Chapter 4: …Old Habits

Luna had invited Severus for tea only a few days after the trial. They had set their little habits between brackets since the end of the war, and she thought it was enough.

She invited him to enter when he knocked, noticing that he was still wearing the same old dark robes as always. They sat together in the living room.

Severus looked better, more alive than ever. Luna talked about everything that had happened while Severus was in Azkaban, and they felt as if nothing had happened. The oppressing shadows had just disappeared with the end of the war.

"So, you're playing an important role in the Quibbler?"

"I'm learning. But I dream of more freedom, I would like to choose what to write about."

It was late in the afternoon, Luna had planned to ask Severus to stay for dinner. "Do you know what you're going to do, now?

"No. But I'm pretty sure of what I don't want to do." Severus took a moment to take a sip of tea. "There are too many spectres at Hogwarts. I never thought about the future. I was sure to die… For the first time in my life I can do whatever I want. I feel like everything is possible, and I'm lost…"

Luna worshipped Severus' honesty. She could easily understand his position.

"Life is like a box of Bertie Bott's. You never know what you're going to get… You might work for the Quibbler... You like action, and you're brave. You could be a great reporter. Unless you wish for more peace."

"Don't you think you helped me enough, Luna?"

"Think about it, please."

.oOo.

A month later, Luna was once again preparing tea. The water was boiling, and the porcelain was on the table by the couch. Soon, the fireplace emitted an intense green light, and Harry Potter stumbled in the living room.

They exchanged small talk for a moment, until he noticed the empty box of chocolate he had offered her a few days before.

"Who ate all my chocolates?" asked Harry genuinely.

"It's me," said a cold voice behind him. Luna watched with pleasure as he was startled.

"Oh, Professor." There was an awkward silence. "Why are you here?"

"I was invited."

"I hope it doesn't look like a trap, Harry," Luna said while Severus joined them for tea. "But there is something we need to ask you. We're trying to engage the Quibbler in fighting for equality amongst wizards and witches, and the guarantee of the most basic human rights."

"I've read that. You want Azkaban to close down its doors."

"Yeah, but we need someone to popularise the newspaper, and give it a reliable touch. We need you," Luna said and Severus snorted at that.

"What are you two doing for the Quibbler, anyway?" Harry asked.

"Well, I'm conducting researches on Thestrals." Luna answered.

Harry glanced at Snape.

"Black Market."

"Don't tell me you're the one who sent to the Aurors this huge file on the Black Market in Knockturn Alley?"

Severus answered by silence.

Chapter word count: 511

"T'is a figure of speech" from The Golden Snitch: Life is like a box of Bertie Bott's. You never know what you're going to get…