Spiders and Pests

“Padfoot!”

Sirius turned around right before an overexcited 7-year-old in messy pigtails and a bright pink skirt crashed into him.

“Oh Jesus, Luna are you okay?”

Luna picked herself up and righted her neon yellow headband, “I’m okay! But I got my spider and I brought photos for you like I promised and her name's Rosie and she’s so big! She’s like even bigger than my hand!”

“Is that right?”

Luna nods her head aggressively “Mhm. Here look.” She hands Sirius the photos and just as he is about to compliment Rosie on her long legs and hiding abilities an older blonde woman in a garishly green dress interrupts, “Are you Sirius Black? I’m Rita Skeeter from the Prophet. Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear did you say you had a pet spider?”

Luna grins, missing front teeth on display, “Yup. She’s a rose hair tarantula.”

“Why would you want a bug for a pet, dear?”

“She’s not a bug she’s an arachnid.” Luna corrects sounding rather offended.

Rita pursed her lips, “Right. Anyway, Mr. Black, I was wondering if I might have a word from you about your centre?”

Sirius cleared his throat, “Yeah, of course. You can write that Mr. Lupin-Black declined to comment, but that the woman who interviewed him was a joy-sucking pest, with a borderline offensive fashion sense, who has already harassed his husband trying to get stories about his family.”

“Well! You speak like that in front of the children here?”

“Oh don’t worry, Luna agrees with me.” With that he turned back to Luna’s photos, “Wow, she is big, what do you feed her?”

Rita stood there for a bit seemingly looking for a way to barge her way back into the conversation before walking out looking very affronted, high-heeled shoes clicking on the hardwood floor.

“You have to wash your hands after touching her 'cause they have urto-urti-um. Their hairs can hurt your eyes.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! They flick them at you if you’re mean.” Luna giggles.