Luna had mail. It shouldn't have surprised Harry. After all, he reminded himself, that's what mailboxes were for. He was the only one who used it as a locker.

He took out the mail and put his wand inside. His wand had recovered some of its personality since he'd used the killing curse. It still wasn't happy; it seemed to scowl at him like Hedwig did when she was relegated to her cage back on Privet Drive. Still, there had been progress. He closed the panel and locked it.

As he walked towards Luna's house, he examined the letters. With few exceptions, he'd never received muggle post. These envelopes were strange to him. There weren't just names and addresses on the front like he remembered. There were pictures, faces, commands, pleas and logos. This must have been the "spam" his younger, muggle-born students joked about.

He was considering vanishing the letters, but he'd have to go back for his wand, and he wasn't sure if Luna might want them. Suddenly, he realized he'd reached Luna's front door. He froze, staring at it, dreading what was to come next. How do you talk to a lover who spurned you? How do you ask her about a vision you had about her and your wife?

He pushed the doorbell before he lost his nerve and ran. The door stayed closed and relief washed over him. She was out. It was early evening, maybe she was at a friend's house. Maybe… He swallowed. Maybe she was with a boyfriend. The kids were old enough to take care of themselves. The two boys could babysit Min and-

The doorknob clicked, breaking into his thoughts. His stomach clenched.

The door swung open, and Luna was there. She stared at him, wide-eyed, and he forgot all the things he was going to say.

"I wanted to return your mailbox key," he said, holding up her letters.

He blinked stupidly at the letters for a moment before rummaging around in his pocket and taking out the key.

"I wanted to return-" he said and stopped because she was kissing him.

In one, smooth movement she'd stepped forward onto her tiptoes, taken his face in both hands, and pressed her mouth against his. She was warm and yielding, and he forgot what he was going to say. Too soon, the kiss ended.

She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly with her head resting against his heart.

"I'm sorry!" she said. "I'm sorry about the letter. It was stupid. I was confused. I wanted to take it back, but I was so embarrassed and-"

And he shut her up by kissing her. It was a remarkably successful way of making people forget what they were saying.

"Come inside," she said. "We're going to have to be quiet. I just put the kids to bed."

She took his hand and led him into the house. He thought they might talk in the living room, but she must have thought it would wake the children. She led him up the stairs and into her bedroom.

"Close the door," she said.

He did, and when he turned back, she stood before him naked. Harry was impressed by her speed and confidence. He'd never had the self-esteem to strip in front of someone, not without encouragement, not without already knowing they were going to be intimate. His self-assurance had weakened with age; he saw an old man in the mirror every day.

Luna had changed as well. The last time he'd seen her naked was in the cloak room at Hogwarts decades ago. The difference was shocking. Once her body was smooth and sharp like marble. Now it was softer. Her belly was rounder and crisscrossed with stretch marks. Her breasts drooped a little. Only the colors were the same: the gold of her hair, the blue of her eyes, the pink of her lips, the white of her throat. Then pink and white and gold and pink and white again.

He'd never wanted anyone more. They were only a few steps apart. He crossed that space, lifting her so he wouldn't have to slow down on his way to the bed.

His every touch, every move was welcomed. She seemed to know his desires before even he did.

An hour later, Harry tiptoed downstairs. As before, Luna had looked lovely asleep. Her hair glinted silver in the moonlight above a contented smile. He didn't want to wake her. However, standing in front of the open freezer, he was thinking he might have to go back and get her help. He stared at the frosted containers, moved them around, and stared again. She had to have one; it must just be one of those times something was right in front of his face he never saw.

A motion in his peripheral vision caught his eye. He jumped in surprise, then cursed himself for his extreme reaction. It was just Min. The little girl was bouncing up and down on her feet, as it seemed she always did. She stared at him with wide eyes.

"Hi," he said, quietly. "Do you know where the ice cube trays are?"

Still jumping, she pointed at the refrigerator door. He stared at it. There was a niche built in. He reached out and touched it, and water sprayed on his fingers.

Min laughed. Then she walked (bounced, really) over and pressed a button. This time, curved ice cubes fell out and scattered over the floor. Min laughed again and helped Harry pick up the bits and put them in the sink before they melted.

"Thanks," he said. She kept bouncing. "Uh, do you need something?"

Min bounced off to her room. He wondered for a moment if he should follow her, but then she returned holding a clear glass vase that contained two long objects. For the first time since he met her, she wasn't bouncing. She carefully placed the vase on the counter, took something out of it, and held it up to him.

"Pee-kot fedder," she said in a hushed whisper.

She was, indeed, holding up a peacock feather. He considered correcting her pronunciation but stopped himself. Instead, he took it from her and held it while she brushed it lovingly.

"Bambdoo," she said, holding up a stick.

This time he couldn't stop himself from correcting her.

"Bamboo," he said. "That's a nice one.

She nodded and looked at him through the hollow core. Then she reached out for the feather. He let her take it, and she slid the feather into the bamboo so only the wide, shimmering end was visible.

Then, gripping the bamboo, she swished and flicked it in front of her.

"Wingie levbi oshee," she said. "Wingie levbi oshee."

He watched her doing the same motion and saying the same nonsense words for a few moments before he understood. His eyes widened. She'd made herself a wand and was trying to cast a levitation charm.

It wouldn't work, of course. It wasn't a proper wand. Even if it was, he couldn't imagine one working without a core made from a magical creature. And, of course, she was a muggle. Still, he was impressed with her attempt. She must have seen Luna casting a spell when she thought Min was asleep.

His first instinct was to just smile and watch, but his teaching instincts kicked in.

"Try saying," he said, reaching out and guiding her hand as he spoke, "'wingardium leviosa.'"

"Wingardium leviosa," she said, mimicking his voice and hand movements perfectly.

The tiniest flicker of light traveled up the feather. The flicker widened and brightened as the feather did. For a moment, it looked like Min held a lit candle. Then the light went out.

A door clicked open upstairs. Min's eyes went wide at the sound. She quickly took the feather out of the bamboo and put both of them back in the vase. Then she grabbed the vase, hugging it to her chest, and rushed back to her room.

Harry followed a few steps but stopped just outside her bedroom door. The little girl carefully put the glass vase on a table, then adjusted it as if trying to make it look like it hadn't been moved. When she was satisfied, she looked up at Harry and put a finger to her lips.

He nodded. She smiled and climbed into her bed.

"Harry?"

Luna's voice drifted down from upstairs. There was so much emotion packed into that single name. It was sad, hopeful, and terrified all at once.

Harry turned and looked up the stairs. Luna came out of her bedroom – wrapped in her bathrobe - and saw him. Her eyes went wide and seemed to shimmer with tears.

"Sorry," he said. "I was just playing with Min. She's going to bed now."

Luna's hand went to her mouth as if she didn't trust herself to speak. After a moment, she lowered it and cleared her throat.

"Harry, can you come up here, please?" she said, her face emotionless. "There's something I need to say."

He swallowed. A cold lump formed in his stomach.

He climbed the stairs slowly. When he reached the bedroom, he closed the door behind himself as he did before.

"Harry," Luna said, "I want to apologize."

He blinked. From her tone and expression, he'd thought she was mad at him.

"Apologize for what?"

She took a step closer and smiled up at him.

"You are going to be so sore tomorrow."

And he was. Not that he minded.