Body Swap ☆ Narry

11 - To The Face

Harry was sitting, playing in his garden when he saw his best friend making his way towards him with a sad pout on his little face. Harry frowned, immediately standing up to greet Niall. He hated it when his Niall was sad.

"Ni?" Harry opened his arms, and Niall stuck his head into Harry's collarbones, ignoring the slight discomfort of their height difference. "What's wrong, Ni?"

Niall sniffled, his head still in Harry's neck. He was getting his tears on Harry, and he thought to move away, but Harry didn't seem to mind. It seemed that whenever Niall was sad, Harry would act like he was the older one of the two, as if he were inclined to protect the boy that was both older and taller than him.

"My mu-mummy and daddy w-were f-f-fighting," Niall whimpered, the flashes of his parents arguing with one another making their way into his brain. "The-they still ar-are," Niall hiccuped, and if Harry listened carefully he could hear Niall parents still having a row.

Harry rubbed Niall's back comfortingly; he gently coaxed Niall into coming to his house as the Irish boy explained how he and Greg were hiding in their rooms until Niall decided to come to Harry. His parents' yelling had become too much for him.

"It'll be okay, Ni. I'll ask my mum if maybe you can stay over for a sleepover, yea?" Harry knew that sleepovers always cheered up Niall.

Niall's face brightened a little, and Harry beamed at him. Niall nodded his answer; throwing his arms around Harry's neck to bring them closer. Harry giggled lightly, kissing Niall's ear as he hugged him tighter. They broke apart after a few minutes, and Harry took Niall's hand, leading him to his mother.

"Mum!" Harry shouted out, looking around for his mother as he dragged a sniffling Niall along. "Mum where are--oh Mum! There you are, I've been looking for you!"

Harry's mother turned around, a sweet smile on her face as she looked at her son who was smiling widely. "Yes, Haz?"

"Can Ni stay over for a sleepover?" When Harry's mother opened her mouth to protest, Harry beat her to it. "Please Mum, it's happened again."

As soon as he had said it, Anne knew exactly what Harry was talking about. It'd been the second time that week that it had happened. Anne tried to compose herself as she smiled weakly at Niall, who was still sniffling and looking up at Anne with his baby blue eyes.

"Of course sweetheart; Niall honey you're welcome here anytime."

Harry cheered, his cheesy dimply smile on his face as he brought Niall into another hug. "Ya hear that, Niall? We get to have another sleepover! I was thinking we could be camping today, yea? Whaddaya think?"

Niall just giggled and he nodded, tears forgotten for the moment, as he cuddled his face into Harry's neck. "Thank you, Harry," Niall whispered.

Harry hugged the Irish boy even tighter than before. "Don't worry about it Ni, I'll always love and protect you no matter what. Promise."

»*«

Harry slowly sunk back into the real world as he watched Niall walk about his own kitchen, making both he and Harry a cup of hot chocolate. It was pretty warm outside, but Niall had told Harry he was craving hot chocolate and naturally Harry wanted a cup too.

He bit his lip as he thought of the memory that had randomly made its way to his mind. Harry didn't often think of he and Niall's past - it wasn't something that haunted him. If anything, he could only remember some things, but not others. There was a slight gap in his memories, and whenever he tried to access those memories, his head started to pound painfully. So he tried to avoid the past as best he could.