Luna Lovegood and Ginevra Weasley seen here admiring baby clothes at Baby Witch in Hogsmeade create questions given Weasley's recent engagement to war-hero and Dark-Lord vanquisher Harry Potter and purported intent to attend Quidditch trials this fall and Lovegood's, owner and editor of the Quibbler, recent fraternizing with the former Hogwarts headmaster and future Potion's Master. Both young women appear to be glowing with joy and happiness. Are they shopping for themselves, someone else, or simply dreaming of someday? We shall know soon enough.
The photo above the caption showed Luna holding up an infant-sized slytherin green set of robes while Ginny laughed over a pair of tiny dragonhide boots, both waistlines perfectly concealed by the various baby items on display before them.
Luna dropped The Prophet onto the breakfast table as she sighed. "I hadn't considered there would be anything newsworthy about such a mundane thing as shopping with a friend." She rubbed her growing midsection.
"I don't imagine it was the activity so much as the location." He sipped his tea.
"You are not bothered by this?" She waved toward the publication as she tilted her head.
"I am, but more the idea that you have suddenly become a person of interest to the gossip columns than the actual content." He studied her, taking in the tension in her face, the dimness creeping into her bright eyes. "It means your whereabouts are being monitored."
She sighed. "I cannot imagine I am hiding much of anything these days, concealing charms are not my strong point, and there is only so much I can do with the wardrobe. It is clever, including Ginny though. It certainly adds to the salaciousness of it, doesn't it? It bothers me most that I am impressed."
He nodded considering that a slightly different angle to the photo would have answered the questions posed by the blurb.
"Still, it was lovely to go out somewhere other than St Mungos and the Burrow for a change." She sighed again before taking a long slow sip of her tea.
It was his turn to sigh. Staring down at his tea, he pushed away the frustration and sympathy bubbling behind his mental walls. "I despise that it is this way, Luna."
"I know." She reached across the table to take his hand.
His jaw tightened. This was not a moment of romance, but it was one that perfectly highlighted the need to make their bond official. He reached for his wand within his sleep shirt. Accio, ring box. He flicked his wand.
Luna's eyes followed as the small wooden box flew into the room and into his awaiting hand.
He swallowed back the uncomfortable dryness building in his throat. "Luna." He paused, taking a sip of his tea. "I know it won't make up for all that has happened, but I am hoping it might at least provide you with some security and ease your burden in whatever way I might." He opened the box to reveal the black opal ring."The gossip will be less if we are betrothed."
She nodded, as her eyes danced with conflict as she stared at the gift. "That is probably true."
"And the child could have my name."
She nodded again, gaze still locked on the ring.
He frowned. "What is wrong?"
She looked up at him, eyes focused with an unusual intensity. "I know that all is very logical."
"But…" His chest ached as he realized he had been holding his breath.
"But what of love and happiness?" She chewed her lower lip.
His shoulders slumped as he inhaled sharply. It was not much of a proposal. He couldn't promise her those things, and of course it would be what Luna really cared about. "Love is foreign to me, Luna." He immediately thought of Lily despite his efforts not to allow those memories to creep into this. He had thought that was love once, but he knew better now. It may have started as something bordering love, but he coveted her, and it destroyed them both. Perhaps, she had felt something toward him at one time, and had he managed to control jealousy and rage, he might have known love, but in the end, he traded her happiness for his desires. That wasn't real love. And what he had done after was tainted too much by guilt disguised as love. "I can't promise it. "
She nodded. "Okay." The turmoil in her gaze seemed to clear as she smiled.
"Okay?" Something jumped within his chest.
"I will accept your proposal, if you will accept mine."
"Which is?" He pulled the ring free from the box.
"Be open to the possibility that you can have something good in your life. Including love and happiness." She held out her left hand.
His brow tightened. Could he accept this? She did not say to believe he deserved something good, he didn't, but only to be open to the idea that something good could come to him. It may be semantics, or more likely Luna had chosen her words carefully.
"Luna, you are proof that I can have something good in my life." He did care for the witch, despite himself, which was not nothing. He slipped the ring onto her finger and brought her left hand to his lips.
She gifted him with one of the brightest smiles he'd yet seen from her or anyone as she moved around the table to sit next to him. "Oh, Severus. I am overjoyed that you think so." She looked down at the ring and back up to him, and reached up to touch his cheek.
He meant to refuse, but her begging silver eyes drove away all his arguments. He leaned down to catch her lips with his, pushing away the nagging sense that he did not deserve to be so familiar with the lovely young woman he could now call his betrothed.
Luna snaked her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. "Mmmm, yes," she murmured. "Let them gossip!"
"Indeed." He pulled away. "Perhaps I can make up for my poor proposal by taking you out tonight?"
"Will you please?" She pulled him into a hug. "That would be perfect."
He nodded. "Then we shall."
She jumped up, "Oh thank you, Severus. I can't wait to tell Ginny!"
"I will make arrangements while you try to get some work and studying done then?"
She giggled as she stared at the opal on her hand. "I am not going to be able to focus all day. I will see you this evening!" She gave him a peck on the nose and twirled out of the room leaving him staring after.
Now he would have to come up with something suitable to match her excitement.
As he wandered the park and neighborhoods outside of 12 Grimmauld Place that morning, he ruminated on Luna's proposal - be open to the possibility of something good in his life including love and happiness. The fact that he was here now peaking into cafes and restaurants envisioning an intimate dinner with Luna, clearly evidenced his openness, did it not? It seemed to him a start at least.
How had Luna's news been taken by her friends? Hopefully they managed to at least feign some enthusiasm on her behalf and not taint the beautiful energy with which she had left.
As he was about to turn back and give up his search, he noticed a quaint, unassuming restaurant tucked between a coffee shop and a flower shop - Evander's.
Being early in the day still, it appeared closed. He peered into the window to see a few white linen covered tables under an antique appearing chandelier hanging from a copper stamped ceiling surrounded by dark walls. A menu written in elegant swirled print sat in the window, beef wellington and roast dinners seemed to be the specialties but many other comfort foods also appeared with a long list of desserts to finish it off. This would be perfect. His excitement was short lived as he realized he would need to venture to Gringotts to exchange some money. The ring purchase had exhausted his supply of pounds.
He stepped into an alleyway and disapperated, reappearing in front of the Leaky Cauldron.
He nodded to Tom as he walked by. A few patrons took interest in him but none spoke as he moved through the establishment to the entrance of Diagon Alley. Others craned their necks and did double takes as he strolled through the cobblestone streets to Gringotts.
Once inside, he went straight to the nearest available goblin clerk and quickly conducted his business. The goblin asked no questions as he converted his galleons to pounds and pence. He tucked the currency into his coin purse. As he closed the purse, he noted the counterpart to the tracking coin he had given the barista. He pulled it free and placed it in his waistcoat pocket before tucking the coin purse into his side pocket. He thanked the clerk, turned on his heel, and walked out of the bank.
As he stepped from the building and traced his path back to the Leaky Cauldron, stopping for nothing else until he sat at the bar.
"Welcome back to the living, Mr Snape. What will it be?"
"Firewhiskey, top shelf."
Tom slid the glass to him without question as Severus pulled out the enchanted knut and turned it over in his palm several times. Then with a wave of his hand, he engaged the charm. His lip curled as the face of Lucius Malfoy appeared. Of course the fool was tangled up in all of this, but why?
His fingers drummed against the bar as he contemplated how to confront him. Lucius also received letters from Rodolphus, had the threats been effective? Perhaps he needed to pay another visit to Malfoy Manor soon.
He downed the rest of his drink and left a sickle on the bar. But tonight, he had other plans.
A/N: Thanks as always for the ongoing support. I love the reviews - positive and critical so please keep them coming. I am on a roll here and hope to have this tale completed by the end of the year.