Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y3 ~ The Study Room

The rain drummed relentlessly against the windows of the Hogwarts Express, creating a rhythmic pattern that blended with the occasional creaks of the train as it pulled to a sudden halt. The abrupt stop jolted Y/N in her seat, causing her to glance around in confusion. A sudden chill swept through the compartment, making her shiver as she instinctively rubbed her arms, trying to generate some warmth. The dim light flickered, and for a brief, unnerving moment, everything was plunged into darkness, leaving only the sound of the rain and the unsettling creaks of the train settling into the silence.

"Well, that was a great start to a new school year," Y/N muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with sarcasm as she continued to rub her arms, hoping to ward off the lingering cold.

The chill dissipated almost as quickly as it had arrived, leaving Y/N to wonder if it had all been her imagination. But her curiosity was piqued when she noticed a tall, weary-looking man walking briskly down the corridor toward the conductor's cabin. His lined face and shabby robes suggested a life burdened by many battles, both literal and metaphorical. 'He must be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher,' Y/N thought, watching him disappear down the corridor. 'Hopefully, he won't be another Gilderoy Lockhart—full of himself and useless in the classroom.'

The train lurched forward again, slowly picking up speed as it resumed its journey toward Hogwarts. Y/N settled back into her seat, her gaze returning to the rain-soaked countryside that blurred by outside the window. Despite the unsettling interruption, she couldn't help but feel a familiar sense of excitement building within her as the train drew nearer to her second home. The sight of Hogwarts Castle looming in the distance, shrouded in mist and rain, never failed to fill her with awe.

By the time the train arrived at the station, the rain had intensified into a torrential downpour, the sky an oppressive gray that matched the mood of the evening. Y/N didn't mind the rain, though; there was something comforting about the steady rhythm of it, a reminder of the constancy of nature amidst the ever-changing world of magic. She hurried to gather her things, clutching her cloak tightly around her as she stepped onto the platform. The rain soaked through almost immediately, but she ignored the discomfort, focusing instead on finding a carriage to take her up to the castle.

Luck wasn't entirely on her side, as she ended up in a carriage packed with first-year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, their faces alight with wide-eyed wonder and nervous excitement. The ride to the castle was noisy, the first-years bombarding each other with questions about Hogwarts, Quidditch, and every other magical subject they could think of. Y/N tried her best to tune them out, staring out the window as the castle came into view. Despite the years that had passed, the sight of Hogwarts still filled her with a sense of wonder, its spires and turrets standing proudly against the stormy sky. It was a reminder of how fortunate she was to have found a place where she truly belonged, even if the mysteries of her past remained unsolved.

The memory of her own first year came flooding back as the carriage approached the castle gates. Everything had seemed so much bigger then, the world full of endless possibilities. She had been so innocent, so naive to the realities that lay ahead. Now, as she stepped down from the carriage and joined the throng of students making their way to the Great Hall, she felt a bittersweet twinge of nostalgia.

Inside the Great Hall, the Sorting Ceremony was already in full swing. Y/N made her way to the Gryffindor table, slipping into a seat near the end, close to the doors. She had chosen the spot deliberately, hoping to finish dinner quickly and retreat to the common room before it got too crowded. She still needed to unpack and organize her things in the girl's dormitory.

She had barely taken a bite of her food when Fred and George Weasley suddenly appeared, sliding into the seats across from her with identical grins. They usually sat near the middle of the table with their group of friends—Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and a few other noisy Gryffindors she didn't know personally. Y/N had always been a keen observer, and she had noticed the twins' antics over the years. But she had never expected them to take an interest in her.