Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y4 ~ The Graveyard

Dumbledore's office was dimly lit, its walls lined with shelves of mysterious trinkets and books that seemed older than time itself. Dumbledore's desk was scattered with peculiar odds and ends—spinning devices, glowing orbs, and parchment scribbled with indecipherable notes. A bowl of peculiar black candies sat at the center, ominously unassuming.

Y/N stood near the door, her arms crossed as she glanced warily at the bowl. She had an inkling about those treats—Dumbledore always had a peculiar sense of humor—and after spending three years at Hogwarts, she wasn't about to be caught off guard. Harry, however, was oblivious as he stepped further into the room.

"Help yourselves to the licorice snaps," Dumbledore said with a slight smile as he ushered Fudge out. "Though I must warn you, they're a bit... spirited."

Y/N leaned in toward Harry, her voice low but urgent. "Don't—"

Before she could finish, Harry grabbed a handful. The candies sprang to life, transforming into tiny, snapping creatures. One of them latched onto Harry's finger, and he yelped, dropping the rest onto the floor and stumbling back.

"Agh! What the—!" Harry exclaimed, shaking his hand frantically.

Y/N clapped a hand over her mouth but couldn't stifle her laughter. "I was trying to warn you!" she said between chuckles, the corners of her eyes crinkling.

Harry glared at her, though the corners of his lips twitched. "Glad someone's enjoying this," he muttered, cradling his bitten hand.

Y/N knelt, carefully scooping up the wriggling treats with the corner of her robe. "You've got to stop blindly trusting everything Dumbledore offers you," she teased, holding one of the creatures up for inspection before tossing it back into the bowl.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Noted."

Just then, a soft hum filled the air, drawing both their gazes to the far wall. A compartment had opened, revealing a shimmering, glowing pool of silver-blue light—a Pensieve.

Harry and Y/N exchanged a glance before stepping closer. "It's a Pensieve," Y/N whispered, her eyes wide with awe.

Harry leaned in, the pull of the glowing liquid irresistible. Without warning, he was yanked forward, his body plunging into the swirling blue light.

"Harry!" Y/N shouted, reaching out to grab him, but her fingers passed through empty air.

The room spun, and suddenly Y/N found herself standing beside Harry in an entirely different space. The air here was heavy, the walls glowing faintly red. A courtroom loomed before them, its occupants seated in severe rows.

Y/N landed with a thud beside Harry, her knees scraping against the rough stone floor. She winced but quickly scrambled to her feet, her heart racing. The room was vast and circular, its red-lit walls alive with the murmur of a restless crowd. Above them, chains rattled as a cage rose from the floor, enclosing a thin, pale man.

"Where are we?" Y/N whispered, her voice trembling as she clutched Harry's arm. The air here was heavy, the walls glowing faintly red. A courtroom loomed before them, its occupants seated in severe rows.

"Professor?" Harry's voice trembled as he spotted Dumbledore seated among the council.

Dumbledore didn't react. Beside him, a wiry man with sharp features whispered in his ear.

"We're... not really here," Y/N said, her voice hushed. She pointed at the man's hand, which passed cleanly through Harry's arm as he gestured.

In the center of the courtroom, a cage rose from the floor, rattling against its chains.