𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT ONE, CHAPTER ONE
summer days, drifting away.

VENUS BLACK MISSED running around the streets of London.

See, last summer she was able to explore the new city she had moved to, a bright smile on her face as the sunshine warmed her skin. Moving from New York City in America to London in England was a huge adjustment, but that adjustment being in another city had made it just a little bit easier.

But now, things were getting so dark. Now, everyone was forced to see that the evil wizard named Voldemort was actually back after they didn't believe Harry Potter. The Ministry of Magic was advising to not leave the house alone, which Venus' parents were taking very seriously as both Ministry employees and worried parents

Venus was forced to stay in the comfort of her own room and was honestly going crazy. She had managed to convince her parents to go stay a weekend with her best friends, Charlotte Thomas and Elijah Rogers, at Charlotte's house, and surprisingly, she had also convinced them to spend the rest of the summer at the Burrow (maybe it helped that it was because of Molly and Arthur Weasley, but whatever.)

She loved the Burrow so far. Ron had been a little embarrassed showing Venus around at first because of the lack of space and money they had, but Venus loved it. No offense to her and her parents' apartment (oh, sorry, flat — her American terminology hadn't quite left her yet), but they hadn't had much time to make it home with her parents being busy at work and Venus being at school. Nevertheless, she was extremely happy to be at the Burrow. Venus had only been there about a day and was sharing a room with Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Penelope Lestrange.

Not to mention, Harry was coming. Venus got all giddy inside just thinking about him. They had been exchanging letters throughout the weeks they had been apart, and every time Hedwig arrived at her window with an envelope in her beak, Venus felt butterflies rush throughout her stomach. She had truly never felt this way about anyone before. Sure, Harry might've been her first boyfriend, but her heart was truly with him.

So there Venus sat at the breakfast table of the Burrow, spreading some butter on the piece of toast she had. The smallest of smiles was on her face at the prospect of later that day when Harry was supposed to arrive.

"Mind saving some breakfast for Harry, dears?" Mrs. Weasley then asked casually, making Venus freeze for a moment. "I have to make him a tray, that boy looks unhealthily underfed."

Venus straightened up, her heart racing. "Harry? But he isn't supposed to arrive until later . . ."

Penelope then revealed that Harry was actually upstairs in Fred and George's old room after coming late last night with Dumbledore. Her heart began to beat faster if that was even possible. Harry. Oh God, her London boy, here already? She couldn't believe it. Venus glanced up above her for a moment. He was so close.

She immediately stood up from her seat and made her way to the stairs, Ron, Hermione, and Penelope all behind her. Once they reached the second floor where the room was, Ron burst the door open. Hermione instantly gravitated towards the curtains to open them. Venus walked inside, and when she did, she saw Harry shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand and searching for his glasses with the other.

"Wuzzgoinon?" Harry questioned sleepily.

"We didn't know you were here already!" Ron replied before hitting him on the head. Venus winced slightly and Penelope scolded him, but Ron just smiled down at Harry as he put his glasses on. "All right?"

"Never been better," Harry responded, rubbing the top of his head where Ron had hit him and resting back onto his pillows. "You?"

"Not bad." Ron pulled over a cardboard box and him and Penelope sat on it. "When did you get here? Mum and P's only just told us!"

"About one o'clock this morning."

"Has your family treated you well?" Venus inquired, concern lacing her tone.

Before winter break last year, Harry had told Venus that he used to stay in a cupboard under the stairs while living with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. She had immediately offered Harry to stay with her, but he had refused. Some members of the Order of the Phoenix had even threatened Harry's family when they were leaving for summer break.

Venus barely had time to process anything. In the blink of an eye, Harry set shot up out of the bed. He gathered Venus in his arms and hugged her so tightly and enthusiastically that her feet lifted up off the floor. Venus giggled and hugged him back just as tight as he moved around in a circle. Finally, Harry set her back down and studied her face with his pretty green eyes while still holding her close.

"Hi," she said quietly, her face slightly burning.

"Hi, Star," Harry voiced softly, Venus' stomach fluttering at the mention of her nickname. He nodded his head towards the bed. "Come sit."

He led them back over to the bed. Venus sat down next to him, and Harry placed the covers over them.

"The Muggles were same as usual, they didn't talk to me much, but I like it better that way," Harry answered. Hermione then perched herself on the edge of the bed. "How're you, Hermione?"

"Oh, I'm fine," Hermione stated, but she was looking at Harry like she wanted to discuss something — presumably Sirius' death or the Prophecy.

Venus had also wanted to talk to Harry about that. However, she refrained from doing so. In her time with Harry, she had learned to not push him or else he would snap. Venus knew that he would talk to her if need be.

Harry quickly moved on, obviously not wanting to talk about anything related to something dark. "What's the time? Have I missed breakfast?"

"Don't worry about that, Mum's bringing you up a tray; she reckons you look underfed," Ron revealed with an eye roll. "So, what's been going on?"

"Nothing much, I've just been stuck at my aunt and uncle's, haven't I?"

"Come off it! You've been off with Dumbledore!"

"It wasn't that exciting," Harry told him. "He just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name's Horace Slughorn."

Ron looked dissapointed. "Oh. We thought—" immediately, Venus, Hermione, and Penelope all flashed him warning looks, so he changed the subject "—we thought it'd be something like that."

"You did?" Harry asked in amusement, a small smirk on his face that drove Venus' mind wild.

"Yeah . . . yeah, now Umbridge has left, obviously we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, don't we? So, er, what's he like?"

"He looks a bit like a walrus, and he used to be Head of Slytherin. Something wrong, Hermione?"

Venus glanced over at Hermione. She was watching him like he was about to break at any moment, btu she quickly placed an unconvincing smile on her face.

"No, of course not!" Hermione exclaimed. "So, um, did Slughorn seem like he'll be a good teacher?"

"Dunno," Harry answered. "He can't be worse than Umbridge, can he?"

"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," Ginny's voice then announced, and Venus looked over to see her walking into the room with an irritable expression on her face. "Hi, Harry."

"What's up with you?" Ron questioned as Ginny sat down on Harry's bed.

"It's her. She's driving me mad."

"What's she done now?" Hermione inquired sympathetically.

"It's the way she talks to me — you'd think I was about three!"

"I know," Hermione replied before dropping her voice. "She's so full of herself."

Venus sighed and shook her head. She hated the way Hermione and Venus talked about her. Penelope also agreed, since she cut in saying that she was nice.

Ron nodded. "Can't you two lay off her for five seconds?"

"Oh, that's right, defend her," Ginny snapped. "We all know you can't get enough of her. The only other person you get that flustered around is Penelope."

The bedroom door suddenly flew open. Harry instinctively yanked the bed covers up to his chin so hard that Hermione and Ginny fell to the floor. Venus let out a small laugh after being covered by the bedsheets and peered over to see the person they were just taking about, Fleur Delacour, standing in the doorway with a breakfast tray that was piled with food.

Fleur had competed against Harry in the Triwizard Tournament, being the champion of Beauxbatons, but coincidentally, she was also now Bill's fiancé. She was completely gorgeous — tall, willowy, long blonde hair, and seemed to glow silver like Venus always seemed to glow golden. Not to mention she was a total sweetheart.

"'Arry," Fleur stated in her throaty voice. "Eet 'as been too long!"

Mrs. Weasley then came into the room as Fleur went to go give Harry his breakfast tray, looking quite cross. "

"There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!"

"Eet was no trouble." Fleur kissed both of Harry's cheeks, and Venus laughed slightly at the way his skin turned red in the places her lips had touched. "I 'ave been longing to see 'im. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about 'Arry Potter. She will be delighted to see youagain."

"Oh . . . is she here too?" Harry asked.

"No, no, silly boy, I mean next summer, when we — but do you not know?"

"We hadn't got around to telling him yet," Mrs. Weasley told Fleur, whose blue eyes were wide.

Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it hit Mrs. Weasley in the face. "Bill and I are going to be married!"

"Oh," Harry voiced blankly. "Wow. Er — congratulations!"

Fleur swooped down and kissed him once more. "Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming — zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless youlike cooking and chickens! Well — enjoy your breakfast, 'Arry!"

With these words, she turned around gracefully and floated out of the room. Venus smiled as she shut the door quietly. Penelope then made a comment about how it was always good nature with Fleur, and immediately defended Fleur when Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Hermione sent her shocked gazes.

"Mum hates her," Ginny explained to Harry quietly.

"I do not hate her!" Mrs. Weasley insisted "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!"

"They've known each other a year," Ron protested, sounding quite groggy after being in the presence of Fleur.

"Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course It's all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing all sorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and center—"

"Including you and Dad," Ginny cut in slyly.

"Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting? Whereas Bill and Fleur. . . well . . . what have they really got in common? He's a hardworking, down-to-Earth sort of person, whereas she's—"

"A cow," said Ginny, nodding.

"Ginny!" Venus instantly scolded. "Hey, leave her alone. She's actually very sweet if you — you know — actually gave her a chance."

She waved her off, making Venus roll her eyes. "But Bill's not that down-to-Earth. He's a Curse-Breaker, isn't he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamor . . . I expect that's why he's gone for Phlegm."

"Stop calling her that, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley voiced sharply while Harry and Hermione laughed. "Well, I'd better get on . . . eat your eggs while they're warm, Harry."

Looking careworn, Mrs. Weasley then left the room. Ron still seemed slightly punch-drunk from Fleur, so Penelope snapped her fingers in front of his face and brought him out of whatever trance he was in.

"Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?" Harry questioned.

Ron shrugged. "Well, you do, but if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then . . ."

"It's pathetic," Hermione said furiously, walking to the other side of the room and turning back with her arms folded once she reached the wall.

"You don't really want her around forever?" Ginny inquired incredulously to Ron. She then rounded on Penelope, asking if she was okay with it, but Penelope merely stated that Ron wouldn't cheat on her with Fleur. Ginny then scoffed. "Well, Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything."

"How's she going to manage that?" Harry asked.

"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonks instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family."

"Yeah, that'll work," Ron voiced sarcastically. "Listen, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancy Tonks when Fleur's around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but—"

"She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm?" Ginny countered once Penelope scolded Ron for talking about Tonks like that.

"And she's more intelligent, she's an Auror!" Hermione added from her corner of the room.

"Fleur's not stupid, she was good enough to enter the Triwizard Tournament," Harry announced.

"Not you as well!"

"I suppose you like the way Phlegm says 'Arry, do you?" Ginny questioned scornfully. She then rounded on Venus. "Come on, V, you have to have a problem with this."

Venus raised an eyebrow. "Ginny, do you really think that Harry would go out of his way to homewreck two relationships?" She then turned to Harry. "Would you?"

"No, I was just saying, Phlegm — I mean, Fleur—" Harry stuttered.

"I'd much rather have Tonks in the family," Ginny admitted. "At least she's a laugh."

"She hasn't been much of a laugh lately," Ron said. "Every time I've seen her she's looked more like Moaning Myrtle."

Penelope then immediately cut in, saying that they needed to lay off Tonks because she needed some time. Hermione then asked Penelope, since she knew Tonks better than any of them, if they were having survivor's guilt.

"Tonks and Sirius barely knew each other!" Ron argued. "Sirius was in Azkaban half her life and before that their families never met—"

"That's not the point," Hermione replied. "She thinks it was her fault he died!"

"How does she work that one out?" Harry inquired.

"Well, she was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange, wasn't she? I think she feels that if only she had finished her off, Bellatrix couldn't have killed Sirius."

Hermione then asked Penelope if that was actually what was wrong. Penelope said that it was more than that, but she couldn't say. However, she did explain that her depression was affecting her Metamorphosing even though Tonks had had a lot of practice controlling her abilities with her emotions.

Mrs. Weasley then peeked her head through the door. "Ginny, come downstairs and help me with the lunch."

"I'm talking to this lot!" Ginny protested, outraged.

"Now!" Mrs. Weasley ordered before withdrawing.

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!"

Ginny swung her long red hair around in a very good imitation of Fleur. She then pranced across the room with her arms held like a ballerina. Venus sighed once more. This was just ridiculous.

"You lot had better come down quickly too," Ginny told them as she left.

The room was silent once she left. Hermione began to look through some boxes, occasionally casting sideways looks at Harry. Ron and Penelope were still sitting on the box, both eating a piece of toast. Venus then looked over at Harry as he ate more of his breakfast. Their eyes locked, and she began to feel her heart beat against her chest. She was suddenly very aware of the way their shoulders were touching.

Hermione then held up something that looked like a small telescope. "What's this?"

"Dunno, but if Fred and George've left it here, it's probably not ready for the joke shop yet, so be careful," Ron replied.

"Your mum said the shop's going well," Harry voiced. "Said Fred and George have got a real flair for business."

"That's an understatement. They're raking in the Galleons! I can't wait to see the place, we haven't been to DiagonAlley yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extra security and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent."

"And what about Percy? Is he talking to your mum and dad again?"

"Nope."

"But he knows your dad was right all along now about Voldemort being back—" Harry began.

"Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right," Hermione interrupted. "I heard him telling your mum, Ron."

"Sounds like the sort of mental thing Dumbledore would say," Ron responded.

"He's going to be giving me private lessons this year," Harry then casually revealed.

Venus' eyes widened and she looked over at Harry in shock. Private lessons?

"You kept that quiet!" Ron stated.

"I only just remembered," Harry replied. "He told me last night in your broom shed."

"Blimey . . . private lessons with Dumbledore! I wonder why he's . . . ?"

His voice trailed off. Venus, Ron, Hermione, and Penelope all exchanged a look. They knew what it was about — the Prophecy, the very same one that they had found in the Department of Mysteries and the very same one Harry had told Venus about that day in the hospital wing.

Harry fixed his eyes on his fork that was laying on the tray. "I don't know exactly why he's going to be giving me lessons, but I think it must be because of the Prophecy." Nobody spoke for a moment. "You know, the one they were trying to steal at the Ministry."

"Nobody knows what it said, though," Hermione quickly reminded them. "It got smashed."

"Although the Prophet says—" Ron started to say before Penelope elbowed him in the ribs.

"The Prophet's got it right," Harry admitted, finally looking up at them all. "That glass ball that smashed wasn't the only record of the Prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore's office, he was the one the Prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. Then I told Star that morning when she woke up in the hospital wing. From what it said—" Harry let out a deep breath "—it looks like I'm the one who's got to finish off Voldemort . . . at least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives."

Venus felt her stomach churn. Ever since Harry had told her that, it had been the main thing clouding her mind. Harry either had to kill or be killed, and she hated knowing that it could go either way.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang. Venus jumped and turned to see Hermione vanish behind a puff of black smoke.

"Hermione!" Venus, Harry, and Ron all shouted together.

The breakfast tray slid to the floor with a crash. Hermione emerged from the smoke while coughing. She was still holding the telescope which now had a tiny fist on a long spring protruding from the end of it. Venus then gasped — Hermione was now also sporting a brilliantly purple black eye.

"I squeezed it and it — it punched me!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Don't worry, Mum'll fix that, she's good at healing minor injuries—" Ron reassured her, trying not to laugh.

"Oh well, never mind that now! Harry, oh, Harry . . ." Hermione sat back down on the bed. "We wondered, after we got back from the Ministry . . . Obviously, we didn't want to say anything to you, but from what Lucius Malfoy said about the Prophecy, how it was about you and Voldemort, well, we thought it might be something like this . . . oh, Harry . . . are you scared?"

"Not as much as I was," Harry answered. "When I first heard it, I was, but then I told Venus which made it a little better. . . but now, it seems as though I always knew I'd have to face him in the end . . ."

"When we heard Dumbledore was collecting you in person, we thought he might be telling you something or showing you something to do with the Prophecy," Ron voiced eagerly. "And we were kind of right, weren't we? He wouldn't be giving you lessons if he thought you were a goner, wouldn't waste his time — he must think you've got a chance!"

"That's true," Hermione agreed. "I wonder what he'll teach you, Harry? Really advanced defensive magic, probably . . . powerful countercurses . . . anti-jinxes . . ."

Venus stopped listening for a moment. She looked over at her boyfriend, watching as his face lit up as he looked around at the four of them. Venus laced their fingers together, and Harry squeezed her hand back. It made her dizzy, but in the best way possible.

" . . . and evasive enchantments generally," Hermione concluded. "Well, at least you know one lesson you'll be having this year, that's one more than Ron and me. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"

"Can't be long now, it's been a month," Ron replied.

"Hang on," Harry interjected. "I think Dumbledore said our O.W.L. results would be arriving today!"

"Today?" Hermione shrieked. "Today? But why didn't you — oh my God — you should have said—" She got to her feet. "I'm going to see whether any owls have come . . ."

Venus felt her breath hitch in her throat as Hermione left the room. This was it. Her dreams of becoming a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor could either make or break from this. She also stood up, anxiety coursing through her veins. Venus absentmindedly leaned over and kissed Harry's cheek before letting go of his hand.

She went downstairs with Penelope to also go see if there were any owls, but when they got down there, all they found was Hermione sitting at the kitchen table with Mrs. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley was standing over her with her wand and a copy of The Healer's Helpmate open at Bruises, Cuts, and Abrasions. Ginny and Fleur were at the table as well.

"It just won't budge," Mrs. Weasley stated anxiously as Harry and Ron came back down, Harry instantly gravitating towards Venus' side. "This has always worked before, I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," Ginny cut in.

"But it's got to come off!" Hermione said. "I can't go around looking like this forever!"

"You won't, dear, we'll find an antidote, don't worry," Mrs. Weasley responded soothingly.

"Bill told me 'ow Fred and George are very amusing!" Fleur exclaimed, smiling serenely.

"Yes, I can hardly breathe for laughing," Hermione snapped. She got up and started to pace around the kitchen, twisting her fingers together anxiously. "Mrs. Weasley, you're quite, quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?"

"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed," Mrs. Weasley answered patiently. "But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time . . ."

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes. I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back—"

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" Ron yelled. "And when you've got your eleven Outstanding O.W.L.s . . ."

"Don't, don't, don't!" Hermione interjected, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything!"

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked.

"We discuss our options with our Head of House, I asked Professor McGonagall at the end of last term."

Venus' stomach twisted. Oh God.

"At Beauxbatons, we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eet was better," Fleur told them. "We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then—"

She was cut off by a scream from Hermione, who was pointing through the kitchen window. Venus rushed over there to see five black specks clearly visible in the sky, all growing larger by the moment.

"They're definitely owls," Ron said hoarsely as him and Harry joined them at the window.

"And there are five of them," Harry added.

"One for each of us," Hermione whispered, obviously terrified. "Oh no . . . oh no . . . oh no . . ."

Venus reached up and gripped Harry's elbow for comfort. The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, five handsome tawnies, each of them carrying a large square envelope.

"Oh no!" Hermione squealed.

Mrs. Weasley squeezed past the five of them to open the kitchen window. The five owls all soared through the window, one after another, and landed on the table in a neat line. All five of them lifted their right legs. Venus found hers in the middle. Her fingers trembling, Venus untied her envelope. She stared down at it for a moment, her heart racing and her stomach twisting.

It's okay, Venus, she told herself. Whatever happens, happens.

Venus then opened the envelope, took out the parchment, unfolded it, and started to read.

Ordinary Wizarding Level Results

Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeds Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades:
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)

Venus Genevieve Black has achieved:
Arithmancy: O
Astronomy: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Charms: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology: O
History of Magic: E
Potions: O
Study of Ancient Runes: E
Transfiguration: O

A huge weight lifted off of her shoulders. She looked up, a bright smile on her face. Harry stopped his conversation with Ron and approached her. She extended her parchment to him, and Harry took it. He looked back up at her in impressment after reading.

"You, darling, are incredible," Harry told her.

Venus laughed before throwing her arms around him. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close.

"Hermione?" Ginny then questioned, making the couple pull away from each other. Hermione had indeed not turned around yet. "How did you do?"

"I — not bad," Hermione responded in a small voice.

"Oh, come off it," Ron scolded, walking over to her and taking her parchment out of her hands. "Yep — nine Outstandings and one Exceeds Expectations at Defense Against the Dark Arts." He looked down at her, half-amused and half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione shook her head, but Harry laughed.

Ron grinned widely. "Well, we're N.E.W.T. students now! Mum, are there any more sausages?"

Venus turned back to see Harry staring down at his paper longingly, and she frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I got an Exceeds Expectations in Potions," Harry revealed. "To be an Auror, I need an Outstanding."

"Maybe you can work something out with Snape," Venus suggested.

"As if Snape would let me into N.E.W.T. Potions. He hates me."

Venus then reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, Harry leaning into her touch. "Just talk to McGonagall, okay? She'll be able to help you."

Harry smiled gently at her before leaning down and kissing her for the first time since they had left each other. Venus felt herself go weak in the knees like she was about to fall over any moment. She didn't get to fully indulge in the sweet gesture because Harry pulled away, probably so they weren't making out in the middle of the Burrow's kitchen.

Nevertheless, the two smiled at each other, feeling light magic flowing in between them in the summer air.

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HELLO MY LOVES WELCOME TO CORNELIA STREET <333

I'm very excited for this book, there's gonna be a lot of adventures between hbp and dh :)

also me 🤝 making my oc's love fleur instead of being misogynistic