Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y6 ~ Death Eater

The rhythmic chug of the Hogwarts Express filled the air, a steady backdrop to the blur of green fields and rolling hills beyond the window. The compartment, bathed in the warm glow of afternoon sunlight, seemed heavy with an unspoken tension. Harry sat rigid, his arms crossed and jaw clenched, staring out the window but clearly lost in thought. Ron, slouched in his seat, fiddled with the hem of his sweater, his brow furrowed in confusion. Hermione sat upright, her fingers nervously twisting strands of her bushy hair. Y/N, tucked into the corner, glanced between them all, her unease growing by the second.

The silence broke as Harry finally spoke, his voice low and intense. "So what was Draco doing with that weird-looking cabinet? And who were all those people? Don't you see? It was a ceremony. An initiation."

Y/N blinked, startled by the sudden intensity. "What are we talking about?" she asked, her brows knitting together. The abrupt focus on Draco left her confused and uneasy.

"Stop it, Harry," Hermione interjected, a sharp edge to her voice. Her eyes flicked toward Y/N, as if silently urging him to tread carefully. "I know where you're going with this."

Harry ignored her, his green eyes flashing with determination. "It happened. He's one of them," he stated firmly, the words hanging in the air like a curse.

"One of them?" Ron repeated, his tone equal parts confusion and disbelief. He sat up straighter, exchanging a wary glance with Hermione.

Y/N felt her chest tighten as her gaze snapped to Harry. "Wait a second. What is going on? What is Harry on about?" Her voice was sharp now, an edge of anger creeping in.

"Harry's under the impression that Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater," Hermione explained carefully, her tone cautious as she glanced between Y/N and Ron. Her eyes lingered on Y/N, betraying a flicker of concern.

"Excuse me?" Y/N's voice rose, the anger now clear. She leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. "Harry, how could you say something like that?"

Harry met her glare without flinching. "Think about it, Y/N. Isn't it strange that he was at Knockturn Alley dealing with Borgin? He showed him his arm, and Borgin looked terrified. What else could it mean?"

Ron shook his head, attempting to diffuse the growing tension. "You're barking, mate. What would You-Know-Who want with Malfoy?"

Y/N, however, was far from pacified. "Harry, I already told you Draco's changed. Last year proved that! Why are you still trying to paint him as the bad guy?" She crossed her arms tightly, her irritation evident.

Harry let out a bitter laugh, leaning forward. "Oh, really? Then what's he doing at Borgin and Burkes? Browsing for furniture?"

"It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke," Ron added with a weak chuckle, but he shrank back under Y/N's fiery glare. "Sorry," he muttered, looking down at his lap.

"His father is a Death Eater. It only makes sense," Harry pressed, his voice growing more frustrated. "Besides, Hermione saw it with her own eyes!"

Hermione shook her head, looking uncomfortable. "I told you, I don't know what I saw," she said quietly, her gaze flicking to Y/N's strained expression.

"Harry, you can't just assume Draco will turn out to be like his father!" Y/N shot back, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and hurt.

"But what if he is?" Harry countered, his voice rising in frustration.

"But what if he isn't?" Y/N snapped. Her hands were now clenched into fists, and her voice wavered with emotion. "You can't just judge someone based on a hunch. Are you sure this isn't about something else?"