𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝐼𝑉.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙮-𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

IT WAS HARRY'S birthday. His whole life, Harry spent his birthday alone. His friends wrote to him every holiday since first year, but he was still by himself. Mrs. Weasley made him feel special late in the summer when he came before school, but he had never had someone who cared on his actual birthday. This year, Caroline, Remus and Tonks were there. This year, it felt like a birthday. He was sixteen, and Caroline was there, leaning over her bed towards him, placing a kiss to his forehead as he woke up. "Good morning, birthday boy." Caroline teased, Harry smiling as he put his glasses on.

        They spent the day with Remus and Tonks. Harry and Caroline found themselves in a museum, running out of it hours later as Harry accidentally touched a portrait. Back at the house, they had dinner, and Harry had a cake, upon Caroline's insistence. Her parents always made her and Jacob's birthday impossibly special, and Caroline wanted Harry to have a taste of that.

        Harry had been given presents, but Caroline was saving a special one for later. He hugged Remus and Tonks and they went upstairs to Caroline's room, where their cats were waiting. Caroline opened her window. "Come on." she said, beckoning Harry over. Confused, Harry followed her as she climbed onto the roof of the house, settling down beside her.

        "Why are we on the roof?" Harry asked, uneasy, especially after Caroline's frequent depressive visits to the Astronomy Tower at school.

        Caroline grabbed his hand, pointing to the sky. Her hand with the tremor rested in her lap. "Look. The Summer Triangle." Caroline spoke, showing Harry the asterism in the night sky.

        Harry was confused. "Okay?" he asked, drawing out the word.

        "It's only seen in July, with its strongest visibility being tonight. They're your stars." Caroline said, dropping Harry's hand, her eyes still trained to the sky.

        Harry thought the stars were stunning, but why would he look at something so far away when an even more beautiful thing was right next to him? He extended his fingers to Caroline's chin, turning her towards him as he placed his lips on hers, lengthening their kiss. "My stars, yeah?" Harry asked against her swollen lips.

        She nodded, her hands on his jaw, fingers on the nape of his neck. "Yeah." Caroline affirmed, gazing into Harry's eyes.

        Harry shook his head, kissing her again. "No, you're my star. The only one that matters." he said, and Caroline smiled.

        Caroline reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulling out a wrapped box. "Happy birthday, handsome." Caroline said, placing the box in Harry's hand.

        "Lana, you already gave me presents." Harry said, twirling the package between his fingers.

        "This is special." Caroline said, and Harry kissed her before he opened it.

        Inside the package, Caroline had gifted Harry a woven bracelet that matched well with his moon charm. It had a medallion as its focus, with the date he asked Caroline to be his girlfriend displayed on it. They watched as the writing on the medallion morphed into a stag and a black stallion, their patronuses. And then the final thing, a tiny quote from Sonnet 73, to love that well which thou must leave ere long. Harry looked away from the medallion and at Caroline. "This is amazing, Lana." he said, his eyes lit up in awe.

        Caroline took the bracelet and tied it onto Harry's wrist, his eyes trained on her. She struggled, but she did it. "Tonks helped me with the charms. You like it?" Caroline asked, her curls surrounding her head freely.

        Harry leant close to her and kissed her feverishly, hands on her waist, tugging her into him. Breathing heavily, Harry broke apart from her. Now was the time to say it. "I love you, Caroline Taylor-Jones." it had been seven months, but Harry had loved Caroline since they were tiny, shy and eleven.

        Caroline's eyes widened. She wasn't expecting it, and her shock deflated Harry instantly. When she realized what was happening, Caroline smashed her lips onto his, holding his face. "I love you, too, Harry Potter." Caroline whispered, their faces pushed together.

        That was right. That was the way it was supposed to be. Caroline forced Harry to stay on the roof for a little while longer, and he listened to her as she pointed out the constellations she adored. When clouds came, they went inside, Harry shutting the window behind him. Remus and Tonks bid them goodnight, and Harry and Caroline settled in their beds after changing and readying themselves. It was the best birthday Harry had ever had, and he told Caroline this as she fell asleep, and he turned out the light.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —