Ancient Echoes - Harry Potter Male Reader Insert

Chapter 32 - Growing Doubts

The Fat Lady's portrait had been replaced by a painting of a tiny knight, Sir Cadogan, who was pacing back and forth on a patch of grass. His pony grazed nearby as he brandished his sword wildly. A group of Gryffindors stood around, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville stood at the back, looking exasperated.

"Who dares challenge Sir Cadogan!" Sir Cadogan bellowed, thrusting his sword into the air. "Back, you scurvy braggarts! You rogues!"

Seamus shook his head, muttering to Dean, "He's barking mad!"

Dean crossed his arms, smirking. "What d'you expect? After what happened to the Fat Lady, none of the other paintings would take the job."

Neville, looking particularly frustrated, held up a wrinkled piece of parchment. "He keeps changing the password! Twice just this morning! I've taken to keeping a list."

As Neville showed his list, Harry, Ron, and Hermione began to turn away.

"Farewell, comrades!" Sir Cadogan called after them, waving his sword wildly in the air. "If ever you have need of noble heart and steely sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!"

Ron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we'll call you... if we ever need someone mental."

Just as they were about to leave, a familiar voice rang out from behind them. "Sir Cadogan causing trouble again, is he?"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to see Y/n approaching, his usual grin stretching across his face.

At the sight of Y/n, Sir Cadogan's eyes brightened, and he immediately dropped to one knee, bowing dramatically. "Sir Y/n! A knight of the highest honor! How may I serve thee?"

Y/n smirked but didn't seem the least bit surprised. "Morning, Sir Cadogan," he greeted, waving casually. "Still on duty, I see."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged bewildered glances as they watched the tiny knight treat Y/n like royalty.

"Why's he calling you 'Sir'?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow. "Since when did you get knighted?"

Y/n glanced at Ron, confused. "Why not?" he replied casually. "Sir Y/n has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

Hermione shot Y/n a suspicious look. "Are you just going along with this?"

Y/n shrugged, pretending to think about it. "I mean... he's clearly onto something. Maybe it's just my natural knightly charm." He gave a mock bow, and Sir Cadogan clapped his gauntlet-covered hands together in approval.

"I know what I see!" Sir Cadogan proclaimed, raising his sword toward the sky. "Sir Y/n is a knight of the highest order! I shall follow his every command without question!"

"See?" Y/n said, throwing his hands up. "Sir Cadogan knows greatness when he sees it."

Harry, still confused, shook his head. "Seriously though, why's he so set on this?"

Sir Cadogan turned to Harry, looking deeply offended. "Because I know a noble knight when I see one! Sir Y/n's bravery and honour shine brighter than a thousand suns!"

Neville, nervously clutching his parchment, leaned toward Y/n. "You don't really believe him, do you?"

Y/n laughed. "Why not? I say we roll with it."

Ron groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Just what we need—another knight in shining armour."

Sir Cadogan, clearly enjoying the attention, puffed out his chest. "Sir Y/n, shall I change the password again to keep these knaves guessing?"