Beautiful, bewitching  and poignant writing - I'm so happy to have discovered your work (sorry, I live under a rock most of the time) and in between hectic RL things right now will catch up on the rest. I adore this piece so much - a thought flashed at the beginning of Luna and I almost burst to discover it was her- I held up well until "(...)lost creatures to be discovered, some even worthy of being remembered" and then I started blubbering in my morning coffee Really wonderful depiction of two of my all-time favourite personas. Perfect, simply perfect that Luna would do this, as well as Snape having observed her through the years, noting and valueing her uniqueness. Really lovely, touching work!

Ok, I'm a little behind the times in discovering this piece, but it does not disappoint.  Your words are beautiful and clearly carefully chosen. Luna is a quirky, head-in-the-clouds sort of girl, but sometimes we forget she is intelligent and observant and you've captured that side of her here.  And Snape, while frequently unfair and cruel, surely found some pleasure in teaching students who were intelligent enough to be more than a waste of his time.  He is kind to her even if he isn't kind in the traditional sense.  I really enjoyed this a lot.

The comparison of Snape to a thestral is perfect.

Once again you grace us with a poignant story about the importance of truly listening so that we do not miss the intended message.  I think Luna would have seen right through him.  Both of them seemed to see the subtle goings on that others missed.  I like it very much.Beth

Yes. I can see kind, open-minded, perceptive, thoughtful Luna paying tribute to Severus in this respectful way. And I'm sure she'll treasure that book with its meaningful inscription. A beautiful, gentle story also worthy of being remembered.

Hey, I got your message, but I'd prefer to reply here, as I'm what one might call a "lurker." To answer your question, I haven't published any Potter fanfiction to date, but if I ever do, it'll probably be here on The Petulant Poetess. :) This is a sweet and touching story. You've stayed true to both characters, which is no small feat, given that Snape and Luna are two of JKR's most complex, richly-drawn creations. I can't tell you how many fanfics I've read in which Luna has been reduced to making random comments about strange creatures. On top of being quirky, she's patient, thoughtful, and extraordinarily perceptive — something you've successfully shown in howshe isn't the least bit fazed by Snape's criticism of her Potions essay. I also think it's very in-character to have Snape offer advice in a roundabout way. It's like how in Half-Blood Prince he tells Tonks he thinks she was "better off" with her old Patronus, and that the new, wolf-shaped one "looks weak" — he knows first hand what it's like to have a Patronus that reveals too much and he's warning her not to wear her heart on her sleeve. As to In His Name, I read it at the beginning of the year, and I've been periodically checking for updates ever since. I'm glad that you're continuing with it, and I'll have to review it, once all the chapters of the revised version are up.

This was absolutely PERFECT! You have Luna's voice as well as our favourite Potions Master's voice down to a T. At first glance I thought that it was Hemione but by the end of the first paragraph, I knew it wasn't; the commentary about the loch and loneliness told me that it had to be Luna. Also, I truly love the idea that his memorial will be in the Hogwarts Library where he spent so many hours seeking knowledge and refuge. It is so much more appropriate than a statue or even a marble or granite stone.I have added this story to my favourites and am recommending it to my sister and friends.

And this story is neither.  Lovely.

lovely, just lovely.  thanks muchly

You've really had me on in the beginning - I don't know why I was so sure that you are speaking about Hermione - being no HG/SS-shipper at all. I suppose too much tpp influence? *smiles*
The story works for a while thinking it's Hermione, but of course, reading it again knowing it's Luna makes all the difference. It's a sweet tale indeed, one which shows as much love for books as for your protagonists and a really lovely service the one does for the other. I can see Severus very well connecting to this strange and unique girl. The story is perhaps one of the best ways for an obituary for Severus I can think of, too.

Author's Response: Thank you dear one.   There was always a poignant but strong element to Luna for me.... and I think she'd have seen past the armor that Severus wore.  They were both, as you've said, such unique people.  I think they might have grown to care for one another and have a very comfortable friendship, understanding that neither of them fit the mold for what's considered the normal way of things.  In my world, I'm glad it's Luna that could see "the lost creature, perhaps worthy of being remembered."

This was very beautiful! Thanks for sharing. /M

That was beautiful. I'm glad to see this little exchange between Luna and Snape. And his advice was beautiful. Thank you for making my day with this piece.

Luna!of course she would want and treasure such a book.How good of her , to see for his books. How delicately she treats them. just as the one who's seen right through him.  And to get her price while having this lovely reminiscence. Now we know, where the girl got her courage for the last year and the last fight from.be neither. honour your house.and she did.thanks so much for the story.

Luna Lovegood--- this story was a very unexpected surprise....... and it made perfect perfect sense and in character.

A very thoughtful and realistic piece.  Both Luna and Snape were perfectly in character.  Really well done :)

Lovely and thoughtful.

You sneaky, diabolically clever thing!  Even though the line "assuming you have been sorted correctly for exhibiting a keen mind" threw me a little, I still assumed that the girl in the story must be Hermione (especially considering the way in which she babbled her request just like canon Hermione sometimes babbles when she's nervous) -- and I have no doubt that you were deliberately trying to make me think that! Nevertheless, when I looked back at it, it became clear to me that this story would fit Luna just as well (perhaps Luna might have more in common with Hermione than either one realizes).  An unexpected plot twist like that is a sign of a thoughtful writer...good job!

Oh,that was very sweet...

I love Snuna, They seem to be a perfect match, unlike Snape and Hermione. In this story they understood each other perfectly, even after he was dead.I'd love to see a Snape/Luna  romance from you, (with an adult Luna, of course) you understand their little quirks and you depict how well they understand each other so well.

That was quite lovely and very in character for all involved.Thank you for sharing.

Another lovely story by moiramountain.

Thanks for the sweet, thoughtful and quiet story.  It sometimes just takes the right words at the right time to make a lasting impression.  Nice work.  JoAnne

A lovely story.

i'm glad this story was featured, since i'd missed it before.  you've taken two of my favorite characters and written something truly compelling with them.  i love the comparison of snape with the thestral, and i love all the little hints you give that it's luna.  she is such a wonderful character.  if i didn't find her so difficult to capture, i would write her much more often!  beautifully done!

I knew it was Luna, no one else sees as she does. Severus would be very pleased.