The warmth of the pancakes still lingered in Veronica’s chest, but she couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had settled over her. The pendant around her neck felt heavier than usual, a quiet reminder that her path was changing, whether she liked it or not.
Sitting by the window again, her thoughts wandered, her eyes tracing the serene view of the sprawling gardens. Suddenly, a faint rustling caught her attention. She leaned forward, peering through the glass. Something—or someone—was moving swiftly along the hedge line, their small figure darting in and out of view.
It wasn’t the usual gentle sway of the wind through the bushes. This was frantic, hurried.
Veronica’s heart quickened. Without a second thought, she grabbed her cloak from the chair and slipped out of the room. The echo of her hurried footsteps accompanied her as she made her way outside, the cool breeze biting at her cheeks.
As soon as she stepped onto the garden path, she heard it more clearly—footsteps, fast and uneven, followed by the faint, cruel laughter of boys.
She followed the sound until she reached the edge of the garden, where a boy with messy black hair and outdated round glasses was sprinting toward her. His face was pale, his green eyes wide with panic. His clothes were too big for him, and his movements were desperate, as if he were running for his life.
“Hey! Come here!” Veronica called, her voice firm but kind. She gestured toward herself, stepping closer to block the view of the path behind her.
The boy hesitated for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the group of older boys chasing him. Their jeering laughter grew louder as they closed the distance.
“Trust me,” she urged, her eyes locking onto his. Something about the emerald green reminded her of the calm before a storm.
He seemed to decide in an instant, sprinting toward her and ducking behind her as she stood tall, arms crossed. The bullies skidded to a halt when they saw her, their grins faltering.
“Leave,” Veronica said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
One of the boys, clearly the leader, sneered at her. “And who do you think you are, bossing us around?”
Veronica raised an eyebrow, stepping forward so they had no choice but to look at her. “Someone you don’t want to cross. Now leave before I decide to teach you a lesson myself.”
There was something in her voice, a quiet but undeniable authority, that made them hesitate. After a moment of glaring at her, the boys muttered something under their breaths and turned away, disappearing down the path.
She exhaled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing, and turned to face the boy.
“Are you alright?” she asked gently, crouching slightly to meet his eyes.
He nodded, though his hands were trembling. “Thank you,” he said, his voice quiet but sincere.
Veronica smiled faintly. “You don’t have to thank me. No one deserves to be treated like that.”
She studied him for a moment, noticing how thin he was, how his glasses sat crooked on his nose. There was something about him that tugged at her heart—a vulnerability that reminded her of someone she couldn’t quite place.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Harry,” he said softly. “Harry Potter.”
Her breath caught. She hadn’t expected that.
“I see,” she said carefully, trying to keep her expression neutral. “Well, Harry, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Veronica.”
Harry’s eyes flicked to the pendant around her neck, the Phoenix glinting softly in the fading sunlight. “That’s... pretty,” he murmured.
“Thank you,” she replied with a small smile. “It’s a reminder that no matter how hard things get, we can always rise again.”
He seemed to consider her words, his expression softening.
“Where were you heading?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I just wanted to get away from them.”
Veronica frowned. “Do they bother you often?”
He shrugged, avoiding her gaze. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” she said firmly. “No one should have to deal with that alone.”
For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then, almost shyly, he asked, “Can I... stay here for a bit?”
Veronica smiled and straightened, holding out a hand. “Of course. Come on, Harry. Let’s get you somewhere safe.”
As he took her hand, she couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of connection, as though fate had brought them together. Whatever the future held, she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn’t let Harry face it alone.
