Written for:

Romance Awareness Month: You meet your soulmate in your dreams -;- Prompts used: (color) ash grey, bonus prompt- (dialogue): "I'll miss you when I wake up." (20 points)

Thrift Shop: A jigsaw puzzle with an image of a man wearing a suit made from bacon (50 points)

Gobstones Club: Yellow Stone (First Love)- Accuracy: (dialogue) "I wish I could stay." Power: (word) tightly, Technique: (word) comply

OUAT Character Competition: Henry Mills- Write about a first love.

OTP Prompts List- (word) comfort

Soulmate!AU Competition- You meet your soulmate in your dreams

Greek Mythology Challenge-Hades- Write about James Potter

Word Count: 1,622

Side Note: I am not publishing these Soulmate!AUs in order. This is Day 22. The first two chapters are days 1 and 2, respectively.

James was dreaming.

There was no other plausible explanation as to why this angel had suddenly graced his life.

Her hair, redder than blood, was swept into an effortless braid. Her sparkling emerald eyes gazed at him with undisguised longing. Her slim body was enshrouded by a dress the color of snow.

"James."

His name escaped gloriously from her pink lips, curved in a beautiful smile. His name was accompanied by the rich, cheery sound of a bell, and it took him a moment to realize it was her voice.

"James," she murmured again, drawing closer to him, her gown swishing around her feet. Her slender fingers wrapped themselves around his neck as she pulled him in for a breathtaking kiss.

She was all comfort and heat and passion—the epitome of love.

"Don't let go," he mumbled as his hands brushed—or rather, aggressively pushed—against her silky skin, "I'll miss you when I wake up."

"I won't," she promised.

James woke with a start, breathing erratically. The goddess from his dreams was not there, but an irritated Sirius stood above him.

"Finally," he huffed as James rubbed the back of his neck dazedly; he could still feel the girl's lingering touch.

"I was beginning to think you were in a coma or something, from the way you wouldn't respond to anything."

For the first time, James realized he was drenched in water and the sheets underneath him were soaked.

"What did you do that for?" he asked irately.

"Drastic times call for drastic measures." Sirius jerked his thumb at the clock behind him.

James yelped, scrambling frantically out of bed. Sirius watched with vague amusement as James dashed around getting ready.

The rushed boy showered, brushed, and dressed in record time. He glanced at the clock and released a sigh of relief; he was five minutes early, enough time to grab some breakfast. He was starving.

He grabbed a slice of bread out of the pantry and slathered some butter onto it; it was all he had time to make. Sirius lackadaisically munched on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich he'd already made.

James glared at the dark-haired boy; selfish tosser had not bothered to make a sandwich for him. Sirius shrugged carelessly.

James checked the time again; one minute remaining. Without a word to his nuisance of a best mate, he Disapparated.

"Potter, Kinkade, I need some backup here!" shouted Harris urgently, who was battling four Death Eaters at once. Jets of green light flew dangerously around him and he was narrowly evading them, not receiving a chance at retaliation.

James and his partner, Patrick, maneuvered slowly towards their Head Auror, fighting off their own challengers. Jets of various colors soared over and around them, as the Death Eaters expanded their use of spells. The spells were becoming deadlier as time wore on, since they were getting desperate.

"Confringo!" yelled James and the statue behind the Death Eater exploded, pelting him with bits of marble and effectively distracting him. Under the cover of the noise, James and Patrick slipped over to Harris.

"What's the plan?" asked Patrick as he flanked Harris's right side, his wand held aloft as he wordlessly sent spells at their combatants.

"Get the hell out of here before we suffer any more casualties," replied Harris grimly, "Kinkade, round our side up. Potter and I will be along once everyone's evacuated."

Patrick was understandably alarmed. "Sir—"

"Go!" barked Harris as he deflected a Stunning Spell. James said nothing, his concentration centered on the duel.

Patrick nodded, taking off and disappearing into the throng.

"Now," muttered Harris to James once Patrick was out of earshot, "on my go, I want you to destroy that building. Its collapse will cause a diversion, during which we shall escape."

"But sir, there are innocents in there!" protested James. "We can't have their deaths on our hands."

Harris thought this over as he pulled up a shield. "We'll vacate the building before we collapse it."

"We need more people for that, sir," James pointed out, "and it's just the two of us."

Harris shook his head. "Kinkade!"

Seconds later, the man showed up, his ash-grey hair unkempt. "Yes sir?"

"Take over for Potter," Harris instructed, "while he goes and evacuates everyone inside that building. The three of us will then destroy it, creating a diversion and allowing us to escape."

Patrick seemed hesitant, but he accepted his superior's order without question. He slid up next to James, who was gradually beating his attacker back. James dove as Patrick slashed his wand through the air, creating an invisible barrier.

James skirted around the dueling wizards, flinching as an awry curse collided with the cobblestone street behind him. There was a deafening bang and James broke into a sprint.

He reached the building and hollered loudly for all to hear.

"All occupants of this building must leave the premises immediately!" he called. "Gather your valuables and your personal belongings and leave right away!"

An old woman poked her head out of a second-story window. "Why?"

"In short, we're planning to use this building as a diversionary tactic," he explained carefully, omitting the part about blowing it up, "so we need for you to leave as fast as possible."

The old woman disappeared for a minute as she retracted her head inside her home. James assumed she was collecting her personal items.

In clusters, the occupants began to trickle out. James waited, his impatience growing. He had not anticipated it would take this long.

One person in particular caught his eye as she exited the building, chatting with the old woman James had seen earlier. She had vivid red hair and serious emerald eyes, and James drew in a sharp breath.

She looked exactly like the goddess from his dreams the night before. Her features were the same; dark red hair, stunningly green eyes, and slender build.

James locked eyes with his potential dream girl. The girl looked momentarily surprised before her cheeks reddened with obvious shyness.

He smiled; it was not a typical cocky smirk, but a genuine smile. Her answering smile made his heart sing with elation. She had noticed him.

He observed the rest of the people as they exited the building and departed for unknown destinations. Except for the redheaded girl and the old woman, everyone else seemed to know where they were going.

Approachng the pair with a genial but urgent expression, he queried, "Where are you headed?"

"My parents' place," the pretty girl responded truthfully, her enchanting eyes trained on his own. She turned to Disapparate, but the old woman stopped her.

"For Merlin's sake, Grandmum, we don't need that damn puzzle! We have everything we need!" She gestured to the duffel bag slung over her shoulder, which James hadn't noticed before.

"But it was a birthday gift from your uncle David to me," the old woman persisted, her eyes clouding over as she reminisced over her dead son.

The girl rolled her eyes. "He was barmy and you know it, Grandmum, but we really can't go back for it."

As if to prove her point, the ground beneath them rattled ominously. James tensed; the Death Eaters were coming.

"With all due respect," he interjected, as the old woman opened her mouth to argue, "your granddaughter's right. Our time is limited. If we can, we'll salvage it later, but right now you need to leave."

This time, she seemed to recognize the apprehension in his tone. With a nod to her granddaughter, she Disapparated.

"Well?" prompted James, "Aren't you going to—"

"No," she said firmly, "not before I ask you something. If—no, when you get out of this situation, will you go on a date with me?"

His mouth went dry as he processed her words.

"Of course," he murmured, "I'd love too."

She beamed radiantly at him and James almost lost himself into an abyss of jubilation and joy, before the ground shook warningly.

With much effort, he returned the smile before gently pushing her. "Shouldn't you be leaving?" he asked, unexpectedly pressing his lips on her temple.

"Y-yeah," she stuttered, butterflies fluttering rapidly in her stomach.

Regaining her composure, she grinned coquettishly at him while pulling away, brandishing a brightly colored box.

"By the way, I remembered the hideous puzzle," she informed him.

He looked down at it and had to stifle his laughter. A man wearing a suit of bacon was printed on the cover.

"Your uncle really was barmy," he choked out.

Another teasing smirk as she handed him the box. "My address is in there," she told him, before gripping his arm tightly and whispering, "I wish I could stay. I could help you fight. I am one of your kind, you know."

His stomach somersaulted as her sweet breath tickled her ear.

"Please," she begged, "let me stay."

He was almost ready to comply, for her eyes were compelling and her determination was so strong.

But he couldn't. He had just now found her and he couldn't risk losing her.

"No," he whispered sadly, "it's too hazardous."

A look of defiance crossed her face before settling into resignation.

"Fine," she acquiesced, "but at least do me a favor and try not to do something foolish."

She winked flirtatiously at him, murmured a hasty goodbye and vanished.

James stared after her, his stupor only broken by a spell zipping past his ear and Harris's shouts ringing through the darkening afternoon. With a dopey grin on his face, he turned back to the battle.

A new strength was supplying him now: meeting the woman of his dreams. His love for her was boundless; she was his first and forever love.

An everlasting love.