November 2003, New York

  Me: I miss you.

  Em: Seriously?

  Me: Yes, do you doubt me?

  Em: What do you miss the most then?

  Me: Your eyes, your smile, your kisses, y brain, everything.

  Em: My big brain? You're terrible at this! Who says that to his girlfriend?

  Me: Ok, then I miss your small brain.

  Em: Ugh! That's even worse!

  Me: Hahahaha

  Em: It wasn't funny.

  Me: You're adorable.

  Em: That I am.

  "Troy!" Mum hissed as she elbowed me. "We're there already. Who are you texting now? All your friends should be inside."

  "Let him be, Kathy," Dad chided her softly. "He's almost a grown-up now. Stop treating him like a child."

  While I appreciated Dad's support, I could see the look Mum was giving me, so I shot Emma a quick final text.

  Me: Red carpet time. C u soon.

  "Let's go," I said fidently while stuffing my phone away in a pocket. The door of the car ened for me right then, as I exited with style. My parents would exit the car a few moments ter, to avoid the brunt of the media attention. Simirly, Evan had also decided to skip the event because he didn't like the attention that much. A grin was etched on my face as I waved to the cameras and the crowd of people who went batshit crazy upon seeing me up close. A few years ago, it was quite a terrifying sight seeing so many shouting my name, but now, I've gotten quite used to it. It was a chore to keep my roguish charm on all the time, but over time, I had gotten quite used to maintaining it.

  It helped that I genuinely loved talking to fans. (At least as long as they don't assault me or threateh a gun.) My fans also khat I loved iing with them, so keeping true to my image, I went forward toward the closest group to me and started shaking hands and signing stuff. That's when I heard something I don't think I was meant to.

  "Who knew he'd get so hot within a few years? If he wasn't a minor, I'd totally do him."

  "Hello? He's British. I think it's legal there at 13. Even if it wasn't, I'd happily go to jail for him."

  So I turowards the girls who were behind a few other fans. Both had dark brown hair and seemed to be ie teens. One had ivory white skin while the other had a darker tone.

  "I'm fttered, dies," I said over the shouts of other fans. "Seriously I am, but please don't go to jail for me. I'm sure you'll find much better legal parthan me."

  The darker girl had her mouth wide open in shock while the irl ughed at my quip.

  " I give you a kiss at least!?" the white girl yelled.

  "Thanks, but I'll pass," I waved at her. "Maybe in a few years, and when we are not surrounded by hundreds of people." Then I moved on. If I keep eaining fans excessively, I'll be te to my own premiere. Not to mention, it was creepy seeing fans who were romantig going to prison for doing it with a minor.

  "And our third and lead member of the Golden Trio has arrived," a woman was announg before turning to me with the mic. "Troy, how do you feel about the prospects of [Prisoner of Azkaban]?"

  "I feel that this may be the best film of the franchise yet," I said holy. "Alfonso Cuaron has poured his heart and soul into the film, and I holy think he has set a benchmark for all the future [Harry Potter] films."

  "That's high praise," she said in wonder. "What do you think Chris bus will think of that? He directed the first two films, is a producer on this one, and just ehe premise not long ago."

  "Lady," I gave her a deadpan stare. "Do you wanna start a fight between Chris and me?" Seeing that she was getting nervous, I chuckled to show her that I wasn't serious. "We couldn't have gotten a better director than Chris for the first two films. He's just amazing as he created a whole world out of writte. Alfonso took what he already had and improved upon it, very ably. Just see the film, and you'll uand what I'm saying."

  "I will," she said resolutely before turning to the cameraman. "And so will our ten lucky viewers tonight. Call the number visible on your s, and you get free tickets for [Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban] for your entire family."

  I smiled tightly at her once more before moving on to the premiere vehis time, Warner was holding multiple premieres. The first one was in New York, where we currently were, followed by a sed one in London, a week ter.

  "Oh Gosh, finally!" Emma said excitedly while rushing over and hugging me. "I feel like I've waited fes for you. Has someoold you that you're a very slow texter?"

  "Calm your horses, love," I whispered in her ear. "Remember where we are before you do something yret ter."

  She separated from me, only for Jamie to e forth and hug me as well. It wasn't as intimate as with Emma, but I appreciated his se. Normally, he wouldn't have hugged me—a handshake would have sufficed—but appearances have to be maintained. If I hugged both Emma and Jamie, then no rumors would circute about any of us. Less than half a year away from turning 18, Jamie was mature enough to uand that.

  "Have you seen the film, mate?" Jamie asked versationally as we stood just outside the hall.

  "I have," I nodded. "Both Emma and I watched it together. Didn't they show it to you?"

  Jamie shrugged, "I got the call, but I was shooting something else in California at the time. I kept postponing it until it was too te. And now here we are. How's it?"

  "It's amazing," I gushed excitedly. "The CGI is out of this world. And your ag is so good."

  "Really?"

  "See for yourself in a bit," I said fidently.

  Right then, I saw someo the door behind me, bickering with the security guard.

  "Wait a minute, guys," I said to my cast mates before walking off. "I'll be ba a minute."

  (Break)

  Benji was beyoed. If someone had told him st year that he'd get the ce to be at the premiere of the [Harry Potter] film and watch it before anyone else, he would have called that person insane. And now here he was at the Radio City Music Hall with Ashley, a girl he was trying to impress. Only to hit a little snag.

  "I'm sorry, sir, ma'am," the security guard at the venue said apologetically to Benji and his date. "Your name is not on the list. I ot grant you entry. Maybe you try the general tickets outside? They leave some out for the st-minute bookings as well."

  "But I received the email invite from Troy himself!" Benji said heatedly. "He and I are friends."

  "Of course, you are," the security guard gave him a patronizing smile. "But sometimes, there are some scammers out there who pretend to be someone else and send fake invites. I'm so sorry you had to gh this. Now if you don't mind, there are other people here to watch the film as well."

  "Let's just go, Benji," Ashley said, a little embarrassed by all the otion around them. Benji khat if they exited the hall, there was zero ce of them getting a ticket. This was the biggest movie of the year. No way there would be a now. But seeing Ashley's disfort, Benji knew he couldn't do anything. There went all his credibility. Now hardly anyone would believe that he personally kroy and had gotten the premiere tickets. Dejectedly, he o her and was about to step back when he heard someone call out his name.

  "Benji!" A voice he reized immediately. And not just him—everyone beside him turowards Troy with wide eyes, including the security guard. The boy was the same age as Benji but was decked from head to toe in super-expensive designer clothes. His bck tuxedo looked really cool and atuated his physique a lot.

  Ign everyone around them, Troy smiled at Benji and pulled him in for a brief hug, "So o see you, man. Why are you standing here? e on in."

  Benji smiled awkwardly before looking over to the security guy, "My name is not on the list."

  Troy turo the man and asked sternly, "Are you sure about that? Benjamin Cooper is my personal guest. I made sure to add his name."

  The security man looked like he would sweat a bucket before nodding, "Ah, now I see it. I was cheg it under Benji Cooper as he had told me. Here it is, Benjamin Cooper and a guest."

  "What's your roy asked immediately.

  "David Parker," the man said hesitantly.

  "If any of my uests are denied entry, I'll know who to get fired," Troy said evenly, but everyone around khat he meant business. When the guard nodded rapidly, Troy beed Benji and Ashley forward, and they silently followed him in.

  "Some people," Troy shook his head in frustration. "He robably trying to sell your seats before the premiere to the highest bidder. Don't worry, I'll let someone know about this, and it won't happen again."

  "It's okay," Benji waved it off. "At least we're here now."

  "Oh my God! That was so cool!" Ashley gushed excitedly. "You were, like, totally a knight in shining armor. And you looked so hot while doing that."

  Troy chuckled at that description before Ashley a hand, "Troy Armitage. You must be Ashley." Ashley offered him her hand, but instead of shaking it, he tur around and kissed the back of it.

  Benji could see that Ashley had melted right then and there. As much as he liked Troy, he didn't like the fact that he was btantly stealing his girl. That too without even trying hard. But he didn't want to e off as a possessive guy, so he settled at Troy. Troy, being perceptive as he was, got the hint.

  "I have heard a lot about you from Benji. You are a lucky girl because all he speaks about is just you."

  Now Benji felt like facepalming. Who the hell says that in front of their crush? This would be the first and the st date he ever got with Ashley. The worst part was that he hadn't told Troy anything about Ashley beyond her name!

  trary to his belief, something strange happehat made him question if he knew girls at all.

  "Aww, he does?" Ashley said before peg Benji on the cheek, making him go red. "He talks about you as well. Not as much as I'd like to know, but until now I was a little skeptical if he was telling the truth or not. I guess he was."

  "Of course, he was," Troy nodded. "e now, I'll introduce you both to my friends Emma and Jamie."

  As Troy walked forward, Ashley took Benji's hand in hers and whispered, "Thank you fing me along."

  At that moment, Benji khat the night was already successful. Even if the movie turned out to be bad (which was impossible for a Troy movie), Benji was happy with the progress made with Ashley.

  Around half an hour ter, Benji and Ashley walked ihe main movie hall where the film premiere was to take pce. As soon as the movie began with [Harry Potter] at his abusive retives' pce, Ashley pced her head on Benji's shoulder. This robably the only time when Benji had such a great opportunity, but he ig in favor of watg the film. That was of utmost importance for him.

  In the film, Harry and his retives are watg the news where the escape of a dangerous criminal, Sirius Bck, is being televised. Harry's uncle grumbles about the escapees before telling Harry about the arrival of his Aunt Marge.

  "She's not my aunt," Harry said defiantly.

  "If you want that ruddy school form of yours signed, you'll call her Aunt, be polite, and most importantly, be perfectly normal. I don't want any funny business here."

  "Yes, Uncle," Harry said through gritted teeth. He was barely suppressing his rage, and it alpable for everyoo see.

  Benji could see how phenomenal Troy's ag was. In each se, he showed why he was the best actor in the world.

  As the movie progressed, Troy tio showcase his impressive ag range. From bursting with rage when Aunt Marge called his mother a "bitch," to curiosity upon learning that Sirius Bck was a magical criminal, to apprehension when he feared expulsion from Hogwarts for perf underage magic, to sheer terror when he came face-to-face with a Dementor, a floati that sucked away his happiness. Even the small, mueras with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the Weasley twins, full of light banter, were acted impeccably. Sure, Emma and Jamie were good as well, but in Benji's admittedly biased opinion, no one could beat Troy.

  There was one particur se that Benji thought was really good that he had missed in the books. Harry, under an invisibility cloak, ying on the adults talking about him when the existence of the Fidelius Charm was revealed to him.

  Professor Flitwick, the tiny old wizard, was expining it to Madam Rosmerta. "It's a charm that helps you ceal a secret within the soul of someone else." Seeing the fused look on her face, he added, "Perhaps a demonstration is in order. Look at this book that's pced oable." He poi the book, and everyone looked curiously.

  Then he waved his wand around the book and murmured something inprehensible before the book vanished from everyone's sight.

  "Where did it go?" Rosmerta asked curiously.

  "The book be found on this table, right there," Flitwick revealed. And just as he did, the book reappeared for everyone. "When I cast the spell, nothing would ge for me as the secret keeper. But for everyone else not in the secret, they will fet that such a secret eveed."

  The story moved forward as Harry discovered that the murdering psychopath, Sirius Bck, was his godfather, who had betrayed his parents' location to Voldemort. In the se, he breaks down upon this realization while Hermione and Ron silently sole him.

  Ashley sobbed quietly on Benji's shoulder along with an on-s Troy. Benji could only stroke her hair gently in fort. Looking around the theater, Benji realized that Troy's ag had rendered most of the viewers emotional.

  Thankfully, the sadness didn't linger for long, and the se, when Harry cast his first successful Patronus, was a delight to see.

  "Your shield Patronus is amazing for ye," Lupin expined with a big smile. "With experience, you'll learn to give it a corporeal form. Usually, it's an animal that's close to your heart. Your father's Patronus was a stag, while your mother's was its female terpart, a doe."

  As the movie went on, two problems were beautifully built upon by the director. One was, of course, the mystery of Sirius Bck, while the other was the impending execution of Buckbeak, the majestic Hippogriff. Benji could only hope that the resolution was as satisfying as [The Chamber of Secrets].

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