Author's Note:

  Warning!! gy romance ahead. I swear I did my best to keep it from making you all throw up. Please leave some structive feedback... it'll help me spot my mistakes and improve. Thanks!

  ....

  The st couple of weeks had felt almost like a dream for Maverick. Aed fan of the Harry Potter story would have felt the same. After all, it was his first time stepping into the legendary castle of Hogwarts aing the equally iic Albus Dumbledore, names he had heard so much about in both his lives.

  At first, he didn't expect mue from the visit and assumed it would just be a simple meeting with Magall to talk about his book and maybe bring up the idea of being a professor.

  But who would have thought? Not only was his book aowledged by both the Headmaster ay Headmistress, but he also received firmation of his appoi as a professor. On top of that, he mao present his pns for the such soohan he had expected.

  After that first meeting, he returo Hogwarts a few days ter for a proper tour of the castle. Magall proved to be an excellent guide, taking him through the grand halls, the massive library, and the s. She even showed him secret passageways and some of the school's hidden areas.

  Finally, he was formally introduced to the staff and professors. Their personalities mostly matched what he had expected, even if they didn't look like the actors he remembered from his past life.

  She gave him an overview of everything, and by the end, he had a clearer uanding of the grand castle and the responsibilities he was about to take on.

  There were still two months before the academic year began, giving him plenty of time to prepare. It was the st Friday of Juoday, he temporarily put aside his preparations fwarts and his business affairs, as he had a very important appoi, a meeting scheduled two years ago with someone very important.

  ....

  The sun had been up for a while, and Maverick y awake, his mind drifting through thoughts of the past weeks and the day ahead. Finally, he got out of bed, quickly went through his usual m routine, and dressed in a simple outfit—a pin white long-sleeve shirt and brown pants. Standing in front of the mirror, he took a moment to look at himself.

  Over the past two years, he had grown a few timeters taller, now standing at about 1.83 meters. He gave a satisfied nod at his refle. He wasn't model-level handsome, but he didn't look bad either. If he had to describe himself, he'd say he resembled a younger version of Christian Bale, though his hair was a darker mix of bd chestnut pared to the actor's.

  This pce was located in the heart of Diagon Alley, where he had made signifit upgrades, giving it a unique look that stood out from the typical style of the area. His "apartment" occupied the topmost floor, while the lower floor and ground level served as his shop and office, dispying and selling the products of his business.

  He g his watd saw that it was time. Casting a variant of the Notice-Me-Not Charm and a Disillusio Spell on himself, he performed Apparition and vanished from the spot.

  ....

  Garling Residence, Manhattan, New York.

  It had been two years since Maverick st visited this familiar pce, but the memories remained vivid in his mind. Even though he had only spent half a year here, it had been one of the most defining periods of his life—of growth, learning, and some very ued es.

  As he stepped through the main gate, he couldn't help but smile at the familiar sight, the lush green stretg out in all dires, with the home standing proudly at the ter.

  Silvia was the first to greet him, just as he remembered—warm and full of life. Her husband Edward stood nearby, a smile and a nod. He and Maverick had met frequently over the past couple of months for business matters, so their greeting was quid casual.

  After a brief but heartfelt exge, they moved inside aled into the cozy living room. Silvia quickly offered to prepare something to eat, but Maverisisted on waiting, as today was the day the exam results would be announced, and Isabel would be returning home with her transcripts to show her parents.

  This visit was meant to be a surprise for Isabel, as only her mother and father knew about Maverick's arrival. Though they hadn't seen each other in person for the st two years, they had often exged letters through Shisui, and their retionship had only grown stronger over time.

  They sat and chatted in the living room, aually, Maverick revealed the real reason for his visit. Two years ago, along with his family and the Garling family, they had all agreed that Maverid Isabel would get engaged as soon as Isabel finished school.

  For a normal Muggle family, this might sound too early, but fical families, especially highly iial oheir sons or daughters start c a partner chosen by their parents from a very early age.

  This is because they prioritize f strong, stable alliahat be both families. In their world, magical abilities, political influence, and social status often hold signifit weight, and seg a patible and powerful partner is crucial for maintaining or enhang these aspects.

  Early courtships allow time to carefully assess patibility, foster trust, and ehat the union will strehe family's position in the magical unity. Additionally, such arras help avoid the plications that arise from te or hasty marriages, giving both families a ce to build a sting bond before formalizing the retionship.

  Today, Maverick had e to once again ask for Isabel's parents' blessing, and to finally propose to her, making their retionship official. He didn't want to dey the e any longer, even though he knew Isabel wouldn't mind waiting. But oheir retionship became official, she would at least be approached by fewer people trying to get on her father's good side through her.

  Furthermore, Maverick was already like a son to them, and they were like his sed parents, so it came as no surprise when they immediately agreed and weled him with open arms, ready to officially make him a part of the family.

  However, it all depended on Isabel's answer. He knew she would agree, but he was still nervous to the core now that the time had finally e.

  Time passed slowly, and more than an hour went by as they engaged in light versation. Maverick shared a quick recap of his travels around the world with the couple, as well as updating them on his current affairs, particurly the progress of his business and his ret acceptance as a professor at Hogwarts. Needless to say, they were happy for him ohing, even proud, like a mother and father would be of their child.

  Just as the clock struoon, Maverid Edward both sensed a magical fluctuation ing from the firepce. Maverick immediately gave a quiod to the couple, vanishing from sight as if it were pnned.

  Not a momehe firep the living room fred with green fmes, and Isabel stepped into the house.

  Hidden uhe invisibility spell, Maverick watched his childhood sweetheart, Isabel Garling, with quiet admiration. She had ged so much sihe st time he saw her, maturing into a fident and breathtakingly beautiful young woman.

  Now seventeen, her golden hair was more radiant than ever, resembling her father's, and her graceful demeanor only enhanced her charm. the elegant Ilvermorny school uniform, her bright eyes sparkled with fidence, and her poised posture exuded an air of quiet strength.

  The sight made Maverick's heart skip several beats in a row, almost causing him to lose focus and disrupt the spell he had cast on himself.

  Isabel raised a brow as she stepped into the living room, notig her parents sitting together with peculiar expressions on their faces. Her instincts told her something was off, but a quice at her father immediately dismissed the thought. What could possibly g with him around? she mused silently.

  "I got it," she said, waving the envelope in her hand and fshing a small smile at her parents. However, it was clear to them that her excitement wasn't as exuberant as it had been when she had received her OWL results.

  Her parents exged a subtle look and easily guessed the reason behind it, but they held back from enting—after all, the "culprit" resent, hidden from sight, and it wouldn't be long before things took a turn for the better.

  Isabel walked over to the sofa, sat down across from her parents, and pced the envelope oable before leaning back. "Shall we open it now?" she asked, looking at them.

  Edward raised a brow at her, noting her emphasis on the word "now," and uood what she was trying to say. However, he kept his expressioral and preteo be unaware, following the pn Maverick had set.

  "Go ahead. I'm fident you aced it all," he said, grinning as he looked at his daughter.

  "Yes, honey, open it!" Silvia chimed ihusiastically, her tone ced with excitement as she pyed her part perfectly.

  Despite her parents' encement, Isabel's face briefly betrayed a flicker of disappoi, though she quickly masked it and began to open the envelope. At this point, she realized that the person she wao see—the one who had promised to be here on her graduation day—would not be here with her today.

  Trying her best to push the thought aside, her fingers moved with ease, and soon, she pulled out the part inside. After sing its tents, a faint smile appeared on her face, and without a word, she held it out for her parents to read.

  Silvia, uo tain her curiosity, snatched it mid-air and quickly read through it. Her face lit up with joy and pride as she turo pass it to Edward.

  Edward took the part, g the grades, and nodded with a satisfied expressio his daughter's eyes, a beaming smile spreading across his face as he rose from his seat and opened his arms wide.

  "e here, kiddo, I'm proud of you..." he said warmly.

  Isabel smiled back, her earlier disappoi faded a little, and rushed into her father's embrace. Silvia joihem immediately, and the three shared a warm, heartfelt family hug.

  Suddenly, the seremosphere got interrupted by the soft, distinct chorus of piano notes pying in the distance.

  ( ??Ed Sheeran - Perfect?? )

  Isabel focused, her head tilting slightly as she straio hear. "Do you hear that?" she asked, her voicertain as her eyes darted between her parents.

  Silvia exged a quice with Edward before replying, "It sounds like it's ing from outside. Why don't you go take a look, sweetheart?"

  Isabel shot her mother a suspicious look, narrowing her eyes as she sensed something was off. Her mother would never seo che something uain, especially while her father resent.

  She quickly turo the man, but his expression was bnk—too bnk—and as his daughter, she was now certain that something was really off about all this.

  However, sih her guardians showed no obje, and her curiosity got the better of her, she decided there was no harm in cheg a ahead.

  As she he door, the melody grew louder, its notes carrying a soothing, almost magic charm. Without even realizing it, she found herself drawn into the rhythm, enjoying it more with every step.

  Oside, the lush greenery of the gardeed her, but her focus was entirely on the music that seemed to around her like a gentle embrace. She quied her pace, her curiosity drivioward the source of the enting sound.

  In the shade of a rge tree, she spotted a figure seated at a piano, his back turo her. Her steps slowed, her eyes widening as her heart skipped a beat. The figure's back was familiar—so very familiar—yet there was something subtly different about it.

  As she stood rooted ihe singer's voice filled her ears, blending perfectly with the soft, rhythmiotes of the piano.

  "Cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowin' what it was...I will not give you up this time...Oh, darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own...And in your eyes, you're holding mine..."

  Isabel's breath caught ihroat. Her feet, seemingly of their own accord, began moving toward the figure. The lyrics washed over her like a geide, each word carrying an unspoken fession, a tender appreciation that made her heart swell.

  Her steps slowed as she neared, not wanting to interrupt the melody. She didn't want the singing to stop—it was too beautiful, too perfect. The words spoke to her in a way that felt deeply personal, as though they were meant just for her.

  "...I have faith in what I see, now I know I have metAn angel in person, and she looks perfect..."

  She began to hum softly along with the melody, her head swayily to the rhythm. By the time she reached the figure, she was pletely lost in the moment, her heart pounding with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe. She didn't dare interrupt, sav every sed until the music gradually faded into a geop.

  She watched him turn around slowly, and her heart skipped a beat as the familiar face smiled at her.

  "Hi..."

  He greeted her as he stood up, now t a head taller than her, his eyes log onto hers.

  For a moment, she was at a loss for words, but then her instincts took over. She reached out and pulled him into a long-awaited embrace.

  This time, Maverick didn't just pat her back lightly as he had in her room a year and a half ago. He hugged her just as tightly, a clear sign to Isabel that the person she had unditionally fallen for felt the same way about her.

  However...

  After a while, as they separated—

  *Bam!* Isabel punched him firmly iomach.

  There was n from his Magical-Sense, as if it had vanished, nor did his fighting instincts ki. His eyes widened, his body instinctively bent forward, a out a cough.

  "That's for not ing to see me for two years..."

  *Cough!* Maverick winced, closing one eye and a wry smile as he straightened up. "Okay... I deserved that..."

  Isabel didn't say anything more. She just looked him up and down, her expression softening quickly before she pulled him into an.

  Maverick sighed with a smile, hugging her bad whispering in her ear, "I missed you..."

  Isabel's face flushed, and she whispered back, "I missed you too."

  When they separated again, Maverick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Isabel's eyes widened immediately—it was obvious what was inside.

  "Isabel," he said, log eyes with her, his voice sincere and steady. "From the time we were children, every moment spent with you is something I'll cherish forever. The times we pyed together, the times we studied and learned, and eveters we exged when we were apart. Through it all, there was one stant... my feelings for you."

  Her eyes stayed fixed on his, hanging onto every word.

  "I've thought about this moment every day for two years," he tinued. "You're my inspiration, my partner. Isabel Garling, will you marry me and build a future together?"

  Tears welled up in Isabel's eyes, and a radiant smile spread across her face. She nodded, her voice trembling as she whispered, "Yes, a thousand times yes!"

  Maverick gently took her hand, his touch warm and steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him. He slid the ring onto her finger, where it fit perfectly, as if it had always belohere.

  As soon as the ring was in pce, Isabel threw her arms around him agaiears spilling onto his shoulder as she ughed softly.

  They pulled back just enough to look at each other, their faces inches apart. In that moment, it felt as if the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

  "I love you," Maverick said, his words carrying the weight of all the years they had shared and the promise of the future they were about to create.

  "I love you too," Isabel replied, her voice steady now, filled with certainty.

  From a distance, Edward and Silvia watched silently, their smiles wide and proud as they held each other's hands, knowing their daughter's happiness was in good hands.

  —————

  Author's Note:

  After the chapter, we finally dive into the plot. Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you for stig with me so far.

  Your feedback means a lot... it helps me spot mistakes, improve my writing, and make the story better for you. So, please don't hold back! Let me know what you think.