✨ Prologue ✨

July 1st, 2021

There were various shouts and echoes of insults emitting from the once presumed empty and lone house on the deserted street of Grimmauld Place.

The muggles that lived around the house had believed nobody lived at number twelve, and that any sound that came from the property was unusual.

These sounds stirred rumours of the house being haunted but the truth was that the residents were unlike their neighbours, exhibiting extraordinary abilities that surpassed them.

"I don't think you've thought this through, Cleo. What are you going to do when you get to wherever you're going?"

The shaggy haired boy turned and asked the girl, with his eyes wide and pleading.

"It's Italy, you pompous dick. They have Aurors there too, silly," she said, rolling her eyes at James Potter's ridiculous facial expressions and accusations that came with them.

She could still find work, no matter the country, she was sure of it.

The magical world there was thriving just as it was in Britain.

"But they aren't as great as ours," he quipped back rather quickly.

"Now you're just being a stick in the mud."

"Who? Me?" He scoffed, "Never."

"Just listen to me for two seconds! We are about to graduate and you're thinking of faraway foreign countries?"

The boy continued, desperate for her to see where he was coming from.

"No, I'm just being realistic because after graduation; I am leaving, Potter."

James Sirius Potter liked it better when Cleodora called him by his given name but she was just as stubborn as he was.

Whenever they fought, last names emerged.

"We shouldn't even be in here, let's go."

Cleo said, feeling nerves erupt in the pit of her stomach.

Harry Potter's office made her feel partly safe, and partly terrified that things were about to go wrong with his son in the vicinity.

"This is why we are here! Look!"

James said as he obnoxiously pointed to a small, mini-show of moving photos on the far wall of his father's office. He'd needed a lot of magic for this display but he was confident it would work.

Confident he could show her what was inside of his heart - what had always been there for only her.

Cleo, however, thought it was all a waste of time.

Her traditionalist family values made it much too easy to pick between a summer fling and the health of her younger brother, Tomos.

He'd been battling leukemia since he was twelve years old, stuck in a Muggle hospital in London to waste away the remainder of his days. Just shy of five years after their mother died of cancer as well, proving it to be a genetic disease that ran in their family.

Cleo adored her two brothers, Jasper and Tomos, despite how very different they were at times.

Jasper was a few years older than she was, exhibiting reserved traits due to the loss of family members whereas Tomos was lively and bubbly, despite being the one stuck in a sick-bed every day.

She would choose her family, over anyone, in a heartbeat. It didn't matter that Potter made butterflies fly around in her stomach and her palms all sweaty, and her elevated heartbeat.

It was obvious; Cleodora Reyes held affections for the boy back.

Affections were nothing when compared to the love one has for family. At least to Cleodora herself.

James held a belief, however, that they were more than just a fling. One where he could fit in with her complicated life, and he was more than willing to put in the work required.

He could show her that he was serious and prepared to blow her socks off.

James was known for being a lady's man at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, having only short flames that sizzled out even quicker than they came.

For despite his playthings, his heart only truly craved another from the moment their eyes caught in the crowded sorting ceremony all those years ago.

As egotistical as his namesakes, he always went larger when asking her out. Constantly embarrassing her and himself just at a chance to woo her properly.

Her answers were always no until something changed over one summer in 2020. They begun a secret, harmless physical relationship behind the scenes.

Cleodora expected James to get bored of her, just as he had of everyone else, expecting that she would be on the flight to Italy by July 31st.

But James had other plans.

"Just look at it!"

"They're just photos that were taken in the heat of moments, that's all they are," the redhead replied, trying to tear her eyes away from the sweet gesture.

"So you are telling me all that time we spent together means nothing to you?"

Cleodora was silent, for the truth hurt just as much as a lie would. For neither were the answers he was looking for. He needed her to stay but she was needed elsewhere.

Somethings trumped teenage love affairs.

As the girl looked away, fearing the romantic gesture would be enough to crumble the foundation of her resolve.

They had grown close in the couple months they had spent together. Cleo had learned things about the wizard that few else knew and she loved the secret soft side he harboured inside just for her.

But they were only parts of themselves when they were together, Cleodora felt held back and unable to fully be herself with him despite James' constant efforts.

His love was clear whereas hers was murky
and confused.

James had never outward said those three words but it was evident in all the little and big things he constantly did for her.

He wasn't holding back anymore but Cleo couldn't let go.

To her, there was no future where she was a great daughter and sister that still included being the girlfriend to the famous, James S. Potter.

The kind of life she desired was peaceful and uninterrupted - the kind that a life with a Potter could never truly give her.

She was almost sure of that.

Confident in her decision, she began to say what she came over to say just an hour prior.

Goodbyes were difficult but she was certain the short ones were easier.

"I'm sorry, Jay," she said, using his familiar nickname as a way to show her slight affections.

"But my family need me and they come first."

"You can still be there for them without having to move half way across the world. You are a Witch, for Merlin's sake! You can fly or apparate anywhere you like - T-There are also Portal Keys!"

James had a point but to her that wasn't the same.

Cleodora had always lived with her family. Losing her mother only brought them all closer together.

Even Jasper hadn't moved out.

It was clear where they were needed most; looking after their father, Matthew, once Tomos too passes.

Her brother had only been given four weeks to live, barely reaching the age of fifteen. He was young but somehow unafraid of what would come next. Hopeful to be reunited with their late mother in his passing.

Cleodora hated the way fate worked at times.

Death toyed with her, taking those she loved like it was a sport for him. Yet her mother and brother both acted as if Death was another home to go to, to rest and find peace with other fallen relatives.

A party, almost, her mother described it.

Cleodora knew it was to keep her spirits high and keep her from sobbing away her life. She was only nine when her mother parted ways and it had stayed with her in her very core.

Death was not a friend of Cleo's but an enemy she could never win against.

"Why won't you just listen to me for two seconds?" James growled in frustration, feeling almost fed up with the way she dismissed his love as if it were fleeting and minuscule.

Although, James knew in actual fact that his affections were so much more than just that.

In his desperate attempt to make her see his grand gesture of love and reasoning, his sudden and hasty movement towards her caused something to fall off of the desk.

As he looked back, he noticed his father's brand new priceless prototype making its fast descent to the floorboards.

Out of fear of the glass pieces shattering and injuring Cleodora, he leapt for her and they both fell to the floor with a loud thud.

Shielding her body from the messy impact, he took each sharp piece of glass that lodged itself in his back as they disappeared in a storm of magic dust.

✨ Author's Note ✨

Just a little fanfiction I have been working on for fun.

Let me know if you guys like it down below!

I would appreciate all kinds of feedback. Please also vote if you enjoyed it!

Have a great day everyone! ✨