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sɪᴅᴇ sᴛᴏʀʏ-𝟷
ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ
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𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌 of school in December. Crystal, Harry, Hermione and Ron sat around the fireplace, each cradling a mug of rich, steaming hot chocolate in their hands. With Crystal enjoying a brief respite from her usual work demands, it was a rare moment for the four friends to simply unwind together.
Despite the imminent holiday break, Hogwarts remained abuzz with activity, not only from its own students but also from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, all drawn to the excitement of the Triwizard Tournament hosted within the castle's walls. And looming ahead was the grand Yule Ball, where champions selected by the mystical Goblet of Fire would grace the dance floor with the first dance of the ball.
"I was hoping this year would be normal." Harry said.
"Why do they need such tournaments? Are the wizards not entertained enough?" Crystal's voice dripped with skepticism. "They could choose some other option if they're so bored from Quidditch..."
"I know right, fight dragons?" Harry nodded vigorously in agreement, "It's nothing but digging your own grave. If I ever travel back in time and find the bitch or bastard who started this, I am gonna Avada Kedavra them without any remorse."
"Language, Harry!" Hermione reprimanded him but he just rolled his eyes instead.
"Yeah! And a dance?" Ron chimed in, adding his own incredulity. "But we never had this kind of thing in our school before, so it's a bit exciting and appealing,"
Crystal shook her head, unimpressed. "I fail to see the appeal."
"You fail to see appeal in everything, what's new in that?" Ron laughed.
"Speaking of dance, I want to see your dress, Crysie!" Hermione, ever the pragmatist, changed the subject.
Crystal blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question. "Oh, I don't have one yet," She admitted nonchalantly.
"What?" Ron's surprise was palpable, "You knew about the ball before any of us and yet—!"
Well, I hadn't intended on attending," Crystal explained. "I had prior commitments, including checking in on someone."
"Oh? Were you not planning on staying back for Christmas?" Harry inquired as he raised a brow, "Last year, you promised to spend Christmas with my family. Who are you checking in on, hmm?"
"Of course, I planned to but —" Crystal looked around them and leaned forward to whisper in a low voice. "Well. . . I planned on going back to Mansion and checking on Mr. Black,"
Harry's eyes twinkled with pride. "I'm so proud of your efforts to connect with him," he remarked, feigning a tear wipe.
"Hey! It's not like that!" Crystal protested, she felt her face a bit hot.
"What's wrong with spending some time with your father, hmm? He is your family now." Harry pressed.
"He's not my father—I mean not biologically—but he can be like a father figure—like Uncle James in my life but my father—urgh, I don't know how to explain—it's complicated..." Crystal stumbled over her words, struggling to find an answer as her ears turned extremely red which Harry found adorable.
He chuckled. She always reminded him of a cat that used to linger a lot around their house when he was young. One moment she would let you pet her and another moment she'd claw you then lick the wound out of guilt.
"Anyways, what are you going to do about the dress?" Hermione redirected the conversation as she wondered.
"I could fetch one from the Mansion, but I doubt it'd find anything suitable," Crystal mused.
"Oh? Do you happen to have some dress robes that can fit me?" Ron's eyes sparkled with hope.
"She's a girl, Ronald! How'd she happen to have robes for males?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I can look into it, Zachary or others have a lot of formals lying around that you can borrow," Crystal assured Ron, who visibly relaxed at the prospect of not having to wear the generations old molding robes. "But, the problem is, I don't have a proper ball gown as I never went to one,"
"You're telling me that you've never attended the Annual Ministry gala ever?" Harry was surprised.
"Nope, never, those are basically fundraisers and auctions behind the scenes. I don't want to go there and be chased by people." Crystal explained. "But someday I will debut there. Certain people need putting in their place—" she leaned in and whispered, "—like some people from those Sacred Twenty-Eight, you might know who all I'm talking about..."
"My dad has been pissed with those fvck*rs for quite some time as well," Harry whispered. Crystal noticed that he had been very vocal with certain words since the start of the year.
"Not my family for sure," Ron looked visibly relaxed.
"Anyways, I never went to the gala with my parents," Harry then suggested, "We should go together someday,"
Hermione smirked knowingly, catching on to Harry's intentions. Harry caught her eyes and his grin grew broader confirming her speculation. Harry then looked at Crystal expectantly again.
"Sure, I suppose that'd be very far in the future if I ever make up my mind to attend one but I don't know when," Crystal shrugged her shoulders.
"It's a promise!" Harry exclaimed happily as he hooked their pinkies. Crystal smiled seeing his excitement over nothing.
Ron piped in eagerly, "It'll be fun! We'll figure out how to sneak Hermione in too!"
Hermione's grin of seeing her ship sail wiped off instantly. She wondered whether Ron was actually so densely thickheaded or was he simply stupid. Not only did he unknowingly third wheeled Harry and Crystal before several times (even though they were not dating yet), he had dragged her with him too.
"There's an easy way, mate. Take Hermione as your date." Harry suggested looking between his two friends. Both of them froze at the suggestion.
"By that time Hermione is gonna be in the Ministry herself. I don't think we need to worry about her invite." Crystal said. Harry shook his head in defeat. She was hopeless. He was hoping to set Ron and Hermione so that he could be free of their headache-inducing fights. But Crystal's oblivion gave him more headache.
How am I ever going to make this girl fall for me?! He questioned himself a hundredth time ever since he realized his deep feelings for her.
"Ahem—" Hermione cleared her throat and diverted their mind. "Shall we focus on yule ball first?"
"Yes, my dress!" Crystal held her head in her hands, "What am I gonna do?"
The three of them took a few minutes to think. Crystal needed a proper ball gown and the only idea that Harry could get was—
"Why don't we go out shopping?" He suggested.
"Ah, yes, why not? We have so much freedom to roam outside Hogwarts, don't we?" Crystal laughed humourlessly.
"The last Hogsmeade trip." Hermione suggested, "It's on the last weekend before Christmas Holidays starts."
"But Hogsmeade don't have any good boutiques for balls . . . I don't wanna get a dress from there. . ." Crystal fretted and shook her head.
"Don't be too picky; anything you're put in looks good," Ron grumbled uninterestedly. Harry was unusually quiet but his face looked like he was cooking a brilliant plan in his mind.
"Okay, so, how about this—" He finally said and beckoned them to lean closer, "On the day of the Hogsmeade trip, we go out, visit some Muggle boutiques—"
"Why not? It's merely a day journey by train—" Crystal quipped, rolling her eyes.
"—Not by a portkey, sweetheart, you should start listening to me patiently," Harry smiled at her cheekily. Hermione audibly gasped at the thought of breaking multiple school rules while Crystal and Ron were speechless at the idea for several minutes. "Cat got your tongue, kitten?" Harry smirked amusingly looking at her face.
"I— just wondering how come you got this genius idea. . . " Crystal chose her words carefully, which extended Hermione's shock even further, "You solved my problem but how are we gonna get our hands on a portkey?"
Harry chuckled mysteriously. "Leave the logistics to me."
With a nod of gratitude, Crystal agreed, trusting Harry's ingenuity to make it work.
"No! That's breaking multiple school rules at the same time! I can't believe you both agree—!" Hermione, alarmed by their audacious plan, whispered urgently, "Ron! Back me up here—"
But ignoring Hermione's protests, Ron eagerly asked, "Can I come with you guys too? Crystal, you can loan me a few Galleons for my dress robes."
"Deal! So we are all going!" Crystal declared, turning to Hermione for her decision. "'Mione?"
"No!" Hermione replied firmly, "I'm not going and Ron don't forget Mrs Weasley's howler; if you put a toe out of the line—"
"Hey! That's blackmail!" Ron protested.
"But Hermione, it's fun to break rules sometimes," Crystal tried to convince her.
"I didn't expect this from you!" Hermione was surprised. "Harry! What have you done to her?"
"Why me?" Harry gulped, turned his face away from her. He too noticed that Crystal had been a bit free about her opinion sometimes and he wasn't going to oppose her.
"Perhaps it's best if you stay here with Hermione," Harry suggested to Ron. "We'll do some shopping for you too, mate."
"Fine," Ron huffed, turning away in defeat.
＊
"Would you believe it? No, you couldn't!" James shook his head disapprovingly as he conversed with Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks. "Here I am, forced to play cupid for my hopelessly inept son in matters of love—no one was around to offer me a helping hand when I courted my wife back in the day! Not a soul, Madam!"
"Well, didn't you have those best friends of yours?" Madam Rosmerta said awkwardly, she was not sure what he was going on about but he kept going on.
"Oh, yeah, those fellows. If they'd helped me better it wouldn't have taken seven whole years..." James grumbled.
Madam Rosmerta was just doing her own work at this point.
He's utterly clueless when it comes to matters of the heart! You wouldn't believe it, but I spotted his infatuation long before his bumbling self did!" Downing the remainder of his firewhiskey in one gulp, he thudded the mug onto the counter. "Now he's seeking my help! I can't help but wonder who he takes after—certainly not me—"
"Are you drunk with just that, dad?"
James swiveled on his seat to find his son glaring at him. Harry stood there, arms crossed, tapping a foot impatiently on the floor, his expression one of disapproval.
"Ah, Harry!" James emitted a dry, nervous laugh. "We were just discussing you—all good things, of course—but aren't you a bit early?"
Harry scoffed at the notion of 'all good things'. "Good to see you too. Shall we?"
"Oh, where's your date, son? You didn't come alone now, did you?" James paid for the drinks, slinging an arm around Harry's neck, playfully ruffling his already tousled hair he tried to tame that morning.
"Listen, Dad! First, it's not exactly a date, second, hands off the hair, and lastly, stop strangling me!" Harry scolded, attempting to extricate himself as they exited the pub, "She is waiting outside. You should know better than spreading nonsense to the people... You're basically announcing my personal life there!"
"I don't see her..." James, seemingly oblivious to Harry's protestations, scanned their surroundings until a soft voice emanated from beside Harry.
"Hi," Crystal greeted him in a different voice. James, taken aback, released Harry and positioned himself protectively in front of his son but when he saw Crystal he breathed a sigh of relief before enveloping her in a hug.
"Crysie, my dear, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
Crystal chuckled, disengaging from the embrace. "Harry would never forgive me if anything happened to you, Uncle James. Don't worry."
James attempted to ruffle her hair as well, but Harry intercepted his hand before it could make contact.
Crystal saw Harry mouthing 'he seems drunk' from behind him. That explained why he was jumpy earlier.
"Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't," James smirked, shooting Harry a knowing look.
"Yeah, Crys, why would I?" Harry retorted, a playful smile gracing his lips. Crystal shook her head at the familiar banter between father and son, their bond evident even in their teasing disagreements.
"Fine," James rolled his eyes, gesturing for them to continue. "Let's go,"
They made their way to a secluded area away from the bustling pub and shops, finding themselves alone.
"Now, tell me honestly, sweetie, did this young man force you into this outing?" James inquired, bending down to Crystal's eye level. She shook her head immediately.
"I don't think he'd ever force me for something, rather I find his idea amusing..." Crystal chuckled, feeling a rebellious streak within her.
"Ah, she finds it amusing..." Harry repeated, casting a knowing glance at his father.
"I heard that perfectly well, no need to repeat," James grumbled.
"He thinks so highly of me, Crys," Harry scoffed. "Are you going to help us sneak out or not, dad?"
"Always so impatient... Now, pay attention—" James rummaged in his pockets, finding two fountain pens wrapped in a handkerchief. "—we have two portkeys, one is for now, and keep this safe for when you want to return," He took one in his hand and wrapped the other pen back before giving it to Harry. Then took out a folded parchment and a few bills and handed it as well, "Take this too."Harry nodded and pocketed them securely. James then turned towards Crystal.
"This is for you, Crystal," James handed her a bundle of Muggle cash, she placed it in her side bag. She had requested some Galleons to be exchanged into Muggle currency. Crystal could have certainly used her Muggle account but Harry would get suspicious of the money and her identity as the technopreneur would be in jeopardy.
"Now let's go," James extended the pen in his hand. Harry and Crystal quickly touched it and they found themselves in a desolate Muggle alleyway.
"You both alright?" James steadied them, holding onto their arms to prevent them from falling.
"Never quite get used to it," Harry muttered to himself, offering a soft thanks as he regained his footing.
"Better than last time," Crystal remarked, surveying their surroundings in the dimly lit alley, "But where are we?"
"New York," James said walking ahead and beckoning them to follow him, "I have some work with some MACUSA's bastards today so I'll have to leave you guys here. Take care and be safe."
MACUSA's bastards... Crystal wondered who.
"Likewise, dad!" Harry waved as James departed then muttered, "Merlin, he looked drunk. I hope he doesn't create any trouble."
"He'll be fine. He looked sober enough to me." Crystal assured him to calm his worries.
James left them on a bustling street, teeming with people flaunting their unique styles as they traversed the pavement. The roads bustled with automobiles, yet Crystal couldn't shake the memory of a different New York—the New York she was transported to that summer—from the 21st century.
It was a stark contrast, a whole different world, but amidst the differences, Crystal discerned some striking similarities indicative of their technological advancement.
"Hey," Harry gently clasped her hand. "Something on your mind?"
Crystal lifted her gaze to meet Harry's, but her attention was momentarily drawn to the Empire State Building in the distance behind him. Her eyes slowly drifted skyward, recalling images of Olympus—a dreamlike realm where she had encountered her father that summer. It had been an adventure of epic proportions, one that had reaffirmed her belief in the existence of gods. But it did not exist here. Not in this world where she was currently at.
For Crystal, reconciling her conflicted emotions towards her father was an ongoing struggle. While she understood the weight of his divine responsibilities, she couldn't fully accept his apologies for abandoning her. Despite this, she couldn't bring herself to harbor any resentment, especially considering the times he had intervened to save her life. He brought her back from death not once but thrice in her life till that day.
How could she ever come to hate her father in that case. He was the reason she was still alive. He was the reason Harry and his parents were alive.
Harry, sensing her distraction, turned slightly to follow her gaze, finding nothing but the hazy sky.
"Crys?" When Crystal didn't answer, he gently cupped her cheeks and turned her face towards him, "Are you feeling alright?"
He couldn't read her mind because she doesn't wear her emotions on her face but he knew that something was going on as she looked distracted.
Crystal shook her head and wrapped her arms around Harry's back, seeking solace in Harry's embrace. Resting her head against his chest, she found comfort in the rhythmic beating of his heart. Harry, though surprised by her sudden affection, held her close, his touch reassuring as he gently ran his fingers through her hair, patting it down. She was never the type to initiate a hug with anyone, him included.
As Crystal pulled back, a refreshing smile graced her lips. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden?" Harry asked softly, returning her smile as he kept his arms around her.
"Nothing," Crystal replied, taking a step back. Though it didn't seem insignificant to Harry, he decided not to press further.
"You just wanted to hug me, is that it?" Harry teased, his smile widening.
"Yes, sure." Crystal affirmed playfully, starting to walk. "I'm going to explore around here alone if you're not interested."
Harry chuckled at her sudden change in demeanor.
"I will never leave you alone," Harry caught up to her steps by her side. "Let's check out the map that dad gave me."
Retrieving the map from his pocket, Harry unfolded it. Crystal leaned over, placing her hand on his arm and suddenly became aware of their height difference.
They were almost the same height when they first met, but now Harry had grown about half a foot taller than her and was still growing.
"I feel short..." She muttered under breath. Crystal was already of above average height among the girls yet she couldn't help but feel a pang of insecurity that she had stopped growing.
"Hmm?" Harry glanced down at her tearing his eyes from the map.
"Find a good boutique?" Crystal asked.
"Yeah, we need to catch a bus. There is a bus stop from here at some distance," Harry replied, folding the map and returning it to his pocket, "let's go," Taking her hand, they continued down the street together. Harry was walking on the road side of the footpath as he checked the signs of direction to the bus stop.
Crystal glanced from their clasped hands to Harry's profile. His reassuring grip filled her with a sense of safety, and a faint smile tugged at her lips as she looked ahead. Her contagious smile spread to Harry's face as he stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye.
＊
"No! The neckline is too deep for that, we will not take it..." Harry exclaimed, swiftly covering the front of the dress with her jacket. Crystal was fuming inside with his constant sharp remarks.
It had been two hours since they had stumbled upon a boutique adorned with gorgeous gowns and dresses on their display. Crystal had tried on at least ten dresses, but Harry remained unsatisfied with each one.
He found fault with numerous aspects of the dresses: some had necklines plunging too low (in his opinion), others featured designs with scarcely any cloth covering the back, and some were so revealing that Crystal didn't even bother trying them on.
"I think this much is normal!" Crystal asserted, removing the jacket and examining the square neckline of the pink dress in the mirror. It revealed barely any cleavage compared to the other dresses she had dared not to try in front of him to preserve her dignity.
"No, it's not! What's with the back of the dress? There's nothing apart from a bunch of strings like a shoelace." Harry critiqued, turning her back around towards the mirror in a swift motion, "See? It looks uncomfortable and this weird shade of hot pink doesn't suit you at all!"
Crystal turned her neck to check out the back in the mirror and hated the fact he was right. . . yet again.
"Harry," Crystal shot him a glare, "I will never come shopping with you again. . ." she said, her tone surprisingly calm.
"I'm telling the truth, this dress doesn't suit you at all!"
"But none of them suit me in your eyes!"
"Because these dresses are not worthy enough to match your unparalleled beauty!"
"I don't re—"
"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt, but if I may suggest," a staff member watching their argument intervened awkwardly, "I think your boyfriend is right, Miss. You should check out the display on the floor above. I can show you the way."
"He—he is not my—" Crystal began, but Harry cut her off, grabbing her hand.
"Show us," he insisted, following the staff member. However, Crystal tugged on his hand, holding him back. "What?" he questioned, turning back to her.
"Um, can you stay here? I'll choose something myself. . ." Crystal requested hesitantly, knowing he would likely argue.
"Why?" He raised an eyebrow at her.
Crystal couldn't articulate her discomfort, but she felt nervous whenever Harry, with his striking emerald green eyes, scrutinized her dresses from top to bottom, she couldn't take it anymore. She refrained from trying on a few dresses she might have liked, conscious of being accompanied by a guy and feeling uncomfortable with bold designs. It became even more awkward when the staff mistook them for a couple.
Crystal wished to have convinced Hermione instead so that she could help her decide honestly.
Harry was honest with his reviews but he remained casual about the situation, nitpicking every dress without considering her comfort level without any filter as to the amount of skin those dresses were showing.
As Harry gazed down at her, he noticed her ears turning red. A realization dawned on him.
She might be feeling uncomfortable with you staring down at her, you idiot! He scolded himself feeling embarrassed thinking back on his comments.
He was too much into preventing Crystal from choosing anything that'd attract other guys that he went all out relentlessly. In his defense, Crystal looked so sexy in those exposed back dresses that he didn't like the idea of other guys staring as he caught himself.
"Alright, I'll check the men's collection meanwhile," Harry conceded, "Choose something worthy of you. And no pinks, okay?"
Crystal didn't know how to quantify her worth, but she nodded with a small smile. Harry returned the smile softly, watching her as she followed the staff member.
"Allow me to assist you in the men's section, sir," A man dressed in the staff uniform approached him.
"Yes, please," Harry replied, trailing behind the man. "I require formal wear for a friend."
"Do you have his measurements, sir?"
"Roughly, but we'll manage later,"
Nearly an hour later, Harry was waiting in the lobby for Crystal. He had selected a black designer suit for Ron that would complement his stature. To give this Muggle outfit a wizarding touch, Ron just had to wear a robe over his shirt instead of the suit jacket that came with the three-piece. Harry planned to do the same with his outfit. James had taken him shopping during the summer holidays as neither father nor son favored traditional robes for formal occasions. They found the traditional dress robes with laces, ruffs, and cuffs didn't look manly.
"How much longer... I'm starving..." Harry muttered, checking the time on his wristwatch as he sipped the juice offered by the boutique. A catalogue of dresses displayed on the top floor from the top floor lay open on his lap. Each dress was uniquely elegant, and Harry couldn't wait to see which one Crystal would choose.
As he flipped through the pages, his eyes landed on a stunning dress that resembled the shimmering rays of sunlight on the surface of a clear blue ocean.
This is the perfect dress for her. I hope she picks this one, or else I'll buy it for her. It was expensive, as was everything in the boutique, but Harry wasn't concerned.
Last Christmas, Harry's parents had sent him hundreds of Galleons to buy a flying broom of his choice. However, he had already received one from his Godfather, Sirius. Instead of returning the money, Harry decided to save it as pocket money for the entire year in advance. It turned out to be a good deal because when Harry did the math of each month, the sum he received annually was fifteen percent less than the money he got for the broomstick alone. He had his father convert some of the Galleons into Muggle money for spending whenever he ventured into the Muggle world, resulting in substantial savings.
Harry was grateful to have Crystal in his life. Listening to her discussions about business and mathematics involved had also improved his understanding of finance.
"Excuse me," Harry called to the man assisting him with Ron's clothes. "Could you have this dress tailored to fit the girl who accompanied me?"
"Oh, your girlfriend's size." Harry didn't bother to clear the misunderstanding as he felt good, "Certainly, sir. Let me check on it right away," He took note of the dress number and headed upstairs, but he encountered Crystal on the way down. The lady assisting her carried a shopping bag.
"Got something good?" Harry approached her near the stairs.
"Yes," She replied, beaming.
"Oh, I thought this one will look good on you as well," Harry showed her the dress in the catalogue. Crystal glanced at the picture and then back at his face, her expression one of mild surprise. The lady beside her stifled a chuckle.
"What?" Harry was puzzled.
"That dress has already been sold, but it's an excellent choice," The lady informed him.
"No way," Harry handed them the catalogue with disappointment, "I felt like it was made for her. Which one did you buy, though?" He inquired of Crystal.
"It's a surprise," She smiled at him before turning to the lady, "I'd like to pay for this and whatever he chose."
"Of course, this way please." The lady courteously led them to the counter.
＊
It was well past lunchtime when they left the boutique, and Harry and Crystal were so famished that they simply ducked into the nearby restaurant—fast food, to be precise: McDonald's. They ordered the first meal on the menu without much thought.
"I was craving ice cream," Crystal muttered, picking up a chicken nugget. Harry was already engrossed in devouring his burger.
He swallowed and licked the ketchup from the corner of his lips. "It's winter, Ryslie," he said, taking a sip of his coke before biting into his burger again.
So what? That doesn't mean their ice cream machines have to be broken," Crystal grumbled, dipping her chicken in the sauce
"Aren't you hungry?" Harry inquired, having already polished off his burger.
"I am," she mumbled.
"Then why aren't you eating? Stop whining like a baby and finish that before I clear everything on the table." Harry threatened her.
"You're such a bad guy," Crystal huffed and took a small bite of her chicken nugget. Harry found amusement in simply watching her eat, taking small bites while glancing toward the counter. He was sure she was doing it on purpose.
"Crystal, come on, eat," Harry urged, placing his hand on hers on the table. "We can get ice cream somewhere else, okay?"
"Really?" Her face lit up instantly, eyes sparkling.
"Yes," he chuckled, finding her adorable when she acted her age. He wondered if Crystal would have been this cheery if she were just a normal girl, not the bearer of responsibility for Calisto.
"O~kay!" Crystal exclaimed in a sing-song voice, a smile brightening her face. Harry couldn't help but smile as he watched her eat with newfound speed.
After indulging in all the junk food, they found an ice cream shop nearby. Crystal eagerly pulled him inside but then spent ten minutes perusing their list of flavors.
"Which one are you getting, Harry?" Crystal asked him.
"I'll pass in this snowy winter, can't risk it. You go ahead."
"But I can't decide. Everything looks good," She mumbled, scanning the list.
"Don't you dare order the whole list," Harry joked, recalling the day she bought all the candies and chocolates from the trolley lady because she couldn't choose. She was exactly the type of girl who would say from I want everything from here to there pointing her finger on something.
"Of course not! I'm nearly broke. I might not even have enough money left for butterbeer after today's splurge," She lightly punched his arm, which felt like a tickle to him. "I shouldn't have spent on that expensive dress that cost me two months of my savings," She immediately regretted.
"You're joking," Harry laughed.
"I wish I were," Crystal looked serious, though not worried about her finances.
"Oh, what happened? I thought you were filthy rich enough to sustain three generations. Did you suffer a huge loss?" He whispered, leaning in close.
"I'll take the seventh combo, thanks!" Crystal finally placed her order and paid. Soon, she had her triple flavor ice cream: red velvet, chocolate, and vanilla with chocolate drizzle.
As they stepped out of the store into the chilly weather, which threatened to start snowing any moment, Crystal took a small bite of her ice cream without flinching.
"No losses. I was talking about my personal vault, not Calisto's official vault or the budget for development, innovation, and employee salaries. That one's doing well," Crystal explained, taking another small bite.
"What about your mother's personal vault that she passed on?"
"I don't use her money for myself anymore. Where do you think the funds for the scholarship program I re-established for financially struggling students come from, hmm?" Crystal had stopped tapping into her mother's vault since taking over her position last year.
"Then Crystal, I don't think you earn so little to go broke all of a sudden. Why now?" Harry was puzzled.
She took another delicate bite of the red velvet cream and said, "I donate eighty percent of my personal income each month to build an orphanage for kids orphaned in our magical world, so that people like me don't have the rude awakening of discovering their entire lives were a lie like—magic exists, ghosts exist, oh, dragons exist as well—and that they're witches or wizards. At least they'd grow up surrounded by people like them."
"Wow..." Harry was simply astounded. Growing up in a wizarding family, he had no idea it was this difficult for her to accept reality, especially considering Crystal's inclination toward science over magic in life. He often found Crystal sometimes trying to find the scientific reasons behind magical phenomena, trying to connect magic with technology.
Had she been raised in an environment surrounded by magic, her world and ideologies would have been in stark contrast. He had never even heard of such orphanages in their magical world, but her struggles led her to do things no one had considered until then.
He had always admired and respected Crystal for managing everything with hard work, but her noble undertaking elevated that admiration and respect to new heights.
It was her selflessness that stood out—despite having no family left of her own to continue Calisto's legacy, she still came back to claim her position for the sake of the employees and their families, who had been exploited under the fraudulent individuals. Crystal wasn't just an up-and-coming businesswoman making money to live comfortably and save for her children; she was using maximum of her resources for a noble cause, and lived a modest life herself.
"You amaze me, Crystal. Every damn single time." he said admiringly.
"It's nothing amazing yet," she brushed it off casually, her mind already brewing something mischievous. "Wanna have a bite?" she teased, holding the ice cream in front of his mouth. However, to her surprise, he took an enormous bite from the red velvet portion, devouring more than half of it.
He couldn't resist when she offered like that after all.
Crystal stopped in her tracks, staring up at his face with her mouth slightly agape. She had attempted to play him, but he had turned the tables on her. Harry somehow managed to swallow that large chunk, feeling his brain nearly freeze.
"Bloody — that was worse than a headache. . ." Harry muttered, exhaling heavily through his mouth. When his eyes met Crystal's, he asked, "What?" before leaning in with the ice cream cone teasingly. "You want me to have one more bite?"
"You still want more?!" Crystal was utterly flabbergasted. Harry let out a scoffing laugh.
"Are you out of your mind?" Harry looked at her incredulously. "Oh, wait, you definitely are, for having ice cream now."
"Hey! There's a trick to eat it! Take a small bite or a small lick." Crystal urged him to have another taste, holding the cone out to him. "Come on! I'll prove you wrong!"
Harry smiled at her determination, wrapping his fingers around her hand holding the cone as he leaned in slightly. He thought to tease her a bit, maintaining eye contact as he opened his mouth wide.
"Harry! Don't you dare snatch half of it again!"she warned, her eyes wide with threat. Just as she thought he was about to take another bite, his lips about to touch, he withdrew, tracing his thumb over her lower lip before licking it.
Crystal stood frozen for a moment, her breath caught by his small touch. But she quickly gathered herself and thought.
First, he tried to attack her beloved ice cream, then he dared to pull that stunt on her, teasing her to the point of embarrassment. She was sure her face had flushed more than the cold could ever make it.
"That's harassment." She pointed coldly.
"Was it? You told me to lick it," Harry said innocently.
"Harry Shameless Potter, do you have to be so damn cheeky all the time?" Crystal hit his back with her other hand. "I told you can take a small bite—"
"—You sure?" He stared at her lips.
"—Off the ice cream!" Crystal grit her teeth and smacked his back again.
"Careful, sweetie, that lovely ice cream of yours is falling off," Harry tried to escape. His ruse worked for a few seconds when Crystal was startled. She gasped and looked at ice cream which was okay. She turned to him again and threw a glared in his direction.
"Don't you dare sweetie me like your mum does! She is an angel, but you are a devil!" she exclaimed.
"Nope, you are the spawn of satan. My princess of hell," Harry chuckled, though her hits didn't faze him through the layers of clothing. He didn't expect her next move—a fist to his back that made him groan. He hadn't realized she was capable of hitting so hard with those delicate hands of hers.
"Again?!" Crystal huffed. "My dad is the opposite of satan!"
Ah, yes, he had said that once before. Harry remembered how he snapped at Crystal after kissing her in their third year. It was the beginning of his realization of his crush on her and a stupid way to start valuing his feelings by denial.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." Harry attempted to placate her.
"Hmph," Crystal was still angry as she left him behind. Her ice cream was somehow still intact after several minutes out; she was thankful it was winter. She quickly finished her ice cream before any more obstacles (Harry) could lead to its tragic demise.
Harry chased after her, grabbing her hand. "Hey, I'm sorry,"
"Well, it's fine but don't do these things in public," Crystal replied, her tone softened, she knew that he was playful and loved teasing her but she was so used to being mindful of the public that she forgot no one knew her face, especially among Muggles.
Harry smirked, "So it's fine if I don't do it in public?"
"Absolutely not! Go lick your girlfriend!" Crystal retorted grumbling, then gasped dramatically and followed it up with an evil laugh, "Oh, sorry, sweetie, you don't have one, do you?"
Harry felt a twinge at that taunt. She was being quite bold and he would make her pay for it.
"Hold this," Harry said, handing her one of the shopping bags he was carrying. With both of her hands occupied, he smirked sinisterly and cracked his knuckles, looking down at her with a dark expression. "Oh, dear, you're so dead."
Crystal sensed that she had touched a nerve and tried to slowly back away, but before she could, Harry snaked his arm around her torso and pulled her into him tightly, exerting more strength into his embrace.
"Ugh, are you trying to strangle me now?" Crystal groaned, half-jokingly but his strength around her midriff was no joke. He had captured her hands as well.
"Where did you learn to talk dirty, Miss Calisto? Hmm?" He asked.
"Well, what do you expect? I am best friends with two of the guys who have the dirty mout—"
"Sometimes I wanna shut that little mouth of yours so bad, but this will do for now," Harry muttered, his palm covering her mouth to silence her.
Crystal let out a muffled scream as she wriggled in an attempt to break free from Harry's grasp. Damn, he's strong... Oi, let go!! Crystal continued to squirm. Are all Quidditch players like this?
She attempted to step on his foot to escape, but Harry was too quick to avoid it. "Crystal!" he exclaimed, releasing her. Gasping for air, Crystal took quick breaths.
"Jerk!" she muttered, hitting him with the shopping bags she held.
"Okay, sorry—"
"No sorry for you!" She hit him once more. Harry laughed, trying to dodge her blows. "And keep your dirty hands off my face!"
"Fine fine, now listen," Harry instructed firmly, and Crystal reluctantly ceased her revenge to listen to him, "It's almost time for sunset, shall we do some sightseeing near the water before we head back? Nod if you want to go."
Rolling her eyes, Crystal left him behind and started walking towards the waters, where Harry had pointed. Harry ran after her, swiftly taking the bags from her hands and smiling apologetically, but she ignored him and sat on a nearby bench, admiring the scenery.
Harry joined her in silence. They could see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. The setting sun was barely visible in the hazy glow behind the thin layer of cloud. They sat there in silence, realizing how quickly the day was ending after their earlier banter.
Crystal was exhausted from trying out several dresses, yet she didn't want to go back. She wished she could freely enjoy like this everyday of her life which was not possible. But even if she had to go back, she would never forget this one day where she didn't have to pretend to be elegant and graceful all the time to please the eyes of others. Today she was just herself, enjoying her day, having fun walking the streets with—
Turning to Harry, she saw his profile staring out over the waters. He looked handsome when he was silent, with well-defined jaws, his round glasses and his messy hair tousled by the breeze. He looked serene at that moment.
"Thank you for coming with me today, Harry." Crystal said softly, her voice like a gentle whisper.
"Mhmm, had fun?" he asked, turning his head towards her.
Crystal nodded with a smile. "It's a shame we have to go back—well, I don't know about you, but I don't feel like going back there sometimes. . ." She leaned her head on his shoulder, and Harry wrapped his arm around her.
"I can understand," Harry nodded, empathizing with her struggles. Her life wasn't easy, and it looked exhausting to him as an outsider.
Makes you want to run away sounds about right to summarize. Harry thought.
Harry gently ran his fingers through her hair. They stayed there in silence, marveling at the beautiful glimmer spread across the clouds above, as the sun hid behind them, right below was the iconic landmark of the city.
It didn't take long for the lights to go out. As much as Harry wanted to stay like that, they had to return to school before dinner.
He gazed down at Crystal nestled in his arms, her eyes peacefully closed, her breaths steady and serene. Harry couldn't help but smile, captivated by her beauty even in slumber. His gaze traced the delicate curve of her long eyelashes, the elegant slope of her nose, the gentle glow on her cheeks, and those soft, rosy pink lips that he longed to kiss again with all his sanity and cherishing every second of it. All of it, a daydream in his head. It was a bittersweet moment, as the realization of his one-sided feelings washed over him once again. Yet, Harry was not one to easily give up, especially when it came to her.
Should I ask her to go to the ball with me now? He thought, but what if she doesn't want to, and I end up ruining her perfect day? Harry decided to wait; there were plenty of days.
He checked the time; they should have left an hour ago. As much as Harry wanted her to sleep more, he had to wake her up; it was time to return.
"Crystal," he said gently, placing his palm on her cheek and rubbing it with his thumb. "We have to go." He shook her shoulders gently. "Hey,"
Crystal's eyes slowly fluttered open and took a moment to register her surroundings before stifling a yawn.
"Can't believe I slept in this cold," Crystal shuddered pulling away from him, "I felt as though we were back at Hogwarts."
Harry chuckled, seeing her taming her hair from her groggy face. "Shall we head back then?"
"Yes,"
＊
As Harry lay on his bed, his mind wandered back to the memorable day he had spent with Crystal. Just as he was lost in thought, a soft knock on his window interrupted his reverie. With a sigh, he reached for his glasses and rose to greet Hedwig, who had arrived unexpectedly. Despite the late hour, sleep eluded him, so he welcomed the distraction.
"Late night visit, Hedwig?" Harry greeted his faithful owl as he let her in. After untying the note from her leg and offering her a treat, he unfolded the note, revealing a message from his father..
"I hope you didn't forget to ask her to the ball or even better, to be your girlfriend" the letter read.
Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes at his father's well-meaning but persistent advice. While he had wanted to broach the subject with Crystal several times, he couldn't bring himself to do so during their outing. He had been determined to give her a carefree day without the weight of expectations or uncertainties.
Grabbing a fountain pen from his drawer, Harry scribbled a brief response on the back of the letter: "I forgot." With a sense of finality, he reattached the letter to Hedwig's leg and watched her disappear into the night sky, under the moonlight.
Meanwhile, Crystal was burning the midnight oil, engrossed in her work as usual. The soft glow of a table lamp illuminated her focused expression as she pored over documents that demanded her attention. Although she hadn't intended to stay up so late, she found herself unable to tear herself away until she had finished her task.
As the girls in the dorm slept soundly, Crystal found herself drawn to the window, her gaze fixed on the serene glow of the moon. Recalling the perfect day she had shared with Harry, she couldn't help but smile at the memories they had created together. It had been a day devoid of stress or worries, a rare opportunity for simple enjoyment in each other's company. It was a perfect day almost like a dream.
In their hearts, both Harry and Crystal knew that the memories of that day would stay with them forever, a testament to the special bond they shared. It will always be a day to remember.
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From your Author:
AOTM IS BACK BABYYY!! LET'S GOOOOO!!!
(Whenever I type in AOTM my autocorrect changes it to either ATOM, ATM or ATOMIC help—😭)
Anyways, A Special Valentine's gift to all of you! 💕💖❤
I wanted to release this story during Valentine's week and I think it's rose day today so here's a rose from me to you🌹
Thank you so much for waiting and sticking around this story and I'm sorry for the delay, I am extremely busy with my projects and studies that I barely get time to write 🥲
It's my first time ever writing a side story. I did cringe a few times writing this but I was like "nah—let it be". So how was it? Did you enjoy their "Date"?
Special thanks to Tiara1310, for inspiring me to write this side story. You asked for a valentine gift and I have it for you, hope you enjoyed it. ❤
It took me 10 days to complete this chapter with 5 drafts during editing to make it as perfect as I could. I'm trying to improve my english but one chapter takes more than 10-15 days in the process, mentally tiring to restructure a sentence again and again and if I have 7k+ then ☠️. Don't be surprised if you see fluctuations in the quality of english. If it's bad, it means I didn't get time to edit it properly.
And You 🫵
yes you. 🫵
I don't ask for much, but at least leave a vote if you don't wanna leave comments or talk to me. No one talks to me nowadays 🥺
VOTE 👹🫵
and vote on previous ones too if you haven't
At last, thank you for reading this and stay tuned for Chapter#1, you're in for a surprise!! This chapter was kind of a trailer for fourth year or a "sneak-a-peek" *whispers in Medusa's voice* for years to come now. Don't worry Harry shall conquer Crystal one day... yeah one day... I need to draft it because it's just stored in my mind. 😭
Btw, I'll upload a picture of the dress Harry is talking about in the yule ball chapter.
See you guys next time!
Luvv ya all ❤
Cia! :)