regret, harry potter (rewriting)

thirty three

Hermione and Aurelia arrived back at The Burrow at four pm. Hermione went to Ron right away to give him the books she bought for him while Aurelia chose to go to the kitchen to make some coffee. Suddenly someone wrapped her waist from behind and kissed her cheek.

"Hey. . ."

Aurelia doesn't have to think twice to know that voice anywhere.

"Hi Harry," Aurelia greeted the bespectacled boy while pouring a creamer on her coffee.

"You know, a caffeine addict is just as bad as a nicotine addict," Harry whispered to her ear, giving her goosebumps.

"Hark, who's talking." Aurelia rolled her eyes.

She turned her body around to face him while his hands were still on her waist.

Aurelia put her hands on his shoulder and said, "Harry."

"Hmmm?" he hummed, still looking at her as if she just took his breath away — she took his breath away.

"Last night-"

"Was amazing," he cut her off.

"But-"

A realization washed up to him. Something he saw coming but he just doesn't want her to say it.

Please don't say it, please don't say it.

"Harry. . . that can't happen again, I'm sorry," apologized Aurelia, avoiding eye contact with him while he kept his gaze at her.

He opened his mouth to complain.

"I shouldn't have done that, I took advantage of your feelings. It's unfair to you," she repeated.

"No, no you didn't. I wanted it as much as you did," stated Harry firmly. "You didn't take advantage of me at all Lia, trust me. I wanted that just as much."

"Well yeah because you fancy me but I-"

"But what, Lia?" He looked at her pleadingly, begging her to stop with his eyes. "Did you seriously didn't feel anything, at least just a tiny bit last night?"

"Harry. . ." Aurelia began, "I'm sorry this is so unfair to you. You've been nothing but amazing to me and I had to ruin it. I don't want to hurt your feelings more than it already is. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Harry just stared at her in complete disbelief, as if she just grew another ear. With the tightening feeling in his chest and a lump he managed to swallow, he felt the pain he never felt before. His breakup with Ginny was hurtful but Aurelia stating that she'll never ever be with him for the second time, after what they did last night that truly made him on cloud nine, hurts more than anything.

But then again, deep down, deep down, he knows he deserves this.

How naive is he to think the event that happened last night will change their relationship?

"I don't care," he finally said. "I don't want you to be distant with me because you're afraid you'll be giving me false hope. I don't care if our kisses meant nothing to you. I don't care if you see our constant affection as a platonic thing. It means a lot to me and I would rather us keep doing this than losing you entirely," he pleaded. He knows he sounds pathetic right now but he really doesn't want her to be distant from him. He doesn't want her to avoid him.

"Harry. . . you know I can't do that. That's so unfair to you. . ."

"Lia. . . don't do this please," his voice breaking.

Thankfully their conversation was cut short with Arthur arriving. Aurelia quickly stumbled back, giving him a sad soft smile, and grabbed her coffee before leaving him.

When she entered Ginny's room, she saw Hermione and Ron talking about the books Hermione bought.

"Hey Rellie, where's Harry?" asked Hermione.

Once his name came out of Hermione's mouth, she went to Hermione and hugged the Granger girl before starting crying silently. On cue, Ron left to see Harry.

"What happened?"

"I feel like a total dick. I feel like Harry in the third year. I feel so bad," she cried out.

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For the next few days, tension can be seen between the two. Even George came up to her and asked what's wrong between Harry and her. They're still talking obviously, it's not like Aurelia nor Harry completely avoided each other, it's just Aurelia has been more cautious around Harry not wanting to be too close or too touchy around him. This made Harry keep glancing at her every chance he got.

At first, Harry tried his best to soothe out the tension but as time went by he gave up because it seems like it's one-sided.

Thankfully she's going to Alex's tomorrow so she could escape the very uncomfortable tension.

Aurelia was giving Henry a snack when Ginny decided to approach her.

"Hey," Ginny greeted her, taking a seat next to her.

"Oh hey Gin," Aurelia acknowledged the younger girl.

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" Aurelia furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"For avoiding you I guess," confessed Ginny sheepishly.

"Oh, it's fine," replied Aurelia, chuckling.

"I didn't mess things up between you and Harry right?" asked the redhead guiltily.

"What? What makes you think that?" Aurelia frowned at her.

"I don't know if Harry told you but I asked Harry to get back together, a while ago. . . With everything that has been going on between us, I thought getting back together would solve it. Don't blame Harry for that please, he said no," explained Ginny. "I'm sorry if I got in between you two, it was never my intention."

"Gin, you didn't ruin anything. . . and er- I actually heard that conversation. Don't worry, I'm okay with that."

"Oh okay. . . We're good then?"

"We are."

After her conversation with the redhead, she started to pack her stuff, getting herself ready to switch houses.

"Do you have to go to Alex's?" Hemione groaned. "I'll miss you!"

"I promised him. He's my best friend," replied Aurelia.

"But I am too! You'll come back in the next two days right?"

Aurelia just stared at her best friend.

"You promised you'll only stay one night at Alex's," Hermione reminded her. "Please don't let Harry ruin this. Think about me! Don't mind Harry! Think about Ginny! about me!"

"We'll see."

"Don't bring Henry," suggested Hermione.

"What? Why?" asked Aurelia.

"Well, you're only staying a night at Alex's right? Besides, Henry is very fond of Crookshanks."

Aurelia thought for a second. She wanted to bring Henry but then Henry will have to get used to the new place, and Hermione is right, Henry does seem very fond of Crookshanks. They're best friends now, in fact, Crookshanks like to act as if he's Henry's older brother.

"Fine," Aurelia sighed.

"Wonderful!" Hermione beamed. Hermione knows Aurelia can't be away from Henry for long so she doesn't have a choice but to come back to The Burrow later. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of him."