Hello, thanks for clicking on this story!

AU: The time line is the same as in canon, set a few months after Team 7 is made official. This story also features Fem!Harry so if you don't like it, please click off. This is just a hobby and I don't want serious stuff around here. I wrote this fic for fun, I hope you understand.

Pairings: Fem!Harry x Kakashi. The story is mainly going to be focused around these two.

Warnings: Some angst (?), grammar mistakes and errors, author being over dramatic with her writing because she's listening to sad music while writing and music triggers her, bad writing skills because the author's first language is not English (I tried). There's nothing really serious about this story though. It's your normal rom-com shoujo manga chic-flic fic.

Notes: Please bear with me, I wrote this chapter over the weekend. Slow, slow, slow updates every week. If you want faster updates, please do give me some ideas if you can? They're really appreciated! I'll also credit you and thank you.

Anyway, please don't take this story way too seriously as I've mentioned earlier. This is just a hobby. Uh, I hope you enjoy the story?

Thanks for reading!

Sweetener

CHAPTER I: FIRST MEETING
A Summer Story

"Meeting the right person at the right time,"

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The Southern Blue Lake Forest of Konoha wasn't an undiscovered place.

Ninjas and children of the village went to play there from time to time. The trees have markings and there's a pathway in case you stray your path so it's basically impossible to get lost.

Hatake Kakashi was born and raised in Konoha; he has been in this forest when he was a child at least a dozen times. He was familiar with the routes and shortcuts so the situation he was in was quite strange. Also, despite his excuses, he wasn't clumsy nor was he the type to lose his way. It has been at least twenty minutes since he began wandering aimlessly. He found it mysterious how he had never seen these parts of the forest before— cold, dark and misty.

Surely, someone was playing a trick on him.

From behind his mask, Kakashi mumbled a short, "Kai."

Nothing.

He heard the flapping of wings before a white snowy owl landed on the branch of a tree, a few meters from where he was standing. He stared at the creature, the creature tilting its head back in return before hooting a few times. Kakashi confirmed that someone was indeed playing a trick on him. Snowy owls were not native of the Country of Fire more or less in Konoha. It would be bizarre to see one here.

Yet again, if this was a genjutsu it would have been dispelled a long time ago.

The owl opened its wings and flew to another branch. It looked back at Kakashi as if telling him to follow his lead. Owls were intelligent creatures, he knew. This one in particular, looked like it was trying to relay something. Call him crazy but he decided to follow the bird. It was better than wandering aimlessly in the forest.

Also, what's the worst thing that could happen?

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The path they were treading was dark and deep, similar to how a forest was after a harsh rainy day.

The owl continued its flight, skillfully brushing past the big ancient trees and keeping itself visible to Kakashi's sight.

The bird is a summon; probably the most reasonable answer he had for this situation. Though it was dark, moonlight peaked through the leaves and gaps of the trees in rays.

It would have been a very beautiful sight if Kakashi was not focused on getting unlost.

"Hedwig!" a voice called out, a woman's.

"Hedwig, where are you?" she resumed and the owl's flight hastened.

Kakashi sped up as well, more concerned of the fact that an individual was wandering the forest this late at night— not that the South Blue Lake forest was dangerous but his experience today proved otherwise. Also, judging by the bird's actions, that person might be its owner.

The man's feet slowed down into a halt when he reached past the tall canopy of trees, a wide clearing filled with fireflies and a glistening blue lake in front of him.

A lake? That wasn't here before.

"Ah, there you are. Welcome back," the owl circled in the sky before it perched itself unto the woman's arm. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at the bird's talons that met bare skin although it looked like the animal's landing was careful and gentle enough. "How was your flight?" before long slim pale fingers reach out to brush the owl's feathers.

Hedwig hooted; eyes turning to man she brought with her.

Emerald meets black and Kakashi could feel his breath hitch.

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"A ninja…" Hari was snapped out of her daze when Hedwig got off her arm to head towards the lake.

"Hello, my name is Hari," basically Harriet but when she arrived in this world a few years back no one could pronounce her name. "You are?" a ninja from Konoha, she could tell from his forehead protector.

"Hatake Kakashi," the other replied, hands inside his pockets and making no move to attack her.

The woman sighed out of relief. He didn't look like a bad person. Bad people wouldn't be that calm. She was on edge since it has been a long time since she met someone. Usually, no one would be able to find this place— it wasn't easy to find this place. This guy…

"The owl's name is Hedwig," probably the reason why he reached the lake. Hedwig must have thought that she would be able to help him.

Kakashi remained quiet, eyes peering at the white bird that circled above their heads. He had a lot of questions to ask. Putting the bird aside, this woman… why is she here?

He knows that she's not from the village either. Civilians weren't allowed to go out of the gates at this time, especially during periods when they're wary.

Behind her the lake shone, golden light from the fireflies making everything seem brighter.

"Are you lost?" she asked, unable to handle the silence.

Hedwig hoots and her question makes Kakashi convinced that she's not evil.

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Hari pressed her lips into a thin line, body way too stiff while walking since she's noticed Kakashi staring at her for quite a while now.

"I-I'm not a kunoichi from Iwa!" she defended herself, referring to how the man asked if she was here as a threat to Konoha.

"Also, you said so yourself, I do not look like a ninja," the same exact words that Kakashi told her earlier.

The male nodded in reply. He doesn't think that she's the enemy; he just thinks that she's strange. Being strange and acting strange makes you suspicious.

Why is she so defensive?

"You have a snowy owl," which means that you're not from this country. "And your clothes are unusual," they looked like they were expensive and belonged to a noble.

"Also…" he turned to look at her.

Crimson wavy locks that reached her waist, emerald eyes greener and clearer than any forest he'd ever seen; soft pink lips, pale white skin and a jade earring dangling on her right ear, the other with a golden stud shaped like a half-moon— their country had a thing for beauty, surely he would have heard of her before. Her clothes, they also looked expensive. Why is she living in the forest?

Beautiful.

Red hair, her red hair screamed Uzumaki but he knew that she wasn't an Uzumaki. She couldn't be an Akamichi either; both were rather well-known clans, one extinct to a point, the other present and recorded in Konoha.

"You don't look like you're from here," like she's not Japanese, a foreigner would be more exact of a term. With his sharingan, it made Kakashi able to remember many faces yet her features were unlike anything he's ever seen. Are eyelashes supposed to be that red and long? Are faces supposed to be that small?

"If you don't tell me then I'd just have to report you,"

Hari blinked before she sighed, "I… live in this forest. Please do not report me."

It would be too troublesome if people were to come after her all of a sudden. All she wanted was a peaceful life.

"I do not carry any ill intent, I promise. I am aware that it's hard to believe and you're skeptical but still..." she said, trying to convince the ninja. She had her wand with her so she could always fight back in case he attempts to do anything but still— she preferred to do things in a civil manner.

"You live in the forest?"

"Yes,"

"And you're not a ninja. You're a civilian,"

"Yes, sir,"

"I've lived in Konoha my entire life. This forest doesn't have a lake," the woman narrowed her eyes at the path in front of her before she hummed, telling the other to continue with what he was about to ask. "What genjutsu did you cast?" and why can't he break it? And why did he get lost? Something was strange with the forest.

"Genjutsu?"

"Yes, what genjutsu did you use?"

"Genjutsu? You think that I used a genjutsu?" at this point he was just confused.

"I did not use a genjutsu," emerald eyes looked up at him before Kakashi felt someone's presence. His attention left her for a second and dropped on his friend, Gai, before he turned and noticed that she was gone, the entrance to the darkness of the South Blue Lake Forest behind his back. Kakashi felt the wind brush against his cheek.

She vanished. The ninja could feel his heart hammer against his chest.

"There you are! Where were you, Kakashi? Did you find the enemy?" Gai asked with his usual boisterous grin. "I thought that you got in a fight or something. We're supposed to report to Hokage-sama together," and with the sun already rising, all the ninjas that were deployed to find the intruders were supposed to come back to the tower to give the accounts of their search last night.

"Kakashi?" the taijutsu master curiously asked when he noticed that the other was simply staring at the forest's entrance. "I suppose… you really did meet the enemy?" his expression turned grim before Kakashi shook his head and continued to walk away from the woodlands.

"There wasn't an enemy. Let's go report to Hokage-sama,"

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"A genjutsu that cannot be dispelled?" Kurenai repeated her colleague's question.

Asuma and Anko who were present looked at Kakashi curiously.

"All genjutsus can be dispelled. It depends on the caster's ability and victim's strength though. I doubt there would be any that you can't dissipate, Kakashi," since it was hard to find ninjas stronger and on par with him.

Kakashi doesn't look satisfied with the answer he received nonetheless.

"It doesn't make sense,"

Anko stifled in a laugh for a few seconds before erupting in uncontrollable laughter.

Kakashi, the man who knows at least a thousand jutsus is asking such a ridiculous question. Surely, this man knows the answer already.

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"There are only one person known to do the perfect Shunshin— Uchiha Shisui,"

Kakashi could remember emerald eyes staring up at him, earrings dangling by the wind before he looked away for a second and she vanished.

The girl, Hari vanished. Without smoke, without fire, without sand— without anything. She just vanished and Kakashi wasn't able to detect the change whatsoever. There wasn't any hint of chakra being used.

If that was the case then they needed to capture her quick.

He thought that she was not a kunoichi; her structure did not belong to a kunoichi. A kunoichi would never wear clothes that long in case of battle nor grow out their hair that close to their waist. He also felt no ill intent from her; she did not know him or his name. If she was the enemy then she would've immediately ran away or gotten into position upon meeting Hatake Kakashi.

Or was she simply lying? Was it a disguise? A genjutsu user stronger than Kurenai?

Then again, she also said that it was not a genjutsu. Genjutsus can be dispelled, the forest and she remained. He needed answers. Reporting what he had seen to the Hokage would be the most logical thing but if this woman ever so happened to have a relation to his teacher then…

The male's eyes looked forward as he entered the Southern Blue Lake Forest for the second time around this week.

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Kakashi sighed as he walked out of the other side of the forest.

He searched but there wasn't a lake, the fireflies weren't as bright either. The owl— Hedwig, he hasn't seen her as well. The forest was back to its original state, the trees aren't as tall and they're no longer forming canopies above. Hari basically disappeared along each and every trace of their meeting that night. She had also been quick enough with her disappearing act for Gai not to notice her.

If ever he did report her to the Hokage, will they be able to catch her?

They'll try but he highly doubts that they'd be able to. If she was anything like Shisui, she'd be quite difficult to catch.

Kakashi wondered if he'll be able to meet her again if he got lost.

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"The Southern Blue Lake Forest in Konohagakure is said to be one of the densest forests in the Country of Fire. It's a place perfect for medicinal plants to grow and provides sufficient vegetation for various wild life all year long. The Tsuru Deer native to Konohagakure, known of their high selling antlers are frequently found—"

Kakashi flipped through the page.

"—the name Southern Blue Lake is coined upon a legend. The forest is said to be home to nymphs, beautiful maidens inhabiting rivers, woods or any natural location. These guardians, once in a while lead lost people to the lake so that they can rest and go out of the woods in the morning. Unfortunately, the Southern Blue Lake which was once present in the middle of the forest dried up seventy years ago—"

He flipped through another page.

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He wants to see her.

He wants to ask her questions.

He wants to see her.

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Kakashi wondered if he was slowly turning insane.

All these theories weren't good for his brain, he really should just go find the girl and ask her origins.

Spirit, deity, human, nymph, Uzumaki, princess or not— he just really needed answers.

The next time he meets her, he's not going to let her go until he hears everything straight from her mouth.

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The second time they meet, strange enough it's in a rather normal place— the middle of Konoha.

Kakashi who was with Asuma, Kurenai and Gai paused on his tracks when he saw a woman with wavy red hair and emerald eyes, panicking as she tried to fend off the civilians that were hitting on her. Her hands are full with paper bags of groceries and goods, ready to go home since she was done with her task for today.

"That's… not good," Kurenai said, sighing and shaking her head at the sight. She's about to take a step forward when a hand lands on her shoulder, Asuma coyly smiling. Red eyes narrow at the taller male before they return to the scene, noticing how Kakashi was already a few steps ahead, calmly walking towards the group.

"I knew it, it was a woman after all," Asuma grinned, Gai beside him smiling as well.

During the past few weeks, their friend Kakashi had been acting quite weird— disappearing every night and heading to the library for some reason. It couldn't be for a mission since details are given by the Hokage and that amount of stress they've seen… it was different than usual. In the end, both of the men, Asuma especially, concluded that Kakashi's concerns revolved around a woman.

Kurenai looked confused for a while before she smiled, glad that Kakashi was finally paying attention on someone.

"Ack! Hatake!" Hari exclaimed, looking up at the taller male that shadowed her figure. The civilians that were hitting on her were already long gone, terrified at the sight of one of Konoha's very best jounin approaching them. "Uhh… thank you?" she tilted her head to the side, dripping with cold sweat because she knew that he might report him.

Ah, goodbye peaceful life.

Hari, although she has her magic— don't get her wrong, she's quite strong and formidable when it comes to magic, would be knocked down quite easily in a physical fight. She blames herself for not learning self-defense, in her world, the Wizarding world especially, knowing how to throw a punch wasn't really that necessary. In this world however, it was the complete opposite.

"Are you still living in the forest?"

"Yes, I am,"

"You're lying,"

"No, I'm not," Hari tried to defend herself. "Please do not report me?" she forced an awkward laugh. This guy, why does she keep bumping into her and why is he so interested in where she lives? She told him that she lives in the forest twice already. As far as she knew, there wasn't any law prohibiting people from being nomads.

Black orbs narrowed at her, a hand grabbing her wrist in case she tries to flee.

Damn it. She really wanted to apparate out of here but she can't do that with him holding her. She can't do it in a place filled with a lot of people either.

"Come with me," Kakashi said and Hari gulped, ready to be thrown in jail. Good thing she had her wand with her in case anything bad happens. Also, if they do indeed fight, she wasn't planning on going down easily.

From afar, Kurenai, Asuma and Gai cheered.

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You're reached this part which means you've finished reading the chapter, hmm... so, how was it?

I hope I'll be able to finish chapter two by the weekend. I think I'll be able to update every week? Every two weeks? I make no promises, I do intend to make this story long term though. If I feel more inspired then maybe I'll be able to update a few days early.

(1) Southern Blue Lake Forest - a forest located at the southern part of Konoha. It is a place I made up. I did not want her to live in the Forest of Death because why would Kakashi go there? I needed a reason for them to meet and an excuse so that their meetings are limited for now. The forest has a legend, a saying that nymphs live there and its their powers that show the illusion of a lake.

(2) Why was Kakashi in the Forest? - he was in the forest since ninjas from Iwa infiltrated their village. He was part of the group, along with Gai, that was looking for them. He was searching for the intruders in Blue Lake Forest while Gai ran off somewhere so that they could cover more land. In the end, Kakashi mysteriously got lost and met Hedwig and Hari.

(3) Shunshin no Jutsu / Body Flicker Technique -by using the Body Flicker Technique, a ninja can move short to long distances at an almost untraceable speed. Uchiha Shisui was the only one known to do the jutsu without smoke or any other distraction. It's almost as if he vanished and teleported to somewhere else. Kakashi is surprised because Hari showed the same action. Being able to perform a high-level Shunshin shows how talented a ninja is.

My memory about the earlier events of Naruto are a bit blurry so sorry if it's inaccurate, I tried my best. Also, I haven't really gotten that deep into Hari's character yet. I plan to explain more of her in the future chapters to come.

I hope you liked it, if you did then please consider leaving a review? See you guys on the next chapter!