Jane [h.s.]

four

Harry

Snow fell heavily, but they were still outside for recess. It was freezing, but all of the children loved the snow, especially Harry.

He sat with Jane under a tree on the far side of the playground. The teachers still watched them with careful eyes, like they were going to commit a crime or something.

Harry thought it was stupid and really mean because he knew that the more they watched, the more that it upset Jane.

She looked even more frightened than usual today and he frowned as he watched her eyes dart around and her body tremble.

His green eyes were laced with sadness as they met her frightened brown ones, "Do you not like the snow?"

Jane turned to look at him and nodded quickly. She liked the snow, she really did, but she was afraid of what was hidden beneath the snow. The voices in her head scared her with the things that they said and the pictures that they showed her and, in turn, Jane didn't like the snow.

Her lips trembled, opening and closing briefly. She wanted to ask him if he liked the snow, but the voices were all shouting at her and telling her that he was dangerous. Jane liked him and didn't think that he was dangerous, but sometimes they made her think so and sometimes they controlled her.

Harry tried not to watch her too intensely because he knew that it bothered her, but he was curious to know what she wanted to say. It was rare to hear Jane speak, usually she was silent or screaming, and he really liked it when she did because it meant that she wasn't so afraid of him.

Jane pulled at the ends of her hair and closed her eyes. Harry watched her with sad eyes and a frown that matched. She took a few deep breaths before she asked, her eyes still closed and her hands still tugging at her hair, "Do you like the snow?"

She wasn't looking at him and she was still shaking, but now he knew that it wasn't just from the cold.

He loved the snow, but he didn't like it if it made her afraid.

"Not anymore."

Jane opened her eyes and looked at him with a dramatically softened expression. She didn't say a word, but he knew that his answer had made her happy because he saw it reflected in her eyes.

She looked away quickly and muttered something to herself about him being different too. Harry noticed that she talked to herself a lot and often it was about him not wanting to hurt her like everyone else did.

He never asked about it though.

"You're cold."

Jane's lower lip quivered as she surveyed the area. Harry was cold, but he wasn't freezing and her coat didn't look warm enough to keep out only a slight chill.

He knew what he was doing before he acted. There was a high likelihood that Jane would freak out, but she was freezing and he didn't need the second coat.

She wasn't paying attention to him and she flinched, a frightened gasp passing her lips as he draped his coat around her shoulders.

Jane looked at him with wide eyes. Harry smiled at her softly, "You can keep it. Stay warm, Jane.

She pulled the sleeves over her arms and sank into the warmth it radiated. There were tears in her eyes. Harry wanted to hold her, but she would push him away and he knew it. So, the two sat in silence and watched the snow fall and cover everything in its path.

. . .

Harry sat down in front of Jane and smiled softly, "Hi, Jane."

Jane's dark eyes met his light ones and he visibly noticed the change in her body language and in her demeanor. She looked slightly more relaxed and even a little bit comfortable.

She didn't say a word, her eyes drifted to the book that rested atop the table and under his hands, "They said that you can't keep it, but you can read it when I visit...or I can read it to you if you'd like."

Jane twisted her fingers on the table and fought the voices in her head to softly ask, "W-what book is it?"

Harry smiled and removed his hands from the cover, only to hold it up for her to see, "Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It's my favourite. I thought that you might like it, but it's okay if you don't."

Jane bit her lip and looked around the room with frightened eyes. The guards were watching her again and her thoughts pulled her into a dark place that she hated.

Harry noticed tears in her eyes and followed her gaze. The guards were giving her a stare down and one of them had the audacity to smile.

He laid the book on the table again and stood from his seat. He was well aware that one of them might punch him in the face or simply laugh at him, but it wasn't fair for them to purposely upset her, especially when she was there to get help.

Harry ran his tongue over his teeth and cleared his throat once he'd made it to where the two guards were standing, "Excuse me."

Each of them looked at him with grimaces, but neither one said a word.

Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes, "Would you mind not staring at her? She's in here for help and that only makes it worse for her."

One laughed and the other one punched his arm, "He's right, man. Just glance every now and then to make sure she isn't having another episode."

The guy that he'd hit glared at his friend and at Harry before grumbling his agreement because he was still getting paid one way or another.

Harry took his seat again, a sad smile on his lips, "It's okay Jane."

She looked at him with tears pooling in her deep brown eyes, "P-promise?"

He started to reach out his hand and stopped himself, the last time he'd done that she panicked and he told her that he wouldn't do it again.

"I promise, Jane."

Harry waited for a moment to make sure that she was okay before he asked with a smile, "Would you like to read?"

Jane nodded as her eyes drifted around the room. Her hands were shaking and Harry wished that he could help, but he just didn't know how to yet.

She wasn't paying attention and he spoke her name softly, "Jane."

Jane's eyes stopped searching the room and met with his pretty green irises that reminded her of the forest that was next door to her old house. She waited for him to say something and tried to ignore the voices in her head that warned her over and over again that he was dangerous and that he was out to get her just like everyone else.

Her memories proved otherwise and so did his current actions and she tried to focus on how nice his smile was and how he didn't look at her like everyone else did.

Harry hesitated with his words for a moment, "Try to focus on my voice and the way that my lips move when I speak. I think it might help. You don't have to if you don't want to."

Jane looked at him and listened to what he said. So many voices were screaming that it was a trap, but she was so tired of listening to them and he did have a really nice and soothing voice. She answered with a small nod and Harry smiled in return.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man..."