Luna woke feeling mostly refreshed but sore. Aside from waking up to make love to Severus, who was still slumbering peacefully beside her, she had slept for the better part of 24 hours.

She paused for a moment to reflect on everything that had followed Harry's victory. The celebration that had burst through the Great Hall had been deafening. She had wanted to leave immediately but instead, she pushed her way through the throng of people to McGonagall's side.

"Severus said Dumbledore left instructions on how to Apparate out Hogwarts. I suggest you find it so we can get the rest of the wounded to St. Mungo's," Luna had told the startled professor. McGonagall had stared at Luna searchingly before nodding and disappearing toward the Headmaster's office.

Blaise had caught Luna by the arm. "Thank you, for trusting me."

"I thought you left," Luna said.

"I started to. But then Pansy tried to double back so I confunded her and sent her on her way. I doubled back instead," he explained. Luna had hugged him then which Blaise had returned somewhat awkwardly.

Then Luna had seen Harry, looking elated but exhausted. She shouted something about a Blibbering Humdinger, which sounded ridiculous even to her, but it had created enough of a diversion for Harry to slip out of the Hall with Ron and Hermione unnoticed.

It had been almost nine am when she had finally Apparated back to St. Mungo's after Voldemort's defeat. Soon after, she'd conjured a chair beside Severus and had fallen fast asleep.

Now Severus shifted beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. "What are you thinking about my love?" he murmured.

"How beautiful you are," she answered with a smile.

Severus grunted. "No one in their right mind would call me beautiful."

She grinned even wider. "Good thing everyone knows I'm completely bonkers."

A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.

"I need a shower and a change of clothes. Will you be all right for a while?" she asked him, brushing his hair away from his face.

"Miss Lovegood, I've been taking care of myself without you for thirty-six years. I think I'll manage a few more hours," he intoned.

Luna laughed as she redressed. "I'll be back in no time."

She slipped into the hall of St. Mungo's and was surprised to find Harry walking toward her.

"Hello Harry, you look rested," she said.

Harry grinned at her. "Yeah. I think I spent all day in bed yesterday. By the looks of it, so did you."

Luna glanced down at her dirty, blood stained clothes. "I needed to be here."

Harry shifted from foot to foot. "Ginny told me. About you and Snape."

"He's a good man, Harry."

"You knew he was on our side, didn't you?"

Luna nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you have believed me?"

Harry gave her a rueful smile. "Probably not. Is he awake? I'd like to speak to him,"

"I think he'd like that. I was just leaving for a shower."

"Thank you, Luna. For everything you did for me," Harry said quietly.

Luna wrapped her arms around him. "I would do it again if I had to," she whispered just before they parted.

Severus had just finished dressing when there was a knock on his door.

"Enter," he called and was surprised to see Harry Potter come through the door.

The two stared at each other in silence. Harry shifted slightly.

"I wanted to say thank you," Harry finally said, meeting Severus's eyes. Harry's green eyes held a hint of defiance, as if daring Severus to make fun of him.

Severus blinked at the boy before him. For the first time, Severus saw him, not as James reincarnated, but as just Harry, a boy who'd had the weight of the world dropped on him.

"I should be thanking you but if you're anything like your mother, you'd never accept gratitude," Severus replied.

"Everyone keeps thanking me," the boy replied quietly. He sounded exhausted.

Severus steeled himself for his next words. "I'm sorry, Harry."

Harry gave him a startled looked. Severus had never called him Harry and apologies were not generally in the potions master's vocabulary.

"Apology accepted," Harry said slowly. He bit his lip for a moment before holding out his hand.

Severus did not hesitate to shake it. "I was wrong about you Harry. You're not a complete dunce."

That earned him a chuckle. "Professor –" Harry began.

"But I'm not your professor anymore, am I? It would be acceptable if you called me by my given name," Severus interrupted.

"Severus," Harry said slowly as if he were testing the name on his tongue. "Will you tell me about her sometime? My mum, I mean."

"I think I would like that," Severus answered truthfully.

Although the tension between them was not gone, Severus could feel the weight of it lifting. Luna would be proud of him. But suddenly Harry looked even more anxious than he had before.

"The Ministry is insisting that everyone involved with the Death Eaters go to trial," Harry finally told him.

"Of course. I would expect nothing less."

Harry met Severus's eyes. Lily's fierceness shown through as Harry said, "I won't let them send you to Azkaban."

"Harry, I've long since accepted the consequences my actions may have."

"No! If it weren't for you, I would never have known how to defeat Voldemort," Harry replied adamantly. "You're a hero too. Everyone keeps giving me all the credit but it wasn't me that saved everyone. It was you and Dumbledore and my parents and the Longbottoms. It was Luna and Ginny and Cedric," Harry's voice broke a little, "It's was everyone who ever stood up to fight. I won't let them punish you for doing what needed to be done."

Severus had no words for that so he just nodded, his throat constricting with emotion. Apparently almost dying made one weak, he decided bitterly.

Luna Apparated to her bedroom where she stripped off her filthy clothes before heading into the bathroom. The shower was hot and revitalizing and she stood under the spray for a long time, letting the steam relax her worn and tired muscles. Maybe twenty-four hours of sleep wasn't enough after one went through battle, she mused.

She had just finished dressing when she heard a crack and then someone was pounding on her door.

"Luna! Luna are you in there?"

It was her father. Luna threw open the door and rushed into his arms.

"Oh, Luna. Luna!" he cried as he stroked her hair, crushing her against his chest. "I thought I would never see you again."

"It's over Dad. It's really over," she told him.

He nodded against her. "I know. They released us from Azkaban yesterday morning. But when I got to St. Mungo's there was too much chaos. I couldn't find you." His voice broke on these words.

Luna felt very bad for having gone straight to Severus's room and fallen asleep. "I'm sorry Daddy. I didn't mean to worry you. I'm okay, see?"

She took a step back so Xenophilius could get a good look at her. "You fought, didn't you?"

"I had to. Come on, Daddy. Let's sit down and have some tea," she said, taking him by the arm. "I have so much to tell you."

After Luna made a pot of tea, she sat her father down and began talking. She started by expanding her previous, vague explanation of the D.A. and how she came to be in the Department of Mysteries. Then she moved on to explain to her father about her relationship with Severus, how she had escaped Malfoy Manor, and about Shell Cottage. Finally, she ended by telling her father about the battle, and how magnificent Harry had been.

Xenophilius remained silent through it all.

"Daddy, please say something," she prompted when he hadn't spoken in over a minute since she'd finished her story.

He blinked at her slowly. "You say you're in love with Severus Snape?" he finally managed.

"I am. Don't be angry Daddy, please," she begged.

"I'm not angry. I'm just in a bit of shock, I suppose. He is much older than you. A professor, after all."

"I know it's a bit unconventional, but… I can't explain it. I've been drawn to him for years and he needs me," Luna pressed. "I need him."

Xenophilius nodded. "Well," he said briskly, "we can't help who we love."

Luna beamed at him. "I should get back to St. Mungo's. The Ministry is taking statements. I'm giving mine this afternoon."

"Yes, yes of course. I'm going to change and I'll meet you in London tonight. We'll stay there until things settle down some," he told her with a pat on the hand.

Luna didn't see the smile slip from his face as she Disapparated.