It had been difficult, explaining the Magical world to her. She'd already known about his life with the Dursleys, and spent an evening crying over the abuse the person she loved had suffered at the hands of those people, though he didn't know that. So, heart in his throat, he'd started his explanation with his introduction to Hogwarts. To her credit, she sat quietly as he outlined in great detail the other half of who he was. He explained his scar, and as he spoke, he handed her parchments, old and new copies of the Daily Prophet, his picture book Hagrid had given him his first year, and a few other things, to show her and further explain. She took the box of materials silently. She didn't interrupt, didn't judge, didn't yell, or get angry for lying to her, and most amazingly, she didn't ask him to prove anything he was saying...she didn't do anything he expected of her. Instead, she asked a couple of questions, mostly about the former threat Voldemort had posed and his schooling and the people in his life from the magical world. Then she reached out tentatively, which had surprised him – he'd always been the one to instigate any physical affection – and drew him into a long, wonderful embrace. His heart broke – he thought she was saying goodbye.

"Give me some time," she'd whispered as they hugged. Unable to talk around the lump in his throat, he'd nodded, certain he was never going to see her again. He wanted to say, "I love you" like he had so many times before. She'd never said it back, though, and he didn't think it would be fair to say it to her now. She already knew how he felt. Then, she left, taking the box with her.

That night, Harry had called Ron and Hermione through the floo. While Emma had not yet met them, they knew how much Harry cared for her. They'd also known he was going to tell her, and while they were supportive, they both felt it had been a mistake for Harry to become involved with her in the first place. That night, they'd Apparated to Harry's flat and he told them everything.

"Well," Hermione said carefully. "It doesn't sound like she was upset, Harry. It is a lot to take in all at once...maybe she really does just need some time."

"You think?" The hope in Harry's eyes had been heartbreaking in its intensity.

"She'd better," Ron grumbled, as he turned away to make some tea.

A week went by. Harry fought with himself to not call, not drop by her flat, to give her the time she'd asked for. But it was hard...he was miserable. He consoled himself with the knowledge that Emma wouldn't simply walk away without talking to him first. She would never just stop speaking to him.

Harry had been sitting in front of the small fireplace, just staring into the flames, exactly 7 days later, when there was a knock at his door. His stomach in knots, he went to answer it, and he nearly fell over with relief when he saw Emma standing there, her golden blonde hair illuminated in the bright moonlight of the clear evening. Harry had stood there, staring, unable to think past the frantic pounding of his heart. She was looking at her shoes, holding the box that contained bits of Harry's life, and didn't even look up when Harry opened the door. They stood there for a moment, but then she glanced up.

"May I come in?" She'd finally asked quietly.

"O-of course." Harry quickly pulled the door open and stepped aside. She still hadn't really looked at him. She's going to break up with me. The thought swirled in his head, making him feel dizzy. She walked in to his small living area, put the box down on a chair and took off her coat as she went. In the back of Harry's mind he recognized that this was a good sign. She wouldn't bother taking off her coat if she were planning on leaving right away. Harry swallowed and followed her. She sat pensively on his sofa, looking as nervous as she had on their first date. Her hands were twisted together in her lap, and her eyes were still firmly down. He hesitated for a moment, and then sat on the couch beside her, watching her intently.

A blush crept up her face as they sat in silence. Finally, slightly breathless, she said, "Harry, I have to tell you something, and please don't interrupt me because if you do, I don't know if I'll be able to say it." She swallowed and Harry nodded, and then almost immediately realized that she didn't see that because her eyes were still fixed on her hands.

"Okay," he said softly, sounding a lot calmer than he was. She took a couple of quick breaths...She's really nervous, Harry realized. Harry reflexively reached to take her hands, which were clenched in her lap. She smiled slightly, though didn't look up. After a moment, she seemed to nod her head slightly, as if coming to a final decision, and took a deeper breath.

"Y-you know more about me than anyone," she started, speaking so softly she was barely above a whisper. "You've given me the courage to allow that, just by being the person you are. No matter how scared I get, or how hard I push you away, you haven't given up on me...Harry, you've helped me find myself behind the walls I put up. I didn't think I would ever be able to allow myself to get close enough to someone to make that possible. I trust you, even though I didn't think I'd be able to trust anyone like this." She paused for a moment, and for the first time that evening raised her eyes to his. "I thank God every day for bringing you into my life." She paused again, glancing back down. "I have to admit, after last week, I was...really scared. To be confronted with something that only existed in fairy tales and children's stories really shook me. It's just so incredible, and yet...somehow, somehow I always felt that there was something different about you, something special. I have to be honest...it still scares me, because I don't understand, I can't even imagine, this whole other world you live in...the whole other person aside from 'Harry, Child Psychologist-in-Training' you are." She stopped again, and Harry sensed that this was it...she was going to tell him she couldn't have someone like him in her life. Unconsciously, he tensed, as if expecting a physical blow. She bit her lip, and caught his eyes again. "But it's part of who you are...and I – I think I l-love you..." the last part said in a breathless rush, she dropped her eyes and blushed. "And I can't decide to love one part and not another. So...so, I guess what I'm trying to say is, it'll be okay...This, being a w-wizard, is who you are, and...and I can learn about this part of your life."

She stopped talking, and it took Harry a moment to process her words completely. She wasn't leaving him...and she said she loved him! Suddenly, he couldn't breathe. He studied her, speechless, as she sat still staring at their intertwined hands, with a blush coloring her face. Her hands were clutching his, and Harry was quite sure she didn't even realize it. He freed one of them and gently cupped her chin, urging her to look up. Her blush deepened, and she kept her eyes averted. Harry could feel that she was trembling slightly.

"Emma," he said softly. "Please look at me." She hesitated a moment, then made herself meet his gaze. She saw nothing but love in his green eyes. He saw something like fear in hers...he could fix that. "I love you, too." She let out a soft breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. He leaned forward, and her eyes went wider as he felt her nearly reflexively pull away. She mastered that impulse, and managed to stay still. He held her gaze as he moved closer, his hand slipping to cradle the back of her head. She swallowed.

"I-I might be bad at this," she whispered, slightly panicked. Harry slightly smiled and shook his head.

"It's you," he whispered back. "It couldn't be any better."

They'd kissed.

It was her first kiss, all the more special because it was with the first person that loved her. It was the first time he kissed someone he knew he was in love with. From then on, their relationship was different.