Helping The Poltergeist // H.S.

Chapter 22: Same Mistakes

Just a reminder! Chapter 21 is a flashback. And now we're back to the present.

Hollie

"Miss? Are you still there?"

With the Styles' maid pounding at the door, I hid myself between the huge bed and the nightstand. It was all I could do to stop myself from running away like a mad monkey.

Those bruises bothered me. They were a mixture of colours black, green and purple, shading a huge spot on Harry's abdomen. Add in his broken hand too.

Was that all because of me?

At last, the maid stops harassing the door.

The next sound I hear made me froze on the spot.

"Open it." A commanding voice of a woman mutters.

The doorknob jiggles as a key was obviously inserted into it and then I hear the door finally creak open.

"Hollie?"

It was Mrs. Styles. She calls me as if we were already acquainted.

Hastilly, I pick myself up and Mrs. Styles screams in shock. Clearly, she was surprised by my sudden appearance from behind the bed.

"Oh my heart!" She clutches her chest and sinks to the foot of the bed.

"I-I'm sorry!" I hit my knee on the bedstead making me fall down face first.

Man, that hurt!

"Are you alright, dear?" She queries as I dizzily stand up.

"Y-Yes."

"What were you even doing down there?" She narrows her eyes at me but I can sense she wasn't angry at all.

Still, I cower behind a chair as a precaution. And also so as to not inflict any more of my clumsiness upon her.

"Uhm..." I was at a loss for words to explain. "I-"

"Anyway," She skips off, catching her breath. "I'm sure you know me by now but I'd want to make it formal. I'm Eloise Midgen Styles, Harry's mother."

Thank goodness! Unlike most people do when they introduce themselves, she is not offering her hand for a shake.

"It's really nice to meet you Mrs Styles. I'm Hollie Rosenberg." I bow my head to show some respect. "Sorry for giving you a shock."

"Not at all." She waves it off.

"Uh... I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for not getting angry at Harry for inviting me to your house without your permission." I bowed my head even lower.

"You talk too much. And don't be silly." She gurgles a laugh. "He can do whatever he wants so long as he's not impregnating you. I don't wish to be a grandmother. I'm too young for that, aren't I?"

"Oh." Well this is awkward. "N-Nothing's going on between your son and me."

"Of course there isn't." She said impishly. I'm afraid she thinks otherwise. "Well I only came here to invite you to a soirée later."

The words "What did she just say?" must have been etched in my forehead for Mrs. Styles further explains that it's a banquet.

"Like a dinner."

"Right. Uhm..." Oh no. Just when I was planning on leaving, this happens. I swallowed the big lump in my throat and took courage to say, "I'd really love to. Uh... But I can't."

Big mistake. Mrs. Styles's countenance morphed from being slightly smiling to an impassive one. Just like how Harry does.

"What do you mean you can't, dear?" Her voice was low and dangerous that I was having a thought to take back what I said.