"You've always known, I think, that I am a dangerous man. And now you know that I am a foolish, wicked, and cowardly one. How can you possibly want me now that you know me?" ********** It's 1943, and both the wizarding and Muggle worlds have exploded into war. Eighteen-year-old Minerva McGonagall is brilliant and talented, with dreams of becoming the first witch in the Auror corps. Albus Dumbledore is famous, powerful, and haunted by his dark past. Their attraction to one another is unthinkable, inevitable, and dangerous, especially with Tom Riddle watching from the shadows. As their paths cross again and again, their lives change in ways neither anticipates, and they find they must confront the man who will become the greatest threat the wizarding world has ever known. ******** BOOK 1 OF THE EPITHALAMIUM SERIES (reading previous books not required to enjoy it) Not Pottermore-compliant ✔️ COMPLETE 🥇HP Fanfic Fanpoll Award ******** 📘 EPITHALAMIUM SERIES 0.5 . Bonnie Wee Thing (short story) 0.72 One to Keep an Eye On (short story) 0.75 From Jupiter's Head (novelette) 1. Epithalamium (novel) 1.5 1945 (short story - excerpt from Epithalamium) 2. Till A' the Seas Gang Dry (novella) 3. Come Autumn, Sae Pensive (novel) 3.5 Winterreise (short story) 3.6 Familiar Rituals (short story) 3.7 Ca' the Yowes (short story) 3.8 Mammals of the Order Chiroptera (short story) 4. Because It Is Bitter, and Because It Is My Heart (novella) ********* Author's Note: This is a revised version of a story I first posted here in 2012. Please note that it contains mature scenes and themes.

[ON REVISION] WARNING, TOO MUCH HARSH WORDS. Everyone deserve better. But not for her. Dia terlalu keras, dia tak tertebak. Dia sulit ditaklukan. Tak terhancurkan. Semenjak ditinggal pergi sang Ibu, hidup Bella berubah drastis. Tidak ada lagi kasih untuknya dari siapapun. Hanya ada rasa sakit dan pengkhianatan yang tersisa dihatinya. Rasanya begitu kosong dan hambar. Semua berubah dalam sekejap. Bagi Bella, dia tidak perlu hidup berdampingan dengan orang lain. Dia tidak butuh siapapun selain dirinya. Yang dia tau hanyalah menyelamatkan adiknya agar tidak merasakan rasa sakit yang sama dengan miliknya. Bella menjadi dingin, sangat keras. Kasar dan tidak perduli. Namun semua itu berubah ketika lelaki itu datang.