The Beast (Harry Styles)

Chapter Fourteen

Back to the castle, where happiness runs rampant

Where a kitten made such joy happen;

Harry has some thoughts about this whole thing,

So why don't we get listening?

~.~

Harry stood there, completely mesmerized by Adeline's smile. He had never once seen her as happy as she was in this moment, holding the small life force in her hands.

Adeline was gentle, carefully caressing the kitten into a sweet slumber, coaxing her on with kind words. The kitten was compliant, and she fell delicately under the spell of sleep, purring softly as she drifted on to dream.

Though Harry was grateful for the joy the kitten--named Belle--had given Adeline, he couldn't help but feel a pang of an undetectable emotion rise in his chest.

He would never admit it, but Harry was intimidated by the tiny living creature; and he was scared that maybe Adeline would deter her newly found attention from him to Belle. Harry had just gained Adeline's minimal affection and he hadn't planned on losing it so soon.

In simple words, he was completely and utterly jealous of the kitten.

Harry had faked his wounds since the second day in the infirmary: he felt fine, merely scratched by the dagger. Yet Adeline believed otherwise and stayed with him, giving her time to be with him.

Adeline's selflessness never ceased to amaze Harry. While he knew she only stayed with him because she blamed herself, Harry hoped deep down that Adeline stayed with him because she wanted to be with him, like he wanted to be with her.

She was so beautiful; her soul, her mind, and her heart all sang a quiet melody of innocence and strength that resonated somewhere within Harry, where he couldn't quite tell.

And just underneath her rich melody was a barely audible harmony, a rhythm that had yet to be sung. For years it locked itself away deep behind the walls Harry built to keep everyone out, continuing to write his lament until it began to cry with impatience to be released into his sorry, heartbroken world.

He was the harmony, made to complement Adeline while still be his own person.

Soon, the melody and harmony would come together, blending, mixing, becoming one with one another while still holding their own.

Because when the two came together, they created something more magical than love itself.

~.~

Belle had fallen asleep in my arms.

My racing heart had also calmed, yet the excitement remained. There was still a mix of feelings throughout my mind including disbelief, happiness, and a hint of sadness.

It wasn't a sadness for myself, more of a sadness for the fallen angel whose wings had been so tarred and garnished with used ornaments that they've forgotten their true heavenly nature.

This was the Harry Mrs. Potter had told me about; this was the man who could love and care.

Slowly putting Belle upon my bed, I turned to Harry.

"Harry, thank you--" I started as Harry said, "Adeline, I swear if you thank me one more time--."

We both stopped, laughing at our own synchronization.

"Seriously, if you don't stop thanking me for nothing, I might have a new fur coat," Harry joked, pointing a reprimanding finger at me.

"How many kittens would that take?" I thought aloud.