Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter or Twilight series. I do own this plot.

AN: I'm trying to keep this within the actual time frames of each book's history.

-Start!-

"Esme, get your arse down here now before you hurt yourself!"

"No!"

"Esme!"

The ten-year-old girl stuck out her tongue at her parent's friend and personal tailor. She didn't want to come down! She liked being up in the trees!

"Esme, if you don't bloody well come down from there in 3 seconds I'm going to sew you a potato sack for Caroline's birthday party!"

Esme gasped and quickly launched herself out of the tree.

"Oi!"

Long arms quickly opened up to catch her, the body falling back and cushioning her fall.

"I'm out, I'm out!" she exclaimed to the dazed face.

Hands pushed her off with a groan of pain.

"Ugh, you're going to be too heavy soon for me to catch you."

Esme smiled and stood up, dusting her dirty dress.

"Then you'll just have to get stronger, Harry!"

The british born man sighed as green eyes closed in fond annoyance, "Yes, yes, now come, we need to get your fitting done."

"But we did that last month!"

"Yes, and you've gotten bigger since then…heavier too."

"Harry!"

—

Esme giggled as she twirled about in her new dress.

"It's wonderful, Harry!"

The man smiled at her as he continued to sew her a matching ribbon for her hair.

"Well, you're turning thirteen in a few days, I thought you might like something to show off…maybe even catch an eye or two, hm?"

Esme paused her twirling and puffed her cheeks.

"I don't want to catch an eye! Boys are weird!"

"Hey now, I was a boy once."

She rolled her eyes and glanced at him.

"But you're not a boy anymore. All boys are weird! They act like they're big stuff but they never really do anything! Did I tell you about the other day with Billy from the farm near Sally's? He said that he could climb a tree really high but as soon as he got up 5 branches he cried for his mommy!"

"Well, maybe he's afraid of heights."

Esme huffed and fully turned around to look at Harry, "Then why did he say he could climb a tree really high!"

Green eyes behind glasses sparkled in amusement, "Maybe it's because he knew you like to climb trees really high."

Esme paused for a moment to think about it but then shrugged, "He shouldn't have lied just because I like climbing trees."

A warm chuckle answered her.

—

"I'm thinking of being a teacher."

Steady hands paused at her hem line.

"A teacher? Little trouble maker Esme, teaching? Surely not!" Harry teased. Esme huffed only slightly as she admired her new dress in the making.

"Think of how great of a teacher I would be! I can teach them and out climb them!"

"Yes, yes, very promising. Just don't think you can climb trees forever, you'll grow old eventually."

"Well then, you'll be there to catch me!"

"Oi, I'm not your eternal babysitter despite what you think!"

"But you still look young! You haven't aged a bit! I mean you're shorter now, well no, I'm taller now, but you really haven't changed otherwise!"

"It's genetics."

"Lucky! Even the townspeople notice how young you look still! Mother was joking with Mrs. Carter about how you'd still look young enough to marry me eventually!"

The british man snorted quietly and sent her a deadpan look, "Please don't tell me that's a hint. You're a bit too young for me."

Esme sniffed lightly, "Well it's not like I want a old man as a husband anyway!"

She yelped when a needle poked her.

—

"What do you mean you're leaving?" her voice trembled as she watched her best friend pack his things.

The man only sent her a brief look before continuing packing. She frowned and laid her hand on his luggage, preventing him from adding more.

Harry sighed, "Esme…"

"No! Why are you leaving Harry? Everything is good here! Your business is doing so well!"

Harry opened his arms and as much as she wanted to stand her ground, Esme quickly burrowed into the offered warmth.

"When I came to this country it was by accident. Now that I have enough money I have to go back to my home country."

Esme sniffled and gripped his shirt, "But why? Why not stay here?"

A hand settled on her head, "I have family Esme, people who need and miss me. A godson that needs me."

She sniffled again, "When are you leaving?"

"I'm taking the bus tomorrow to Philadelphia and then catching the train to Boston in a few days. I'm sure there will be transport to cross the pond there."

—

"Oh, make sure you write!"

"I will Mrs. Platt."

"And thank you for all the years of dressing our Esme."

"Thank you for being such lovely costumers."

"Oh you, we're friends!"

Esme watched sadly as her best friend and confident exchanged goodbyes with her parents. It wasn't fair. She knew that he had to go back but she wanted him close, she didn't want him to leave.

"Hey you."

She looked up to see Harry smiling sadly at her.

"Hey you," she replied weakly back.

"Now don't make a sad face. Where's the happy Esme that I know?"

Esme glared through watering eyes, "She's wallowing in self-pity right now."

Harry chuckled and gave her a deep hug.

"I left a present for you in my shop. It's unlocked so go look for it after this okay?"

She quietly nodded.

"You're 16 now, practically a young lady, I'm so proud to see you grow so beautifully."

Esme looked up at the warm smile.

"This isn't goodbye is it," she whispered, "I don't know what to do if this is goodbye."

"It's more of a 'see-you-later'."

—

3 days passed and Esme hummed thoughtfully as she played with her ribbon whilst she sat high up on the tree.

Harry should be on his train now.

She primped her ribbon again, it was the gift Harry left for her. It was the softest material she had ever touched yet she could feel that it wouldn't tear so easily despite how delicate it looked.

She had only felt this material before when hugging Harry, his vest always soothing on her cheek.

In fact, where had the vest been when he was leaving? She hadn't seen him pack it.

She thumbed the ribbon again as a thought built up in her mind.

He couldn't have possibly taken apart his vest to make her this ribbon? She had always complimented the fabric but to destroy his own vest?

"Esme, come down, you'd promised to watch Mrs. Reed's children tonight, remember?" her mother's voice woke her from her thoughts.

"Coming!" she called and started to scurry down the tree. When she got to an acceptable height she jumped out; Harry would catch her anyways.

Except Harry wasn't here anymore.

She cried out when she hit the ground, crippling pain shot up her leg.

"Esme!"

—

Esme hummed as she looked at the cast on her leg. No more climbing for a while the town's Dr. Carlisle Cullen had said.

What a interesting man, handsome too.

She tapped her fingers on her blank piece of paper.

He was really nice, cold though like many doctors, and he had even complemented her ribbon.

"I'll tell Harry about how even a doctor can like the ribbon!"

She was just starting her letter at the kitchen table when her mother and father walked in, whispering over a newspaper. She smiled at them and waved her arms in enthusiasm.

"Mother, Father, I'm writing a letter to Harry, do you know how long it will take for him to write to us so we can get his address? I want to send this as soon as possible!"

Her mother's chocked sob and father's silence made her look back up from her letter.

"Mother? Father? What's wrong?"

"Oh, Esme…"

Her mother sniffled and slowly walked to her. Her father behind her mother supporting her trembling frame.

"What. What's going on?"

Her mother bit her lip and handed her the morning newspaper. She gave them a cautious look and looked down.

She suddenly couldn't breath.

"No…"

THE FEDERAL EXPRESS PLUNGES, 14 DEAD

"That's Harry's train. That's his train!" She threw the newspaper away from her, "He could have lived!"

"Esme…"

She shook her head and buried her face into her hands, "He said it wasn't goodbye! He said we'd see each other again!"

"We're so sorry honey."

Her heart broke.

-Tbc-

Any grammatical errors noticed are asked to be PMed. Even after re-reading, I tend to miss them.