As I got off the train, I could see the first years boarding onto the rowboats on the black lake. They were lead by Hagrid, who hadn't changed a bit from my first year.
"That was us." I said, looking out into the lake
"Yeah...when the biggest worry on my mind was what house I going to be sorted into." Harry joked, carrying his trunk in one hand, and mine in the other.
"I always think about what I would say if I could have a conversation with my younger self." I said and then turned to Harry "What would you say?"
He thought for a minute and then spoke. "I would first warn my younger self about how bloody difficult life is about to get, and then I would say 'find that Hermione girl. She'll help with everything."
"Really?" I asked "I mean, you think I help with everything?"
He nodded "Well, yeah...I mean, my eleven-year old self would have thought that Ron would have been by my side regardless. Or, the one to make me feel better, or sympathize with whatever it is I'm going through....but time and time again it was you. Not Ron."
I didn't really know what to say to that. As much as I was surprised that he thought of me so highly, I was also mad. Mad at him for not letting me know sooner, and mad at me for not even knowing.
"Let's watch the first years get sorted, shall we?" he extended his hand which I took, but almost immediately upon entering the castle, we ran into the new headmistress.
"It's nice to see that you two have found your way back." McGonagall spoke
"Thank you, Professor." I said "It meant a lot that you gave us this opportunity to come back."
"Yeah, and I promise I won't cause trouble this year." Harry added with his famous lopsided grin, however McGonagall had seen that smile from his father far too many times for that to work.
"For your sake, I would hope not, Mr. Potter." she said and turned sharply on her heels, and over to the entrance of the Great Hall to greet the incoming first years.
"Well, she certainly does not trust me now does she?" Harry said with a small smile
"Definitely not." I agreed with him
* * *
Half an hour had passed, and the sorting ceremony was almost over. It seemed as if it was hours though, first year ceremonies were never particularly interesting unless it was your own.
"Ravenclaw." Harry guessed as the hat was thinking on some small girl's head
"HUFFLEPUFF!!" The hat shouted and the Hufflepuff table roared in cheers.
"Dammit." Harry cursed under his breath "Fifth one in a row I got wrong."
I started laughing. "Do you remember how happy you were to get placed in Gryffindor? What if some stuck-up seventh-year was annoyed because he guessed wrong? How would that make you feel?"
"It'd make me feel bad for him because he's obviously an idiot if he believes I belong anywhere else but Gryffindor."
"You're impossible." I say back to him, trying my best to hide my smile so that he would not be encouraged.
"I know."
YOU ARE READING
Regrets & Realizations
FanfictionReturning back for her seventh year was hard enough as it was, but even harder than that was admitting that her feelings for Harry had changed.
