Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HP characters or places which appear in this story but Louisa and Martin belong solely to me and my writing partner, Martin.

Authors Note: This is a fiction about a witch who falls in love with a muggle whose family history is complicated to say the least. Having left Hogwarts at the end of her fifth year because her mother was concerned for her safety Louisa Hall has entered the world of Sixth Form College. And to her surprise the muggles aren't half as bad as she expected them to be. Finding her feet at college at first is not easy until she meets Martin Harding, a student in his second year about to depart for University. But when will she tell him she is a witch?

It is set in the year 1998 to begin with. Then will move forward to 2004 nearly 7 years after the defeat of Lord Voldermort but the wizarding world is still not the safe place it should be and dark times may lie ahead…..

Don't Dream It

By L.H. Matthews

Chapter 1: Harding and Hall

North Manchester, May 17th 1998

Louisa sat nervously down, her legs felt like jelly as Martin took her by the hand and they fell into the comfy brown sofa cushions together. Louisa didn't know what to do with her hands; she rubbed the dark jean fabric that covered her legs, outlining circles across her knee as if she was scratching an itch. Martin noticed this and he smiled.

'See we got you here eventually,' he commented smiling, Louisa felt herself go a little weak 'even if it was round the houses and half way up the right road the wrong way,'

'Next time maybe you could meet me off the bus,' Lou suggested bringing her hands up to her rest just above the top of her thighs. Her mind whirring quicker than she could speak she said, catching him staring at her, 'or I should just get a better map,'

'You're here now, that's all that matters,'

'What are we doing today?' Louisa asked

'Oh, I thought we could got to the pub for a drink perhaps, get to know each other a bit better away from the prying eyes of the common room'

'Martin I'm only 16-'Louisa sad worriedly

'You'll be with me, I'm over age. They won't bother about it,' he added seeing Louisa still looked unconvinced.

'Are you sure, I don't want to get you into trouble,'

'You won't' Martin implored 'you worry a bit, don't you?'

'Not all the time,' Louisa said, not wanting to create a negative impression. Louisa looked around the brightly painted room, it was flame orange embossed wallpaper. Her eyes wondered over to the large silver television set in the corner and her eyes fell on a silver photo frame which contained a picture of a man who Louise presumed to be Martin's father.

'Well the pub is a pretty quiet place on a Sunday. But if you want we could always do something else-'

'No, pub is fine,' Louisa said quickly 'if it is what you had in mind then. Not a problem, is the pub close'

'Well it isn't far from here actually, would take you to the Millgate but it gets busy at this time of day. Wouldn't be able to hear a word we were saying to one another otherwise,'

There was a small lull in the conversation and Louisa felt the cushions shift beneath her bottom as Martin leant into the back cushions. Louisa wasn't sure if he expected her to follow his example; she sat stiffly until his hand reached across her lap. She felt him tug lightly at her hand but when she remained perched on the edge of the cushion and just smiled at him he seemed content with moving his fingers over hers he began thumbing the top of her left hand gently.

'So you said you wrote Harry Potter fanfiction,' said Martin curiously

'Only Lily and James though, I love the Marauders – do you ever write about them or?' Louisa posed wanting to know more about Martin, and seeing as Harry Potter fanfiction had been what got her noticed to him and vice versa she felt it was a good way in to get to know him better.

'No, I find that genre a bit dominant in fanfiction. I prefer to focus on the more canonised side really,' explained Martin, frowning slightly 'it fits better with what I believe,'

'Oh, so you write about Harry?' Louisa said interestedly

'Sometimes it depends really on what I'm writing in the moment,' he paused 'changing the subject slightly erm, do you want to meet my mum- she and my sister are in the garden- asked about you actually,' he added a nervous edge in his voice Louisa hadn't really heard before.

'Sure, I'd love to meet your dad too,' Louisa added brightly her eyes flashing to the photograph.

'Ah might be difficult to achieve that one,' Martin said slowly as he stood up. Louisa frowned up at him.

'Oh? How come? Does he not want to meet me?'

'No, he died at Christmas, last Christmas '96'

Louisa felt all the colour drain from her face and her whole body felt like lead.

'I am so sorry,' she said horrified at what she had said.

'You weren't to know, not something you really tell someone you've only just met, you know, started seeing,' he added a little hastily. 'But come out the back, meet mum an Christa,'

Louisa felt terrible, but as Martin offered her his hand she felt a strange feeling of reassurance emanating from him. He helped her to her feet and gripping her hand he pulled her out of the living room and through a wide opening in the wall through a small loosely fitted kitchen and into a conservatory. There was a mild smell of floral washing powder as she passed an exercise bike loaded with t-shirts and towels in the conservatory. The sun was bright as they stepped outside into a small rectangular courtyard where two sun loungers were occupied, one by a slight tall girl with long light brown hair spiralling over shoulders wearing a small bright bikini above a pair of light blue jeans. An older woman who she presumed to be Martin's mum was also relaxing on the lounger wearing a light purple t-shirt, shades were covering her eyes, and was wearing blue flannel shorts, her legs were already a darker shade than that of her daughters.

'Mum- Christa this is Louisa,'

Louisa waited for them to respond, her hands had left Martin's when they reached the courtyard and she was clasping them nervously in front of her. Christa looked round mildly interested and nodded.

'Hello,' Heidi spoke first 'where are you two off today then?'

'Hi, erm-'said Louisa looking at Martin he then said

'Just to the pub, we won't be long,'

And Martin and Louisa retreated back into the house.

'So shall we go then?' he asked. He opened the living room door and Louisa followed him, her eyes glanced behind him up the stairs. There were piles of clothing half way up the dark blue shag piled carpet and two sets of football boots. Louisa wondered did Martin play for a local team or something.

'Are they yours?' she asked pointing at the boots.

'Narh, they belong to Christa,' he replied. He reached up for a coat then appeared to change his mind. He opened the front door a little stiffly and said 'after you?'

Louisa stepped out into the porch then pushed open the glass fronted door that led out into the front garden which was set back of the street. Louisa heard Martin shut the door and he joined her on the garden path.

'Which way is it?' Louisa asked him.

'Oh we will head straight out of here, then left and –'he pointed out the directions to her.

'And it isn't far? I don't want to miss my bus back home-'

'Oh you should be fine, what bus do you need to get back home?'

'The 415 from Oldham- its every half an hour,' Lou replied

'Oh you shouldn't have a problem; our buses here are every ten minutes even on a Sunday,'

Striding along the street Louisa struggled to keep up with his fast pace and was practically jogging to keep up with him. She eventually boldly linked her arm in his and he smiled appreciatively. As they turned into a longer road off the main route Lou felt his arm muscles relax and he moved his hand up to meet hers.

'Okay?' he asked and he wrapped his fingers firmly around hers. Louisa felt herself blushing.

'Fine, yep,' Louisa nodded, but after a second or two she felt her hand becoming sweaty and anxiously she pulled away and linked his arm instead. If it bothered him he didn't say anything, she focused on the road ahead noticing a primary school on her left that reminded her very strongly of her own.

'Did you go there?' she asked Martin

'Yeah some good memories in that place, fading a little now with the old age trick but yeah- that was mine,'

They reached a cross roads at the end of the road, cars were lined on one side next to an opulent looking white stone built church.

'That's where I was this morning,' he added pointing his head at the church 'before you came, had to rush back service didn't finish till twelve thirty,'

'Good job I was a little late then,' replied Louisa still hurrying her footsteps to keep up with him.

'I was looking forward to you coming round today, safe to say I ran home quickly,'

Louisa was unsure how she was expected to react to this comment and settled for squeezing his arm very gently but still unsurely.

They took a left turn into another long road lined with a mixture of bungalows on one side and a parade of shops on the other. Louisa noticed her favourite bakers, 'Martin's and the sudden realisation dawning on her that two of her favourite things shared the same name she let out a little laugh.

'What's funny?' he said inquiringly

'Oh nothing, you have the same name,' she noted. He followed her eye line and turned back to her.

'You like Martins?'

'I sure do,' Louisa grinned at him.

Authors Note: In the next few chapters it will be based in the muggle world and I will focus on the wizarding world in later chapters when Louisa is unexpectedly pulled back into the world.