Harry Potter One-Shots

Comfort (Harry Potter)

WORD COUNT: 1391

My heart was beating so hard in my chest it felt like it was going to explode out of my throat. I followed the boy with bright red hair from the boats up the stairs to the hall, where we all waited in a nervous gaggle. I stood at the back of the group, so it took awhile for the whispering to reach us, but eventually I began hearing kids whispering about Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. Apparently, he was in our year as well. I craned my neck to try and spot him in the crowd, but at that moment a rather stern-looking woman with a tall pointy hat and loud high heels click-clacked into the room and stood before us.

"When we enter the Great Hall, we will begin the Sorting Ceremony," she announced, and a hush fell over the crowd of anxious eleven-year-olds. The great doors to the dining hall suddenly swung open and we all fell into a silent, nervous line behind the professor, who walked us down the center aisle toward a stool with a rather dusty-looking hat on it. I immediately recognized it as the Sorting Hat, being the youngest in a long line of pure-blooded wizards. My entire family going back centuries had all been Ravenclaws... there was a rumor that we were descended from Rowena Ravenclaw herself, but that was more of a fireside tall tale we would tell at Christmas dinners than an actual fact. I knew my family was expecting me to be Sorted into Ravenclaw as well, but deep down inside I had never truly felt like I belonged there. I had always tried to deny it, and live out my family's legacy as best I could, but I always had this sinking negative feeling that I would be the first in the family to break the tradition.

"Harry Potter," called the professor, and I realized I hadn't even been paying attention to the first half of the Sorting Ceremony. The crowd immediately went silent and erupted in furious whispers, probably about the famous Harry Potter being at Hogwarts, and I wished dearly that I was closer to the front so I could get a better look at him.

"Better be... GRYFFINDOR!" cried the Sorting Hat, and a very relieved-looking boy with emerald green eyes and jet black hair popped out from underneath its brim, heading over to sit with a redheaded boy and a girl with rather large, bushy hair. A few more names went by and I resolved myself to try and listen to where everyone ended up, even if they weren't in Ravenclaw like I would be.

"Y/N Y/L/N." Hearing the professor read off my name sent a chill down my spine. I tried to swallow down the large lump in my throat and took a deep breath to steady myself as I walked up to the stool and took a seat. I felt the brim of the Sorting Hat slip down onto my forehead, and over my eyes. A small voice began to whisper in my ear, feeling like it was nearly coming from inside of my own head.

"Ah, I was wondering when I would get another Y/L/N. I believe your family have all been in Ravenclaw, correct? Hmm, but that would be the easy option here, and life isn't always going to be easy... I know you feel the doubt. Deep down inside, we both know you don't belong in Ravenclaw. But, if not there, then where? You're certainly very smart, but I see a certain goodness in your heart that would be nurtured by Hufflepuff... and yet you have a devious streak, very Slytherin... no, I know where you'll go. GRYFFINDOR!"

Just like that, the hat was whipped off of my head and I was thrust into the light of the Great Hall once again, faced with a million students cheering for me. This can't be happening. Gryffindor?! I felt numb. I stood up from the stool and tried to muster up a smile to convince the students that I was happy, but felt my stomach drop when I turned away from the Ravenclaw table, pressed up against one wall under its blue and silver banner, and headed toward the middle of the room where the Gryffindor table was located. The only empty spot left was between an older brunette girl who was whispering excitedly with her friends and... Harry Potter? As if this moment couldn't get any worse, now I'm stuck sitting next to the biggest celebrity in the wizarding world in a house I don't even belong in. I felt tears prick the inner corners of my eyes.

"Hi. I'm Harry," he said, sticking out his hand for me to shake. I slid into the seat next to him, ignoring his gesture. I was more focused on willing myself to keep my tears contained than making new friends at the moment. Nevertheless, he was not deterred.

"What's the matter?" he quizzed, frowning as he saw my dejected expression. I shrugged.

"Please tell me," he pressed. "I don't know anything about Hogwarts, is it bad to be in Gryffindor?" I had planned to keep ignoring him, but something about his persistent manner coupled with the genuinely concerned tone of his voice made me reconsider.

"It's not bad," I sniffled, wiping my cheek quickly. "It's just that my whole family has been in Ravenclaw for as long as anyone can remember, and I'm the first person in centuries not to be Sorted there and my parents are going to be so upset and I know I don't belong in Gryffindor and -"

"Hey, it's alright! At least your family understands what your life is like. My aunt and uncle are the nastiest Muggles you've ever seen, and they think that me being a wizard is the worst thing that could ever possibly happen to them," Harry smiled reassuringly, and patted my arm. I couldn't help but smile as I imagined the famous Harry Potter living with a family of terrible Muggles who hated magic when their nephew was one of the most well-known wizards in recent history.

"Thanks. Oh, and my name's Y/N. I didn't mean to be rude before," I replied shyly, feeling embarrassed about my behavior. I offered him my hand and this time, our hands connected. He smiled kindly at me as he shook my hand.

"I think we'll be great friends Y/N. You can teach me about the magical world and I'll help you feel at home in Gryffindor. These are my friends Ron and Hermione," Harry said, turning to the redhead boy and bushy-haired girl next to him. The boy, Ron, had been absorbed in his plate of food, while Hermione was spouting off facts about Hogwarts as if she'd swallowed an entire copy of Hogwarts, A History. I thought briefly that maybe the Sorting Hat had made more than one mistake tonight, because she definitely seemed like she belonged in Ravenclaw. As the feast continued, I felt myself open up a little more, bit by bit, and let my guard down. At the end of the evening, when we made our way up to the common room, I felt the familiar pang of sadness and guilt as we split off from the first year Ravenclaws and headed to our tower, but Harry smiled at me and I felt comforted once again.

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A/N: I'm so sorry to leave you like that!! I'm back now, and I posted two chapters to make up for it. This has been the first week of my second job, and I'm working 60 hours a week, so it looks like updates are going to be a little less frequent, but I'm still trying my hardest to get them out for you! After posting this, I officially have exhausted my backlogged content, so I'm going to try and make myself write every day just in case, but we'll have to see how it goes with my work schedule. I haven't had a day off since the first week of June, and my next day off doesn't come until July 3 so please be patient with me :/ I hope you liked these chapters! Just the thought of bb Harry comforting you made my heart so happy omg