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At the end of Diagon Alley, past the entrance to Knockturn Alley, and hidden relatively well behind a decomposing, broken cart is a little bookshop known as “Once Upon a Time.” I had first run smack dab into the wooden door the summer before my third year at Hogwarts. I’ve never been one for romance or fairytales thus, I was a bit skeptical of the decrepit, ancient looking store as the name itself was enough to make me want to turn around find my mother amidst the throng of shoppers. But for some reason the dark wooden doors and peeling paint of the sign intrigued me and I walked inside. It quickly become my favorite place in the Alley and every chance I got I returned.

The owner was an adorable little old lady with long gray hair that she piled on top of her head in a bun named Beatrice. For some odd reason she adored me and always had a fresh stack of books and a cup of tea waiting for me each time I stopped by.

After I graduated Hogwarts and was thrust out into the big bad world, I made a point of trying to stop by once every few months. Once Upon a Time was a sort of security blanket for me. It was as though as soon as I stepped through those doors I was thirteen again and without a care in the world.

I met Hallie during one of those visits. It was a cold December day, overcast and foggy. The cobblestones of the alley were covered in ice and dirty, melting snow. I took great care to ensure I didn’t fall on my ass as I made my way down the street. After popping into Flourish and Blotts to pick up a new quill for work I began walking towards the bookshop, window shopping as I made my way.

I was monetarily sidetracked as I came up to the quidditch supply shop. I needed to pick up a Harpie’s jersey for my niece, Maxine. Three year old Max had just discovered quidditch and I had promised my sister I would pick one up for her as a Christmas present. Eager to escape the cold winter wind that had begun to blow I hurried through the door, the bell ringing as it hit the frame. There were quite a few shoppers inside and a dozen or so kids had gathered around the latest Firebolt edition. I smiled to myself as I watched a young girl in pigtails glare at the boy next to her , “You idiot, not even the XX could make you a better player.”


After selecting the jersey, I made my way up to the line to pay. I squeezed through an arguing couple and took my spot in line behind a teenage girl who was staring at the new edition of Quidditch Monthly with wide eyes and flushed cheeks. Curious as to what could possibly be making her blush such a bright hue I glanced over at the magazine rack next to us. I quickly found the source of her discomfort. Fucking hell was the only thought to cross my mind as my eyes bulged. I coughed and quickly removed my jaw from the floor. Shifting the jersey in my hands I scanned the immediate area to make sure no one had seen my reaction to the picture on the cover. Absolutely no way, I chided myself, you’re seeing things. I shut my eyes, no I was stronger than this I would not look again. Despite my personal pep talk I found myself unable to keep my eyes from taking on a life of their own. Before I could stop myself my jaw was on the floor once again and my eyes were, for the second time in a matter of seconds, stuck on the shirtless picture of James Potter shamelessly plastered across the cover of the magazine.


I had always assumed whoever was in charge up there hated me and today was no exception. I quickly paid for my purchase and hurried back out into the cold; far, far away from the accursed Quidditch magazine. As I strode down the street I noticed it had begun to snow. I silently prayed that I would finish my errands before a storm hit, but my prayers apparently fell upon closed ears. By the time I arrived at the front steps of Once Upon a Time the air was thick with white stuff. I shuffled in, rubbing my hands together and made my way around the stacks of books to the desk, “Bea?” I called as I set down my bags on the floor and pulled my hat off my head. No one answered and I frowned as I slid of my coat and hung it over the chair nest to me, “Bea?”


“Hello Hun,” called a loud, female voice. The owner of said voice was hidden behind the large stack of books in her hands, which she set down on the desk. She was a tiny lady with large lips covered in red lipstick and honey blonde curls with streaks of white in them. She was also, clearly not Beatrice.


She smiled at me as she picked up a couple books from the floor and piled them on top of the group she had just placed onto the desk, “Bea isn’t here today. She’s out with a cold. I’m her sister Hallie and you, young lady look cold as hell,” with a flick of her wand a tea tray flew from the tiny office in the corner to the desk and set itself down on a thick leather book. The pot poured a portion of amber liquid into one of the tiny china cups, “One or two lumps sweetheart?”


My teeth chattered, “Two please.” I took the cup gratefully and took a sip, relishing in the feeling of its warmth spread to the tips of my toes. I smiled gratefully at her, and she returned the gesture as she began sorting through the books in between us, “You must be June.”


“Yes ma‘am,” I replied, taking another sip of the tea. Hallie smiled up at me brightly and let out a tinkling laugh, “Ah! So I finally get to meet the infamous June Montgomery.”


“Yes?“ I took another sip of tea, confused by her enthusiastic reaction. Hallie poured herself a cup and sat down in the leather chair behind the desk, she smiled brightly at me as she sipped her drink, “Nothing like a good cup of tea on a stormy day like today,“ she sat down the glass, “Now as I was saying, it is a pleasure to meet you Miss Montgomery, Bea has told me so much about you. You’re her favorite customer you know. Back when you were at Hogwarts she used to adore coming over for brunch and telling me all about your adventures.”

I chocked on the sip I had just taken, Bea had told her what? I had always thought that the conversations Bea and I had were our own little secrets; Bea was my confidant! What had Bea told her? She wouldn’t of told her about that… no she probably just chatted about the silly things Roxie, Harper and I had done… Speaking of which I needed to owl Harper, the bint had left one of her heels at my house last weekend…

Hallie must have seen the look on my face, because she was quick to pat my hand and let out a tinkling laugh, “Oh don’t worry Hun, my lips are sealed. All of your adventures are safe with me,” she picked up her teacup again, “You have to understand that Bea is eternally amused by how similar she find you and I,” Hallie finished with a wink.

“And how are you and I similar?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. In an attempt to make myself seem a bit less bitchy and rude I began fumbling over my words, “I mean… sorry… I…”

Bea began sorting the books in front of her and she smiled at me, “It’s quite alright dear, I understand. Bea finds our stories similar,” she sent me a knowing glance as she picked up a red book.

I licked my lips and attempted to think up a proper way as to inquire what she meant, but apparently Hallie liked to talk just as much as I normally did because she beat me to it, “You see dear once upon a time I was a young lady like yourself. I know it’s a bit hard to believe, but I was once young and in love.”

“Oh,” was my magnificent reply, as I searched my brain for how on earth that made us similar; it wasn’t like she could possibly mean…

In my normal fashion of speaking before thinking I blurted out rather eloquently, “How does that make us similar?” What had she meant by “in love?” I was most definitely not in love. Never had been, never would be. Love was the sort of thing reserved for my parents or other sane people on the planet. Yup.


She laughed again and shook her head, “Oh darling. Bea has told me all about your escapades at Hogwarts with the eldest Potter boy.” She sent a rather charming smile my way as I choked on my tea. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I coughed, “ I… What? I have never had any escapades with James Potter. I hate James Potter”

James Potter had been the bane of my existence since my fifth year at Hogwarts. Long story short, we rather disliked one another. His favorite activity had been attempting to get a rise out of me and mine had been verbally and physically abusing him. I had never been able to stand the pig tail pulling, poking, teasing, ink splattering, broomstick stealing manwhore. Stupid, arrogant, conceited git.

The last time I had seen him was graduation, and I vowed to myself as I walked off the train to forget all about him. It had taken a lot of tears, rage, chocolate and late night therapy sessions with my teddy bear, but I had ended up fulfilling it… sort of…


“Oh Hun, you and I both know that is a lie,” Hallie dismissed me as she poured herself another cup of tea, “Need a refill?” Before I could reply my cup was out of my hands and filled with more delicious amber liquid.

“Now then,” Bea began again, “When I was your age I had my very own James Potter. That boy drove me up the wall. No one else could put me in such a tizzy as he could,” she put her cup down and turned so she was directly across from me, “Oh how I loathed that boy,” she said fondly, tears misting her eyes. She brushed her hand over her hair as a far away look took over her eyes, “Or at least I thought I did. In the end it was something entirely different.”

I gulped at my tea, ignoring the burn of the hot liquid as it poured down my throat. I knew what she meant. To my great annoyance I felt guilt settle into my stomach like a stone. As much as I loathed admitting it (even to myself,) I knew what she was referring to. My tea now gone, I took to staring at the floor.

Bea sighed and leaned back in her chair, “Archie was exactly like your James. Funny, good looking, intelligent, a prankster not a day goes by when I am not reminded of some stupid little thing he did. Oh that boy, never thought I’d hear of another like him and then Bea shows up at my house for brunch one Sunday morning eight or so years ago, as per usual, with a wicked smile on her face. She told me that she had quite the story for me. Naturally I asked what it was and she told me her little June had returned from school for summer and had stopped by the shop the Friday before filled to the brim with hatred for one James Potter,” I smiled to myself as I remembered the day.

“After that, whenever you stopped by the shop she would tell me all about your exploits with James; from him dying your hair blue to you lighting him on fire,” Hallie chuckled, “It was quite refreshing to hear that I was not alone,” Hallie winked at me, I let out a half hearted chuckle.

“There is one bit that intrigues me the most though. Hallie never told me what happened with you and Mr. Potter…”

“That’s because nothing happened with…” I trailed off, “We graduated, never saw one another again, the end.”

Hallie raised an eyebrow in my direction, “Is that really what happened June?” she questioned.

I don’t know if it was the amount of tea I had consumed, the musty smell of the books, or perhaps Hallie’s concerned and caring face; but somehow, after a few moments of silence, I opened my lips and to my surprise words rushed out. I soon found myself telling her everything; even though I was sure she had already been told most of it by Bea. Then I told her what I hadn’t told Bea, what I hadn’t told anyone else. About how we fought at graduation. About how I really did miss him terribly. About how I would give anything to see him again. About how I hated myself for being so blind. Through what seemed like hours, Hallie listened with a serene smile on her face and the occasional squeeze of my hand.

“I’m just so confused,” I finally whispered staring into the dregs of my teacup, “It’s been years since I last saw him and yet…I can‘t forget him…” I trailed off and looked up at her, “I haven’t spoken to him in what 4, 5 years? I haven’t seen him since graduation and yet I can’t… I don’t understand…” I finished lamely. Hallie sighed deeply and clicked her tongue at me, “June,” she said kindly, “Why do you think you can’t forget him?”

I groaned, “ I don’t know… it makes no sense what so ever. It’s not like I was in love with him… I mean…” I stuttered as Hallie smiled.

“I don’t,” I told her as she picked up the tea pot, “Hallie stop looking at me like that, I do not.”

“But you do love him June,” she said simply pouring me more tea, “and I’m pretty sure that boy loves you.”

I snorted into the fresh tea, “Oh please, James Potter doesn’t love me. He probably hates me now. Actually, let’s be honest, he’s probably forgotten all about me. You could probably walk up to him and say hey do you remember June Montgomery, you used to turn her hair blue in charms class and he would go nope. I mean why…” I rambled on until Hallie broke in, “June.“

“I mean honestly, that would be absolutely mad! And it isn’t as if I would want him to you know like be in love with me. That would be absolutely barking mad…“

“June, sweetheart, stop,” Hallie laughed as she patted my hand, “Listen darling, speaking as someone who has been in your shoes and who has seen the big picture and understands how this whole thing works, there is no way that boy has forgotten about you.”

I began to protest again, even though I knew anything I said would be in vain. Hallie sighed, “June, trust me. The two of you were unofficially dating for nearly three years.”

I shook my head and scoffed.

“Besides,” Hallie said knowingly, “Neither of you ever got closure,” she smiled. My ears rang as she uttered the final word. Closure.


“Closure,” I repeated, the word sounded bitter and harsh on my tongue. To me closure meant him finally telling me he hated me. Closure meant having to admit to things outloud I didn’t want to admit to. Closure meant having to admit certain things to myself, again. To experience the pain, again. Closure, I decided, was a dirty word.

“You’ll regret it your whole life if you don’t tell him,” Hallie said patting my arm as she ducked under the desk and began rummaging about. I sipped the rest of my tea silently, my mind buzzing. Hallie re-appeared with three books in her hands, she sat them down next to me, “Bea wanted me to give you these to read, I’ll be murdered if I forget. She thought you would enjoy them.”

“Tell her I said thank you,” I said quietly as I picked up my tea cup.

“June,” Hallie took my hand, “I didn’t love Archie because I wanted to. I didn’t want to, I fought against it. In the end I just did. There was no rhyme, no reason, I just did.”

I looked up at Hallie and studied the lines on her face. They told the story of great heartache and sadness. I bit my lip, “Hallie,” I asked hoarsely, “What happened with you and Archie?”

She sighed and clasp her hands together, “Archie was killed during the first war. We were fresh out of school and thought we could save the world. That’s why you need to tell James you love him sweetheart. Not because he could die any second. There is no war now, there’s peace; but because I know what it’s like to have live a life without ever telling the boy you love most that you love him. And I wouldn’t wish that pain upon my worst enemy,” her voice cracked at the end and she squeezed my hand.

“But Hallie, I don’t love him,” I sighed, she raised and eyebrow. Hallie picked up one of the piles and began making her way towards the shelves. I set down my tea cup and ran my fingers through my hair. No, June Montgomery doesn’t fall in love I told myself, least of all with James effing Potter. Why on earth was Hallie so insistent that I was lying to myself, I knew I didn’t love him. Wasn’t that what I had decided? That it hurt too much in the end to be love? Love wasn’t supposed to cause you so much pain you wanted to die! Love wasn’t supposed to make you lie in your bed and cry night after night. Love didn’t feel like this, like that had… no, that was not love. Then what was it?

I was June Montgomery and I did not fall in love.

I don’t love him. Maybe I did, for a moment or second I rationalized. Liar, my conscience screamed. I ran my hands through my hair as I replayed the events of our seventh year to myself- from the train ride on September 1st to me crying on the balcony to leaving the train and turning my back on him. Why had it all happened, what was the reason? I stared at my hands as Hallie’s former words, “I didn’t want to…in the end… I just did…”

I truly don’t know how long I sat there staring at the floorboards thinking about what Hallie had said and James, Then out of the blue it hit me. Despite all the fights, all the screaming, all the tears, all my cynicism and all the years I loved him. Even though I never wanted to love him, I did. I honestly and truly loved him.

“Well that’s just peachy,” I muttered aloud to no one as I let my head hit the table top. A few shelves away I heard Hallie’s tinkling laugh.

Hallie held my books hostage until I promised to one day, eventually tell James I loved him. Skeptical that I would ever have to fulfill my promise I bundled back up and, after giving Hallie one last hug, made my way out into the snowy alley.

Eventually I made my way back up to the Leaky Caldron. It was far too dangerous for me to apparate home at the moment, what with the weather and all, so I decided that I might as well have a drink and wait and see if the storm would subside.

It was empty except for the elderly wizard sitting in the corner enjoying his evening pint. I pulled up a stool at the bar, “ Can I get a firewhisky Tom?” I called out to the aging landlord. He levitated a mug of the steaming liquid over to me and I threw a few sickles and knuts onto the counter. The whisky burned my throat as it went down, but I was far to cold to care. I closed my eyes and leaned back in my chair relishing in the way the whisky made my very blood warm up. I sat in the quiet for a few moments until my peace and tranquility was interrupted as the door slammed shut and someone pulled up a stool a few seats away, the legs of the bar stool scraping against the stone floor, “Hot Gillyweed Tom.”

For the second time that day I choked on my drink. I made a mental note that I needed to keep this from becoming a habit. I mean really, I was going to end up dead via chocking on liquid by Christmas at this rate. Despite my concerns of self, I had a much bigger problem. I was quite certain that if I were to open my eyes, two seats down a familiar hazel eyed, messy haired pain in the arse would be seated. I elected to keep my eyes closed. If he wanted to talk to me, he would have to make the first move. I could smell the drink in front of me and it was impossible to keep my eyes shut as I felt the tension in the air grow. I allowed my lids to crack open and I reached for my mug. Firewhisky went everywhere.

“Fuck,” I hissed pulling my wand out of my pocket. I was stopped by the sound of his voice.

“Montgomery?” he asked quietly. Despite the fact that my mind was screaming retreat, I looked at James. His eyes were wide with an emotion I couldn’t figure out and his eyebrows had disappeared under the fringe on his forehead. I opened my mouth, “Potter.” I managed to stammer out as the fire whisky began to drip onto the floor. It hit my pants.

“Shit,” I flicked my wand and the liquid disappeared, “Tom can I get another drink?” I called out. Soon a second mug appeared in front of me and I took a large gulp as I looked anywhere and everywhere except at the bloke next to me. I could feel James’ eyes on me. Finally, I turned around and glared at him, “What?” in classic James Potter mode, he just smiled and sipped his drink.

“Potter, you can not just creepily stare at a person and then not tell them why when they ask,” I crossed my arms. He smirked, “Just surprised to see you Montgomery…” I rolled my eyes and picked up my drink again, ignoring the feeling of my heart pounding erratically against my ribcage.

“Miss me?”

I chocked on my drink for a third time. Yes, death via liquid was inevitable at this point, “I…” he smirked again.

“Not as much as you missed me,” I managed to choke out.

“Oh yes because I missed you so much,” he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, prat. The boy was annoying as ever. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. Professional quidditch had been good to him. His hair was a black and messy as ever, and his eyelashes were still far to long. One could only imagine what was hidden by his grey peacoat, at that thought the Quidditch Monthly cover flashed across my mind, oh bloody hell. I melted a little inside as he quickly licked his lips. Why had I ever hated him again?

“Stop looking at me June bug.” he clicked his tongue.

Oh, that was why.

“Potter, we‘re 23 years old. There’s no need to act 5,” I hissed. Merlin how I loathed that nickname. I turned in my seat to look at him, “Why the hell are you sitting next to me.”

“Ah, ah Montgomery! Weren’t you the one just lecturing me about acting your age? And if you must know,” He leaned in towards me, “I’m only doing it because it bothers you,” he whispered into my ear. I bit my lip as chills ran down my spine. Hallie was wrong I hated James Potter. Loathed him. 100%. Yes, I hated him.

I glared and took another sip of my drink, Prat. Out of the corner of my eye I could see James looking at me with an indecipherable look on his face.

I turned again, “What?” I asked.

James took a long gulp of his drink and shook his head, “I don’t understand.”

I frowned, “You don’t understand what? Why…” I stopped mid-sentence as he looked me straight in the eyes. Suddenly I found it hard to breathe.

I licked my lips, “You don’t understand what,” I asked softly.

James stared at me for one hellishly long second, “Nevermind,” he mumbled and turned away. He downed the rest of his drink and threw the coins on the table, “See you around Montgomery. Thanks Tom,” he got up and stalked out the back into the Alley. I bit my lip and looked out the window. The storm, if anything, had gotten worse.


“Oh bloody hell,” I said out-loud as I stood up and stormed out the door after him. As annoying, prattish, and moronic as he was I did love him and I wasn’t about to let him die via snow storm.

“Potter you bleeding moron! It‘s the fucking snow storm from hell out here incase you hadn’t realized.!” I screamed at the black blur in front of me as I stomped through the snow. It stopped moving. I ran up to him and crossed my arms.

“Fuck off Montgomery,” he hissed as the wind whipped the snow around us. I pulled my coat around my body tighter, “You James Potter, are an idiot!”

“Oh really?”

“Yes really!”

James glared at me, “Just go away June.”

“No! You’re going to freeze to death!”

“Oh it’s not like you care. You want me to die remember?” he glared.

My ears rang as he uttered his last sentence. Guilt coursed through my veins as the memory of me screaming at him on the balcony in the rain on graduation flashed across my eyes. Our eyes met and after one last look of fury he turned on his heel and began to march away. I gaped at him and stormed after him, “Oh you would bring that up! We’re in the middle of a fucking snow storm and you bring that up!”

“I can bring up whatever I fucking want to bring up whenever I want June!” James yelled back as his pace quickened.

“James. Sirius. Potter.” I screamed. It was snowing, I was freezing and Potter wouldn’t listen; I was in a right strop. Potter should know by now, I am always right, “You’re a fucking idiot you know that?” he didn’t stop. He kept walking out into the flurry. It was a literal whiteout with the exception of the black blurs our coats made, “For the love of…”

“For the love of Merlin James, I don’t want you to die!” I screamed. He stopped suddenly and turned around.

“Oh for fuck’s…” I didn’t get to finish my sentence because James interrupted me.

“You don’t want me to die?” he laughed, “Bullshit, you seemed pretty certain when you said it Montgomery.”

I screamed, “You’re bloody impossible!”

“I’m impossible, I’m impossible?” James shouted back, “You’re the impossible one! Every single bloody time…” he shook his head, “… and then I try to be the mature one and you just had to go and muck everything up because of your damned pride!”

“My damned pride? What about your damned pride? And What did you expect me to do when you went up there, huh? Throw myself at you? Well I have news for you Potter it wouldn’t of happened then and it won’t now!” I seethed

“I expected you to at least bloody listen to me, but oh no you couldn’t even bloody listen! You had to flip out over nothing! Nothing June! You didn’t even give me a chance to bloody speak because Merlin forbid this isn’t the world according to June Montgomery!”

I glared, “Oh for fuck’s sake! If I was so wrong and you actually had something to say to me besides insult me why didn’t you bloody stop me from leaving. Riddle me that!”

“Because I was sick of playing your stupid little games. I was finished!”

“Bullshit! If anyone was playing games you were playing games!” I yelled back.

“I was playing games?!”

“Yes, you were! You drove me absolutely bloody insane, every bloody day! Dying my hair, calling me names, playing pranks on me! And then you got all loopy and started doing shit like being nice. You almost seemed human every once in a while. But then it would all go away and you’d go all prat-tastic again! Then you went and told me you bloody loved me and it drove me half insane because I knew you were kidding but everyone else was convinced you meant it,” I glared at him, “You drove me in-bloody-sane with your fucking games! Insane! Drove me completely barmy! So next time you go accusing me of playing games, which I wasn’t, think about all the shit you pulled! Because if anyone was playing games, it was you! And furthermore, because of your fucking games, you broke my fucking heart, you know that?” I wasn’t even coherently aware of the words tumbling out of my mouth as James’ eyebrows disappeared under his bangs, “For fuck’s sake James, even though you were a complete and total prat most of the time I fell in love with you and you broke my freaking heart. Yes I know June Montgomery has a heart who knew… Just ugh! It‘s tiny and black and shriveled, but it‘s still fucking there!” I ran my fingers through my hair, “And you know what the worst part is, no matter how many times I cried myself to sleep, no matter how well I convinced myself I didn’t, no matter how many times I tried to stop I never did. I could never make myself fall out of love with you. So fuck you and your fucking games!” By the time I finished I was shaking, and not from the cold.

James stared at me, I shook my head and bit my lip, “You know what. Fuck you James. Just fuck you. Go ahead and freeze to death out here. I’m done,” I said softly as I turned around and began making my way back to the Leaky Caldron.

“June,” James called out after me but I didn’t turn around. I began walking back quicker, the cold stinging my eyes as they began to fill with tears.

“June!”

Suddenly I felt someone’s hand wrap around my arm and I spun around. James was standing front of me. I glared at him, he didn’t remove his hand.

“Did you mean it?” he asked quietly, his voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.

“Of course I fucking meant it, I wouldn’t of told you if I didn’t. I‘m not the one who plays games,” I hissed, “Now will you bloody let go,” I shook my arm, James‘ grip stayed strong.

“You meant it,” James said.

“Yes I bloody meant it, we’ve established this. Now will you kindly fuck off so I can go nurse my sorrows in the pub…”

“June…” James interrupted as he leaned closer towards me.

“…because fire whisky is a much better companion than you. I don’t know why I followed you out here in the first place. You can just…”

My glorious rant was cut off as James crashed his lips against mine. I froze, completely and utterly shocked. However, my entire thought process was cutoff as James wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer. With him so close to me I forgot I was supposed to be upset; hell, I forgot my own name. My mind now mush the only thing I could will myself to do was pull him closer. My gloved fingers found their way around his neck and I tangled them into his hair. I completely forgot about the cold as warmth spread from my fingers to my toes. It was a dizzying, electrifying heat.

My head was absolutely spinning as we broke apart. James leaned his forehead against mine as we both caught our breath. I licked my lips, “ What the hell was that for?”

“Do you realize how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that?” James smirked.

I raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Do tell.”

James pressed a light kiss to my lips, “Since the day you told me to kindly fuck off the first day of classes fifth year.”

Despite the fact that some part of me had always know this I couldn’t help but gape at him; a look I was sure was quite unattractive, especially when we were this close to one another, “Why?” I asked, if I had to bloody admit it he had to as well.

James chuckled and cupped my cheek with his hand, “Because you moron, I love you,” yet again James leaned in and kissed me. I smiled against his lips, but broke it off as a thought crossed my mind.

“Wait,” James frowned as I continued, “You couldn’t of just told me this in the warmth of the pub? You had to drag me out into a snowstorm?” I questioned, I would of said it with more venom, but at the moment I found myself unable to think coherently.

“Come on June bug, nothing says true love like death via hypothermia,” James laughed.

“James Potter, you are a moron,” I hissed as I snuggled closer to him, the wind had picked up, “I mean honestly James, marching out into a snow storm? What were you thinking?”

“Well now that I’ve seen the results, I’m thinking I really should do it more often,” he replied, instead of answering my question. I rolled my eyes, “You would say that.”

“Come on let’s go back inside,” James said and we began to trek back towards the promising glow of the Leaky Caldron’s windows.

As James wrapped his arm around my shoulders I made a mental note to send Hallie a thank you note and some tea. She had been right, as much as I hated to admit it, she had been 100% correct.

You don’t get to chooseto fall in love or who you fall in love with. Sometimes, despite what you may want, it just happens.




***


Re-vamped and Re-vised for your viewing pleasure. Still not happy with it though... I’m working on the next chapter of Pride (the prequel to this) and thought I’d fix it so it fits with the story better. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as the original!

-pensive princess