Written for the Mini QL comp (Portsmouth Plovers, Keep) with the prompt 'Cinderella' and the Winter Challenge, (Trope Challenge) with the prompt 'Happily Ever After'.

Word count: 1899

Summary: AU!

Beta's: The amazingly incredible Aya Diefair, and the incredible, Dark Angel!

Pre-Hogwarts.

Luna Lovegood was never the same after her mother blew herself up in the kitchen - accidentally, of course. No matter how many creatures she researched, she just couldn't find a reasonable cause for the explosion, except that her mother had made a miscalculation. Some would say it drove the young child mad.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, little Luna found her father becoming more inclined to a certain woman: Narcissa Malfoy. She, too, had a child, and she, too, was widowed. However, the circumstances around her husband's death came with many theories. No two stories were the same.

Luna had heard at least ten different variations before she officially met Narcissa and decided that any of them could have been true. Though, she hoped they weren't - most of them involved cruel intentions on the woman's part.

As the days faded to nights, and Summer turned to Winter, the closer the two adults became.

The same could not be told for the two light-haired children.

Luna glanced up from her book about mermaids as Draco walked into the library. "Hello, Draco."

The older boy made a sound of disgust. "You're here."

"I am." She kept her voice light and soft.

"That means your idiot father is, too."

Luna let the insult slide straight past her.

"He's with your mother," she informed him, even though that would have been obvious.

"What are you doing in here?" she asked, deciding to attempt to find something in common.

She wasn't oblivious to the ring her father had brought.

"It's my house. I can do whatever I want," Draco snapped - that wasn't unusual behaviour. "In fact, get out. This is my library!"

Before Luna could open her mouth to inform him that she had permission, he had already approached her.

"Are you not listening? Get out of my library you stupid, filthy, looney, fre-"

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY!" his mother voice roared. "That is no way to talk to a guest."

Draco had jumped back so quickly, it's as if Narcissa had pulled her wand on him. "But-"

He was silenced with a wave of the woman's hand. "Now, children. Xeno and I have some news."

Luna's father grinned with pride, having regained his composure from the scene he and Narcissa had walked in on. "Cissy and I are getting married."

"That's disgusting!"

"Draco," his mother uttered warningly.

Though Luna felt the same way as Draco, she knew how happy her father was; that was more important than her feelings right now. She'd grow to know Narcissa and Draco more, and once they found something in common, it could be a happy family.

"Congratulations."

Luna's first year at Hogwarts.

Luna stared at the letter written by her step-mother. Her father was dead. Dead. Gone. She looked up at the fellow first years in her house before turning her attention to her step-brother, who had a near identical letter in his hand. As he looked up their eyes met. She knew her were glossed over with tears, whereas his was filled with glee. A smirk made its way to his face before he mouthed 'you're next'.

Quickly turning her attention away from him and his cruel joke, Luna did her best to compose herself. She was no longer looking forward to Christmas which was only three weeks away.

Her world had completely shattered from that day on.

Luna's third year at Hogwarts.

Luna stumbled back as Draco pushed her out of his way to the exit.

"Draco, seriously, I have a question."

He groaned but actually turned his attention to her. "What?"

"I don't have a dress for the ball, do you thi-" Luna drifted off as her step-brother began to laugh. Not a joyful laugh, but a cruel one. "Is something funny?"

"Yes. You. You actually think you deserve to go to the ball?" he asked, a smirk on his face. "You couldn't even get a date. Nobody wants you. You're nothing… in fact, you're worse than nothing. You're worse than a house elf, even."

Luna held in the bubbling tears. It wasn't the first time Draco caused her to cry, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset over his words.

"You're lucky Mother even bothered to send you something. I personally think it suits you. You can wear the rags while sweeping the floors," he spat.

She glared at him as best as she could but said nothing in retort. Instead, she held head high she walked past him.

"You can't tell me what to do here," she said, in a singsong manner.

She heard him behind her, but thankfully was able to walk away without interruption.

Unfortunately, she had barely gotten to her dorm when the tears did start to fall. Draco knew how to upset her, more than his mother did. In fact, she found it very therapeutic to help the elves clean the manor; they were very good company. Much better than the Malfoys ever were. This was something she was forced into doing since her father passed away, she was never treated like a daughter anymore, but more of a servant to the vile family she was trapped in.

"Miss Luna is sad."

Luna looked up at one of her favourite elves who was cleaning up the dorms. "Hi, Dobby."

"Miss Luna wants to dance at the ball?"

"I can't go Dobby, I don't have enough time to make a dress. My Stepmother said she'd send me one. She didn't want me to 'disrespect the family' by going in anything but what she selected. Unfortunately, the one she sent is absolutely hideous and old and..."

"Dobby can help?"

Luna looked at Narcissa's ex-house elf with compassion. She wasn't sure how well he could sew, but knew that either way, she would love his help. "Do you think we will have the time, the two of us, to make one?"

Dobby's eyes lightened up with utter glee and excitement. "Dobby will go get more help!"

The next thing Luna knew, her whole dorm was bustling with house elves. She vowed that one day she would repay them for their kindness.

On the way to the ball...

Luna couldn't have been more excited to attend the ball. The newly sewn dress was perfect, just like something she remembered her mum wearing… though, it was more her dad's style. The perfect combination in her opinion.

"Dobby, it's perfect!" she praised before turning once in the dusty rose-colored dress.

"Very pretty, miss." Dobby smiled, pleased to have been able to make Luna happy. "Ball starts soon. Miss Luna shouldn't miss it!"

A snap of his fingers magicked Luna's thick blonde hair into a very elegant updo that would make Narcissa herself jealous of. A subtle sparkle twinkled in the light from the decorative comb and pins that were used, she had just enough makeup on to dazzle and complement her blue eyes and dress. She was ready.

"I cannot thank you enough, Dobby," she said while slipping into her shoes.

"No trouble miss, as long as you're happy. Go, go now. You'll be late!" Dobby ushered her out of the room.

Luna lightly kissed the top of the elf's head before running out of her dorm and to the stairs. Making her way down the main flight of stairs as fast as she was capable in the small heels she wore, she got too far ahead of herself and tripped at the base of the stairs where her stepbrother just happened to be, stumbling right into him and his date.

"What's this?" Draco hissed, shoving Luna back onto the steps. "That is not what you were allowed to wear, Loony. I'll tell Mother, and she'll be very disheartened and upset that you hated the dress she gave you."

Luna carefully got to her feet, flinching from a fresh bruise forming on her leg. She couldn't care less about what Narcissa thought anymore, she was just as vile to her as her son.

Pansy Parkinson narrowed her eyes after looking over her own dress. "You nearly tore my gown you stupid girl!"

"I am sor-"

Pansy had her wand drawn before Luna could finish apologizing and cast a slicing charm. The sound of material harshly ripping filled the air around her ears. Seeing the skirt torn half way up at the seam, Luna looked mortified.

"No, stop! Please!" she pleaded, attempting to hold the skirt together so she could mend it.

Draco laughed at the scene unfolding, draping his arm over Pansy's shoulders. "Looks better already, wouldn't you say, Pans?"

"Of course," she agreed, a wicked smile on her face.

As Luna frantically tried to magically sew the damage, she heard Draco and Pansy sniggering as they walked off - it was just a bit of fun for them. She was never good at magically sewing things. With a sigh she knew she'd have to return to her dorm to manually sew the dress back together, after all, it was exposing more than just her legs.

Luna wasn't one to rush, even when she heard footprints heading in her direction.

"Miss Lovegood?"

Looking up at the sound of Professor McGonagall's voice, the third year smiled. "Good evening, Professor."

The Deputy acknowledged the greeting with a nod as her eyes glanced down. "What happened to your dress?"

"Just some fun for other students," she replied lightly. It did seem to bring Draco joy when he was mean to her.

It was obvious that Professor McGonagall did not approve of this type of 'fun' by the tight line her lips were making.

To defuse the tension, Luna smiled at her. "I was just going to sew it up. I feel like nargles help when you use a needle and thread."

Without a word, Professor McGonagall pulled out her wand, and with a small deliberate and delicate wave, Luna's dress began repairing itself expertly. "You shall go to the ball. And tomorrow I expect you to talk to Professor Flitwick regarding who ruined your dress."

"Thank you very much, Professor. I don't believe that would be necessary, though." Luna looked gleefully down at her dress, unable to be happy about the prospect of going straight to the ball.

Starting a conversation about a creature she had recently learnt about, Luna and Professor McGonagall walked to the ball together. By the time they'd arrived, the 13-year-old was back in happy spirits.

During the ball

Staring across the room, Luna was completely lost in thought. She watched her fellow students dance around with one another with massive smiles on their faces. This was precisely why she wanted to come, to see the joy and feel it radiating from her classmates.

A shadow covered her face and caused her to look up at the older student. He towered over her in height, though couldn't have been much over. "Hello."

The boy jumped slightly and looked at her, almost stumbling over. He hadn't realised how close he had gotten. "Hi."

The genuine yet shy smile that appeared on the fellow students faces made Luna smile. "I'm Luna."

"Neville," he replied. Hesitation seeped over his features before looking at her more sheepishly. "Did you want to dance?"

"I'd love to."

Neither Luna or Neville knew that that dance would be the beginning of their lives towards a Happily Ever After.