Chapter Text
All hope was lost.
That was the first thing Draco thought when he saw Harry Potter in Hagrid's arms.
He could only stand there and watch the madman proclaim victory for his side with a horrendous laugh and the speech he’d waited for over a decade to deliver. All wizards would join him or die.
His body started to burn with rage. Gone was the numbness he’d been feeling for far too long, he finally felt alive, invigorated by the hot rage inside him.
His life was burning down to ashes, just like the Room of Hidden Things and he was damned to watch.
But this time, maybe for the first time in his life, he stood on the right side.
He realised it the moment Potter came back to save him, emerald green eyes burning hotter than the Fiendfyre around them as they searched for him, to pull him up, to save him, and all Draco could do was hold on for dear life and bury his nose in the crook of Potters neck. The boy that came back for him.
Draco knew he was a pawn in his father’s game. He knew the moment he took the Dark Mark that he was lost.
But Potter came back.
To save him.
And it took him till this moment to realise that there are things worth fighting for.
Potter may be dead; the war may be over, but Draco could no longer stand aside—he’d stand here and die for the right side. For once in his life he wouldn’t be taking the easy way out.
His ears began to ring and his hands shook; he was seconds away from a breakdown. Longbottom stepped in front of them and Draco knew that he should probably listen, but the words started to fade as he lost control of his mind and body.
He didn't even realise that his mother had stolen her way over to his side, unnoticed by the people around them, until she pushed her wand into his shaking hand and took a small step back, lingering behind him. Her hand was shaking as she touched the small of his back.
“Are you alright my love?” she whispered, leaning in until her mouth almost brushed the shell of his ear. Even then Draco strained to hear the words. “I need you to listen carefully. I lied to the Dark Lord. I don't know if any of us will live to see the sunrise. I need you to know that I love you and I should have tried to protect you years ago. Be braver than me. I love you my darling. I’m sorry, my love. So sorry.”
The words washed over Draco, leaving him shaking in their wake. He had so many questions. Why was his mother with him, what had she done, and why had she given him her wand? Potter was dead, it was over, there was truly no hope left.
There was no warning when all hell broke loose. Longbottom chopped off Nagini's head with a sword — where that had come from? He had no idea. Somebody screamed “Harry!” and curses started flying all around him.
He was never as happy as he was in that very moment while his life burned, his mother cried, and Potter was running and firing hexes at all the Death Eaters he found in his path.
He held his mothers wand in his hand so tightly the wood hurt his fingers. And then he knew what he needed to do.
He stormed after Lovegood. He trusted Luna to trust him to fight beside her, he wasn’t sure he could expect that from anyone else. After the weeks she had spent at the Manor as a hostage it felt like the right thing to do, to keep her safe and fight by her side.
So he did; he kept her safe from curses he had never dared to dream of; yet here he was, at a battleground where adults cast them against kids as if they were nothing more than stinging hexes.
Granger appeared beside them without warning. It took a second for her to realise what was going on, and with a short nod to Draco she fought beside them.
Every second got harder; they grew tired and their muscles burned, but still they fought.
Kids against adults. Blood against blood.
It didn't matter.
The only thing that mattered was that Potter was alive.
And there was hope.
The Death Eaters fell, one by one, and the battle moved to the Entrance Hall.
His mad aunt started firing curses at them and Draco was unable to fight her. His wand was useless against his own blood due to the Unbreakable Vow his father had made him take. He watched in despair as Lovegood, Granger and—wherever she came from—Weaslette struggled to counter the attacks, feeling useless.
But he could keep them safe: he could shield them from harm, and if he had to he would shield them with his own body. That was, after all, the right thing to do—not the easy thing, the right thing. All that mattered was that he was—for once in his life—on the right side, and that there was hope for all of them.
As they grew tired, their brains too slow and their bodies too weak, Bellatrix Lestrange shot the killing curse at the Weaslette, missing her by an inch.
It was their luck that the Weasley Matriarch noticed it, pushed them to the side, and with an impressive movement and a rage he never believed any Weasley could possess—let alone this plump little lady—she screamed at his aunt and fired curse after curse, hex after hex, till the floor cracked and the air was thick with dust and stray magic.
And just like that it all was over; his aunt was dead, killed by the love of a mother that lost too much too soon. The last enemy standing was the Dark Lord himself, right in front of Harry Potter.
The only sound Draco heard was Potter’s low voice while he and the Dark Lord stalked around each other like wild animals just seconds before attack. One look at the scene in front of him and he knew exactly why the Dark Lord was scared of Potter.
The pure force of Potter's magic crackled around them and the look on his face was what he imagined the young Dumbledore looked like during his fight against Grindelwald. He was scared and his heartbeat was too fast and too loud for just standing around and waiting.
As the first rays of the sun lit the hall the Dark Lord fired the killing curse, but Potter’s shouted Expelliarmus was stronger, and with that, the war ended.
Like the slowly climbing sun that chases away the dark of the night, the light side had defeated the dark. The battle of Hogwarts was over. And Draco was still alive.
After what felt like an eternity, the gathered crowd started cheering and screaming. The body of the Dark Lord, empty and shrunken into itself, was levitated away along with all that remained of his fallen Death Eaters. Some of them didn't even look human, so many curses and hexes had hit them at the same time that their bodies were a disfigured mess.
Draco felt dead, there was no emotion left inside him. When he entered the Great Hall and looked around he could see that same emptiness in so many other faces.
Dead expressions and tears; the joy of just a few minutes ago was nowhere to be found.
Nothing good came of war and they all would have pay the price for it.
The Weasley clan was gathered around one of the beds that had been transfigured from all manner of objects to provide comfort to the wounded or dead. The look of pure grief on their faces told him that at least one member of the family didn't come out of this alive.
On the other side of the Hall he saw Professor McGonagall, by now probably Headmistress McGonagall, coordinating the staff to transport the wounded who could be moved safely to St. Mungos.
The house tables were gone and instead one smaller table was placed to the side where the house-elves busied themselves serving light food and many, many drinks. Merlin knows they had been fighting for so long and he never realized how thirsty one got while engaged in deadly combat.
Draco couldn’t take any more, he turned to leave but suddenly he stood face to face with Luna.
“Hello Draco” she chimed with a small but honest smile. “It was nice of you to help us today, I knew you would find a way to escape the Manor, just as I have. I saw it in your eyes; every time you came to visit me down there, I saw I wasn’t the only one that didn't want to be there… Let’s get something to drink and then we’ll go looking for your mom, yes? I’m sure she’s outside waiting for you. Did you know she also looked after me while I was your guest? She's such a nice lady!” And with that she walked off to the one remaining table to fetch them some drinks.
Trailing after her he asked himself why she even spoke to him after everything that had happened. Draco was lost for words.
They made their way out of the castle and took in their surroundings for the first time. The stairs were nearly destroyed, large parts of the walls were blown out and scattered around the ground, and there was so much blood, everywhere…he couldn’t breathe. Panic rose in his chest. He didn't know where to look, he couldn't think anymore, he didn't know what the future might bring. His home was gone he couldn’t go back to the Manor, not after everything that happened there.
He didn't know where his mother was or what had happened to her. He had left her unarmed in a battlefield to fight side by side with the enemy. The world started spinning around him. All air was gone and he couldn't remember how to breathe properly. Suddenly there was a hand on his cheek and a distant voice calling his name.
“Draco, Draco… Yes that's right, listen to my voice. Breathe Draco, in and out, slowly, everything's going to be alright. Just breathe. Come with me, it's nice today and the air is better if we move a bit further out.”
With a start he remembered how to move and followed Luna's voice out onto the grounds, taking deep breaths in time with her instructions. As they stepped out of the shadows of the castle, the sun was warm and there wasn't as much damage to the surrounding landscape.
They walked for a few minutes without talking, just walked and breathed and looked for the white-blonde hair of his mother.
When they couldn’t find her anywhere they sat down under a tree by the lake, just breathing. Draco was so tired, and now that the first wave of panic was gone, he couldn't bring himself to care anymore—the emptiness was back.
So they sat there in silence, drinking water and breathing.
Something deep inside him came suddenly to life when he saw three figures walking in the distance. Draco knew in an instant who it was; he had watched Potter for at least six years now and he would recognize him and his friends even if they were standing in a herd of stomping Hippogriffs and he had lost an eye.
Luna noticed his tension and looked over to the trio.
“You know… He is just as lost as you are. Maybe you should talk to him—later. Right now Headmistress McGonagall is heading our way and if we are lucky we’ll get some biscuits while we’re in in her office. That would be nice. Come on let's get up and over to her before she has to come the whole way down to us.”
Again Draco found himself trailing behind Luna. If the Ministry didn’t send him straight to Azkaban, he thought, he’d make a habit of sticking with her. In the short time since the final battle had begun till now he had grown very fond of her. At the Manor she was someone he could flee to. They would sit in silence just like they had the past hour, while she ate the food he had smuggled in or drank the extra glass of water he had brought her. They didn't need words then and they didn't need them now. Yes, he would definitely call Luna a friend. Maybe the only one left for him in this world.
“Miss Lovegood, Mister Malfoy…” they reached Headmistress McGonagall halfway back up to the castle. She looked just as exhausted as Draco felt, but there was a flame burning in her eyes that gave him some of his energy back—even if it wasn’t much—it was a start. “It's nice to see you alive and mostly uninjured, both of you. Mister Malfoy I must say I was stunned to see you fighting, and even more surprised when I realised you were fighting for us. I watched you as well as I could while the battle was raging and I'm pretty sure that Miss Lovegood here isn’t the only one whose life you saved today. Would you please follow me to my office, I need a word in private. Miss Lovegood, you may join us if Mister Malfoy permits it, or you may remain behind if you would like. We won’t be long.”
Luna looked at him and with a nod he told her that he was ok with whatever she wanted to do. So she followed them.
When they finally made their way up through the destroyed castle and into her new office he was shocked to see that they weren’t alone.
In front of the Headmistress’ desk was his mother. She looked much older than the last time he had seen her, older but unharmed, and he couldn’t stop the sob that escaped him as he ran to her and fell into her waiting arms as she wept into his hair.
After they stood there for a while, embracing, they separated to take a closer look at each other.
“Oh my love, my little Dragon” she whispered between her sobs “I wasn't sure I would ever see you again. I’m so proud of you Draco. So proud. You did the right thing, and we both know that is all that matters. I’m so sorry my son. I’m sorry I couldn’t stand up against him earlier. I’m so sorry, love. I wasn’t brave enough, but you were. I love you my darling.”
A few minutes later the Headmistress stepped behind her desk and sat down. Draco and Narcissa let go of each other to hear what would happen to them now that the war was over.
“Mrs. Malfoy, Mister Malfoy,” Draco flinched, “please take a seat. Miss Lovegood you too, please. Mrs. Malfoy, now that Draco has joined us we can talk. First of all I want you to know that the Aurors are hunting down the remaining Death Eaters. I talked to them about you and you are allowed to remain on the grounds until they have time to come and question you both and decide what will happen next. If you have anything to say that will aid in locating any remaining Death Eaters, I would appreciate it if you’d write it down for me to send to the Ministry.”
Draco gave her a short nod: yes he would help as best he could to get them all locked up.
“Furthermore, you must know that Mister Lucius Malfoy is alive and currently on his way to the Ministry with the Aurors. His first hearing is tomorrow and he will be held in Azkaban for the duration of his trial. He wished to see you both, but he fought for Voldemort till the end and I didn't want to keep him here. If you want to see him you will have to wait for your own hearings as you are not allowed to leave the premises unescorted until we determine what is to be done with you. Draco… I have already told you that we are thankful to have you here with us at last, but not everyone is aware of your actions and bravery in the battle and most people will not be as kind to you as Miss Lovegood. I would stick around here or with Miss Lovegood if I were you. Get some rest and eat. Mrs. Malfoy, you are confined to my office, I’ve warded it for your own safety. The people at Hogwarts might have won a war but they lost so much more. It wouldn’t be safe for you if you left. I’ll send a house elf to bring you whatever you require. If you'll excuse me, I need to speak with Auror Shacklebolt.”
With that, she stood and left the three of them in her office.
Draco took a look around. The portraits were empty, the former Headmasters were probably scattered around the castle; there was a pensieve on one of the tables with blood on it, he wondered who used it and whose blood it was. It didn't look old, it must be from this night. He wondered if he’d ever able to forget all the blood and death he saw today. Probably not.
After snooping around a bit he found some parchment, ink and a few quills . He sat down next to his mother while Luna busied herself with an old book she found on one of the shelves.
“Mother,” his voice was low and scratchy as he talked for the first time in nearly two hours. He had screamed himself hoarse that night. “We need to help them, we need to write down every detail we can think of, anything that could help. We’ll start with the names and every safe house we know and then I will bring this to the Headmistress.”
His mother gave him a small smile and they started writing. They wrote every name, every hiding place, every possible thing they could think of. The house elves brought some sandwiches and pumpkin juice while they sat in silence, scribbling line after line on parchment. When they finished Draco got up, his tired muscles protesting, to see Luna standing right behind them waiting for him. With a last glance and a whispered “see you later, mother” he left the office to search for the Headmistress.
When Draco found her she was directing St. Mungo's staff around the Great Hall. First response Mind Healers sat with the people who had lost somebody, and those who were not busy helping slept just where they were—some of them sitting with their backs to the walls, some laying on the bloody floor, and he even saw one man leaning against a portrait, fast asleep. The whole situation was surreal…
“Headmistress…” Draco's voice was still unrecognizable. “I've got the information you asked for, we hope it’ll help. There is one from me and one from Mother. Please give them to the Aurors, they might need them.”
“Thank you Mr. Malfoy.” she said with a sad smile. “Miss Lovegood, please take Mister Malfoy with you and get some rest, you’ve both been through a lot today and you deserve some peace.”
Luna smiled at her and they left the castle toward their tree by the lake, and some rest.
It took them only a few minutes to fall fast asleep together, laying under the big tree, the sun on their faces and their minds foggy from exhaustion.
When Draco woke he couldn’t move, his head hurt and his body was on fire, he felt as if he had only slept a few minutes, but the sun had wandered across the sky and was beginning to sink. He heard the quiet whisper of Luna's voice behind him talking to someone he couldn't see.
“... he’s not like that anymore, I’m not even sure he ever was. He saved me at the Manor you know. If it wasn’t for him and his Mum I wouldn’t have made it. I know you all probably think I’ve really lost my mind right now…”
“Oh Luna we’ve never thought you lost your mind and we probably never will.” It was a girl talking to Luna, her quiet voice sounded defeated and sad. Draco didn't recognize it. “If you say he's alright I believe you. He saved my life today, I’m sure of that, and he saved us back at the Manor. But he has to prove himself. The years of hate can’t be forgiven in just one night. But yes, I talked to him and you can come along if you want to, if Malfoy is allowed to leave. We have enough space for a few more.” Draco heard the ruffling of clothes and then steps moving away from them.
As Luna started humming a small song he turned around to look at her. She looked better: she had a few scratches on her face and one big cut on one of her arms, but she looked well rested and happy. He wondered how she did that. Luna was an oddity, she possessed so much positive magic that it was hard to look at her when you felt as dead and dirty as he did at the moment.
“Good morning Draco,” she smiled. Why did she always smile?
“Hey Luna. You look so much better than I feel. We should probably head inside to find someone to heal your cuts and bruises don't you think?” his voice was still scratchy.
“Oh okay, and after that we’ll get something to eat okay? I’m starving and you look like you haven’t eaten since 5th year.”
They made their way to the Great Hall and Luna took his arm as they walked in silence. He wondered who she was talking to when he woke and where exactly it was they were allowed to come along to. Luna didn't say a word about it and he didn't ask, he’d see when the time came.
Upon reaching the Great Hall they were greeted by a healer, her name tag told him her name was Healer Roberts, and she pushed Luna and him onto the next bed.
“Hello guys, my name is Healer Roberts and I'm going to look after you two whether you like it or not.” Her curly grey hair was frazzled and her warm brown eyes looked tired in her dark face. Draco reckoned she hadn't had a break all day.
“Hello Healer Roberts,” Luna chirped, “we would be grateful if you’ve got the time! My name is Luna and this is my friend Draco. We were in the battle from the beginning to end. I made sure our wounds weren’t too severe before we went to take a rest by the lake. If they were, I assure you we would have come sooner.”
Roberts smiled widely, “I’m going to heal your cuts now, this will probably itch like hell but when I'm finished it will stop immediately, ok?”
Luna gave a nod and Roberts waved her wand over her cuts. It took some time but she was very good. Once the cuts on Luna's face were gone, Healer Roberts turned her attention to her left arm, right where the deepest cut was.
She narrowed her eyes, “I will not be able to heal that completely dear. The cut is too deep and the margin of the wound is tattered. You'll have a scar but I’ll give you a salve for the aftercare. If you use it every day for the next couple of weeks the scar will get lighter and you shouldn't have any problems with it. When I’m done with that I will cast a diagnostic spell to make sure there is no damage we can’t see and if I don't find anything you are free to go.”
Luna looked at her and smiled. “It's alright, we all have scars by now. Thank you Healer Roberts.”
Five minutes later, Luna was ready and Draco was looked over from head to toe.
“You’ve got some pretty severe burns son, I’ll heal as much as I can and give you a salve for the rest. Just like Luna here, you’ll have to use it for the next couple of weeks but I don’t think there will be any permanent scarring. I will also need to cast a diagnostic spell over you and I’ll get you some pain relief potion. Are you ok with that?”
Draco gave her a small nod and she started to heal him. After 10 minutes they were ready and said their goodbyes to Healer Roberts.
The Great Hall had some of its tables restored after the injured were transported to St. Mungos and they sat down to eat whatever the elves could scrounge up. Draco heard the whispering start around them but pretended he couldn’t.
“Is that Malfoy over there with Loony Lovegood?”
“I heard he switched sides at the last moment!”
“What is this Death Eater scum still doing here?”
“Why isn’t he dead or in Azkaban by now?“
“I heard someone say he was the little love toy of you know who himself!!!”
“Ew that's disgusting!”
When he couldn't take it anymore he looked over to Luna to ask if they could leave. But the second he opened his mouth the Headmistress appeared by their side.
“Mister Malfoy, the Aurors are here to talk to you and your mother. They will hear your side and determine what will happen to you. If you would follow me please. Miss Lovegood you can join us, but you are not allowed inside the office during questioning.”
She turned around and Draco and Luna stood up to follow her all the way back to the Tower.
They were to be questioned under Veritaserum by Kingsley Shacklebolt himself. He and his mother were separated so they could be interrogated individually. Draco was called in first and his heart began to race as he took a seat.
Kingsley began to question him in his deep, sure voice and Draco wasn’t sure he would survive this. What would happen to them if they couldn’t answer the questions? What if Kingsley wanted them imprisoned? He could only await his doom.
“My name is Kingsley Shacklebolt, I volunteered to take over your case. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability so the Ministry can decide the appropriate actions to take as you await trial. You are under the influence of Veritaserum, so as you are undoubtedly aware, you are unable to lie to me. Let's begin.
Your name is Draco Lucius Malfoy?”
“Yes”
“You were born on the 5th of June 1980?”
“Yes, sir”
“You are the son of Lucius Malfoy II and Narcissa Malfoy, formerly Narcissa Black?”
“Yes”
“You currently live at Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, England?”
“No”
“No?”
“No sir, I won’t be going back to the Manor. I don’t live there anymore. I will look for a place to stay, if you’ll let me, but I’m not living at the Manor”
A short nod from Kingsley was all he needed. The man knew what Draco meant and he understood.
“You fought in the battle against the Death Eaters as soon as you had the opportunity to do so?”
“Yes sir.”
“You made that choice because you wanted to? You decided to switch sides in the end?”
Draco wanted to scream yes, but the Veritaserum prevented it. He thought about the question and his answer and suddenly he knew what the problem was.
“No,” Kingsley's eyes narrowed, “I switched sides long ago but I couldn’t get away. I never truly belonged to the Dark Lord. I fought for you because I wanted to, yes. But I hadn't switched sides just at the end.” Kingsley's eyes grew softer again after that.
“Ok… There is only one question left. If the Ministry of Magic releases you until your hearing do you plan to do any harm to any person or break any Wizarding or Muggle law??”
“No sir.”
“Alright. Draco Lucius Malfoy, as an official of the Ministry of Magic I am releasing you on your own recognizance. I find that you don't present a danger to yourself or others around you. You will receive notice of your trial date. If you commit even a minor infraction of Wizarding or Muggle laws you will be brought into custody. You are free to go; you can wait outside for your mother if you want to.”
Draco was not sure what had just happened. He was free to go, he was alive—even if he had no place to go and a numb mind—he had hope.
Luna stood on the other side of the door but for once she wasn't smiling at him.
“Draco, what did they say? What about your mother?”
He walked over to her and hugged her so hard he feared he'd broken every single bone in her upper body, but he didn't let go. He was not behaving like the proper aristocrat he was raised to be but Draco thought that was a lost cause anyway so he just laughed and swung her around. “I’m free to go, there will be a hearing and a trial but I’m free for now, even if I don't have a place to go.”
Draco put her back down and kissed her on the cheek. Something deep inside him knew everything would be alright, and the spark of hope that ignited when Potter had pulled him out of the Fiendfyre grew.
Luna laughed with him and her smile grew wider and wider. “You’ll stay with me Draco, it will be really fun to have you around. I’ll take care of you like you did for me.”
Together they waited for the doors to open, and he wrestled with his feelings toward his mother: she never did him any harm, but she didn't save him from the things that happened to him either.
His mother's hearing took way longer than his. They waited nearly an hour before the doors suddenly opened. Kingsley let them in and Draco sat by his mother's side.
“How are you Mother? What will happen to you?”
She smiled at him with tears in her eyes as Kingsley said, “Your mother will be kept under house arrest. She is not allowed to use magic until her hearing, but she won’t go to Azkaban. Mrs Malfoy, you’ll have a few minutes to say your goodbyes but then I have to take you to the Manor.”
He left the room and closed the door behind him.
“Draco… What will happen to you? Why am I going alone to the Manor? They aren’t sending you to Azkaban, are they?” his mother asked, the fear in her voice made him shrink under her gaze.
He couldn't look at her but he gave her a small smile nevertheless, “No, I’m free to go wherever I want till my hearing. Luna here said I can stay with her. I can't go back to the Manor, Mother.”
“I know love, you don't have to go back to that place. Do you still have my wand?”
Draco nodded, and his mother smiled at him with warm eyes.
“Keep it little Dragon, I won’t be able to use it and you lost your own wand. As long as it works for you it's better to have it than to have no wand at all.
Miss Lovegood? I’m sorry for the things that happened to you in my home. I should have done more but I was too afraid. Thank you for taking care of my son. Maybe one day I will be able to repay my debt.”
With that, she smiled, opened the door, and stepped out to meet Kingsley, who was already waiting for her.
They walked down towards the Great Hall to look for the Headmistress to tell her the news. After saying their goodbyes they left the castle.
“I need to go home to fetch some of my clothes and my stuff, do you need to go somewhere before we move to Safe Haven?”
“I don't have anything to fetch that isn’t at the Manor and I won’t go there. Maybe I’ll find someone who is willing to go there for me, till then I’ll improvise. What is Safe Haven, Luna?”
“You'll see when get there Draco. Let's go.”
They Apparated to Luna’s house and as they popped out of thin air Draco could only stand and stare at the building in front of him. Everything he looked at just screamed Luna. If this house could come to life it would definitely be just like the dreamy blonde at his side. Maybe he was losing his mind…
“Welcome to my house Draco, it’s beautiful isn’t it?”
Draco looked at her as they entered the small garden in the front and he couldn’t stop the grin stealing its way onto his face. “Yes it is. I have never seen anything like it, it’s brilliant.”
Luna smiled as she opened the front door. “Daddy? Are you here? I’m home and I’ve brought a friend with me!”
As they entered the living room Draco saw a man bent over some sort of press, waving his wand at it as it spit copy after copy of the newest Quibbler to the floor. This must be Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna’s Father.
Mr. Lovegood got up to greet his daughter, and Draco suddenly knew where Luna got her infectious, ever present smile from.
“Hello little Pumpkin! I was hoping you would stop by to say goodbye before you left for your new project! I always knew you would make it! I never had any doubt! And look I’m printing tomorrow's Quibbler!” He slowly walked over to them and as he stepped around the press Draco saw that one of his legs was missing. He had one of St. Mungo’s newest inventions, a synthetic leg spelled to work just like his old one, but they took some time to get used to. Draco realised, too late, that he was staring.
“Ah yes boy, that is a present from the Death Eaters. They destroyed our house and took me with them but I couldn't tell them what they needed to know. I was lucky they just destroyed my leg and kicked me out instead of killing me. When I came home from Saint Mungo’s, I rebuilt our house and waited for my Luna to come back. She did. Like she always will.” He smiled at his daughter, “When do you leave for your little project?”
Luna smiled fondly at her father, “I’ll just pack up some things and then we’ll be on our way.”
When Luna went to her room Draco lingered around the living room and watched Mr. Lovegood muttering at his press. He was suddenly reminded of a figure from a children's book his mother read to him when he was little: the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland. Draco laughed to himself, yes that was the right description of Mr. Lovegood.
Ten minutes later Luna returned with a carelessly stuffed bag. “I’m ready when you are.”
She kissed her father goodbye and promised him she’d visit for tea soon.
“Let’s take a walk before we Apparate Draco. I’ll let them know we’re coming.”
She flicked her wand and muttered Expecto Patronum and suddenly a rabbit patronus was hopping around them. Luna looked at it and said “tell them we’ll be there soon” and then the rabbit was gone.
They walked for a bit, it was the middle of the night already and Draco wondered where the day went as they reached a small hill. On the opposite side of Luna's house he could see another strange building in the distance. He could only see the general outline of it, but it was definitely a Wizard's home, just as loveable and strange as Luna's own house. She followed his gaze and nudged him with her elbow. “That's the Burrow, Ron's home.”
Draco suddenly felt very sorry for everything he had ever said against the Weasel’s home, he wished he had known then what he knew now.
A shiny otter suddenly appeared by their side “we’re ready, come over whenever you want to.”
Luna shot a big smile at him and Apparated them to a dark alley. They walked around the corner and stepped into a Muggle neighbourhood where old houses stood side by side.
“Welcome to Safe Haven, Draco.”