May 25, 2011 Prompt: Truthfully

XXI. Empty

"George wants me to move in with him," Luna suddenly said as she sat next to Severus in the grass just outside her home. Severus paused, and turned to look at her. He wasn't sure why, but he felt as though she had punched him in the stomach and knocked all the wind out of him. "Until the house is fixed. You no longer need me, you've been doing much better. I think the project on the house has done you good. You've been regaining much of your strength day by day," she went on turning to look at him with a smile before maving the basket she had been carrying in front of her.

For days, Severus had been going to the Lovegood home and steadily started working on it. Every day, Luna had always stopped by around Lunch and usually brought something with her to eat. Usually, they sat in the garden of her home and ate in silence, though sometimes they spoke of random things, Luna always directing the conversation while Severus struggled to keep up.

"Well?" Severus asked impatiently as he watched her pull a sandwich from the basket and absent-mindedly taking it from her hand.

"I told him no, that it was a huge mistake," Luna replied as always showing a complete lack of emotion, as she pulled out a butter beer and uncapping it before handing him the bottle. "I hope you don't mind my encroaching on your hospitality a little longer," Luna said, looking up with her big blue eyes. "Its just that George is confusing things. Which is rather odd, considering he was the one that said that we were just friends after the first time we had sex, and that nothing had changed. I don't know what's gotten into him lately."

Severus stared at her, utterly bewildered while holding the sandwich and bottle she'd given him up. When Luna smile at him and reached out for his arms, gently putting them to rest in his lap, he came to himself.

"Well?" Luna asked, looking expectantly at him. Severus stared at her even more confused wondering if he'd been so mystified that he'd missed a part of the conversation.

"Well what?" he snapped.

"Do you mind if I stay with you for a while longer. I mean I know you don't particularly need me anymore, but I'm still trying to get the Quibbler on its feet and well the income isn't enough to get my own place just yet, and since the house is still in significant need of repair, I was wondering if I could still stay with you? I mean if you don't want me to anymore, I understand, and I could always take George up on-"

"NO!" Severus suddenly snapped, speaking louder than he meant to. Luna furrowed her pale brows at him. Severus blushed and looked away. "I mean..." he frantically racked his brain for a way to say she could stay that would not give away that he actually wanted her there, or that he loathed the idea of her shacking up with the red-head-disaster. He looked away from her and stared down at the simple lunch that she had prepared, though, it would not help. "I-"

A rustling beside him drew his attention. When he looked up, his eyes practically bulged out of his head when he felt Luna press her lips to his forehead. Pulling away, she placed both her cool hands on either side of his face and held him. Looking down into his eyes, she stared at him sternly with her sapphire-eyes. "You need to be more laid-back Professor, or one day you're going to melt your brain with the heat of your discomfort. Its just me, Loony Lovegood, no reason to be embarrassed around me. I'll never laugh at you," she said, with a kind smile.

Severus felt his lungs constrict as he stared into her eyes. He felt that he couldn't breathe. He wanted to move, to get out of her field of vision, but he felt rooted to the spot. He couldn't move. He couldn't even think.

"Breathe Professor," Luna ordered, frowning concernedly. "Maybe you do still need me," she added thoughtfully.

Severus looked up slowly unaware he had even looked away. He stared at Luna, dazed. "Truthfully," he said, his throat sounding weird to him. Almost hoarse and if it were disconnected from him. "Without you I'm not sure I'll know how to go on."

TBC...

A/n: Please Review!