Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y3 ~ Truth

The air was heavy with dust and the musty smell of decay as Harry, Y/N, and Hermione hurried through the dark and creaky old house. YN's heart pounded in her chest, the oppressive silence broken only by their echoing footsteps. The moonlight filtered in through shattered windows, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

"Ron! Where are you?!" Y/N voice cracked with urgency, her words reverberating through the empty halls.

From somewhere upstairs, they heard a faint, panicked reply. "Up here!" Ron's voice sounded weak, desperate.

Y/N felt a chill run down her spine, her fingers tightening around her wand. She exchanged a look with Harry and Hermione and they bolted up the staircase, its wooden steps groaning beneath their weight.

When they reached the landing, Hermione darted into a room to their left. "Ron!" she called, her voice trembling.

In the dim light, Y/N could see Ron slumped against the wall, clutching his leg, blood seeping through his fingers. His face was pale and drawn, and despite the pain, he was still gripping Scabbers, his pet rat, tightly. A wave of relief mixed with fear washed over Y/N.

"You're okay!" Hermione gasped, falling to her knees beside him.

Y/N knelt on the other side, her eyes scanning the room nervously. "Ron, where's the dog?" she whispered, her voice unsteady. She could feel something wasn't right.

"It's not a dog," Ron breathed, his face etched with horror. His gaze flicked toward the shadows behind them, fear freezing his features. "It's an Animagus. It's a trap."

Y/N followed the trail of paw prints on the floor. They led to the figure of a man standing in the doorway. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes traveled upward-dirty, matted hair hung to his shoulders, and his sunken, haunted eyes gleamed with malice.

Sirius Black.

Sirius grinned-a feral, twisted smile-and stepped closer, his filthy robes swishing along the floor. "Hello there," he rasped, his voice rough and menacing.

Harry's breath hitched beside her, and without thinking, he raised his wand. But before he could speak, Sirius flicked his wrist. "Expelliarmus!" he snarled.

Harry's wand flew through the air, landing neatly in Sirius's hand. Y/N's blood boiled. She felt her own fingers twitch, itching to retaliate, but fear held her back.

Hermione stepped forward, her voice shaking but determined. "If you want Y/N and Harry, you'll have to go through us first!"

Ron, pale and shaky, tried to stand but collapsed back, groaning. Sirius's eyes flicked to him briefly before he smirked. "Lie down, boy," he murmured. "You'll only hurt yourself further."

Sirius's gaze shifted to Y/N, his smirk deepening. "Nice to finally see you...Y/N."

Harry's chest tightened with fury at Sirius speaking to Y/N so casually, as though he wasn't the same madman who had taken everything from them. Y/N felt Harry tremble beside her, his green eyes ablaze with fury as he surged forward launching himself at Sirius. The two collided with a thud, sending Sirius crashing to the floor.

Harry's wand at Sirius's throat. "I'm going to kill you," he snarled, his voice shaking with fury. "Keep Y/N's name out of your bloody mouth."

Sirius, even with Harry atop him, managed a low, maniacal laugh. "Are you, Harry? Are you really?" His words were mocking, even as he struggled to breathe.
Before Harry could strike again, the door flew open with a bang. "Expelliarmus!" came a familiar voice.