They lay like that for several moments, both reluctant to move. Luna traced light patterns over his back as Severus slowly returned to himself. Finally he rolled off her, keeping a hand on her thigh.

Luna watched Severus's profile as he stared at the ceiling, breathing heavy. Her only regret was that he was still clothed. She wondered at his reluctance to undress in front of her. It seemed a rare show of vulnerability on the stoic professor's part.

With a deep breath, she took careful stock of her body. She felt sore and exhausted, noticing a bit of blood between her legs when she glanced down. Overall however, she felt elated.

Severus turned his face to hers. "Satisfied?" he asked.

"Very," Luna purred.

He reached for his wand and waved it over her legs, cleaning away the remains of their passion. Then he shoved his now flaccid member back into his pants. After a moment of silence, Luna carefully sat up. Her legs shook a little as she found the floor and attempted to stand.

"In a hurry Miss Lovegood?" Snape asked from behind her. He sounded almost disappointed.

"I'm afraid I'll fall asleep," she admitted. "I don't think that would be wise, do you?"

Severus watched the pragmatic girl pull on her underwear. The fire light and sex made her skin glow and her tousled hair added to the wild, nymph look of her. Had he really just bedded this beauty? With a sigh, he forced himself to his feet.

"Your shirt is still in my office," he told her, indicating the door. He followed her out.

The two walked in silence back to his office where Luna quickly donned her bra and shirt. She gave him another dreamy smile before wrapping her arms around his waist. The gesture caught him by surprise. People didn't generally hug him.

With her head pressed against his chest she said, "Thank you professor. That was exactly what I wanted."

Severus smoothed her hair away from her face. "I live to serve," he commented dryly.

"I'll see you in class." With that, she slipped out of his arms and out of his office.

"Are you all right?" Harry asked her later that day.

Luna blinked at him, just realizing he'd sat down with her. Hermione and Ron flanked either side of him and she wondered how long they'd been there.

"Perfect. Why do you ask?"

"You seem a bit …" Harry began.

"Loonier," Ron interjected.

"Than usual," Harry continued, just as Hermione gave Ron a sharp nudge with her elbow.

"Distracted," Hermione corrected diplomatically.

Luna raised her eyebrows at them all. "Oh, I'm sorry. I think I must still be dreaming. It was a wonderful dream I had last night."

Ron gave her a look of utter confusion and Hermione sighed in impatience. Luna wasn't surprised that the Gryffindor witch didn't understand. Hermione, for all her brilliance, could be terribly closed minded. If it wasn't in a book written by a proven scholar, Hermione didn't believe it. Ironic, considering she was muggle born and had been raised in complete ignorance of magic for the first eleven years of her life.

Harry laughed though. "It must have been a right good dream if you're still in a fuzz," he commented. Luna liked Harry the best of the three. He might think she was crazy, but he at least attempted to understand her.

"Are you going into Hogsmeade today?" Harry asked after a moment.

Luna had almost forgotten that the first Hogsmeade trip was today. She glanced out the window where sleet and wind swirled heavily.

"No, I don't think so. I have some homework to do and Daddy has sent me the newest edition of The Quibbler," Luna answered.

"Suit yourself," Ron said with a snort. "I'd much rather go to Hogsmeade than do homework."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You'd rather have your fingernails removed than do homework."

Ron looked appalled. "I wouldn't go that far. I like my fingernails just fine."

"Right. On that note, I think we'll be off," Harry said.

Luna waved them off before turning to her homework. Her N.E.W.T. classes were much harder than any of her previous classes had been.

She worked for most of the day, taking a break in the early afternoon to trudge through the wind and sleet into the Forbidden Forest. She only stayed long enough to feed her favorite thestrals before returning to the castle and her homework. It was beginning to get dark when the castle erupted in chaos.

Curiosity pulled her out of the library and into the Great Hall. Students were huddled together whispering frantically. Luna detected a hint of hysteria in the air.

"What's wrong?" she asked Lila.

Lila's terrified eyes turned to Luna. "Katie Bell was almost killed!" she gasped.

"Harry was there," Cho Chang added softly.

Luna frowned. Who would want to hurt Katie Bell? "Do you know what happened?"

Cho shook her head. "Something about a curse. McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore are in the hospital wing with her now. Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw it happen. Hagrid carried Katie back to the castle. That's all I know."

Luna chewed her lip worriedly. It was no secret that protection around the castle had been ramped up this year. Ever since the Dark Lord had made his presence known in the Department of Mysteries. Her father had questioned the wisdom of sending her back to Hogwarts for the school year but Luna had convinced him it would be perfectly safe. Now she didn't feel so sure.

When Luna was finally able to catch up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione late that night, the three didn't have much detail.

"It was Malfoy," Harry stated adamantly.

"Harry, please just drop it. It couldn't have been Malfoy!" Hermione begged. "McGonagall already said he was in detention with her!"

"No one saw who gave her the package?" Luna asked.

Hermione shook her head. "No. She went to the bathroom and came back with it, insisted they head back to the castle at once. At least, that's what Leanne said."

Ron was shaking his head with a dazed expression on his face. "You've never seen anything like it, Luna. I swear her scream was bone chilling."

At midnight that night, Luna carefully snuck out of her dorm and down into the dungeons. It was a risk, she knew. Professor Snape would probably not be happy to see her but he was her best outlet for better information.

The professor's door creaked open just as Luna raised her hand to knock. He glared down at her, clearly displeased to see her.

"Why are you out of your dorm past curfew, Miss Lovegood?" he snarled.

Luna blinked up at him. "I wanted to ask you about Katie Bell," she replied.

Snape stepped into the hallway and grabbed her by the elbow. "Katie is not your concern," he said, steering her roughly down the hall toward the exit of the dungeons.

Luna wrenched away from him. "As a student, safety is my concern," she countered.

"Then take that up with Dumbledore. There's no need to be disturbing me at all hours of the night," Snape hissed.

"Sev-" she started but he cut her off sharply.

"Not here!" He pushed her roughly against the stone castle wall, leaning in close. "Whatever we may have shared in my chambers, stays in my chambers. These walls have ears and I can't have you running about calling me by my given name. Is that understood?"

Luna was momentarily distracted by the intensity of his black eyes but she finally managed a nod. "Yes professor," she said softly.

He held her for a moment longer than necessary, staring down at her intently. For a second, Luna thought he was going to kiss her there against the wall. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

With a frustrated snarl, he moved away from her again and continued leading her back to Ravenclaw tower. She followed in thoughtful silence for a moment before asking, "Is Draco a Death Eater?"

Professor Snape whirled on her again, his eyes much darker and angrier this time. "You don't know when to stop do you, you insipid child? Like Miss Bell, Mr. Malfoy is none of your concern. Stop taking Potter's word as gospel just because he's The Chosen One."

Luna stared up at him solemnly. He knew he was being too harsh with her but he needed her to understand the severity of the situation. War had started and it was only a matter of time before it reached Hogwarts.

"I wasn't taking his word as gospel. That's why I was asking you," Luna replied sadly.

Luna slipped past him and continued toward her dorm. Severus followed her to ensure she made it safely, feeling guilty but unsure how to make amends. Luna's quiet, calm demeanor wasn't what Severus was used to dealing with. Nothing upset her. Yelling or crying he could handle, but this absolute calm was unnerving.

Luna stopped before the knob-less door. The bronze eagle fluttered a moment before asking, "There is a house, you enter blind and come out seeing."

Luna gave a dreamy smile. "School," she answered.

The eagle gave a satisfied squawk before the door swung open.

"Miss Lovegood," Severus called softly from behind her.

Luna turned back and saw that some of the anger had left him. "Keep your wand at the ready," he told her quietly. Luna nodded and slipped away into Ravenclaw tower.