Memories of the Heart || Harry Potter x Reader

Y6 ~ Felix Was Right

Y/N stepped into the Great Hall, the warmth of the enchanted ceiling casting a golden hue over the four long house tables. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread, the familiar sounds of laughter and clinking cutlery filling the vast space. Though she had been discharged from the hospital wing, the sterile scent of healing potions and antiseptic still clung to her body, a lingering reminder of her recent confinement. She exhaled softly, grateful to be back in the heart of Hogwarts, where life carried on as if nothing had changed.

Sliding into her usual seat at the Gryffindor table, she found Harry beside her. Harry after noticing her presence beside him propped his elbow on the table, chin resting in his palm as he watched her absentmindedly flip through the pages of The Daily Prophet. His gaze, however, was not on the newspaper but on her, a quiet admiration in his eyes.

Across from them, Hermione and Ron sat close, their conversation low but intense. Ron's brow furrowed, his gaze flickering repeatedly toward another table. Y/N followed his line of sight and immediately understood. Lavender Brown sat stiffly with her fellow Gryffindor girls, her grip on her fork so tight that her knuckles had turned white. The tension in her shoulders was unmistakable, the forced way she chewed her food making it clear she was seething.

Ron finally broke the silence, stabbing at his mashed potatoes with more force than necessary. "Don't get me wrong—I'm bloody thrilled to be shot of her—Lavender, I mean—but she seems a bit put out." His voice carried a mixture of frustration and guilt, though he tried to mask it with indifference.

Hermione, ever perceptive, glanced over at Lavender before returning her gaze to her plate. "She does, doesn't she?" There was a faint touch of pity in her voice, though she made no further comment.

Y/N and Harry nodded in agreement, though Harry quickly lost interest, returning his attention to Y/N, while she turned back to the article she hadn't really been reading.

Ron sighed heavily, shoveling food into his mouth as though it might help ease the awkwardness of the conversation. He chanced another glance at Hermione before quickly looking away, his ears tinged red. "No matter," he mumbled, voice lower this time. "It was worth it, getting rid of her... but for a different reason."

Y/N caught the way his eyes flickered toward Hermione again, how he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. She hid a knowing smile, thinking, They'll end up together soon enough. The different reason was sitting right beside him.

Before anyone could respond, a subtle hush rippled through the Great Hall as Katie Bell entered, her familiar silhouette stepping into the light. Y/N's breath caught. The last time they'd seen Katie, she had been unconscious, cursed, barely clinging to life. But now, she stood tall, her steps steady, her eyes clear and bright.

Y/N instinctively reached out, gripping Harry's arm, her voice hushed yet urgent. "Katie's back."

Harry's reaction was instant. He pushed his plate aside and stood abruptly, his concern overriding any sense of subtlety. Y/N followed without hesitation, leaving her meal forgotten as they approached Katie.

"Katie," Harry called, his tone sharp with urgency. "How are you?"

Katie turned, her lips curling into a small smile at the sight of familiar faces. But as she registered the worry in Harry's voice, the light in her expression dimmed.

"I know what you're going to ask," she admitted before either of them could say another word. "And I don't know who cursed me." Her fingers twitched slightly at her sides, betraying her frustration. "I've been trying to remember—going over it again and again—but it's just... blank. I can't recall anything."