Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not a thing! It all belongs to J.K.Rowling. I think I will take credit for Kerensa and Seraphine but that's it. I don't even own the plot, to a certain extent! That belongs to the makers of Hum tum, Kunal Kohli and Siddharth Anand and Yash Raj, I believe.

A/n: I debated putting this up for a while but in the end, here we are. This is a short story (A ficlet?), which was thought up before HBP and so doesn't really coincide with it. That's where I had doubts but I really loved the potential so I hope that won't put you off. It is loosely based on the plot of an Indian film called Hum Tum. The film (Hum Tum) I've heard is based on other films that I've never seen so I don't really know how much this story corresponds with those. By the way the non-cannon part doesn't really affect the story too much; most of it is post-Hogwarts.

Prologue

Lavender Thomas was somewhere during her daily routine of making breakfast for herself and her husband when she'd gotten a call from work.

Lavender was one of Witch Weekly's top reporters. She wasn't prepared at all.

All she'd been told was to bring parchment and her quill and to be there as quickly as possible, the interviewee had only accepted at the last minute and they needed one of their best on the job.

So she was rather surprised when she saw exactly whom it was she'd be interviewing.

'Harry Potter' Lavender said with a smile.

It was funny, Harry had, in his seven years at Hogwarts, shared a dormitory with her husband and been one of his good friends but after that he seemed to have just disappeared.

But here he was, almost seven years later.

Harry smiled 'Lavender! How are you' he stood up and the two hugged briefly.

'So, how are you? And Dean?' he asked

'Dean's fine, enjoying work and I'm pregnant' Lavender said happily.

Harry looked surprised 'wow, congratulations!' he now viewed her attire.

Since she had to leave at such short notice, she was still wearing a loose white t-shirt, had just managed to shove herself into a pair of jeans and was wearing her hair in a loose bun.

'Definitely not the Lavender I remember' Harry said.

Lavender rolled her eyes. 'It's your fault for replying at the last minute, I was just told to get my arse here before you could say blast-ended skrewts'

Lavender then delved into her bag and produced several pieces of parchment and a quill. She looked at Harry and said 'would you mind if I used a quick quotes quill?'

Harry looked at the contraption shrewdly, making her smile.

'Look I'll show you, it's not charmed or anything' she put the quill to parchment and said clearly 'My name is Lavender Thomas' the quill furiously wrote exactly what she'd just said.

Harry relaxed at seeing this and Lavender continued to prepare for the impending interview.

After a few minutes the reporter was ready to go as she faced her subject.

She smiled brightly 'okay Harry, lets start with you giving us an update on what you've been up to for the past few years, I'm sure our readers would love to know'

Harry stifled laughter at the change in her tone of voice and how it made her sound so much like the overly bubbly teenage girl she was in school.

'Well, you know I'm still an auror and I've started an organisation for orphaned wizards and witches which helps raise them in a homely environment and pays for them to go to Hogwarts' Harry said.

Lavender smiled inwardly at his generous nature which shined through in that statement and added 'yes, remember forty percent of the profits made from the sales of this issue go to this cause'

That had been the condition of this interview. If he were to give them an interview, forty percent would need to go to his organisation.

'So, let's begin on your life, shall we? What was your childhood like?' Lavender asked, Harry laughed mirthlessly.

'Childhood? What childhood? I didn't have one. My parents died without ever leaving me a substantial memory. I was given to my aunt, literally left on her doorstep.

'For ten years I slept in a cupboard under the stairs. My aunt and uncle shunned me. Left me out of everything. I never knew what a mother's love was like, not even in dreams.

As soon as I was tall enough to have my head over the top of the stove, I had to wait on them hand and foot. I served meals, did the gardening, cleaned my cousin's room. I was always given the least to eat; my birthday was never so much as acknowledged.

It was even worse when I was sent to school. None of the other children would so much as step near me because they were so afraid of my cousin.

'I was beaten up every day; I don't know how my glasses survived. Whenever we played P.E. I was always picked last. It wasn't that everyone absolutely hated me. No, it was just that they were so terrified to defy my cousin in anyway, so they bullied me.

'The teachers didn't like me either. My magic always used to go off so I was always in trouble. Throughout those ten years I never felt loved, or even cared about, not once' Harry recalled wistfully,

Lavender was astonished at the things she never knew about her friend and her heart went out to him, she mouthed 'I'm sorry' to him and he smiled back.

'And Hogwarts?' Lavender asked quietly, but Harry grinned as she mentioned it.

'Hogwarts was like a whole new life. It was amazing. I know I felt so ecstatic when Hagrid came to get me. You wouldn't understand.

'When you've lived literally in hell for all the life you can remember and suddenly someone comes along and tells you that actually you belong in a whole different world, where people don't hate you and they care about you even a little, it's incredible, surreal even'

Lavender smiled at his answer. She then got a little glint in her eyes, a glint which seemed oddly familiar to Harry.

'So. Let's Witch Weeklify it shall we? What kind of girl do you go for?' Lavender asked excitedly.

Harry laughed. 'There's the Lavender I remember. Well let's see… she has to have a sense of humour, be a little bit wild, understanding, be able to balance me out, she has to be independent and not let people do things for her, you know a really strong character' Harry described.

She nodded and glanced at the parchment to make sure the quill was running smoothly.

'Have you ever met your perfect girl?' Lavender asked softly.

Harry looked thoughtful and smiled in a sad way. 'Yes, once' was his short answer though his tone had no hint of finality in it as if he'd almost forgotten to add it in.

Lavender pursued the topic 'what happened to her?' she whispered.

'She walked away' Harry said, thinking back 'and I let her' he finished resentfully.

The woman looked confused 'why? What happened between you?' she persisted.

Harry sighed at this.

'I really don't think you have the time. It really is a long, winding story. It could make you go insane' he said, trying to put Lavender off in vain, because he knew that if Lavender was even a little bit like she was in school she'd never miss an opportunity like this.

He was right.

'Oh no, I have the time. That is, if it's okay with you, if it's not too upsetting or anything?' she asked hopefully.

Harry laughed bitterly and nodded. 'No, it's just frustrating is all'

'Where does it start?' Lavender asked.

'I suppose it starts out with a schoolgirl crush. In my first year I caught my first glimpse of her. I didn't think much of her then. Just another person who knew the side of me I'd never known.

'Harry Potter!' I hear the small redheaded girl cry, am I that special? Oh, she's speaking again.

'Oh Mum, can I go on the train and see him mum, oh please' she pleads.

See me, but why?

'In second year, the chamber of secrets was opened but even before then, she was terrified to speak to me.

'I remember this one time when she accidentally put her elbow in the butter dish, her brothers never did let it go, I don't think. Her cheeks would flame at the sight of me.

'And yet even when she was shy, she was a fiery thing.

'Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!' Ginny cries suddenly.

Wow, she speaks. She fights too. Malfoy looks happy, oh no.

'Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!' Malfoy taunts.

Oh great, so I step in here and get blinded by camera flashes and then run into this prat, things couldn't get any worse but obviously they can, should've guessed.

'I remember when she got taken into the chamber. When I saw her in there, she was so pale, she really did look dead. I hardly knew her and yet I hoped against hope that nothing had happened to her.

In third year she seemed not to have changed that much, she still didn't talk to me. Although, I do remember one time when we laughed, well almost, together.

'Ah there's Penelope!' Percy says.

He's smoothing his hair and he looks oddly pink. I snort and catch and catch Ginny's eye, she looks just as amused as I feel. Percy can still hear us. We turn away to laugh secretly.

'I forgot about that, it was only when I didn't have her anymore that I realised how much those tiny instances meant to me.

'By fourth year, she was getting braver. She talked to me, every so often. She always blushed of course, but I'd gotten used to it by then, it didn't really bother me. I didn't really notice.

'Don't!' says Ginny 'Don't laugh'

But really it is a very funny picture, Neville asking Hermione of all people. Hermione's coming up to us, but we can't stop laughing.

'Why weren't you two at dinner' she asks, we can't answer, the vision is still funny.

Ginny's answering for us. 'Because-oh shut up laughing, you two- because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball' she snaps.

Hope she's happy, we're not laughing anymore. Talk about harsh.

'In fifth year was when it really changed. Suddenly she started talking to me and we became good friends.

'I found she was smart, funny, loyal and impulsive. You know, I was such an idiot. I didn't even notice.

'One day, Hermione told me that she was over me, given up on me and I realised that she had been talking to me more than usual.

'There was that phase when I thought I was possessed and I locked myself away, she was the one who understood and she was the one who came to give me my slap in the face. Everyone else was scared.

'I didn't want anyone to talk to me' I say.

God, can't they leave me alone? They should be scared I might bite them. Oh lord here she goes again, what is wrong with Ginny?

'Well that was a bit stupid of you' she says angrily 'seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-know-who, and I can tell you how it feels'

Oh. What do I say now? I'd forgotten about that.

'That June she went to fight alongside me in the Department of Mysteries. I remember how sweet she looked when I told she couldn't come and that was when I saw her fierce side. She was so determined.

Why can't they leave us alone? We have to do this. Sirius is my godfather, mine.

'Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!' Ginny cries.

I stare at her. Her jaw's set; she won't back down no matter what we do. Well she did help a lot and she definitely knows how to fight.

'In sixth year, we became closer and yet there was still some sort of invisible barrier I couldn't explain. There shouldn't have been with all the time we spent together, helping her out with her subjects and stuff.

'Harry! This is so hard! It's ridiculous! Where's Neville?' she cries and begins to look around, I smile 'what is it?'

'Mimbulus Mimbletonia! Mimbulus Mimbletonia, that's what it fu-' she stops on the verge of finishing her sentence, when a first year glanced at her, frightened.

She growls and rolls her eyes. 'What bloody uses does it have?' she shouts, I wince.

Herbology's not my best subject and Ginny is kind of screaming. I look around too. We could really do with Neville. Great, she's looking at me now; well have to try my best.

'Okay, calm down Ginny. Just think about what it does….'

'That was the year we fought Voldemort, you were there. She tried to help anyone and everyone and she really held her own. For a minute there I thought it was all over.

I turn around, away from the death eaters, the fight only to see Ginny's brown eyes staring back at menow?' she's shouting.

'What are you doing? Watch it' she shouts and points her wand over my shoulder 'STUPEFY' she looks back at me 'what are you doing? Turn around'

I shake my head 'I need a minute'

She stares at me 'you need a minute,

I nod 'I want to keep on fighting but it feels like a lost cause'

Now Ginny's shaking her head 'it's not over until you say it's over' she reasons.

'Didn't I just say that it was?'

'Well I'm not going to let you. Turn your arse back round right now' she orders.

'But why?'

'Harry act like the Gryffindor you are and not some muggle woman! It'll definitely be over if you leave, you're only one who can do this you prat!'

We stare at each some more, each trying to out-stare the other, she wins. I resignedly turn round and for some reason I feel a lot more motivated.

'Without her, I might've stopped; actually without her I would've probably died. Malfoy was about to kill me from the back there' Harry reminisced and smiled bitterly

'That summer was awful. I mean we were happy that he was gone but at the same time, we'd lost so many people. The one that affected us the most was the murder of the Grangers. Hermione was distraught.

'They're gone Ginny, he took them away from me, just like that' Hermione snaps her finger 'I'm an orphan! I have nowhere to go! I have no family, he's taken them all, every single one'

Ron and I sit quietly, not sure what to do, but I understand.

Ginny hugs Hermione 'Hermione, he killed a lot of people, good people. Your family were among them, they didn't deserve to die but it won't do you any good to dwell on it'

Hermione's started crying now.

'Everyone will always remember them to be the best kind of people you could find, but you're their daughter. When people look at you they'll remember your parents. You're their memory now.

'Years in the future when people see you across the street or in the shop they'll think "that's Hermione, Hugh and Diana's daughter. She's a nice girl, talented too. They were good people and they'd be so proud if they could see her now" Ginny hugged her friend once again.

'By this time you'd think I'd have fallen in love with someone that amazing, wouldn't you?' Harry laughed.

'But no, I was thick, ignorant and blind. She was right before my eyes and I didn't realise it, in fact it took me many more years to realise it' Harry finished.

He smiled at Lavender and said 'well that's the back story. The actual story pretty much starts from the seventh year onwards'

Lavender froze the quill 'Harry, I've been thinking, I think it'd be best, if we watched the memory. It'd be easier for me to write it up if I had a copy of it' she suggested unsurely.

Harry frowned and considered it. 'You'd get rid of the memory, as soon as you were finished?'

'I promise, on my honour, pinky swear. Whatever works for you. I will not use it for anything apart from the article'

He nodded and then said 'I'll give it to you but the story might seem a little broken, if it's just my memories'

'Is there someone else who could help me' she asked.

Harry thought and then it came to him 'well I'll give you her old friends' addresses, I remember they used to share a pensieve between them when they all lived together, you might find something in there'

'Perfect'

Harry looked confused 'where are you going to keep the memory?' he asked, Lavender delved into her handbag and pulled out a little stone cup.

'In here' she said simply 'it's a pensieve cup, from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. It's smaller, five memories max but you're allowed to stray from the main character'

He nodded and took the cup from Lavender. He touched his wand to his temple and then put it inside the cup, in which silver liquid started swirling.

'Right now how do you get inside?' he asked

'Dip your finger in' Lavender instructed.

Harry looked back before doing so. 'Are you sure you can handle it? I'm sure any girl would find it heart wrenching' he said mockingly.

Lavender scowled and shoved him 'you might want to pack some tissues, because I'm not taking any' he continued.

'Shut up Potter and just go, would you? I'll be the judge of that' she said testily.

'Alright, alright you don't need to get shirty. God, pregnant women, you and your mood swings' but he dipped his finger into the cup before Lavender got a chance to smack the back of his head. She let it slide and followed him in.

Within minutes the two found themselves in the Gryffindor Common Room of their seventh year

A/n: That's the first chapter, it's short, I know but don't shout at me, this was just to get it all started. By the way, after this there'll be no more mention of (present) Harry and Lavender until the epilogue, it'll just be the story that they view.