A/N: This chapter's inspiration - Bewitched by Laufey
Luna looked resplendent in a green and purple brocade pinafore over an ivory lace blouse and matching leggings, and a velvety teal jacket as she descended the main staircase to meet him at the front door. Her hair was twisted and braided back from her face beneath her pink buret with acorns adorning her ears. Somehow the ensemble managed to fall over her gravid form without drawing much attention to it. She smiled as she came down the stairs to meet him.
"Green really does suit you," she commented as she took his offered arm and stroked his dark evergreen jacket.
"Slytherin through and through." He raised his eyebrows and gave her a half smile.
"Yes. I think so."
"A walk around the square before dinner is just what you need, Luna."
They descended the front steps. "I've been looking forward to it all day."
He led her through the park square across from the rowhouse. "How was your day?"
She squeezed his hand. "Much too slow. But we did finish the final edits for Monday's issue."
"And what will the headline be this week?"
"More announcements from the Ministry. They are ending the blood status monitoring program and will no longer allow any official documents to label anyone as muggle born or pureblood. They've also decided to reduce restrictions on underage magic acknowledging the disparities among those from wizarding households and those from not."
He nodded, remembering how bitter he had felt about not being able to practice magic in his home when his father was present. "And how will that impact the Statute of Secrecy?"
"The restrictions are now based solely on the risk of revealing ourselves to Muggles not already in the know. So nonhazardous spells performed in the homes of any student will be permissible with consequences only for exposure."
"That seems like something Ms Granger would have proposed."
Luna laughed. "She did in fact."
He nodded. This generation far exceeded those before them despite all the horrors they'd endured. Glancing down at Luna, he pushed away the visions of her assault threatening to spill over his mental barriers. Instead, he pictured the smile he'd received this morning.
"London seems so lovely in the fall," she commented as they approached the River Thames. She ran up ahead to crunch through a pile of freshly fallen leaves with a laugh and a twirl.
He smiled as her blonde hair spun about her face as she came to a stop.
The lamp-posts lit as the shadows of evening started to descend.
"We best be getting to our dinner reservations." He reached for her hand.
She tilted her head as she linked her fingers with his. "You made reservations? It's like a real date."
He chuckled. "Precisely."
He led her through a side street through a neighborhood of rowhouses much the same as Grimmauld Place and stopped in front of Evander's. "I hope this will be acceptable for the evening."
Luna's hand tightened on his as she pulled him closer. "I love it already."
The host sat them in the corner by the window as Severus had requested when he'd made the reservations. From that point, he had a full view of both the restaurant and the passersby on the sidewalk.
Luna folded her hands on the small table as she sat angled beside him and glanced around. "Your aura is glowing, Severus. Do you realize?"
"I do not. Should I be concerned?" He raised a brow.
She giggled. "Don't you see them too?"
"Auras? No."
She nodded. "I guess it is more of a sense than an actual vision. But the muddiness has fallen away this evening."
"I promised myself for you that I would not allow my own misgivings to taint tonight."
She reached her hand beneath the table edge to rest it on his knee. "Just be in the moment?"
"I am trying." His fingers caressed over her hand and came to rest on the ring.
"Thank you." She picked up the menu. "I am so glad my appetite finally recovered and then some. It all looks so wonderful. What are you having?" Her sparkling eyes mets his over the menu.
"The roast."
"I must try the beef wellington then, as that seems to be the specialty."
As if on cue, the waiter brought them water and took their orders before leaving them again.
"This is charming, Severus. Thank you for planning such a delightful evening." She stroked soft fingertips across the top of his hand.
He nodded. "How was the news of our engagement taken?"
"I didn't tell them."
Something caught in his chest. "Oh?"
"I decided I wanted to enjoy it for myself first." She tilted her hand to allow the light to play on the dark smooth stone.
He released the breath caught in his throat as he took her hand.
"I think everyone suspects, though," she laughed. "I was definitely more scattered than usual today. Ginny asked several times if all was okay. I told her it was probably nerves about the upcoming exams."
"Exams are nearly here."
She sighed. "Yes."
"You are prepared."
"I know. But what of after?" She traced circles on the table before her.
"I am sure our study sessions will be easy enough to fill with something more enjoyable."
She giggled. "I mean. I am sure Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione will want to do more with their time than hang out at the Burrow to help me with the Quibbler. What will I do when they all go off to do their own things, Severus? The Quibbler only works right now because of them."
"How did your father do it?"
"Well, at one point he had a full staff of five, but at the end, it was only him." She sighed again. "But that could never work with a baby, and I am not much of a manager."
"You do not have to continue, if it is not what you want."
"That's just the thing. I think it is what I want, I am just not sure how to do it."
"Did you have other plans before you got caught up in all this madness, Luna?"
"Not plans really, just ideas."
"Such as?"
Her gaze moved to the sidewalk outside the window. "Before I came to Hogwarts, I used to carry about a copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and tell my father I wanted to be just like Newt Scamander. Father got me a puffskein after Mom died to "hone my skills.". And that's why he took me to Sweden to hunt the Crumble-Horned Snorkack and across Britain in search of kelpies in the summer. When I was with Bill and Fleur, Bill would talk about his work with Gringotts in code breaking and it seemed so fascinating and exhilarating. Like solving riddles all day. I like riddles. And Mr Ollivander said I was welcome to come work for him once he returned to his shop. He thought I'd make a fine wandmaker if I ever wanted to pick up the craft.
"I'd never considered working at the Ministry before, but with the generous offer of Minister Shackelbolt, it seems foolish not to consider it now. And my father always told me the Quibbler would be mine someday. I just didn't expect it so soon."
She looked back at him. "I'm sorry. I am rambling."
He gave her a half smile and nodded. "Beast chaser, wander maker, curse breaker, order taker, or news purveyor."
"And mother," she smiled, rubbing her midsection.
As he was about to remind her that that too came earlier than expected, the waiter interrupted with their meals.
"Enjoy," the young Muggle said as he backed away.
She grabbed a fork and tucked into the meal. "I bet it tastes as amazing as it smells."
He reached for his own fork and dug into the plate before him, and they both ate in quiet contemplation. He was caught off guard by the recurring thought that he was quite content in this moment, here with this person, despite all the terrible choices and unfortunate circumstances that had brought them here together.
"Did it live up to your expectations?" He raised an eyebrow as Luna took the final bite from her plate.
"It was scrumptious. I have no complaints other than it was gone too soon."
"And will you be wanting dessert?"
"Most definitely. They have pudding."
When the dessert plates sat cleaned and the bill had been paid, Severus stood and offered his hand to Luna.
She wrapped her arm around his and pulled herself close as they stepped into the crisp, fall evening.
"It's such a beautiful night. Thank you for sharing it with me. I wish it could always be like this."
"In what way?"
She moved closer to him. "Comfortable."
He looked down on her and patted her shoulder. "Yes."
She hummed to herself as they walked back through the park to 12 Grimmauld Place, and he just listened.
Luna yawned as he closed the front door behind them. "Bedtime?" She gave him a mischievous glance as she grabbed his hand and led him up the stairway.
"I don't want tonight to end quite yet," she whispered as she pulled him into the bedroom. She shrugged free of the teal jacket, kicked off her shoes, and reached for his jacket.
He kicked his shoes away next to hers as he dragged his fingers over the angle of her jaw, her neck and rested them on her shoulders.
She tilted her head and closed her eyes as he leaned in to kiss her awaiting lips. Her fingers worked at his buttons as he tangled his hand into her hair at her nape.
She pulled him free of his waistcoat, and he, in turn, pulled the pinafore over her head to join the growing pile of discarded clothing at their feet. She set to the buttons of his shirt as he kissed her again.
When his shift fell away, she led him to the bed and hopped onto the mattress, briefly breaking their kiss. He took the opportunity to pull her free from the ivory lace shirt as she worked at his trouser buttons. "So many buttons," she giggled as she slid the trousers down his legs.
He stepped from the garment and slipped her leggings down her legs, kissing her smooth fair\ skin as he exposed it. When he reached her big toe, he moved up the other leg in kind. As he reached her rounded midsection, he slipped his arms behind her and looked down on her.
"What?" She smiled.
"I am just trying to appreciate the good things in my life."
Her cheeks flushed. "Thank you." Luna reached up to touch his face. "When you look at me like that and touch me like that, you make me feel pretty. I've never really felt pretty."
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you are. Lovely, in fact." He brushed his thumbs over her cheekbones.
"It's a nice feeling." She leaned up and kissed him softly.
The madness of the witch feeling unattractive in his presence. "And kind, and sensitive, and quick-witted, and uncannily intuitive. I will curse anyone who makes you feel otherwise."
"Shush. Severus." She placed a finger to his lips. "That is not necessary."
He brushed his hand down her flank between her thighs, over her light blue knickers. "Perhaps you prefer I show you, instead?"
"Mmm, yes please." She rested her head back and relaxed into the mattress.
As he continued to work one hand against her most sensitive areas, he unclasped her matching light blue bra and pulled it free from her shoulders. He pressed his lips across her shoulder, collar bones, and onto the next shoulder as she began to squirm beneath him.
He shuddered when her hand suddenly found thickness, grasping him through his underwear. As their limbs twisted and lips met, Luna rolled to her side and worked him free from his remaining garment as he did the same to her.
He caressed her breast as she positioned her hips against his. She pressed her forehead to his, and they both gasped as he pressed into her.
He moved deliberately, focused on each gentle motion as Luna nibbled against his jaw and traced swirls across his shoulder blade. He inhaled her sweet scent and smiled as he heard her soft whimpers of appreciation.
She wrapped her leg around his waist, pulling him deeper, shifting her angle as her breathing increased. She slid one hand down his back to grab hold of the flesh of his arse, the other wrapping tighter around his shoulder.
He closed his eyes as her whimpers lengthened to moans. She pressed her soft lips against his shoulder, followed by her teeth as his peak approached. When his future wife cried out as her body spasmed around him, he fell over the edge and surrendered into her with a groan.
As his breathing slowed, he kissed her forehead.
The witch snuggled closer, as she drew swirls around his back again.
"Comfortable," she muttered. "And happy."
"Yes."