Hello!

This story has been on my mind for fricking months, to the point of becoming highly annoying. Lately, it's got so bad that I even started to dream about it, so I didn't have another choice other than write it down.

(I know, I know, I have 'The Next Great Adventure' to update but I simply can't ignore this story any longer. So, please hang in there, eventually I'll return to it.)

Anyway, for the record, I have no clue where I'm going with this. I've got some ideas but nothing definite in the long run. Actually, you could say this is more like an experiment and 'we'll see' kind of thing, I guess.

About the title. It refers to two different points.

One: the name of our heroine – Rosemary – which is a common spice and the name of the manga – Fruits Baskets.

Two: the two main female characters' personalities: Tohru – sweet and Rosemary – fiery/spicy (basically because she's a redhead).

About the time lines:
Harry Potter's world-wise, for now it's canon compliant for the seven books up until the moment Voldemort casts the Killing Curse in the Forbidden Forest, except some minor things and the fact that our hero is a red-haired female with a (slightly?) different personality – which includes but doesn't limit to the infamous red-haired temper, you've been warned.(LOL)
Fruits Baskets world-wise, up until the end of chapter 12 of the manga, the story is overall the same as well. This fic officially starts after the New Year. I'll try not to make the characters too OOC, but I make no promises.

Pairings… for now I'm still thinking, but if I put Rosemary with one of the Souma, it will probably be Shigure, Ayame or Hatori. In my mind, for this story, I picture her too mature, experienced and a bit too jaded with life to be able to successfully have a good and lasting relationship with any of the teenage boys, who, by the way, they all are younger than her.

This prologue is heavily based on a small passage in chapter 34 from ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''.

Well, I think it's everything I needed to say for now.

Enjoy and please tell me what you think! Happy reading!

PROLOGUE – The Ultimate Sacrifice

''I end up saving the world, just to save you.'' - Hiroya Oku

Dementors gliding around the Forbidden Forest's edge blocked the invisible Rosemary Potter's path but she lacked the strength to conjure another Patronus. She pulled the snitch from her pouch, as she recalled its inscription – 'I open at the close' – finally realizing that it had always referred to death.

Her own death.

Steeling her resolve and closing her eyes, she pressed the snitch to her lips as she murmured, ''I am about to die.''

At this action, it suddenly broke open to reveal the Peverell Ring inside with the cracked Resurrection Stone. Turning the Stone three times, the shades of James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin appeared before the girl, all their forms ghostly albeit appearing more solid looking than mere spirits.

All told Rosemary of how proud they were of the young woman, comforting her in the last moments of her life. Sirius tried to assuage his goddaughter of her fears saying that dying was fairly painless and easier than falling asleep. They exchanged a few more words, reassuring each other that somehow everything would be alright in the end, while the ghostly presences remained by the Girl-Who-Lived's side acting as Patroni against the Dementors overhead. Only after Sirius assured Rosemary that they would be invisible to everyone else and would be with her until the very end, was she able to force herself to walk the remaining distance between her and her definite executioner.

Rosemary made her way through the thick, tangled woods, unaware just where she was heading: the spirits of her beloved family remained close to her side, seeming to guide her. As she neared Voldemort's camp, Yaxley and Dolohov appeared to hear something but they eventually suspected that it was probably only an animal and completely ignored her unseen approach.

The hour Voldemort had given Rosemary was coming to an end and it seemed that the Dark Side had already started to believe that the famous Girl Saviour wasn't coming after all.

Still hidden under her faithful Invisibility Cloak, Rosemary entered the clearing where most of the Dark Forces seemed to be gathered. After a moment's thought, she remembered the place as Aragog's lair, his descendants previously forced out by Death Eaters to fight for their cause.

''I had thought she would have come,'' Voldemort commented to no one in particular, his tone a combination of mild disappointment, slight annoyance and clear impatience.

The clearing remained silent at these words, each follower present possessing a healthy survival instinct where the Dark Lord's foul mood was concerned.

Rosemary breathed deeply one last time, as she pocketed her wand and the cloak. She finally dropped the Stone from cold, numb fingers and the spirits immediately vanished. She forced her mind to blank of everything other than her resolute willingness to sacrifice her own life for the future of her precious people and the magical world. The only way to destroy the Horcrux in her forehead, and thus the possibility of definitely kill the Darkest Lord of all times, was this way and she had already made up her mind; she wouldn't back down now.

Voldemort spoke up once more. ''I was, it seems… mistaken.''

Rosemary loudly replied, tone and gaze both unwavering, despite the momentous consequences that were sure to follow. ''You weren't.''

The Dark Lord turned around at that statement, like everyone else in the clearing, showing surprise for a split second, before casting the Killing Curse without further ado. As the ominous bright green light flew towards her, the Girl-Who-Lived stood there, unmoving, her last thought her selfless wish for her beloved people to be happy.

''Avada Kedavra.''

Actions