Crossroads | Harry J. Potter

𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 - Fire and Fear

The Gryffindor common room was a whirlwind of cheers and music as Harry entered. A deafening roar erupted, and students crowded around, dancing and toasting with pumpkin juice and butterbeer. Fred and George Weasley were in a corner, laughing as they passed out drinks.

Harry forced a smile at the congratulations and pats on the back but barely registered the noise. His eyes scanned the room, searching for Yvonne—the one person who could make sense of the chaos.

Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen, adding to his unease. He spotted familiar faces: Seamus by the fireplace, Neville laughing with Ginny, but Yvonne was absent.

Disappointment washed over him as he remembered the shock on her face when his name was called. He sighed, the celebration blurring into meaningless sound. All he wanted was to find Yvonne, to tell her it would be okay.

"She'll understand," he thought. Turning from the noise, he resolved to see her first thing in the morning, determined to find comfort in her presence.

The next morning, Harry walked into the Great Hall, the tension of the previous night still clinging to him. He scanned the Gryffindor table and spotted Yvonne sitting with Hermione, their heads close together in conversation. Relief flooded him as he approached.

"Morning, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes serious but kind.

Yvonne looked up, her expression softening as their eyes met. "Hi, Harry," she said, her voice steady but warm.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, glancing around.

"He already had breakfast." Hermione replied. "Dunno where he is though."

Before Harry could respond, Yvonne leaned forward. "Harry, I need you to know something. I believe you. I know you didn't put your name in the Goblet. We both do"

Harry's shoulders relaxed, a weight he hadn't realized he was carrying lifting from him. "Thank you, Yvonne, Hermione" he said, his voice quiet with gratitude.

She nodded, her eyes meeting his with unwavering support. "We'll figure this out together."

"Hey Harry," Hermione asked gently, "let's go on a walk. We need to talk."

"Er," Harry replied. "Yeah. Yeah let's go." Before the trio left, Yvonne shot Harry a sympathetic smile, which he couldn't return.

They walked out of the Great Hall without looking back. Harry filled Yvonne and Hermione in about the events after he left the Gryffindor table last night, and to his relief, both of them had accepted his story without a single question raised. 

"Moody thinks someone put my name in the Goblet, hoping I would die in the Tournament.''

"Well that's ridiculous!" Yvonne exclaimed. "Who at Hogwarts would want you to die?"

Harry smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You think?"

Yvonne sighed "OK, I get it. Malfoy. But he couldn't possibly want you to die. I mean, what good is he going to get?

Hermione tutted. "Probably make his father proud if he thought he had a hand in it. Maybe even earn a higher salary from You-Know-Who."

Both Yvonne and Harry laughed, lightening the tension around them

The three of them walked in silence for a while. "Ron thinks I put my name in the Goblet doesn't he?" Harry blurted before he could stop himself.

Yvonne reached out, placing her hand on his. "Oh, Harry... He's just confused. Everything's so sudden. But he'll come around. He knows you better than that."