Severus sat across the Headmistress's desk, his shoulders pulled back, and his chin raised, falling into his curated facade the walls of Hogwarts seemed to bring out in him as soon as he entered them. Fawkes snored on the perch behind the desk and curtains were drawn over the portraits.
"Severus…" Minerva sighed as she sat across from him. "I want to apologize for doubt -"
"Don't, Minerva. You weren't meant to know and the fact that you did not meant I played my role well." He rubbed his temples. He would not hear her excuses or her apologies. They didn't matter. He felt no animosity toward the elder witch. He would have done the same in her position. She had given him her trust up until Dumbledoor's demise, and perhaps even a time after that, not wanting to believe her trust had been misplaced, but he made sure even she turned against him. He had to. There was no other way. Just another one of the many terrible choices he had been forced to make.
"Fine. I will just say this; I am glad I was wrong."
He nodded, his jaw tight.
She leaned over the large oak desk, locking eyes with him. "And thank you."
He nodded again and cleared his throat. "Now that that is over with, perhaps we can discuss my reason for visiting today."
"I read you were hoping for a position on my staff?" She smiled.
He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "My sources told me that you would be begging for my return before the start of the year."
She sat back in her chair. "Well, I must admit, no one really wants to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to a bunch of students that have already witnessed it first hand."
"Potter seems to have a knack for such things." He snorted.
"Indeed, but he has other aspirations in mind and has not completed his final year exams yet." She sighed.
"Yes, well, enough about that, Minerva, I am here about Luna."
The witch's face tightened as her posture straightened. "Yes?"
He took a deep breath. "I do not trust myself to keep her safe anymore." He slumped.
"Is this about the letters?"
He shook his head. "No. Someone gained access to my home overnight. And I have no idea how." He sighed and fought down the lump in his chest.
"Do you know who?" Her brow tightened.
His lip curled. "Luna believes it is Rodolphus Lestrange. She is likely correct."
Minerva shook her head. "But he is in Azkaban."
He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"Well, I have not independently verified it, no."
"Precisely."
"I will discuss it with the Minister. Kingsley has no doubt confirmed." She sighed. "So what do you propose for Luna?"
"I was hoping the Order might take her in again. Perhaps Mr Weasley and Ms Delecour? Is there home not unplottable? She would be safer there and they have treated her well in the past."
"And Luna is in favor of this?" The witch leaned in.
"What does that matter?" He snapped.
She clasped her hands on the desk before her. "She is not a child any longer. She has a right to an opinion on her own fate."
"I have not mentioned it." He looked away, swallowing back the surprising pain in his throat.
"Severus…"
He forced himself to look at the elder woman. "Yes?"
"I will inquire at options, but you need to be the one to tell her."
He pulled a hand down his face. "Why me?"
"Don't tell me you honestly believe that after you two have been living together for weeks, you think she will be fine with being relocated on your whim."
"She will do what she must."
"Of course she will, but that does not mean she won't feel abandoned and hurt."
He scoffed. "You presume a great deal, Minerva."
"No. I simply understand that an 18 year old woman with no one else in a time of great need will be very likely to feel a great many things if that person pulls away."
His eyes narrowed. What was she implying? "She has many people, Minerva."
"Are you really this dense or truly in denial, Severus? I want to believe the latter."
He stood, slamming his hands down on the desk before him. "Merlin! I've already done enough to the girl. I will not steal her future too." He grit his teeth as he stepped away. "If that means I have to cause her pain … again, well..." He closed his eyes. "I will do what I must. I promised her I would protect her. Nothing else matters. Nothing."
"Be that as it may, please talk to her, Severus. She deserves to know."
He grit his teeth as he turned back toward her. "She is so damn perceptive, she probably already knows." He sat with a sigh as his head dropped to his hands.
Minerva smiled. "That she is. The fact that you have tolerated it this long quite surprises me. I know how much you value your secrets."
"Everything is different now," he mumbled, shaking his head.
"Yes." Minerva sighed and pulled open her desk drawer. "Drink?" She pulled out two tumblers and a bottle of scotch.
He nodded.
She passed him a glass and raised her own. "To everything being different now."
He tapped his glass to hers before taking a long, slow drink. "Yes."
"So, will you be joining the staff this fall, Severus?"
He glared at her. He really had no alternative options. "I want Potions. I need my lab back."
"Very well." She took a drink.
"And a raise." He smiled.
"Of course."
"Then it is done." He downed his glass and placed it back on the Headmistress's desk.
"Welcome back, Severus." Minerva smiled. "This place would not be the same without you."