Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y3 ~ Quartet

As the late afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows of Hagrid's cozy hut, Hermione's sharp voice broke the silence, accompanied by the sound of her palm connecting with Ron's arm. "You can't just blurt that out, you idiot, especially to a girl. Be more considerate," she scolded, her brown eyes flashing with irritation.

Ron yelped and rubbed his arm, shooting Hermione a wounded look. "Ow! Hermione, that hurt! You didn't have to hit me so hard," he complained, his voice tinged with both pain and indignation.

"Serves you right, you need to know when it's appropriate to voice your thoughts," Hermione huffed, crossing her arms and turning her back on him, her lips pressed into a thin line as she redirected her attention to Harry. The awkwardness of the moment seemed to settle over them like a thick fog, but Harry finally spoke, his voice tentative as he attempted to defuse the situation.

"Sorry about them," Harry began, his words slightly hesitant. "We were expecting to see Hagrid open the door instead." His green eyes flickered with an apology, and a faint blush crept up his cheeks. "Hagrid told us to meet him here today, to, uh, help him with something." His voice faltered, as though he was unsure how much to reveal, his gaze dropping momentarily to the floor before returning to Y/N's face.

Y/N's heart raced as she took in the sight of Harry Potter standing in front of her, close enough to notice the way his unruly hair fell into his eyes and the faint scar that marked his forehead. A blush mirrored his own, coloring her cheeks as she tried to keep her composure. 'He's hot,' she thought, her mind briefly spinning with the realization that she was alone with him, Ron, and Hermione.

Everything clicked into place when she remembered her earlier conversation with Hagrid. 'So this is what he meant. He was going to help me make friends...' Y/N sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips as she stepped aside to let them in. "I think I know why you're here. So please, come in. Hagrid wouldn't mind me allowing you guys in. He speaks fondly of you three, so there's no need to introduce yourselves. I already know who you are."

The trio entered, each of them casting curious glances around Hagrid's hut before taking seats at the wooden table. Y/N busied herself with fetching more cups from the cabinet, the sound of clinking china filling the quiet space as she poured them each a cup of tea. She moved gracefully, the soft glow of the firelight catching in her hair and reflecting in the amber liquid as she carefully set the cups in front of them.

For a moment, no one spoke. The air between them felt charged, filled with the unspoken curiosity and anticipation that comes with new encounters. Y/N finally broke the silence, her voice soft but steady as she introduced herself. "Sorry, that was rude of me. I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Y/N Nightengale, and I'm in Gryffindor. Same as you three."

Hermione's reaction was immediate and intense. She shot up from her seat, her hands slamming onto the table as she leaned toward Y/N, excitement lighting up her face. "You're the girl I'm always competing against! You're always acing every subject in our classes. I didn't know it was you!"

Harry looked puzzled as he glanced between the two girls. "Competing against? What do you mean, Hermione?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion. Meanwhile, Ron muttered something to Hermione, urging her to sit down again, which she did with a sheepish grin.

"It's more like a mental competition," Hermione explained, her voice rapid with enthusiasm. "I'm always checking in with our professors about my scores, and they always mention you as also one of the brightest students they've ever had. I've been dying to meet you in person, but I only ever knew your name. And now here you are, in our house this whole time!" She looked at Y/N with admiration, as though she'd discovered a long-lost friend.