Second Chance || Harry Potter x Reader

Lingering Moments | ˚₊✩‧

Y/N's POV
。ﾟ•┈୨♡୧┈·ﾟ。

The soft golden light of a weekend morning filled the castle, casting a warm glow on the stone walls of Hogwarts. The corridors were quieter than usual, as most of the students were either still lounging in their common rooms or had gone down to Hogsmeade to make the most of the weekend. For once, there were no urgent meetings, no lessons about fighting, no plotting behind Umbridge's back.

It felt strange—peaceful, almost. Like the eye of a storm.

I wandered through the halls, enjoying the quiet, letting my thoughts drift. Lately, my mind had been filled with thoughts of Harry, of the time we had been spending together. There had always been something between us, a spark, but in the past few weeks, that spark had turned into something more. I could feel it every time we talked, every time we met for D.A. meetings, every time our eyes met across a room.

There was something unspoken between us now, something that hung in the air every time we were together. And today, I felt like it was on the verge of being said.

I was lost in thought when I heard footsteps approaching. I turned and smiled when I saw Harry walking toward me, his hands in his pockets, a slight flush on his cheeks as if he had been looking for me.

"There you are," he said, his voice soft but relieved. "I was wondering where you went."

I grinned, a familiar warmth spreading through me. "Just wandering. No plans today."

Harry stopped in front of me, and for a moment, he didn't say anything. He just stood there, looking at me like he was trying to figure out what to say next. There was something in his expression that made my heart skip a beat, and I felt the anticipation building in my chest.

"Well," he began, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, "I thought maybe...we could, you know, spend the day together?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised but pleased. "You want to spend the whole day with me?"

Harry laughed softly, the sound a little nervous. "Yeah. If you're not busy, I mean."

I couldn't help but smile at the way he looked slightly flustered, his eyes darting away from mine for just a second before meeting my gaze again. There was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel like the rest of the world didn't matter. Like it was just the two of us.

"I'd like that," I said, my voice a little softer than I intended.

Harry's smile widened, and I could see the tension leave his shoulders. "Great. I know a place we can go."

"Where are you taking me, Potter?" I teased.

He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll see."

Harry led me through the castle, winding through corridors I hadn't often traveled, up staircases, and down hidden passageways. I followed him, curiosity bubbling inside me as we made our way toward wherever this secret place was. It felt like an adventure, and the lightness in my chest made me feel like we were leaving behind everything heavy—the D.A., Umbridge, the growing darkness in the wizarding world.

Finally, we reached a door tucked behind an old tapestry on the third floor. I glanced at Harry, raising an eyebrow.

"Where are we?" I asked, intrigued.

"You'll see," Harry said again, his grin widening as he pushed the door open.

When we stepped through, my breath caught in my throat. It was a hidden courtyard—small, quiet, and utterly beautiful. Ivy climbed up the stone walls, and the ground was scattered with patches of wildflowers. The sun was filtering down through the trees, casting soft beams of light that made everything look like it was glowing. It felt like a secret world, a place removed from the rest of Hogwarts.