In the candle-lit halls of Hogwarts, where magic stirs with every whisper, Harry Potter begins his first year - unaware that fate has woven another soul into his journey.
Elsa Scamander, silent as snowfall and powerful as a storm, arrives cloaked in...
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"That doesn't mean that you could gift me that, you little menace"
☆☆☆☆☆☆
Right now, we were in Dumbledore's office.
"In the dream, were you standing next to the victim, or looking down at him?" Dumbledore asked calmly, though his blue eyes flickered with worry.
"Neither—it was like, I—will you please just tell me what's happening?" Harry's voice cracked, a mixture of fear and frustration.
"Everard," Dumbledore said to a portrait, "Arthur's on guard duty tonight. Make sure he's found by the right people."
"Sir—" Harry tried to speak, but another portrait stirred.
"Phineas," Dumbledore continued, "go to your portrait at Grimmauld Place. Tell them Arthur Weasley is gravely injured, and his children will be arriving soon with the Portkey."
Moments later, one of the painted faces turned grim. "They've got him, Albus. It was close, but he'll make it. What's more—the Dark Lord failed to acquire it."
Harry's head snapped up toward Dumbledore. "LOOK AT ME!" he shouted, his voice raw.
I flinched at the sudden rise in tone, but before I could move, Harry turned and pulled me against his chest, his arms wrapping protectively around me. My face pressed against the warmth of him as his heartbeat thudded unevenly beneath my cheek.
"What's happening to me?" he panted, his voice trembling.
"You wished to see me, Headmaster?" came Snape's cold voice from behind.
"Oh, Severus," Dumbledore said gravely, "I'm afraid we cannot wait. Not even till morning."
Before I could blink, Snape's hand gripped Harry's arm, his expression unreadable.
"What are you doing?" Harry demanded.
"Come with me, Mr. Potter," Snape said curtly, and began to lead him away.
Harry looked over his shoulder at me, eyes full of confusion and something deeper—fear, maybe. I stepped toward him, but the door closed, swallowing his gaze into silence.
---
"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!" a little enchanted Santa shouted as Ro-woon and Olaf chased it around the room, giggling.
The Weasleys, Hermione, the Blacks, Remus, Tonks, Scamanders—and me. All under one roof. The Grimmauld Place. Except Harry.
He still wasn't here.
The fire crackled as Mrs. Weasley brought Arthur to the table, alive and smiling weakly. Everyone burst into applause, tears glistening in the candlelight.
