A/N: I have nothing much to say, just a couple of words. My finals are finally over, so it means that I'm free, and the holidays are starting, so updates will be more frequent, I promise. I realised that I've been - sorta - neglecting this story. But don't wory, it's all over now. Before I foget, my beta-reader had been absolutely supportive of me and a special thanks to her!

When It Isn't Like It Should Be

10th March 2005

Claire Potter

"Honey?" I poked my head into Harry's study, trying to find him.

A frown forms on my forehead when I find he's not in his study. Where is he? Why won't he tell me if he's going out? Oh, we'll be late for our visit at St. Mungo's. Why won't he ever be punctual? I let out a small scream when the fireplace suddenly erupts in green flames. Someone's Flooing in… Oh no, it's Harry. Finally, he's home! I placed my hands on my hips and stared at him sternly.

"Hi, honey," he greeted.

In reply, I merely raised an eyebrow and narrowed my eyes.

"What did I do this time?" he asked with a sigh.

"Where have you been! I've been worried sick!" I exclaimed angrily.

"I was at the Ministry! Look, there's been an emergency, and I didn't want to wake you up," he explained.

"Can't you at least inform Sasha next time? What if someone really kidnapped you, and I just think you're at the Ministry or something? You know how I hate Flooing to the Ministry!"

"Okay… okay… I'm really sorry. It won't happen again," Harry said and hugged me.

"What was that hug for?"

"For being such a caring wife," he shrugged with a sly grin.

"Come on, we have to go now."

"Where?"

"St. Mungo's to visit Colin? I told you last night; don't tell me you've forgotten!"

"Of course not, come on," he smiled and took my hand.

"Oh, I'm really sorry to trouble you like this," Chris apologised again.

"For the last time, it's fine! Besides, we all want Colin to get better," I smiled.

"What did the Healers say?" Harry asked.

"They said there's nothing we could know until Colin shows some signs of waking up. But he will…he won't leave me here like this," Chris said sniffing.

"You'll make it through. I'm worried about Harry all the time, but I guess he knows I'm always waiting, no matter what," I told her.

"Well, I always like to think that when someone if taken away from me, it's not always for the worse," Chris said.

Suddenly, I felt as if something hit me on the head.

Flashback

Chris placed a hand on my shoulders as we wept at our parent's funeral.

"I miss them already," I cried.

"So do I…"

"What am I going to do? You're going to Beauxbatons soon. I'm still not old enough to follow you!" I sobbed.

"Don't you worry, everything will be fine," Chris assured, stroking my blonde hair softly.

"I still can't believe they're gone."

"Hey, when someone you love is taken away from you, don't always think it's for the worse," Chris said comfortingly.

"It's not always for the worse…" I repeated Chris's words.

End of Flashback

"Oh, Chrissy," I whispered.

Chris's mouth dropped open. Harry was obviously confused.

"I missed you so much!" I cried.

"Claire… White?" Chris asked her last name.

"It's me, sis…" I choked with tears streaming from my face.

"How can you be sure?" Harry asked.

"No one calls me Chrissy except my little sister," Chris told him with tears of happiness falling from her eyes.

"Wow…" was the only thing Harry managed to say.

Where do I go from here? What should I do now that I've found my sister? Will everything remain the same…or won't it? I'm so confused…yet, I know this is what I've waited for so long. I just hoped it was more…what's that word… special. But nothing whatsoever will change my opinion of Chris. She hadn't change a bit since I last met her. Then why am I having second thoughts? Oh…

"I'd like some coffee," I heard myself say.

There was a confused look on Chris's face; I guess she was just as confused as I was. I looked down and walked out of the room. As I was walking down the corridor, Chris came tagging behind me.

"Is something wrong, Claire?" Chris asked breathlessly.

"If only you knew what happened…if only you knew the truth," I sighed.

"But…but you can tell me, Claire!"

"Chrissy, some memories will always be painful."

"I've had my own experience of painful memories, too. Do you think I was leaping with joy when I came back that summer to a home that no longer existed? To a place that was already history?"

A pang of guilt hit me. How could I be so selfish? We've all been through thick and thin… and I've been so selfish to think I'm the only one feeling sorrow.

"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling myself today. Coffee?" I offered.

"Nothing works better than coffee."

"Are you a workaholic?"

"Well… when you work for SWAT, you kind of need an unlimited supply of coffee. You need to be extremely alert during a mission."

"Well, when you're a working fashion designer who works for a bride who's fanatical about the 'perfect wedding,' you don't want to ruin it. She'll murder you," I said and we both broke into laughter.

"Not again, Claire!" Harry exclaimed.

"But Harry, it'd only take five minutes!" I pleaded.

"I will not spend five minutes with an over-excited bride-to-be just to let you wrap the deal!"

"Harry!"

"Claire, you can't do this!"

"Not if I have a hot husband like you…" I murmured as I gave Harry a long, passionate kiss.

"Are you trying to seduce me into this?" Harry asked with a sly smile.

"Of course not, just five minutes…" I said as I continued kissing him.

"Ok, let's go," Harry said with a grin as I leapt with joy.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!" I said happily.

"But you owe me one," Harry said as he walked away.

"Harry?" I called.

"Hmm?" he turned around.

"Tomorrow, lunchtime, her name's Lynette Rivers," I told him.

"Yeah, yeah," he replied, looking slightly annoyed as he continued walking away.

"Harry?" I called again.

"What?" he asked irritably.

"I love you," I said with a smile.

"And I love you more."

"Oh yeah?" I asked with a grin.

"Yeah, of course," he answered.

"We'll see," I said with a smirk as I blew him a kiss.

And within a second, he had Apparated away. He loved doing that, walking away and then disappearing suddenly. Well, I had better start working now. This business with Lynette Rivers might be just what I needed to get back into the fashion industry. It had been almost two years since I'd launched a collection, and I wanted to return to the fashion world. This was what I needed… yes, this is all I needed.

I smiled as I sat on my bed, sketching some wedding dresses, getting inspiration. If this Lynette woman (who'd apparently heard of me "through a friend") knows that Harry is my husband, she'd probably take this deal immediately. I mean, who would pass the chance of having Harry Potter at their wedding? Besides, it would be fun showing off who my husband is, I thought with a smile. I looked at my drawing, frowned, tore it off and threw it away. I have to think of the perfect dress. I sighed, trying to think of the perfect dress. I entered my walk-in closet and my eyes fell instantly on my wedding dress. It was my masterpiece. I designed it myself, spent weeks sewing it and finally, couldn't bear to wear it on my wedding day. I ended up wearing someone else's design (I tend to buy things in pairs in case of an emergency). Now, I just felt stupid for not wearing it. I touched the dress that I'd spent so much effort on. Everything about it is perfect. From the Italian silk, to the sequined beads, to the lace and embroidery, and finally, the veil… Yes, the veil was the most important part of it. It wasn't the usual (and horrid) veil that looked stiff as rock. It was soft and silky, and it looked almost like water from afar. Yes, no doubt, that was the perfect dress. But the question is… would I be willing to let someone else wear my masterpiece? I buried my face in my hands and sighed. I can't be that selfish, can I?

"What are you doing in there?" a voice suddenly asked.

I was caught by surprise as I saw Harry staring at me in confusion.

I laughed humourlessly and said, "This is my closet, Harry. Of course I can be here!"

"Yeah, and why are you hugging that dress?" Harry asked.

"Wait one second," I said as a thought struck me.

I rushed into the changing room and changed into the dress. After about five minutes, I came out.

"Wow…" Harry whistled with awe.

"How do I look?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

"Why are you sad?" Harry asked with concern.

"I'm not sad," I said, confused.

"Why are you crying then?"

"Have you not heard of happy tears?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Okay, so why do you want me to see you in this dress? As far as I can remember, we're already married," Harry stated.

"Gosh, you're such a fun-sucker, Harry. I wanted you to see me in this dress because this was what I was supposed to wear for our wedding!"

"Then why didn't you do so? You look so much better in this."

"Are you suggesting that I didn't look good on our wedding day?" I asked angrily.

"Gosh, you're such a temperamental person, Claire," Harry mocked me. "No, I said you look better in this, not good in this. Note the use of different terms."

"Oh… whatever!" I said hotly.

"Come on… say it…"

"Say what!" I snapped.

"You're dying to tell me why you didn't wear this dress on our wedding day."

"I'm not!"

"Just admit it Claire," I said with a smirk.

"I don't know why I married you in the first place!"

"Wow… one moment you want me to be your business mascot, the next moment, you doubt our marriage?"

"Arggh!" I screamed with frustration.

I took out my wand and waved it so that Harry was thrown out of the closet. Then, the door snapped securely shut.

"Ok, come on, Claire. That's not fair!" I could hear Harry say from outside.

I didn't reply.

"Claire?"

I kept my silence.

"Claire, open up!"

"One moment you don't care, and the next you care? Leave me alone Harry!" I shouted at him.

"Claire, it was a joke."

"Oh, so now I'm some kind of joke?"

"Claire, that's not fair."

"What do you know about fairness, Harry! Was it fair for you to go to war without notice! Think about the things you've said and done, and then tell me about fairness!"

I sat there, alone with my wedding dress, for what seemed to be hours until I was completely sure that Harry was gone. I silently got out of the closet, and with a flick of my wand, I was in my pyjamas. I crawled into bed and shut my eyes. I didn't know how long I remained in that position trying to doze off. Then, I saw Harry enter the room. and as he gave me a kiss on my forehead (which I surprisingly did not stop him from doing), he asked me, "You still wanna tell me about the wedding dress?"

I didn't answer him. He sighed and walked over to the other side of the bed. As he crawled into bed he said, "I know I was wrong, and my jokes might have gone too far. But I really didn't mean it."

"I know, Harry," I replied quietly.

"Wanna tell me about the wedding dress?" he asked again.

"Maybe someday when you've quit being immature and childish. I probably wouldn't have minded your vanity had you not wounded mine," I snapped as I closed my eyes and fell instantly asleep.

"Okay, the deal is, she comes for tea, and we'll have a light chat about her wedding. Suddenly, you pop in and I'll start introducing you as my husband and highlight that you usually attend the weddings I plan. Then, you'll say how much of a busy person you are, and you leave for the Ministry. I get the deal, I'm rich and I'm famous again!" I squealed to Harry.

"Claire, that's like the hundredth time you've said it! I know, for the last time, I know what I'm supposed to do!" Harry said irritably.

"Are you even listening?"

"Look who's talking. Yeah, you're babbling, Claire," Harry told me.

"Now, I have to go to the Ministry. There's this huge scandal that's shaking the whole Ministry. The Minister wants to see me personally. Apparently, the Auror Department was criticised for interfering with Ministry plans," Harry explained.

"But if the Aurors don't stand up to them, who will?" I complained. "You especially."

"Yeah, I know. But how to make the people realise that fact?" Harry sighed.

"You'll work it out. You always do."

"But the scary thing is…there's a chance I might be asked to make a public apology. What am I going to say?"

"You're just doing your job," I told him with a smile.

I gave him a peck on the cheek before going outside to the gardens. When I went back inside, Harry was already gone, and Sasha said he did not leave a message. He just said he was fine and left. I guess some habits die hard. I spent the whole morning working on my sketches for the wedding dress.

At the Ministry, Harry and the Minister were having a heated argument.

"This is an outrage! Aurors going against the Ministry of Magic?" Scrimgeour exclaimed.

"You do realise that the new law will cause a lot of people to feel the pinch? We are most certainly not collecting taxes from the people!" Harry defended.

"But it's for the greater good!"

"You might not realise, but I do. While you're comfortably seated in your nice leather armchair, some people actually have to go down to the street to work just so they can feed their families! People like me!"

"The people have been living in comfort! It's time the Ministry collected a bit of compensation!"

"Living in comfort? What do you mean living in comfort? Is it comforting to know that Death Eaters are everywhere? Is it comforting to see people killing and dying everywhere! SPEAK TO ME! Had I not chosen to help you, Voldemort might still be reigning in the streets!"

"I'm afraid you've got something wrong. You don't have a choice whether or not to help us! Because that's your responsibility as The Boy Who Lived! The bloody boy who lived!"

"And as you can see, I'm no longer a boy! I'm a man, and I will not let the Ministry brainwash the people about how good this new tax law will be! Just as you brainwashed them about Voldemort's return!"

"You do realise that you're endangering your title as Head of the Auror Office?" Scrimgeour hissed.

"Is that a threat?"

"Yes, I would think so," Scrimgeour said with an evil smile.

"Fine. Take my title. I don't bloody need it. But mark my words … if you approve the new law, you just might find it hard to remain in your seat as Minister of Magic."

Scrimgeour looked as if he had been slapped. He merely slumped back in his chair in defeat. Finally he said, "I won't be threatened by you, Harry Potter."

"Have it your way. One way or another, the people will see your true colours. And imagine, what if I told them the truth? Who would they believe? Me, who's been telling the truth all along, or you, who has been lying to them for the sake of your title!"

Harry smirked and Apparated away. Scrimgeour sighed and called for his assistant.

"Contact the Daily Prophet, I have big headlines for tomorrow's paper," he told his assistant.

"Miss, Mistress Rivers is here to see you," Sasha informed.

"Oh, already? Let's go, Sasha. We want to make a good impression," I said, smiling.

As I walked into the living room, I could see a pretty, blonde lady around her twenties seated on the sofa. I walked right in and greeted her, "Hello, Miss Rivers."

"Oh, hi. Please, just call me Lynette. Here, meet my fiancé, Draco," she replied, pointing towards a man I hadn't seen until just now.

Then, Draco Malfoy turned to me and nodded his head in reply. My mouth dropped and I was stunned. It can't be… how can Lynette Rivers be marrying Draco Malfoy? Isn't he engaged to – Hermione?