Helium | Harry J. Potter

33

HARRY's POV

"You don't get it, Ron!" I exclaimed. "I fucked up badly."

I'm trying to explain what happened without telling him we're doing a trial run, but that's becoming difficult. Ron can tell when I'm lying, and he knows I am now.

"What did you do?" He sighed.

"I basically told Alura that Cedric didn't want to sleep with her." I paced the room, running both of my hands through my hair.

Ron shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "And when did this happen?"

I gulped. "Three days ago."

"Have you apologized?"

"Yes, many times."

"So what are you gonna do now?" he asked me, sitting on his bed.

"I don't know! That's what I was gonna ask you!"

"If it were me and Herm - I mean, if it were me and someone, I'd do a huge grand gesture."

That could work. But what could I surprise her with? I want it to be sentimental but not too sentimental to where she thinks I'm trying to guilt her into forgiving me.

I know just what to do. It's a place where bad things happened, but good things came of it.

"Thank you, Ron. I think you just saved my relationship - I mean-" I stopped myself, knowing I don't know what else to say. "Never mind, sorry."

ALURA's POV

Ever since seeing Astoria three days ago, Daphne, Astoria, and I have all gotten closer.

Daphne and I once shared a dorm so we're already somewhat close. A few months ago she told me that Katerina's stuff was gone when she woke up.

Daphne shoved a biscuit into her mouth and questioned, "Did you know that 75% of muggle witches are more likely to stay in the wizarding world than return to the muggle world?"

Astoria shook her head. "And which drunk person did you hear this from?"

Daphne playfully looked offended. Rolling her eyes, she responded, "He wasn't drunk. He was high. There's a difference."

"Well, if I were a muggle and could relate, I'd stay here too," Astoria told us. "What about you?" she asked me.

I've never really thought about it. Nothing is keeping me here, but there's nothing waiting for me in the muggle world either.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I have time to think about it though. I'm done with dinner, so I'm gonna head back."

"Just meet me in the common room at midnight. I still can't talk Astoria into staying up late." Daphne rolled her eyes.

I smiled and promised I'd meet her later. As I was headed back up to my dorm, Harry crossed my mind while passing the closet he told me to go to hell in.

That seems like so long ago. It was only in September, maybe. A lot has happened since then.

When I made it inside my dorm, there was a note taped to it.

Dear Alura,

I'm scared, Alura. I don't know why I want to be with you every second of every day, or why I want to wake up next to you every morning. But I know that I want it.

When I'm with you I feel as high as Helium and opposite when you won't talk to me. And Alura, you are so right. We are terrible for each other, but that's what keeps us together.

Meet me at the astronomy tower?

Harry

Folding the letter, I pushed open the door to my dorm.

I haven't been to the astronomy tower in over a year at least. I can't even remember the last time I went.

Before I can convince myself out of it, I'm rushing to the astronomy tower before I miss Harry.

As I walked up the last few steps, I thought to myself, I have to tell him everything.

The outside is lit with floating candles. There's a blanket and a basket on the ground. The railing that separates us from the sky is wrapped in warm yellow Christmas tree lights.

And in front of it, there he stands. Harry had a rose in his hand and a giddy smile. And he actually put a suit on. Wow.

"I didn't know if you'd show," he told me honestly.

"I feel underdressed," was the first thing I said, moving forward.

"You look perfect. And," he added suddenly, "I want to apologize."

I stopped him. "Don't. I deserved that."

"You didn't do anything." He chuckled humorlessly.

"I need to apologize," I began, which made Harry shake his head. "I was wrong for ever staring anything with Cedric. When I first kissed him I knew you liked him. I didn't kiss him back because I actually had feelings for him. I did it to spite you and I'm so sorry, Harry."

"Oh." He gulped and dipped his head down.

"And when Hermione told me the only reason you wouldn't make a move on him was because you thought I liked him, I felt like such a shitty person, and I was. Even if we couldn't stand each other at the time, we were still friends, and you didn't deserve that."

An unexpected tear rolled down my cheek, and I tried to wipe it off before Harry could see it, but he still caught it. Why am I crying?

"I'm not going to say that it was okay because it wasn't." He paused and wiped another tear from my cheek. "But I forgive you, Alura. This was all almost a year ago and I've moved on."

It's so fucking stupid how we're all still wrapped up in this Cedric drama when he probably already forgot we ever dated.

He took my hand and led me to the picnic blanket. He opened the basket and took a treacle tart out. "I'm sorry, Hermione helped me set this whole thing up and refused to let me ask the house elves for help and the only thing I know how to make is treacle tart..."

Laughing through my tears, I take a treacle tart out and eat with Harry, who is laughing as well.

While we were lying on the ground, watching the stars, it began to rain. For some reason, Harry and I started laughing, refusing to get up even though we'll be soaked.

Harry held my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it. Just like the day I imagined him doing it while laying in bed days ago.

"Remember when we were playing truth-or-truth?" I asked him.

"Yeah."

"Can I say a truth now?" He nodded for me to go on. Out of a moment of boldness, I said, "I think I'm in love with you."

-
I couldn't resist leaving a cliffhanger I'm sorry 😭