-Mine-( Harry Potter x Reader)

Chapter 8

" Tell me what are my words worth. Take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die I don't belong, and my beloved, neither do you."

                                                                     -Taylor Swift-

                                                                      -The Lakes-

Y/n's POV

The dawn broke gently over the horizon, spilling soft, golden light across the castle grounds. Even with the weight of recent events lingering in my chest, the early sunlight had a calming effect, like the castle itself was sighing in relief after a tense night. I stretched lazily, letting the warmth wash over me, and took a slow, grounding breath. Hogwarts was alive with quiet morning noises—the distant clatter of hooves on cobblestones, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the faint clanging of breakfast preparations in the kitchens.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my bare feet brushing the cool floor, and noticed the silver doe pendant on my nightstand. It gleamed faintly in the morning light. Uncle Lupin had given it to me last summer, telling me that it would serve as a reminder of the light we carry, even in the darkest times. I picked it up and felt the smooth metal in my hand, letting the memory of his calm, reassuring voice fill me with warmth. For a moment, I just sat there, letting the quiet of the morning settle over me.

Pulling on my Gryffindor robes, I brushed my hair quickly and made my way down to the common room. The warmth of the fire greeted me first, crackling softly, and then I saw Harry and Hermione already there. Harry sat hunched slightly, elbows on knees, staring thoughtfully into the flames, while Hermione flipped through a textbook, her lips moving silently as she traced her finger along the page. The room smelled faintly of parchment and the lingering smoke of the fireplace, comforting in its own way.

"Ready for another day?" I asked softly, approaching them.

Harry's gaze lifted to mine, a small, almost shy smile playing on his lips. "As ready as we can be," he said, though I could hear the tension in his voice, the quiet weight of last night still sitting heavy between us.

Hermione closed her book and leaned back. "It's hard to believe we managed to get through everything yesterday," she whispered. "I keep wondering... how could anyone even—" She broke off, shaking her head.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But we did. And today... today we just keep going. We stick together, that's all we can do."

The morning classes passed in a blur, but my thoughts kept drifting back to yesterday's events—the shimmer of Buckbeak's wings, the adrenaline coursing through me as Harry held my waist mid-flight, and the way Draco had stared at me afterwards. There had been something fleeting in his expression, a flicker of curiosity behind his usual arrogance, and I had caught his gaze for a moment longer than necessary. My stomach still fluttered at the memory, though I'd never admit it aloud.

By the afternoon, classes were finally over, and I felt the pull of the crisp autumn air outside. I grabbed my cloak and followed Harry and Hermione down toward the lake. The sun had warmed the day enough to melt the chill from the morning, and the leaves crunched under our feet with satisfying crispness. Lavender joined us on the way, chatting animatedly about a new outfit she'd seen in Hogsmeade and making me laugh at her dramatic gestures. I loved the way she could lighten any mood, even after tense mornings and stressful lessons.

We wandered to the lake, the castle reflecting perfectly on the water's glassy surface. Harry immediately bent down, picking up a handful of smooth, flat stones. "Bet I can skip this farther than you, Y/n," he said with a grin, clearly trying to distract himself as much as me.