"I am not afraid."

Honestly, at this point, I'm not thinking about consequences. I just want to prove to him that he doesn't scare me. He doesn't intimidate me. He has no effect on me whatsoever. But perhaps I should rethink my response, because I didn't think he would actually kiss me.

I suppose he does have an effect on me, a rather strong one.

Once I had closed my mouth after speaking, he came in for the kiss. As his lips touch mine, I feel the heat flow from his body throughout mine. At one point, the heat was so overwhelming that I thought I would faint, but subconsciously, I was holding onto his arms while he supported me with his.

I don't think I noticed that we were connected at the mouth until he kissed me again. Wood's lips were so… I don't do this often, describing how someone's lips feel on mine. Yet, somehow I feel obligated. He is so gentle! It's crazy to think that he can be so rough and tough on the field, yet when it comes to girls, he's totally whipped.

Not thinking, I respond to his kiss and instantly he pulls me closer and deepens the kiss. God, it feels so wonderful to just free fall into him. He places his hand around my neck, knocking my wand out of its place behind my ear. Thoughts of a fairytale ending run through my mind and it hits me like an anvil.

What am I doing? Or should I say what have I done? I hesitate and Wood pulls back, looking at me concerned. "We can't do this," I whisper to myself softly.

"Why not?" Confusion grips his eyes.

"It's wrong," I say, a little breathless. "You're professor for Christ's sake! This is all wrong. This can't happen between us." I'm not sure if I was trying to convince him or myself with these words.

"Who cares what other people think? You don't have to worry." His eyes turn almost pleading.

"Do you care what I think?" I look at him, offended. Not realizing it, my eyes start to water.

"As long as we like each other, there's nothing wrong with that. It's not a crime to love." He grabs my shoulders and shakes me a little, as if he was shaking some sense into me.

"I don't." I shrug off his hold and wrap my arms around myself as the atmosphere has chilled.

The plea in his eyes evaporates as pain settles in. "You never liked me?"

I don't reply him, making the answer seem obvious.

He starts to shake his head. "Liar," he accuses. "I could tell from the kiss that you feel—"

"That kiss was a lie!" I interrupt him the second time that day. "We're a lie," I say despairingly. I turn to leave and this time he doesn't stop me.

I run all the way to Ravenclaw's tower without stopping. Arriving in front of the portrait hole, the tears that were welling up in my eyes begin to fall. I wipe it away stupidly. Not wanting to face any of the other students, I find a dark corner down the hall to cry in.

Why am I crying? Crying means I'm sad, and I'm NOT sad because I just turned down THE bachelor at Hogwarts. I am NOT sad because he is the first and only boy who will ever care about me. I AM NOT SAD!

Oh bugger, I am.

Why am I so pathetic? Wood was right. I am afraid. I'm afraid to just take a chance. For once someone truly cares about me and I just push him away. I've been so immune to all emotions because of the regular teasing that I just think on instinct that everyone around me is trying to hurt me. And if they happen to actually care, I assume it's sarcasm. Maybe if Mom was still here…

Thinking of Mom makes me cry even harder. Mom would have liked him. She would be scolding me for letting such a 'nice' boy go.

I squeeze my eyes shut tight, trying to stop thinking about it. I hiccup. Collect yourself, Luna. Don't let a little emotion ruin the façade you've created all these years. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I'll get over him eventually. Everything will be back to normal. I brush my bangs out of my face and stand up. I almost fell back in shock if he didn't catch me. I look up at Oliver Wood, surprised that he came after me.

Shit, he saw me sitting there bawling my eyes out like a baby. What would he think? Probably something along the lines of 'Told you so' or 'See?' "Wh-What are you doing here?" I stutter.

"You left your wand." He reaches into his robe packet and hands me a familiar wooden stick.

"Thanks," I reply awkwardly. I would expect him to say something to me after what he saw, but he stood in his place silent and unmoving. I start to shuffle away. "I should go back. It's past cur—"

"You're pathetic."

I stop in my tracks and stare at him wide-eyed. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He looks up from the floor at me. "You're pathetic."

I feel a wave of renewed anger wash over me. "Wait a second, you have no right to come here and say that to my face!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

"Is that how you truly feel?" He steps right in front of me and glares into my eyes.

"Y-yes."

He smirks. "Well, I think it's brilliant of you to lie so well, because you and I both know what you're doing to yourself is pathetic."

I stand there blinking like an idiot, trying to take in what he was saying. "I think I should be the judge of whether what I'm doing to myself is pathetic or—"

"No, you can't because you can't see yourself right now." His smirk disappears as he wipes away a drying tear that was still clinging to my cheek.

I drop my face, ashamed. He is right and it's that much worse for him to know. Why can't I just admit my weakness and give in? Is it that hard to fall in love? I feel him walk around me then stop directly behind me.

He leans down towards my face until his cheek is brushing mine. "I am going to fight for what I want," he whispers into my ear, sending chills down my spine, "unlike you." With that said, he walks away.

I slowly turn to see his robe vanish around the corner. I stare after him. Is this regret that I'm feeling, or sorrow? Promising myself not to shed another tear for him, I walk back to the portrait hole.

If only I am as fearless as he is…