Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Prologue

Y/N Nightengale was a very sweet but timid girl, her delicate nature stemming from the lack of friends she had at Hogwarts. There was only one friend she could truly rely on, but their friendship had to be concealed most of the time due to complicated family issues. Despite the secrecy, this unlikely friendship became a cherished relationship for Y/N, one she held close to her heart.

Her shyness rendered her nearly invisible to those around her, even at school. Y/N always chose to sit at the back of the classroom, her head bowed low as if hoping the shadows would swallow her whole. She never raised her hand, her intelligence remaining a quiet brilliance that only occasionally caught the attention of her professors. Praise from them was rare, but when it came, it filled her with a small, fleeting warmth. Yet, even with her bright mind, Y/N preferred to keep to herself, avoiding any situation that might make her stand out in a crowd.

Her past was a mystery, one she had tried desperately to unravel. Y/N didn't know much about her family or how she had ended up in an orphanage as an infant. She spent countless hours scouring the Hogwarts library for any clue related to her surname, Nightengale, or any hints that might guide her toward understanding who she truly was. But her efforts were in vain. The pages of old tomes held no answers, leaving her to accept that she might never know the truth about her origins or how she ended up in a Muggle orphanage.

It wasn't until she turned eleven that her world began to change. An invitation to study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived, revealing to her that she was a witch. Now, as she prepared to enter her third year at Hogwarts, Y/N felt a mix of excitement and relief. The school, despite the dangers it had faced over the past two years, felt like a sanctuary compared to the loveless orphanage.

Voldemort had secretly walked the halls as a professor during her first year, and the Chamber of Secrets had been opened in her second. These were harrowing events that had shaken the school to its core, yet Y/N was grateful they seemed to orbit around Harry Potter, the Chosen One, rather than herself. At least, that's what she believed.

She packed her trunk with careful precision, her hands trembling slightly from the anticipation of returning to Hogwarts. On her bed, her barn owl, Artemis, watched her with deep, thoughtful eyes. Hagrid had given her the owl as a birthday gift during her first year, and she had named him Artemis because of his sleek black feathers that reminded her of the night sky. The bond she shared with Hagrid was one of the few things that brought her true happiness. They spent endless hours together, whether in the library or at his hut, sharing their love for mystical creatures.

With her trunk packed and Artemis safely in his cage, Y/N made her way to King's Cross Station. The walk from the orphanage to the station was short, but it felt like an eternity, her heart fluttering with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. She arrived early, as she always did, slipping through the barrier to Platform 9¾ and heading straight for the last compartment of the Hogwarts Express.

The compartment was empty, just as she had hoped. Y/N carefully placed Artemis on the seat across from her before settling down, relishing the privacy. She reached for a newspaper lying on the floor beneath the opposite seat. The headline immediately caught her attention: Sirius Black Escapes Azkaban.

Y/N's breath hitched as she stared at the grainy photograph of the man on the front page. His gaunt face was twisted into a grimace of anger, and his eyes, wild and haunted, seemed to bore into her soul. The article painted him as a dangerous, cold-blooded killer. Yet, as she read on, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to this man's story, something the article didn't reveal.

"Sad," she murmured to herself, barely above a whisper, as she stared at his image. "He looks sad."

The train's whistle blew, signaling the start of the journey. Y/N placed the newspaper beside her, its pages rustling softly. She leaned back against the window, her chin resting on her palm as she gazed out at the passing scenery. The train began to move, the wheels clattering rhythmically against the tracks, lulling her into a peaceful daze.

The landscape outside was a blur of vibrant greens and muted browns, trees standing tall as sentinels against the backdrop of a cloudy sky. The grass, wet with the recent rain, glistened in the faint light, creating a picturesque scene that brought a small smile to Y/N's lips. She closed her eyes, imagining the possibilities this new school year might bring, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.