Neville had mentioned that the first meeting was little more than a party, but she is still surprised to see drinks on the table before everyone even arrives. The Herbology professor pours drinks for her and himself before Minerva calls the meeting to order.
They begin by taking turns detailing summer activities, research progress, and plans for the coming year. Luna has a hard time holding in laughter when she sees Severus roll his eyes during Filius Flitwick's especially long, winding description of his recent Charms accomplishments. She allows her mind to wander during Neville's turn, as she has nearly memorized what he has to say. She is startled when Minerva says her name.
"Luna? Are you alright?"
She blushes a little and nods. "Yes, sorry. What was that?"
She sees Severus smirk and feels his amusement, but she ignores him.
"I asked whether you might tell the rest of the staff what you've been working on in Russia. If you don't mind, dear." Minerva smiles.
Luna nods. "Of course. Some of you might know that I was assigned to find some of the more elusive remaining members of Voldemort's army after the war." Even so many years after the Dark Lord's fall, she sees some winces around the table as she says his name. "We had reports that a few were hiding in Russia, but not much more information than that. After tracking rumors across the country, my best leads pointed to the Ural mountain range. So, for the past few years I've traveled through the range, looking for any signs of life."
She stops to take a drink, and notices that she has the room's rapt attention. Her activities until now have only been known by her superiors in the Auror department and, to a lesser degree of specificity, Minerva. Neville had pestered her for information all week, but she'd only answered him vaguely.
"I was only successful in capturing Rabastan Lestrange--" Filius gasps, "That was you?" Luna smiles to him. "Yes, and the Prophet was told not to report my name. I was something of a 'secret weapon' for a time."
She finishes her drink and continues as Neville pours her another. "Thank you. From Rabastan, we learned that there were others but not their locations. Unfortunately, the Death Eaters have learned from a few of their mistakes. They are now organized with far more secrecy, much like Muggle terrorists." Luna ignores the puzzled looks around the table. "As their numbers have dwindled, they've developed new strategies to regain the fear and power they once held under Voldemort."
"I remained in the area for a year or so, coming only a little closer to finding more of them. I believe they knew I was coming at that point, as I was attacked a few times." Neville shifts in his seat, moving a bit closer to her. "I was forced to cut off most of the little communication I had, and my message to Minerva would have been one of my last had I continued my mission."
She looks to the woman now, unsure of whether to go on. The Headmistress nods. "They may as well know, dear. It won't be a secret for long."
Luna notices a distinct rise in feeling from the dark wizard who has remained relatively calm until now as she continues. "I contacted Minerva to ask about certain changes in my ability to track life in the mountains. Finding animals for food was becoming alarmingly easy, and I began to detect humans, although I couldn't put my finger on how I was doing this or where exactly they were." While she pauses to sip her drink, she gently probes the pale wizard's emotion--the twinge of fear from dinner remains, his earlier confidence replaced with impatience. She smiles to herself.
"She advised me to follow this instinct, as she called it, and see where it took me. Her advice was quite useful, although I admit I wasn't prepared for how useful it was. After a few short days of tracking, I was awakened in the night by a vicious group of death eaters. Apparently, I'd come quite close to their temporary headquarters." She loses her concentration for a moment as Neville's panic washes over her. His feeling is so powerful that she is caught off guard--this is the first time she has been so strongly touched. Minerva, taking this as a personal emotional reaction, smiles to her kindly. "Take your time, dear."
Luna realizes she's paused so noticeably and continues. "They weren't pleased, of course." Severus snorts, to the annoyance of Neville. "I thought I might be in trouble for a few moments. I remembered my emergency Portkey though, and I used it before they had a chance to do much more than wake me." She feels relief wash over some of her fellow staff members with one exception. Suspicion leaks in from the former death eater. Luna puzzles over this as she finishes her explanation. "The Auror department has been pouring over the area since my discovery. They caught only a few of the slower death eaters, but the information from their location has been invaluable. My superiors asked that I return and stay here for a time, and Minerva offered me a position."
She sits back into her chair, indicating that she is finished. She doesn't wish to discuss specifics about why she isn't returning to the Aurors just yet, or details about her lesson plans (or lack thereof). The staff members clap lightly before moving on. Neville glances at her throughout the rest of the meeting, barely paying attention. Luna notices that Severus passes on his turn as though it were usual for him to do so. She is disappointed. She'd hoped to hear what he was up to since she was gone. She decides to ask him later. Perhaps showing interest in his activities will lessen the tension between them.
Minerva stands and moves the table to the side of the room when she finishes her last announcements. "Now that that's over, we can start the real meeting." She smiles as a few house elves apparate, bearing more drinks and a small array of snacks. As they arrange the table, Luna slips away from Neville's protective hovering and finds Severus sulking in an armchair near a corner of the room.
"Severus, do you have a moment?"
He grunts in reply.
Luna isn't swayed. "I need to ask you about the Dark Arts classes. Do you have your notes from when you taught them?"
He glares at her now, his eyes narrowing. Luna suddenly feels that this is a sensitive topic.
"Miss Lovegood, I hope you didn't count on me preparing your lessons for you. Or did you expect me to teach them for you as well?"
She pulls a chair to sit next to him, sensing his unhappiness at being trapped with her for the moment. "You know why I didn't have time to prepare." She looks at him meaningfully for a moment, but he says nothing. "I hoped you might let me borrow your syllabus. I know they'll be a great help."
He smirks. "Flattery will get you nowhere, at least with me, Miss Lovegood." She curses to herself.
"However," he goes on after a moment, "I might be willing to help you." She feels his suspicion from earlier come back to the surface. She freely allows herself to detect him now, despite her reluctance to do so in general until this evening. But, as she might have expected, knowing Severus Snape's feelings doesn't make his thoughts any easier to divine.