-Mine-( Harry Potter x Reader)

Chapter 10

"Time curious time, gave me no compasses, gave me no signs. Were there clues I didn't see? And isn't just so pretty to think, all along there was some invisible string tying you to me?"

                                                                            -Taylor Swift-

                                                                       -Invisible String-

Y/n's pov.

The castle loomed large and shadowy as we walked back from Hogsmeade, the familiar stone walls now feeling more like a prison than a sanctuary. The weight of our discovery lingered in the air, and I could sense the turmoil brewing within Harry. As we entered the Gryffindor common room, the warmth and laughter of our fellow students felt distant, like a separate world from the one we had just stepped out of.

"Hey, you okay?" Hermione asked, her eyes scanning Harry's face for signs of distress. I could see the concern etched into her features, but Harry just nodded, his gaze far away.

"Yeah, just tired," he muttered, though I could tell he was far from it. As the others began to disperse, I turned to Harry.

"Meet me in the common room after everyone's gone to bed," I whispered, a plan forming in my mind. "We need to talk about what we heard... and what we're going to do next."

Harry's eyes sparkled with a hint of determination. "Okay. I'll grab the Marauder's Map."

(Time skip)

Later that night, the common room was quiet, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. I glanced around to make sure we were alone before I made my way to the corner where Harry had been waiting. He held the Marauder's Map in his hands, the parchment spread out before us like a treasure waiting to be discovered.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, heart racing with the thrill of our midnight escapade.

"Let's go find him," I replied, my determination matching his.

We tiptoed through the corridors, the map illuminating our path as we traced the footsteps of others, careful to avoid the patrolling ghosts and professors. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of excitement and trepidation. The castle felt alive around us, filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered.

"Remember, we need to be careful," I reminded Harry as we approached the entrance to the dungeons. "Snape is always lurking around down here."

Harry grinned, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "What's the worst that could happen?"

As we descended into the darkened corridors, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking into a trap. The shadows seemed to shift and dance, and the chill in the air made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Just as we reached a fork in the path, I noticed a figure moving swiftly toward us.

"Harry!" I hissed, grabbing his arm. We ducked behind a pillar, holding our breath as the figure drew nearer. My heart sank as I recognized the unmistakable silhouette of Professor Snape, his robes billowing around him like dark clouds.

"What do we do?" Harry whispered, panic creeping into his voice.

"Stay quiet," I urged, feeling the adrenaline course through my veins. Snape was known for his sharp instincts, and if he caught us out of bed, there would be no escaping his wrath.

As he passed, I could hear him muttering to himself, his dark eyes scanning the shadows, searching for any signs of mischief. The tension in the air was palpable, and I felt as though time had stopped.

"Now!" Harry whispered, motioning for us to slip into the adjacent corridor. We hurried down the passage, adrenaline surging as we put distance between us and Snape.

"Where are we going?" I asked, breathless.

"I want to check the potions classroom," he replied, determination etched on his face. "If Pettigrew is alive, he might have left something behind."

I nodded, trusting Harry's instincts, even if my own gut twisted with apprehension. We pushed open the door to the potions classroom, the room dark and foreboding. The shelves lined with mysterious ingredients loomed over us, casting eerie shadows.

As we began to search through the cabinets, my thoughts raced. What if we found something that could lead us to Pettigrew? What if we didn't? The uncertainty gnawed at me.

"Over here!" Harry called, crouching beside a stack of old, dusty books. I joined him, peering over his shoulder as he opened one, revealing yellowed pages filled with potion recipes.

"Look at this," he said, his finger tracing a diagram of a potion. "It's the Veritaserum. If we can get our hands on some—"

"Harry!" I interrupted, a sudden realization hitting me. "What if Snape catches us? We can't risk him finding out what we're doing."

Harry's jaw tightened, determination flashing in his eyes. "I know, but we need to do this. I have to find out the truth."

Just then, a creaking sound echoed through the room, and we froze, hearts racing. My stomach dropped as the door swung open, revealing none other than Professor Snape himself, his eyes narrowed and his expression dark.

"What do we have here?" he asked, his voice dripping with suspicion.

I felt my breath catch in my throat. This was it. We had been caught.

Before Snape could react further, Harry instinctively stepped closer to me, our shoulders brushing together. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, and despite the fear coursing through my veins, there was an unexpected comfort in his presence. It felt like a shield against the looming danger.

"We were just... um..." Harry stammered, his eyes darting between Snape and me, clearly searching for an excuse. But there was no way out. The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, and I could see the tension in Harry's shoulders.

"Out with it, Potter," Snape hissed, taking a step closer, his gaze piercing through us. "What mischief are you two up to at this hour?"

I glanced at Harry, my heart racing. In that moment, something unspoken passed between us—a shared determination, a silent promise to stand by each other, no matter the consequences. I could see the resolve in Harry's eyes as he straightened his posture.

"We were just looking for some materials for a potion," Harry said, trying to sound confident. "We thought it might help with our studies."

Snape raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "And you believe that wandering the halls in the dead of night is acceptable? Twenty points from Gryffindor."

"Please, Professor, we—" I started, my voice shaky.

"Enough!" he barked, cutting me off. "You will both return to your dormitories immediately."

As we turned to leave, I felt Harry's hand brush against mine, a fleeting touch that sent a spark of electricity coursing through me. I glanced back at him, and for a brief moment, the world around us faded. It was just us, standing on the precipice of a deeper connection amidst the chaos.

"Harry," I whispered as we reached the door. "I'll help you find the truth. Whatever it takes."

He nodded, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. "I know you will. We'll figure this out together."

With that, we slipped out of the potions classroom, the weight of Snape's presence still heavy in the air. As we made our way back to the Gryffindor tower, I felt a strange sense of exhilaration mixed with fear. We were in this together, facing whatever darkness awaited us, and I knew that no matter what happened, our bond would only grow stronger.

(Word count 1211)