𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 - Harry Potter x Fem!Reader¹

11.. THE PATRONUS

Hermione meant well.

Hermione Granger always meant well.

The thought flickered in Y/N's mind, but she couldn't quite keep it there. She had spent the past four hours trying to force herself to believe it. Hermione was just being cautious, protecting her. After all, Sirius Black was still on the loose, and if the broom was cursed, Hermione had done the right thing.

In all ways possible, Hermione was much smarter than Y/N.

But as much as Y/N tried to push the uneasy feelings aside, the sting of betrayal gnawed at her. Hermione hadn't even asked. She hadn't talked to her first or explained why she was concerned. Y/N felt like a child, incapable of deciding for herself what was dangerous or not. Did Hermione really see her as a child?

Stop it, she told herself. Hermione's just worried about you. You should be grateful she's looking out for you. She is one of the few people who do.

But another part of her whispered: She should have trusted you. It was your Firebolt, not hers. She didn't even give you a chance to say anything.

But no matter how hard she tried, a small part of her remained hurt, a quiet voice in the back of her mind insisting: She should have talked to me first. Isn't that what friends do?

Y/N was positive that there was nothing wrong with the Firebolt now, but what sort of state would it be in once it had been subjected to all sorts of anti-jinx tests?

And just as when Y/N was hoping that she was starting to get close to Harry again, they hardly had any time to talk to each other at all even if they wanted to. He stuck with Ron nearly all day and even seemed to side with him.

Speaking of, Ron was furious with Hermione, much more than Y/N thought he should be. As far as he was concerned, the stripping-down of a brand-new Firebolt was nothing less than criminal damage. Hermione, who remained convinced that she had acted for the best, started avoiding the boys and tried to convince Y/N to do the same. All in all, they were glad when the rest of the school returned shortly after New Year, and Gryffindor Tower became crowded and noisy again.

Wood sought Y/N out on the night before term started.

"Had a good Christmas?" he said, and then, without waiting for an answer, he sat down, lowered his voice, and said, "I've been doing some thinking over Christmas, Y/N. After the last match, you know. If the dementors come to the next one... I mean... we can't afford you to — well — "

Wood broke off, looking awkward.

"I'm working on it," said Y/N quickly. "Professor Lupin said he'd train me to ward off the dementors. We should be starting this week. He said he has time after Christmas."

"Ah," said Wood, his expression clearing. "Well, in that case — I really didn't want to lose you as Seeker, Y/N. And have you ordered a new broom yet?"

"... No."

"What! You'd better get a move on, you know — you can't ride that Shooting Star against Ravenclaw!"

"I got a Firebolt for Christmas."

"A Firebolt? No! Seriously? A — a real Firebolt?"

"Don't get excited," said Y/N gloomily. "I haven't got it anymore. It was confiscated." And she explained all about how the Firebolt was now being checked for jinxes.

"Jinxed? How could it be jinxed?"

"Sirius Black," she said wearily, the name sounding like poison on her tongue. "He's supposed to be after me. So McGonagall thinks he might have sent it."