thank you for all the reviews and alerts. This is a mature chapter. I don't own any characters

Leaving

The first thing that Neville saw when he entered the house with Hannah was Luna, chatting happily with Harry and other friends, looking as if nothing had happened between them at the bar, like she didn't have a care in the world. Harry had his hand on the small of her back, pressing her up against him, smiling at her lovingly. Neville watched them, aware that his mood was very dark, very much aware that he was losing control. He led Hannah past her, trying to not stare at Luna. He could see a bruise on her neck where he had grabbed her before. He wanted to put his lips on her bruise, wanted to say how sorry he was. Harry raised a hand to them, Luna didn't even bother to turn around.

He sat down on the stairs for a while, drinking. Hannah had flitted from person to person, being her own nice self. Well, nice to everyone but to Luna. He had heard what she was saying before about Luna's sense of style, he was pretty angry about that. He didn't like that she made fun of her, she didn't even know her. But there Hannah was, her fake smile directed at Luna, who looked back at her calmly. No wonder she wanted to go into hospitality, she was great at it. Neville took another swallow, aware that he was slightly drunk. The conversation around the room receded a little as he focused on Luna. On her hair, her face, her smile. She didn't look at him, not once. He couldn't blame her could he? Didn't he just basically tell her to fuck off at the bar? Didn't he basically assault her, hurt her?

"Hey Neville, it looks like Hannah is having a good time." Hermione came up to speak to him.

"Yep. She is.

"She seems really nice, so suitable for you."

"Yep. That's right. Suitable."

Hermione gave him a look. "You ok?"

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be okay. I'm with a suitable woman who will give me no troubles, nothing to worry about." Hermione looked like she was going to add something but then Harry called out to him.

"Hey Neville, can you grab some glasses from the kitchen for me?"

That was Neville, a guy who was good for fetching drinks glasses for Harry, for helping out at parties. He glanced over to Hannah who was now talking with Ginny and Seamus, laughing at something, not really paying any attention to him. Neville went into the kitchen, finding the liquor bottles. He opened one, pouring himself another drink before searching the cabinets, looking for glasses. A hand brushed past him to reach up and take two down, setting them on the counter.

Neville looked over at Luna. He felt the energy in the room change, like a shimmer of heat, just from her being near him. She turned away and went out the back door, into the garden. He didn't think, he just followed, catching up with her as she bent down to touch a rose near the back fence. The lights were on in various spots in the trees, the horizon just starting to turn dusky.

"Hello Neville."

"Hello Luna."

Her voice always sounded so dreamy to him, so soothing. He could listen to her all night. Neither of them said anything more, Luna just smoothed down the folds of her skirt while looking away from him. The setting sun illuminated her, made it seem like she was lit up from inside. She looked wonderful to Neville, perfect. Didn't she know that she was breaking his heart? He knew that she was with Harry, that there was no chance for him, probably never was in the first place. He could hear laughter drifting their way from the house, reminding him that they should return. But he didn't want to leave, he wanted to hear Luna's voice, keep her talking to him. He wished that he could suspend time, keep this moment of the two of them standing here forever.

"Hannah is very nice Neville."

"Yes."

He didn't want to talk about Hannah. He wanted to ask Luna about her relationship with Harry, find out if what Ginny said was true. He hadn't seen an engagement ring on her finger. But maybe his father was right. He was a coward.

"So I hear that you and Harry are pretty close now, that you're very serious about him."

"Well I don't know about that Neville."

"But you're happy to be with him right?. I mean, you really like him…"

"Harry is a wonderful person. I became quite close to him after the holidays."

Neville looked away from her at that statement, remembering how he had left her, not wanting to face her the next day.

"Well isn't Harry the lucky guy."

"I'm sure he thinks so."

"And he's gotten an early acceptance to continue his studies, he's going to be leaving soon?"

"I'm not sure Neville, he and I haven't discussed his plans yet. But I'll be sure to let you know."

Neville thought bitterly to himself that it was useless, that Luna was probably going to leave with Harry, probably marry him, have a great life, no problem. Well so what, he thought, he was here with someone too right?

"Well I've got to get back, take Hannah back home."

"You're leaving so soon?"

"Yes, I think we will probably leave tonight."

"It was nice to see you."

"Good bye Luna."

"Good bye Neville." She held out her hand, like the first time they had met. Neville took it, remembering her soft palm, holding it gently. Luna looked up into his eyes, not saying anything.

Please don't leave. Please don't leave.

"I saw your father yesterday."

Neville dropped her hand, stared at her. His father was in the hospital, how could she have seen him?

Luna looked back at him calmly, a serene look on her face.

"What are you talking about?"

"I went to see him at the hospital. Your mother asked me to visit, she wasn't able to at the time. We had gone several times these past few months, she's a little upset and not able to drive and a taxi to the hospital is quite expensive. So I take her twice a week, go up with her."

Neville continued to stare at Luna. She knew that his father had ended up in the psychiatric ward,, following his own voluntary commitment. His mother hadn't said anything to him about telling Luna, other than his grandmother was saying negative things, hinting that she could go through the same thing. Weakness in the family, no strength, no substance. His mom was a crying wreck. Finances at an all time low, unable to sell the chain. He didn't tell anyone, he didn't want anyone to know about their problems. The last person he wanted to know was Luna. He didn't want her to be sorry for him, to pity him for what his father was doing to their family, to him. He didn't want her to feel relieved that she didn't get involved with him, that she had chosen the right person for her life.

"I feel so badly for your mother, she's all alone, it's too much for her..."

Neville could hear Luna talking about helping his mother out at the house, cleaning, bringing clothing to his father. Guilt started to gnaw at him, he couldn't listen anymore. He knew he should have been at home, Luna shouldn't have to deal with this anxiety, Luna is much better off without him, she didn't need this wearing her down. He wasn't even listening to Luna until he heard her mention Harry's name.

"And I said to Harry…"

Neville stared at her, stunned. Luna said something to Harry about his father? He knew what was going on? He couldn't believe she would do something like that.

"He had said you weren't going to be around for a while…"

Neville closed his eyes, didn't want to look at her, see the pity in her face. He couldn't hear her talking anymore, didn't want to listen to the voice in his head saying that Luna was going to be happier without him, without the shit he'd been dealing with all these years, the same shit that she'd been dragged into. He was so angry, so bitter…he interrupted her.

"Fuck this Luna, fuck this. I can't stand this anymore."

Luna stared at him, trying not to hear the words of anguish, anger that spewed out of him. Towards her, his father, all his emotions bottled up all these years finally coming out.

"Neville, I never said anything to…"

"Fuck this, fucking stupid…"

Neville couldn't stop the words from coming out, he had grabbed her shoulders, shaking her, shouting, his faces inches away from her. Everything inside him screamed walk away, leave now, take Hannah home, never come back to see Luna again. She had seen him at his most vulnerable, the night he went to the hospital, Christmas and right now. The sadness in her eyes stunned him, he didn't want that at all. He was a failure.

He half pulled her, half dragged her to the back of the garage, just off the garden pathway. He shoved her into the wall, banging her head, jolting her with a cry. Luna's scent engulfed him and he almost weeped, almost cried out loud that he loved her, please just say that you want me. Say that you love me. I need you.

Instead, Neville grasped her head between his hands and pressed his mouth over hers, kissing her hard, pushing his tongue inside, not giving her a chance to breathe, to get a word in edgewise, to say no. He watched her eyes widen, then felt her grasp his shirt, pulling him closer against her body. Neville forgot where he was for a moment, not caring if anyone saw them, heard them. Luna responded to his kisses, meeting his tongue, grasping his hair. He bit her lip, making her cry out, he wanted to hurt her, wanted her to feel the kind of pain he was in. He could feel her breasts pushed up against him, he ripped open her shirt and bra, taking them in his hands, rubbing the tips with his thumbs, feeling her nipples harden.

He pushed his thigh up between her legs, Luna lifting one leg up to balance against him and he lowered his mouth to her breast, making her moan, sigh. He swore he could feel her wetness. Every touch was fervent, hurried, like there wasn't a second to lose. He couldn't stop himself, wouldn't stop himself as he pushed his erection up against her, rubbing against her, watching her face. Luna tilted her head back, placing a hand to the front of his pants, feeling him. He stopped seeing anything beyond Luna in front of him, only felt her in his arms, her mouth on his chest, his shirt opened, soft kisses, her hands on his back, his waist, his hardness. He wanted her, didn't care anymore about his feelings, didn't care anymore about what was right and what was wrong, that she was with Harry and he with Hannah.

Neville undid the tie around her skirt, letting it fall to the ground. He placing his hand underneath her lace underpants, pulling them away, following her skirt. He could see her glistening hair, silky and he touched her, feeling her dampness. He groaned against his will and slipped a finger inside, watching her eyes flutter as he pushed upwards. Luna sighed his name, clenching around him. He placed his mouth on the side of her throat, sucking, branding her.

He lowered himself down, sinking to his knees, his own erection becoming strained, wanting to see Luna react to his being inside her. But first, he wanted to taste her, see if she was the same inside as outside. Neville looked up at her, his hand still on her, inside her, looking up at Luna's face, searching for an answer to his unsaid question. She looked down at him, her eyes heavy, not saying a word. She closed them as Neville pressed her open, burying his tongue inside her.

Time stood still. He didn't hear anything, other than the sound of his mouth against her folds, the little cries that Luna was giving out. He could taste her, slightly sweet, salty, could feel her texture. She was shaking, rocking, crying out and he held her open with one hand, not letting her move away, not letting her stop him, searching for her center, his other arm bracing her, as Luna started to buckle downward. She held him in place as she cried out, gasping, gripping his hair, shuddering with spasms as she came, his name coming out of her mouth between quick breaths.

At first Neville didn't hear the question. He looked up and saw Luna, her face flushed, hair tousled, her shirt open and breasts exposed, jutting out. He wanted to reach up and touch them, wanted to lower Luna down to him, feel her mouth on him. Wanted to do everything to her again and again.

Then the words made themselves clear to him and he turned.

"What the fuck are you doing Longbottom?"