Flames Of Destiny : Conflicting Emotions // HJP [2]

Chapter Six : Worst Monday Ever

The Entrance Hall blazed with flickering torchlight, the sound of hundreds of footsteps echoing off the stone floor as students made their way towards the double doors that led into the Great Hall. Excitement buzzed in the air, and the chatter of old friends catching up filled the cavernous space. As (Y/n) walked alongside Harry, she couldn't help but notice the sidelong glances and whispered conversations starting up as they passed.

Her eyes narrowed at a group of students who quickly looked away, pretending not to be watching. Harry, however, seemed oblivious—or perhaps, he was just pretending not to notice. (Y/n) couldn't tell, but either way, the quiet stares irked her on his behalf.

She cast a quick glance at Harry, recalling their strange conversation earlier. The image of him standing there on the platform, his face pale and his voice filled with confusion, played in her mind. He had been trying to explain what he saw—something pulling the carriages that she simply couldn't see—but Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna had interrupted before he could say more. Now, she found herself watching his profile, wondering what had really unsettled him so much.

As they entered the Great Hall, the familiar sight of floating candles and the starless, enchanted ceiling greeted them. The four long house tables were quickly filling up, students greeting one another, laughing, exchanging stories of their summer breaks. Silvery ghosts drifted around, their translucent forms mingling with the living. The warm, golden glow of the candles cast flickering shadows on the faces of students eager for the start-of-term feast.

Luna peeled away from the group, making her way to the Ravenclaw table with her usual dreamy expression. Ginny spotted some of her fellow fourth-years and veered off to join them. (Y/n), Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville found seats halfway down the Gryffindor table, settling between Nearly Headless Nick and Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. The latter two greeted Harry in overly bright, cheerful tones, their voices just a bit too friendly to be sincere.

(Y/n) couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. It was obvious they'd been whispering about Harry moments before. She had thought about befriending Parvati and Lavender once, but now, seeing how they likely believed the nonsense the Daily Prophet had been printing about Harry, she wasn't so sure anymore.

Harry, seemingly unaffected by their attention, was staring past them, his eyes fixed on the staff table at the far end of the hall. He frowned.

"He's not there," he muttered under his breath.

Ron and Hermione followed his gaze, scanning the long table where the professors sat. Of course, there was no need to search for Hagrid—his enormous presence would have been impossible to miss. Yet, the giant was nowhere to be seen.

"He can't have left," Ron said, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Of course he hasn't," Harry replied, though his tone was firm, his eyes betrayed his concern.

Hermione bit her lip, her gaze darting anxiously up and down the staff table. "You don't think he's... hurt or anything, do you?" she asked quietly.

"No," Harry said immediately, though a shadow of doubt flickered across his face.

"Then where is he?" Hermione pressed, her voice barely a whisper now.

There was a momentary silence before (Y/n) spoke, her voice soft enough that only Harry, Ron, and Hermione could hear her. "Maybe he's not back yet. You know... from the mission. Whatever it was he was doing for Dumbledore over the summer."

"Yeah... yeah, that's probably it," Ron agreed, sounding a little more reassured, though he still glanced nervously towards the staff table.

Hermione didn't look so convinced. She continued to glance around as if searching for an explanation, but none came.