True Love

1. True Love

I'm not sure how it all started. This love that is. This romance. I'm not anything special. I'm not trendy or good looking. I play on the quidditch team. I'm the boy who lived. Just another kid caught up in a prophecy. It all seems to explain why I was captivated by her, but not why she bothered to spare a look in my direction. But I guess it doesn't matter.

It started in the Great Hall on another dull day filled with the rudimentary tasks of student life. I sat across from her that day. Like all days. And I kept to myself most of the time unless need rose for social mingling. Others involved themselves in the drama that comes with society. I laugh at their foolishness. And I continue to live.

All was as best as it could be in my life. The only thing missing was a romantic relationship. Love seemed a far off thing to me. It existed in the lives of the good looking and those without Voldemorts to battle. Not for the plain like me. Clouds in the sky always predicted love, but the rain never came and the love never grew. I waited for it, never for a minute believing it true, but I waited. When love failed me and I would settle for 'good enough', it would be less of a disappointment. But then she came and changed it all.

She was a beautiful young woman by my standards. Standards that were rather low truth be told. Her eyes had a piercing quality to them. I can't say what color they were. Even now I cannot decipher the exact color of those mystical orbs. But perhaps this description will suffice. They are of waves of cerulean blue, thick forest green, soft granite, sweet honey brown, shimmering gold, and so much more.

And that was how she captured me. When we locked eyes one day, it seemed that she had looked into my soul. Her eyes, they penetrated the deepest recesses of my heart. I simply stared back, unable to tear myself away. I could not escape that burning gaze. At last the connection broke and I was free to escape. But I found myself not wanting to escape, but be back with her. Everything within told me to go back, but instead I ran.

~

I watched him abruptly stand up and collect his things. He clumsily and haphazardly stuffed his belongings into place under his arm and nearly ran to the exit. His hurried exit had left a stray piece of parchment to fall loose. It was the perfect opportunity to catch up and talk to him. I knew I had to take pursuit. There was something special about that moment we shared.

Reflecting upon that moment, I felt decidedly foolish. His stare had been so intense, scrutinizing. It seemed as if he was probing my mind. And all I could do was look back. Relief came to me when the connection had been broken. His haste to exit made my heart ache for some unexplainable reason. The loose parchment was my excuse for a second meeting.

I leapt for the paper he had dropped. So quickly that I nearly went headlong into a column nearby. Now that I think upon it, I laugh at my own clumsiness. It must have been quite humorous for spectators. But at the time, I had not a moment to spare. With great force, I flung the door open and ran out. It seemed my rush had been unneeded. He sat upon a bench, downcast. Whatever reservation I held before dissipated. I walked over to meet him for the second time.

~

I was feeling a bit put out after my clumsy escape. There was something about her that was different. Better than anyone. It felt as if a hole had been punched into my heart. After my exit, I had found the need for a spell of rest. There was much to be thought about. What drew me to her was first on my list. I was snapped out of my reverie when I felt a presence beside me. I lifted my head to see her, sitting next to me with her hands in her pockets.

~

A moment after I sat down, he raised his head. His features bore the marks of confusion and pain. I could not help but reach out to him, comfort him. Without warning, I enveloped him in a warm embrace, dropping the forgotten piece of parchment in my hand. Every ounce of what seemed to be love flowed into that hug. And before I knew what was happening, our lips were pressed together. It was a kiss of love, not of lust. There was no underlying passion, but simply a promise of love.

I had always believed that the man I fell in love with would make my heart race and drive me to sinful lust. He did neither. Instead, my heart seemed to slow and savor the moment. It was similar to eating a fine chocolate. Each small morsel was slowly eaten and every little detail tasted. And instead of igniting my sexual fire, the kiss seemed to steady it in a middle ground. I would not deny him myself, but I would not give without a promise of constancy. When we parted, my lungs did not scream for air; rather they were depleted and near their capacity. I had never experienced such a thing. I opened my eyes slowly to look into his and saw the same concentration as before, but with a note of cheerfulness. I wondered, at that time, whether he felt what I did.

~

It was amazing how quickly she had taken me into her arms. The warmth that had suddenly surrounded me was like that of an old comforter, the first day at Hogwarts. It warmed me and protected me. We were soon lip locked. The kiss evoked none of what the fairy tales said. Instead, every second brought peace to my world. A want for things... to just be. I promised myself that I would take care of us. That is, if she so desired. I would come home to her everyday.

Every day we would see each other and I would stare into her eyes from across the table. She would come and sit next to me, we'd kiss. It was simple like that. Not a word was spoken but it was all said through every little look shared. New colors would twinkle in her eyes every time I looked. I thought that it might never stop. I hope it won't.

It's funny that we hadn't gone any further. So many speak of 'taking the next step', but we didn't need to. I didn't need to do the deed to make love, we made love with just a brush of the hands. Everyday I would wake up hoping it wasn't just a long dream. And then she would walk in with a look to relieve me. I was still hers and she was still mine.

I wanted to wake up with her though, not like that, but I wanted to make sure she was there with me. And I wanted to always know that. It was all I could think of as I shopped at the jewelry store, the gaze we would share as she walked down the aisle. To tell me its was all true and put a ring on my finger for proof.

So one day I 'popped the question'. I was nervous, more than nervous. Completely and utterly petrified. She didn't answer right away though. All I could do was sit and wait, hoping for the best. The swirling colors in her eyes that captured my heart, time after time after time, gave me the courage to wait.

~

One day he asked me to marry him. That was it. He didn't invite me to a fancy restaurant or make a giant ceremony for it. He just... asked. It shocked me into silence, the way its like when someone says you won the lottery. So unexpected, but nice, yeah, pretty nice. I sat there for the longest time just staring. Staring into his eyes.

Did I want to marry him? This was the best thing I'd ever had, but was there something better? My mother always told me that I would marry a rich man, a handsome man, one that would have his chauffeur drive me to a fancy hotel ballroom. We would dance until midnight, and just before I left he would bend down on one knee and ask for my hand. The room would hold its breath and my yes would be the icebreaker before the applause. Doves would be released and flower petals showered.

But that was what she said it would be like. And wasn't that better than this? No, I knew the answer to that question. Nothing would ever be better than this. We were quiet people, humble, and I would never know what they had, the rich and famous. But it didn't matter, because this was good. It was love. He wouldn't give me an extravagant life, but I didn't need any of that. He would give me the best thing of all though: love. And that was good.

~

She still didn't answer and I could get no answer from her eyes. Even after all our time together, I still tried to look into the depths that were her eyes. Divine what was impossible to divine. I always have. Never was I more on the edge, more uncertain of what we shared. Maybe she never really wanted to be with me. That thought chilled me to the bone, and the exit was looking attractive. But then she finally spoke.

“Ok”. I let out a sigh of relief at that. After all, all was good in my life.

~

I'm engaged to be married now. My mother was disappointed in my choice of a man, but I never really needed her to understand. Because I understand the truth of love. Every time I look at him, I fall in love all over again. We always study each other but we never find any real answers. Even so, its ok, because we love one another. We're not loud and sociable people, not like the celebrities. The rich and famous will turn their noses up at us and it won't matter a bit. We just ignore the looks and go on our way despite his fame.

Love is good.

Life is good.

AN: An adaptation of one of my better general fics. I simply changed a bit of it around, to match and H/Hr theme. Tell me what you think!

http://www.fictionpress.com/~thewayofway <- Go