Y/N stumbled through the empty corridors, her vision blurred by tears. The weight of Regulus' rejection pressed heavily on her chest, each breath coming in ragged gasps. She needed comfort, someone who could help her bear this unbearable pain, and she knew exactly where to go.
Within minutes, she found herself in front of the Gryffindor common room entrance. Muttering the password through choked sobs, she slipped inside, her eyes darting around for the one person who had always been there for her.
James.
She spotted him lounging by the fire, a book in hand, looking as carefree as ever. But as soon as he saw her, his expression shifted from relaxed to alarmed. He was at her side in an instant.
"Y/N, what happened? What's wrong?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
She shook her head, unable to form words. Panic gripped her, and her breaths came in short, shallow bursts. James recognized the signs immediately. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his hand gently rubbing her back in soothing circles.
"It's okay, Y/N. Breathe with me," he murmured, his voice calm and steady.
But the words didn't reach her. The panic was too overwhelming, the heartbreak too fresh. She clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably, feeling as though the world was collapsing around her.
"James," she managed to choke out between sobs, "I... I can't..."
"Shh, it's alright," he whispered, tightening his hold on her. "I've got you. I'm here."
His words transported her back to a night many years ago, when they were just children. She was five and he was six, and a violent storm raged outside their home. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and little Y/N was terrified.
---
The storm had awakened her, and she lay trembling in her bed, too scared to move. The wind howled, rattling the windows, and each clap of thunder made her heart race. She couldn't bear it any longer. She needed her brother.
Slipping out of bed, she padded down the hallway to James' room. She pushed the door open and whispered, "James?"
He sat up, instantly alert. "Y/N? What's wrong?"
"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice quivering. "The storm..."
James climbed out of bed and wrapped her in a warm hug. "It's okay, Y/N. Storms can't hurt you when we're together."
He led her back to his bed and tucked her in beside him. As the storm raged on outside, he held her close, whispering stories and making her laugh until her fear melted away. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, feeling safe and loved in her brother's arms.
---
The memory brought a fresh wave of tears, but also a sense of comfort. Even now, years later, James was still her protector, her anchor in the storm.
"I can't tell you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't... it'll get him in trouble."
James' brow furrowed, but he didn't press her for details. He simply held her, just as he had when they were children. "It's okay. You don't have to tell me. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, James rocking her gently, murmuring soothing words. Slowly, her sobs subsided, and her breathing steadied. The panic began to recede, replaced by an overwhelming exhaustion.
"I'm so scared, James," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everything's falling apart."
"I know," he said softly. "But you're not alone. We'll get through this together."
She nodded, clinging to his words like a lifeline. She couldn't tell him about Regulus, couldn't betray his trust, but at least she had James. As long as she had her brother, she knew she could face whatever lay ahead.
They sat in silence for a while longer, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Finally, James spoke again. "Do you remember that storm when we were little?"
She smiled faintly through her tears. "How could I forget? You told me the silliest stories to keep me from being scared."
"Worked, didn't it?" he said with a grin.
"It did," she admitted, her smile growing. "You always knew how to make me feel better."
"And I always will," he promised. "No matter what happens, Y/N, you can always count on me."
His words wrapped around her like a warm blanket, and for the first time that night, she felt a glimmer of hope. It wouldn't be easy, and the path ahead was uncertain, but she wasn't alone. She had her brother, and that was enough.
As the fire burned low and the common room grew quiet, Y/N leaned against James, her eyes growing heavy. He held her until she fell asleep, just as he had done all those years ago, watching over her like the protective big brother he had always been.
And in that moment, she knew that somehow, someway, they would find a way to get through this. Together.
