ambit. [hs au]

Chapter 44

a/n: this chapter is the second part of a double update! make sure you read chapter 43 before starting this one <3 

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Harry's P.O.V.:

"Fighting evil doesn't necessarily mean you're good."

That was Birdie's response when I asked if she could ever find it in her heart to understand my reasons, before entering the cab the night she left my house, a week ago.

And these are the words that haven't left my mind for seven fucking days.

I've had a long day, filled with stressful meetings, complicated spreadsheets and fewer pauses for coffee than I would like to. It was irritating, but I was glad to be so occupied; it kept my mind busy, or at least busy enough to keep the obsessing thoughts about her at bay.

It's so fucking frustrating - I have enough on my plate to worry about, yet I'm still constantly finding reasons to keep thinking about her.

After a whole fucking day stressing out with work, I've got home around 11 pm, exhausted and wishing I could just take a long bath, three pills of Xanax and fall to a deep slumber. I didn't even plan to cook tonight, I just wanted to rest. But as I stepped into my home, I was reminded exactly why I couldn't simply relax.

Timmy was sitting on the floor in the living room, playing fetch with Zale because of the rain outside. He had a smile in his face, watching our dog running around the house with ease, but as soon as he looked at me, his face scrunched up to a grimace and he shook his head, tsking his tongue and standing up, proceeding to walk away of the room, leaving me alone with Zale's disappointed eyes, which quickly turned to content ones when she saw me.

At least someone is happy to see me.

Sighing, I scratched the back of her ears, taking Timmy's place on the floor as I threw a ball for her to fetch, not caring for the mess she left behind. My mind drifted back to our conversation last week, after Birdie left our house and he came back from the Huffines' place after dropping Dot like I told him to.

"How many times have I said, no fucking outsiders in the house?" I asked the moment he stepped inside of the house, the glass of whiskey trapped in my hands shaking. "Fuck, Timmy, you fucking know better."

"Dot is not an outsider," Timmy debated, his cheeks tinting red with nerves, the sight making me even more furious. How dared him be angry? This was all his fault. "She's my best friend!

"What would we do if she was snooping around the house, Timmy, huh? What if she turned left instead of right in the corridor, and went down in the basement? Did you think about it? Of how you would explain that to her?"

"The door is always locked! She wouldn't have access, she wouldn't see anything." He argued, looking away, because I know he knew he was fucking wrong. "She's my best friend, I should be able to have my best friend over! You have Birdie over all the time!"

My heart skipped a beat, I fucking knew he was going to use Birdie as an argument. I knew how hypocritical of me it was to demand him not to bring anyone home, when I keep making exceptions for Birdie every other night. I fucking knew that. But hearing Timmy use it against me was infuriating nonetheless.

"Birdie is different. She's respectful of our privacy," I seethed between my teeth. "Plus, she's never out of my sight when she's around. I'm always with her, I don't let her wander around the house by herself."

"I didn't let Dot wander, I was in the bathroom. Are you saying you don't take a fucking dump when Birdie is around?" Timmy huffed, rolling his eyes.