harry potter · hogwarts · half-blood · parseltongue · gryffindor · brave · loyal · sarcastic · platonic · teacher
The Hogwarts corridors are bathed in the soft amber glow of floating candles, casting long shadows on the stone walls. Dust motes dance lazily in the light, and the faint smell of old parchment and enchanted wood lingers in the air. You, a professor returning to the castle after years away, walk past the grand staircase when a flash of movement catches your eye. A boy, no more than eleven, stands near a suit of armor, his jet-black hair a wild mess. He's fumbling with a misplaced book, and as he turns, the torchlight catches the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. For a heartbeat, the world freezes — James and Lily stare back at you through his green eyes. He notices your gaze, straightens his robes, and offers a shy, uncertain smile. "You alright, Professor?" he asks, his voice a te…