Poles Apart

by Slytherin99

Snape survived, but in a coma. Headmistress McGonagall arranges for a Russian professor to take over teaching potions, but she has some secrets of her own...and that's only the beginning of the story. Post DH, mostly compliant, perhaps AU, with several OCs. Rated M for safety. Chapter 6-10 revised 1/30/15.

7. Chapter 26 to 30

Chapter 26

December 19, 2003, 1:13 a.m.~

"Madam, please-"

"When may I see my husband?"

"Professor Romanov-Snape, he's still in the surgery." Said the Healer nervously, wilting under Ana's fierce gaze. "He should be out and in recovery any moment now. As I understand, his injuries were minor."

"He may be here a bit longer after I'm finished with him." Ana growled impatiently, stalking back to her seat in the waiting room.

"Any word?" Ginny said anxiously as she sat down.

"He's in surgery, should be in recovery shortly." Ana sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I swear, he is going to be sorry for this little escapade."

Harry Potter burst into the waiting room, his Auror coat streaked with rain.

"Ginny, Ana." He said, taking a seat by Ginny after giving her a hug. "Uh, Ginny, can I speak with Ana alone? Just for a moment, dear."

"Work related, I suppose?" Ginny frowned.

"I'm sorry, dear…yes, it is."

Ginny sighed, moving to get up.

"Harry, why don't we just go out in the hallway?" Ana said diplomatically, putting a hand on Ginny's arm to stop her.

"Alright."

"Thank you, Professor." Ginny sighed, relieved.

Once in the hallway, Ana turned to Harry, fire flashing in her eyes.

"Just what did you get my husband involved in, Mr. Potter?"

"I…hold up, Professor." Harry said, holding up his hands defensively. "I was just as surprised as you were when he showed up at the hospital like this."

"He told me, that he would be in Poland after a brief stop in Germany." Ana said, her eyes glinting dangerously. "What happened, that he just happened to get into a street brawl with a bunch of Death Eaters and had to side-along apparate with a wounded Auror to the hospital here? He could have splinched both of them, in the condition he was in!"

"I…" Harry pursed his lips tightly, considering what to do. "I can't tell you much about it, what Severus went and got involved in. It's a real mess. What I can tell you, I need a vow."

Ana frowned deeply, glaring at Harry.

"Or you can't tell me anything, is that how it is?"

"Exactly."

"Fine, then. I'll make your dammed vow." She snapped, holding out her hand and drawing her wand.

Harry drew his wand, and then grasped her hand.

"Do you, Anastasiya Romanov-Snape, solemnly swear not to divulge anything that I tell you concerning the matter of your husband, Severus Snape, and what happened to him and our un-named agent to anyone, save for the normal discussions held between man and wife?"

"I do." She said, feeling the magic swirl around her, taking effect.

Harry released her hand, casting Silencio and Notice-me-not charms on them.

"Alright, out with it." Ana snapped irritably. "My husband may be coming out of surgery any moment now…just why should I not hex the living daylights out of him for lying to me?"

"Because he was helping one of our agents." Harry said nervously, looking around him. "I can't say much more, except the agent was in deep cover assignment, and the Death Eaters caught him. He's been tortured, and he's lucky-or not, take your pick- to be alive. Severus…I have no idea how he found him when dozens of Aurors couldn't, but he did. Thank Merlin for that."

"He still lied to me." Ana said coldly, but with little real anger to it.

"Be glad he survived." Harry sighed. "I'll need to be the first person to talk to him, I'm afraid. Ministry policy on this kind of thing demands that I get an oath of nondisclosure from him, so it would be best if you didn't ask questions about this of him."

"We have lived for the past two years without trouble from Death Eaters," Ana fumed, crossing her arms after tucking her wand away, "and he just has to go kick the hornets' nest, doesn't he? I'll be damned if we aren't going to discuss this, and soon. I'll scorch his ears, you can bet on that. I'm going to let him know just what I think of this little escapade. Just who did he have to save, anyway?"

Harry ran a hand through his hair in exasperation.

"Look, I have an oath from you. I'll leave Severus some wiggle room in the non-disclosure oath so you can at least talk to him about it, okay? Just don't press him for details, especially on the identity of the agent. It could be quite…sensitive right now. As it is, we'll have to guard the agent 24/7, starting now. I'm pretty sure the Death Eaters are out in force looking for him. At least, Severus had the good sense to bring him somewhere relatively safe."

Ana sighed.

"I suppose it will have to do." She huffed. "But mark my words, Mr. Potter, there'd better be no trouble coming to my family from this. Or I'll be adding plenty more notches on my wand."

oOo

December 19, 2003, 5:33 a.m.~

With an effort, he opened his eyes.

"Good morning." Ana said coldly, putting her magazine aside.

"I…deduce that…I am…" Severus whispered hoarsely, "…in the doghouse, as they say."

"That would be an understatement."

"I am…very sorry, dear."

"I have been worried sick about you." She sighed, rubbing her eyes. "The headmistress insisted on my using a portkey to get here, and that took some time, waking up the stationmaster-"

"I didn't lie to you," he whispered, "I was in Poland, in Szczytno to see some suppliers, Walter Kobus and his brother Jans; that much is true…then I found…where he was. It was just dumb luck that I found him. I was passing by the house that they had him in, and heard him cry out.

"I…It was rather difficult to not hear him."

Severus drew a long, shuddering breath, trembling at the memory, fighting to compose himself.

"Ana…they…they were using enervate to keep him awake for it. It'll be a thousand wonders if he isn't half mad after this. He couldn't even talk to me, he'd screamed so much. I fear he may have damaged his vocal cords-"

Ana held up her hand.

"That's enough." She said, "I don't want to risk you breaking your oath to Harry."

"I couldn't leave him to them, Ana." He sighed, eyes welling up with tears. "I just couldn't. They were…I knew what they would do to him…and what they had done already…"

"Hush, Severus." She said, leaning over him to kiss him. "I'm just glad you didn't get too badly hurt this time."

Breaking the kiss, she glared down at him.

"But I swear, if you go off chasing Death Eaters ever again, all by yourself, I will hex you until you can't move."

oOo

"It's…huge." Luna said, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Isn't it?" Ginny asked, walking into the apartment with two boxes floating along behind her. "Professor Romanov must be very well off to own a place like this."

"The ceilings in here are, like, sixteen feet high." Her friend marveled, walking on into the sitting room. "I feel like I'm a princess."

Hermione walked in behind her, three more boxes floating behind her.

"I think this is all of your kitchen things, Luna. Come with me and tell me how you want things."

"Hermione, I can unpack this-"

"Nonsense. You don't need to be working too hard."

"I'm pregnant, not a cripple."

"She's right, Hermione." Ginny scolded lightly. "She needs to do for herself. After all, when the school term starts, she won't have us hovering over her."

"All the same, Luna," Hermione huffed, "we're having your floo connected to my apartment and Ginny's house. If you need help, either of us can be here right away."

Luna nodded, absently resting her hand on her abdomen, over her baby.

"How are you feeling?" Ginny asked gently. "You're not feeling tired, are you?"

"No, not at all." Luna smiled wanly. "You two won't let me do anything strenuous. I did go register for my classes yesterday, though."

"Is the money in your account yet, from the scholarship?"

"Yes. It's all taken care of." Luna sighed, sitting down at the kitchen table, watching Hermione put the kettle on. "I still can hardly believe I'm starting graduate school."

"Professor Romanov took a special interest in you." Ginny said, sitting down next to her. "I think she's planning to talk to your father."

"Oh…um, that might not be a good idea." Luna said softly, picking nervously at a bit of lint on her new scarlet and black Beauxbartons graduate student robes.

"If anyone can convince him to change his mind, she can. After all, she managed to tame Severus Snape."

Luna laughed at that.

oOo

"Daddy."

Severus lay still, pretending to be asleep. It was a game that his daughter loved to play with him.

Nina put her face right in his, nose to nose.

"Daddy!" She said, poking him in the nose with her tiny finger. "Wake up!"

"Hm?" He grimaced, pulling away from the probing digit.

"It's Christmas, Daddy."

Severus sighed, reaching over to pick up his old alarm clock.

"Nina, it is six in the morning." He sighed wearily.

"But it's Christmas!" Nina said insistently, climbing up on the bed. "And my feet are cold."

Severus lifted the duvet so she could crawl under the covers, worming her way in between her mother and father.

"Nina, what are you doing?" Ana murmured sleepily.

"It's Christmas, mummy."

"It is, isn't it?" Ana smiled, gathering her daughter into a hug and kissing her forehead. "Time for grumpy old sleepyheads to get up."

"And you say I spoil her." Severus grumbled, sitting up. "Accio robe, accio house slippers."

Catching the items deftly as they flew to his hands, he put his slippers and his robe on.

"I want to see what you got me for Christmas, too." Ana smirked, poking Severus in the ribs with her finger.

"See, daddy?" Nina laughed. "We win. We have more votes that you do."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake." Severus sighed. "Is your grandmother up yet, Nina?"

"Uh-huh." Nina nodded. "Nana is in the kitchen."

"Heavens, I'd better go see if I can help." Ana said, throwing back the covers and getting out of bed.

"Yay! I'm coming too!" Nina chirped, sliding to the floor to follow her mother.

oOo

Two days later, Severus received a floo call from Harry Potter, which he took privately in his new study, across the Potions classroom from their living quarters. After thirty minutes, he returned, sitting down on the couch next to Ana as she read. Nina was playing with Marcus on the play rug, telling him some outlandish story about mermaids and clownfish.

"Well?" Ana said quietly, not even looking up from her book.

"It's been approved." He replied, picking up her feet and placing them in his lap, gently massaging the right one with his slender fingers. "Harry will have to accompany me, of course, but I can go visit him next Friday."

"He's not even conscious, is he?"

"No." Severus sighed. "But I want to see him, to talk to him."

"I thought you didn't believe in that rubbish." She smirked, poking him gently in the arm.

"A stubborn woman made me a believer." He said softly. "She removed my most precious books from my study, read to me, cared about me when I could care less about living. She saved my life."

Ana sat up, shifting on the couch until she was facing him.

"You were worth saving, Severus." She whispered, and then kissed him.

"So is John." He sighed sadly, "At least, I hope there's something left of him to save."

oOo

Severus stood in the doorway of the hospital room, clad in a sterile hospital smock over his robes, with a 'visitor' tag on the breast pocket. He was watching the apprentice healer finish her work; she was carefully changing the sheets and blankets on John's hospital bed, taking great care to drape the covers in such a way as to minimize pressure on his legs.

"Ah, Professor Snape." She smiled, gently pulling the sheets up to the patient's chin, making sure that they didn't bind or put too much pressure on the healing tissue underneath. "I'm glad you came by to visit. Nobody's come to see him, except for Minister Shacklebolt."

"Well, I had to get special permission from the ministry first." Severus said, nodding to the Auror standing next to the bed. "Timmons."

"Professor Snape." The Auror, said, his eyes narrowing. "Why are you here?"

"He's here to visit his friend." Harry Potter said, nodding toward the bed. "Hello, Mark."

"Harry." Timmons said softly. "I take it this has been cleared with the Ministry? Regardless, you know that my orders are not to leave his side."

"It has." Harry said, handing Timmons an envelope. Timmons took it, removed the letter, and scanned it. Nodding, he handed it back to Harry.

"I understand you found him, got him out of there, Snape." He said, looking at Severus.

"It was purely by chance that I heard him." Severus said, looking at the bed.

"I guess you wouldn't harm him, then."

"Never. He is the closest friend that I have left, perhaps the best one."

Severus walked over to the bed, sitting down in a chair next to the bed with a long sigh. Harry followed, his eyes taking in the bed and its patient.

"Healer, um?" Harry began nervously.

"Apprentice Healer Moore, Mr. Potter." The young woman said helpfully. "I've been assigned to take care of Mr. Worthington exclusively until he recovers, myself and Apprentice Healer McCall. Is there anything you need to know about his condition or treatments?"

"Um, yes, Apprentice Healer Moore." Harry said, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "How is his condition?"

"He's been receiving skin graft therapy, though we still have to give him hydrotherapy and do debridement of dead tissue. It's not as bad as when he first got here, when we had to use hydration gel to keep the underlying tissue moist and debride every 12 hours. I…I'm afraid he's not very good company, as he's been put into a medically induced coma, with nerve blocking to keep the pain to a tolerable level. Fiendfyre is an awful thing to suffer. Even Tears of the Poppy isn't powerful enough to completely ease the pain."

"Indeed." Severus said softly, his eyes on his unconscious friend.

"Professor Snape," Said the healer, "If you don't mind my asking, wasn't it your wife, Ana Romanov, that did the research on using cobra venom as a nerve blocker?"

"Well, no, not the original research. Ana isolated some of the chemical compounds involved in nerve blocking, while she was working on…another project. She's very good with organic chemistry."

"Well, it's a wonderful breakthrough." The young woman smiled. "He…I don't think he could bear this without it."

Afterwards, they walked to the apparition point in silence, each deep in their own thoughts. Harry stopped, putting his hand on Severus' arm.

"What?"

"Severus, there's another problem." Harry sighed, running his hand through his hair nervously.

"Well, what is it?"

"You remember Luna Lovegood?"

"Of course." Severus nodded. "She was in my Potions classes, of course. Did a respectable job, enough to earn 'exceeds expectations' in most of them. Ana seems to have taken her under her wing, helping her to get a scholarship to go to graduate school at Beauxbartons. Her father has turned his back on her for some reason."

"So Ana hasn't told you?"

"No, Potter, my wife doesn't tell me everything that I don't really care to know."

"Luna is pregnant."

"That happens, though there are charms and potions to prevent it."

"Severus, I think John may be the father."

Severus stared open-mouthed at Harry, his mind whirling.

"Impossible." He snapped, finally. "He wouldn't do something like that. He's not like that."

"He went to Bermuda on vacation last summer."

"This is nonsense-"

"Hold on, Severus, I'm not finished." Harry said, holding his hand up. "Guess who went to the same resort for a holiday, at the same time, and just happened to meet a handsome Auror…"

"Rubbish."

"Luna Lovegood. Now, Hermione and Ginny can't get her to tell what her mystery lover's name was, but I'd bet the contents of my vault at Gringott's that it's John Worthington."

Severus grabbed Harry's coat, shoving him against the wall of a building.

"You are accusing my best friend of sleeping with a young woman some fifteen years his junior, fathering a child, and then abandoning her. Tread carefully, Mr. Potter."

"Severus, Luna knows who the father is, but she hasn't told anyone. Not even her own father, and that's why he's so angry with her. I think he was ready to go find him and hex him." Harry said, gently prying Severus' fingers off his coat. "Unfortunately, someone beat him to it.

"She did say she needed to speak to the father before she would identify him to anyone. She respects his privacy, Severus. It's not like she wants to shame him. Hell, he probably doesn't even know she's pregnant with his child. She says that all of her owls to him have returned unanswered, and we both know why that is."

"He is not capable of doing anything right now," Severus hissed, fairly shaking with anger, "except breathe, piss, and shit. It's a wonder he's alive, and he may curse me for saving him, given how bad his injuries are."

"That's for sure. Though I don't agree he will be angry for you for saving him."

For a long moment, the two men stood looking at each other.

"So…what should we do?" Severus asked softly.

"Let it be, for now." Harry sighed. "It won't do any good to do anything. Luna's taken care of, what with your wife helping her get enrolled in Beauxbartons and providing her somewhere to live. Ginny and I are going to arrange for her to have couple of house elves to help her; she'll really need them once the baby is born, what with her in graduate school."

"So we conceal the fact that John, assuming he is the father of her child, is alive? That we know where he is?"

"I don't see as we have much choice." Harry sighed. "It's not like she can talk to him about it, or that he can do anything to help. The healer in charge of his treatment told me that it might be as few as eight months, or as much as two years, until they can even bring him out of the coma. And even then, he'll be in terrible pain from the nerve damage."

"And then there'll be more skin grafts, then therapy." Severus said quietly. "I'll be surprised if he'll ever be able to walk again. His left leg is nearly ruined, I was sure that it would be amputated."

"Come on; let's go grab a bite to eat." Harry sighed, looking at his wristwatch. "Ginny is still in France with Hermione and Luna. I'll buy."

"Fish and chips sounds wonderful, Mr. Potter." Severus nodded. "Though I can buy my own."

"I'm sure." Harry smiled as they walked down the sidewalk, toward a restaurant near the hospital. "I hear the apothecary supply business is taking off for you."

"Slowly. I still have much to do before Ana and I can quit our teaching jobs."

Harry laughed.

"I doubt you'll be able to get her to quit teaching. She loves it."

"Yes, she does."

oOo

"Merry Christmas to us." Luna said quietly, gently stroking her tummy.

Ginny frowned, sitting in her chair, nursing James.

"Luna, are you okay?"

"Just…wondering."

"About what?"

"Where he is. If he's alright." Luna said softly, a tear sliding down her cheek. "He's still not answering my owls…I'm sure that something terrible has happened."

Harry bit his lip, looking away from Ginny's sharp glare. Pretending to straighten some of the decorations on their Christmas tree, he sighed inwardly. When he finally turned around, Luna was asleep on the couch, covered with a light blanket. Ginny was rocking James, rubbing his back as she eased him off to sleep.

Quietly, he got up, retreating to the kitchen table with his book, hoping that his wife would calm down a bit.

After Ginny had put James down for the night, she cornered Harry in the kitchen. Leaning against the counter, she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, gathering herself for the storm.

"Harry James Potter!" She hissed sharply, "You have no right to keep her in the dark about this. She has every right to know where he is! That he's alive!"

"Ginny, it isn't that easy." He sighed nervously. "He's still in danger, that's why his location is secret. I had to move mountains just so Professor Snape could see him, and Severus was the one who saved him from the Death Eaters! Look, Luna is fine for now. She doesn't need to know yet."

"She deserves to know, Harry, and you know it!" Ginny snapped. "She's worried sick about him; she at least needs to know the truth, even if she can't see him, even if she can't talk to him."

"Ginny, so long as she doesn't know about him, where he is, what condition he's in…and nobody knows that he's the father of her child, she's safe. But things have to be like this to protect both Luna and John."

"What utter rubbish." Ginny fumed. "I can't believe you're doing this, Harry. Luna is our friend! She has a right to know at least that he's alive."

"You're not going to tell her, are you?" Harry said uneasily.

"Maybe I should." Ginny said defiantly, her hands on her hips, eyes flashing. "But I think that you should be the one to tell her, since you won't even tell your own wife what all is going on."

"Tell me what, Harry?" Luna said, standing in the doorway.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 27

Harry ran his hand uneasily though his hair, unable to meet Luna's gaze. Ginny folded her arms and leaned against the kitchen counter again, her chin held high and her lips set in a tight line as she glowered at her husband.

"She's our friend, Harry, and she deserves to know." Ginny said quietly.

Luna's blue eyes shifted to Ginny, then back to Harry as he took off his glasses and cleaned them on his t-shirt. Putting them back on, he cleared his throat nervously.

"Um, Ginny, if you don't mind, could you put the kettle on, please?" He said carefully, avoiding Luna's eyes. With a sigh of disgust, Ginny went to the stove, moving to the sink to fill the kettle.

"Harry Potter." Luna said sharply. "What is going on here?"

Harry looked at her then, a guilty blush creeping into his cheeks. After a moment of chewing on his lip, he came to a decision.

"Wands out." He said to the two women, pulling out his own wand. "I need both of you to take an oath of non-disclosure."

"I'm your wife." Ginny pointed out bluntly, reaching into her pocket for her wand anyway.

"I know, but better safe than sorry, dear." He said apologetically. "Luna?"

"Ready when you are." She said, holding her wand up. "But I don't understand-"

"Let's get this over with." Harry sighed, holding his wand up and his hand out for Luna and Ginny to take hold of. When the three of them were holding hands, he glanced nervously at Luna.

"Do both of you swear not to speak to anyone else of what will be said in this household regarding Luna Lovegood and the unidentified Auror who will be spoken of?"

Both women quietly affirmed the oath, feeling the swirling of the magic vow as it took hold.

"Alright, Harry, now I'm really suspicious." Luna said uneasily. "What's this all about?"

Harry pulled a chair out from the table, motioning Luna toward it as Ginny put the kettle on the burner.

"You'd better sit down, Luna."

With a sideways glance at Ginny, who nodded to her, Luna sat in the offered chair, putting her wand away.

"What's all this about an…unidentified Auror?" Luna asked, staring intently at Harry.

"Before I can tell you anything, I have to ask you a question." Harry said, meeting her eyes with his own. "Who is your baby's father?"

"I can't say." Luna shook her head vigorously. "I won't say until I speak to him. I want him to know before I tell anyone else, because it's our child."

"What if I might know where he is?"

"Harry!" Ginny snapped. "Now, that's just cruel!"

Luna was pale as a ghost, all the blood seeming to have drained from her face, her eyes wide in shock as she gripped the table with both hands. Her blue eyes locked on Harry, her chin trembling, she seemed to not even breathe as she sat completely still.

"John." Luna whispered, looking as if she might faint. "John Worthington. Now, what do you know of him, Harry?"

Ginny left the counter, moving over to kneel next to Luna. Sliding her arms around her friend, she gave her husband a scathing glare.

"Are you satisfied, Harry?" She hissed as she steadied her friend, who leaned weakly against her.

Harry sighed deeply, taking his glasses off and rubbing his eyes.

Looks like I may be on the couch for a few nights, he thought. She can be as hot-tempered as her mum.

"Luna," He began, putting his glasses back on, "What I'm going to tell you could put you, and your unborn child, in grave danger. Do you understand that?"

"I understand." Luna said, so softly it was difficult to hear. One trembling hand on Ginny's arm, she leaned weakly on her friend for support.

"I…know where John is." Harry sighed, "But you can't see him. Not yet."

"Why not?"

"Because he's in hospital, under close guard. It would take a few weeks to get permission for you to see him, and some fancy talking on my part, probably.

"But…it doesn't matter right now…because he's very badly injured, in a medically induced coma while he's being treated for his injuries."

Luna had regained some of her color, though she was still a bit pale, and still leaning heavily on Ginny for support. She bowed her head for a moment, fumbling for her hanky. Harry waited while she dried her eyes a bit, listening to the clock in the sitting room mark off time.

"Harry…" Luna said, her eyes bright with tears, "I want to see him."

"I warn you, Luna, it isn't very pretty." Harry sighed, thinking of his last visit to John. "He was…tortured by Death Eaters. Right now, he's in such pain that they have to keep him sedated. One of the drugs they're using on him, in essence, paralyzes him so he can't feel pain."

"I understand." Luna nodded, biting her lip. "I fought alongside you in the war, Harry. I've seen what Death Eaters did to people. They tortured me, too."

"Not like this, Luna. I saw much the same things you did, and this is nothing like that."

"Please, Harry. I want to see him, even if he's unconscious."

"I'll see what I can do, Luna." Harry said gently. "I have to contact the ministry, and apply to have you placed on the visitor list. Right now, there are only eight people allowed to visit him. Assuming you are approved, they have to reset the wards to your magical signature before you can enter the area of the hospital that his room is in."

"Wards?" Ginny said curiously. "That's not that difficult a task, to reset them."

"These are tough, Ginny." Harry said. "They're very high level, and Shacklebolt has to do the resetting himself. If they aren't attuned to your signature, they'll vaporize you as soon as you try to pass."

"I'll do whatever it takes, Harry." Luna said quietly. "I want to see him."

Harry sighed deeply. The kettle had begun to boil, and he was relieved to hear it, though he hoped that Ginny wouldn't dump it on his head.

"I'll owl the Minister right now. It may take a few weeks, and I may need you to write a note for me."

"About what?" Luna blinked.

"About your…condition. That John is the father."

"Oh." Luna said, looking down at her lap as she blushed.

Harry reached out and gently lifted Luna's chin up.

"Luna, do you love him?" He asked, ignoring Ginny's frown of disapproval.

Luna, her chin trembling, tears streaming freely down her cheeks, mutely nodded.

oOo

January 2, 2004~

A soft chime reverberated through the Snape sitting rooms. Ana, her sleeves pushed up on her arms, swiped at her forehead with her hand, leaving a smudge of flour there. Picking up the rolling pin, she turned to the dough as it lay on the waxed paper on the table.

"Severus, could you get the door?" She called out, lightly swatting at Nina's hand as her daughter swiped another blackberry from the bowl. Nina crammed the berry into her mouth, already stained purple from previous successful thefts.

"If you don't stop taking the berries," Ana scolded mildly, "there will be none to put in the piroshkies, darling."

With a sigh, Severus put his book down and went to the door, careful not to step on Marcus as he slept on the magical play rug. He opened the door.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lovegood." Severus said cordially, keeping his wife's warnings in mind.

If you say anything out of line, I'll hex you, Ana had told him that morning. The situation she's in isn't her fault. Remember, she's a grown witch now, not one of your students, so you'd better be on your best behavior. Or else.

His wife had paused, as if reluctant to say more. But she pressed on.

Severus, this…won't be easy for me to talk about. Ana had said. I'm doing this for you, I'm doing it for John…but most of all, I'm going to do it for Luna. Just be forewarned; I may need some comforting afterwards. Because it will bring some of my own demons back, I fear.

Now Severus thought about his wife's words of warning as he looked at the nervous young woman before him.

Luna Lovegood stood in the doorway, looking torn between coming in and fleeing.

"Come in, Miss Lovegood." Severus sighed, stepping back and opening the door wide. "My wife is expecting you. Ana is in the kitchen, making piroshkies."

"Piroshkies?" Luna said, a look of confusion on her face.

"Yes, Priroshkies." He nodded. "A Russian treat. Little pastries, stuffed with fruit in this case. My wife wished to make them for you to enjoy with afternoon tea while you two talk. May I take your cloak?"

"Um…yes, of course." She said, slipping it off so he could hang it up on the hall tree. "Thank you, Sir."

"In here, Luna!" Ana called from the kitchen cheerfully.

Luna carefully walked around Marcus, making her way to the kitchen.

"Hello, I'm so glad you could come over." Ana smiled, putting the baking sheet with its pastries in the oven. "I was afraid that my daughter wouldn't leave you any blackberries for the filling, the scamp."

Taking out her wand, Ana vanished the flour and other mess from the piroshky making from the table. Pulling out a chair, she motioned for Luna to sit down, and then neatly stepped around Nina, who was sitting on the floor, to the tea set on the counter. Carrying it to the table, she put it down, and then retrieved a tray of tea sandwiches, sitting down at the table. With a graceful wave of her hand, she removed the stasis charm that had been keeping the food fresh and cool.

"I don't know if you've eaten today, but I haven't eaten since breakfast and I'm positively famished." Ana said, picking up a cucumber sandwich and taking a bite. "Please, help yourself."

"Um…Professor?" Luna said hesitantly.

"Hm?" Ana replied, her mouth full. Swallowing, she produced a hand mirror and examined her face, discovering the smear of flour on her own forehead. Pulling out her wand, she quickly vanished it with a chuckle.

"Thank you for pointing that out; it's rather hectic, baking anything with Nina helping. It's enough of a mess to begin with, and she loves to play with flour a bit too much."

"Professor…your arms-" Luna said softly, her eyes wide with fear.

Ana forced herself to look causal as she glanced down at her forearms, the rolled up sleeves revealing her prosthetic left arm, the terrible scars on her right arm. It was all she could do not to pull her sleeves down, to once again conceal her scars. As she struggled to keep up her calm, smiling façade, Nina climbed up in her lap, her fingers in her purple-stained mouth as she regarded Luna with her big gray eyes curiously.

"Fiendfyre…did this." Ana said, trying to keep her voice calm. "I was burned at Beauxbartons during a Death Eater attack during the war. My left arm…well, there wasn't one below the elbow after, and it was damaged all the way up to my shoulder. I nearly died."

"I…I'm sorry."

"Not a problem." Ana said crisply. "I talked to Ginny, and I thought you needed to know more about it. It was easier to show you."

Nina was sliding her fingers along the smooth metal of her mother's prosthetic arm, fascinated for now.

"My mommy has a metal arm." She said shyly. "It's cool. Grandpa made it for her."

"I…I see that." Luna said.

"Your eyes are really pretty." Nina said, leaning forward to stare at Luna. "They're blue! Blue is my favoritest color."

"Most favorite." Her mother corrected gently.

"I like blue, too." Luna said, a bit embarrassed.

Nina slid off of Ana's lap, walking over to Luna and climbing up into her lap, taking a lock of Luna's hair and examining it closely.

"What color is this?" Nina asked, frowning in concentration. "It's isn't white, though it's close. You aren't old enough to have white hair. White hair is for old people."

"Um, it's blonde." Luna said nervously, covering her belly with one hand while she steadied Nina with the other.

"You must forgive my daughter." Ana smirked. "She tends to say whatever comes in her head, and she only seems shy. Now that she knows you, she'll talk your ears off."

"I'm sure." Luna said softly, glancing at the scars on Ana's forearm again. It wasn't missed by the Potions Professor.

"You needed to see this." Ana said, a bit more gently. "I haven't seen John myself, but I know that fiendfyre was used in the attack. I wanted to prepare you for the sight, and for the…other effects it has."

Luna tore her eyes away from the ugly scars on Ana's right forearm, a guilty expression on her face.

"What…'other effects'?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"The scars are nothing, really." Ana said, picking up Nina from Luna's lap to go over to the oven to check on the piroshkies. "Mmm, almost done."

She turned off the oven, and then came back over to sit down. Putting Nina down on her feet, she leaned over to her.

"Go tell your daddy that the piroshky are almost done." She whispered, patting Nina on her fanny to speed her on her way.

When her daughter had run into the sitting room to get her father, Ana turned back to Luna.

"From what Severus has told me, John has nerve damage, mostly from the use of fiendfyre as a means to torture him." Ana said, her voice lowered to prevent Nina from hearing. "His body will heal, but the pain will stay, for a long time. It's like the worst pain you could ever imagine. He'll have nightmares. I know this…because I live with it. It's not easy. Some victims, they lose their minds from the pain. It…"

Ana drew in a breath with a shudder, blowing it out with a long sigh.

"I couldn't have done it without Severus' help." She admitted freely. "He's comforted me, held me, ducked when I raged at him…I didn't handle it well at times. I thought I…was ugly."

"Harry told me he was blind." Luna whispered. "He told me that he was in so much pain they were using a paralytic to block the nerves."

"That's what Severus told me, too." Ana nodded. "I hope you understand that I'm speaking frankly because you need to know what you're getting into. This won't be easy for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Once he regains consciousness, awareness of what's happened…he'll push you away. That's what I did to Severus. He owled me while I was in hospital, before I got my prosthetic arm. I…was horrible to him."

"You weren't that bad, dear." Severus said, walking into the kitchen. "I believe the piroshky are done."

"Oh dear! I-" Ana said, springing up from her chair.

"I have this under control, dear." Severus said, slipping on an oven mitt and opening the door to remove the baking sheet.

"Piroshky! Piroshky!" Nina chanted excitedly, dancing around her father as he placed the sheet of the tarts on the stovetop to cool.

"They must cool first, Nina." Her father smirked, tousling her hair affectionately. "Come, let's go see about Marcus. I think I heard him stirring."

After they had left, Ana looked back at Luna.

"I was awful to him, never mind what he says." She sighed. "I was hateful to him. I didn't want him to see me like I was, so I told him that I hated him, that I knew he was a Death Eater and that I would hex him into oblivion if he came near me."

"But you're married to him now." Luna said shyly.

"Yes, I am." Ana smiled shyly. "He accepted me, my scars, and my prosthetic arm, my…cancer…he's been there for me, through everything."

Ana poured tea for them, and then got up to use a small spatula to lift the piroshky onto a plate, bringing them back to the table.

"Careful, they're still a bit hot." She said, sitting down.

"Point is," Ana said, placing a small plate in front of herself and Luna, "He'll be difficult, but don't take it too personally. If you want him, then be brave, be persistent. In a way, you are John's Severus. You have the potential to help him through this, if you have the courage to."

"I don't know if I can." Luna whispered miserably.

Ana sighed, leaning forward to take her hand gently.

"Luna, you are stronger than you know." She said kindly. "Do you love him?"

Luna nodded.

"Then you will be strong enough, I know it." Ana smiled. "Now, I think I hear Marcus waking up. Would you mind holding him while I call Severus and Nina for tea?"

oOo

January 20, 2004~

"Miss Luna Lovegood?" Called the secretary into the waiting area. Harry patted Luna on the hand encouragingly, and they rose, walking across to the Minister of Magic's office door.

"Hello, Harry." Kingsley Shacklebolt said, scanning the papers in a folder on his desk. "Miss Lovegood, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir." Luna said, forcing herself to speak up with a confidence she didn't really feel.

"I am given to understand that you wish to see John Worthington, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Why?" Shacklebolt frowned, shooting Harry a glare. "I'm fairly certain that you shouldn't even know that the man exists."

"Sir," Harry began, "if I may-"

"No, you may not, Mr. Potter." The Minister said sharply. "I believe that Miss Lovegood is the party I am speaking to on this matter. You and I will discuss later just why Miss Lovegood even knows of the existence of a deep cover agent. Why do you wish to see Auror Worthington, Miss Lovegood?"

Luna swallowed nervously, looking up at the Minister.

"I'm pregnant with his child." She said softly, hoping her knees wouldn't give way completely. "We had a love affair last summer, and then he disappeared. He didn't return my owls, and later I found out that he couldn't-"

"This is troubling." Shacklebolt rumbled, scowling at Harry. "I was given to understand that John had no ties when he was assigned to this case."

"We…we weren't official, sir." Luna said quickly. "We spent a few weeks together in Bermuda last summer, and when I never heard from him…"

"Mm-hmn." The Minister nodded, turning his attention back to the folder. Luna could now see that it was marked 'Lovegood, L' on the tab. Shacklebolt snapped it closed, tossing it on his desk.

"Please, Miss Lovegood, sit down." He rumbled, glancing over at Harry.

Luna moved to the chair, settling in it gingerly, her hand coming up to rest on her swollen belly protectively.

"If you don't mind my asking, how far along are you, Miss Lovegood?"

"Five months." She said softly. "My due date isn't until May."

"I see that you're enrolled in graduate school at Beauxbartons. That's rather expensive, isn't it?"

"I have a scholarship, and a…friend is lending me her apartment. Harry and Ginny were kind enough to arrange for some house elves for me."

"Nice friends you have. That area is rather expensive for real estate, very exclusive. The apartment, it belongs to Ana Romanov-Snape, correct?"

"Yes. She…has taken a liking to me."

"I see. Do you understand, that while we are taking every precaution possible, that becoming involved with this could still mean you will be in danger?"

"I've been in danger before, sir. I fought in the last war."

"I see." Leaning forward, Shacklebolt opened the folder again, picking up a quill to scratch his signature on a form. "You now may visit John Worthington, as soon as I reset the wards. Harry, I think you should accompany her, so she knows how things are done."

"Yes, sir." Harry nodded.

"Thank you, Minister Shacklebolt." Luna said, feeling relieved.

oOo

Auror Timmons sat upright, embarrassed to have dozed off in his chair. While McCrory and Simms were out in the hall on the door, and he was behind the protection of the wards, he still felt ashamed that he'd nodded off.

A faint moan came from the bed, from the terribly maimed man in it. A chill went down Timmon's spine as he rose from his chair.

My orders are to listen, to get whatever he might say, and report, he thought uneasily. He leaned over Worthington, listening intently.

Abruptly, he found himself seized in a vice-like grip by the collar, gasping for breath as he struggled to get loose.

"Warn…Severus…Dolohov…he's a decoy…" John rasped, staring blindly at nothing. "Don't…let him into general population at Azkaban...keep him isolated…"

His hand relaxed, releasing Timmons to gasp for air, as John sagged back onto the bed, unconscious.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 28

January 24, 2004~

He was trembling, listening intently at the footsteps came closer to his bed. He knew he was in some kind of hospital bed, but not where.

"Mr. Worthington, are you cold?" A young woman's voice said gently as she touched his shoulder. He flinched involuntarily at the physical contact, flayed nerves screaming, stifling a scream.

"It's alright, sir." She said quickly, taking her hand away. "You're still a bit sensitive. We're trying to wean you off the paralytic so we can get some idea of how much damage there still is."

"I can't see." John said, still trembling like a terrified child. "Who are you? Where am I?"

"I'm one of your nurses, Healer Molly Kane." She said, fetching a light blanket to cover him with. "You're in a secret Ministry hospital, under guard 'round the clock by three Aurors, sir. You're probably the safest man in all of the UK."

He lay in the bed silently, digesting this information.

"Are you in much pain, sir?" The healer asked. "On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most severe, and one the least, how bad do you rate it?"

"About a six, I think…sometimes an eight." John said softly, flexing his limbs experimentally. He clamped his mouth shut around a moan, gritting his teeth as pain flared through his body.

"I think," He said, once it had abated, "that was about a nine."

"Well, you'd better lay still and try to rest." Healer Kane said gently. "I need to leave you for a moment, to notify your physician that you are awake. Auror Mimbs is right here by your bed should you need anything."

He listened to her footsteps receding, and then a door opened and closed. Someone shifted in a chair nearby, the legs of the chair creaking a bit.

"Pleasure to be guarding you, Mr. Worthington." A young man's voice.

"Mimbs." John mumbled, thinking back. "Didn't we work together in Madrid, in '01?"

"Yes, sir. The Parker case. Nasty business, that was."

"It was."

"If you don't mind my asking, since you were senior Auror on the case, what happened to those two, Clevin and Matthew?"

"Azkaban."

"Right. Well, they deserved it." Mimbs said with satisfaction. "From what I hear, them what had you won't be going to Azkaban."

"Oh?"

"From what I was told, Professor Snape gave them their punishment on the spot."

oOo

Luna walked through her apartment-actually, Professor Romanov-Snape's, but it had come to feel like home to her-headed briskly to the fireplace.

"Luna, are you there?" Ginny called again.

"Right here, Ginny." She said, sitting down on the rug before the fireplace. She'd found that sitting cross-legged on the floor helped her back, even though it could be difficult to get up at times.

So much is difficult, she thought, now that I have a little passenger with me.

"John's awake, Luna." Ginny said excitedly. "Harry just flooed me with the news."

Luna felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach, butterflies warring with other emotions within her. Putting her head down, she shut her eyes to close out the room that seemed to whirl around her.

I'm glad I sat down on the floor, she thought. If I were to faint, I wouldn't have far to fall, at least.

"Luna, are you alright?"

"Um, yes. I'm still here. Just a bit of a shock."

"Sorry about that." Ginny said meekly. "Look, Harry asked me to explain things to you. First, John is still blind. The healers don't know if it's permanent, or some kind of temporary thing. He's still in a great deal of pain, and a bit disoriented. But if you want to go visit, Harry said he'd take you this weekend. Just floo over to our house around eight in the morning, so we can visit a bit, okay?"

Luna sucked in a deep breath, and then blew it out, raising her head.

"Tell him that's fine." She said, with a confidence that she really didn't feel. "I'll see you tomorrow."

oOo

January 30, 2004~

"Severus." Minister Shacklebolt rumbled, coming out from behind his desk to clasp Severus' hand in a warm handshake. "It's been a long time."

"Indeed." Severus said softly. "Our last meeting was not so friendly, as I recall."

"We were all playing our roles, weren't we?" Shacklebolt said, a hint of regret in his voice. Severus nodded.

"I believe we all know each other here." The Minister continued, waving to the other men already seated in the room.

"I don't understand why I am here." Severus said, taking a seat.

"Because you were specifically mentioned by our agent, Severus. It appears that we all have been deceived by Anton Dolohov."

"But, he's in Azkaban, his group broken up-"

"May I, Minister?" Auror Ronald Erickson, a tall, lanky man said. "Auror Erickson, Professor Snape. I was in charge of the Dolohov investigation, and later, 'Operation Sparrow.'"

"'Operation Sparrow'?"

Erickson shifted uncomfortably under Snape's piercing gaze.

"As in, 'his eye is on the sparrow'." He glanced at the Minister nervously.

"Seeing as the operation has been compromised, there is no harm in telling him." Shacklebolt said. "If it wouldn't have been for Severus being in the area by chance, we would not have a sparrow any longer."

"I take it that 'Operation Sparrow' was the undercover operation that John was working when he was captured and nearly killed." Severus said, throwing Erickson an acid glare. "Fine job of protecting him."

"We did the best we could to protect him!" Erickson snapped, glaring back at Snape defiantly.

"It was obviously not good enough." Severus sneered back.

"Enough of this!" Shacklebolt shouted, slamming his hand down on the table before him. "Severus, hold your tongue. Erickson, explain the operation."

Snape leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, glowering at Erickson.

"Um…right." Erickson began again. "'Operation Sparrow' was intended to place an agent within a Death Eater cell in Eastern Europe. The first phase of the operation went well, with John resigning his commission as an Auror and using a portkey to flee to Czechoslovakia with funds 'embezzled' from the operational funds of the Ministry. Warrants were promptly issued for his arrest, though if he would have been picked up, there would have been a miraculous 'escape,' followed by intensified searching, carefully misdirected by the Ministry. He was able to purchase an apartment to use as a base of operations in Prague, and had made initial contact with three Death Eater cells, when…things went wrong."

"A masterpiece of understatement." Severus hissed, earning a sharp glare from Shacklebolt.

"Two teams of Death Eaters, of approximately 15 each, attacked his apartment at 0430 Saturday October 4, 2003. Fiendfyre was used to set the entire apartment complex ablaze, with bombarda maxima being used to gain access to Auror Worthington's apartment. After a brief struggle, he was incapacitated-"

"Must you read all the gory details off to me?" Severus snapped. "I'm well aware that they blew up the apartment complex, seized him, and carried him off to Poland!"

"Severus, there is no point in being difficult." Harry said gently.

"All the same, he is safe," Snape sighed, "at least, we hope so. You said there was new information regarding Dolohov."

"There is." Shacklebolt nodded. "Auror Timmons? Would you tell us what John told you when he awakened?"

"Yes, sir." Timmons said, leaning forward. "He said, 'Warn…Severus…Dolohov…he's a decoy…don't let him into general population at Azkaban...keep him isolated…"

Timmons looked over at Shacklebolt, then at Severus.

"That's all he said, sir. The first time he woke up. The second time, he was able to stay awake longer, and he told me more."

"Such as?" Severus said, leaning forward in his chair eagerly.

"To summarize, Dolohov was a 'sacrificial lamb', intended to be given up once he had attracted enough attention. His primary job was to get into Azkaban, to make contact with imprisoned Death Eaters."

"Merlin…" Severus said under his breath.

"I would recommend you separate Dolohov from the others imprisoned in Azkaban." Severus said, feeling a bit ill. "Also, you'd better increase security. I would expect a breakout attempt soon, especially now that 'Operation Sparrow' has been uncovered."

"Already done." Erickson said, leaning back. "Dolohov has a special cell now, and we've tripled the guards on all shifts."

"I do hope that is adequate." Severus said quietly. "At least, more adequate than the security surrounding 'Operation Sparrow."

oOo

Luna walked down the hallway, the smell of antiseptic sharp in her nostrils as she followed the Healer, their shoes clicking softly on the tile floor. Pausing at a door, the Healer pressed her palm to a flat panel. There was click and the door swung open, allowing the Healer to step through, holding the door open for Luna.

"Healer Molly Kane, Miss Lovegood." The Healer had introduced herself after Luna safely came through the external wards. "Mind your step there."

"My husband Brian and I are expecting; I'm about 3 months along." She smiled, glancing down at Luna's belly. "How far along are you?"

"Six months." Luna said, feeling a bit queasy. Breakfast hadn't set well with her today, though not because she had morning sickness.

This will be the first time I've seen him since Bermuda, she thought to herself. What should I say?

"Six months! That's wonderful." Healer Kane went on, leading Luna through the maze of hallways and guarded doors. "Please tell me that the morning sickness thing doesn't last."

"It doesn't." Luna said. "I was pretty much over that by the fourth month. Some days, breakfast just isn't possible, still. It varies, day to day."

"Doesn't it though! One of my best friends, she was sick nearly all the way to delivery."

Turning the corner, Luna saw a heavy door, flanked by two Aurors. A third Auror sat at the end of the hallway, watching everyone carefully.

"Luna Lovegood, here to visit our patient." Healer Kane said cheerfully.

"Your wand, please." The larger of the two Aurors said, holding out his hand. "We'll be holding it for the duration of your visit. The wards will detect any wandless or non-verbal magic. I don't recommend trying anything."

"Now, Ben, don't be so gruff." Healer Kane said sharply, nodding toward Luna. "She's his girl, and she's expecting. So don't be trying to frighten her."

Luna, having turned quite pale, held her wand out with a trembling hand. With a frown and a sigh, Ben took it from her, storing it in a locker and handing her the key.

"My apologies, miss." He said a bit more gently. "He's my friend, and I won't have anyone hurting him. I didn't know he had a girlfriend, though. I'm sorry if I scared you."

"It…it's alright." Luna said softly, still shaking.

"We have to pass through one at a time," Healer Kane said gently. "I'll go first, so that Marty knows we have a visitor."

Luna nodded, watching as the Healer stepped through the doorway. After a moment, she called out to Luna.

"Go ahead." Ben nodded.

Luna stepped through the doorway, feeling as if something was pricking her body all over, a momentary flash of white, and then it was over. She stood in a hospital room, blinking after the flash, little motes of light seeming to float in front of her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Healer Kane said, taking her by the arm. "You still look rather pale. It's a bit of a shock, the first time you go through these wards, even after they've been set to accept your magical signature. I imagine they'd be pretty nasty if you weren't supposed to go through."

"I…I think I need to sit down." Luna said, feeling more than little lightheaded.

"Come, sit down then." The Auror standing guard said, getting up from his chair and moving it over by the bed.

Healer Kane and the Auror helped her to the chair, where she sat down with a sigh of relief.

"Is he awake?" Healer Kane asked the Auror.

"No, ma'am. He's been sleeping pretty well today, though." The Auror replied, and then turned to Luna. "Marty Parker, ma'am. Aren't you Xenophilius Lovegood's daughter?"

"Um…yes." Luna said, blushing. "I'm Luna Lovegood."

"Marty, for heaven's sake!" Healer Kane fussed, "She's here for a visit with her man. Let her see him."

"Pardon me." Marty chuckled, moving out of the way. "Just thought I recognized her. Tell your dad hello from me next time you see him."

Luna nodded politely, only half-hearing what he said. Her eyes were locked on John.

He was suspended above the mattress with a levitation charm, to prevent bedsores forming on his already badly damaged body. Covered with a blanket that was likewise suspended just above him with a levitation charm, Luna couldn't see much, save for his face, or his heavily bandaged hands. Every so often, he twitched slightly, as if dreaming.

Auror Parker and Healer Kane exchanged a glance, with the Healer holding her finger up to her lips.

Luna was biting her lip, so hard she tasted blood, her slim body shuddering as she tried to keep from weeping openly.

"John…" She finally sobbed aloud, reaching out blindly with her hand.

"Miss Lovegood-" Auror Parker began, stopping when Healer Kane put a restraining hand on his arm.

"I don't think she would harm him, Marty." Healer Kane said quietly, then stepped over to Luna.

"I think it would be alright for you to touch him, Luna." She said, helping her up from her chair.

Gradually, the healer helped Luna to the side of the bed, with Luna leaning heavily on her for support. Auror Parker stepped over to support Luna from the other side, earning a grateful smile from Healer Kane.

"Go ahead." Healer Kane said gently. "He may not be comfortable with you touching him at first, mind you. It was a few weeks before we healers could touch him without him being fearful or combative."

I understand now, why Ana wanted to talk to me, Luna thought, she wanted me to be prepared as best I could be for this. For the sight of him. For the shock of seeing the burns.

With an unsteady hand, she reached over to his face, to touch him on one of the few uninjured areas of his body. As her fingers made contact, her touch as light as a butterfly landing, he shifted slightly, giving out a low moan.

"It's alright." Healer Kane said encouragingly. "He does that sometimes. Talk to him. Let him know you're here."

"John…" Luna sobbed, sagging weakly against them.

oOo

She was at home, studying in her bedroom, when the floo activated.

"Luna, are you there?" Ana's voice came to her from the sitting room.

"Right here, Professor." Luna said, setting down her textbook and walking into the sitting room.

"Do you mind if I come over?" Ana's greenish face asked from the flames. "Both of my children are finally asleep, and I wanted to check on you."

"No, I don't mind."

As soon as she assented, Ana stepped out of her fireplace, brushing the fine ash from her robes.

"I knew you went to visit John for the first time today, and I wanted to make sure you were alright, dear." Ana said, walking over to sit on the couch. "Did everything go well?

"Yes, and no." Luna sighed, sitting down at the other end of the couch.

"Tell me what happened, dear."

"He…he hit me."

"Oh, no!" Ana exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth.

"Not hard, just a glancing blow." Luna said softly, holding up her arm to show Ana the bruise. "Healer Kane says that he sometimes is combative while he's not awake…and he's a bit sensitive to being touched."

"Did he ever wake up while you were there?"

"No." Luna sighed sadly. "He…had a bad night, so they had increased his dosage of the pain medication. So, he didn't talk to me, even though I talked to him for the whole hour I was there."

"You did? Good."

"I wanted to thank you, for trying to prepare me." Luna said softly. "I…it was pretty bad."

"I'm sure." Ana shuddered, repressing old memories. "I haven't been to see him myself, but Severus has told me enough. So, you plan to go back?"

"Can I?" Luna asked, her eyes widening.

"Oh, yes. Severus told Harry that you needed unlimited visitation, due to your relationship and your carrying his child." Ana said. "I insisted on it."

I'll not mention that I had to floo Minister Shacklebolt and scorch his ears a bit to get permission for Luna to visit that much, Ana thought to herself. No need for Luna to know of that.

Luna blushed deeply, looking down at her hands.

"Oh, come now, dear." Ana said, gently lifting Luna's chin back up. "Nobody has said anything critical of you being pregnant. We have more serious things to worry about than someone's Victorian ideas of propriety."

"But daddy-"

"Never mind your father. We'll work on him, and he'll come 'round." Ana smiled. "Now, about next weekend. Are you free? Because Nina's been bugging me about when 'Aunt Luna' will come visit us again."

"I have to do some revising for the next exams, but I should be free to visit Sunday, after I see John."

"Excellent! We'll be looking forward to it."

oOo

As rooms at Azkaban go, it might have been a bit drier than most. Ten feet square, no window, just a glowing lamp in the ceiling, with a drain in the floor and a simple toilet with sink in the corner. A steel cot sat along one wall, with a lumpy mattress and a worn blanket.

Antonin Dolohov paced the room anxiously. He'd already been put in a maximum security cell, but at least he had some friends to talk to, friends who were quite interested in the generous offer his benefactor wanted to make to them.

Freedom from Azkaban. The only requirement was a loyalty oath. More would be asked later.

Everything had been going so well, and then suddenly, he was yanked from his cell one night, bound and gagged, then dragged up to this tower to be tossed in this cell like so much refuse. Worst thing, he had been so disoriented by the experience, that he had no idea which of the featureless panels in the wall was the actual door for the cell, let alone where he was in the prison.

That damned Auror, the one who tried to infiltrate the cell in Prague. That had to be it.

I warned them, that they should just kill him, Dolohov thought angrily. It was part of the plan, for me to be arrested and thrown in Azkaban, so I could make contact with the loyal Death Eaters here. Somehow, someone had rescued the Auror, and killed thirty members of the Prague and Warsaw cells. Who?

He rubbed his eyes, wracking his brain for the answer.

With a grinding sound, one of the panels slid open, and in stepped two Aurors, wands drawn and pointed at him. They stepped to either side of the door, allowing Kingsley Shacklebolt to enter.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Minister of Magic, here to hear my plea for release." Dolohov said mockingly.

"Actually, Dolohov," Shacklebolt said calmly, "You won't be released anytime soon, not without full cooperation. We have questions, and you have answers."

"Sod off, Shacklebolt. I don't have to tell you anything."

The Minister smiled, a thin, nasty smile, and then nodded to the two Aurors, who put away their wands and left the room.

"I know my rights." Dolohov said defiantly. "You can only ask questions, and you can't use anything on me."

"We won't be asking you questions, Antonin." Shacklebolt said. "We brought someone who can get the answers, whether you wish to give them freely or not. We only have to leave him in the room with you until he's finished finding out everything, and believe me, he will not be gentle. If you cooperate, he might let you keep what remains of your mind."

"You wouldn't dare." The prisoner sputtered, "No one can possibly do that-"

"I can, Mr. Dolohov." Severus Snape said coldly, walking into the room. "And given the grief you've caused my family and I over the past few years, I will take a great deal of…pleasure in doing this."

Dolohov's face went completely pale.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 29

February 2, 2004~

Ana started awake at the sound of the door of the Potions classroom being opened.

Three a.m., she frowned disapprovingly. Anxiously, she watched the door.

Just before it opened, she lay her head back down against her pillow, closing her eyes tightly. As Severus closed the door gently, she opened her eyes and yawned, stretching for good measure.

"You've been waiting up for me," Severus said with a sigh of resignation, "so don't even attempt to pretend to be asleep. I know how you are. You want to know what I found out."

"Oh, alright." Ana pouted. "I was hoping you might awaken your princess with a kiss."

"What sentimental rubbish." He smirked, leaning down and kissing her. "My 'princess' is asleep in her bed, or should be. My 'queen', nosy as she is, waited up for me, as I knew she would."

"So, what can you tell me?" She asked, after he kissed her again.

With a sigh, Severus sat down on the couch, running a hand through his hair.

"I can tell you with no doubt, using Legilimency on Antonin Dolohov, is quite possibly one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. It is the mental equivalent of wading the sewers of London barefoot."

"Ew." Ana said, making a face of disgust. "Did you leave him anything of his mind?"

"Yes. The Minister insisted on it, as we may want to talk to him further. I was able to get quite a bit of useful information, which I am not allowed to discuss with you. Suffice it to say, we have an idea of where to go now."

"Good." She nodded. "I'm tired of waiting on the enemy to make the next move. We give up too much of an advantage."

"We have too much to lose for you to get involved, my fierce little bride." He said softly. "Assisting with the investigation is the limit of my involvement, as well. We don't want to make orphans of Nina and Marcus."

"True. Shall we go to bed now?" Ana said, getting up from the couch. "I don't sleep well without you to cuddle with."

"Let's. It's been a long day, and I'm exhausted."

With a brief pause to look in on Marcus and Nina, they walked down the short hallway to their bedroom.

oOo

March 13, 2004~

"Uthor." She said, handing over her wand.

"Miss Luna." The big man nodded back, putting into the locker and handing her the key. "Didn't expect you until tomorrow. Long weekend?"

"No, I'm visiting with the Snapes tomorrow, and I didn't want to miss a weekend with him."

"Ah." Uthor smiled. "Well, he's awake, last I heard. They've been weaning him off the painkillers, so he might be a bit testy."

"That's alright." Luna smiled. "I'm in this for the long haul."

The Auror picked up a phone handset.

"One visitor cleared to enter, Miss Luna Lovegood."

After a few minutes, a key rattled in the door, and it swung open. Auror Timmons' face appeared, breaking into a grin.

"Miss Luna! Come in, please!"

Luna walked into the hospital room, barely flinching at the tingling on her skin and the flash dazzling her eyes as she passed through the wards. She'd worried about what effect it might have on her unborn baby until she'd discussed it with Healer Kane.

"Nothing to fret about, Luna." Molly had told her, smiling. "They wouldn't allow me to take care of him if there was a danger, and I pass through that ward at least 8 times a shift. The Aurors explained to me that it has to do with evil intent, and how could an unborn child have such?"

Now, Luna was nearly to John's bedside, again, watching Timmons slide a chair over to the bed so she could be close to him.

"Hey, you! Stop playing at being asleep." Timmons smiled, tapping on the bedframe. "Your girl's here to see you!"

John's eyes flew open.

"She's not my girl. Send her away." He rasped, causing Luna to flinch slightly.

Biting her lip, she mentally braced herself.

Oh, Merlin. Bad day, she thought. We can do this.

"Good morning, John." She said, in her sweetest voice.

"Go away."

"No." She laughed cheerfully, though it was an act. His words felt like acid on her raw emotions.

I have to remember that he's not in his right mind, that it's the pain talking, she reminded herself, biting her lip. Doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.

"Did you sleep well, darling?" Luna asked, sitting down next to his bed in the chair.

"No. What do you care?" He hissed, wincing when he moved slightly to adjust his position.

"I care about you, John." She said softly, not breaking eye contact. "I don't want you to hurt. I want you to heal. You need to get well so-"

"So 'what'? So I can be a cripple?"

"So you can be a father." She said gently, reaching over to stroke his forehead, surprised when he didn't flinch away.

Well, that's progress, she thought happily. He used to jerk away from my hand when I touched him.

She continued to look at him steadily, meeting his hazel eyes with her blue ones, until abruptly, he looked away.

"Leave me alone." He whispered, his voice cracking.

"No."

"Please, just go away. I…I can't do anything to help you. I can't even wipe my own arse…I-"

"Oh, when my visiting hours are over, I'll leave, John." Luna said, feeling a bit more confident. "But I'll be back next weekend. And I've applied for visitation in the evenings, during the week. So I'm going to keep coming back, over and over."

I'm not going to give up, she thought grimly. I won't let you give up, John.

"Please-"

"Don't give up, John." She pleaded, by now leaning over him on the bed. "You have to keep going, keep fighting. You have to get well."

"I don't think-"

She placed her finger on his lips.

"Shush. I know that inside, you're still the wonderful man that I fell in love with in Bermuda. You're just hurting right now, and you have a lot healing up to do."

oOo

Ana walked briskly down the stairs toward the dungeons, her notebook and planning book under her arm, having been kept late at an administrative meeting with the Headmistress going over changes to the curriculum. Nodding curtly to a group of first years darting down the hall to make it back to the dorms before curfew, she smirked slightly. As one, they slowed their pace, nervously eyeing the dreaded Potions Mistress until she swept past them.

Nothing like keeping them on their toes, she thought. Hugo Messer, he's so nervous around me, but he's really a very nice lad, and quite good with potions. And that Susan deWenthe, very talented with so many subjects. So many good students…I think I'll ask Neville to do some tutoring of the Messer boy, they have much in common.

Breezing in through the Potions classroom, she entered their private quarters, to find Nina and Marcus playing in front of the fireplace on the play rug, and Madam Pince and Severus deep in conversation. Severus looked up as soon as she came in, frowning at her.

"What?" Ana said, setting her books down. "I warned you that I might be late tonight. Professor Sprout took up thirty minutes nattering on improvements that would be needed for the gardens, and…"

She paused to look around her, frowning.

"Where's Luna?" Ana asked, an uneasy feeling coming over her.

Severus sighed, closing his book and setting it aside.

"Come with me." He said, getting up from his armchair. Nina looked up at him.

"No, sweetheart." He said gently. "Nina, Aunt Luna is upset. I think that your mum needs to talk to her for a bit."

"Oh, no." Ana said anxiously, following Severus down the hallway, from the sitting room, past the kitchen and the nursery. Before reaching the bathroom, he paused, leaning against the wall.

"Before you talk to her, she came in, seemingly in a good mood." He said quietly, after casting silenceo on them. "However, John had a bad night before her visit, and was in particularly ugly form for her today. My understanding is that she put on a brave face, but his words still hurt, and she is upset because of that. She won't talk to me about it, and she won't talk to mother."

"I'll talk to her." Ana said, reaching for the doorknob.

"Are you sure you'll be alright with this?" He asked, his eyes dark with concern, catching her hand with a gentle grasp that bordered on a caress.

She took a deep breath and blew it out softly, then nodded.

"I might need you later." Ana said softly, releasing the doorknob and curling her fingers around his.

"I'll be in the sitting room." Severus said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He canceled the silenceo charm and left her there, standing before the bathroom door.

Ana paused for a moment, gathering her courage, then knocked.

"Luna? Are you alright?" She called softly.

There was a long pause, then footsteps shuffling to the door. The lock clicked as the door unlocked and it swung open.

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her make up smeared. She dabbed at her eyes with a hanky.

"No." Luna said softly, in a voice that was raw and nearly inaudible.

"Come with me, dear." Ana said gently, taking her by the arm and leading her to the kitchen. Putting a box of tissues in front of Luna, she put the kettle on, moving quickly and efficiently, and then closed the door.

"Tell me what happened." She said, sitting down close to Luna.

"It's no big deal." Luna said, looking down at her lap.

"No, it is a big deal, because you're upset by it." Ana said, leaning forward and putting her hand on Luna's. "I warned you it was going to be rough, didn't I?"

Luna nodded miserably, fresh tears trickling down her cheeks.

"I…I'm sorry to spoil the evening." She said, taking a tissue and dabbing at her eyes. "I know Nina was looking forward to it, and Severus had to explain to her why I flew in and locked myself in the loo-"

"Sweetheart, don't worry about it." Ana said, pushing the tissues closer to her. "Nina won't remember it in another hour. We'll get this worked out, and we'll put on the happy face, and after a while, everything will be better."

"I don't know," Luna said, her lower lip quivering. "I just don't know if I can do this."

"What did he say to you?"

"He asked me to leave. He told me to go away, that he couldn't help me, that he couldn't even wipe his own arse."

"And how did you respond to that?'

"I told him I wouldn't leave. That I would keep coming back."

"Good for you." Ana smiled. "He needs this. Severus was like this too, when he first awoke from his coma. All hateful and prickly, not wanting any help."

"What did you do?"

"I ignored him, to tell the truth." Ana shrugged. "We were living right across the Potions classroom from each other, so it was difficult to avoid the insufferable git, but I managed."

Luna giggled weakly.

"What?" Ana said, puzzled.

"Oh, just you referring to Professor Snape like that." Luna smiled. "I'd be rich if I had a Knut for every time I've heard him called a 'git'."

"Well, he can be rather irritating."

"Quite. So what changed?" Luna asked, her problem momentarily forgotten.

"He slipped and fell one night getting out of the tub." Ana sighed. "I just happened to have to go to the Potions classroom to get a book, and heard him call out for help. Good thing, too, as he might have caught his death of a cold, laying there wet and naked on the floor."

Now Luna found herself clapping her hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh.

A gentle knocking at the door reminded them they were not alone.

"Who is it?" Ana called.

"Madam Pince, dear."

"Do you mind if my mother-in-law comes in, too?" Ana asked, smirking. "We can sit here telling tales on Severus."

Luna giggled again, nodding her head yes.

"Come in, Irma." Ana called out.

The door swung open and Madam Pince stepped in, closing the door behind her. Crossing to the table, she took a seat.

"Well, Marcus is out for the count, bless his heart." She smiled. "I just put him to bed. Severus is working on getting Nina to where she's sleepy, but she's fighting it tooth and nail."

"How are you feeling, dear?" Madam Pince said, turning to Luna.

"Better." Luna smiled. "Ana always knows how to cheer me up. She's almost as good as Ginny and Hermione."

"Well, she's good at that." The older woman smiled. "How are you and your baby doing, dear?"

"Pretty well. She's rather active lately, probably because of all the traveling I've been doing."

Ana got up and took the kettle off when it began to whistle.

"How about some chamomile tea?" she asked, getting four cups out. "It should help us all sleep well. Merlin knows, I may have to slip some to Nina if Severus can't get her settled."

"That would be lovely, dear." Madam Pince said. "I can finish the tea if you need to help him."

"Would you?" Ana said, giving a sigh of relief. "I'll just pop out and check on him, make sure she's behaving."

Going to the door, Ana slipped through quietly.

Luna sat at the table, an awkward silence descending on the kitchen as Madam Pince prepared the tea. The older woman moved with easy grace, even preparing some small tea sandwiches, putting them on a plate with some biscuits.

"Here we go." She said, carrying the plate over to set it in front of Luna. "I'm sure you're famished, dear."

"Thank you." Luna said shyly, picking up a cucumber sandwich.

"I take it that your young man is being difficult?" Madam Pince asked.

Luna swallowed the bite she was chewing and chuckled, covering her mouth as she did.

"That's an understatement." She said. "He's grumpy as a bear."

"I'm sure. He's no doubt quite disoriented, given what all has happened to him in the past six months."

Luna nodded.

"It was worse when he couldn't see. He was so afraid, of everything. This slightest touch, a sudden noise, if he didn't know what it was…"

She paused, rubbing her eyes while Madam Pince waited patiently.

"Sorry about that."

"It's perfectly alright, dear. Merlin knows, you're under a great deal of stress right now."

Luna took a sip of her tea. At that moment, Ana and Severus came in the kitchen, Ana leaving the door carefully cracked behind them to listen for the children.

"Is this a 'girls-only' club?" Severus smirked, pouring himself a cup of tea and leaning against the counter as Ana sat back down in her chair.

"Mm." Ana murmured, putting down her teacup. "Thank you, mother, for putting a warming charm on my tea. Severus, I think you should be in on this. After all, he is your friend."

"I'm a bit outnumbered here." He sighed, and then looked at Luna. "I take it that John is being difficult."

"Just a bit." She nodded. "Just telling me to leave him alone, saying that he's useless, a cripple. Things like that. I just let it get to me…not where he could see, of course."

"Good for you." Severus nodded approvingly. "He's very stubborn, absolutely hates to be a burden to anyone. Always has been. I suggest that once he gets out of the hospital, you let him do everything on his own. Only help him if he asks. You'll be busy enough when the baby is born."

"Excuse me, but…" Luna said, her eyes wide with surprise. "…you make it sound like we're man and wife. He and I haven't even discussed such a thing at all."

"I suggest you do so, then." Severus smirked. "I know John quite well…and you're the first woman he's even paid any attention to in the past twenty years. He's always been consumed by his work, his career. He's quite smitten by you, I can tell from talking to him."

"Then why doesn't he-"

"Before he was injured, he probably thought he was too old for you." Severus said softly. "Now, he probably believes himself too broken. You're doing fine, Miss Lovegood. I support you in this.

"Now, if you don't mind, your presence has been requested by Princess Nina. She says she needs her 'Aunt' Luna to read her a story before she can sleep."

oOo

April 17, 2004~

He was sitting up, in a wheelchair, when she came into his room. Healer Kane was changing the sheets on his bed, and John was talking to her quietly. They stopped talking when Auror Mimbs unlocked the door and let Luna into the room, helping her to her chair.

"Oh…thank you so much." She said, smiling at the Auror. "Merlin knows, I can hardly walk lately. You have so much to look forward to, Healer Kane."

"Don't I know it." The healer chuckled, tucking the corners under the mattress neatly. "John, do you feel up to sitting in your wheelchair while Luna visits today? Do you want a blanket?"

Luna glanced at his legs, what skin there was showing red and raw, and felt her stomach turn a flip. When she looked back up, he was looking directly at her, his expression defiant.

Oh, so this is how you're going to be today, eh? She thought grimly. Fine, then. I can handle this. You're not going to scare me off that easy.

"No." He said, his voice flat and cold. "I'm not cold."

Healer Kane glanced at Luna, then back at her patient, then at Auror Mimbs.

"Alright, then." The Healer said calmly. "Auror Mimbs, do you think you could give me a hand with these linens? My back hurts a bit, and we both know they've relaxed the guard on him somewhat."

"Um…alright, Healer Kane." Mimbs said uneasily, getting back up from his chair. "I guess we don't have to keep such a close guard on him now, do we?"

When the door closed behind them, Luna turned to John.

"Well, that was a bit obvious." She said, smiling nervously.

"I told you not to come back."

"I don't have to do as you say." She replied crisply. "I don't take orders from you."

For a moment, she thought she'd gone too far with it. He sat in his wheelchair, shaking with anger, his face reddening, unable to speak.

Then, he seemed to relax, sagging in the wheelchair. Closing his eyes tightly, he let out his breath in a long sigh.

John looked down at the floor, then back up at Luna. He was biting his lip, his chin trembling.

"I…I'm sorry, Luna." He said quietly. "I…I've been horrid to you. What they did to me-"

"Hush, John. It's alright. I understand."

"I don't." He said, sniffing, trying to hold back his tears. "I don't understand why you would want me-"

"Shush." She said, taking his head gently in her hands and pressing her lips to his.

"Luna." His voice wavered somewhere between a prayer and a plea, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Shh." She gently kissed his cheeks, as he sobbed openly.

"John Worthington, I knew you were who I wanted the first time I met you." Luna said softly. "Remember?"

oOo

Sometime after nightfall, May 1, 1998~

"Secure the corridor, John." Kingsley Shacklebolt said, his wand still held at the ready. "Make sure the students are safe."

John Worthington checked the corridor, taking up a post near the doorway of the Great Hall. Shacklebolt had selected him for his size as well as his magical ability; he was 6' 4" and powerfully built, having been on the Slytherin Quiddich team during his time at Hogwarts as a beater with a fearsome reputation on a broom. Wand at the ready, the young Auror walked down the hallway toward a petite blond girl who seemed to be aimlessly wandering the corridor, looking up at the rafters.

Oh, boy, he thought. A straggler. I'd better get her back into the Great Hall.

"Pardon, me, Miss…" He said firmly, yet kindly ("Don't frighten the students, John," Shacklebolt had warned him earlier), "It's not safe to be wandering the halls."

"Oh…hello." The tiny blond gazed up at him with a dreamy expression, with bright blue eyes framed in a perfect china doll face. "Have you been troubled with Nargles your whole life?"

"What? No! I…" John stammered, taken aback by her question. "There's no such thing as a Nargle, young lady!"

"You're very tall." She said calmly, putting on a set of Spectrespecs and peering at him closely. "How tall are you? Do you ever bump your head?"

For a moment, John was completely flabbergasted. The girl frowned, and then waved a hand toward his left shoulder.

"Go on, now. Shoo." She said firmly. "He seems like a nice man, you nasty Nargles. Leave him alone."

She's crackers. Completely mad, he thought, backing away slightly.

"I won't hurt you." She said, taking off the Spectrespecs and holding her hand out. "I'm Luna Lovegood. Nice to meet you, Mr. Very Tall Man."

He paused, then shifted his wand to his left and hesitantly took her hand in his right.

"I'm John Worthington, an Auror working with Kingsley Shacklebolt, Miss Lovegood."

She wrapped her free hand around his; her hands were cold.

"You have warm hands, Mr. John Worthington…and your eyes are very kind." Luna smiled gently. "No wonder that Nargles flock to you. You never shoo them away, do you?"

John looked around, becoming more nervous by the minute. A teenage girl was holding his hand, nattering on about Nargles and other imaginary creatures. This was very bad.

"Um, a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lovegood, but duty calls. And you really need to get yourself to the Great Hall, where you'll be safe." He said, pulling his hand from her grasp.

She looked up at him with those lovely blue eyes for a long moment, and then nodded her head.

"You stay safe, too. It was nice to meet you." She smiled enigmatically, then skipped as she went to the Great Hall, humming a tune as she went.

As she reached the door of the Great Hall, she looked back at him and waved.

"I like you, John Worthington. I'll see you again soon." She said, giving him a dazzling smile, then slipped inside.

It was only then that he realized that she was barefoot.

Witches, John sighed, shaking his head. This looked to be a very long night.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Chapter 30

March 21, 2004~Hogsmeade

"Luna, it looks great on you." Ginny smiled, admiring the fine material of the new robe. "I hate to say it, but you look great in Beauxbartons colors."

"I look fat." Luna sighed, running her hands over her swollen tummy, turning sideways to frown at her figure.

Well, at least my breasts are finally getting bigger, she thought to herself, and then sighed. I'll have to buy some new brassieres, too.

"That's because you're pregnant, dear." Ana said, bringing in another armload of robes for Luna to try on. "In a few months, you'll get rid of most of it, then once little Elizabeth is toddling about, you'll be skinny as a rail from chasing her."

Ginny laughed out loud, covering her mouth, while Luna just smiled.

"Professor Romanov, this…these robes are just too expensive. I-" She said softly.

"Shush." Ana snapped, holding her finger up to Luna's lips. "This is a baby gift from me."

"But I-"

"Forget it. Young lady, you are not going to tell me how I should spend my money."

"I-" Luna said weakly.

"Luna, just give up already." Ginny grinned. "You're not going to win."

The blonde witch sighed, giving in.

"I wonder what's keeping Mother." Ana frowned. "She was right behind me, with some more robes for you to try on."

With a sigh, the Potions Mistress turned to the door.

"Try these." Ana commanded, tapping the pile of robes. "Keep that one you have on, it looks lovely on you."

"See? I told you so, Luna. Oh, and Professor?" Ginny winked at her mentor, holding her hands out widely before herself. "I think our girl needs some new bras, if you get my drift. At least 2 cup sizes larger, I'd say."

"Ginny!" Luna blushed crimson, swatting Ginny on the arm.

"I'll see what I can do, then." Ana smirked. "See if she'll hold still long enough for you to properly measure her, would you?"

Unbuttoning the robe Luna was wearing with her wand, Ginny folded the robe neatly and placed it on a smaller stack of clothing. Standing there in her bare feet and her maternity smock, Luna waited for Ginny to hand her the next robe to try on.

Ana walked out of the small dressing room, down a short hallway to the shop proper, looking for her mother-in-law. The clerk at the counter nodded to her politely, failing to hide her smile completely as the Potions Mistress from Hogwarts swept past her. Most weekends that Professor Romanov came to her shop, she often could close early; while the Professor could be downright testy at times and a shrewd haggler, she never failed to spend quite a few Galleons every visit.

Looking around the shop, Ana nearly missed Madam Pince. She was standing near the door, her arms loaded down with robes, talking to a tall man with long blonde hair that was going gray. Ana's eyes narrowed with anger.

The clerk cringed nervously as the expression on Ana's face darkened and one of her favorite customers swept past her, headed straight for Xenophilius Lovegood with murder in her eyes.

Stopping where Madam Pince could see her, she waited until her mother-in-law noticed she was standing behind Xenophilus. To give her credit, the older woman hardly flinched when her daughter-in-law came up like a storm cloud behind him.

"Oh, hello, Ana." Irma said pleasantly. "Just happened to run into Xenophilus Lovegood, the editor of The Quibbler. I'm sure you've heard of it?"

He turned around, a genial smile on his face.

"How do you do, Madam? Or is it…Mademoiselle, perhaps?" He said.

"Professor, Mr. Lovegood." Ana said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes, which were hard and cold. "As in, Professor Ana Romanov-Snape, Potions Mistress at Hogwarts."

"Ah, the lovely bride of Professor Snape." Lovegood said politely, "I had heard that Severus got married. Good for him."

"Shopping for robes, Mr. Lovegood?" Ana said cooly.

"Heavens, no. Just some other things I needed."

"I see." Ana nodded. "Mother, do you want me to take those for you? Luna's waiting for them."

Madam Pince went pale at that, her eyes darting to Xenophilius. All color drained from his face, his mouth working as if he were choking.

"Where is she?" He hissed, drawing himself up to tower over Ana. "Where the hell is my daughter?"

"She is with us, and she is under my protection."

"Your protection?! Your pro-" Xenophilus fairly shouted, looming over her until his words cut off with a strangled, "Urk!"

Behind the cowering clerk, near the dressing rooms, Luna cringed behind Ginny, stunned by the spectacle.

"This is bad." Ginny said quietly, in a voice that showed little of the unease she felt as she stood between her friend and the scene unfolding before them. "This is…very bad."

Xenophilus truly was looming over the smaller woman now, mainly because he was suspended in the air, his feet dangling some six inches above the floor as Ana dug her wand into his neck.

"I truly despise men who try to intimidate women, children, anyone weaker than them." Ana said calmly, as if discussing the weather with him. "That's about as low as you can sink, in my book. Quite unforgivable."

"Madam, I must insist that there be no dueling in the shop, please!" The frightened clerk sputtered.

Not even bothering to look at her, Ana pointed at the clerk with her left index finger, her right hand being occupied with her wand at the moment. The woman flinched, eyeing the black leather clad finger as if it were the barrel of a Muggle pistol aimed at her.

"I understand your concern, Madam." Ana said, her voice calm and serene. "However, a duel involves active participation between two consenting combatants. I'm sure that Mr. Lovegood understands that I will vaporize him if he moves to take his wand out, or do anything that I do not wish him to do."

Now, she pointed at Xenophilius with her left index finger, slowly lowering him to the floor, though not removing her wand from his neck.

"You are going to listen to me, and not speak." She said flatly, her eyes like flint. "You will only nod your head yes or shake your head no. Nothing else. Understood?"

After the briefest of hesitations, he nodded his head. Yes.

"Your daughter," Ana said coldly, "was found wandering the streets of London, in winter, with no shoes on. Her friends took her in and contacted me for help. We fed her, clothed her, and arranged for medical and prenatal care for her and her unborn child. I arranged for her to attend graduate school, allowed her to use an apartment that I own, and helped her get a scholarship to pay for it all. I have cared for her as if she were a member of my own family, invited her into my home, and trusted her with my children. I will protect her as if she were my own kin, to the death if need be."

Taking a breath, she pressed on.

"You turned your back on her when she needed you most, have you not?"

He hesitated. Ana dug her wand into his neck savagely, driving the blonde man to his knees.

"Have you not?" She hissed, her cheeks flushed with anger.

Trembling, stifling a cough, eyes watering, Xenophilus nodded. Yes. Yes.

"Harry Potter, his wife, Ginny, and Hermione Granger have arranged for her to have house elves to help her around the house and help take care of her baby when it's born. Harry, Severus, and I arranged for her to see the father of her child in hospital, to ease her mind when she was worrying herself half sick about his whereabouts and condition. In contrast to everything I have just told you that we have done for her, you have done nothing, correct?"

Quickly, he nodded, a single tear rolling down his face, his eyes downcast. Yes.

"Just because she wouldn't tell you who the baby's father was, you turned her out of your home."

Yes. Came the nod, misery etched on his face.

"Mr. Lovegood." Ana said gently, removing her wand from his neck.

Startled, he looked up at her.

"This must end. Today, if possible." She said, putting her wand in her sleeve. "In less than two months, you will be a grandfather. The father of Luna's baby is indisposed, injured while on duty. His identity is a closely-guarded Ministry secret that none of us can reveal, though all will be explained when possible to you. Luna loves him, and he cannot help her in his condition. It's all he can do right now to heal from his injuries. Therefore, you must help her. She needs you now, more than she's ever needed you.

"However, if you persist in being stubborn, you will hurt no one but yourself. Her needs will be met, regardless, by her friends. You are cutting yourself off from your own grandchild, which is stupid on your part. All because of your foolish pride."

Xenophilus stood before her, trembling, uncertain of what to do next. His mouth worked, but nothing came out.

"You may speak now, Mr. Lovegood." Ana prodded.

"I…I…don't know…" He said miserably.

"Luna." Ana called over her shoulder to the petite witch, still hiding behind her friend and the counter. "Come here."

Hesitantly, Luna came out from behind the counter, slowly making her way over to stand behind Ana, shifting from one bare foot to the other nervously. Her blue eyes darted to her father's face, then to Ana, then to the floor, then to the door, and back to Ana.

"Mr. Lovegood," Ana said gently, "I would suggest you say nothing right now. However, I think that you owe your daughter an apology, and a hug. It's time to mend the fences."

He looked at Luna, his mouth working, and then glanced at Ana when she put her hand on his sleeve.

"If you hurt her in any way," Ana said so softly that he could barely hear her, "I will be angry with you. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Also, I don't think I need to remind you as to just who my husband is. He wouldn't like to hear of this."

With that, she stepped aside, crossing her arms. Her chin held high, sharp gray eyes watching him.

He swallowed, trembling a bit, and then looked over at Luna.

"I…I'm sorry, darling." He said softly. "I'm sorry I said the cruel things I said, sorry that I told you to get out…I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I hurt you."

Luna nodded.

"It's okay, Daddy." She said gently, and then smiled. "I know you didn't really mean it. You were just angry, and that's okay."

Stepping forward, she slid her arms around his waist and hugged him. Xenophilus closed his arms around his daughter, his eyes closing, tears rolling freely down his cheeks as he hugged Luna.

When they finally broke the embrace, she smiled brightly up at him.

"Do you have time to look at my new robes?" Luna said shyly. "I can model them for you. I need you to tell me which ones look best on me."

The clerk behind the counter let out the breath that she felt as if she'd been holding forever, and looked over at Ginny.

"I hope this means there won't be a murder in my shop today." She said nervously.

Ginny shrugged.

"Perhaps not." She smirked, leaning on the doorframe. "Day's not over yet, though."

oOo

August 30, 2003, Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda~

"I don't understand why you have to leave." The petite blond woman said from the bathroom doorway as he packed his bag. She was wearing one of his shirts, his favorite from the 'Wish You Were Here' concert in Knebworth Park back in '75; the t-shirt seemed huge on her slight frame, the hem coming nearly to her knees. Clutching another shirt of his to her chest, she was trying very hard not to cry, and teetering on the edge of failing.

"Luna, I told you." He sighed in exasperation, closing the bag and shrinking it to fit in his pocket. "The Ministry owled me, said that Shacklebolt himself needed to talk to me right away, as soon as I could get there. It…it's not like I want to go. It's work…I can't really talk about it, but it could lead to a big promotion for me."

"I don't like it." Luna said softly. "I thought we could at least spend another week together. This really has a bad feel to it."

"I don't like it either." He said, rubbing his eyes as he sat down on the bed. "I…I really wish I didn't have to go so abruptly. It's been so…nice here with you. I wish it could last forever. I really do."

Her eyes were dark and full of concern as she walked over to him to slide her arms around him, pulling him to her in a comforting hug. Leaning over, she kissed him gently on the top of his head, smiling slightly as she felt his arms slide around her slender waist.

"Go on." She finally sighed, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Owl me as soon as you can. We can meet in London, or somewhere, anywhere, before I go back home. I need to put in my application for graduate school. I'm thinking of going to Gresham College of Wizardry, or perhaps the Graduate School at Beauxbartons if I can afford it."

"I'll miss you terribly." He said softly, looking up at her sadly.

"Go on." She said softly. "Don't make it any harder than it is. I'll be waiting for your owl. Anytime you can sneak away, I'll meet you. Even if it's only for a little bit."

He stood up, leaned down to her and kissed her, Luna rising up on her toes to meet him, her arms clutching him tightly. Breaking off the kiss, she buried her face in his broad chest, her slight body shaking slightly.

With an effort, she let go of him, stepping back. Mustering up her best, most cheerful smile, she looked up at him with blue eyes shiny with tears.

"Be safe, John. Come back to me soon."

"I will, Luna."

oOo

April 25, 2004~

Awakening with a gasp, he sat up in bed, wincing at the pain.

"You all right?" Auror O'Neil asked, looking up from his book. "The reading lamp bothering you, John?"

"No, it's fine, William." He sighed. "Just a dream."

"Good one, I hope."

"It…it was just very real." John replied, thinking about the dream. "Re-living something. Good, I suppose. Telling someone goodbye. Making promises."

"Well, I suppose that could be good. You want me to ring the night nurse, have her bring you something to help you get back to sleep? It's only three in the morning."

"It's Saturday, isn't it?" John asked.

"Indeed it is." O'Neil nodded genially. "You want to be well rested today, can't have you feeling grumpy when your girl comes to see you."

John frowned, saying nothing.

"Come now, John. You have to admit it, she's mad about you. You've growled at her plenty, but you haven't managed to discourage her. May as well give in, old chap."

"Maybe she's foolish."

"Maybe she is." O'Neil agreed, smiling. "But where would we fellows be if there wasn't some woman foolish enough to put up with us?"

oOo

At 2 o'clock, the door opened, but it wasn't Luna who walked in.

"Severus." John said, "I…I wasn't expecting you today. Has something new developed in the Dolohov case?"

Severus nodded to the Auror-Mimbs was on duty this shift- and walked to the chair beside John's bedside to sit down, his expression grave.

"Luna won't be visiting for a while, John." Severus said gently.

John swallowed nervously, his hazel eyes boring intently into Severus' dark ones.

"What happened?" He asked, struggling to sit up in the bed, "Is she…did she…"

"She's fine, John, and so is the baby." Severus said, putting his hand on John's. "It's just that her Healer decided it would be best for her to stay off her feet until her delivery date. She's not far from here, just over at my living quarters at Hogwarts. Ana's arranged for her professors to come by to tutor her, brought her books and study materials so she won't lose any ground in her classes."

"Oh." John replied numbly, sagging back onto the bed with a wince.

"You're disappointed." Severus smirked.

"Not really."

"You're lying. I can tell."

John scowled at his old friend.

"That doesn't work on me, remember." Severus said. "I've known you nearly thirty years, and you never have managed to bluff me. Now, stop it."

"Irritating git." John growled.

"Perhaps. I've heard that before." Snape smiled. "I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"About Miss Lovegood, and what your plans are with her."

Auror Mimbs stood up, stretching.

"I do believe I need to go stretch my legs a bit, sir, if you don't mind." Mimbs said, eyeing them nervously."

"If you must, Auror Mimbs." Severus nodded. Once the door closed behind the Auror, he turned back to John.

"No." John said, shaking his head.

"It's really a moot point, John." Severus said, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers. "She is pregnant with your child. Her father has, for all intents and purposes, disowned her. My wife has provided her with an apartment near Beauxbartons, and arranged for her to go to school there on a scholarship. She's making excellent marks, by the way. But then, she always was a bright student."

"So why would she need me, dragging her down like an anchor? I'm a cripple, Severus."

"You are the father of her child, John." Severus sighed. "She's intelligent, beautiful, and absolutely mad about you. I know that all this ugly behavior on your part toward her is merely an act. You've never been like this to any woman. Why drive her away?"

"I can't…" John's face twisted in agony. "I can't help her. I doubt that the ministry would give me my job as an Auror back, and who would hire me? What could I do in my condition? I-"

"Self-pity does not become you, John." Severus said sharply. "There is still much you can do. You could teach-"

"I can't teach, Severus. I don't have the certifications to teach, no degree for it."

"You have experience. Twenty years in the field as an Auror, most of it spent fighting two wizarding wars, not even hardly getting so much as a scratch. I could help you. You could easily comp out of most of the classes needed for an advanced degree."

John eyed him suspiciously.

"Where are you going with this, Severus? I know you; you're backing me into a corner here."

"Teaching is what you should do, John." Severus said bluntly. "You would be ideal to teach DADA, is what I think, and I've already discussed it with Headmistress McGonagall."

"Getting a bit ahead of ourselves, aren't we?"

"Perhaps. But I have plans to retire from teaching, to pursue certain business interests."

"Your apothecary supply house." John smiled. "About damned time. You've been talking about it for years."

"Correct." Severus sighed, crossing his legs. "It is taking an enormous amount of time for me to get things ready to start the business. I need to devote my full time to it for it to succeed."

John nodded soberly.

"Promise me something." Severus said, looking sharply at him. "Promise me that you'll at least consider teaching."

"I have to be able to walk first, Severus." John replied.

"One thing at a time, then." His old friend smiled. "Professor Worthington…has a good sound to it, doesn't it?"

oOo

He was standing in a forest, one that looked much like the Forbidden Forest near Hogwarts. Dark and dreary, not long until sunset from the looks of it, the sky in the west gradually turning red.

A sound behind him made him turn.

It was a child, a little girl, perhaps 7 years old. Auburn hair, striking blue eyes in a pale face that seemed somehow familiar.

"I found you!" She exclaimed, jumping up and down, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Who are you?" He asked numbly.

"Catch me and I'll tell!" The girl laughed, spinning to run away. She darted down a narrow path, not much bigger than a rabbit trail, gracefully sprinting through the thick brush. It was all he could do to keep her in sight.

He was running now, scrambling through thick brush, ducking under tree limbs, jumping over fallen debris. Farther and farther he fell behind; until he could not see anything of the girl, only hear her laughter. Thorny vines ensnared his arms and legs, until he could barely move, barely breathe, the vines wrapping around him tighter and tighter-

Then the girl screamed, a piercing cry of utter terror.

oOo

Someone was holding him down, restraining his hands.

"Easy, John." A middle-aged woman was saying, as a man held his arms. "Easy, now. Bad dream?"

John looked up at the Healer, then over at Auror O'Neil, who was restraining his arms, and nodded mutely. He was breathing heavily, trembling as he fought to catch his breath.

"I think you can let go of him now." Healer Denise Miller said gently to the Auror. "He's back with us now."

Turning to John, she righted her Healer's cap, which had been jarred loose somehow. Once she had restored order, she looked at John and smiled kindly.

"I'm replacing Healer Kane while she takes maternity leave, Mr. Worthington." She said. "I'm sorry we seem to have gotten off to such a rocky start. Please, understand that I don't blame you."

"I…I'm sorry." John said in a shaky voice.

"Oh, don't fret about it." Healer Miller dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand. "I've cared for people who were injured by Fiendfyre before. There's no need to apologize for having a bad dream, young man."