Beyond Fear

Luna entered the nursery and found Harry sitting in the armchair with Albus and James in his arms. He rocked them gently, gazing at the two almost-sleeping babies. She stood there for a moment, watching the scene with her heart warmed. Harry looked even more handsome when he was caring for the babies, his face softening, his eyes shining with love.

"You look even more beautiful when you have them in your arms," she said softly, careful not to wake the babies.

Harry looked up at her and smiled shyly. "Funny, I think the same when I see you with them."

Luna smiled. "Seems like holding the two most beautiful babies in the world does something to our image," she joked.

"In your case, you were already beautiful on your own. With them, it’s almost unfair to other women," he said with a mischievous smile.

"Are you flirting with me, Harry Potter?" she asked, amusement in her voice.

"I am." He held her gaze, letting her see all the desire he felt for her.

Luna felt the shift in the air. This had been happening more often in recent days. They would be laughing and talking one moment, and the next, the air would be thick with tension. A tension she could feel in every inch of her body.

"It’s working," she replied with a small smile, feeling a flutter in her stomach at the way he was looking at her.

"I’ll go make lunch," she said quickly, escaping from the room.

Luna stepped into the kitchen and began preparing lunch without really paying attention to what she was doing. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Harry and the tension between them. She wasn’t exactly sure when things had started to shift between them again. Maybe it was the first time he laughed at something silly she said while changing diapers. Or maybe it was the moment his hand brushed hers, almost absentmindedly, while reaching for a bottle. It was as if the world around them had changed in tone, and every day, she felt the space between them shrink. Every conversation they had, the sincerity, and their mutual desire to build something solid only fueled that tension.

She knew exactly what that tension meant. Harry wanted to kiss her, and she wanted to kiss him too. That much was undeniable. The thought made her restless, a mix of nervousness and longing. It wasn’t as if she had never felt this before—she already knew the warmth of Harry’s mouth, the feel of his touch, the way he worshipped her body, how he made her feel things that left her breathless. In fact, that was what made it even harder.

Luna missed how they couldn’t stop touching before. When they were together, the world seemed a little brighter, more magical. There was something about the way Harry was with her that made her feel completely seen. He didn’t just look at her—he saw her. And that both scared and enchanted her. She remembered how he used to hold her hand, fingers entwined as if afraid to let go. How he would whisper things in her ear when he was inside her, as if they were secrets meant just for them.

And now, even though she wanted that back, she was afraid. It wasn’t rational, and she knew it. It was a quiet, almost childish fear, whispering that maybe they shouldn’t cross that line. What if they were different now? What if giving in to this desire ruined the harmony they were just starting to rebuild?

She bit her lip at the thought, her heart racing with the memory of what it felt like to be in his arms. She wanted it—desperately. But something inside her resisted. It felt like if she gave in to this, she would be letting go of control over something she still didn’t know how to define.

But would that really be so bad? She asked herself, almost annoyed with her own hesitation. It was foolish to run from this, wasn’t it? Harry was there, present, willing, showing her with every gesture, every word, that he wasn’t the same as before. He had changed. So had she. Maybe it was time to stop fighting this, to stop running from something that felt as inevitable as the sunrise.

Luna felt torn. The desire for Harry was a constant flame, but the fear of losing what they had just begun to rebuild held her back. She knew she needed to make a decision. Giving in to this wasn’t just about the kiss or the touch—it was about trust. And trust, more than anything, was what terrified her.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm inside her. The kitchen was silent except for the sound of water boiling in a forgotten pot. She turned off the stove almost absentmindedly, her thoughts still on Harry. He was in the nursery, holding Albus and James like they were the most precious treasures, and the image lingered in her mind.

She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the way he had looked at her. Those green eyes, so full of unspoken words. Something in her chest tightened. She missed the intimacy that went beyond words. But the fear still whispered, a constant reminder of wounds she wasn’t ready to reopen.

The sound of footsteps behind her pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to find Harry standing in the doorway.

"You’re actually making lunch? I thought that was just an excuse to run away," he said, his eyes shining with amusement, a teasing smile on his lips.

Caught off guard, Luna let out a laugh, all the weight she had been carrying lifting from her shoulders.

For a moment, they just stood there, smiling at each other. The tension was still there, humming between them like an invisible force filling the space. Luna felt warmth spread through her body, her heart pounding in anticipation.

Harry didn’t move.

Luna knew he was waiting for her, letting her have the choice, the control. And that was what made her decide. She could keep running, letting fear dictate her actions. Or she could trust. Trust him. Trust herself.

Before she could overthink it, she closed the distance between them. Her feet moved on their own, guided by something stronger than doubt. She stopped right in front of Harry, close enough to feel his warmth, to hear his breath.

"Harry," she whispered, almost breathless. She reached up and gently touched his face. She saw him lean into her touch, his eyes dark with emotion, and suddenly, a wave of courage rushed through her.

Luna leaned in, closing the space between them, and finally kissed him.

At first, it was soft, almost hesitant, but it quickly deepened. Harry responded instantly, his arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Luna melted into him, feeling like every bit of tension from the past months was being released in that moment.

His lips were warm and familiar, and she lost herself in the touch, in the emotions he stirred within her. It wasn’t just desire, though that burned fiercely between them. It was the feeling of belonging, of finally being where she was meant to be.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless. Luna kept her arms around his neck, and Harry didn’t let go of her waist.

"I’ve wanted to do that for months," he admitted, a soft smile on his lips.

Luna laughed, the sound light, almost freeing. "Me too. But I was scared."

Harry’s brows furrowed slightly, his gaze gentle as he looked at her. "If this means you’re ready to stop being scared, I promise... I’m not going anywhere."

She felt her eyes well up with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. Instead, she rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes for a moment. "I believe you, Harry. And I’m tired of running."

He pulled her closer, holding her like she was something precious. "Then don’t run anymore."

Luna smiled, and in that moment, she felt the weight of her fear finally begin to lift. She knew there were still uncertainties, but she also knew they were ready to face them.

They kissed again, both making up for the months their lips had spent apart.