Once again Severus found himself sitting in the Weasley's sitting room, sipping tea with Molly Weasley as his former students discussed their newest publishing endeavors at the kitchen table. To his relief, Molly did not force small talk and niceties his way but allowed him his silent contemplations, but he felt her probing eyes on him.
Finishing his tea, he took a deep breath and glanced around the small room. "Take a walk with me, Molly?"
She jumped at the sound of her name, almost spilling her tea into her lap. "Of course, Severus."
As they stood, they both glanced at Molly's clock. Seeing no one in "mortal peril," they quietly exited the door into the garden.
"What is it Severus?" Molly implored as soon as they were out of ear shot from The Burrow, her voice full of concern.
He sighed, clasping his hands behind his back. "I believe I need some advice."
"Of course. Anything."
"But first." His jaw tightened. "I need to disclose some difficult information."
Molly stiffened, watching him. "Yes?"
He stopped and turned toward the witch. He did not need legilimency to know her mind was already inundated with horrible considerations as to what he was about the reveal. He was also fairly sure she would not fathom the truth. "I am the one responsible for Luna's current situation."
Molly hissed as her eyes closed. "Oh Luna…" Her eyes shot open and locked on to him as her face twisted. "How could you?"
He stumbled back as the witch's stinging hex hit him in the chest. He deserved that.
"I…" he swallowed and cleared his throat. "I did not want to." He ran his hands over his face, feeling her glare boring into his forehead. "But if it had not been myself, it would have been someone else. Someone worse...please believe that much."
Molly trained his wand on him again.
He raised his hands up. "I had the foolish notion that I could somehow protect her by causing her this pain." He sighed, stepping back from the witch. "I did not believe there were any other options at the time. I am still not sure what I could have done differently even though I consider it constantly."
Her wand lowered as her face fell. "Severus… how? The poor girl."
He dropped his hands back to his side. "I promise you Molly, had I thought I had other options...any other option that would have kept her safe from harm and satisfied the fucking Dark Lord." He sighed. "But I stupidly did not consider this particular consequence."
"Most men don't," she spat.
He nodded, rubbing his chest. "Yes. But now I am trying my best to accept responsibility."
Molly sighed. "As you should."
He nodded. "I'm no good at this, Molly." He started walking again. "And now I worry I cannot protect her as I promised."
Molly caught up to him. "Did something else happen?" The concern returning to her voice.
"Two nights ago, someone gained entrance into my home but escaped before their identity could be confirmed. I believe it is likely the same person sending the threatening letters."
Her eyes widened. "Is Luna okay?"
"She seemed unfazed, but it is sometimes difficult to tell with her."
Molly nodded.
"I need her safe. Nothing else matters. I cannot bear the thought that I could be responsible for further harm to her."
"...but?"
"But I fear the only way to keep her safe is to ask her to leave, and I worry that too might cause her pain." He stopped, shook his head, and closed his eyes. "And I'm tired of hurting her."
"And you want my advice on how best to kick her out?"
"Not my choice of words, but yes." He sighed.
"Well as a parent, I really do not care if my children like me or even are angry with me as long as I know it is their best interests which I am protecting. I know in the end they will always know I love them, no matter how upset they are." She stopped, and he turned to her. "But this is different. You are not exactly her parent, are you?" Her brow tightened. "What do you consider yourself to her, Severus?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Before last evening's events he would have simply replied, her protector, but now, that seemed inadequate. "I do not know. Nothing seems sufficient nor appropriate."
"And do you know how she sees you?"
"I hesitate to fathom, but I worry it is something more than I could ever actually be to her."
"Don't you dare break her spirit, Severus. Mark my words, if you do, no amount of pentatence will be enough." Molly glared at him in a way only a mother was capable of doing, amplifying her words.
His shoulders slumped. "That is the last thing I wish to do. But she is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, and I am an old, worn-out shell of a man. I do not even know how to speak with her most of the time."
"You need to be honest with her. Not just the need to keep her safe, but about everything. Let her in. She will understand more than most would."
He nodded. "Thank you, Molly. Truly."
Molly sighed. "How did we get here? Voldemort is gone. Why must so many continue to suffer?"
"Such is the way of war. With great victories come great losses."
"Yes, but it shouldn't be the youngest among us that suffer the greatest."
"No. It should not." His mind drifted to Lily and reluctantly James Potter and then to the names of the many others lost at the Battle of Hogwarts, all former students, lastly he thought of Molly's fallen son. "I never gave you my condolences, Molly. The loss of Fred." He sighed. "There are not words for what you must be going through. He was truly a gifted wizard and the world will be less bright without him."
Molly smiled even as a tear built in her eye. "Thank you," she whispered. "I appreciate that."
He nodded.
Molly cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. "We best be getting back."