Disclaimer: I own none of J.K Rowling's characters what-so-ever! I own the characters that you don't recognize.

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'Five Years without He-Must-Not-Be-Named

Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the Final Battle between the Death-Eaters and The Order of the Phoenix. Many died on side, some old and some young. It was a long and tiring ordeal for some, it seemed never ending and. But, in the end, The-Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, finally defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (Voldemort) with the great sword of Godric Gryffindor that was pasted down to Harry Potter from the late Albus Dumbledore. Everyone was silent when the body of Voldemort turned into ashes and was later buried on sacred grounds to prevent the former Lord from rising ever again. But, of course Harry Potter was severely stricken when he delivered the final blow. Luckily, with his the help of his friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, he was alive, although badly injured. Barely an inch from death; he was quickly hospitalized for a few short months before being released. After a year, he and Ginny Weasley were engaged and wedded the next spring. The duo of friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, got married soon after.

Hogwarts still stands, even after the destruction of most parts of the school during the Final Battle. On the grounds lie the fallen heroes of the war, including Albus Dumbledore, Sirius Black (who was found innocent during the time of the war), Rubeus Hagrid, Arthur Weasley, Filius Flitwick, and Dean Thomas. They rest in a quiet cemetery near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Will this peace we have last only until a new Dark Lord rises? Only time will tell. And readers, The Quibbler will be there to report it.

-Luna Lovegood,

The Quibbler

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Dawn Phoenix sighed as she threw the folded The Quibbler onto the table, making her roommates jump in surprise as how her action made their bowls of cereal shake a bit. She took out her ruby colored elastic band out and pulled her golden hair back into a ponytail, leaving a few strands resting her shoulders. Her best friend Marcy McGuire was the first one to speak.

"Um...Dawnie, are you ok?"

"Just peachy," She replied with sarcasm, "Kind of just pissed off that all the news today is nothing but how Harry Potter saved the world and blah blah blah!"

"Easy there girl, "Her other roommate, Alisa Stepherson, said while patting her bare shoulder.

"I guess you just wanted to hear something...more to your level? Like...a job?" asked Marcy, smirking

"Shut up, Marcy. I hate it that you guys are paying my share of the rent, while I'm stuck here doing nothing." said Dawn

"Hey, some people would jump at the chance, not paying for stuff and living like royalty!" exclaimed Marcy

"Honey, stop it," said Alisa to her friend as she noticed Dawn's glare at her," I don't want to heal a bruise...again."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine! Sorry, Dawn."

"Whatever. Look, I'm going to take a shower and go out for a bit." Dawn sighed as she got out of her seat and walked up the steps to the upper level.

Dawn locked the bathroom door behind her she turned on the taps in the shower and let it get to just the temperature she wanted. As she waited she pulled out The Daily Prophet and turned towards the 'Help Wanted' section and scanned over it. She marked the places she checked out with circle and had a red X over all of them, which meant she'd failed. None of them seem like the job she was looking for.

Her dream job was something you couldn't really find in this kind of newspaper. Her dream was unique and exciting, but it was too embarrassing to tell everyone except Marcy, who been with her through Salem's School of Witches. She had grown up in an orphanage in America for her first ten years, and in poor condition. Dawn was dropped at the orphanage when she was just one year old, her parents unknown. She was surprised when she got a letter to attend Salem's School of Witch's in America, so one of her parents or both were magical. She met Marcy and hit it off right from the start. A year later, they meet Alisa who was a year younger then them but grew being taller then the two and was more mature and very motherly.

After they left school, they spent a few years in a wizard college in London, just getting further education to get good jobs in the future. Dawn was smarter than the other two, she got the second highest grades in school but every job she thought was good was not something was wanted. Always in robes, talking high and mighty, and acting so...immature. Marcy had gotten a job at a fashion store, designing clothes for both sexes. And Alisa...well...she got a job as a cook. Not that much but the pay was good. Dawn lacked talent in making clothes and cooking grand dishes was not her forte. She could get by for patching up clothing and making...toast.

After the two of them settled with a job, they rented out a flat near Diagon Alley but closer to the muggle side. For the past few months, Alisa and Marcy had been taking care of her, paying the rent, fixing her food, and other kind things that they can think of. It was weird that they treated her as a little sister when she was a bit older than them. Something was up, but Dawn really didn't have the time of day nowadays.

Dawn sighed and got undressed and walked under the shower head and let the nearly hot water wash over her. After her shower was done, she dried off with a quick spell and styled her hair into two small braids at the top that merged into one in the middle. She got dressed in purple tank top with decorated buttons going down the middle, black tennis shoes, and tight fitting pair of light blue jeans. She put away her dirty laundry and hurried downstairs where she saw her two friends had already left. She grabbed her coat and walked out of the door and headed towards Flourish and Blotts for her weekly visit.

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The small sound of the bell ringing as Dawn opened the door to Flourish and Blotts. There were few people in the store in this time of day, most people off to work or at school. She smiled as she saw the book owner, Mr. Quill, signaling her over to his counter.

"Good morning, Miss Phoenix. How are you today?" he asked

"Oh, the usual, trying to find a job and what not," she said with a sigh

"You know you can always work here with me. The pay is not great, but you can read all the books you want." Mr. Quill stated, grinning

"Sorry, but it's not what I really want. I want a job that lets me explore the world; learn different things and people, just something exciting. Something new at every corner! But something not dangerous that can get me killed. I just want a job that lets me care for something, to raise it, make sure it's healthy, and nurture it. Something like that." she finished with a big grin

Mr. Quill sighed and hit Dawn on the tip of her nose with his black eagle feather, "It seems like you need to have a family."

"Yeah...but I'm hardly even twenty-five yet! I got a life to finish up before I settle down and raise a family!" she exclaimed," So, what new books have you got this week?" she added, changing the subject.

"Well...we've got...'An Apprentice's Catalogue of Transformation', 'Dark Arts for the Illusionist', 'Classic Magic', and 'The Bodily Humors of The Dragon'." he listed off the top of his head.

"Wow, I've got a lot to look at today. Thank you, Mr. Quill." Dawn said, smiling before heading to the shelves of books.

"Oh! Try to buy something at least something, today! This isn't a library, you know!" he called after her walking form.

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Around an hour after of browsing, Dawn was in the Potion's section of the store. A pile of books sat at her feet as she trailed the spines of the books with her finger, mouthing out the titles of the books to herself. After saving up her little pocket money she had, she could afford to buy more than two books today, instead of just buying one cheap or used book; she could get more interesting books. She was looking for a book about how to use potions to get the perfect taste for a dish (a gift for Alisa).

Dawn's eyes brighten as she saw what she was looking for but frowned when it was a few shelves above her height. She summoned the ladder on wheels and got it to the right area. She climbed the ladder and stopped in the middle when she felt it wobble a bit but put it in the back of her mind, and continue to climb. When she reached the top, she sighed in relief when she spotted the book. She brought the book out and flipped it open to a random page. The ladder wobbled again but stronger when she leaned out of the ladder to look at the book. She tried to grab onto the ladder but failed when her feet slipped from under her. It was slow motion when she fell to the ground. She saw the top of the ceiling, and her book falling in front of her. Instead of falling to the ground, she made contact with a hard chest and felt arms holding onto her.

"You should really watch where you're going," drawled a voice above her.

She looked up to meet a pale face of a man around forty years of age. Long black hair framed his face as he looked back at her. She noticed his long nose, his almost black eyes, and what looked to be a frown. The man pushed her off of him so she that was standing. He was a head taller than her; he seemed to tower over her. Dawn felt her cheeks redden with embarrassment.

"Uh...thanks for catching me," she said quickly

He rolled his eyes as he picked up her fallen book and looked at the spine for the title. "Tales of the Perfect Taste," he read out loud, bored.

"It's for a friend," Dawn replied as she snatched the book back and held it against her chest, protectively.

"Humph, just be careful next time. Good day." he said

Dawn watched his back as the tall stranger walked out of the store. She noticed he was wearing all black with a hint of green to it. Somehow, that man, when he held her, made her stomach flutter a bit. Dawn pushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear as she bent down to pick up her remaining books and went to the counter to pay for her items.

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Dawn sighed as she arrive back home around five, just before the sun was setting. Be as it may, that man in the book store was still coming to her mind, no matter how much she tried to push it back, it kept reappearing. His smell, how his arms felt around her, his beautiful but deadly looking eyes starring into hers, and voice! It had a warming yet a cold feeling to it. She shook her head as she set the big, purple bags on the counter in the kitchen. She began to sort out the food into the cabinets and fridge. She didn't notice someone walking in until someone tapped her on the shoulder. Dawn gave a small jumped and turned around to face her friend Marcy, leaning on the counter next to her.

"Heya, Dawnie, whatcha doing?" she asked

"Sorting out our foods, at least one of us does it," she replied coldly

"Why don't you use magic, love?"

"I grew up in a muggle orphanage, what do you expect? Waving my hand and everything is peachy! Well, Marcy, its not going to happen!" she yelled at her friend

"Wow...Are you ok, Dawn? You are pissed and I can tell. Even without you screaming in my ear, which hurts. Come on," Marcy said as she wrapped her arms around her waist and rested her head on Dawn's right shoulder, "Tell old Marcy, what is up with you lately? We have been telling each other everything on our minds since we were eleven. From boys, to school work and dreams, and all that lies between. Will you tell me or do you want me to tickle you?" she asked

Her hands traveled up and tickled Dawn lightly under her underarms. Dawn giggled and had to push Marcy off of her so she could breathe. She turned around to face her best friend and calmed herself down. She pushed another strand of hair away from her face before looking back at Marcy with a serious look on her face.

"Well...I'm just fed up with everything that's going on with me, not able to find a job that all really. All of them are too much work, not enough work, too dangerous or just plain simple. I never want to work in an office with other people, trying each year to get to the top but get shot down again and again, that's not me. I promised myself that I would never work like that, never, ever. I want excitement in my life, Mar!" Dawn yelled

"What you need is a boyfriend," replied her friend

"Well, I kind of met a guy today and he keeps coming up in my mind." she said, blushing a bit.

"Really? Tell me about him!" exclaimed Marcy

"He is tall, has black hair and eyes, a kind of a pale face, and older then me," she replied

"Tall, dark and handsome. Nice. So, how did you meet him?" asked Marcy

"Well, we fell into each other."

"I don't understand."

"Well, I was at Flourish and Blotts, you see, and I was trying to get a book up high. I used a ladder and later found it was wobbly as rubber and I accidentally slipped and fell down from it," this got Marcy interested and Dawn continued."He caught me before I fell to the ground. He told to 'watch myself' and 'be careful next time' and then...he left the shop." she finished with a sigh.

"What! And you didn't get his name! How could you?" asked Marcy, almost yelling.

"I was embarrassed from the fall; I couldn't just ask him name like that. It was way too embarrassing." said Dawn

"Fine," sighed Marcy, "next time you see him, ask him his name and for a date to really thank him. OK?"

"OK."

"Good, now I got something good to show you. Think of this of an early birthday gift or whatever. Just stay here." said Marcy in a threatening manner before rushing upstairs and to her room.

Dawn leaned back against the kitchen counter while waiting for her friend. In a few short minutes, she came back bouncing down the steps. She slid next to dawn and held out The Daily Prophet to her.

"What's this?" asked Dawn, grabbing the newspaper

"Turn to page three and look at the bottom, circled in purple." Marcy said with a smirk

Dawn raised an eyebrow at her before turning the page and looking for purple ink. Her eye's nearly popped out of their sockets at an advert placed in the newspaper.

"Marcy! How could you!"

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Authors notes: Sorry it had to end like that, but you got to wait till see what Miss Sneaky-Pants put in the paper. Gotta love cliffhangers. Please rate and message. Thanks all! )