Prologue: June, 2011

The cold rain was starting to come down harder, sending up steam from the warm pavement. Melony hustled over to the nearest bus stop, deciding to forgo the elusive hunt for her mother's birthday present. She had known that it would be a pointless mission anyway.

She reached the covered bench just as the rain started to pound and took shelter under the protective, clear plastic. There was only one other person there, a young man about Melony's age, with messy jet black hair who was intensely reading an instructional manual for a cell phone that lay in pieces beside him. Melony eyed the mess that was covering the entire bench, wanting to sit down but not wanting to interrupt. She wondered for a brief second if he didn't know how to read by the way his whole face was scrunched up in concentration.

"Excuse me," she said softly, not wanting to startle him, but the rain pounding on the plastic was too loud for him to hear her. "Excuse me!" she said again much louder, causing the young man to jump slightly and look up, his bright green eyes wide in surprise at Melony's presence.

"Do you mind if I sit ?" Melony asked over the rain.

"No, no, I'm sorry, of course," the man responded in a charming English accent as he swept the mess of papers and cell phone parts closer to himself so Melony would have room to sit down.

"Thanks," she said, looking at all of the pieces in disarray. "Do you need help?"

"That would be lovely, thanks," said the young man, his face relaxing in extreme gratitude.

He handed Melony the instructional booklet which she took and glanced over not to seem rude, but then tossed aside to assemble the phone on her own which only took her about ten seconds.

"The guy at the store really should have done this for you," she said handing the phone back to him.

"He did, I just took it apart to find the buttons."

"What buttons?"

"The buttons to dial the numbers."

Melony looked at him extremely confused which caused the young man to shrink slightly.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Was that odd? I've never had one of these."

"A smartphone."

"No, a mobile phone."

"Oh," said Melony, trying not to sound shocked. "Do you mind if I ask how old you are?"

"I'm twenty. How old are you?"

"The same."

"Do you have a mobile phone?"

"Yeah, I've had one since I was fourteen. It's really impressive that this is your first one."

"Could you possibly show me how to use it?"

"Sure. It's really just your basic cell phone, the power button is on the top here, and on the side is the volume…"

"So I press the power button to make a call," he said holding the power button down for far too long, causing the phone to turn on and off several times in a row.

"Um, no," said Melony grabbing the phone and turning it on for him. "You press the power button to turn it on and get to all of your apps."

The young man stared intensely at the phone as it turned on. Melony watched him revel at the welcoming graphics and the concept of a password. She was now fairly certain this person had never even used a cell phone. The only people she could think of who wouldn't have had access to a cell phone were the Amish, but he did not look Amish. His black hair was styled in a perfectly messy-yet-distinguished way and his clothes, although slightly mismatched, were certainly not old. Plus, his hands were smooth and his strong, slight frame showed no signs of hard labor.

Also, Melony had to remind herself, he was English. Perhaps he was from some small village or raised in a missionary group that didn't-or couldn't-use technology.

"This might be a weird question," Melony finally said, "but have you ever used a cell phone before?"

"Not really, no," he said sheepishly.

"Okay," Melony said nodding, "we have a lot to cover."

Three weeks later, Melony was at the same bus stop, this time alone. She had a few minutes to kill, so she dug her phone out of her purse and pressed five on the speed dial.

"Hello?" said a voice on the other end.

"Hey, mom."

"Hi, sweety, how are you?"

"I'm good. Did you get my gift?"

"Yes I did and it is lovely. What is it?"

"It's a lamp, mom."

"Oh, well I don't really need a lamp, and this one doesn't go with the house...too modern."

"You can return it."

"Well, only if that's okay with you. Do you have the receipt?"

"It's taped to the side."

"Where? I don't see it."

"Spin the box around."

"Oh, there it is. It was taped to the white part so I couldn't see it."

"Well, I'm sorry you don't like it."

"No worries, dear. I'll just exchange it for something that fits."

There is a pause in the conversation filled by the sound of heavy breathing and shuffling papers and finally and heavy sigh.

"So, dear, how is everything over in New York?"

"It's good," said Melony relaxing slightly. "I just finished up a big progect for one of my classes so that's nice."

"I really wish you had come home for the summer instead of taking on more classes."

"I know, but this way I can graduate in four years instead of five."

"Yes, but still…"

There is a moment of silence that Melony lets permeate before switching gears.

"I've met someone," she finally says, breaking the silence.

"Oh, have you?" her mother responded with only mild interest.

"Yeah...he's kind of odd though. He's always asking me how things work, like the blender or the toaster."

"Oh, well honey, that's just a typical guy in the kitchen."

"I guess, but it's other stuff too. The other day he asked me to explain in detail the rules of every sport I could think of, and then made me show him how to work a vending machine."

"Where did you meet this guy?"

"At the bus stop. I helped him put his phone together, and then he asked me to put my number in it so he could see how to put numbers in. I thought it was a line but now I'm thinking it wasn't. He only calls me to ask how things work."

"Do you like this boy?"

Melony took a moment to think it over before speaking.

"Yes," she said, "I do. He's really sweet and funny and I can tell he's really smart even though he knows very little about almost everything. There's something very deep about him."

"Well, just keep plugging along. I'm sure eventually he'll come around."

"I hope so."

"What's this boy's name?"

"It's actually an unusual name. He goes by Al, and for a couple weeks that's all he would tell me, but just yesterday he told me that Al was short for Albus. His full name is Albus Severus Potter.

Chapter 1: April, 2014

Melony decided to go for a walk. For the first time in weeks the sun had decided to shine and Melony secretly liked the way it made the ring on her left hand sparkle. It would also give her a chance to call her friend Wendy back.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Wendy! I'm sorry its taken me so long to call you."

"That's okay, I'm sure you've been busy."

"Yeah, a little," Melony said chuckling. "Did I tell you I'm switching schools?"

"No! Why are you leaving? I thought you loved your school."

"I do, but I needed to find a job that is closer to where Al and I will be living after the wedding. I really like the new school. They have a great Special Ed program."

"Well, that's good. How is Al?"

"He's great. He is so amazing. He actually made detective."

"That's awesome!"

"It was actually at his promotion dinner that he proposed."

"How sweet!" Wendy squealed. "How did it happen?"

Melony went on to describe how Al's precinct had thrown him a going away party and how in the middle of the party all of the lights went out and a lone spotlight shone on a bus bench that looked just like the one she and Al had met on covered with rose petals.

"It was so amazing," said Melony. "I don't know how he did it. One minute we at a casual party at a police station and the next it was as if we were in our own little world."

"How did he get the bench there?"

"I have no idea, he won't tell me."

"You are one lucky girl Melony. Al is an incredible guy."

"I know, I can't believe how lucky I am."

"How is the wedding planning going?"

"Pretty good. We pretty much have our guest list down, but Al's side is pretty sparse. He keeps refusing to invite his family."

"You still haven't met them?"

"Haven't even spoken to them. Don't know where they live, who they are, or anything about them. Anytime we talk about them or his past at all he is so vague."

"You don't think it's something...bad, do you?"

"I don't know. I don't think so but...maybe."

"Well, you should find out. You deserve to know what you are marrying into."

Yeah, but he's so sensitive about the issue it's hard to bring up…"

Melony trailed off as she noticed Al sitting on the steps leading up to her apartment which was now only a few steps away.

"Speak of the devil," she said smiling, loud enough for him to hear.

"Who are you talking to?" he asked, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Wendy."

"Oh, I love Wendy. Tell her I say hello."

"Al says hi," Melony said into the phone.

"Tell him he needs to stop giving you trouble about his family."

"Okay, Wendy, I'll talk to you later, bye."

Melony hung up the phone shoved it into her pocket.

"What did she say?" Al asked.

"She just said 'hi' back."

Al gave melony a skeptical look. He seemed to always know when she was laying.

"So what are you doing here? I thought you had to work late tonight."

"I do, but I had a break so I decided to come see you," he said pulling her close.

"Honey, you can't keep traveling all the way over here, they're going to notice that you're away from your desk. Your breaks can't be that long."

"They are long enough. It's really no bother."

"Well, it will be better once we are both living over there. Just three more months."

"Are you sure you can do all of this and teach over the summer?

"I don't really have a choice, we need the money. Plus everything is almost done. I just need to tell the venue how many are attending by next week."

"I'll just call them now, we have the guest list done."

"We can wait one more week. What if we want to add someone last minute...like your parents."

"Melony," Al said sighing, "I know that you think that not inviting my family will cause some huge discord, but you need to trust me when I say it will just be better to tell them after the fact."

"But don't you want them there? I don't want you to regret not having them there."

"It would just be a big hassle. Including them will mean having a big wedding, and I know that you don't want that."

"I can handle a big wedding if it means having your family there. I can handle anything if it means making you happy."

Al looked down at Melony intensely. He tended to do this a lot. she would sometimes catch him staring at her like this when they were doing something mundane like watching T.V. It almost felt like he was reading her soul.

His intense stare was interrupted, however, by the sound of his name being shouted out across the street, "Albus!"

Melony and Al quickly looked around to see a very strange woman crossing the street toward them. She had long, dark blonde hair which lay around her, covering her like a cloak, and was dressed in a long, 70s style, dress with a crazy flower pattern, thigh-high bright red rainboots, and so many bangles, Melony wondered how she was able to hold her arms up. Swinging from her ears appeared to be huge radishes.

"Who is that?" asked Melony.

"I don't know," said Al in a slightly frightened tone. "We should go inside."

"I think she knows you."

"No, I don't think so."

"She called you Albus. That's not a very common name."

By this time the woman had crossed the street and was now only a few yards from where the pair stood; Melony mesmerized, Al uneasy.

"Albus, hello," said the woman in a very soft, airy, English accent.

"Oh, hello," said Al, feigning surprise.

"How are you doing, honey?" she asked as she gave him a big hug.

"I'm good, thanks."

"I can't believe it it you," the woman continued, looking Al up and down. "i would recognize you anywhere, you look just like your father did at your age. Almost gave me a fright."

There was a pause as the woman continues to look over Al with her huge, silvery grey eyes.

"Hello," said Melony to break the awkward silence. "I'm Melony."

The woman slowly turned her unblinking gaze to Melony. "Hello. Who are you?"

"I'm Melony," Melony said again unsure if the woman had heard her the first time. "I'm Al's fiance."

The woman's eyes grew even wider, and her mouth opened slightly. "Fiance," she said, "Al, your parents didn't tell me you were engaged."

"Melony," said Al, ignoring the woman, "this is Mrs. Newt, an old family friend."

"You can call me Luna," she said in a far off voice, now looking Melony up and down.

"It's very nice to meet you, Luna" said Melony.

"Yes...engaged…" said Luna distantly. "Well, i suppose I shall take off then."

"It was good to see you Aunt Luna," said Al.

"Yes, good to see you too dear. Talk to your parents more, won't you?"

Al nodded as Luna gave melony one last look-over, whispered "engaged," and then floated off down the street as if moving through water.

Melony looked up at Al, her eyebrows raised, but he was watching Luna disappear, fear and foreboding etched on his face.

The next morning Melony awoke early and headed over to her and Al's new apartment on the other side of town. It took her a whole hour to get there. She still had no idea how he was able to visit her so much. She unlocked the door and let herself in. Al would be on his morning run and she wanted to get some things done around the house. Since moving in three months ago, Al was still living out of boxes.

As soon as she entered, She could hear Al's voice floating down from upstairs, talking to someone. Melony looked at her watch. Al must have gone for his run early. Maybe one of his running buddies was upstairs. She made her way to the stairs and called up, but he didn't answer so she ran up and was just about to enter the den when she heard a woman's voice.

"I don't know, Al, mum's really angry."

"Well just try to delay them. I haven't told Melony yet."

"Okay, I'll try."

"Al?" Melony said loudly and then entered the room to see Al sitting on the floor next to a roaring fire.

"Hi, honey, I didn't see you come in," he said.

"I called your name, but you didn't answer. I thought you would be on a run."

"I decided not to go today."

"Who were you talking to?"

"Nobody," he said casually.

Melony looked from him to the fireplace and then to his phone which was sitting on a table several feet to Al's left.

"Why did you build a fire? It's really nice outside."

"I just like the look of it."

Melony studied him for a moment, but he was unreadable.

"Look, Al, I know you don't like to talk about your family, but is there something I should know about them?"

"Like what?" he asked standing.

"I don't know, i just feel like you're keeping something from me and we're about to get married so if there is anything that might, potentially, affect us or our future family I think i should know about it."

"Melony, I promise that everything is fine."

Melony took a deep breath and blurted out something that had been permeating in the back of her mind ever since Wendy had brought it up the day before.

"Is your family involved in anything illegal?"

"What?"

"I mean, it would be okay-unless, maybe if they were murderers…."

"My family are not murderers! Well, not technically."

"What!"

"Melony," said Al, closing the space between them and placing his hands on her arms, "I promise that my family is fine. It's just...really hard to understand."

"Can you please at least try?"

Al looked at Melony deeply, sighed, and then opened his mouth to speak just as the doorbell rang.

Melony let out a grunt of frustration and was just about to suggest that they ignore it when it rang again...and again...and again.

They hurried down the stairs and Al swung the door open to reveal a young lady with flaming red hair in the middle of ringing the doorbell for the seventh time.

"I'm sorry, Al," she said. slightly out of breath. "I tried...they're coming."

Just then a loud thud came from upstairs. The trio ran back upstairs and into the den in time to see a distinguished older gentleman standing in front of the fireplace brushing soot off of the robes he was wearing. Melony was about to ask how he was able to get inside the house when a second person came soaring out of the chimney and landed, unharmed, on top of the roaring fire. The woman stepped out of the fireplace and marched into the room as if she did this sort of thing all the time. Melony let out a faint squeal, but was drowned out by the arrival of yet a third person, this one much younger, who leaped out of the fireplace and glanced around.

"Blimey, Al," he said, "this room is sparse."

He then shook out his bright red hair-which matched the older woman's and the girl's from the door-and stood, hands on hips, looking about him as if he owned the place. Meanwhile, the older man was helping the woman out of what looked like a heavy cape.

"Hello, mum, hi dad," said the girl behind Al and Melony quietly.

The woman looked up and saw the girl half hiding behind Al.

"Lily!" she said, "How did you get here before us?"

"I disapparated," Lillie answered.

"All this way?" demanded the man.

Melony could tell that at one point the man's hair had been as black as Al's but was now almost completely gray.

"You shouldn't have done that," said the woman. "It's very dangerous."

"Mum, dad, what are you doing here?" Al asked a little meanly.

"Excuse me, young man, I don't like that tone of voice," said the woman placing her hands on her hips. "You're lucky we gave you as much notice as we did. Honestly, getting engaged without telling us!"

"Did Luna tell you?"

"It's Aunt Luna and yes. You can imagine how shocked we were, learning about your engagement from her, we didn't even know you were seeing someone!"

Melony glanced over at the man and noticed that he was staring at her with the same intense stare Al always gave her. They even had the same bright green eyes, except the man's was hidden behind round glasses.

"Hello," Melony said softly, her voice cracking.

She wanted to say something else but she couldn't. Her mind was paralyzed with shock and misunderstanding.

Thankfully, the man kindly smiled and said, "Hello, you must be Albus' fiance."

Melony nodded, still unable to speak.

"It's very nice to meet you," the man continued. "Allow me to make introductions; this is James, Albus' elder brother," he indicated the young man who smiled and winked at Melony. "I see you have met Lily, Albus' younger sister," he gestured to the young lady still hiding behind Albus who nodded curtly. "This is is Albus' mother, Ginny."

"So very nice to meet you, dear," the woman said.

"And I am Harry," the man continued. "Harry Potter."