Chapter 29: ● T W E N T Y - E I G H T | Luna ●

† Q U I N N †

The moon has a way of stealing your heart with soft glow and quiet strength. Its glow is a reminder that even in darkness, there's a light to guide us.

In Latin and Roman mythology, Luna embodies the moon—a goddess of serene power and steady grace, often imagined riding a chariot across the night sky. Her name has become a poetic way to refer to the moon itself, especially in stories and legends where her watchful presence soothes and inspires.

In Luna's embrace, all shadows soften, and even broken hearts find light. Under its light, every whisper feels sacred, every shadow softened—a world transformed by her gentle watch.

"I really appreciate you helping me out, Quinn," Elise said nervously, pulling out a stack of clean plates.

I shrugged, smirking. "Well, it's not like I had much of a choice, right?" I teased. She puffed her cheeks, giving me a playful glare.

Elise was on edge tonight, excited but a bit jittery—she had finally invited her "Mr. Nice Guy" for dinner. It was clear she really liked him, and I was happy to see her this giddy lately. I placed the lid back on the casserole, letting the soup simmer for a bit. Just then, the front door creaked open.

"Need a hand?" A familiar, calm voice caught my attention. Those green eyes sparkled as she held up a bottle of champagne.

"Champagne, huh? So, is this supposed to be a celebration?" I arched an eyebrow, trying not to smile. Elise gave me another one of those puffy-cheek looks from across the room.

"Yes, it is! Don't be a grouch. You should be happy Elise found a nice guy." Chloe grinned, her arm sliding around my neck.

I crossed my arms, smirking. "Guess I'll be the judge of that."

"Isn't that why they're having dinner here and not out at a restaurant?" she teased, leaning closer. "Because you're the 'overly protective' roommate." Elise laughed from across the room.

I wrapped my arms around Chloe's waist, pulling her closer. "Overly protective? I'm just looking out for her. Right, El?" I glanced at my roommate with a playful grin.

She chuckled, grinning wide. "Whatever you say, Quinn," she replied, her excitement practically lighting up the room.

Half an hour later, the table was set, and the aroma of warm dishes filled the air. Chloe had helped Elise pick the perfect outfit, and now she looked radiant, though still a bit jittery. I leaned casually against my roommate's doorframe when a soft knock broke the silence. Elise's eyes widened; she was clearly nervous.

"I'll get it," I said, grinning. Elise shot me a look that clearly read, Please don't scare him off. I walked to the door, opened it, and found myself face-to-face with the man himself. He held a small bouquet of flowers, his hair neatly combed, and wore round glasses, a white button-up shirt, and black pants. His fingers fidgeted, betraying his nerves.

"Oliver, right?" I greeted, keeping my voice steady, though I tried not to sound too intimidating.

He nodded, a bit jumpy. "Yes, hi! And you're Quinn, Elise's roommate?"

I nodded and opened the door wider. "Come on in," I said, watching as he stepped inside, his gaze darting around before landing on Elise, who was blushing from head to toe. Great! They're already both nervous, I thought, amused. Guess they're made for each other.

We all settled around the dining table, a thick silence hanging in the air as we took our seats.

"So, Chloe," Oliver finally spoke, breaking the tension. "I didn't realize you were friends with Elise too."

Chloe smiled warmly. "Yep! I helped her out with her research paper last semester."

"That's really nice of you," he replied, mirroring her smile.

Mmmm, too nice, aren't you? I thought, leaning back in my chair. I slowly extended my arm toward Chloe's chair, resting it casually on her shoulders while keeping my eyes locked on Oliver. Elise noticed my stare and jumped in.

"I know what you're thinking. He looks familiar, right?" Elise said suddenly, a playful grin on her face. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"He looks like Harry Potter," she added with a laugh. "And he even took the test online—he's a Gryffindor!"

Elise and I often bonded over movies, sharing insights and laughs about our favorites. It was one of the reasons I felt so comfortable with her.

"You're a Gryffindor, huh? Well, you look more like a Neville than a Harry," I teased, trying to suppress a grin.

Oliver chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I guess Neville is alright," he replied, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Don't mind her. She loves being a bit mean sometimes—typical Slytherin," Elise said, directing the comment at Oliver with a wink.

She wasn't wrong. I had taken the quiz, and of course, I was sorted into Slytherin. Elise, on the other hand, she was a Hufflepuff, no question about it.

Chloe laughed softly, enjoying our nerdy banter. "It's fun to watch you geek out over this stuff," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. I shot her a playful squint.

"Don't tell me you've never watched Harry Potter, Chloe?" Elise asked, her tone incredulous.

"I have! I even read all the books. I actually loved them," Chloe replied, a smile spreading across her face. "It's just fun to see you three so engaged in the conversation."

"I bet you'd be a Gryffindor," Elise exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Oh! You should take the test later! Please?"

Chloe chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Alright, I will!" She turned to me, her smile brightening my mood even more.

After dinner, we all gathered in the living room, each of us holding a glass of the champagne that Chloe had brought earlier. Elise was enthusiastically guiding Chloe through the Harry Potter House Quiz online, while Oliver and I engaged in more casual banter about the series. I couldn't help but tease him about being Neville, and he eventually surrendered, laughing it off. He really seemed like a nice guy, and I was genuinely happy for my roommate.

"Oh my God! You're a Ravenclaw!" Elise exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh! The least talked-about house of the four. But I'm fine with it," Chloe replied, a hint of pride in her tone.

"Are you kidding me? They're the most intelligent, intuitive, and creative students at Hogwarts! Hey, Quinn! Chloe's a Ravenclaw," Elise grinned, nudging me playfully.

"No shit!" I responded, unable to hide my surprise. Chloe turned to me, her eyebrows raised in curiosity as she caught sight of my flushed cheeks, clearly wondering what I was hiding.

"She's a Ravenclaw, Quinn!" Elise repeated in a teasing tone, a mischievous glint in her eyes. I rolled my own eyes at her, trying to play it cool.

Chloe stood up from the computer chair and sat beside me on the couch. "Why is she all giddy that I'm a Ravenclaw, Quinn?" Her curiosity was piqued, and I could see her interest growing.

"I don't know about her. She's just crazy," I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh, come on, Quinn. Tell her!" Elise wouldn't let it go, and I shot her a 'shut up' look. But she just grinned wider, clearly enjoying this.

"Well, why don't you tell me instead, Elise?" Chloe turned to Elise, her playful smile growing.

"Well, you know Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw? That blonde, charming student?" Elise began, glancing at Chloe for confirmation. Chloe nodded, recalling the character. "Well, Quinn kinda has a huge crush on her in the series," Elise continued, barely able to contain her laughter.

"Oh!" Chloe's eyes turned to me, and I could only cover my face with my palm, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise. "Well, I liked her character in the story. She was lovely," Chloe added, her voice light and amused.

She wasn't wrong, though. I really admired Luna Lovegood's character in the series. She was charming, compassionate, and friendly, with a brilliant mind. She had a unique way of connecting with magical creatures, never shying away from them. Her strong faith and unique perspective on life made her a powerful character. Coincidentally, Luna had also witnessed the tragic death of her mother when she was nine, which allowed her to see Thestrals, adding a depth to her character that I found relatable.

"Luna married Rolf Scamander, though; he was a Gryffindor," Oliver chimed in, adding to the discussion.

"So?" Elise asked, slowly scooting closer to Oliver on the couch.

"Well, I mean Slytherins would always bully Ravenclaw students, so there wasn't a chance Luna—or any Ravenclaw, for that matter—would be interested in someone from the Slytherin house," Oliver said with a playful grin, turning the teasing back on me.

"Because Slytherins were mean, cunning, and cold-hearted, am I right?" I shot back, smirking at him. He didn't flinch this time, though.

"Not everyone," Chloe interjected, her voice firm yet friendly. "Horace Slughorn was a sweet guy. And then there's Professor Snape. I loved his character, especially before he died, when everything about his true personality was revealed." She paused, her eyes thoughtful. "Some Slytherins only acted tough because of other students' perceptions of them. But deep down, some are really good—soft, caring, and protective. Even more loyal than others." As she spoke, Chloe's fingers playfully tangled in my hair, and I couldn't help but blush at her touch.

"I suppose you're right," Oliver chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter.

"But if we're taking this conversation seriously, I have to say, you really seemed more like a Neville, Oliver," I smirked, watching his reaction closely. Oliver tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"Neville married Hannah Abbott, you know. She was a Hufflepuff," I added, shifting my gaze to Elise and bouncing my eyebrows playfully, teasing both of them.

Oliver cleared his throat, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "Well, thinking about it, I guess you're right. I am a Neville." He turned to Elise, a smile spreading across his face.

Elise, clearly flustered, hid her face in her palms, trying to conceal the crimson blush creeping across her cheeks. Chloe and I couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight, the room filled with a lighthearted energy as the teasing continued.

Overall, the dinner turned out great. Oliver was a lot like Elise—both a bit shy but chatty when they found common ground. Just like Elise, he had insights that made him seem really smart. As they exchanged glances and smiles throughout the evening, I could see him genuinely connecting with my roommate. It felt relieving to know that Elise had someone to banter with besides me.

I pulled open the curtains in my bedroom, letting the silvery moonlight fill the room. I was lost in the quiet of the night, watching the stars blink against the vastness, when I suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around me from behind.

"So, you've got a thing for that Luna, huh?" Chloe teased, her voice light and playful.

I turned around, slipping my arms over her shoulders, smirking a bit. "Oh, we're still on that?"

"Well, yeah. I can't get it out of my head that you have a huge crush on some other blonde girl, baby," Chloe replied, a grin spreading across her face.

I tilted her chin up, eyes meeting hers. "Are you jealous that your girlfriend's got a crush on a fictional character, gorgeous?"

Her cheeks flushed bright red at my words. "So, you're my girlfriend now, huh?" Her voice had a slightly high pitch, betraying her excitement.

I chuckled softly. "Oh! Sorry, haven't we established that yet?" I grinned, and she shook her head, trying to hide her smile. Clearing my throat dramatically, I said, "Alright then—Chloe Andrews, will you be my girlfriend?" I asked, feeling giddy as warmth spread across my cheeks.

"Mmm. Maybe?" she teased, her eyes sparkling.

I pulled her closer, our faces nearly touching, our lips brushing as our warm breaths mingled in the small space between us. "Think again, gorgeous," I whispered.

"Yes, Quinn. I'd love to be your girlfriend," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Our lips met, deepening into a kiss that felt like everything I'd wanted to say and more.

As we parted, she chuckled softly. "Just so you know, I'm an overly jealous and possessive girlfriend."

"That works for me, baby," I replied softly before capturing her lips again.

In that moment, I realized Chloe's my Luna—not just the Luna Lovegood who's charming and compassionate like her, but more like the Luna in the sky, the moon herself. She's beautiful, no matter what phase she's in, mesmerizing and mysterious. Most importantly, she brought light to my dark nights, calming me every time.

Chloe, like the moon, was a loyal companion. She never left. She was always there, watching and steadfast, knowing me in my light and dark moments, changing just as we did.

The night deepened, and so did our kiss, each moment more tender and consuming as we savored the warmth of each other's embrace. Our bodies melted together, lips finding each other again and again under the glimmering light of the moon, which cast a gentle, silvery glow through the window. It was as if the moon itself was smiling down on us, a silent witness to this perfect moment, where everything else faded away except her, me, and the quiet beauty of the night wrapping around us.