There she stood, her tired eyes peeking up at him through the gate. Harry couldn't move. Much less breathe.

If his mind was reeling with memories before, it was soaring now. Making his chest even tighter and his hands shaky.

There she was. The girl all this happened for. Even if she did nothing directly, it still happened because of her...

I have to stop!

The other side of Harry, the side that was trained by loving and kind parents, fought back. She didn't ask for any of this! How can I even say it's her fault. Tsk, if only Mother could see me now---

"Your sad..."

"...?"

Harry's head shot up. That's what she'd said before, wasn't it?

Right when she touched my finger...

Harry stared back at her, his lips parted. His brain started feeling light and woozy.

"Lady Katayama said... That those mean your sad..."

"Huh?"

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The girl pointed a small, shaky finger in his direction. At his face specifically. Harry subconsciously touched a finger to his cheek, wiping away a tear he hadn't realized escaped.

"Your sad..."

Harry glanced down at his now glistening fingers. When was the last time I even...

A heavy feeling overwhelmed him. His face grew hot. Thank goodness there was no one around right now to see such a sight.

"Are...you the one... Lady Katayama said I had to... to help?"

Harry lifted an eyebrow, looking away from the glistening tear. "Er... I think you misunderstood."

"O-Oh..." The girl's hand fell away from the gate.

I wonder what's going on through her head right now. Harry tried imagining being in her shoes. Waking up in a place she'd never seen before. And inside a body that now seemed foreign.

What would he do if he had amnesia? How would he act? What would he be able to understand?

Everything would be like learning a new language that you know nothing about.

"Wait---"

The girl started walking back into the garden but Harry rushed forward, undoing the latch and bending over so he could walk under the archway. Her eyes widened and she took a few steps back.

Harry scratched his cheek. Now being so close she realized how much taller he was from her. Being six feet four, this frail, malnourished girl barely reached his chest.

As if his inner battle hadn't happened just a few minutes before, he squatted down and placed a hand on her shoulder, getting a hand full of her collar bone jutting through her skin.

"You misunderstood. I'm here to help you."

Now you won't have to be alone in this strange world. You didn't ask for any of this. You didn't ask for me to forsake you just because of that night. You need someone more than ever.

For the first time, her eyes glistened. Harry smiled back, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Now his guilt was stronger than his anger. But he couldn't ignore the small jabbing in his heart still lingering.