Absolution ➺ H.S. AU

Chapter 28 ➺ Paisley

I was a bit confused as Harry pulled up to what looked like a run-down brick building. It looked abandoned and the top of the building looked to be destroyed. The entire roof was dilapidated and had various chunks missing. I looked to Harry questioningly, and he just looked back, nervousness in his eyes. Before I could ask him anything, he spoke.

"Just trust me." He said, parking the car and getting out. I didn't say anything, but just went with him, this time grabbing his hand between mine. I trusted him, and I knew he was in a vulnerable state right now. I just wanted to comfort him. He led me to the back of the building, where there was a steel door. As we approached it, Harry pulled it open easily. When we got inside, we went up a set of steel stairs, leading to the top floor of the building. Everything inside was ruined, a black tarnish covering what looked to be heavy working equipment. It appeared as if the building had burned.

When we got to the top floor, it was completely empty. The brick walls were rusted over. When I looked up, I could see the moon and the stars. The roof was almost completely gone, letting the night sky look directly upon us. As I was engulfed by my surroundings, I hadn't noticed Harry had sat down in the middle of the room, his legs crossed in front of him. Without saying anything, I sat down next to him, both of us staring up at the sky, that despite our surroundings, had a magical feel to it.

It was silent for a long time, and I didn't know if I should say anything or not. I didn't want to say the wrong thing, and I knew this place must be special if he wanted to bring me here and he's nervous about it.

"So what is this place, Harry?" Harry took a deep breath before looking at me.

"It's my uncle's old mechanic shop. He used to do all of his work in here. I always loved my uncle. He was my dad's brother and always seemed to be more interested in me than my dad was. I spent a lot of time with him here. I'd come over here after school, on the weekends, help him with his jobs." He paused for a moment before he continued speaking. I felt so bad for him. I knew this story couldn't possibly have a great ending, considering the state of the building we're sitting in. That, and Harry's eyes showed a great emotional twist.

"Well, one day, there was an engine fire and everything got really out of hand. The whole building caught fire and my uncle didn't get out." Harry stopped, and when I looked over at him, he had his eyes closed, as the painful memories were brought to the forefront of his mind. I scooted closer to him and grabbed his hands, gripping them with mine. "By the time the ambulance and firefighters arrived, he had already passed."

"I'm so sorry, Harry." I said, getting even closer to him and putting my head in the crook of his neck. He was silent for awhile before his voice broke into the night again.

"I miss him a lot, but that's why I come here. They didn't tear down the building or try to rebuild it, obviously. So, it's kind of become my own place. I like to come here and think, just look at the sky and stuff."

"It's really pretty." I said, looking up myself. I never knew Harry had this side to him; the emotional, vulnerable side that he puts up a front to cover. I feel special to be somebody he has allowed to see this side of him.

"I've never brought anybody else here." He said slowly, turning his head to look at me. Although I had figured he hadn't showed this place to many people, this new information that I was the only one he'd ever brought sent an eruption of butterflies fluttering through me.

"Thank you, Harry." I said, cuddling up next to him again. There was a lot of tension in the air, after what he had just told me, so I wanted to stay quiet and just let him express how he was feeling.

"I just have a hard time with them, my parents, I mean. I don't understand how they can take so little interest in me. I think that's why I started acting out like I did-to get their attention. That just made things worse though; they lost hope for me." Harry voice quivered at the end, and my heart was breaking for him. Never had he been so open about these things. I wanted nothing more than to just take his sorrow away and fill it with happiness.