Can't Fight the Moonlight

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created originally by TVM and are copyrighted to him, any reposting or archiving without written permission is an infringement on the copyright of this series. So in other words You damn well better ask before you steal it.

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Summary: None

Original Airdate: June 30, 2008 @ 9:30 p.m.
(following an ALL NEW 'Scent of a Girl')

Story Codes: no sex

A few hours later dusk had arrived. There had been food, speeches and a very touching memorial for all those who had died. A monument with the names of all those who died and all those who fought in the Battle of Hogwarts had been revealed. It had been a strange mixture of sadness and celebration. Now, the table had been cleared and the wooden platform had been turned into a dance floor.

Hermione was standing with a large group of Gryffindors including Harry, A still somewhat sour Ginny, Ron and Neville. Somehow the conversation had turned into Quidditch. Oliver Wood was talking about his exploits on the field and he had a rapt audience of both boys and girls. This wasn’t a topic that interested Hermione so she let her gaze wander the crowd, looking for something a little more interesting. She saw a familiar blonde in the distance. It was of course Luna who seemed to be headed for the castle.

“Hey, Luna wait up.” Hermione screamed.

Ron only looked at her briefly before turning back to Oliver. Hermione set off into the crowd, trying to catch up to Luna. Hermione had to run for a while until she eventually caught up. Luna turned around and a sincere smile spread across her face as she saw Hermione.

“Where are you going?” Hermione said, still panting from her sprint.

“Into the castle. I’m going to visit a friend.”

“Who?”

“I don’t think you’ll follow if I tell you.”

“Is it something dangerous?” Hermione asked, truly worried that Luna had befriended some terrible creature.

“Not at all, but I still won’t tell you. So do you want to follow or not?”

Luna seemed very determined so Hermione understood that there was no point in arguing.

“Ok, I’ll follow. But you promise that it isn’t anything dangerous don’t you?”

“Not, the least bit dangerous.”

“Ok, let’s go then.”

The two girls walked the short distance and entered the castle. It wasn’t completely empty, but not crowded either. Former students were milling around reminiscing and there were a few current students as well.

“So, where to?” Hermione asked.

“Potions.” Luna’s simply answered and then set off down a stairwell and towards the potions room.

Hermione reluctantly followed. She only had bad memories from this part of the castle.

“Why on earth would you meet someone in this part of the castle? Hermione stopped and asked.

“It will all become clear in good time.” Luna said without slowing down.

They walked down the very familiar corridor and reached the door.

“Alohomara.” Luna said and waved her wand.

The door opened up and they entered the completely empty classroom.

“No one is here. Why on earth would anyone want to be here?” Hermione asked. Luna ignored her and walked up to an empty portrait. Hermione could not remember it being there before. Before she could ask Luna tapped her wand gently against the portrait. Realisation hit Hermione the second before she got the answer.

Severus Snape appeared in the portrait. A smiling Severus Snape. It wasn’t the kind of arrogant, haughty smile that Snape used to smile when Harry or one of the Gryffindors failed. It was a real, genuine and warm smile. Hermione could not believe her eyes. If this wasn’t enough, Snape spoke. Not his in his normal cold tone, but in a very friendly way.

“Luna! I’m delighted to see you.”

“Hello Severus. How are you today?”

“Fine thank you. How are you?”

“Just fine. You are officially a hero now. You have your name on a wonderful monument and headmistress McGonagall held a very good speech about you.” Hermione was still reeling from shock. Luna’s friend was Snape, or at least his portrait. She couldn’t imagine anyone being a friend of Snape, least of all such a nice girl as Luna.

“I brought a friend today. Hope you don’t mind.” Luna said to the portrait.

“Granger. Potters know it all side kick.” Severus said in the old contemptuous tone that Hermione recognised so well.

Hermione saw how the look on Luna’s face instantly changed form happiness to stern determination. Usually Luna only had that look on her face in battle.

“Hermione is my friend. She is a wonderful and intelligent person. If you want to be my friend you better treat her with respect.” Hermione now got to see another look on Snape’s face that she had never seen before. He looked ashamed. He took a few deep breaths. Hermione couldn’t help but wonder why a painting needed to breath. Then he spoke in a slow deliberate, but sincere tone.

“I’m sorry Ms Granger. You were indeed a good student and I understand that Potter wouldn’t have been able to make it without you.” His voice was full of contempt as he uttered the name Potter, but Luna let that slide.

“I just want you to be nice to people. It isn’t that hard you know.” Luna said to the portrait.

Hermione had been standing back, but now she walked closer and joined Luna in front of the portrait.

“I can’t believe you two are friends.” Hermione said, still in shock over the whole thing.

“There is good in every person, even if that person is doing his best to hide it.” Luna said, turned to Severus. Snape had a seemingly neutral expression on his face, but Hermione thought she could see the hint of a smile on his lips. Hermione’s perception of Snape was quickly changing. Here he was, being friends with Luna. Not only that, he was being nice as well, even if Luna had to force him.

“I must say Professor that you are a very brave person.” Hermione said. She caught herself before saying that he should have been in Gryffindor. He probably wouldn’t like to hear that. Snape took the compliment with the same neutral as before. Hermione felt like she had said the only nice thing she could say.

“I’m going to let leave the two of you alone. See you later Luna.”

“See you later Hermione.” Luna said.

With that Hermione left. As soon as she was out in the corridor her brain kicked in again and she started to analyze the situation.

‘So, Luna is friends with Snape. She has a heart of gold and he has a heart of stone. No. not really. He did love Lilly Potter and he really was on the good side. Still, he was a nasty person, at least to us in Gryffindor. I wonder how he was to the Puffs and Ravens? I wonder how he treated Luna? She is good at potions of course. Maybe he liked her for that? On the other hand I’m good at potions and he didn’t treat me very nice. But on the other hand or is that third hand? I sat together with Potter so maybe that’s why he hated me so much.. Potter? Why the hell am I saying Potter? Harry, I sat together with Harry. I’ve never called him Potter.’

Hermione had left the castle and was now looking for her friends. Still, her brain kept working on analyzing the situation.

‘I guess they are both kind of outcasts. People used to be so mean to Luna and to Snape. She doesn’t deserve that. No one does. Not even Snape I guess. They must have treated him really badly, considering how he turned out. But why doesn’t Luna behave like that? She could never be that mean. I guess they understand each other. I think that…’

“Hey, where have you been?” Ron asked and interrupted Hermione’s musings.

At first Hermione thought about answering honestly, but she quickly changed her mind. Ron hated Snape fiercely, maybe even more than Harry. And Luna, he thought she was crazy.

“I just took a walk in the castle.” Hermione answered.

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to do that. What do you say? Will you go back in there with me.”

“Sure, why not.” Hermione gladly accepted. She hadn’t seen much of the castle after all, only the dungeon.

The couple entered the castle and they started to walk in the direction of the great hall. It felt like a natural thing to do, to walk to the place where Voldemort had been defeated. There were a lot of people in the great hall. One of the reasons for this was Lee Jordan who stood on a table, retelling for a crowd how the final phase of the battle had played out. The other reason was that coffee was being served. There were a lot of familiar faces, but also many older wizards. Hermione saw McGonagall sitting at a table, drinking coffee with Elphias Doge, Professor Trelawney, Arabella Figg and a few others.

“Professor McGonagall. You held a wonderful speech.” Hermione said as they came up to the table.

“Thank you, but please say call me Minerva. You’re not a student anymore after all.”

“Ok, Minerva it is.”

“Would you like to join us?”

“Yes, that’d be great” Hermione said and sat down without hesitation.

Ron stood still, obviously not to fond of the idea of sitting down for coffee with a bunch of old people.

“I’m going to go and find Hagrid. Nice to meet you.” Ron said before leaving. Hermione sighed to herself. It was so typical of Ron to not be able to sit down and have a nice cup of coffee with a few adults.

“Hermione. I hear from Kingsley that you are doing an excellent job as his assistant.” Minerva said.

Hermione beamed at the compliment from the headmistress as she started to tell them about her job.