A/N: Come on, review, you know you want to!

Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've been hoping too hard
But I've gone this far
And it's more than I hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more than I hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time- "For The Longest Time"- Billy Joel

Talitha Black was still in shock over losing her brother when she got news of Dumbledore's death. She had told herself she was ready for anything; that joining the Order would be easy. Life hadn't been kind to her, though. This war with Voldemort took away the two most important people in her life, within a year of each other. The pain she felt was numbing and made her hardened in a way. She had lost all joy of life and of her job.

For a while Cornelius Fudge had ordered her to spy on Dumbledore and Harry. She was also supposed to be hard at work finding Sirius. She had risked a lot by being a member of the Order of the Phoenix. She also had to jump through hoops to ensure Harry still didn't know of her existence. Every time she came to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, it was late at night, with Harry and the others snoozing in their beds. She visited Sirius on the sly when the kids went back to Hogwarts, but he was still lonely. She knew he needed her and Harry. And the fact that when he died, she couldn't comfort Harry or be comforted by him hurt her a lot.

Dumbledore's death was worse than her brother's in a way. No one thought Albus Dumbledore would die. He was invincible. Yet, then he was gone. She would never forget the look in Arthur Weasley's eyes as he told her. She couldn't understand at first, and then she went numb. He then told her that Bill had been attacked by Fenrir Greyback. This war was taking so much away from them.

Talitha had a lot of preparing to do before Dumbledore's funeral. She knew what was to come. The Order of the Phoenix was about to change drastically, some members more than others. She knew she had to execute the plans Dumbledore had set up. And as she made her way among the witches and wizards gathered at Hogwarts, she stayed in the back careful not to associate herself with anyone Harry would know or recognize.

She stood at the back during the service and remembered the great man that Dumbledore was. He had so much faith in her and she did not know how she was to ever live up to the expectations he had for her. When she heard Fawkes' cry, she shed one solitary tear for her mentor and father figure.

Talitha had called a meeting of the Order of the Phoenix at her house. It was hers now. Harry didn't want anything to do with it. She didn't like being there, but for that moment, it was the only place she knew they would be safe. They all arrived solemnly and didn't look her in the eyes. She knew the same thoughts were running through their heads. Was Severus Snape really a traitor? And how were they going to continue without Dumbledore?

"I'm going to make this short," she began when the key members had arrived, "I am not in charge and I cannot be Dumbledore. But I do have orders from him and they are this: watch over Harry and use the Order to fight Voldemort. That is all I know. I do not know whether or not Dumbledore planned his death or whether or not Snape is on our side. These are things Dumbledore did not wish me to know. I do know what he and Harry were doing and no, I cannot tell you," she added seeing their curious looks.

"So, what are we to do?" her partner and friend Kingsley Shacklebolt asked her. He was always on her side; it was reassuring to know he was trusting in her.

"What we have been doing, with slight modifications. First of all, Professor McGonagall has been named Headmistress by the School Governors of Hogwarts. She wishes a member of the Order to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Tonks has gladly accepted," she smiled motioning to Tonks who grinned at her.

"And what about Harry?" Bill Weasley asked her and she had to force herself not to grimace as she looked at his once very handsome face.

"Leave Harry to me. But what I need from you all is a way to introduce myself to Harry. It is time he knows who I am and what I have to do for him," she bit her lip. For all his advice and instructions, Dumbledore never told her how to break this to Harry. She had always assumed he would do it for her, but on his death her orders were to make herself known to Harry.

"I have a way," a voice called from behind the kitchen door. She knew the voice, but she hadn't heard it in a long time.

The voice's body walked through the door and she gasped. She clutched the table to prevent herself from falling from the shock. The man standing at the door grinned and everyone in the room began talking at once. Some running to him, embracing him, others just asking why he was there. No one seemed to notice Talitha was extremely pale and seemed to be frozen to the spot. She found her voice and spoke softly, and the man motioned for everyone to be silent.

"How?"

"Why, Bill's wedding of course. You will be escorted by someone Harry knows and they will introduce you to him and then you can explain from there," the man said matter-of-factly.

Talitha thought about this for a moment. It was a great idea, actually. She loosened her grip on the table, but she wished all the people in the room would go away.

"And who will be my escort?" she said timidly.

"I will. I'm best man, I think," he asked looking at Bill who nodded.

"Of course you are, brother."

Charlie Weasley stood at one end of the room and Talitha Black at the other, looking at each other. Charlie was grinning at her and Talitha did not know what to say. She hadn't seen him since the summer after their last year at Hogwarts. That was almost seven years ago. She was angry with him for never seeing her and angry because she was still in love with him. Her heart was telling her to run headlong into his arms. But her head was spinning questions as to his motives. She had lost so much and she had needed him then. He wasn't there. He's here now, her heart told her. And she listened. She let go of the table and ran to him. He picked her up like he did the time he first kissed her and held on tight. She cried. She cried for everything she had lost and he held her tighter. She didn't notice the others leave the room; she was too wrapped up with the love she had been missing for too long.

Charlie had apologized a million times for not coming when Sirius had died; he wanted to keep his contacts in Romania. She had learned that holding a grudge would only hurt her in the end. She had forgiven him. And now she had someone to tell her fears to. Most of all she had her best friend back in her life. He stayed with her in Grimmauld Place and when the day arrived for Bill's wedding, he kissed the top of her head. It was the most he had dared to do. She knew he wanted to be more than her friend. He had made that clear the first night he arrived. He had held her by the fireplace and told her that he dreamt of her each night and was missing her in his heart. She was wary. She had never loved any man but Charlie Weasley, but her heart was scared to be hurt again. Still, she relished in the kiss he gave her and was more than excited to be arriving on his arm to the wedding.

They Apparated to the Burrow early, to help with all the precautions. She found Molly in a right state. She was nervous about security and trying to tend to the guests. She giggled at the sight. She had missed The Weasleys very much.

Fleur looked beautiful and the wedding was beautiful. Talitha could not concentrate much, she was nervous about talking to Harry. What if he hated her? What if he didn't believe her? She had been waiting for almost sixteen years. Harry was nearly a man. He wasn't the same baby she had entertained with toy broomsticks.

"Stop worrying and come over here," Charlie whispered in her ear as he took her by the hand, smiling a very reassuring smile. She was wearing very large sunglasses; otherwise she knew everyone could have seen the happiness in her eyes. She smiled back at him. He knew her better than she knew herself sometimes. She had forgotten that.

Talitha sat at the Weasley family table with all the Weasleys but Percy, who had not been in attendance, plus Harry and Hermione. They smiled at her. They all knew her true place except for Ron and Ginny who only knew her as an old girlfriend of Charlie's who had accompanied him to the wedding.

She chatted animatedly with Fred and George and often caught herself staring at Charlie. They both had agreed that it was best if Harry made the first move. And he did.

Charlie was telling Harry about seeing a Quidditch game in Romania recently when her name came up. "Talitha here was quite the Chaser in her day," Charlie said very proudly.

She knew Harry had taken his first good look at her then. He surveyed her then said, "Yeah?"

"Oh, he exaggerates. I'm Talitha by the way," she smiled holding out her hand and removing her sunglasses.

Harry shook her hand and when he did she knew he felt it, too. Recognition. Familiarity. He looked directly in her eyes and seemed to pondering when he replied, "Harry." He looked at her for a long time before blurting out what he had been holding back when he shook her hand, "Not to be rude or anything, but you look like someone I know."

Charlie and Talitha both laughed.

"I should hope so, Harry. Bellatrix I assume. I was always told I looked like her, but I've always thought my eyes were much prettier," she told him trying to keep the tone light.

Harry's mouth had dropped open, "Bellatrix? Are you related to her?" She knew he already knew the answer. Talitha's dark hair, pale skin and heavy-lidded gray eyes were enough to give it away. She was a Black.

"Naturally, but she is only my cousin. And well, I've never really met her," Talitha smiled at Harry, "I don't fancy it either, unless I get to give her what she deserves."

Harry looked at her with a terrified look on his face. Charlie stepped in at that moment.

"Harry, you can guess all day about her, but she's a good guy. She's a Black, Harry and one of Dumbledore's closest protégé's. We went to school together and we were more than friends for a while. She's going to be your new best friend, believe me," Charlie told him fondly.

"How come I've never met you if you are one of us, and how exactly are you going to be my new best friend?" Harry was bewildered.

"I was working in secret for Dumbledore and I will tell you all about it, but not here. And Harry I hope we can be friends. We were once. When you were a baby. But you can make your own decisions about that after I tell you the entire truth," she began but lost her voice when it came time to tell him that Sirius was her brother. She looked to Charlie, desperate.

"Harry do you trust me and my family?" Charlie asked him seriously.

Harry, slightly taken aback by the question, replied, "With my life."

"Then listen carefully. This woman has been on your side since the day you were born. You will have much to talk about, but you have to give her the chance. Do not be angry, that will do no one any good. Just listen and follow her advice," Charlie began, then drew a sharp breath before continuing, "Harry, Talitha is special. She is very special to me and to a lot of other people you are close to. She was important to your parents and especially to Sirius."

"Why?" Harry asked, curiosity in his eyes exactly like his mother's, "Why Sirius?"

Charlie opened his mouth to answer, but Talitha beat him to it, "Because," she breathed deeply, "I am his sister."

"He took that well, don't you think?" Charlie asked her that night as they sat outside in the garden. Everyone else had gone to bed. Harry had been very accepting of her, actually. They had talked for hours, until she had to tell him they would have plenty of time together. The best part was when he hugged her and said he could see Sirius in her eyes and hear him in her laugh. She had choked up at this.

But now, Harry was pushed to the back of her mind as she sat with Charlie in the garden. It was where they had spent their last night together. She had so many emotions flowing through her.

Charlie took her hand and squeezed it. She looked straight into his eyes and he into hers. They stayed like that for a while until Charlie put one hand against her face and pulled her closer. He kissed her sweetly and gently and she melted. The kiss turned passionate and she found herself breathless. She couldn't believe he was there. In front of her, kissing her. How something so good could rise out of all the despair, she was not sure, but she was thankful.

Harry looked at her intensely. She knew he was going to try and stop her, but she couldn't sit around anymore. Charlie had gone in her place and she had just remembered how she had got him back in her life. He had saved her and now she had to save him.

"Harry, I have to find my husband," she said simply.

"I know."