Harley

It had been a particularly slow day which I thought was very odd considering the convenient location I had built my cafe. It was almost closing time but I felt as though something was going to happen. It felt like something that would affect the rest of my life. Just as I began to clean my kitchen, the door opened to invite the Central City's superhero in the flesh.

While I had seen my fair share of attractive men, I could definitely see that Barry Allen, The Flash, had been attractive. Now, he seemed lost, confused, and utterly swept off his feet - and not in a good way. After welcoming him and allowing him to seat himself, I quickly began preparing his cup of tea. Mixing a calming potion, a drop of sleeping draught, and a pinch of cinnamon to disregard the bad taste, I made the tea with effortless practice. Merlin knows I needed the same combination on my worst days too.

Eventually introducing myself, I went back to clean and close down the kitchen. As I turned around to lock the doors, I realized that Barry Allen was still sitting in the Ravenclaw section. Walking over with the clear purpose of waking him up, I stopped in front of him with my hand out stretched. Even in sleep the poor man couldn't seem to get peace. He started sweating and I knew from experience that if I didn't wake him up now, he would never be able to sleep the rest of the night.

"Barry. Mr. Allen, please, you need to wake up. Mr. Allen! Barry Allen! Wake up!" I consistently raised my voice in my attempts to wake him up.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and pinned me under him with his lightning fast speed. I looked up at him - specifically his eyes. They were glassy, as if he was still stuck in that nightmare.

"Barry. Barry, you're okay. It's okay. It's not real. Barry, you need to wake up." I continued to whisper softly at him, trying to get through whatever horrible nightmare he was having.

Finally, his eyes cleared slightly but clouded themselves in confusion as he noticed our position. The confusion immediately turned into embarrassment and self-reproach.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep or hurt you like that." Barry said gruffly, helping me back up. He began putting his coat on again when I stopped him.

"Mr. Allen, I hardly think you need to apologize for saving the world. These things are just side effects of the bigger picture. We must learn to deal with our fears when we put the fears of the public before us. It is silly to be ashamed of having a nightmare. Instead, carry it with honor like a battle wound." I squeezed his arm comfortingly before turning to open the door for him.

"Uh, thank you. I don't suppose you say that to everyone who has nightmares?" Barry asked sheepishly.

"Only the really fast running superheroes around town, Mr. Allen." I winked back at him, happy that the nightmare hadn't ruined his whole mood.

"Well, I think that means you can definitely call me Barry." He held out his hand again and I smiled.

"You can definitely call me Harley too then." I replied.

Barry left the store soon after and I allowed myself to go to the flat upstairs and rest. After mastering the deathly hallows and dying, I had found myself immortal and almost unable to sleep. Death reasoned this as the fact that Death's Master cannot fall to her servant's power. Eventually, so fed up with the recurring nightmares and my aging friends who enjoyed their lives while I was stuck in mine for eternity, I begged death to give me a new home. Death had promised that this home would help me heal as I helped others heal.

This was the idea behind my cafe, the Tea Witch, actually. I had loved cooking, even when I was at the Dursleys', and having my own little shop where I could do just that was a dream come true. I was enjoying simply existing as another shopkeeper instead of the infamous Girl-Who-Lived.

As I was preparing for bed, Death appeared before me. His typical black cloak and scythe no longer frightened me after continuous exposure.

"Yes, Death, what is it?" I asked, curious to know why my ever absent servant chose today to visit me.

"It has happened, Mistress. You have begun the path to your healing." Death rasped.

"What do you mean? I had my regular day except the ordeal with Barry - no! You don't think he could possibly be the one?" I asked Death, a little skeptical.

"He is your One." Death responded in that no-nonsense tone of voice. I was distinctly reminded of Severus Snape at that moment.

Death had a very odd idea that all people in the world had their 'One' as he liked to call. Apparently, that also included his mistress. If Barry was my One, then he would be my confidant, he would be the one that I turned to in times of distress, and he would be my protector. At times, I suspected that Death was much like a mother-hen and didn't want to see me alone.

"How do you know that he is my One, Death?" I asked curiously because he had never explained why he believed in the whole thing anyway.

"You will soon find out yourself, Mistress. I believe he is knocking on the front door, at this moment." Death said and I decided then and their to start calling him Severus because of his sardonic tones.

As I rushed downstairs, I completely forgot that I had already changed into my nightgown which was very drafty. Opening the door, I realized it was freezing outside and ushered Barry in.

"Barry! What can I do for you?" I asked, crossing my arms to prevent the chill from entering my lightly clothed body.

"Um, uh...well...I wasn't disturbing you was I?" Barry asked shyly.

"Oh, not at all. Shouldn't you be home, asleep, though?" I asked, concerned that he had been out in this freezing weather.

"I actually couldn't sleep so I kept thinking about what you said and I couldn't help but wonder if you spoke from experience. If you don't want to tell me, its fine. I just wanted to know what made you settle here." Barry rushed out, as if afraid that I would be cross with him.

Taking a deep breath, I looked back up at Barry. Barry was tired. He was a lost ship at sea that needed an anchor. I didn't know if he was my One but maybe I was his. Deciding that it wouldn't hurt anyone if I told him a little bit of my background, I nodded towards the barstools in my kitchen and began preparing two cups of my calming coffee. It was going to be a long night.

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