Hogwarts is what you make it (Reader x Harry Potter Characters)

Harry X Reader (Romance) ~ After it all we're still here.

A/N Will you look at that I wrote something that wasn't about the Weasley twins 😂 this was so sweet to write and is a bit of fluff with a tinsy bit of angst mixed in. So get your sweet tooth prepared. A/N

You were helping clean up pieces of rubble and even though it wasn't the most glamorous job you were thankful to do it. It was a welcome distraction, well at least for the first 5 minutes it was.

And then through the rubble you saw the faces of old portraits, the ones you had stared at in amazement when you were a first year before they told you off for staring.

It broke your heart. Your home was gone, destroyed. And yeah they would of course rebuild but in that moment as you cleared away the pieces of your beloved castle, you couldn't help but cry a little at the loss. One of the fellow helpers noticed your tears and told you to go back to the great hall. You abided, thanking her as you walked back.

The great hall looked dreary. Some people were drinking to the final downfall of Voldemort whilst others looked devastated from loss and heartbreak, the Weasley family included. The deceased had been moved but there was still the emptiness all of them had left behind.

You sat on a bench, far enough from others to be able to be by yourself. A few of your friends smiled sadly at you as they passed. You closed your eyes and took a long deep breath. It had been quite a day. You laughed a little at your own understatement.

You felt someone sit next to you and you opened your eyes out of curiosity. It was Luna. She smiled serenely at you and you tried your best to return it. Luna had been one of your very good friends at Hogwarts and you had always been there for one another. That's why it didn't feel awkward or tense as you sat there in silence, it felt peaceful. You understood one another enough to know that it was nice to have company but there was no need for conversation.

You both looked on at the scenes in the great hall, knowing everything had changed now and that there was no going back.

Just as you were watching Aberforth Dumbledore share a drink with Seamus and Dean, laughing about something or other, you felt a tiny nudge on your arm. You looked to Luna who simply smiled and nodded at the entrance, someone had just entered, someone who made your breath hitch in your throat as you ran to him.

You immediately threw your arms around Harry's neck. He almost fell back in shock before hugging you back tightly. You both stayed like that for a long while, most of the inhabitants in the great hall looking on at you.

Harry pulled back first. You melted at the sight of his familiar green eyes. You traced the blood stained cuts on his face with a worried smile.

You didn't realise that you were crying until Harry wiped the tears away with his thumb. Your heart raced at his touch.

You had been best friends with Harry since second year when you winded up in the hospital wing at the same time as him. You were in the adjacent bed when he lost the bones in his arm. Your injury had been because of a small fight with a Slytherin girl over a petty reason but she had still hexed you into next week. You both laughed over each other's stories and shared the sweets that Harry's friends had brought for him.

And you had been in love with Harry since 4th year when you realised exactly why you were so pissed at him for not asking you to the Yule ball. It had been a difficult 3 years knowing of your feelings and not being able to express or forget them.

But now was as good as time as any to tell him. After you nearly lost him without telling him everything. Because if anything, today made you realise that life was short and that it can be snatched away in the blink of an eye.

Harry just stared at you whilst you were caught up on your in your own thoughts, his hand still rested on your cheek. You came crashing back to earth and spluttered it out.

"I love you Harry." You must have said it louder than you thought because his eyes went wide and he laughed. Or maybe it was because he didn't love you back and thought you were an idiot. Your mind whirred and you went to pull back, he must have noticed because he pulled you closer to him placing his free hand on your waist and turned more serious.

"I love you too (Y/N)." You smiled with watery eyes at him and he reflected every inch of your grin. It felt strange to feel this happy after everything but it felt right. The last thing you saw before you closed your eyes was Harry's lips inching closer to your own. You felt the warmth of his lips, sweet and gentle. Your arms snaked around his shoulders and your foot gave a small pop. The kiss was just about to become more passionate as you pulled away.

Harry looked slightly hurt and confused. You just laughed and looked around the hall, surprised to see only a few eyes on you. You nudged his nose with your own as you whispered softly, "not here." Harry caught on and nodded, the smile returning to his face.

You broke away from his embrace and turned to see if Luna was still here but she had gone. Harry surprised you by interlinking your hands. You smiled at each other once more until Harry's attention had turned to the front entrance where Ron and Hermione had entered holding hands. You all exchanged smiles and laughs as you looked at both sets of interlocked hands.

Everything had worked out and even though everything had changed, even though you had lost people today, you were still here and that's all that mattered.