Life Goes On- The Third Chapter

Chapter 4

By the time the evening was over, Harry was exhausted. He hadn't really enjoyed himself at all, what with Parvati giving him furtive, sympathetic looks and Cho hardly ever taking his eyes off him; he was worn out with talking, with smiling and acting like everything was ok when it really wasn't.

Nights out like that had been a part of his life with Ginny, and now she was gone, everything seemed so much more painful, more drawn-out and slightly more humiliating.

"I'm glad you decided to come, Harry. It would have been so awkward for me if you hadn't."

"Awkward?" He asked, his mind somewhere else. He was longing for his warm, comfy bed, a cup of coffee and some time to himself.

"Yeah. I hate being reminded that I'm still single. That I haven't had kids. That my life is slipping away from me and I haven't even begun to start living it." She sighed, her eyes on the ground. "I just- I just want a guy. Someone to love me, someone who treats me like I'm the only one in the world."

"Yeah." Harry murmured, his eyes trained on her. Unwittingly, probably unknowingly, she had just summed up his whole emotional makeup.

She looked up at him, and for a moment, Harry was stunned. She looked so beautiful... Her eyes shone like stars, her face illuminated in the moonlight. She gazed back, and smiled at him.

"Look, Harry...I know we've only just re-met. But I like you. I really, really like you. And I'm sick of being lonely. I'm sick of trying to run away from my miserable life. I came back because I knew it wasn't working, and...I found you."

Harry stared at her, trying to take it all in. He was confused, mixed emotions battling inside his head.

"So…" He asked her, lifting an eyebrow.

"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything, I mean, you're getting over a divorce and everything-"

Harry kissed her.

He didn't even know what he was doing, all he knew was that he had closed the gap between them, and he was kissing her, kissing her with everything he had. He felt a sudden warmth shoot up his spine, setting him on fire, making him sigh slightly.

His hands rested on both sides of her neck, and he felt her steady pulse beneath his fingers as their lips moved together. Her arms went around his neck, and her body pressed against his as she kissed him back.

He was on fire. For the first time in two years, he felt a passion, a wild lust burning inside him. He didn't know what exactly that meant, but he knew that he was enjoying this, every second of it, and he wished it could last forever.

The kiss slowed, and Parvati clutched more tightly at him, like he was her lifeline; and Harry moved closer, feeling her body against his.

He didn't want it to end.

Harry's lips lingered against hers for a long moment, and then he pulled away, opening his eyes and gazing into her face.

Tears were running down her cheeks.

"Parvati?" He asked her, and pulled her into his arms. She huddled against his chest, her body shaking with supressed sobs.  For about a minute, they stood there, holding each other. Then she broke the silence.

"Thank you." Parvati whispered, gazing into his eyes.

"For what?"

"For everything."

~

Harry was in a daze as he said goodbye to Parvati. He didn't know who he was, what to think… and as to whether he was with Parvati now or not, he had no idea. But he was happy. Happy to feel loved again.