Twilight

Twilight

L.S. Song

Chapter One - Beginning

It was a hot, sunny Sunday in Privet Drive, Little Whinging, a day where no one in his or her right mind would take a step outdoors. However, on number four, a sixteen year old black haired boy sat outside, leaning against a tree trunk, salvaging what little shade that could be found, looking longingly into the tidy house in which an equally tidy family lived in.

Harry Potter, however, was not a normal child who was sent outdoors as a punishment for some misdoing on this scorching hot day, he was a wizard, and that fact alone earned him the spite and hatred of his last surviving relatives, the Dursleys.

The Dursleys, who prided themselves on being perfectly normal, treated Harry Potter as one would to bubble gum stuck on a sole of one's shoe.

Harry heard laughter, doors being slammed shut, and a car motor start. Those sounds meant that his detested relatives had finally gone out to dinner, meaning he could go back into the house.

Recently, the Dursleys had gathered with a nearby family, the Spellgoods, and quite often the two families had visited each other's homes and went out for dinner.

Harry, being the freak he was, naturally wasn't invited to any of these social proceedings, in fact he was forbidden to show his face whilst any member of the Spellgood family was in the Dursley household.

This was why he had been sitting out in their back yard, hiding from sight.

The only explanation would be the fact that he was different, and the Dursleys did not want him to ruin the budding friendship the family had with the Spellgoods - Harry had heard that they were rich in influential in the society - naturally someone his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would like to associate themselves with.

Harry was living with his relatives, not by choice, but as his parents were murdered by the legendary Dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, who's servant had killed Harry's godfather a year ago - Sirius Black, the only parent figure he ever had to look up to.

Lord Voldemort himself was now furiously waging war on the magical community, and over the past year, the magical community was plagued by sudden attacks, however, everyone knew that the worst was yet to come.

Harry suffered through his summer vacation knowing only that in one week's time, he would leave Number Four, Privet Drive, and never return. In one week's time, he would be seventeen years old - the wizarding standard for being an adult.

Harry took off his shoes, gingerly stepped across the clean white tiled kitchen and strode upstairs to the bathroom, where he scraped off all the dirt that had cemented itself in his shoes.

Sweeping the scraps of dirt into the toilet bowl and flushing, he walked to his room.

Quickly placed them in his room, and ran off to take a shower.

As he dried himself off, he looked into the mirror, and noticed, for the first time, that he no longer was the little Boy-Who-Lived. He had grown up, fast approaching adulthood, yet he often thought of his first trip on the Hogwarts Express, where he met his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and his detested enemy, the snobbish Draco Malfoy.

Harry walked to his room, relishing the two hours of spare time he had before the Dursleys came back from dinner, deciding that he would make a start on his nastily long potions essay on Congeniality Droughts, when a tiny owl flew into his bedroom window.

There was a loud crack as the owl collided, forming a silk like pattern of cracks in the window.

Harry swore, and ran to the window.

As he opened it, the tiny owl flew dizzily, much like it was drunk, and collapsed onto the floor.

Harry immediately picked up the owl and placing it in Hedwig, his own owl's cage. Hedwig moved over in her cage to allow the dizzy owl a drink of water.

Disorientated, the owl knocked the water over, causing Hedwig to screech and Harry to cover his ears.

Replacing the water tray, Harry walked out of the room and opened the letter.

Harry smiled upon seeing the sender.

It was from Ron Weasley, his best friend from the wizarding school of Hogwarts, with enclosed with two boxes. He opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

We're pretty busy here, doing you know what. Well, I can't say much in this letter in case it gets intercepted... Anyway...

Good news, Dumbledore'll let you come earlier this year. You know where. Me, Mum, and Ginny are going there in a week, and we'll pick you up along the way. Hermione won't be coming - her entire family is in the protection zone... You-Know-Who got another family yesterday, a young muggle-born witch and her family in Sqwacher Valley. Harry, don't do anything stupid okay? There are just a few more days and we're coming! Don't let the muggles get you down!

Ron

P.S. Fred and George have enclosed some new products of theirs for you.

P.P.S. Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, and Ginny say hi.

Harry grimaced. Last year, it had been declared unsafe for any owls to be confidentially sent from wizard to wizard, as it was rumored that dark forces were intercepting certain owls.

In Harry's opinion, he didn't think Voldemort would be too concerned about catching owls delivering everyday material - it took a lot of effort to chase down owls, and Death Eaters flying around on broomsticks would definitely attract some attention.

Looking at the two boxes carefully, he opened one of them, and immediately jerked backwards, as multi-colored rabbits flew out, and jumped around. Harry was puzzled as he picked up a small note at the bottom of the box.

To our benevolent funder,

We have enclosed 7 Rainbow Bouncing Bunnies - a sample of what your fine donation has led to over the years. Try the other sweets - but leave those Bunnies for someone you hate...

Gred and Forge,

WWW Head Wizards

Harry opened the second package, and found nothing but a round tart. Cautious of what it might do, Harry sniffed it.

It smelt normal enough... of chocolate, and fresh cream.

Harry tentatively nibbled off a piece, and swallowed, bracing himself for any horrible transformations.

It was actually quite tasty.

Nothing happened. Not at all like Fred and George.

He looked in the mirror, and staring back at him was the same boy, with the same features as he had before he ate the tart. Seeing nothing wrong, he ate the rest of the tart, but as soon as he sunk his teeth into the cream, he munched on something hard and unpleasant. Spitting it out, he found a piece of parchment.

Be ready at 9 o'clock, with your belongings. Burn when you've finished reading.

The letter was unsigned, but he recognized the writing. It was Dumbledore, one of the world's most brilliant wizards, and the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the leader of the fight against Voldemort. Harry immediately went to the kitchen, turned up the fire on the stove, and burnt the letter. He would not use magic yet - underage wizardry would surely alert the Ministry of Magic on his tracks, and arouse attention. Attention would lead to questions, and questions would lead to danger.

Harry's watch read five minutes past seven. Packing would need to be done. He was leaving the Dursleys for good.

***

At quarter to nine, Harry stood in the living room with his all his belongings, ready to leave. Harry silently urged time to go faster - the Dursleys might be home any second, and they certainly wouldn't appreciate wizards coming into their house.

He could practically hear Uncle Vernon's voice ring, "No sir, no wizards in OUR house!"

Harry paused for a second. The small, tiny sliver of his more sensitive side beckoned him to do one last good deed for his relatives - to make them forget about him and his world, and give them the happiness he had 'deprived' them of.

The Ministry of Magic probably had their hands full with coping with Voldemort's return - they weren't about to charge the Boy-who Lived for underage wizardry in a time where all sources were spent on protecting the community from terrorist attacks that could erupt within seconds.

Ten minutes later, the Dursleys could be heard next door, chattering happily to the Spellgoods. Harry looked into as the shapes of the Dursleys, two massive hulks and one bony figure slowly stood up.

If he was going to do anything, it had to be now.

They were getting ready to come back.

After a few seconds of silent debating with himself, Harry turned his eyes away from the Spellgoods' house at Number Three, Privet Drive.

He moved to sit on the sofa, but just as he was about to collapse, he heard a voice growl, "Get your arse away from my face, Potter!"

Harry barely managed to stop himself from yelling. It was Mad-eye Moody, and sitting next to her were Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Bill Weasley, Minerva McGonagall, and Albus Dumbledore himself.

After a few quickly uttered greetings, Dumbledore quickly took out a jar of what looked like lemon drops, and held it out in front of Harry.

Harry took a sweet out, and started to unwrap it.

"No, Potter, this is the portkey!" cried McGonagall.

Harry blushed at his own stupidity.

More than six years in the wizarding world, but some things just couldn't cement themselves into 'common sense'.

He placed a finger onto the jar, and everyone else followed suit.

Dumbledore, with a quick glance around, said, "Are you ready, Harry?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Excellent... then..."

Dumbledore waved his wand, and with a tug from behind his navel, Harry found himself being pulled forwards. He closed his eyes.

When he next opened them, the surroundings had totally changed.

They had arrived.

The Black House - the house of his Godfather, the late Sirius Black. It had certainly changed a lot since he had last seen it two years ago. Instead of everything being grimy and dirty, and covered with portraits of Sirius' unpleasant relatives, Harry now found a magically expanded hall, which was immaculately cleaned and carried no trace of the living room that had been there two years ago.

"Once my name's cleared... if you wanted a... a different home..."

Sirius' voice haunted this house, and Harry's memories still. Silently, tears started to well up in Harry's eyes.

Harry found the entire house expanded, with quarters for permanent residents, such as Hermione and Ron's families. The place was now suitable for people, clean and cozy looking, and yet devoid of happiness.

"He's not your son."

"He's as good as, who else has he got?"

"He's got me!"

Not anymore, Sirius, not anymore.

The house was empty besides a few unrecognized people that Dumbledore nodded to. Those few people went about their business without any words. Dumbledore tapped Harry on the shoulder and led him into an empty room, and closed the door behind them.

Harry turned around and spoke to Dumbledore, "Professor, what's going on with Voldemort right now?"

The old wizard sighed deeply, and when he spoke, his voice was laced with fatigue, "Harry... I fear this time around he has gained power a lot faster, and his domination has already started. He has taken Knockturn Alley, the Icelands, and many wizarding settlements across Europe. Voldemort is now constantly assaulting the borders of Diagon Alley."

Harry gasped. He had no idea how much damage Voldemort had done over the summer.

Since he had left for Privet Drive, none was heard about Voldemort besides the occasional assaults on random targets.

"I'm afraid its only a matter of time before the defences are compromised. We have been doing all we can, but our opportunity to get a head start on Voldemort was ruined by Fudge... I fear a second age of darkness may begin..."

Harry saw pain in the old man's eyes, pain that had gradually destroyed the twinkle that used to inhibit those blue eyes of the venerable wizard. Harry then noticed a long scar along Dumbledore's aged face.

"Fudge has finally taken some drastic action, in doubling the numbers of Aurors, however, the Ministry is in disarray, with the many Death Eaters in the top ranks... no one knows who to trust... just like the old times."

At this, Dumbledore's eyes flared with hatred, an emotion seldom seen on the wizard's expressions.

"That idiot! If he had just listened to us years ago, none of this would be..."

"Be as it may, what's done is done Harry. Now, I must tell you to be careful, and not to leave Grimmauld Place until I tell you to. You do know how important you are?"

Harry did indeed know, more than he had ever wanted to know. At the end of his fifth year at Hogwarts, Dumbledore had revealed to him a prophecy that was given by none other than Harry's divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, concerning himself and Voldemort.

He remembered the words all too clearly...

The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...

This prophecy could basically be condensed into one sentence. He, Harry, would have to kill Voldemort, or be killed by Voldemort. It was not a comforting thought, becoming a murderer or dying.

For a month's time, Harry had one sentence echoing in his head, 'Kill or be killed...'

Fortunately, Harry had realized that when the time for the confrontation came, it would come, and he would wait until that day happens, and try to enjoy life as well as he could.

His sixth year was strangely inactive, with him actually experiencing a relatively normal year, with just a small incident with a bludger knocking Ron off his broomstick in a game against Hufflepuff. It had taken weeks for his leg to heal.

Since Fudge declared that Voldemort was back, Harry had returned again to being the famous and fawned after Boy-who-Lived.

Whilst Harry despised the fact that he was famous at the cost of his family, he did come to see some more positive aspects of being famous.

Last year, a year of normalcy for Harry, hormones got the better of him, and through his sixth year he had found the pleasures of dating, and not all of the dates were as dull and unexciting as Cho Chang.

However, after dumping Parvati Patil, a fellow Gryffindor for the fifth time in one year, Harry decided that he had enough - no more relationships, unless they were serious.

Harry's friends had also gotten a share of publicity, despite the limelight being fixed on the Boy-who-Lived. Luna Lovegood was no longer the odd laughingstock of Hogwarts after word had spread that she was one of the students that had been in the company of Harry in the strangely mysterious adventure in which no details had been revealed, in fact she had her own little fan club following her around, consisting of several timid fifth and sixth years.

Luna, being Luna, noticed none of them. Harry smiled at the thought of five wizards following an oblivious Luna Lovegood around the halls of Hogwarts.

Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Neville were the least affected by their rise in attention. They went about their lives as usual.

Hermione and Ron were used to being the friends of the Boy-who-Lived.

However, Harry's fame was not limited with giggling schoolgirls only. The whole wizarding world looked to him as a symbol of light and hope, he was their icon, their model in the war against Voldemort.

He was living proof that Voldemort was not superhuman, he was the boy who survived multiple encounters with the Dark Lord.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts, and nodded to his Headmaster.

"Very well, Harry, I trust you will like to go see your friends now. I will be in contact every few days if possible. Be careful," said Dumbledore, and without waiting for a response, he swept out of the room.

Harry immediately picked up his trunk and broomstick, and lugged them up to his room at the Black house. He opened the room, to find that it had changed. No longer a dusty, dirty bed, but a smooth mahogany one, with a mattress and about 10 pillows. Harry put his trunk in the middle of the room and sat down on his bed, closing his eyes, allowing his mind to drift away, until he heard a shriek, and jumped up, with his wand out.

A red-haired cannonball hit him, wrapping herself around him in a firm hug, with a squeal of delight.

Ginny Weasley.

Harry dropped his wand unintentionally, the air in him knocked out.

Harry grinned as he returned the hug, and said "Ginny!" at a loss of anything else to say. The once timid girl had really gotten to know Harry during his sixth year, when Ron and Hermione were dating, and unintentionally isolated him. He could safely say that Ginny now took the position of 3^rd best friend to the Boy-who-Lived, since his two best friends had broken up, and returned to normal.

"RON! HERMIONE! HARRY'S HERE!" hollered the redhead, finally letting go of Harry.

Almost immediately, another redhead, and a bushy haired brunette came flying into the room. Hermione gave Harry a hug, commenting on how he grew in the few weeks they were apart, and Ron, looking like he was going to give Harry a hug too, but instead just pat him on the back.

Harry smiled at Ginny unconsciously. Seeing his friends again filled a void in his heart, a void that had spawned from spending weeks with the Dursleys.

Harry then struck up a conversation about the summer holidays, ending in uproarious laughter on how Dudley, the human elephant, had somehow managed to fall in love with the prettiest, yet most horrible girl in Privet Drive, Lisa Spellgood.

Harry had a wonderful night catching up with his three best friends, but when he went to bed that night, he smiled.

The rest of the summer would be fun.

***

Days had passed like a blur, as the four friends lounged around the house all day, playing chess, gobstones, exploding snap, or anything they could get their hands on. Harry could easily say his time at Grimmauld Place, although haunted by images of Sirius, was the best time of his summer.

However, Quidditch was off-limits, as it would involve leaving the house, and exposing themselves.

On one windy morning, Harry woke up to a new world. Grinning, he saw that it was the morning of the 31^st of July. His birthday. Grinning with glee, Harry decided his first legal magical action would be to apparate to Ginny and Hermione's room, and yell out he was of age.

With a slight pop, Harry appeared in Ginny and Hermione's room, letting out a yell that he was of age.

"I'M SEVEN... oh... I... sorry..." he stuttered.

The girls had been busy wrapping up a present, still in their pajamas.

"You're seven!" exclaimed Ginny.

The two girls burst out laughing, and ran towards him to give him a hug and wish him a happy birthday. He smiled. His birthday was already off to the perfect start. He gave the two a wave, and apparated to Ron's room, to give the redhead a nice sharp awakening.

"Bloody hell, Harry!" yelled Ron, as a jet of water blasted him in the face.

***

In a matter of hours, after a hearty birthday breakfast, Harry found himself sitting in a circle with friends, and people who he considered to be family.

Mrs. Weasley had organized a small gathering for Harry's birthday, seeing as they could not get many people to come, as the location of the Order of the Phoenix's Headquarters must not be leaked out, and Dumbledore's strict orders were for Harry to stay in Grimmauld Place until permission was given.

Harry was shocked and delighted.

Amongst those that came, there was Remus, Tonks, Mad-eye Moody, the Patil family, all the Weasleys, the Grangers, Professor McGonagall, and even Dumbledore.

The day was spent lightheartedly, drinking butterbeer, playing games, eating delicious food, and lounging about. At long last, Molly Weasley announced it was time to open presents. Harry was as excited as a little boy, as he ran headfirst into his pile of presents and shredded the wrappings of the first one open.

It was from Parvati, a silver colored chain, a small round golden amulet in the middle, with the letters H and P engraved into it. Harry wasn't quite sure if it was standing for Harry Potter or Harry and Parvati. Harry smiled anyways, giving Parvati a hug, and putting it on.

Parvati grinned.

The next he opened was a present from Arthur and Molly Weasley. It was a peculiar object shaped like a miniature muggle flashlight. Arthur whispered in Harry's ear that he'd explain about it later, and Harry gave Mr. and Mrs. Weasley a hug.

Harry noted to himself that it was strange that he was hugging people - he was, after all, an adult wizard now. Was hugging a childish act?

Shaking it off, he turned back to the presents.

A small letter grasped Harry's attention however, and he opened it, finding a letter from Gringotts, the wizard bank.

Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,

Upon your seventeenth birthday, there are two accounts, where the assets will need to be transferred to your vault. The late James and Lily Potter's full family fortune will be transferred to your vault as of 1:42PM today. The funds from the Black family vault, and a private vault owned by the late Sirius Black, will also be transferred to your vault then. Please come to sign the necessary forms, which will allow you access to these funds.

The letter was not signed, excepting a Gringotts' stamp.

Everyone in the room was staring at Harry, and he suddenly remembered he was opening gifts. He pocketed the letter, gave a significant look to Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and unwrapped the next gift.

"That's from me!" said Ron.

Surprisingly, Harry's face dropped as he peered into the box.

"What's wrong Harry, don't you like it?" said Ron worriedly.

"There's nothing in there," Harry said sadly.

Ron yelped.

"What do you mean, there's nothing in there, there's a professional level snitch in there! I'm sure of it! I saved up for weeks for that!" said Ron, running up to the box.

Harry burst out into laughter, and gave his friend a slap on the back.

"Sorry Ron, but the expression on your face was just priceless," exclaimed Harry.

Ron playfully punched Harry, who flipped over playfully, but really painfully collided with a table, drawing laughter from the other people present.

Harry had then opened many more presents until there were just three left. He had gotten more Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes from Fred and George, books about curses from Tonks, his mother Lily's 7^th year diary from Remus, and An Auror's Guide to Survival from Mad-eye Moody, which was written, incidentally, by himself. McGonagall had gotten Harry a book on Animagi, and he got a case of Honeydukes' snacks from Bill and Charlie Weasley.

Percy had ignored Harry's birthday, as he was still somewhat spiteful about Harry being right about Voldemort, and making him look like a fool in front of the Ministry of Magic and his family last year.

Harry then turned to the last three presents. He turned to Hermione's first. He found, unsurprisingly, a book. However, it wasn't the kind of book Harry thought he'd be receiving. There was no title to the book. Harry flipped through the pages, and saw masses of writing, along with pictures of him and his friends. Flashing Hermione a smile, he placed the book down. Excepting Lily's diary, this was the most meaningful gift he received so far. Harry smiled and nodded at Hermione.

Harry then turned to a smaller gift, which was just a small case. He figured this would be Ginny's as she was watching intently. Harry opened the gift and gasped. It was a ring, engraved on it was an phoenix, with the letter H in the middle. Ginny all of a sudden looked like the timid girl Harry had met when he was in his second year. Harry stood up, and with a simple thank you, he gave her the tightest hug he could muster. She smiled, as Harry picked up the final gift, an envelope.

Harry opened the envelope, and yet again was another letter.

Harry,

I, Albus Dumbledore, now formally invite you into the Order of the Phoenix, in which you may immediately take your Father's old rank if you wish. Enclosed is the initiation badge, which glows when you are with another member of the Order. You may make your decision to join or not by discarding the badge, or placing it on yourself. Take your time, it is a very important decision to make.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry looked his headmaster in the eye, took out a beautiful glowing phoenix badge, and pinned it on his shirt.

"I formally agree to join the Order of the Phoenix, and I will provide any service required of myself possible."

The Order members smiled, Tonks and Remus smirking slightly, at this, and Harry found that his badge had disappeared.

Harry spluttered, "Where, where...?!"

Again, the Order members smiled.

Dumbledore spoke up with a smile, "Harry, you will find that you are now one of us. A mental link is made between all members of the Order, you can 'feel' them around you. Concentrate Harry, and you will understand. As you are surely aware, physical possessions do not mean a lot. The badge was merely a substitute until you found yourself intertwined with the members of the Order. It seems you have miraculous speed in doing so..."

Harry concentrated on Remus Lupin for a second, and found himself 'feeling' his former professor's aura. He smiled. A wonderful sense of joy flew through Harry. He was now part of what his parents' had valued above everything else, an order full of the greatest wizards of his time.

Harry felt, for the first time in his life, that his birthday was a spectacular day to be alive.

***

After a massive birthday dinner cooked by a couple of house-elves from Hogwarts, and a cake baked by Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, Harry had wandered outside away from the festivities, to get a breath of fresh air.

He had just walked to an old treestump, gazing upwards at the sky, when a voice startled him from behind.

"Care for company?"

Harry smiled.

Without turning around, he knew it was Ginny.

"Sure, Gin."

"You know, I still haven't asked how your holidays were this year... did those muggles treat you better?"

"Guess you could say so... though when the Spellgoods came over they chucked me outside... but all in all it was much better..."

"Well that's good," said Ginny, and pulled Harry up. "C'mon, let's walk around."

They walked around the backyard in a comfortable silence, Ginny's hand still holding Harry's.

They had come to a large maple tree, and Ginny stopped in her tracks.

Harry turned to look at his friend.

And he saw, in his friend's stead, a whole different person.

She had been a different person for more than two years now, but never had it shone so clearly.

Confidence radiated from her eyes, which were constantly alight, even when none had challenged her, none had done anything to aggravate her.

It was Weasley spirit, channeled by Fred and George for the most part.

Harry could've swore there and then was a laugh in Ginny's eyes, a distinct sparkle of mischief and naivety.

Never had he noticed such before.

The moonlight shone upon them, illuminating them in a pale, unearthly glow.

Harry smiled softly at Ginny.

She smiled back.

A fluttery feeling overtook Harry, as he looked at the girl in front of him.

He unconsciously started to lean towards her, when a sharp voice invaded his thoughts and brought him jerking back down to reality.

"Oh so there you two are! You had us worried, next time tell us if you're going to go outside! Come on in now, the Patils are leaving... come say goodbye..." rang Mrs. Weasley's voice.

Harry snapped away from Ginny.

"Right away, Mrs. Weasley! Sorry, we just came out and forgot to keep track of time!"

As Mrs. Weasley's form nodded and disappeared back into the house, Harry let out a nervous little laugh.

"Well, we should go in now, shouldn't we? You know..."

"Okay, Harry... okay."

"Gin?" said Harry, preparing to ask her if she knew what that strange moment between them was.

"Yes?"

"Never mind, let's go say goodbye to Parvati and Padma."

So they walked back to Grimmauld Place.

***

Ginny was shocked.

Why did he lean in?

Was he going to kiss me, she thought to herself.

All of a sudden she caught herself.

Why should she care if Harry wanted to kiss her or not... she was dating Colin Creevey... Harry was just a friend...

Memories of her younger years flooded into her mind, of the boy she had heard of day after day in stories, of the boy who had defeated Voldemort at the age of 1, of the boy who had saved her from the Chamber of Secrets, of the boy who was the youngest Quidditch player at Hogwarts for a century, and of the boy who she had put her elbow in the butter dish for, sent valentine cards and get well cards for, and she cried, unaware of the bushy haired girl that had quietly walked in and put her arm around her.

***

All around the world, wizarding families raised their glass to Harry Potter, the one hope besides Dumbledore they had left for preventing another dark age.

Some saw that Dumbledore was slowly, but surely weakening, his age getting the better of him.

Many people drank to Harry Potter's health that night, and many people drank to his misfortune and suffering.

Muggles around the world were the only ones who lay in peaceful ignorance.

Two teenagers looked out into the stars at the same time, both wondering about the kiss that never came to be.

The black-haired boy was oblivious to the fact that people were honoring him, or cursing him one way or the other around the world. No, all that filled the boy's mind was a beautiful red-haired girl with tears in her eyes; she was all that mattered to him at that moment, somehow, Harry Potter had done it.

Harry Potter had fallen for his best friend's sister.

Little did anyone know, with this little realization, a major part of the upcoming war had been played out.