November gave way to December and before Luna knew it she was preparing to go home for the Christmas holiday. Amycus Carrow had not singled her out for anymore of his lesson plans but he continued their work on Unforgivable Curses just the same.

It was two days before she left Hogwarts on holiday when she woke to the familiar green butterfly. Although her pride was tempted to ignore it – after all, Severus had not checked on her since she'd passed out in Dark Arts – her heart would not let her. She wanted to see him again before she left.

He was, as usual, waiting for her just outside Ravenclaw tower. He wrapped her in his arms before Disapparating. They arrived with a loud crack in his old, abandoned dungeon chambers.

"Why do you always bring me here?" Luna asked, stepping away from him.

"Because there are too many nosy portraits in the Headmaster's office," he answered coolly.

Luna huffed. "Why haven't you come to me before now? Do you not care at all?"

Severus gaped at her. She saw the color rising in his face and knew she'd asked the wrong question.

"Do I not care at all?" he repeated, his voice icy. "You have no idea the terror I felt when I was notified you were unconscious in the hospital wing. No idea the panic I had thinking you might not ever wake! Do you know what can happen to people who have been cruicio'd?" he roared at her.

"Then why didn't you come to me?"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU DO AS YOU WERE TOLD?"

He'd never yelled at her like this before. She'd seen Severus in a fury plenty of times, but never directed at her. Luna was just as angry and refused to back down.

"How can you ask that? How could you expect me to use an Unforgivable Curse on one of my friends?" Luna shouted back.

Severus looked at her as if she were being deliberately stupid. "It wouldn't have worked you senseless girl!" he spat.

Luna did not know whether to be offended or not. "I have never failed at casting a spell."

Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Luna, a witch or wizard has to truly mean an Unforgivable Curse. You don't have that kind of hate or cruelty in you. If you cast it once or a thousand times, you'd never be able to do it," he explained wearily.

Luna digested this information for a moment. As she did, she took in Severus's pale skin, the dark circles under his eyes, and the way he seemed to have lost weight. Her heart ached to look at him under this kind of stress.

Anger melting away, Luna stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. Severus returned her embrace, resting his head on hers and breathing in her scent.

"I'm sorry I worried you," Luna said.

"You terrified me," Severus clarified. "What happened?"

Luna shrugged. "I don't know. I felt the pain for the briefest second and then I … I woke up in my mum's garden." She hesitated a moment before adding, "You were there."

"And what were we doing there?" Severus rumbled, his hands now trailing down her spine.

"We were talking to my mother. Do you remember her?"

Severus bent to kiss her neck. "Yes. Pandora. She was Professor Sprout's favorite student of all time."

Luna giggled a little as he nipped her ear. "That's what you said in my dream too. You told mum you were seeing me and she said I deserved complete devotion."

The headmaster brought his lips to hers. "I agree," he murmured. "Let me show you how devoted to you I am."

Luna's body came alive as he slid his hands under her night gown, pulling the thin cotton over her head and discarding it. She gasped as he bent to suck on one nipple for a moment before bringing his mouth back to hers. Without breaking contact, Severus walked her backwards until her legs bumped against the bed.

Luna's fingers began working the buttons of his coat until she had his shirt off and her hands could run smoothly over his chest. Gooseflesh rose beneath her touch. A low groan escaped his lips as she kissed his neck and along his collarbone.

Severus gripped her hips and forced her to turn around. His tongue traced the line from behind her ear, along her neck, and to the top of her shoulder.

"Bend over Miss Lovegood," he whispered.

Heat pooled in her core as she bent forward on the bed while keeping her feet on the floor. His large hands ran down her body and over her exposed ass. Severus's cock strained against the fabric of his trousers and he stared at the submissive witch beneath him.

"Spread your legs," he commanded. "Wider!"

The intoxicating scent of her arousal hit him. He cupped the mound between her legs, rubbing long, calloused fingers over her delicate flesh. Luna whimpered and arched her back, exposing herself more. Severus slid his middle finger into her, testing her arousal. When that proved satisfactory, he pushed a second finger into her tight pussy.

"Please," she whispered. "It's been too long."

"Mmm. I like you desperate like this eaglet," he murmured, bending over her to kiss her neck and down her spine.

"I like you tight. And wet. Needy." As he spoke he pumped his fingers in and out of her. She shivered at his words. Luna let out a sharp hiss as he thrust his fingers deeper, crooking them against her most sensitive spot.

"I want you now," she cried.

He chuckled. "Not until I've made you beg."

Severus dropped to his knees behind her. Luna felt him pulling her folds apart, waited anxiously as he inspected her. Her heart thundered loudly in her ears.

"Beautiful," he said, pressing his mouth to her pussy.

His tongue flicked expertly over her nether lips. Heat built in her core as she felt him find her clit with his finger while his tongue continued to tease and pleasure.

"Severus please! I need you!" she whimpered.

He didn't respond. Instead, he redoubled his efforts as he ate her. She trembled beneath his mouth. She tasted so good. Her reactions made him drunk on power. Nothing mattered to him except the soft moans and cries of pleasure issuing from her mouth.

"Dammit Severus! Fuck me!"

The foul words from her sweet mouth had the intended effect. Severus quickly rose to his feet, shoving his trousers off as he did. In one smooth stroke, he buried himself to the hilt. Luna cried out as he bottomed out inside her. She clutched the sheets of the bed as she thrust back to meet him.

Severus gripped her narrow waist as he fucked her, relishing the feel of her soaked pussy grasping at his cock. Overcome with lust, he bent low to wrap one hand around the column of her throat. He pulled her up, careful to keep his hold light. It was almost awkward, her being so short but she braced herself against the side of the bed and rose up onto her toes.

"You. Are. Mine," he growled in her ear, thrusting into her.

Luna whimpered her reply. He could feel her orgasm building.

"Say it," he commanded.

"I'm yours!" she gasped.

He wedged his hand between her hips and the bed, finding her clit with ease. She made a strangled sound as he increased the pressure on her throat and simultaneously rubbed her clit.

"Come," he whispered.

On cue, Luna exploded around him. Stars burst in front of her eyes as the pleasure coursed through her. His hand was gripped her throat in earnest now and the restricted air flow intensified her orgasm until she thought she might pass out. Without warning, he released her and the oxygen burst into her brain like a wave of cool water.

She collapsed weakly on the bed. Severus eased out of her.

Luna whimpered. "What about you?"

He hoisted her the rest of the way onto the bed, climbing up beside her. "I'll get mine, don't worry."

Severus kissed her deeply. "I want to see you." He settled himself between her legs. Slowly he pushed his cock back into her. She whimpered a little.

"Severus," she murmured against his mouth.

Her fingers ran through his hair as he moved in and out of her. He watched in fascination as her facial expressions twisted and changed with pleasure. His witch. With a sigh of pleasure, he sank into her over and over, taking his time now that her need had been sated.

Afterwards, the pair lay on their sides facing each other. Severus had his eyes closed as Luna traced the curves and contours of his face.

"Severus?" Luna spoke quietly in the darkness.

"Hmmm," he mumbled without opening his eyes.

Luna ran her finger over the curve of his lips. "When this is over, will you tell me about her?"

His black eyes flew open. He studied her for signs of jealousy or other ulterior motives but found only genuine curiosity. Severus had never spoken of Lily except to Dumbledore, but the idea of talking about her with Luna didn't fill him with the apprehension he thought it would.

With a slow nod he said, "I will."

She smiled sleepily. "I suppose I better get going," she said reluctantly.

"I have something for you," he told her, getting out of bed at the same time she started pulling on her discarded clothes.

Luna looked at him curiously. "A Christmas present?"

"Something like that. I've given it a lot of thought and it would be easier if you could Apparate yourself around instead of me lurking about Ravenclaw tower. Dumbledore left behind instructions on how to do so," he told her as he picked up his wand.

Luna watched, wide-eyed as he whispered an incantation and flicked his wand. A warm, tingling feeling spread through her entire body, increasing in intensity until she thought she was on fire. Just when she was about to cry out, the feeling receded.

Severus watched her carefully. "It's not pleasant, I know. Dumbledore gave me the same power when I was forced to return to the Dark Lord's inner fold," he said bitterly.

"I can Apparate in and round Hogwarts now?" Luna asked uncertainly.

Severus nodded. "It's not Virgin Blood, but I figure it will do as far as gift's go."

Luna laughed and threw her arms around his neck. He took a deep breath of her scent, lemon and lilac mixed with sex.

"Luna, I…" but the words got stuck in his throat. "I care about you very much," he confessed.

"I know," Luna whispered in his ear. "I'll see you when I return Headmaster Snape."

And with a loud crack! She was gone.