Miss Moony would like to say that she doesn't own Harry Potter and that she had no help with this story from Miss Wormtail, Miss Padfoot or Miss Prongs.

This story was written because Miss Moony is incredibly aware that she writes more regularly for other people's SHIPs than her own, the HMS Black Lightning, and she wishes to correct that.

SLASH! Consider yourself warned.

------- I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good -------

Once Upon a December Evening

Once upon a time always turns stories into night-time tales that are told to little children with the hope of encouraging Good Behaviour, so I'm not going to start this story with once upon a time.

I also thought of beginning with one winter, long ago, but that just sounds cheesy, and also has a strange side effect of making this sound less like a fairy-tale. Which it isn't, but it'd be nice to have it sound like one, all the same – one for adults, though, not kids.

How I am going to start, is with once upon a December evening, so here goes:

Once Upon a December Evening, a young boy sits in an overstuffed armchair and stares at the hypnotic dancing flames in the fireplace. This boy's name is Blaise Zabini, and he is crying.

Meanwhile, somewhere else, there is another boy who has decided to do something. This boy's name is Harry Potter, and he is travelling.

That December evening, Harry Potter had decided to help Blaise Zabini. Some would believe this to be a stupid thing, because the only way to help Blaise Zabini was to somehow prevent him from being forced to take the Dark Mark. However, if anybody could do that, other people thought, then it would be Harry Potter.

Harry Potter, according to his Muggle relatives, is a Freak. Harry Potter, according to the Order of the Phoenix, is a Hero. Harry Potter, according to the Ministry of Magic, is The-Boy-Who-Lived. Harry Potter, according to Ginevra Weasley, is beautiful and passionate and kind. Harry Potter, according to his best friends, is loyal and brave and oh-so wonderful. Harry Potter, according to Blaise Zabini, is Harry.

Harry Potter is a mixture of all those things. He is The-Boy-Who-Lived and he is a Hero and he is a Freak, and he is brave and loyal and passionate and beautiful and kind, but most of all, Harry Potter is Harry. Just Harry.

And this, above all else, is why Blaise Zabini has not been informed that Harry Potter Wants To Help. Blaise Zabini worries that Harry Potter will die every time that he leaves The Castle, and Harry Potter hates making people worry.

Harry Potter is flying towards Little Hangleton on the back of a Hippogriff. This is probably not the most sensible thing to be doing, but Harry Potter doesn't care.

Harry Potter Has A Plan.

Harry Potter will fulfil the terms of The Prophecy. Harry Potter will kill Lord Voldemort. Once And For All.

Blaise Zabini will be free, and Harry Potter will finally the one deserved reward that he actually wants.

So when Harry Potter arrives at Lord Voldemort's HQ, he is thinking about Blaise Zabini, and not Revenge.

Lord Voldemort Does Not Like Love. Actually, he hates it. So when Harry Potter thinks about Blaise Zabini, Lord Voldemort Burns, and the Love eats him from the inside out.

Harry Potter returns to The Castle, and Blaise Zabini finds out that Harry Potter Wanted To Help And Did So, Harry Potter finally receives the one reward for his troubles that he actually wants.

Blaise Zabini thanks him and kisses him and then blushes.

And Harry Potter Is Happy, because. Just Because.