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chapter twenty four | kisses all around

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Ron was released from the hospital a few days later and things seemed to settle down. The Weasley was out of his relationship with Lavender and the four friends were back to being a group again. Ron still didn't have a clue how his break up went down, but he didn't seem bothered by it.

ย  ย  ย  ย  The four friends sat in the Great Hall during lunch hour. Hermione, reading her copy of the Daily Prophet as usual, sat next to Ron who was waving his wand carelessly around. On the other side of the bench, Stella Mason and Harry Potter sat together.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella turned her attention away from her novel, which she felt as if she never got the chance to read anymore, and looked up as snow hit her face.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Stop it, Ron," Hermione spoke gently, redirecting his wand away from the sky, "you're making it snow."

ย  ย  ย  ย  After the snow had settled, Ron turned the conversation topic, "tell me how I broke up with Lavender again."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Hermione blinked, sparing looks to her friends opposite her, "um, well, she came to visit you in the hospital. And you talked. I don't believe it was a particularly long conversation."

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Don't get me wrong, I'm bloody thrilled to be shot of her," Ron admitted, "it's just she seemed a bit put out."

ย  ย  ย  ย  They all glanced to the table where Lavender sat, and to say the least, she looked dreadful. Her under eyes were clad with bags, her hair was frizzy and unkept, and she continually stabbed her food with her fork as she glared heavily towards the table the four were sitting at. Stella couldn't help but feel bad for the girl. Even though she was very possessive of her friend and was a part of the problem that almost ruined Hermione and Ron's friendship, the girl deserved a better break up then a mumble of another girls' name, even though Stella took humor in the situation.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Yes, she does, doesn't she," Hermione hummed, taking her eyes off the girl, "you say you don't remember anything from that night? Anything at all?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  "There is something," the boy furrowed his brow, missing the way the girl next to him hitched her breath, "but it can't be. I was completely boggled, wasn't I?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  The Granger deflated in her seat, turning her eyes to her paper, "right. Boggled."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella watched on and gave her best friend a sympathetic glance as something caught her eye. A group of seventh years entered the hall, a familiar face appearing for the first time in months.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Harry," she called quietly to the boy next to her, "that's Katie. Katie Bell."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry quickly got up from his seat to talk to the girl, but not before taking his potions book with him. She watched as he caught up to Katie and talked to her, not being able to hear anything. After a minute or so, their conversation ended as something, or someone caught Harry's attention. Stella turned her head to the entrance and saw Draco Malfoy standing there. His face almost matched the paleness of his hair. Without thought, Harry followed Malfoy out of the hall, not sparing a look at his friends.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella immediately stood to follow but was brought back down to sit but Hermione.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Stella, you don't want to get involved."

ย  ย  ย  ย  "But, Hermioneโ€”"

ย  ย  ย  ย  "No, Stella," the Granger eyed her best friend sternly, "this is Harry and Draco we're talking about. Anything could happen and I don't want you in the middle of it."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella eventually sagged in her seat, her eyes on the entrance hall door, "fine, 'Mione, fine."

โ‹†โ‹…โ˜†โ‹…โ‹†

ย  ย  ย  ย  Turns out, Hermione telling her not to get involved was a good idea. Harry and Draco had duled each other in the bathroom, resulting in Draco getting seriously injured. Turns out, Harry used a spell from his potions book, and he didn't know what the spell would do. The Potter sat on the couch of the Gryffindor common room while his friends stared at him worriedly. Stella, Hermione and Ron watched him stare down the potions book on the table in front of him. Stella felt for the boy, but even she knew he had gone too far and was becoming reckless because of the book.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella sighed as she sat next to Harry, the boy not giving her a second glance, "you have to get rid of it. Today."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry nodded silently as he followed Stella out of the common room. He frowned when the girl stopped outside of the portrait.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella only smiled as she gently took Harry's hand in hers and guided him towards the Room of Requirement. It was the best place to hide anything from anyone in the castle, and Stella was sure she could find somewhere to hide the book from Harry. They walked through the corridors in silence, that was until Stella found the courage to speak, the silence intimidating her.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "I'm sorry I didn't come to help, Harry," the Mason spoke quietly, their hands still together, "as soon as I saw you follow Draco, I went to help but Hermione held me back, said anything could happen with you two, and I guess she was right."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry was shocked at the fact that she was apologizing, because in his eyes, there was no need for her to be apologizing for anything, "Stel, I wouldn't be able to cope with even the thought of you getting hurt. Especially if it was done by my wand. Don't apologize because there's nothing for you to say sorry for."

ย  ย  ย  ย  She nodded and continued to walk with him. Finally, they stopped outside of a familiar wall and stepped inside once the door appeared. They walked inside to stand in the room, that was the size of a cathedral. High windows brought in a natural light that dawned the tall walls of the room. There were things everywhere. Boxes and damaged furniture piled on each other. Thousands of books and the occasional potion bottle and different kinds of jewels scattered around.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "The Room of Requirement," Harry breathed while looking around the place.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella nodded as she brought him forward, "we need to hide the Half-Blood Prince's book where no one will find it, including you," bringing him to somewhat of the center of the room, she let go of his hand and took the book out of his other, "all right, close your eyes. That way you won't be tempted."

ย  ย  ย  ย  The boy nodded and closed his eyes. Stella took that as her cue to find a hiding spot. She searched around the crowded room and came across a jewelry box of some kind. Only thing was, there were no jewels inside. Seeing it was big enough to hide the book, which she was shocked about, she placed the book inside and took the box and placed it on a children's toy house display in one of the corners. Satisfied with her hiding skills, she walked back over to Harry and stood in front of him, his eyes still closed. The atmosphere was so quiet, the only sound they could hear was the others' breath. Stella could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she took a couple steps closer and took his hand again. She wanted to kiss him right there. He was in front of her, no one else around, but she couldn't do it. She couldn't help but doubt he would ever feel the same way as she did. Making up her mind, she leaned in and placed a soft kiss to the boy's cheek, and he didn't react, only smiled, his eyes still closed.

ย  ย  ย  ย  After successfully hiding the book, Stella and Harry walked through the corridor to walk about to the common room. Neither brought up the kiss Stella gave Harry in the Room of Requirement. She didn't want to discuss it with him, scared of the rejection that would follow. When Stella saw Ron walking towards them, she pushed away her thoughts.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "So, did you and Stella do it, then?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry's head snapped to his best friend, "what?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  "You know, hide the book?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  The Mason nodded, "of course we did."

ย  ย  ย  ย  The three teens turned their heads towards footsteps a few feet away from them. Slughorn, more likely on his way back to his office, made eye contact with Harry, and turned away instantly, his pace increasing.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Ron sighed, "still no luck with Slughorn, then, I take it?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry's face brightened suddenly, "luck. That's it. All I need is a bit of luck."

โ‹†โ‹…โ˜†โ‹…โ‹†

ย  ย  ย  ย  Hermione, Ron and Stella found themselves staring at Harry for the second time today in the common room. Harry sat in front of the lot, the empty vial of Liquid Luck in his hands. The boy gulped down the whole vial, knowing he would need all the luck he could get.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Well, how do you feel," Hermione asked, observing him.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Excellent," Harry beamed, standing up, "really excellent."

ย  ย  ย  ย  "Remember," the Granger started, "Slughorn usually eats early, takes a walk and then returns to his office."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Harry nodded, "right," then paused, "I'm going down to Hagrid's."

ย  ย  ย  ย  He then started his way out of the common room, his three friends following closely behind.

ย  ย  ย  ย  "No, Harry, you've got to go and speak to Slughorn," Stella told the boy, "we have a plan."

ย  ย  ย  ย  "I know. But I've got a good feeling about Hagrid's," Harry expressed, "I feel like it's the place to be tonight. Do you know what I mean?"

ย  ย  ย  ย  "No."

ย  ย  ย  ย  Ignoring his friends' alarmed faces, Harry spoke again, "well, trust me, I know what I'm doing. Or Felix does," before he went, however, he leaned in and gave Stella Mason a kiss on her cheek, "now we're even," then walked through the portrait and out of sight.

ย  ย  ย  ย  Stella, looking gobsmacked, ignored her two friends' as they looked just as shocked as she did. The only thought that went through her head was, what the hell just happened?

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don't be a silent reader?
edited: 6 april 2021

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