Everyone in the room turned their attention to the seventeen-year-old that was lying on the couch of Severus Snape. She was still asleep and there was a look of exquisite pain, written on her soft features. Her hand seemed to be reaching out for something that wasn't quite there. Severus walked over and kneeled before the couch and gently took her hand in his. Her fingers immediately closed upon his hand and her head tilted in his direction and yet her eyes remained closed.
"It's so cold," she said in a sleepy voice. He stared down at her hand and found that it was freezing cold. He stood up and removed his robes, which beneath he was wearing dress pants and a dress shirt, very much like the one that Luna was wearing. He placed his robes over her like a blanket and once more kneeled down next to her. He didn't much care for the fact that there were still other people in the room watching him.
"Luna, my dear. I fear that it is best that you wake up," Dumbledore said softly from where he stood. Luna groaned and turned her face away. "Please my dear, it is very urgent that we speak to you," Dumbledore said as he continued to stare at the sleeping form of the girl sleeping on the couch and his potions master kneeling before her. Dumbledore could clearly see how much the Potions master loved the girl; however, he hoped that there was nothing between him. After all, student teacher relationships were strictly forbidden.
Luna began to sit up, throwing her legs off the couch and sat with her back against the couch. Severus immediately stood up and stood back. Everyone watched as the girl sat on the couch, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She soon opened her eyes and once she got a look of everyone in the room they shot open. "Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonegall, Professor Lupin, Mrs. Weasley? What are all of you doing here?" she asked as she looked at them. Her face was extremely pale.
"We wish to ask you the very same thing," McGonegall said as she stared down at the girl. She looked over at Snape and her eyes looked sad. She stood up from the couch and looked over and Professor Dumbledore's eyes.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm very sorry, but I do swear that Professor Snape did nothing to me. It is all my fault, I shouldn't have drunk so much, especially after Professor McGonegall warned me not to," she said as she looked down at her feet with shame. "Professor Snape only wanted to take me home safely, but I wouldn't let him and I agreed to let him administer the cleansing potion and I fear that I must've finally given into my exhaustion," she said as she finally looked up and looked at Dumbledore sheepishly. "I have not slept at all since I've been home."
"When you woke from your slumber what happened?" Mrs. Weasley said as she stepped closer to the circle of people. Luna looked over at her best friends mother.
"I was in Professor Snape's bed with a blanket over me and Professor Snape was sitting in a chair beside the bed. I apologized for taking up his bed and he said that if I wished to go back to sleep that it was fine by him. I was perfectly fine by then, I didn't feel drunk anymore. I asked him if I could borrow something to sleep in and he gave me a shirt. I went into the washroom and I changed into the shirt and these shorts I was wearing beneath my robes," Luna said as she looked at Mrs. Weasley in the eye. "Professor Snape didn't do anything. He would never do something like that."
"That does not change the fact that Professor Snape loves you Miss Lovegood. You are a student and such feelings are not acceptable," McGonegall said as she stared down at her. Luna looked at her with horrified eyes. She than turned her gaze to Professor Dumbledore, who merely nodded in response.
"Did you already know of Professor Snape's affections?" he asked as he stared down at her. Luna nodded in response.
"I found out a couple of days ago by reading something that I should not have read, but Professor Snape never even implied such a thing in his actions or words. He was professional at all times," Luna said as she looked into Dumbledore's eyes. "Please do not take away his job. I am not a child, I am a woman and it's the summer so technically I am not his student. And for another thing, I never did say that I was going to come back for my seventh year at Hogwarts, therefore you have no reason to lay him off."
"Luna, but you said you wanted to be a medi-witch. Don't give up your education for Professor Snape," Remus said as he looked at her. Severus stared down at her and wondered why she was making this sacrifice for him.
"Remus is right, Luna," Severus said as he stared down at her. Luna turned her gaze to him.
"I wanted to be a medi-witch in my second year, I have changed much since than. I do not think that I would very much like to have to wear a uniform and know that at times no amount of magic could save someone from a certain faith. Besides, I could continue learning outside of Hogwarts if I so wished. I'm sure that I can learn a lot more about magic from the world than from the confines of the castle," Luna said as she looked at Remus and Severus both. She than turned her attention to Professor Dumbledore who was staring at her with sparkling eyes. Luna could see that his eyes were smiling at her, though his face remained neutral.
"But you love coming to Hogwarts," McGonegall said. Luna turned to stare into McGonegall's eyes.
"Everything changes. I loved coming to Hogwarts because it was an escape of mundane life at home, but I am old enough to move out from home and do other things," she said as she looked at Professor McGonegall. She than turned her gaze to look at Professor Dumbledore. "Besides, if I remained at Hogwarts, the one things that I loved the most about going to classes would be gone," she said as she turned her gaze to look at Severus.
"What?" he asked in a very surprised fashion.
"You've always been what I've enjoyed most about Hogwarts, for Ginny is the only person that's ever treated me like a friend. But you, you've always fascinated me. I used to always look forward to potions class because I could watch your every precise move and the way you spoke and I would try very hard to imitate your preciseness. You did everything so perfectly, it was hypnotizing to watch and try to duplicate. I also loved to laugh at your little witty comments that held so much contempt and cynicism towards anything and everything. You were a mystery that delighted and entertained me," she said as she looked into his eyes with a small smile on her face.
He could hardly believe his ears and he was sure that everyone else in the room couldn't either. "Luna are you sure you do not wish to return to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked, but Luna did not turned to look at him. She merely continued to stare into Snape's eyes; she was delighted by his astonishment.
"Positively sure," she responded as she continued to stare into his eyes.
"Well than there you are most definitely not a student and you are of age to know what you are doing," Dumbledore said as he stared at Luna and his gaze than turned to Snape. "Professor Snape, you are free to continue your post. We are very sorry for barging into your room and accusing you of something. We shall leave you alone now," Dumbledore stated.
"Thank you Professor," Severus said without turning to look at Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded and walked towards the door and motioned for the rest to follow him, however they were all too transfixed to moved. Dumbledore cleared his throat and they all immediately followed him out and he closed the door behind them leaving both Severus and Luna alone in the room.
"Luna why did you sacrifice your…" but his mouth was stopped with a gentle kiss.
TBC…A/N: I think that this is drawing to its end. Wow, sooner than I thought. I thought that I would write at least thirty chapters. I think it might end in the next chapter. Please leave me a review!