Second Chance || Harry Potter x Reader

The Weight of Silence | ˚₊✩‧₊

Harry's Pov
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。

As I made my way through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, a sense of dread settled over me. My first detention with Umbridge—it was something I'd been dreading all day. But there was no avoiding it. She'd made it clear that missing the detention would only make things worse, and with everything already spiraling out of control, the last thing I needed was more trouble.

The halls were mostly empty, the echo of my footsteps bouncing off the stone walls. The castle had always felt alive to me, but tonight it seemed cold and unwelcoming, as if it knew where I was headed. I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets, trying to ignore the tight knot of frustration in my chest. Umbridge was going to make my life hell, and on top of that, there was the whole mess with Y/N and Cho, and my head was spinning.

I didn't know how I was supposed to focus on anything else when all I could think about was that moment in the Great Hall earlier. Y/N had left without a word after Ron's brilliant bit of honesty, and I couldn't stop wondering what she was thinking. Did she have any idea what was going on in my head? Did she care? Or was I just an idiot who couldn't sort his feelings out?

As I rounded a corner, something caught my attention. Voices. Familiar voices.

I slowed down, frowning as I recognized one of them—it was Y/N. The other one took a second longer to place, but then it hit me: Anthony Goldstein. They were up ahead, their voices carrying through the corridor. I couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but it sounded like... laughter?

My stomach twisted uncomfortably, and I found myself stopping in my tracks, listening in despite myself. Y/N was laughing at something Anthony had said, her voice light and carefree, the kind of laugh that usually made me smile. But not now.

My hands clenched into fists, and for a moment, I considered heading their way, pretending like I'd just stumbled upon them by accident. Maybe see what they were up to. But then I remembered—Umbridge. Detention.

"Brilliant," I muttered under my breath, frustrated with myself. Here I was, standing in the middle of the corridor like a complete idiot, eavesdropping on Y/N and Anthony when I had far bigger things to worry about.

I forced myself to turn away, continuing down the hall. But their voices stayed with me, echoing in my head. Y/N and Anthony. I hated the way it made me feel. It was irrational, I knew that. She barely hung out with him, and Ron was right—this was the first time I'd really seen them together today. But still, something about it bothered me. It gnawed at the back of my mind, making everything worse.

Before I knew it, I was standing outside Umbridge's office. The door loomed in front of me like a threat, and I could already feel my temper simmering. I hated her. I hated this school year. And I hated how out of control everything felt.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

"Enter," came Umbridge's sickly sweet voice from the other side.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Her office was nauseating—pink walls, lace doilies, and dozens of those stupid kitten plates hanging on the walls, mewing quietly. It was the exact opposite of what you'd expect for a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office. I had to force myself not to roll my eyes.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," she said with that false smile of hers, sitting primly behind her desk. "Right on time. How...delightful."

I didn't say anything. There was no point. She was going to get what she wanted out of me whether I spoke or not.

Umbridge stood up, walking around her desk with a slow, deliberate step. She made her way over to a small writing desk set up near the front of the room. On it sat a single quill—no ink.