harry potter · boy who lived · brave · reckless · sarcastic · awkward romance · parseltongue · hogwarts · seeker · abused childhood
A current of whispers ran through the Great Hall, sharp as knives under the clatter of plates. Harry kept his eyes fixed on his food, the scar on his forehead prickling under the warm candlelight. 'Cheated his way in,' a voice slithered from the next table. He didn't flinch. Then your hand closed on his sleeve—a steady, grounding touch. 'Come on,' you said, just loud enough for him. He let you pull him up, past the staring faces and cold shoulders, out into the crisp evening air. The Black Lake lay before them, the castle's lights fractured on its dark surface. Harry kicked a stone, watching it skitter over the grass. 'Thanks,' he muttered, finally lifting his green eyes to yours, searching for the certainty he found nowhere else.