𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝑋𝐼𝑉.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮-𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE MATCH WAS going excellently. Gryffindor was scoring well, and Ron, thinking he was under the influence of Liquid Luck, was saving nearly every goal. Caroline didn't think the Gryffindor section had cheered that loud since Oliver Wood and the Weasley twins were on the team. They chanted Ron's name, Caroline nudging Hermione, who smiled and clapped along. Caroline smiled brightly when Harry caught the snitch and he caught her eye from his broom, smiling back.

Caroline was freezing cold as she waited for Harry after the match. The team was screaming and cheering together, but Harry didn't care about the win. He was rushing over to his best victory. When Caroline was in Harry's arms, everything else melted away, and they were together, here and now, not alone, then and there. Here and now, that was love.

"I'm so proud of you." Caroline mumbled against Harry's lips between kisses, her gloved hands on his face as it snowed all around them.

Harry smiled, tightening Caroline's scarf and tucking her into his side as they began walking back to the castle. "You like what I did earlier when Romilda was watching?" Harry said knowingly, watching Caroline bite at her lip.

"It's hard not to like it. You could do it more often." Caroline said, hiding her face in Harry's shoulder, feeling heat rising to her cheeks.

There was a huge party in the Gryffindor common room that evening after the victory, and everyone was still chanting Ron's name over and over. Harry stood between Hermione and Caroline, his girlfriend sticking close to him while talking with Neville and Seamus. Caroline looked at Harry, finding him showing to Hermione that he didn't put Liquid Luck in Ron's drink, a smile on his face.

He tugged Caroline closer, his arm snaked around her waist. "How much longer can you last?" Harry asked, Caroline's curly bun messy from the day.

"Five minutes," Caroline said, looking up to place a light kiss to Harry's lips, unaware that Romilda was watching them. Caroline looked over at where Ron was standing in the centre of the room, the cheering getting louder as Lavender Brown stepped over to him, kissing him with her arms around his neck. Caroline was honestly disturbed at the two making out so aggressively. "Goodnight." Caroline slipped out of Harry's grip.

As Hermione left the common room in tears, Caroline, unaware, climbed the stairs to her dorm, placing a charm around the room to dampen the noise of the party. She climbed into her bed after getting ready, gathering her cats and her book of sonnets. That was relaxing to her. When Hermione explained everything, Caroline sighed. The four friends were split now, but Caroline knew exactly who she was choosing.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

IT WAS AWKWARD and tense for Harry and Caroline the next few weeks. Ron and Hermione weren't speaking, wouldn't even be in the same room together. Harry was often with Ron, Caroline with Hermione, so they didn't see each other as often. One evening, Harry followed Caroline and Hermione around the library like a lost puppy, being spoken at by his best friend.

"He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes. I really couldn't care less." Hermione ranted for what felt like the millionth time, putting some of her books away.

"Are you sure about that?" Caroline asked, avoiding a smack from her best friend.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Was I under the impression, he and I would be attending Slughorn's Christmas party together? Yes. Now, given the circumstances, I've had to make other arrangements."

"Have you?" Harry asked, trying to keep up with the conversation.

"Yes. Why?" the three walked together, Caroline holding an astronomy book in her grip, Harry holding her hand.

"Well, I just thought you could go with Carol and I." Harry shrugged. He and Caroline had decided weeks ago that obviously they would be going together, even though Caroline didn't want to.

Hermione sighed, coming to a stop. "Why didn't I think of that?" she groaned.

Caroline sat on a table beside Hermione, Harry across from them. "Who are you going with, Mione?" the girl asked, her hair tamed into a smooth ponytail.

"Um, it's a surprise. Anyway, it's you we've got to worry about, Harry." Hermione said, the boy's face contorting into confusion.

"Girlfriend?" Harry asked, pointing at Caroline.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Doesn't matter. In the eyes of practically every girl in the school, I don't exist." she explained, annoyed at the flock of girls Harry's fame brought.

Hermione crossed to Harry's side. "See that girl over there?" she gestured to a girl studying in front of a book. "That's Romilda Vane. Apparently, she's trying to smuggle you a love potion."

"What?" Caroline asked, her face dropping instantly.

"Really?" Harry asked at the same time, looking away from Romilda as Caroline extended her leg and kicked him. "No, I'm not happy, Lana, I'm just surprised she's still after me." Harry backtracked quickly.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's only interested in you because she thinks you're the chosen one." she deadpanned.

"But I am the chosen one." Harry said with a smile, Hermione smacking him on the head with her folded up newspaper before Caroline could reach him.

"Okay, sorry. Um, kidding." Harry apologised, shying away from Caroline's face.

Hermione left a moment later to study, and Harry walked over to Caroline, the girl still seated on the table. "You're my boyfriend." Caroline said, her brown eyes dim.

Harry cracked a smile. "I know. I enjoy my job very much, actually." he remarked, Caroline rolling her eyes at him.

Caroline looked at Romilda Vane from the corner of her eye, making sure her eyes were on Harry. "Good." Caroline tugged Harry closer to her by his tie, looping it around her hand as she pushed her lips onto his. Harry stumbled towards her in confusion, but kissed her back happily.

"I'm not complaining, but, why?" Harry asked once Caroline released him.

"Now she really knows, and if she tries to give you a love potion, I will punch her in the face." Caroline spoke, straightening Harry's tie and tucking it into his sweater neatly.

Harry nodded. "Fair enough. Want to go read? Play with the cats?" he asked, Caroline hopping off the table, walking away from him.

"The astronomy tower is calling my name." Caroline said with a teasing smile, her book tucked in her arms.

"Yeah, well, your boyfriend's calling your name louder." Harry caught up with her, taking her trembling hand in his grip. That wasn't just right, it was perfect. Absolutely perfect, and Caroline was happy. She was happier than she had been in a long, long time, all because of Harry Potter.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —