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

**Chapter 7: Into the Shadows**

With whispered plans and knowing glances,

You gather strength for second chances.

The path ahead, though fraught with dread,

With courage high, you'll forge ahead.

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*"With plans whispered and hearts ablaze, we step into the unknown, unafraid."*

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It had only been a few days since you'd left the hospital wing, but the ache in your side reminded you of just how close the last battle had been. Despite your insistence that you were fine, Harry's watchful gaze hadn't left you for a moment. He stayed close by, his concern evident in the way he seemed to always be one step ahead, offering help before you could ask for it.

You appreciated it more than you let on.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Hermione's voice broke through your thoughts as the three of you stood in the shadow of Ravenclaw Tower.

The familiar spiral staircase leading to the entrance felt more imposing than usual, its cool stone walls pressing in as if they were waiting for something to happen. You glanced up at the eagle-shaped knocker, its sharp, intelligent eyes gleaming in the dim light of the corridor.

"I'm fine," you assured her, though the weight of what you were about to do settled heavy on your shoulders. "If someone's after the Amulet, we don't have time to waste."

Harry nodded beside you, his expression grim but resolute. "We need to find out if there's anything hidden in the tower—anything that can lead us to the Amulet before they do."

With that, he stepped forward and rapped his knuckles against the eagle. Its eyes flickered to life, and in its cool, melodic voice, it asked the riddle guarding Ravenclaw Tower:

_"I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?"_

Harry hesitated for only a moment before answering. "An echo."

The eagle knocker gave a satisfied nod and swung open, revealing the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room.

The three of you stepped inside, greeted by the familiar blue-and-bronze decor and the tall, arched windows that overlooked the grounds. It was quiet, almost unnaturally so. The usual hum of students was absent—likely due to the strange events that had been happening around the castle. Most students were on edge, and Ravenclaw Tower, despite its scholarly atmosphere, felt more foreboding than ever.

"We should start with the library," Hermione said, her eyes scanning the room with sharp focus. "Rowena Ravenclaw was known for hiding clues in her writings. There might be something in her books."

You and Harry followed her lead, and soon the three of you were combing through the many bookshelves in the common room, searching for anything that might give you a hint about the Amulet's whereabouts. The minutes ticked by in silence, broken only by the sound of turning pages and the occasional mutter of frustration from Harry.

Then, after what felt like hours of searching, you found something.

"Here," you said quietly, pulling a thin, weathered book from the shelf. The cover was faded, but the title was still legible: *Secrets of the Founders: The Lost Legacy of Ravenclaw.*