Disclaimer: Anything you recognize here belongs to J.K. Rowling, the author whose characters and intricate world inspire me so much.

The title of this story comes from a letter from the writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) to Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas.

Prologue

Those eyes. Their splendor was not only manifest in the way they shone like two precious gemstones, but how sincere and gentle they looked – especially when little lines formed at their corners as a result of laughter.

That smile. It was charming whether it took the form of a cheerful grin, a shy, close-mouthed crescent moon, or an amused smirk. It was as powerful as a Patronus for dispelling unhappy feelings, because no one could ever look at that smile and feel anything except peacefulness and joy.

That dark hair. Its wildness made it much more charming than it would have been if it lay as straight and flat as most other peoples' hair. It seemed as if its refusal to be tamed matched the daring and the uniqueness of the soul housed within the body.

That skin. It looked soft, and begging to be stroked lovingly with a hand or a single finger. It was pale, but not at all sickly or sallow; rather, a lovely paleness not unlike that of a Greek deity in a Botticelli painting. How could anyone's skin be so smooth and perfect, and so untouched by the blemishes that plagued other teenagers?

How was it that the jagged scar on his forehead did not look at all like a flaw, but instead seemed like an endearing characteristic that was every bit as beautiful as the rest of his face?

The strong attraction Harry's admirer felt for him was about much more than his physical attractiveness. Anyone could look at him and assert that he was "cute." No, his admirer, who had known Harry and forged a close friendship with him over six years now, had come to see the real young man behind the myth of the Boy Who Lived.

It was not as though Harry's faults hadn't made themselves known also over the years. He could be too impulsive, overly moody, at times even selfish. But a person's characteristics which can annoy or hurt you are often the same things that you love about him.

Harry was impulsive because he was also brave - despite Harry's own doubts in his second year, it was clear that he was suited to no other house as well as Gryffindor. And his courageousness was tightly tied in with his intense loyalty; once he befriended you, he would risk anything to protect you. (His admirer had been on the receiving end of that loyalty on more than one occasion.) He could be moody because he had a good heart, felt every emotion deeply, and was always very honest about his feelings. And if he was sometimes selfish...well, his admirer had finally come to understand why. Merlin knows he deserved to be selfish every once in awhile, with the weight that had been hanging on his shoulders since he was an infant of not only being parentless, but also being the boy who was supposed to save the magical world from the most evil wizard in a century.

Despite his shortcomings, despite the things that had happened to him that would turn a weaker personality into a bitter, nasty git like Professor Snape – Harry was a beautiful person: whether you looked simply at him or looked more deeply within him, it was a fact that could not possibly be denied.

The person who had fallen in love with him had tried to deny it many times, but finally admitted that he could do so no longer. As sure as Harry Potter was beautiful, another fact loomed even larger, more heavily: Ron Weasley was in love with his best friend.