𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 | Harry James Potter x Reader

DH ☆•°~'* 12

❈🌠➵9¾♌ ⚯ 🗲━━━━━★. *･｡ﾟ✧⁺

It was difficult to say if Y/N had ever been this happy before. Despite the unstable situation they were in, despite Hermione's silkiness around Ron, Y/N's buoyant spirits were not to be diminished. The quartet was finally back together, they had destroyed a Horcrux and they knew the location of another one. If their fortunes stayed on the rise, Y/N calculated that Voldemort would be finished in no more than six months from now.

'Which is a little bit unrealistic,' said Hermione over a measly lunch. 'We can't just stroll into Hogwarts, can we?'

'No,' conceded Y/N, throwing a piece of toast to Procyon, who caught it in midair. 'But we're one step closer to destroying another one. I'm starting to think it wasn't so bad that I was kidnapped and made to live among Death Eaters for three-ish months.'

'Don't say that,' said Harry sharply. 'It's good that we know about the diadem, but I'd rather spend years trying to figure out where all the Horcurxes are than be away from you for even a day not knowing where you were or how you were doing.'

'It's called optimism, Harold,' said Y/N firmly, though he was smiling. 'But thank you.'

'Hey... Why can't we go to Hogwarts?' asked Ron. 'We can disguise ourselves...'

Hermione threw him a dirty look. It was completely uncalled for, but it was something she was prone to do. 

'There are ways to detect those things, Ronald. We have to have a really good plan.'

'We broke into the Ministry of Magic,' said Ron. 'Hogwarts can't be harder than that.'

'I think Hermione's right,' said Y/N, and Hermione beamed at him. 'Hogwarts is going to be more difficult to sneak into. We can't Apparate into the grounds-'

'We can Apparate to Hogsmeade,' said Harry. 'Dumbledore and I did it when... you know. Then we took brooms from there-'

'Except we can't just fly into the grounds or walk up to the gates and expect them to open up for us,' said Y/N, crushing Harry's idea. 'There are extremely powerful Charms all around the place.'

'It was just an idea...'

'I know, and I'm sure we'll find a way,' said Y/N, 'but for now, I reckon it's better to wait until we figure something out. You-Know-Who still doesn't know we're after the fragmented pieces of his soul, does he?'

Harry shook his head.  

And though the subject of how to get into Hogwarts cropped up several more times over the next couple of days, none of them devised a good enough plan. Y/N, especially, was not keen on somehow being kidnapped again after his spectacular escape.

Whenever Harry took guard at the entrance of the tent, Y/N volunteered to join him, and they'd sit there together, not saying much, but enjoying each other's company. Procyon would often stay with them, sleeping with his head on Y/N's lap.

Ever since Y/N had come back, Harry had become a little more clingy when it came to him. His bunk bed lay forgotten as he preferred sleeping with Y/N. But Y/N did not find this to be weary at all. He soaked up every minute with Harry, as though trying to embed the feeling of him in his soul. Every lingering kiss, every hug, every touch held value to Y/N. 

Y/N was also elated to be with Hermione and Ron again. He made it a point to be around them, just hanging out in silence, or otherwise playfully teasing the two to Harry's great entertainment. Procyon's presence, too, added warmth to the usually chilly tent.

One night, Harry was practising using a new wand Ron had stolen from a Snatcher after his own had split in two. His magic was a lot clumsier and less powerful than it was before. He was attempting to levitate small stones at his feet and placing them in a certain pattern in front of Y/N.