After The War : ** Shadows and Light ** :harrypotterxreader:

**Chapter 1: The Stirring of Something New**

In shadows deep, where secrets lie,

A friendship blooms beneath the sky.

With courage bright and hearts entwined,

A spark ignites, the stars aligned.

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*"In the shadows, friendship begins; a spark ignites, and magic spins."

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The train ride back to Hogwarts was quiet, a far cry from the usual lively chatter that filled the compartments in past years. Harry sat near the window, his forehead resting against the cool glass, watching the countryside roll by in a blur of greens and browns. The familiar sight of the landscape should have been comforting, but something about returning to Hogwarts after the war felt... wrong.

No, not wrong. Different.

Hogwarts had always been Harry's sanctuary, but now, as the train chugged toward the towering castle, he couldn't shake the weight on his chest. The halls would be the same, the portraits would still talk, and the common rooms would still be warm and inviting. But the students who walked those halls were changed, irrevocably marked by the battle for the wizarding world. Even Harry, the Boy Who Lived, didn't feel the same.

Hermione and Ron were in the compartment with him, of course, sharing quiet conversations in hushed tones. Occasionally, Hermione would glance over at him, her eyebrows drawn together in concern, but Harry would give her a small smile—just enough to let her know he was fine.

But was he fine?

His thoughts were interrupted as the train gave a sudden lurch. The familiar sound of the whistle echoed through the cabin, signaling they were close to Hogwarts. The sight of the castle, rising like a beacon in the distance, made Harry's heart do a funny little flip. He was home. But there was an unfamiliar feeling tugging at him as well, a nagging sense that something, or rather, someone was missing.

And then he saw you.

You had entered the train compartment briefly, saying hello to Ron and Hermione before settling in a seat a few rows away with your friends. Your hair was tied up in a loose bun, and you wore that easy smile that always seemed to light up your face. It was strange how in that moment, with all the thoughts swirling around in Harry's mind about the war and the future, seeing you made everything quiet down.

For a second, he forgot about the weight on his chest, the burden of the past. You had always been there—brave, strong, kind—but since when had he started noticing how your eyes sparkled when you laughed, or how your voice had this calming effect on him?

Harry shook his head, forcing himself to look away. Maybe it was the aftermath of everything, the leftover adrenaline of the war, making him hyper-aware of things he hadn't noticed before. But even as he tried to rationalize it, he couldn't ignore the flutter in his chest when you caught his gaze and gave him a small wave.

"Earth to Harry." Ron's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He blinked, realizing he had been staring in your direction for far too long.

"Hmm?"

"You okay, mate? You looked like you were in a daze."

Harry cleared his throat, feeling heat creep up his neck. "Yeah, just... thinking."

"About her, maybe?" Hermione added, a teasing glint in her eyes.

Harry frowned, though his heart was pounding a little faster. "What? No. I'm just... it's nothing."

Ron snorted. "Nothing, huh? You've been acting weird since we got on the train."

"It's not like that," Harry said quickly, though even as he spoke, he knew he wasn't convincing anyone. Especially not Hermione, who was studying him with that sharp, knowing look of hers.

She didn't press further, but the silence that followed was filled with unspoken words. Harry leaned back in his seat, determined to push the strange feelings away. There was no time for distractions, not after everything that had happened. Hogwarts was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to heal. The last thing he needed was to complicate things with a crush.

But as the train finally pulled into the station, and you passed by their compartment on your way out, giving Harry one last smile before disappearing down the corridor, he couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late.

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Arriving at Hogwarts was surreal. The castle loomed above them, its towering spires bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The familiar sight stirred something deep within Harry, and for a moment, the weight on his chest lifted. This place had been through so much—so had they all—but there it stood, proud and unbroken.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way through the entrance hall, joining the throngs of students eager to begin their final year. But despite the excitement buzzing around them, Harry's attention kept drifting back to you. He spotted you again in the Great Hall during the feast, laughing with your friends at the Ravenclaw table. He wasn't even sure why, but every time he saw you, that strange flutter in his chest returned.

"Harry, mate, are you even listening?" Ron's voice broke through his thoughts once again, and Harry realized he had barely touched his food.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry."

Hermione smirked knowingly. "You're distracted."

"I'm not distracted," Harry muttered, though he knew it was pointless to argue. He was distracted, but it wasn't just about you—it was everything. The castle, the war, the future.

And maybe... just maybe, it was about you, too.

As the feast continued, Harry tried to focus on anything but the way your laughter echoed in his ears or the way your eyes lit up when you talked to your friends. But the more he tried, the more he found his thoughts drifting back to you.

By the time the feast ended, and they were heading back to the common room, Harry had come to an uncomfortable realization.

This wasn't just some passing crush.

It was more than that. And he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with it.

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