A/N: Song that Luna sings is by Aerosmith called "Lay It Down".

Second Best Part XIII

Luna woke up the next day and got out of bed. She immediately walked to the shower and took a long hot shower. After so long a time without showering she felt so very dirty and tired of it. When she was done she changed into blue jeans and a long black t-shirt. She put on her shoes and once she was through she walked to the door and went down the stairs. She felt much better than she had the day before and she now felt completely healthy. She immediately made her way to the dining room and sat down to eat breakfast.

"Good morning," she said as she looked over at Snape and took her seat. He looked up at her and quirked an eyebrow before looking down at the newspaper.

"I see that you are back to normal," he said in his usual velvety tone as he looked down at the paper.

"I guess you can say that," she said as she started to eat. She didn't notice when Snape looked up at her and watched her for a couple of moments before turning his attention back to his paper.

"It's nice to see that you have your appetite back," he said once more in his velvety tone. She looked up at him and merely continued to eat. As she stared at him she than remembered what she had read and she could not stop staring at him. She felt guilt, as she looked at him and her eyes slowly unfocused on his figure. She wondered what he was feeling at that very moment. "May I ask what that was all about?" she very vaguely heard him ask as she continued to stare. She did not notice him look up at her and the eyebrow that went up as he stared right at her.

"Pardon?" she asked as she shook her head and focused her gaze on him. He was still staring at her with a raised eyebrow and he seemed to be studying her very intently. Luna found it amazing the way that he could simply hide all of his feelings as if they didn't even exist. She had always found that absolutely fascinating, even though he lost his temper often.

"I was wondering whether you would like to explain why you went out for so many hours and got yourself in such peril," he said as he looked over the table at her. She looked across the table into his black eyes. She stared into them deeply and for several moments tried to see if any motion could be seen. After a long moment of silence she looked down at her plate of food. She began to pick at it; she did not know what she could possibly say to him.

"I am sorry Professor, but you wouldn't understand," she said as she looked at her plate and picked at her food.

"I don't need to understand I just need to know," he said as he looked across the table at her. Luna looked up at him and looked directly into her eyes.

"Well you are no one to demand that I tell you," she said as calmly as possible as she looked into his eyes. As she looked at his face she could see his right brow raise and she decided that she was no longer hungry. "Excuse me I have lost my appetite," she said as she stood up and walked away from the table. Before she reached the door of the room she heard him call her name and stopped in her tracks. She very slowly turned around to face him.

"I am aware of the fact that I am no one to demand you tell me why you did the stupid and idiotic thing that you did, but I think that I at least deserve an explanation," he said as he looked at her from where he sat.

"Thank you for your concern Professor, but I would rather not say. The reason is too personal and you of all people should know that you can't simply trust anyone with how you feel," she said as she looked at him. She could see that this struck a nerve, as he seemed to flinch at the statement. It wasn't much of a flinch, for it was barely visible. He was simply taken aback by her statement, though, she knew not why. "Excuse me," she said as she turned away and walked out of the room.

Luna than slowly made her way to the back doors and when she reached them she opened them. She sat down in the grass near the doors and looked up at the clear skies. It ws a very warm afternoon and the sun was shining down very brightly on the earth. She lay down on the grass and closed her eyes. She tried to clear her mind of all emotions and thoughts, which was always something very difficult for her. Something that she usually did when she was trying not to think was by singing a song. "Ruby red her lips, where on fire. Do me with a kiss if you please. Tell me what your sweet heart desires. Tell me how you want it to be. Cause if it's love you want than you won't mind. A little tenderness that's sometimes is so hard to find," she sang to herself.

"Miss Lovegood what are doing?" he asked as he looked down at her. Her eyes snapped opened as she heard Snape's voice and she sat up. She looked up at him and he was looking at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"When I don't want to think I sing to myself to keep my brain occupied," she said as she looked up at him and he nodded in response.

"What where you singing?" he asked as he looked down at her.

"Lay It Down, by an American muggle band named Aerosmith," she responded as she looked at him. "It's one of my favorite songs and it's the first song that came to my head," she said as she looked at him in response to the questioning look on his face. He once more nodded. At this Luna turned her attention away from him and looked at the forest. "You remember them times, talking in your sleep. With a pocket full of problems, you never could keep. From your best friend's lover you dreamt about in bed. When you pull in under covers of voices in your head. Say if you want it bad, you don't ever let it slip away," she sang to herself.

"Miss Lovegood?" he said. She turned her attention to him once more. "When is your birthday?" he asked as he looked down at her. She stared up at him and wondered why he was asking. She found it strange and she merely continued to stare up at him. She stared at him for a couple of seconds before answering.

"I turn eighteen on December the nineteenth. I was born under the sign of Sagittarius, who are said to love the outdoors, sports and animals. A Sagittarius is honest and philosophical and thought to be restless, adventurous and high-spirited. I must say it is mostly right," she responded as she looked at him. He merely nodded in response. "Why do you ask?" she asked as she looked up at him.

"I was merely curious, but what do you consider to be right about that?" he responded as he stared down at her.

"I love the outdoors and animals, and I am an honest person. I don't consider myself as philosophical; I'd say dreamy is more accurate. I can be restless and adventurous, but to say I'm high-spirited is a bit of an overstatement," she said as she turned to look at the trees. She did not note the way that he was staring at her with utmost interest. She soon turned to look at him. "When is your birthday?" she asked as she looked at him.

"I'd rather not say," he said as he looked at the forest.

"Why not? I won't hold your birthday against you," she said as she looked up at him. He turned his head in her direction and looked into her eyes. He seemed to be passing the idea in his head. Luna really didn't understand why he was making it a big deal that she knows when his birthday is.

"September fifth," he responded curtly as he looked away.

"Virgo The Virgin. Analytical, attentive to details, diligent, shrewd, and critical. Have a tendency to be perfectionist. Virgos are modest and prudent," she recited what she remembered from her first year Astrology class. She continued to stare at the forest for it made it easier to concentrate on what she was reciting. "What would you say is correct about that Professor?" she asked as she continued to stare out at the forest.

"What would you say is correct?" he asked as he stared down at her. She continued to stare out at the forest.

"Well I do believe that you are analytical and a perfectionist, although you must be, there is no room for flaws in potion-making. Also the way you walk implies it, for your steps are always precise. You are attentive to details, I think it is because you merely want to get students into trouble and you must pay attention to details. I do believe that you are hard working and very intelligent, but you are too critical. It may be a good thing, but you do need to let loose a little Professor. You need to learn to relax. Life is not all work and no play. You are also prudent, for it you weren't you would have had a very hard time being Professor Dumbledore's double agent. I would say the only thing that does not describe you is the entire modest thing for you seem to want some type of recognition," she said as she continued to stare out at the forest.

"Do you think it a flaw that I am not as modest as I perhaps should be?" he asked as he stared down at her. He was very interested in what she had to say and he wanted to know what exactly she meant when she said that he was too uptight.

"It is no defect Professor, to want recognition. You are a great Potions master, a brilliant man, and you have helped a lot in the past war. Your flaw is that you are too critical. Apathy is not an emotion it is a numb state of being which does no good to you as a person. You become older faster. You have to allow yourself to feel things and to have some sort of fun," she said as she turned to look at him. "You also shouldn't be afraid of feeling certain emotions and letting those that surround you know what it is that you are feeling. If you show anger, frustration or even love to the world, it does not make you weak. Weak are those afraid to feel, because they can't handle it." She said, as she looked deep into his eyes.

"Who taught you all these things?" he asked as he stared down at her. She looked away from him and stared down at her hands.

"My mum," she responded as she stared at her hands.

"I'm sorry about your loss, it sounds like she was a wise woman," he said to her in what sounded to her as something sincerely empathetic and kind. She continued to stare at her hands and took in deep breaths to calm herself down. She wanted to suppress the anger and depression that was forming within in her.

"I'm sorry too, but I still have my daddy and that's all that matters to me," she said as she looked up at him. There was a look of sadness on his face as he stared down at her. He was feeling pity for her.

"Luna I would like to show you something," he said as he stared down at her. This took her aback a bit. She stared at him for a moment and he soon extended his hand to her to help her to her feat. She merely stared at his hand for a moment before deciding to take it and standing up with his help. He slowly led her back to the house without saying anything else to her. She wondered what he was about to show her.

TBC…