph. On their wedding night, Alistair slipped Draught of the Living Death into Joseph's wine, and raped Persephone. She was so traumatized by the experience that she was placed into an asylum, but only after she gave birth to her son Zephyr. That was when her visions started. My father and I have wondered if there are creatures involved. In the muggle world there have been many incidences recorded of women who experience a trauma being more susceptible to the spirit world. I like to think these creatures can sense their suffering and attach themselves to them for whatever it is they need and in return the women are granted visions. Sort of like the succubus trading vivid dreams for feeding on your energy while you sleep"

"I didn't know that."

"I wouldn't expect you to, when I started to get visions I did a lot of research on it."

"You have visions?"

"Yes, my mother died experimenting with a spell when I was nine."

"I'm sorry Luna."

"That's alright, she died doing what she loved most."

"Well, Hermione is waiting for me, I should get going." He said, trying to understand the strange interaction that he had just had.

She's always been weird, just let her say what she has to say and move on.

He turned to leave but felt a small hand grab ahold of his wrist, "In the shadows a weasel sits, whispering plans to the marionette of darkness, the strings pulled by the servants of the Dark One's malevolent design. A girl of gold, a pawn in their perilous game, abducted against the tides of fate. The dragon's salvation, in scales and flames, the answer lies."

Draco stood in stunned silence, staring at the small witch, whose eyes finally cleared, and was looking around assessing her surroundings.

"Luna?"

"I'm sorry Draco. I'm so sorry. What was I saying?" she said, with a curious look on her face. He was about to answer her when she exclaimed, "Oh! Do you have any Mandrake leaves?"

"I… I think so." He replied, even more confused.

"30 days, full moon to full moon; you must not remove it until the end, do you understand?"

No.

"Yes." He reluctantly replied, hoping he would figure it out later.

She smiled and took her leave, Draco left standing alone, confused, and incredibly worried about what he had just witnessed.

A girl of gold? Abducted? Did she have a vision? And what was that about the Mandrake leaves? 30 days of what? FUCK! I'll need to go to the manor's library, Hermione has a lot of books, but I really don't want to worry her when she just got a moment of reprieve.

"Hey… You okay?"

Draco took Hermione's hand and placed a kiss to her knuckles, "Yes. All good. Luna just wanted to make sure you were really okay and not just pretending."

"Oh. She's sweet."

"Yes, she is. Come on, let's get you home."

He held her close as he walked them back to the Leaky to floo home, suddenly aware of every person they passed. Luna's vision was making him more and more nervous the more the words cycled through his mind.

Is Weasley planning something? Servants of the Dark One? WHAT IS THE MANDRAKE LEAF FOR!?

"Draco I can feel you're anxiety. Something is wrong, please don't lie to me."

He turned to look at her and sighed, placing a hand on her cheek, "You're right sweetheart, but I can't talk about it here, alright?"

She nodded and they disappeared into the floo, Draco kicking himself for being so careless as to let her feel even an ounce of the fear that haunted him.

Be better you idiot.