Harry yawned. He was walking home from Quidditch practice, as he usually did. He walked rather than apparating because it helped to clear his mind. But tonight he was totally wiped out; practice had been long and tedious. He hurried, his mind on getting home and nothing else. Then, out of nowhere-
"Ouch!" cried a high voice. Harry grabbed the duffel bag of Quidditch things he had dropped and straightened his glasses. When he did, he took a good long look at whom he'd bumped into.
She was tall and thin and had chocolate colored hair that rippled over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her eyes were a deep, deep blue, almost purple, and framed by long black lashes. She had rosy skin and a few freckles on her nose. Her smile was sincere and dimpled, and it made her eyes light up.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I wasn't watching where I was going."
Harry stared, and then realized it was his turn to speak. "I…I wasn't either. It was totally my fault."
The girl blushed a little. "I'm Brianna West. But please call me Brie."
Harry couldn't help laughing. "Like the cheese?"
Brie giggled. "Yes, like the cheese. And you are?"
"Harry," he answered. "Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet, you Harry Potter."
And with that single sentence, Harry felt his heart fall a bit. When Brie said it, there was no gasp in her voice; there was no surprise in hearing the famous name. In short, she was a Muggle. It wasn't that he disliked Muggles. He'd just never dated one before. Muggles had no clue about his world, his fame, his past, his victory over Voldermort, his Quidditch career…but the more Harry thought, the more he liked this idea of a clean slate.
So, summoning his courage, he said to Brie, "Would you like to join me for a cup of coffee? It's the least I can do, after running into you like that."
Brie smiled her pretty smile. "Yes. I'd like that very much."
***
Harry smiled to himself walking down the street, the events of the night still running through his mind. He and Brie had spent three hours in the coffee shop, talking, eating, and laughing. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun.
Afterward, he'd walked her home. She lived in an apartment building not too far from his own. Not wanting the night to end, he had ridden the elevator with her and walked her to her door.
"Good night Harry Potter," she'd said. "Thanks for…everything."
"No, thank you. I've never been so spontaneous to ask a stranger out before, but I've learned my lesson. I had a great time."
She had laughed in her angelic voice. "Me too. I've never been spontaneous either. But…um...I think it's time to try." And with that, she had pulled him into the best kiss of his life, short and sweet, but full of feeling.
And as he reached his own apartment door, he sighed happily. Somehow he knew he'd never forget tonight.