TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of rape, sexual harassment, starvation, abuse, and Jewish Holocaust during World War 2. I will give another warning before they are mentioned. 

Valentine's Day was just around the corner. 

Not that Nova really cared. 

She never had anyone to celebrate it with. But now she does . . .or at least she hopes she does. 

Harry hasn't asked her yet. 

She wouldn't lie, a part of her wanted him to ask her. 

She wondered what would happen if he did. 

Would they hang out at the castle? Would they go to Hogsmeade? Would they go to Madam Puddifoots? Would they go to the Three Broomsticks? Would they enjoy themselves? Would they walk around? 

Nova knew one thing for sure. If Harry took her to Madam Puddifoots, she would smash a tea cup into his brain. 

That was, of course, if he asked her. But then again, she could ask him. 

This would involve coming out about their relationship to everyone other than their close friends. They didn't want the extra attention. They did need it. 

Harry was becoming annoyed. He heard the not so quiet whispers about those (guys and girls) planning or wanting to ask Nova out to the next Hogsmeade visit, which happened to be on Valentine's Day. He almost pummelled a guy for talking about how good of a shag he thought Nova would be. Luckily, for the elder Gryffindor, Hermione practically dragged Harry away by his ear. 

Nova knew that some of Harry's anger came from Voldemort messing with his mind. This was one reason Harry attended Occulmency lessons every Monday and Wednesday in secret. This deliberately went against one of the toad's Educational Decrees. 

The Profit published a story blaming Sirius for the escape of several Death Eaters, including Bellatrix Lestrange. This alone lead Neville to working harder in D.A. meetings, which he has been excelling at. 

The news of Broderick Bode's death caused fear to strike Nova's heart. He is a known member of the Order. He was on Prophecy Duty when he was attacked leading to him being sent to St. Mungos. Voldemort, most likely not expecting him to survive, sent disguised Devil's Snare to Bode while he was recovering. This deadly plant evidently strangled him to death. 

Nova blamed herself. She, and the rest of the Golden Quartet, had experience with the plant. They almost died from it in first year. The others blamed themselves for not recognizing the plant. But for Nova, it was worse. 

She is training under one of the most elite Aurors to walk the Earth. Not to mention she has been on countless adventures. One of Moodster's greatest pieces of advice (basically a rule of thumb) is to pay attention to minor details. 

Nova didn't realize the plant of Devil's Snare. Her mistake led to the death of a fellow Order Member. He always gave her oranges. It was an odd thing for him to do, but Nova loves oranges. 

Back at Hogwarts, Hagrid is on probation. Essentially meaning, he must be supervised as he teaches by the Devil itself, Dolores Umbridge. 

Speaking of Dolores Umbridge, Nova is currently walking through the cold hallways back to the Common Room after another detention. 

The worst part . . .

Nova hadn't done anything to award her detention. 

Her cloak billowed behind her as she walked. Her skirt swished with each step he took. Hating the feeling of the tie wrapped around her neck, it was loosened. Her hair fell into her face as she walked through the hallways liked a kicked puppy as blood from the quill ran down her hand. 

Suddenly, a hand was placed over her mouth as she was dragged into an abandoned classroom. She bucked and struggled to escape their grasp. At that moment, she forgot about magic. She thrashed savagely to escape. 

"Merlin, Nox!" the voice hissed. "Calm down! It's just me!"

Nova stopped thrashing and allowed the person to release her. 

She spun around and punched her blonde cousin in the face. 

"What the bloody hell?" Draco groaned as he clutched his face. 

TW: mentions of sexual harassment, rape, starvation, and everything that happened during the Holocaust start here. Descriptions will get graphic. YOU CAN SKIP! I will summarize at the end. I just feel as though people should realize the similarities between the Death Eaters and the Nazis, and how rape makes a woman feel. 

"You cannot attack a woman like that!" Nova hissed angrily. "Do you know how many females and non-binaries fear being abducted and rape? Hell, even men do!"

"You didn't have to punch me!" He groaned. 

"Deal with it," Nova said harshly. "I could do a whole hell of a lot worse. You deserve it anyway."

"Nox," Draco pleaded as he regained his composure. "I wanted to apologize-"

"Then do it."

"I'm sorry for being a prat," Draco said sincerely. "I don't like it when you're mad at me."

"And I don't like fat-shaming, segregation, discrimination, rapists, toxic men, Umbitch, chickens, and Voldemort but here we are." Nova spat. 

"What do you want me to do?" Draco asked in an annoyed voice. 

"I want you to open your fucking eyes and realize what Voldemort stands for is wrong!" Nova hissed as she crossed her arms. 

"Stop saying his name!" Draco whimpered. He, much like most of the world, feared him. It was one of the main reasons Nova believed there was hope for him. 

"What? Are you afraid of Daddy's master?" Nova snarled. 

"Yes, Nox, I am!" Draco hissed. "But there isn't anything wrong with it!"

"I'm not saying it's wrong to fear! Just because I am in Gryffindor, doesn't mean we don't have fears. It doesn't mean we are mindless soldiers." Nova said sternly. "What I'm saying is that Vol-"

"What is so wrong about him?" Draco asked. Nova couldn't blame him. He grew up nothing of the horrors Voldemort caused. He wasn't educated or informed of the depth and anguish the no nosed bastard caused. 

It was Nova's job to educate him. 

"Everything he stands for!" Nova stated strongly. "Tell me, Dray, have you ever heard of the Holocaust?"

"What? Like the one we brushed up upon in Muggle Studies? The one with the guy with the weird mustache?" Draco asked. 

"Yes that one," Nova rolled her eyes. "Do you remember anything from that?"

"No. Not really." 

"Well let me educate you." Nova hissed. "The Jewish people were targetted for no damn reason. Adolf Hitler convinced his supporters, the Nazis, the Jewish were the root of their problems. Do you know why he blamed these people in particular?"

"No."

"He blamed because he could. Because they believed in something different than he did. Because they were different." Nova took an angry step towards him. "He, and his followers, rounded up all the Jewish they could. They were slaughter. They were forced to work in horrible conditions. Babies were burned, tossed into the fire as if they were wood. Women were forced to shave their heads, ridding them of their hair. They were forced to work in fields until their bodies dropped from exhaustion."

Draco's pale complexion became paler. 

"These people were starved. They looked like skeletons with skin. They fought for food. The Nazis laughed at them squander for food. They ate their lunches on top of dead bodies as if they were dirt." Nova hissed dangerously. "They were whipped. They were beaten down. Separated from their families. Many were left to assume their fathers, brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, mothers, wives, husbands, and children were dead. They ran through the snow in weather below freezing.

"But how does this relate to Voldemort?" Nova asked rhetorically. "Voldemort is targeting Muggleborns, muggles, and their supporters."

"B-but he didn't do stuff like that," Draco tried to justify. Nova knew immediately his father told him Voldemort was justified. That he wasn't committing such horrors. 

"No, Dray, he is worse," Nova said softly. But as she continued, her voice began strong and had again. "Not only were muggleborns and muggles murdered but they were tortured. Some were even raped."

Draco paled even more. 

"And don't think for a second the Death Eaters are above rape," Nova said harshly. "Rape takes away a woman's pride. It makes her feel disgusting. It makes her feel worthless. It makes her feel like the gum stuck on the bottom of someone's foot. Some have even killed themselves because of it. Dray, it's not right. And the torture, that's quite obvious. Death Eaters loved to feel powerful. Hearing the screams of their victims, their pleas, it makes them feel powerful."

"H-how would you know?" Draco stammered out. 

"I've been the victim."

"You were raped?"

"No. I've read about women speaking about how it made them feel. I was curious after reading about it in a book back at the Orphanage so I did my research." Nova answered. "I was referring to the feeling of power Death Eaters get from seeing their victims squirm. I was their victim. Back with the Morgensterns, I was crucioed more than I will ever admit."

"B-but I was never subjected to that!"

"That's because you listen. I didn't." Nova said softly. "Dray, I have faith you will do the right thing. I'm not asking you to poison Voldemort. I'm asking that you let me help you escape."

"I-i can't."

"Why not?"

"My mother," Draco justified. "He is at the Manor. I fear if I leave, he'll take his anger out on her."

"Oh look!" Nova said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood slightly. "You do have a heart." 

Her joke didn't phase or make any impact. 

"Let me change the perspective, Dray," Nova began. "Imagine. Just imagine . . . your daughter is ripped from your grasp. You have to sit there and watch as she grows up fearing every waking moment. You have to watch as she is harassed."

"B-but that can't happen!"

"If Voldemort wins the war that's on its way," Nova began looking in his grey eyes. "That will become normal. That will become something that'll haunt your nightmares."

"Nox," Draco began. "What about my mother?"

Nova paused. As much as she loved Cissy, she hadn't thought about her.

"I don't have a plan for that yet," Nova frowned. 

"Then until you do, I won't come with you," Draco stated his expression becoming hard. "I can't leave her behind."

"Alright," Nova said. "Just please, please realize everything that Voldemort is doing is wrong. If you need more evidence, look through and read Muggle World Wars Second Edition and The Realities of The Wizarding War."

Nova studied her cousin. 

"Please," she pleaded. "Also, if you lay off Harry, muggleborns, and the Weasleys, you'll find there isn't anything to fear about them."

"But that's what I was raised to think!" Draco tried to justify. "That muggles and their associates will take everything I ever loved away. That they'll kill my family! You know that! You know we are taught that!"

"Dray," Nova began softly, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "They won't kill you-"

"What about the Salem Witch Trials?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"One, they weren't actual witches. Two, those were extremely religious times. Three, things in the muggle world are changing. Four, muggles don't even know about us." Nova countered. "They think we are book characters. They believe we are nothing but a fantasy. Dray, muggles are bad."

"You preach about rapists-"

"Wizards are rapists too, Dray," Nova said both harshly and softly. "There just haven't been any reported. And if they were reported, the Ministry ignores them."

TW: it's over. Well, the mentions of sexual assault, rape, and things that happened in the Holocaust. 

As a summary . . .

Nova brought up the similarities between what Voldemort is doing and what Hitler did. And she is right. They both harshly discriminated against and murdered people because they are different. They both committed many horrors. It is high time we as a fandom acknowledge that what the Death Eaters were doing is similar to what Hilter and the Nazis did. 

Also, she brought up how women and children were raped in the first war. I'm not sure if this is actually true or not, but it is in my story. Because I believe that topics like this should be brought up. I believe people should be educated in the fact that rape was a common thing in wars. Even now, it's common. And it needs to stop. 

Draco brings up that children of Death Eaters are raised to fear muggles and those like them. Again, I'm not sure if this is true or not, but in my story it is. 

Draco refuses to join Nova right now because he fears his mother (Narcissa) won't be safe. 

*this is where his redemption starts. 

Again, I am sorry I mention these things in this story especially since I try to keep it lighthearted and serious at the same time. However, these things need to be talked about. 

More stuff like this will come up again. There will be things that are mature but needs to be discussed more. 

I will not say what now because I don't want to spoil what I have planned, but I will inform you when they are being mentioned. 

As always, thank you for reading, voting, and I hope you enjoy. 

On with the story!

Nova left the deserted classroom, leaving her cousin alone in his thoughts. She left her cousin contemplating everything he has ever believed in. 

It took Nova nearly ten minutes to get back to the Gryffindor Common Room. She was too lost in thought her legs carried her there without her conscious mind knowing. The blood on her hand was dry, but she didn't notice. 

She was too busy trying to think of a way to help Narcissa. The only problem, she doubted she would leave to begin with. Despite not being a Death Eater, she was raised in the "Noble" House of Black. She was raised from the time she exited the womb to believe muggles are terrible. 

Then again, her father forged his own path. 

So did her Uncle Reg. He followed his parents out of fear. Then at the mere age of eighteen, he went against Voldemort. 

Nova doesn't know what he did. She read his journals, but it never said what he did. He only spoke of finding a way to defeat "The Dark Lord". He only spoke of pursuing it in some cave. After that, pages were torn from it. The rest of his writing was gone. Stolen. 

And she may or may not have been a bit preoccupied when she last saw him . . .

"Oh thank Merlin!" Harry breathed out in relief as Nova walked through the portrait. 

He instantly took in her appearance. She was in her uniform. Her hair was a little bit on the messier side than when she left. The blood on her hand was dried and her scars were prominent. Her brows were furrowed and her eyes were trained on the floor. 

"Love?" Harry questioned bringing her from her thoughts. 

Nova looked up at her boyfriend startled for a moment before grinning. She noted his hair showed signs of him running his hand through it and his emerald green eye shone with worry. He wore only the uniform pants and a white button-up shirt. His tie was undone and hung around his shoulders. The sleaves of his were rolled up, displaying his forearm. 

How can a forearm be so hot? Nova questioned herself. 

She, unfortunately, didn't get to admire his forearms for they were almost instantly pulling her into a tight embrace. 

She instantly sunk into the hug with a small smile on her face as she wrapped her arms around his torso. 

"Are you alright?" Harry questioned. "What took so long? You were supposed to be here twenty-one minutes and thirty seconds ago!"

"You know down to the last second-" Nova began but a wicked smirk formed on her face. "Awe! Where you worried about me?"

"I-well-" Harry pulled away, scratching the back on his neck as a blush crawled onto his face. "Well, ya see-I-erm-Africa?"

"Did your son just verbally malfunction?" Alex asked as they turned to Lily. 

"Yeah. It happens a lot when he gets nervous." Lily nodded. "You should see him when Nova catches him starring at her and winks in response."

"He gets so bad!" James exclaimed. "His face turns red and he can't speak for about a minute!"

"Jamesie deer," Marlene began to tease. 

"I wouldn't start," Dorcus added on. "We aren't going to talk about the time Lily kissed you on the cheek and you stood there for fifteen minutes before Sirius and Remus dragged you back to the Common Room."

"That was one time!"

"Or when Lily finally said yes to a date to Hogsmeade and you rambled on for nearly five minutes before realizing she accepted," Marlene pipped up. 

"Fine! Two times!"

"Or that time when I-" Lily began. 

"Alright! I get it!" James exclaimed as he sunk into the couch. 

"I take it Harry takes after James in this sense?" Alex asked Reggie. 

"And don't ever forget it!" Regulus grinned cheekily. 

"Darlin," Nova said with a teasing grin on her face. "I know I'm hot-"

"That's all Padfoot right there," James stated.

"-and I know I'm brilliant-"

"Remmy all the way!" Marlene grinned. 

"-but I need you to repeat that," Nova smiled. "I can't speak Potternese."

"Haha," Harry said sarcastically. "You think you're funny?"

"I think I'm fucking adorable," Nova grinned cheekily. 

Harry rolled his eyes with a small grin on his face. 

"So what took so long?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"Umbitch held me longer," Nova shrugged. "Are we going to talk about how you knew down to the second how late I was?"

Nova knew she probably should've told Harry she ran into her cousin. She believed honesty was the best thing in a relationship. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him she was talking to a boy that has been harassing him and his friends for years alone. Especially if it was to somewhat discuss how to help him. 

She was already lying about being in the Order. She was already lying about knowing nothing when it came to the Order. She would always give Ron, Hermione, and Harry hints about what was going on, but it was still lying in her book.

And Nova hated lying. Especially to Harry. 

"Well, I planned on waiting for you like any other night," Harry began nervously. "And I know how much Umbridge hates you. And . . .I was worried."

"How sweet," Nova hugged Harry again when something caught her eye. 

"Harold, are those roses?"

"Yes . . ." Harry said boldly. "They're for you."

Harry handed them to her. 

"Nova Lupin-Black, will you be my Valentine?" Harry asked with a slight bow. 

"Of course I will, you cheesy dork," Nova grinned. 

"But I'm your cheesy dork," Harry smiled cheekily. 

Nova shoved him. 

"Also . . . fair warning," Nova began in a deadly voice. "If you take me to Madam Puddifoots, I will crush a teacup into your skull."

"Nice to know," Harry nodded. 

***

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!" A voice exclaimed. 

"Fuck off," Nova groaned. 

"Come on! Nox! Your date is today!" A different voice said. 

"And?" 

"Don't you wanna look nice for Harry?" another voice asked. 

"If he can't accept me in my lazy clothes, he just missed out on the best damn thing in his life," Nova said as she snuggled into her pillow. 

Water crashed down on her, leaving Nova soaked to the bone.

"What the bloody fucking hell!" she yelled sitting up. 

Nova was instantly met with the faces of Cho, Hermione, and Ginny. 

"Your date is in three hours," Cho stated as she looked at her watch. "We need to get you ready."

Nova flopped back onto her bed. 

With great effort, the other three were able to detach her from the blankets, pillows, and bed. Ginny dragged a limp Nova to the bathroom for a shower. 

Twenty minutes and several songs later, Nova strolled out of the bathroom wrapped in her towel. 

"I hate morning showers," Nova grumbled. 

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself," Hermione commented with a smirk. 

"If Imma take a shower, it might as well be fun," Nova stated with a roll of her eyes as she reached down to grab her clothes that she laid out. 

"You are not wearing that!" Cho exclaimed. 

"Why not?" Nova questioned with a raised brow. 

"You wear that every day!" Ginny exclaimed. 

"But I love it!" Nova justified as she held onto her leather jacket. "I'll be your doll but I'm keeping the leather jacket."

"But what if you're cold and Harry offers you his jacket?" Hermione asked. 

"'Mione, this isn't a romance novel," Nova rolled her eyes. "Besides, I go shopping in his wardrobe whenever I want."

"Fine!" Cho groaned before mumbling under her breath. "Goes on a date with Harry bloody Potter but won't dress up."

"Where's Harry taking you?" Ginny asked as she did Nova's hair after she changed. 

"Not Madam Puddifoots," Nova stated. 

"Why not?" Cho asked with a frown. 

"There is no way I am going into that shop willingly," Nova stated. 

Hermione hid her laughter behind her hand. 

"But it's such a cute shop!" Cho protested. 

Nova grumbled in response. 

Nearly an hour after unnecessary preparations, Nova was finally ready. 

"You guys go. We'll catch up!" Nova called as she pulled Hermione to the side. 

Hermione studied her friend. She has never been this nervous. Something told her it wasn't about her date. 

"Mione, I have to tell you something," Nova said as she played with her finger and looked down at her feet. 

"Well . . .what is it?"

"Please don't be mad."

This sentence and this sentence alone had Hermione intrigued. 

"I wont." Hermione swore. 

So everything came out. Nova told Hermione about how she was a member of the Order, but not too much about what was happening. She told Hermione about her plans for Blaise and Theo. She told Hermione about her run-in with Draco. 

"Hermione, what do I do?" Nova asked, panic evident in her voice. "I want to tell Harry, but I can't. I know if I do he'll be pissed. He'll want to know what is going on in the Order. But even then I don't know everything. I was only ever there for summer meetings and my dads don't tell me everything!"

Hermione opened her mouth to respond but Nova cut across her. 

"What if Harry breaks up with me?" Nova aked with her eyes wide. "You know he has been a little testy this year due to Moldy."

"Nova-"

"Hermione, what if he leaves me?"

"Nova-"

"Hermione, what if he never wants to see me again?"

"NOVA!" Hermione shouted, finally silence her caramel-haired friend. "I don't think you should tell him today. Wait a little bit. Tell him when you're ready. He is going to be upset at first, but I doubt he'll break up with you."

"But what if he does?"

"Then I'll beat him ruthlessly with my hard copy of War and Peace." Hermione assured. "Not to mention he'll have two dads, an angry house-elf with pans, Binky armed with her sundresses. the Weasleys, Ginny, two angry Slytherins, and most likely McGonagal after his head."

"Thanks, 'Mione," Nova said pulling the other girl into a hug. 

"Also, you and Harry need to meet me at the Three Broomsticks around lunchtime. I already spoke to Harry," Hermione informed. 

"Okay," Nova nodded. 

***

Harry watched the girl beside him as they sat on a bench overlooking the forest near the edge of Hogsmeade. 

She looked stunning . . .well she always did. 

She wore a dark blue flowy top (he knew for sure wasn't hers) with her leather jacket over it. Her red converses were traded for blue ones that matched the color of her shirt perfectly. She also wore black ripped skinny jeans. 

Her head was rested on his shoulder when she spoke in a quiet voice. 

"Harry . . ."

All through Harry's mind alarms were going off. This was bad! She called him by his first name! 

He prepared himself for the worse. She cheated on him (he highly doubted this one but it was a possibility). She wanted to break up. She didn't like him. 

"We need to talk," She said in a small voice. 

"About what?" Harry asked hesitantly. 

"I've been lying to you," She said softly. 

Nova wasn't sure where the confidence came from, but she needed to get this off her chest. It was dragging her heart down more and more every day. 

"A-about what?"

"Oh, Merlin!" Lily groaned as she buried her head in her hands. "Please don't overreact."

"I'm in the Order of the Pheonix."

Harry instantly adjusted himself so he was looking at her. 

"What do you mean?"

"Over the summer, I needed to know what was going on. I needed to know what I could do to keep everyone safe." Nova began nervously as her eyes slowly met Harry's. "I started spying on the meetings. With the help of my magic, I was able to sit in the meetings. Moody was the only person that knew."

"No-"

"Let me finish," Nova stated strongly. "Then, the day before you were attacked, I made myself known. I said Dung shouldn't watch you alone. I told Dumbledore I was going to be in the Order, that it'd be logical. I practically demanded. I insisted they inform you and the others what was happening, but my word means nothing to Dumbledore."

Hary's anger boiled. She lied. She lied to him.

"I only know what's happening with the Order during the meeting I attend. I don't know everything, my dads don't fill me in on all of it." Nova cast her eyes down. "I dropped hints to Hermione and Ron over the summer. I dropped hints to you too, but I was sure my mail is being watched."

"Nova-"

"I just wanted to help. I just wanted to keep everyone safe," Nova murmured. "I even devised a plan for Blaise, Theo, and Timmy to escape the fate their parents set for them. Dray is being a prat so he's been out of it for now."

"Nova."

"A-and I understand if you're mad-"

Of course Harry was mad. 

"I understand if you want to break up wi-"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Harry spoke alas. 

"Well . . .I lied to you and . . ." Nova rubbed her foot in a circular motion on the ground as she looked down. Her curled hair fell around her face. 

She looked like a kicked puppy and it struck Harry's heart. 

"You could've died!" Harry yelled. 

"I haven't gone on any missions," Nova justified looking up at Harry. "I only sit in the meetings at throw peas at Snape, occasionally adding something."

"You lied!" Harry's anger resurfaced. His girlfriend lied to him! 

"I know," Nova said looking down again. 

"You should've told me!" Harry yelled thankful no one could hear them. "You lied to my face! Nova, you lied! We trusted you!"

"I know, Harry! I know that!" Nova yelled back. "You don't think I have been trying to find a way to tell you? I have fought tooth and nail to tell you and the others! Or at least you! You were with me in the graveyard! You are his number one target! I had to protect you!"

Harry's gaze faulted slightly and for a moment. 

He didn't see the girl that lied to him. 

He saw the girl he loved. He saw the dragon that wanted to protect him. 

But she lied to youuuu a voice hissed in the back of Harry's mind. 

"Harry, I'm sorry," Nova said as she met his eye. "I wanted to tell you. I know it sounds meaningless since I still lied, but I am."

Harry's green eyes noticed the sorrow in her honey eyes. 

The voice chanting about how she lied slowly faded into nothing. 

"Harry, if you're going to break up with me, go ahead," Nova stated. Harry could see that's not what she wanted. "I understand you're mad. Hell, if were you, I would've left by now."

The only thought that was coursing through Harry's mind was the thought of her dying. He didn't think of her lying. He thought of her dead body being returned after a mission gone wrong. 

"Harry, please," Nova began in a faint voice. "Please, say something."

"Something."

Nova didn't laugh. She turned on her heel to walk away. 

"You could've died," Harry said quietly, the image of her body laying motionless on the ground still fresh in his mind. 

Nova spun around to face him. 

"I wasn't going on-"

"You could've died," Harry repeated, clearly not getting the memo. "Last summer, after the tournament . . .I saw your body hit the grass. You weren't moving. You weren't breathing. I thought you were dead, and my heart nearly stopped beating."

Nova looked down. She should've fought harder that day. If she did, Cedric might be alive. 

"Nova, it was like the world ended," Harry said faintly as he looked her in the eyes. Her caramel hair flapped slightly in the breeze. "It was like the sun decided to explode. It was like everything ended. And to be honest, I'm sure if you didn't wake up it would have."

The sun's rays shone down on them. Nova's hair began to glow golden. 

"It wasn't until Remus threw Dumbledore across the room did it finally register in my mind you were dead," Harry spoke softly. Nova quietly listened. "I was convinced the stupid universe decided to take another person I loved away from me. And I do love you, Nova."

Harry heard her intake of breath. 

"Seeing you there, even though I knew you had a choice, felt like the world was in depressing tones. Like there would never be color again." Harry said. "No happiness. No laughter. Nothing. The world would be dull."

Harry paused. 

"I'm mad, believe me," Harry stated. "But I'm not going to break up with you, nor are we taking a break unless you want to. You made a mistake. But I made so many and you have forgiven me for every single one."

Nova's eyes were glossy. 

"You could've died."

"Harry, I didn't go on missions," Nova said, finally regaining her voice. 

"But you could've died."

"How? Dust bunnies?" Nova joked.

***

The moment Harry and Nova walked into the Three Broomsticks to meet Hermione, they saw Rita Skeeter next to her. 

"Fuck no," Nova stated.