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LIANA heard the shuffling of feet from the floor below and she dashed out of the bedroom without a second glance to Ron or Hermione. Harry had finally arrived, hopefully unscathed from the dementors. When she got to the banister she paused, it was like the muscles in her body just shut down as she just looked down to where Harry was standing.
He looked even better than he had in fourth year. He had cut his hair, grown rather a lot and his features suddenly seemed sharper and more defined. He had to be at least six foot now. Through his tight t shirt that he always seemed to wear she thought she could see the outlines of muscles. Quidditch had definitely done this boy well. Every thing about him just seemed more handsome than ever.
Liana felt a blush rise up her cheeks and she leant against the banister, a faint smile on her lips as she watched Harry and Sirius embrace in a brother like way. Slowly, she crept down the stairs, brushing her curls behind her ears nervously as she wandered down to stand beside Remus, waiting for Harry to turn and see her.
"Liana-" Harry faltered from hugging Remus as he spotted Liana standing beside the man. His eyes widened and he felt the familiar roar of the beast in his chest, only this time stronger, as if the creatures was breathing hot flames into his stomach.
"Oh yes that's quite alright- no need to notice the rest of us," Scoffed Tonks under her breath as she gave Sirius a look.
However neither Harry nor Liana seemed to hear her.
Liana stood up straighter, suddenly feeling the eyes of Sirius, Tonks , Remus and Molly all drifting up to her now where she stood, her lips parting in thought as her ocean blue eyes met with soft forest green for the first time in a month.
Liana hadn't grown much taller, maybe half an inch barely, but she had cut off most of her long, wild red hair and instead the sleek curls grazed her shoulders. Harry noted, as Liana hovered in the corner, how her blue eyes popped, smooth black eyeliner smoked over each lid subtly.
His mouth opened slightly and he found himself at a loss for words. She was even more perfect than he remembered and the light blush that swept across her pale cheeks gave her an ethereal kind of look.
There was also the unavoidable fact that the last time they had been together they had kissed. Twice. With Harry then proceeding to ignore Liana's letters all summer. He didn't even read a single one, instead, the second he had caught sight of the familiar looping handwriting he had crumpled them up and shoved them in his trunk. He couldn't bear to be reminded of the nightmares that had plagued him, and he refused to drag Liana into his mess.
The two stared wordlessly at each other for a few seconds, drinking in each others appearances. The tension in the air was heavy and undeniable. But the silence that had descended was soon interrupted by Sirius coughing loudly and when Liana looked over to the man he waggled his eyebrows suggestively, a smirk on his lips as he tossed his dark hair.
"Come on- Hermione and Ron are here already," Liana told Harry, her lips slightly pursed as she reached out and caught hold of Harry's hand, ignoring the electric jolt that the connection had as she gently pulled Harry up the stairs. Harry followed, his eyes never leaving Liana, captivated by her. He barely even heard Sirius calling after the two:
"Whipped !"
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"OH my goodness! Harry!" Hermione squealed as she practically leapt on Harry, catching him off guard and knocking Liana's hand out of his own, her smooth, cold fingertips sliding out of his hold.
"I've been researching! They simply can't expel you!" Hermione exclaimed hotly as she pulled away from Harry and retreated to stand beside Ron. Her confidence drained as she waited in silence for Harry to respond.
"Not a word from either of you all summer? Really?" Harry asked furiously.
"That's pretty ironic you complain about that Harry, were my letters just not good enough then?" Liana cut in, the slight annoyance evident in her tone.
Her blue eyes flashed as Harry looked to meet her eyes, but she quickly looked away, knowing better than to let her temper get the better of her for the time being.
Harry seemed to be struggling for his words through his anger and frustration for Ron and Hermione, his awareness Liana was pissed at him for ignoring her letters and the strong waves of feeling he felt returning for Liana. Although if he was honest, he wasn't sure those feelings had ever even left.
"Look Liana- we can talk later but for now-" Harry tried to sound as gentle as possible but it didn't work. Instead Liana huffed angrily and strode out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Harry- mate, how have you already fucked up when you've barely been here five minutes?" Ron asked incredulously. Harry rolled his eyes as he slumped onto Ron's mattress running a hand through his scruffy hair.
"Why don't you go and talk to her now instead of just letting her temper brew? We can ask Sirius to explain the order to you later," Hermione offered. Just for once the bushy haired girl wanted one year without Harry and Liana getting even deeper into their messy relationship. She just wanted one peaceful year without endless arguments and life threatening situations.
Harry nodded, "yeah i suppose I better."
Harry climbed the creaky stairs, trying to blissfully ignore the severed house elf heads that lined the walls as he travelled further up into the house. His stomach twisting into knots, he was finding it increasingly difficult to express his feelings towards Liana and he knew that he would have to open up to her, the thought of him being vulnerable in her eyes made him run another hand through his hair, subconsciously spiking it up more.
He found the door to the room Ron had spoken about but stopped dead in his tracks when he recognised the name plate of the door:
Aubrey Bennet Black
Harry felt his breathing quicken. He had never thought about the fact that Aubrey must've lived here before. She was Sirius' adopted sister and it only made sense, but something about this sent chills down Harry's spine as he pushed the door open.
Liana sat on the small single bed that stood in the corner of the room and she didn't even glance up as Harry walked in. Harry turned his nose up at the smell that hit his nostrils and his eyes were drawn to the rotting and decayed flowers that sat in the vase on the desk.
"This was her room," Liana mumbled hoarsely, still not looking up as her fingers ran over the dusty quilt of the bed.
"She used to sit here, maybe like I am now, and it would've been so full of sunlight in this room."
Harry wasn't sure Liana was even talking to him now as she rambled on.
"When the sun set she would've been able to see the colours of the sky through the window, during the day she must've drawn or pressed flowers-" Liana waved a hand towards the light pencil sketches and dried flower books that scattered the walls and tables.
"But now it's dead in here. The flowers have wilted, there are clouds that block the sun. It's like the room itself is dead," Liana finally looked up and Harry felt a stab in his chest as he saw the tears that glistened in her sharp blue eyes.
"Why did you ignore me Harry?"
Harry though he felt his heart break slightly in his chest as her voice cracked weakly. She looked so lost as she sat on the bed, her fingers twisting in her lap like she didn't know what to do with herself.
Harry took a deep breath and settled himself onto the cold bed beside her, he closed his eyes for a second before speaking.
"I kept having these nightmares Liana- not just ones if the graveyard or Cedric- ones of you," Harry broke off as he shivered at the thoughts he was dredging up.
"You were in the trunk and then you started screaming- and Merlin Liana, I never want to hear you scream like that-" Harry broke off again and looked down in surprise to find Liana's small hand linking with his, giving him the courage to go on.
"And then you kind of flipped worlds and we were standing in the middle of the Ministry of Magic, and you were on the floor-" Harry halted as he realised his eyes were starting to water now, "you just writhed on the floor- like you were in the worst pain imaginable and then I could hear Voldemort laughing."
"Liana I'm worried that you being close to me, or being part of my life is putting you in danger," Harry admitted, shaking his head as he looked down. He was trying to be as honest and open as possible, a rare occurrence as he was extremely talented at suppressing all his feelings and hiding his emotions. But somehow he could never do that to Liana when she was this hurt.
"I don't need you to put me in danger, I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself ," she joked, trying to lift the atmosphere, but Harry barely cracked a smile.
Liana sighed.
"Let me make that decision Harry. I decided to become part of your life the moment I stayed in the compartment in third year. Don't leave me now, " Liana demanded firmly, her hands now going to cup Harry's face as she pressed their foreheads together, their noses brushing.
Harry looked deep into her eyes which formed pools of blue in the dark moonlight that now filtered into the room. It was clear Liana wasn't backing down. Harry was done for now, he had been ever since he had first set eyes on Liana Holly, he had become enchanted and enthralled in her.
As their lips met and Harry felt the heat surge through his body as his hands instantly snaked to her waist, her lower back and to brush his fingers through her soft hair, Harry knew he would overthink his decision for hours later that evening.
But for the time being he was too lost in her to even care.
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AN
OKAY
a few things have to be said:
1) My life has been completely crazy I will not lie. I have to start seeing a counsellor because I've been experiencing some issues at school, my parents are being super on edge and analytical of me which is scary and everything is just so crazy.
2) Updates will be slow! And I mean slowwwww. As in I could go months without updating one book or I could update once a week. but either way I won't write a chapter unless I want to and I'm afraid that's the compromise I have to make. BUT ALL MY BOOKS WILL BE CONTINUE.
3) All your support would be greatly appreciated by me through this hard time. Whether that be comments or messages or friendships, it helps motivate me and gives me happiness!
4) I am slowly editing this book, if large changes have been made, like adding or removing a plot line I will post notifying you to maybe read the chapter again. Other than that, feel free to look over chapters without ticks next to the titles and edited dates at the bottom as they are completed.
With all that out of the way, thank you for reading and for those who have stuck by this book so far. There is much more to come!
Xoxo
Edited :21/4/19