A/N: It's short and long delayed but here it is. I promise I will finish this at some point, however, I am literally drowning in COVID as an inpatient physician. I also have a new baby so free time is not something I have much of! Thank you for your ongoing support. A shout out to excessivelyperky for all the recent reviews which inspired me to come back to this project this weekend.
"Oh Merlin! It's true?" The youngest Weasley exclaimed as he and Luna entered the kitchen.
Severus stood behind Luna regretting that he had not taken a moment to change from his night clothes. Luna was similarly inappropriately attired for guests in her oversized jumper, her long hair disheveled about her shoulders.
Harry Potter sat beside Ms Weasley at the long table, tea cup in his hands and glanced between the two witches.
Luna tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Ginny pointed to the newspaper on the table. "The Prophet...Back Page, they are, well, just read it."
Severus swiped the paper from the table as Luna sat beside Ginny and poured some tea.
On the last page, commonly known as the Back Page where the Prophet loved to publish celebrity news and gossip, a photo showing he and Luna leaving the coffee shop arm in arm next to a headline: Hogwarts Potions Master Consorts with Student
He sighed as he watched the photo, Luna glancing up at him, a bright smile on her features.
The now infamous Potion's Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Severus Snape, scheduled to resume teaching this fall was spotted on an outing with Luna Lovegood in a Muggle neighborhood in London. Ms Lovegood was recently confirmed by an anonymous source to be one of the students responsible for rescuing the dying wizard spy and bringing him to safety at St Mungo's after learning of his sacrifices to the fight against Death Eater forces.
But is this just a casual meet-up for tea between acquaintances or something more explicit? One must wonder if their chosen location away from the hot-spots of wizard society is an implication of their intentions or just one of convenience when watching their interactions. They say a photo is worth 1000 words, and this one certainly seems to tell a story beyond a quick moment between friends given their apparent familiarity .
The Lovegood home was destroyed during a Death Eater attack last spring, and it is unclear where Ms Lovegood may currently reside. Her father also tragically died during his time in Azkaban as a prisoner of Death Eaters after he refused to give himself over to the dementor kiss. Although of age, the last remaining Lovegood, a survivor of the Battle of Hogwarts and allegedly once kidnapped and held hostage by Death Eaters, Ms Lovegood, now the soul owner and head publisher of The Quibbler, has yet to complete her studies at Hogwarts and presumably will be returning in the fall to complete her testing.
Mr Snape is not known for his friendly demeanor nor indulgent nature, but this odd pair enjoyed conversation over tea and dessert in this small Muggle coffee shop before later being seen browsing in the nearby shops.
"Rubbish," he spat, casting the paper aside. But who had been their witness? And when had he been deemed worthy of gossip?
Harry raised an eyebrow and Ginny snorted.
Luna picked up the paper and began to read.
"There is no byline, but it has Rita Skeeter written all over it,'' Ginny said.
Severus nodded. But how had she just happened to be at the right place at the right time?
Luna's face dropped, then her brows creased as she read. "This isn't good…" She looked up at him, tears starting to well in her eyes. "You tried to warn me this would happen."
"Luna, it's just some stupid gossip column," Ginny retorted, placing a hand on Luna's.
"No. Don't you see. That shop is just a few blocks from here. We've basically broadcasted our location to anyone that knows anything about this place. I've ruined everything."
"It's well protected, and Lestrange is still in Azkaban," Harry replied.
"Yes, maybe so. But what of Severus?" She looked between her friends and himself.
"What of me, Luna?" He raised an eyebrow. "I assure you, I am quite recovered by now and a formidable opponent now should anyone choose to challenge me."
"Yes, but what of your reputation? This sort of thing…" she waved her hand over the photo of the two of them. "...could cost you your position or -"
"Minerva would not can me over something so trivial as a gossip column."
Luna's hand caressed her abdomen. "But soon there will be so much more to gossip about."
He pinched his nose and sighed. "Luna, don't allow yourself such concerns for my sake."
She sighed in response, a very uncharacteristic sound for her. "I can't help it. And what of Hogwarts. People are going to make assumptions…"
Severus actually laughed out loud causing the younger three to stare at him, wide-eyed. "This is hardly the most scandalous thing to happen to Hogwarts. If Mr Potter couldn't bring down the reputation, I am sure you have nothing to fear."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny snapped.
"Let it be," Harry mumbled.
Severus shook his head and poured a cup of tea as he observed Luna from the corner of his vision.
She stayed silent, but her face remained strained with unspoken concern.
It was the Weasley girl that finally broke the silence. "Dad's got the next issue all ready to go, Luna. He's just waiting on your approval to start printing."
Luna's distant stare faded as she turned to Ginny. "Oh...yes. Of course. I can stop over later today. Any leads for next week's headlines?"
Harry and Ginny shook their heads in unison. "We've got nothing. Dad says there are some mumblings about security issues at Azkaban but nothing he can confirm."
Luna tensed as she nodded. "Best not to print anything about that without more solid sources."
"Hey, maybe Hermione can ask the Minister? They seem to be in regular communication these days?" Ginny laughed and Harry cracked a smile.
"It's not a bad idea… if Minister Shackelbolt would provide a quote or two, it would be a real story," Luna replied with a shrug.
"Sounds good. We will see you later then, Luna." Ginny stood and Harry followed her out of the kitchen.
Once he heard their footsteps on the stairs headed to the sitting room, Severus sat next to Luna.
She reread the article and frowned. "What are we going to do about this?"
He flicked a finger and set the Prophet aflame.
Luna giggled, and he shrugged.
"You led me to believe such nonsense did not bother you," he said.
"It doesn't when it's about me, but when it is about those I care about it…"
He nodded.
She pulled out her wand and stopped the flames from overtaking the entire publication.
He raised an eyebrow.
"I want to save the photo. I like it." She smoothed down the singed edges of the thin paper around the photo.
"I am sure we can find another copy."
"No, I like this one, just the way it is."
He poured a cup of tea as he shook his head. He supposed it was not a horribly unflattering photo of either of them. As he looked at it again, he tried to consider the image without the context of the article and was caught off guard by the joy in Luna's glance and even more so by the lack of bitterness in his own.
"Yes, well, you are in the business of gossip afterall, Madam Quibbler."
Luna snorted. "We haven't done a gossip piece in over two years!" She watched the tea in her cup as she swirled it. "But maybe it is time to start up again. Perhaps we can counter this with some gossip of our own."
"Such as?"
"Oh, there's about to be loads of stuff …" Her eyes brightened as she tapped her fingers along the tea cup.
"I will anticipate the next issue with bated breath."