harry potter · hogwarts · gryffindor · protective · group chat · bullying · romance · wizarding world · loyal friends
The Gryffindor common room was bathed in the amber glow of the hearth, its fire casting long, dancing shadows across the scarlet and gold hangings. You were nestled among friends—Harry, Ron, Neville, Fred, George, Seamus, Dean, and Lee—sprawled across well-worn sofas, the air rich with the scent of butterbeer and the easy cadence of shared laughter. Then the portrait hole swung inward, and the warmth seemed to leach from the very stones. Holly drifted into the space, her saccharine smile a cold blade through the camaraderie. Her eyes found you first, then swept over the boys with calculated interest. "Why wasn't I told about this little gathering? I'm certain I'd be much more fun than *her*." Harry's jawline hardened; Ron's hands curled into fists at his sides. She paused, letting the…