Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything found here other than my own imagination!

A/N: Yes, yes, I *know*! I have other stories I should be working on! Here's the thing, guys, to keep a long story short: I had a lot of problems and my computer is now in storage. On said computer is chapters and chapters and chapters (so on and so forth yadda yadda ya, you get the idea) for all the ongoing stories I currently have going! So, don't give up, they'll be coming rapid fire once I get settled down again. I haven't given up, they're not dead stories. Now, this laptop is on loan so I thought I'd write a little to post for you. Also, and you'll really like this, since I've been out of internet (GASP! I know, it's terrible and I don't recommend it) I have like… 12 notebooks (thick ones) full of writing. So, there will be lots more to come! ON WITH THE STORY and remember, reviews make me smile.

SECOND STAR

A very tiny pair of boys wandered down a very large hall. They weren't unnecessarily tiny at all, just the kind of child who would grow into a tall broad shouldered and thin hipped man. At seven years old, people already remarked about how handsome they would be, much to their mothers' delight. They seemed to own the gaping hall, like the mouth of a monster compared to them. Their confidence was in their walks, the way they held themselves as they nearly sauntered about. Of course, they'd been together their entire lives, even in the womb. This was due to their mother's being best friends, as close as they were at the same ages. On the outside, the boys were as opposite as night and day. The boy on the left would be inheritor to the grand manor they explored now. He had pale skin, like that of a ghost, and pointed yet somehow soft features. His hair was as nearly as pale as he was, a glistening platinum blond, like that of his father and his father and his… you get the idea. Draco Malfoy's eyes however, were a startling stormy gray that seemed to almost swirl. He had an aristocratic nose (the only trait the two shared) and thin, pale pink lips. His comrade in arms was another story. Blaise Zabini was a thoroughbred Italian and, in comparison to Draco, was dark. Everything about the boy was dark. His hair fell in soft waves about his shoulders so black that it was nearly blue. His eyes were a piercing crystal blue, his skin an olive sort of tan; darkened by days in the sun. He had full pouty lips and hardened features. However, no matter how different they looked on the outside; inside, the boys were the same. They were so much the same that their mother's often said they shared two halves of the same soul.

Tonight, the boys had been left alone. Like so many other times, their mother's sat in the tea room sipping tea while Draco's father sat with their shared godfather in the study.

"It's happened again." Draco said calmly, running the tips of his long fingers down the cold stone wall. The shadows played on his tiny face, making him look sinister, even that young. Blaise arched an eyebrow in cool indifference, hands held behind his back.

"Which?" he asked, "Daphne has gone through your things?" Daphne was a beautiful girl, the same age as the young wizards and from a similarly powerful family. She had only just joined the two six months before. Draco rolled his eyes,

"She wouldn't dare, Blaise. Not after last time, in any case. No, I meant death. The curse. Someone else has died." This, if the Italian's expression was anything to go by, was very interesting. He arched both eyebrows; blue eyes lit with interest and tilted his head to his companion,

"Has it? How do you know?"

"Shhh." Draco whispered one finger over his mouth, "listen." Since the Manor's walls were made of stone, and made so large, sound tended to carry if one didn't spell it quiet. It bounced about the walls now, the sound of terribly soft sobs reaching their tiny ears. "Mother is crying."

Blaise's calm expression turned to one of worry. The Curse had already taken his father away from him years and years ago. This was why the Zabinis and the Blacks(Draco's mother's maiden name had been Black) were always so terribly close; they shared the exact same curse. The curse had been placed on them by one of the Blacks so long ago no one could be arsed to remember. Still, it had been ongoing for hundreds of years and had never been proven wrong. "The Blacks and the Zabinis, from here on out are cursed to love and be loved and to lose that love to death" the curse stated, as far as they knew. Draco knew, because of that, that his parents didn't really love each other. It was by arranged marriage and determination that had made the family lines last this long, that much was certain. They also knew that they could love each other, sharing their own misery. Many, many Blacks and Zabinis had died young from suicide as well. They also had gathered that it didn't have to be romantic love to take them. Draco nodded at the darker boy's curious look and they turned the corner, heading quietly for the tea room to see what they could find out. Both boys edged into crouched positions, peering into the barely cracked door. Narcissa, Draco's mother, was draped across Tilantha (Blaise's mother) and barely crying now, it seemed she'd cried it all out.

"It was the curse, Tilly." The delicate blonde growled, "The curse took him, I know it did."

"The curse?" Tilantha sat up, her dark features twisted into something ugly, "who did Regulus love?" Blaise and Draco exchanged disappointed looks. They had loved Draco's cousin Regulus dearly as he'd always taken them scar gazing.

"His brother." Narcissa replied coldly, "Sirius Black. Regulus loved Sirius so much that he went against the Dark Lord for some reason or another and they killed him this evening, hexed in the back, Tilly."

"That's terrible!" Tilantha gasped, "and it finally ends the Black line, doesn't it?"

"Unless Draco continues it, yes." Narcissa nodded, "as far as actual Black's by name, yes. We are all gone now. My sister has a daughter in Hogwarts and already lost her husband."

"Aunt Bela doesn't have a daughter." Draco frowned gently. Blaise rolled his eyes because, of course, he knew that. Draco had a penchant lately for repeating things Blaise already knew because of that blasted Daphne girl.

"Ah, yes, that silly Andromeda Black." Tilantha acknowledged, "excuse me, Tonks." Narcissa nodded, lips curled back with disgust,

"A blood traitor, certainly. Marrying that man, can you imagine, Tilly?"

"I cannot. However, I believe we are being spied upon, 'Cissy." Tilantha smirked. Narcissa turned, probably spotting Draco's hair which imitated a beacon often, much to Blaise's annoyance. Narcissa smiled her gentle smile and beckoned to them,

"come on in, gentleboys, you've been spotted."

"Drat." Draco said sarcastically, pushing the doors open. He swept in where Blaise had more of a lazy saunter and they stood together in front of their mothers who were clearly the older female counterparts of themselves. "Mother," Draco said with a gentle nod, "am I to know that Severus is in father's study with him?"

"You are." She nodded, "what of it, Dragon?"

"We- that is to say, Blaise and myself would like to go to Severus' house and spend the night there… if that's agreeable, of course." The slight flick of crystal blue eyes was the only sign that Blaise hadn't actually wished any such thing and had no prior knowledge of the idea. However, they both believed Severus Snape to be the most amazing man that ever lived so he remained silent in hopes they could go. Both women looked at each other knowingly. It was no secret that the two little boys hoped to be the very same men who broke their curse and both women knew that Draco now was asking a terrible lot about Potions. Severus Snape was a Potions Master and both boys godfather.

"I suppose that is agreeable indeed." Narcissa nodded, "should Severus and your father agree. Tilly, what do you think?"

"It's a grand idea," Tilantha nodded, "but be sure to ask!" She called out after them and both women laughed as the two bolted from the room.

In the hall, Draco slowed to a brisk walk and Blaise strolled along beside him, waiting. When Draco didn't offer any information, he pressed for some,

"What do you mean volunteering me like that?" he asked, "what are you planning?"

"We are going to break The Curse of course, Blaise, don't be daft." Draco replied, rolling his eyes. Blaise scowled and wrinkled his nose.

"I'm not daft, you are. Clearly, Draco, because the Curse can't be broken! The Curse clearly states-"

"Only a sacrifice of true love will end this blight." Draco quoted, cornering his eyes to look at his friend, "and many, many Blacks and Zabinis have died- sacrificing themselves for love. Yet, the curse remains."

"Because it can't be broken!" Blaise stressed, "our forefathers have tried every known way. We have become curse breakers, hired curse breakers, committed suicide and murder for our loved ones, tried every spell! It won't work, Draco, and you know it."

"I know no such thing." Draco replied, "Blaise, every single person in our family trees has tried every single thing to actually break the curse, right?" Blaise glared,

"Draco, I just said that."

"But," Draco continued, "no one has tried to work with the curse, have they? No, it's always been against it."

"Right." Blaise nodded, "we already agreed on that. You and I will simply never fall in love or love another and we won't have to worry about the thing."

"Everyone falls in love and everyone loves." Draco said, "father said it is inescapable."

As Blaise had lost his father, Lucius Malfoy had sort of taken the boy in and it was no secret that Blaise loved his Uncle Lucius as if he were own father. Lucius was Draco's father and as such, both boys put quite a bit of stock in anything Lucius Malfoy said. In fact, if Lucius said it, it was undeniable law. Blaise's eyes widened a bit with fear,

"But I don't want to fall in love!"

"And we won't." Draco replied, "I've figured it out, Blaise."

"But Uncle Lucius said-"

"Father doesn't know much about Potions! You know that, Blaise. So, since we are cursed if we love, we'll find a potion-"

"That makes us not fall in love!" Blaise finished, eyes flicking across the darkness as he thought, "Draco, you're a genius!" Draco preened and nodded,

"I know! If anyone, in the whole world, knows how to find such a potion, it will be Severus!"

"Finally!" Blaise relaxed, "we can end this nonsense."

They had reached the doors of Lucius' study. They didn't dare just waltz in, something the man had warned them about many, many times in past years. Instead, they knocked. The cool and calculated voice of Lucius Malfoy answered the boys,

"You may enter."

Lucius sat on one side of his desk, back as straight as a pin, with a cane in one hand and glass of wine in the other. Severus Snape sat on the other side a bit more relaxed in appearance but still just as deadly. Lucius arched an eyebrow,

"Draco, Blaise, what brings you here?"

"Father, we were curious if we might spend the night with Severus tonight. Mother and Aunt Tilly said to ask you both first."

"May we, Uncle Lucius?" Blaise asked curiously. Lucius sent an amused look across his desk at Severus who arched an eyebrow in reply.

"If it is agreeable with Severus, I do not see why not." He replied, still looking at Severus. The Potions Master nodded,

"It is certainly agreeable, provided that you behave!" He stood and hurried to the door to call that out to the boys as they, once again, bolted from the room. He shook his head and looked back to Lucius, "I do not understand why they are so attached to Spinner's End."

"I believe it is you and your craft, Severus, that they are 'attached' to." Lucius replied, "which reminds me, Cissy has informed me that Draco believes you able to break the curse with some potion or another. Do us all a blessed favor and make something up, Severus. It will ease the boy's consciences and my nerves." Severus nodded back,

"As no such potion exists- believe me, I have looked- I will have no choice but to 'make something up' or tell them the truth, Lucius. However, I also grow tired of the questioning. I will put an end to it tonight."

"Please do." Lucius nodded, "goodnight and good luck to you."

"Adieu."

Once at Severus' House, Spinner's End, the boys and man could be found in the back room. No other children had ever visited the back room but Severus had always imagined it would send them screaming should that ever happen. Draco and Blaise, however, were his godchildren and behaved as such. They were never afraid of the room and actually enjoyed spending time in there. The only photo was one of all three males. In it, Severus stirred and number ten cauldron and both boys sat on the table in front of it, peering in. Severus looked up in the photo but the boys never did. He theorized that they would one day become great Potions Masters. They currently sat on that same table as no chairs were in the room, only tables and shelves, with one little foot stool to reach the higher ones. Fresh potions ingredients lined the walls, some vines actually growing up along the one stone wall to spread across the paned glass ceiling and three other glass walls. Amongst the plants were jars of other ingredients in different colors and mediums, some still moving or baring teeth in death. Above the boys heads, on a sort of pot rack, and beneath their table, were cauldrons in all shapes, sizes and materials. The drawers were lined with different ingredients as well. Yellowing posters covered the rest of the wall, all references Severus never needed.

"What is it you wish to brew?" he asked, putting his hands in their opposite sleeves.

"We need a potion to break The Curse." Blaise informed him loftily. The little Italian looked around the room at all the ingredients, "surely you can do this, Severus?" In his hands he held the leather bound book the boys called their journal, filled with childish musings.

"There is no such potion," Severus told them firmly, "I have already researched the subject multiple times. Unless, that is, you have any ideas?" He knew good and well that Draco did by the way he fidgeted. Sure enough, the boy spoke,

"We don't want a potion to really break The Curse, we want one to stop us from falling in love in the first place." Severus' eyebrows shot up. While such a potion did not exist, it was a very clever idea. A bit of pride sneaked through him at the boys ambition and cleverness.

"No such potion exists, per se." he replied slowly, "however, I know a sort of dry potion mixed with a spell that may assist you." Someone knocked on the door and Severus ground his teeth in irritation, calling out to them, "Just a moment!" He turned back to the boys, "here is what you must do," he heard the door open and knew who it was, hoping he'd have half the sense of a pigmy puff and stay out of sight, "gather your bowls. Since you cannot make a potion that allows you not to love," he said, following Draco's reversed line of thought, "you will create a love potion that does make you fall in love. Only, with this potion, you describe the person that is meant to come to you."

"We don't want to fall in love." Blaise said dryly.

"Then create a person who absolutely cannot exist." Severus replied just as dryly, eyebrow arched. The boys' eyes lit up with understanding and he felt a bit more pride. "If you create a person to come to you and love you who does not exist or is so ludicrous they cannot exist, then you cannot fall in love with them, now can you?" Both boys nodded excitedly in understanding and grabbed their bowls from their individual cubbies, awaiting instruction. Severus gestured around the room, "since each person on this earth is different, you will choose a different ingredient for each quality. For example, say they enjoy reading, use a dried bookworm. You must write down your qualities for my later review. I will then return to give you the incantation."

Severus then turned and swept out of the room, headed on a war path to see his company who apparently didn't understand the full concept of knocking. Blaise whistled, looking around,

"This was a really good idea, Draco, brilliant in fact. Severus knows a lot of things doesn't he?"

"He definitely does." Draco nodded, "let's get started." As the boys wrote on their separate pieces of parchment, they spoke. "I think mine shall have green eyes. I like green, in case this doesn't work, so… emerald toad skin for that I'd think. They have to be the same color."

"Agreed. I don't want it not to work so…. Mud from the Nile for brown eyes. Oh! Oh! I've got one, Draco!" Blaise said smugly, "I'll use mugwort to make her a muggle born. No one would ever date a muggle born."

"Oh that's good." Draco nodded, looking around, "genius, even, Blaise. Let's see if I can do one better… aha! I'll use malestorm knots to make it a boy."

"Draco, that… is… amazing." Blaise nodded, "mine will read because she's a muggleborn. Wait, they don't know how to read do they?"

"Of course not, Blaise, don't be daft. In fact, use a unicorn hair. They're super magical and it'll be so that she knows a lot of spells and magical things. No muggle born does. More mud- from the blue Nile, make her hair brown too."

"This is why we're best friends." Blaise told him, putting the ingredients in his bowl, "let's see, what about you?"

"Well…" Draco looked around, listing off the ingredients in his mind as he did, trying to come up with ideas, "wolfsbane, because he has to turn into a dog."

"Owl's feather because she has to turn into an owl."

"Pixie wings because he can fly a broom better than me."

"That's a good one! Mine…hmmm, lion's claw so she's a Gryffindor!"

"HA! I'll do that one too and… let's see… oh! Poison sprogs, so he can't die."

"Now you're really getting it!" Blaise crowed, "what else? I have more than you."

"You're right," Draco nodded, "I've got it! He'll be really good at Quidditch, so, a bit of broom sage, and… half a unicorn hair so he's a half blood. Let's see… oh, and my final ingredient! A sprig on frog's breath because he'll really be awful at potions."

"Not mine." Blaise frowned, "I'll do… ground barnum beetle eyes because she'll be really good at potions for my last ingredient."

"A muggle born good at Potions? Now you're just being ridiculous, Blaise."

"Yours can't die. I think we're even." Blaise scoffed, examining his bowl.

Meanwhile, Severus watched them gather their ingredients from his place beside Albus Dumbledore, the singularly most frustrating man in the universe, in Severus' opinion.

"What is it they're doing, Severus? Aren't those your godchildren?"

"They are," Severus nodded, "Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini. They are currently making a nonexistent dry potion to make an impossible person fall in love with them."

"I see. Because the if the person cannot exist then they cannot fall in love." Albus nodded, "thus breaking that dreadful family curse."

"I, for one, do not believe in such a curse." Severus sneered, "Lucius asked me to ease their minds and I am, the best way I know how. Now, before you go, would you like to assist?"

Albus' eyes twinkled mischievously as he nodded,

"Certainly, Severus, what can I do?"

"When I have them say the incantation I want you to levitate their ingredients out the window."

"Magical," Albus nodded, "I certainly will."

Severus reentered the room, leaving the graying Headmaster behind and inspected each boy's list before nodding.

"Now," he said, opening one of the windows, "you will repeat after me." He removed himself from the line of casting and said the 'incantation', the boys following precisely along. "I call to the winds of the sea, to come and draw up a loved one for me. For they shall be loved, and love me. I call to the winds of the sea, bring me someone to be loved by me." As they said the incantation, a wind picked up and swirled the ingredients in the boys' bowls, their eyes lit with wonder and excitement. The gentle wind then lifted up the ingredients from the bowls and swirled them around the boys before sending them out the window to be scattered in the real breeze. For now, two very concerned little boys felt a lot lighter. Just for now, Albus reckoned, The Curse was broken.