He heard crashing on the floor above, and Severus's heart dropped into his gut as he broke into a run towards the stairs.
His lungs burned as his chest heaved when he reached the next level. Wand drawn, he turned into the small room next to the bedroom where they slept. All the furniture had been shrunk and shoved against one wall, some shattered into pieces. The walls swirled with colors, images yet to materialize, morphing and shifting but not settling. Luna swung about her wand as she magically shoved the last remaining dresser into the pile with another crash.
Luna's eyes widened when she noticed him, and she collapsed to her knees in the center of the room on the faded rug, her face in her hands.
He moved to her side. "What is it?"
"It's…it's…" she sobbed. "I just wanted…"
He placed an arm around the shaking witch, and her body relaxed against him.
"I just wanted a sweet place for the baby, but nothing seems right. So many rooms, but none of them are a nursery, a home for a baby. The energy here is all wrong." She sniffled and suppressed another sob. "And we don't even have a proper cot." She waved her hand and the walls stopped swirling, returning to their faded damask.
He closed his eyes, his jaw tight as he took a slow deep breath, willing his pulse to slow. "A cot is easy enough. Any of these pieces will transfigure into an acceptable cot."
She sniffled again as she shook her head. "No. That won't do."
"Then what will, Luna?"
"A real cot, something made, not transfigured. Our baby deserves a real cot. My father kept mine but it must have been destroyed with the house. "
"I see." He sighed, as an unwelcomed memory of his own cot tucked away in the attic of Spinner's End came to him. "I might have something to fit your desires."
She wiped her eyes and looked at him, eyes still shimmering. "Really?"
He stood and pulled her from the floor. "I shall return."
She nodded and smiled. "Thank you. I..I.." she took a deep breath. "I don't know what has come over me.."
"If I may conjecture?" He raised a brow.
She wiped her face again with another nod.
His hands followed hers over her tear stained and reddened cheeks and came to rest on her slight shoulders. "Perhaps the stress of it all has finally taken hold." He was at once concerned and relieved; concerned for her and the growing child's wellbeing but also relieved to see some vulnerability in Luna's unshakable sereness.
"Indeed." She sighed. "I just, it's so silly. An infant has no understanding of such things."
"I have to imagine an infant does understand the energy of a space. Perhaps the only thing they understand."
She sniffled and smiled. "Yes. That's it exactly."
"Then we will create a space to your liking. But any space with your presence will have a lovely energy about it."
"Oh, what a sweet thing to say." The tension seemed to her shoulders as she leaned into him.
"I will find you that cot."
"I will await your return." She gave him a quick hug around the waist and turned back to the nearest wall, raised her wand, and started to paint again.
Severus appeared, wand at the ready, in the sitting room of Spinner's End. "Lestrange!" He bellowed as he took in the state of the place; books had been pulled from shelves, furniture overturned, floo powder spilt, and feathers from his worn cushions now destroyed strewn about. In front of the fireplace laid a letter with the familiar black seal. Grabbing the letter, he ripped it open.
Just a matter of time, Old Friend. Folded within the parchment was a torn section of newspaper. Severus opened it and sighed seeing the photo of Ginny and Luna shopping at Baby Witch from The Daily Prophet.
He tossed it into the fireplace and set it ablaze with a low growl before moving into the kitchen. Cabinets hung off their hinges, teacups thrown about, many in pieces and drawers had been emptied onto the floor. He shook his head as he moved back into the sitting room and opened the case hiding the staircase.
To his relief, this area remained undisturbed. The fool likely couldn't figure out the entry. He quickly checked the other rooms, wand drawn, but found no one present and everything intact. With a long sigh, he reached up to the ladder to the old attic and pulled it down.
He ascended the stairs and fell into a coughing fit as the dust hit his airways. When he was finally able to regain his breath, he waved his wand and the small attic brightened with wandlight. His lip curled in disgust when he found it. He never really understood why he had saved the old cradle, the one in which he'd once slept. He supposed it was because it was a Prince family heirloom, handed down through several generations of pureblood wizards through his mother to him, opne of the few things remaining from his magical bloodline. He had never considered that he would someday be needing it for his own offspring. He brushed away the dust from the headboard over the carved vines along the dark wood and over the Prince family crest. He rocked the cradle before placing stress onto the rails. It showed some signs of wear, but the structure was still solid. He waved his wand over it, mumbling a cleansing charm, and stood. With a soft pop, he and the cradle disappeared.
Severus presented his find to Luna with a flourish. "As per your request."
Luna ran over to him. "It's perfect," she exclaimed as her fingers caressed the faded polish and traced the engraved vines, coming to rest on the crest just as he had in the attic. "Prince? Your mother?"
He nodded as her eyes probed.
She ran her hand over the worn mattress. "You slept here?"
"So I assume."
Her gaze became distant as she rocked the cradle slowly with a contented smile. "Thank you," she breathed. She looked at him again, her eyes suddenly sharp. "I know you probably can't understand it all, but thank you." She stood and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He chuckled as his chin rested atop her soft hair and his arms draped over her shoulders. "You are correct. And you are welcome." His body relaxed as they stood together.
He cleared his throat after a long moment. "I am comforted to see your composure has its limits. I was beginning to wonder."
"Wonder not. I am a mess inside." She pulled herself closer, her nose nuzzled against his chest. "It's pure chaos."
"Don't hold back on my accord." He knew the witch was highly attuned to the energies of others and within herself. She was no occlumens so he could not fathom how she managed to keep such control of all that emotional energy.
"I think I've destroyed enough furniture for today." She gave him a squeeze before pulling away, her eyes red and face streaked from the fallen tears.
He huffed out a brief chuckle before banishing the mess with a flourish of his hand. "There. A fresh start."
Wiping away the remnants of her crying, she smiled, dimple flashing. She took his hand and placed it over her bump. "Yes. We will have a lovely nursery."
Sleep eluded him that night. He crawled out of bed, reluctant to leave the comfort of her presence, but the restlessness in his limbs forced his body out into the hallway to pace. Moments later, he moved into the sitting room to do the same.
He looked up as she entered the room, dressed in his sleep shirt, arms rolled up. "What's wrong?"
"Sleep eludes me tonight."
She pulled her wand from her hair and waved it at the fireplace setting a warm fire ablaze. Taking his hand, she led him to the davenport and sat facing the flames. "What is on your mind?"
He sat beside her and leaned forward resting his hands on his knees. "I do not know how to do this, Luna?"
"Do what?"
"Be happy"
She placed a hand on his arm.
"I don't believe that of you."
He sighed. "We can't all be as optimistic as you. Some of us can't help but be cynical."
She nodded slowly, but her bright eyes clouded briefly, before a soft look of understanding overtook them. "I think it's something else…"
"Do share your theory."
She nodded. "I think you are afraid of it… happiness I mean."
"Highly probable."
She chewed her lip and appeared to study him. "It's something else for you to possibly lose." She paused as though gauging his reaction. "So… it is easier not to have it at all, than it is to have had it and to fathom losing it."
He gave a small nod. "It is a sound theory."
"That's the beauty of happiness though, Severus. It's not really a thing to possess. Remember my proposal?"
He stroked the black opal on her finger. "Of course. Be open to the possibility that I can have something good in my life. Including love and happiness."
"Yes. Be open." She pressed a hand to his chest and took a deep breath. "It's all around us. Let it in."
"Happiness is labile. It's fickle and gullible. I don't trust it."
She laughed as she shook her head, her loose hair tumbling about her shoulders.. "No. It is us that are labile, fickle and gullible. Happiness and love are constants."
His jaw tightened. "What if I can't let it in?"
"You already have," She pulled herself closer, resting her head on his shoulder with a yawn. He rested his head against hers, and they sat quietly for a while, watching the flickering flames.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"For what?"
Luna squeezed his hand. "For not making me guess."
He huffed but gently squeezed her hand in return. He did not deserve her, but against his better judgement, he did care for her. "I will try to do better, but it will take time."
"I know."
He reached for her belly and caressed it. He had to keep trying for her, and for the child.
