In Harmony : A Second Chance

A Choice to Make

Chapter 13
A Choice to Make
2645 Words

The torches lining the corridors of Hogwarts cast long, flickering shadows as Harry walked, the news he had just received from Professor Dumbledore weighing heavily on his mind. The stone walls, once comforting in their familiarity, now felt like they were closing in, amplifying the sense of isolation that gripped him.

Sirius Black.

The name echoed in his thoughts, accompanied by a rush of emotions he could barely comprehend. This man—someone his parents had once called a friend—had betrayed them, leading to their deaths. And now, barely into his first year at Hogwarts, Harry was being asked to decide whether he wanted to confront the man responsible for his orphaning.

 The absurdity of it struck him with every step he took. How could Dumbledore place such a burden on him? Why now, when he struggled to find his place in this new world?

Frustration and anger simmered within him, tightening into a knot in his chest. He needed to talk to someone—someone who could help him make sense of the chaos in his mind. Without fully realizing where he was going, Harry found himself heading toward the kitchens.

 Neville had discovered the secret entrance just a week ago, and it had quickly become their refuge—a place to escape from the pressures of school and the prying eyes of their classmates.

At the portrait of the fruit bowl, Harry forced himself to take a deep breath. He tickled the pear, and the door swung open, revealing the warm, bustling kitchen. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasting meat filled the air, momentarily distracting him from the turmoil inside his head. The house elves, busy with tasks, paid him little attention as he entered.

Neville and Hermione sat in the corner at a small table, quietly talking and nibbling on treacle tarts. The sight of them—so calm, so familiar—brought a lump to Harry's throat. How could he possibly explain what he had just learned?

They looked up as he approached, immediately sensing that something was wrong. The confident stride they were used to seeing in Harry was gone, replaced by a hesitant, almost reluctant gait. His face was pale, his eyes haunted.

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione's voice was laced with concern as she moved over to make room for him at the table.

Harry sank into the chair, the weight of Dumbledore's words pressing down on him. He glanced at his friends, searching for the right words, but everything felt inadequate. How could he make them understand the enormity of what had just been placed on his shoulders?

"I just met with Dumbledore," he began, his voice trembling. "He told me about a man... Sirius Black. He betrayed my parents... and now Dumbledore's giving me the choice to confront him."

The kitchen seemed to fall into a hushed silence, the usual clattering of pots and pans fading into the background. Hermione's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Neville's expression shifted from concern to something deeper, more intense.

"But... why would Dumbledore ask you that?" Hermione finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're just a first-year! This doesn't make any sense."

Harry shook his head, frustration boiling over. "I don't know! It's like he thinks I'm supposed to do something about it like it's my responsibility or something. But why? Why now? I'm just a kid—I don't even know how to deal with something like this!"