𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗲, harry potter

˗ˋ 32

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
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-: fourth year :-

── IN WHICH SHE CUTS
HIS HAIR

. . .

It seemed, amongst many other things that became apparent after spending time with Jane, he slept a lot better in the attic of the Adley manor. Although, unlike at the Dursleys where he was tasked with setting himself an alarm, he was currently being shaken away by Jane. 

"Hi!" She whispered, when she finally saw his eyes flicker open. "Here - your glasses." Harry's hands scrambled around, digging down into the surprisingly comfortable mattress as he sat up, the warmth of Jane's fingers dancing across his cheeks as she carefully slid his glasses over his eyes, vision going from blurry to clear in seconds. 

"Thanks." Harry mumbled, glancing blearily around. It still wasn't particularly bright outside, although the sky was streaked with pink and purples. "What time is it?"

"Early.. I'm not sure, the batteries in my clock ran out ages ago." Jane shrugged, adjusting the straps of her vest shirt as she righted herself on her bed. "Flora just came and woke me up, she says that breakfast is going to be later but she says there a stool and scissors set up in the kitchen so I can cut you hair."

"Right, yeah." Harry was still half asleep, combing the dark, messy curls back out of his eyes. He yawned, watching as sheets fells off of Jane's figure when she stood up and she walked over to the cupboard builting into the wall, extracting a couple of bags. 

"These are for later.. Flora gave me some spare clothes for you to wear until a little later on - she said it wouldn't do for you to ruin your outfit." Jane placed the bags on her unmade bed, leaning over to flick the switch for her lamp and the room was bathed in a dim glow. 

She passed Harry the clothes that Flora said for him to wear and disappeared with a short, flower-patterned green dress, and within minutes the pair were trailing down into the kitchen, Angela pressing cups of coffee into their hands.

"It's too early to eat.. upset your stomachs. But drink up." The woman smiled, eyes flickering over to the earring in Harry's ear. "It isn't bothering you?"

"It ached a little bit." Harry shrugged. "But it's not bad at all."

"Good. The salt is over there and the kettle already has hot water in." Angela continued, and seconds later Jane had extracted a small pot from a cupboard and was mixing a teaspoon or so of salt into hot water.

"Cotton pads." Flora appeared, smiling down at Harry as she placed the small box down on the counter, leaning down slightly and lowering her voice to a whisper. "I've written to one of the guests tonight and he's bringing a small potion that will help with make sure it stays clean." Flora glanced over at her daughter and pulled Harry out in the corner for just a moment. 

"There isn't going to be many wizards attending tonight, most of the guests are old muggle guests, but I've talked with Dumbledore and there have been protection spells put in place. As soon as they walk out they'll have no memory of you being here at all." The Adley woman smiled, guiding him back into the kitchen. "Don't worry about it."

"I won't." Harry nodded, sitting down on the stool and eyeing the rather large pair of scissors on the counter. 

"Do you want to do it or should I?" Jane asked, seeming to not have noticed his momentary disappearance and walked over with the pot, extracting one of the cotton wool pads. 

"If you don't mind.." Harry sat still as she leant down, carefully cleaning the new piercing. "Thank you for doing that by the way - I don't think I would have ever got it done otherwise." He couldn't look at the girl as he spoke, eyes darting around the cool, dimly lit kitchen. He had a feeling that later in the day, when it grew even warmer as it neared the afternoon, the kitchen would become a safe haven for those working outside.

"I'm just glad I didn't end up doing it wrong." Jane replied, straightening up and moving to throw away the cotton ball and tip ouut the salt water mix. "And don't thank me just yet, it could get infected and then you'll have problems." 

"I'm sure it won't." Harry watched as she picked up a towel and draped it around his shoulders. "So you are cutting my hair?" 

"Only the long bits.. Angela said that she can tidy it up. I do far too many things myself but I don't think I want to completely mess up your hair before tonight. Honestly it's a shame it has to be cut." Just like the night before, Jane was fiddling with the ends of his hair. "It's so pretty."

"I.." Harry found himself turning pink and Jane laughed, picking up the scissors. "But it needs to go.. it's getting too long." He managed to get out.

"You're blushing." Jane couldn't quite believe she was pointing it out. Usually they would just ignore it, feel a little giddy inside that the other had reacted in that way. "It's cute, don't worry."

Harry wasn't just pink anymore, he felt like his cheeks were on fire.

And Jane just giggled and he felt his jaw drop. 

"You're doing this on purpose." He exploded, a laugh of disbelief leaving his lips as he turned to look at her.

"Hey - no I'm not!" Her tone didn't hold much conviction as she twisted his head back forward. "Now don't move, or I might chop your ear off."

And even though neither could stop smiling and Harry's cheeks remained pink, he couldn't risk turning around again. So, Jane got to work.

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