The scent of sausage floats faintly into the room, followed by the soft sounds of the household waking. Luna rises and sorts through her bags to find a robe. She can hear Molly below, banging pots and pans and surely arguing with Kreacher once again. Luna quickly saw the night before that Mrs. Weasley and the house elf had not been getting along--in fact, it seemed that they may have been struggling over caring for the members of the Order staying at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place for quite some time.
She hums to herself as she slides into slippers and walks downstairs toward the noise. Luna can feel the irritation of the arguers already, and she allows the feeling to intensify as she walks through the door.
"I have already told you, elf, that I will be cooking breakfasts here. Don't you have something to clean?" an exasperated Molly demands before seeing Luna come in and sit at the table. "Oh, good morning dear." Her frustration gives way to a charmed smile. "I hope you're hungry. The boys haven't come down yet, so there's still plenty." Kreacher moves to grab a plate, but Molly reaches it first. "Here you are. Pumpkin juice?"
Luna smiles and chats with Molly as the motherly caretaker of the Order serves her heaping piles of sausages, eggs, and toast. Kreacher takes the opportunity to pour her drink, bowing with a too-pleased smile at Molly's lack of attention.
A pounding on the stairs alerts them just prior to the boisterous arrival of Harry and Ron, who set upon the food before Ginny and Hermione (strolling in much more sedately behind them) pass through the door. "Oh, Mum, this is great," Ron mumbles through a mouthful of eggs, neglecting to take the offered plate from Kreacher. Hermione rolls her eyes at him and serves herself, pointedly ignoring the ongoing struggle between Molly and the house elf.
"So Luna, what was that with Snape last night?" Harry asks. Ginny elbows him in the ribs, her face hidden behind a large glass of juice. "What? It was weird!"
Luna laughs. "It's ok. I knew it would shake him up a bit. I suppose it would have been worse if I waited. I thought he might be more angry if I didn't let him prepare."
Hermione sits across from Luna, now listening intently. "So it's true then? You really are a natural Legilimens?" She waits for her answer with a penetrating stare almost as if she herself were using the spell.
"Well, it's almost like that, but not quite." Luna chews thoughtfully for a moment, the others in the kitchen quieting to hear her answer. "I don't have to use the incantation, or even look into your eyes. I just... feel things. I'm not quite good at it, so I only feel emotions now. Minerva says I may feel memories as well if it keeps getting stronger, though."
Ron looks uncomfortably at Harry, and almost as suddenly, Luna giggles. "I'm not going to use it against any of you, don't worry."
Ron's expression looks as though her words have the opposite of their intended effect. "Don't you think that's kind of an intrusion? I mean, not that you mean it, but, you know what I mean." He is flustered, but Luna continues to smile at him in her familiar, dreamy way.
"I've gotten so used to it now that I don't even think about it. It's not useful unless I'm concentrating, anyway. For instance, right now I can feel all of you at once, and it's too hard to sort you out without really trying." An uncomfortable waver passes over everyone but Hermione, who seems fascinated, and Kreacher, who sneaks behind the occupied Molly to refill plates and glasses.
"And you only just started doing this? In Russia? Oh, do you think it's some kind of old magic from wizards there?" Hermione, entranced by the idea, is almost aglow with her thoughts. Luna laughs, feeling the old inquisitive adrenaline rush she associates with her friend. "I think I've always had it, I just never knew it. Then when I was in the mountains, alone all the time, I could just tell when someone was coming near. I think not having anyone around helped me focus it."
Ginny finishes her breakfast first and allows Kreacher to gather her dishes, winking to her annoyed mother over his shoulder. "Well, I think it's great you're back. I was so worried when Minerva--" Harry clears is throat loudly. "Don't you think we ought to talk about that another time, dear?" Ginny scrunches her nose at him. "It's not like she doesn't know, Harry. Anyway, Luna, I was so worried when Minerva said you would be in danger out there."
Molly gasps, "Ginevra!" Ginny rolls her eyes. "It's not as if she doesn't know!" she snaps, and the others shift uncomfortably. Luna watches the exchange with only mild interest, her eyes withdrawn above her slightly faded smile. After a tense moment, she seems to come back to the conversation. "I know the Death Eaters would love to have me, if they know about it yet."
"All right, that is enough!" Molly nearly shouts, breaking the thick strain in the room through which Luna still smiles. "You're going to be late for work, and I'm sure Luna would like a rest from your incessant questions!" Harry and Ron take the opportunity to bolt from the room, while Ginny follows in a huff and Hermione helps to clear the remaining dishes.
Luna rises from the table then, thanking Molly and Kreacher (much to Molly's dismay) for breakfast, and goes upstairs to dress. She wonders idly how many equally tense conversations on the same topic were held before her arrival, and how many more would follow between that morning and her departure for Hogwarts the coming weekend.