Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y3 ~ Friends

The first light of dawn crept into the ancient corridors of Hogwarts, painting the stone walls with a soft, golden glow. The silence of the early morning was punctuated only by the echo of footsteps as students, finally released from the Great Hall, made their way back to their dormitories. Y/N walked at a steady pace, her fingers brushing along the cool stone as her gaze flickered between the small clusters of students huddled together. Ever since Sirius Black had broken into the castle, the halls no longer hummed with carefree chatter. Instead, hushed whispers carried tales of fear, and groups of students instinctively stuck close to one another, as if proximity could ward off the terror of another intrusion.

Yet, in true Hogwarts fashion, life went on. Classes resumed as normal, and today, the Gryffindors had Defense Against the Dark Arts—a class Y/N always looked forward to, especially with Professor Lupin's lively teaching. His lessons always held a certain magic, an ability to lift spirits even when the castle seemed cloaked in anxiety. As Y/N, Harry, and Ron walked through the dim hallways, the subject on everyone's mind wasn't the lesson itself but tomorrow's first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff.

Ron's face lit up as he animatedly described the game's importance, his hands gesturing wildly. "It's going to be brilliant, Y/N, trust me. Fred and George have been practicing non-stop, and Harry—well, you've never seen a Seeker like him."

Harry smiled sheepishly. "He's overselling it a bit."

"Not even," Y/N grinned, her excitement for her first-ever Quidditch match growing with each word they shared. Despite her initial disinterest, Harry and Ron's relentless enthusiasm had won her over. "After all the passionate speeches you've given me, I feel like I've already attended a dozen games."

The hallway opened into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, and Y/N pushed the door open with a smile, expecting the familiar warmth of Professor Lupin's greeting. However, the room greeted them with only silence. Students were already seated, but Lupin was nowhere to be seen. The usual energy of the class seemed dampened, and a faint sense of disappointment tugged at Y/N as she moved to her usual seat next to Harry and Ron.

Hermione joined them moments later, as if by magic. "Morning," she whispered, slipping into the seat beside Y/N, her hair slightly frizzed from rushing. They exchanged quick smiles, the easy rapport between them growing each day. Y/N had become more comfortable in their presence, something she had never imagined at the start of the school year.

Just as Y/N reached into her bag for her textbook, the door swung open with a loud creak, and Professor Snape strode into the room, his long black robes billowing behind him. The moment he entered, the atmosphere seemed to shift. Snape's expression was as stern as ever, his cold gaze sweeping across the room as he moved to the front of the class. Without a word, he shut the blinds, casting the room into near-darkness, save for the dim glow of lanterns and the faint morning light creeping through the cracks.

"Turn to page 394," Snape said in his signature drawl, pulling down a projector screen with a flick of his wrist. His voice was a sharp contrast to the soft murmur that had filled the room moments before.

Y/N shot Hermione a questioning look, noticing her friend already flipping through her book with practiced ease. The tension between them grew as Hermione gasped, her wide eyes scanning the page.

"Werewolves? But sir, we've just begun learning about Red Caps and Hinkypunks. We're not meant to start nocturnal beasts for weeks," Hermione protested, her voice filled with a rare edge of disbelief.

Snape shot her a withering look. "Quiet," he muttered dismissively, his gaze sweeping over the class with clear disinterest.

The tension in the room thickened, but Y/N's attention was caught by a quiet whisper from Ron to Harry.