tainted transparency || a harry potter story

Chapter Thirty-Five- Ice Cold

I woke up in Harry's arms the next morning. I didn't mean to fall asleep but I must have been so tired last night that my body decided not sleeping wasn't an option.

I sat up very quickly, panicking because of the war and everyone preparing for it. It woke Harry, who lifted his hand to rub my cheek.

"They're okay, love. They've come back already," Harry said. "Everyone's back and safe."

"Everyone? Even Neville? Or Hermione and Ron?"

"Hazel," Harry lightly chuckled with his tired voice. His sleepy smile sent waves of butterflies in my stomach. "Everyone means everyone. They all got in really late last night. They have watchers at the school. They'll alert anyone if there's any action."

"Oh," I laid back down on his chest. "Okay. I'm sorry. I worry too much."

"Don't feel bad. You care about people. That's a good thing," His hand wrapped around my hip and his thumb gently stroked my skin. "Thank you. By the way. For last night."

"Mhm," I blushed and kissed his chest. "I needed it too. Thank Merlin I knew the contraceptive charm."

"Sorry."

We both laughed at his little mumble and I was about to reply but there was a knock on the door.

"Hold on, we're both indecent," Harry said as he sat up. We both dressed ourselves and Harry opened the door. Hermione and Ron stood there with big smiles on their faces.

"Harry," Hermione jumped on Harry and hugged him tightly. "We were so worried about you!"

"They said you'd run off but I wasn't sure you'd make it back here, mate," Ron frowned a bit when he hugged Harry. "You scared all of us."

"Lupin told us what happened," Hermione said. "I can't believe you had to endure that. Are you okay? Like... mentally?"

"No," Harry scoffed. "Not at all. But," Harry turned back to me and softly smiled. "I'm getting better. Was in a mental panic. I thought I'd lost my girl."

"You didn't, and won't," I hugged him from behind and rested my chin on his shoulder. "I'm afraid all of you are still stuck with me."

"I wouldn't call it stuck but you go with whatever makes you happy," Ron snickered.

"Ooh, what did you two get up to last night?" A very sleepy and drunken looking George stumbled past the door, his hazel eyes fixed on mine. "Came in to check if the room was open and found you two naked as babies."

Harry and I blushed furiously and he turned to me. Almost as if to say, 'he's your best friend, deal with it'.

"Georgie, we're an of-age couple who has full opportunity to show each other our love in whatever way we deem necessary," I explained maturely. "What we do behind closed doors is our business and completely our business."

"That it is," George nodded, yawned, then returned to his and Fred's room and shut the door.

"Gods, does he ever know when to not ask questions?" Hermione joked.

"It's George," Ron shrugged. "Everyone's business is his business."

Harry and I invited the two of them into the room and we sat on the beds across from each other. But soon there was another knock on the door. I got up to answer it this time.

A half asleep but smiley Neville stood at the door. My heart softened as I pulled my brother into a warm hug. "Hi, Nev."

"Hi, Hazel," He laid his head onto mine. "I love you."