ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤

Comfortable enough to think you'll take her

✩₊˚.⋆☾╶⃝⃤☽⋆⁺₊✧

𝓘𝓣 was a bright, lively day in Hogsmeade, and the streets of Diagon Alley were buzzing with the usual hustle and bustle. Crowds of witches and wizards filled the cobbled lanes, chattering excitedly as they wandered in and out of the many shops. The atmosphere was electric, but one shop in particular was packed with more people than usual, drawing in curious glances from passersby.

Hermes Granger stepped out into the warm sunlight, pausing to take in the scene before him. His eyes immediately caught sight of two familiar figures making their way down the street-Hagrid, towering as always, and beside him, Harry Potter. A smile spread across Hermes' face, and without hesitation, he jogged toward them, his heart lifting at the sight of his friend.

"Harry! Hagrid!" Hermes called out, beaming as he reached them.

Hagrid's booming voice greeted him with a chuckle. "Hello there, Hermes!" His eyes twinkled warmly as he looked down at the young wizard. Hermes turned to Harry, his smile widening. "It's so good to see you," he said, his voice full of genuine warmth. Harry, slightly shorter than Hermes but just as happy, grinned back.

"It's great to see you too," Harry replied, his tone light but grateful.

As they stood there, Hermes noticed something amiss-Harry's glasses, cracked right across the lens. He raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "What did you do to your glasses, Harry?" he asked, half-amused, before sighing and pulling out his wand.

Without waiting for a response, Hermes waved his wand expertly and muttered, "Oculus Reparo." A soft shimmer of magic flowed from the tip of his wand, sealing the cracks in Harry's glasses until they were as good as new.

Harry chuckled, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. "I definitely need to remember that one," he quipped, shaking his head in disbelief at how effortless it seemed when Hermes did it. Hagrid let out a hearty laugh, the sound booming through the busy street. "You'll be alright now, then, Harry?" he asked, looking down fondly at the two boys. "Right, I'll leave you to it," he added with a smile, giving them both a wave before lumbering off into the crowd.

Hermes and Harry waved after him, exchanging a glance filled with warmth and gratitude. Once Hagrid disappeared from sight, Hermes wasted no time, grabbing Harry by the arm.

"Come on," Hermes urged, his voice suddenly more serious. "Everyone's been so worried about you."

With that, the two friends headed toward the packed shop, the buzz of Diagon Alley continuing around them, but for now, their world was just the two of them, reunited once again amidst the magic and the wonder of their world.

Hermes and Harry stepped into Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore buzzing with energy. It was packed, mostly with women who were chatting excitedly as they waited in a long line. The shelves were barely visible behind the crowd, and the air was filled with the scent of parchment and ink, mingled with the excited murmurs of those waiting for something-or someone.

As they made their way further into the store, Harry and Hermes spotted the familiar sight of the Weasley family. Molly Weasley's relieved voice cut through the noise as she rushed forward. "Harry! Thank goodness. We'd hoped you'd only gone one grate too far," she exclaimed, dusting off the ash from Harry's robes. Harry smiled warmly at her fussing, though he barely had time to respond before the sound of a voice commanded everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart!" the announcement rang out, and the crowd erupted into applause.

A tall man stepped forward, blonde hair impeccably styled, his light blue suit almost gleaming under the store's enchanted lighting. His expression was smug, as though the applause were simply his due. Gilderoy Lockhart smiled, waving graciously, and Molly Weasley quickly tried to fix her hair, clearly starstruck. Beside her, Ron leaned over to Harry, muttering under his breath, "Mum fancies him." His comment earned him a light slap on the chest from his mother, but his words drew a chuckle from Harry and Hermes.

Suddenly, a man with a camera bustled through the crowd, nearly bumping into the group. "Make way there, please! Let me by, madam. Thank you. Excuse me, little girl," he muttered, waving his camera as he pushed forward. "This is for the Daily Prophet."

The photographer aimed his camera at Lockhart, and a blinding flash followed, capturing the author's practiced pose. But as the light faded, Lockhart's gaze landed squarely on Harry.

"It can't be. Harry Potter?" Gilderoy exclaimed theatrically, and within moments, the man with the camera was dragging Harry toward the stage, ignoring Harry's protests. "Harry Potter! Excuse me, madam!" Harry stumbled as Gilderoy grabbed his arm, pulling him beside him.

"Nice big smile, Harry," Lockhart said, flashing his dazzling grin. "Together, you and I rate the front page."

The camera flashed again, but Harry remained frozen, not smiling but clearly shocked by the attention. Gilderoy, unperturbed, beamed at the crowd and continued, "Ladies and gentlemen, what an extraordinary moment this is! When young Harry stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning... to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me..."

The crowd erupted in cheers, women swooning at every word, except for Ron and Hermes, who exchanged bewildered glances as they clapped half-heartedly. Ron looked around at the adoring crowd, his expression one of disbelief, as though the world had gone mad.

"...which, incidentally," Lockhart continued with a smug flourish, "is currently celebrating its 27th week atop the Daily Prophet bestseller list!"

The applause grew even louder, though high above, Draco Malfoy stood on the balcony, his Slytherin robes hanging darkly around him. He watched the scene unfold with a scowl, his sharp eyes narrowing.

Gilderoy, oblivious to anyone who wasn't cheering for him, smiled wider. "...and Harry had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving with my entire collected works... free of charge!" With another dramatic gesture, he handed Harry a stack of books. A camera flashed again, capturing the moment for posterity.

As the applause died down and Gilderoy returned to his desk to begin signing books, Harry, looking overwhelmed, slipped back to the Weasley family. Molly smiled at him, taking the pile of books from his arms. "Harry, now you give me those, and I'll get them signed. All of you wait outside. That's it."

As the group made their way out of the crowd, Draco moved down the stairs, casually tearing a page from a book and slipping it into his pocket. His cold, calculating gaze found Harry as they neared the exit. Stepping into their path, Draco sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'll bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

But before Harry could respond, a voice drifted down from the upper floor, smooth and dripping with mischief. "Why, you're jealous, Malfoy?"

Everyone turned, their attention captured by the figure standing on the staircase above. A girl in Slytherin robes leaned lazily against the railing, her chin resting in her palm. She smiled, a playful, almost dangerous glint in her mist-coloured eyes, which had flecks of green that gleamed in the dim light. Her silver hair was loosely braided, a few strands falling against her face, giving her an effortless, untamed look. She held two books, 'Dark Arts' and 'Magical Creatures' in one hand, the other arm draped casually over the railing.

Ophelia Gaunt.

Her presence seemed to shift the air in the room, a combination of elegance and defiance. There was a spark of amusement in her eyes as she watched the scene unfold, clearly relishing the tension between Draco and Harry.

Draco's smirk faltered for just a moment as he glanced up at Ophelia. "Stay out of this, Gaunt," he muttered, though there was an edge to his voice that betrayed his unease.

Ophelia only smiled wider, tilting her head slightly as she descended the stairs with an almost feline grace. "Touchy, aren't we?" she purred, her tone teasing, her eyes never leaving Draco's.

Hermes smiled the moment his eyes landed on Ophelia, feeling a mix of warmth and excitement. He was happy to see his friend, but the familiar twinge of rivalry sparked in his chest as well. She wasn't just any Slytherin-Ophelia was his academic rival, always pushing him to be better, faster, and sharper in their studies. And despite the competitive edge between them, there was an undeniable camaraderie that kept him intrigued.

"Ophelia," Hermes greeted with a smile, his tone both friendly and challenging.

She glanced down at him, her playful smirk growing slightly as she noticed the look on his face. "Hermes," she replied, her voice dripping with the same mix of teasing and recognition. "I thought I smelled competition."

Hermes chuckled, shaking his head. "Always trying to make an entrance, aren't you?"

Ophelia shrugged, casually flipping the two books in her hand. "What can I say? I like to make an entrance."

The dynamic between them was electric, a balance of friendship and rivalry that had grown over the years. But even now, as Ophelia's gaze flicked between Draco and Harry, her smile remained unwavering, though Hermes could see the sharp glint in her eyes-the one that always told him she was ready for a challenge, whether in magic, knowledge, or a bit of playful banter.

Before Draco could respond to Harry's presence, he heard a familiar voice behind him, cool and sharp like the hiss of a snake. "Ophelia," Draco said, his lips curling into a smirk as he eyed her from his spot on the stairs, "I see you're still hanging around with the riffraff."

Ophelia, leaning casually against the railing, her silver hair glinting in the light, didn't miss a beat. She raised an eyebrow and flashed a sly smile back at him. "Jealous, Malfoy? Or are you just upset because not even your father can buy you a better personality?"

Draco's smirk faltered for a moment, but before he could shoot back another remark, a hand touched his shoulder-a snake-like crane, slow and deliberate. His father, Lucius Malfoy, appeared beside him with a smile that was as polished as it was menacing.

"Now, now, Draco, play nicely," Lucius said smoothly, guiding his son aside. Draco obeyed, moving to a step higher as his father descended gracefully.

"Mr. Potter," Lucius said, his voice dripping with mock pleasantries as he extended his hand toward Harry. "Lucius Malfoy. We meet at last."

Harry reluctantly took Lucius's hand, the handshake firm but cold. Lucius pulled Harry closer, his eyes narrowing as they focused on the infamous scar on Harry's forehead. "Forgive me," Lucius said, his voice lowering to a whisper that felt more like a snake's hiss. "Your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you."

Harry's eyes darkened. "Voldemort killed my parents," he said defiantly. "He was nothing more than a murderer."

Lucius's smile never wavered, though his gaze hardened ever so slightly. "You must be very brave to mention his name. Or very foolish."

Before the tension could thicken further, Hermes spoke up, capturing everyone's attention. "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."

Lucius's gaze slid over to Hermes, cool and calculating, as he surveyed the young wizard. "And you must be Mr. Granger. Yes, Draco has told me all about you. And your...parents." He lingered on the word, the insinuation hanging in the air.

Ophelia, who had been lounging on the railing like she owned the place, chuckled, the sound cutting through the tension like a knife. With a lazy grin and a mischievous glint in her misty eyes, she tilted her head and called down to Lucius, "Oh, Lucius, do be careful. You wouldn't want to frighten the poor boy by reminding him not all of us come with... purebred certificates, would you?"

She paused, her smirk deepening as she added in a mockingly thoughtful tone, "Besides, we'd hate for any mudbloods to start outperforming the Malfoy dynasty. I mean, imagine the embarrassment. Generations of... what is it you lot do again? Preen?"

Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly, but Ophelia just leaned back, clearly enjoying the stir she'd caused. "It'd be a real shame if all that noble blood didn't translate into talent, wouldn't it?"

The corners of Lucius's smile twitched ever so slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. But he quickly recovered, turning to Ophelia with a deeper respect in his gaze. "Miss Gaunt," he said with a bow of his head, his tone suddenly more deferential. "How delighted to meet you."

Ophelia met his gaze with a cool, calculating smile of her own. Her family name, Gaunt, carried weight-more weight, even, than Malfoy. Descended from Salazar Slytherin himself and related to Voldemort, her bloodline was a source of both power and fear in the wizarding world.

"Likewise, Mr. Malfoy," she replied smoothly, her voice dripping with irony as her gaze flicked to Draco before returning to Lucius. "Though I suppose it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths. After all, even purebloods have to shop for books, don't they?"

Lucius chuckled lightly, though it was clear the sharpness of her words wasn't lost on him. "Indeed, Miss Gaunt."

Lucius turned back to the Weasleys, his lip curling with disdain. "Let me see. Red hair, vacant expressions..." His eyes flicked to Ginny as he reached over, plucking the battered book from her hands with a sneer. "...Tatty, second-hand book. You must be the Weasleys."

Before Ginny could react, Arthur Weasley stepped forward, pulling his daughter protectively into his arms. "Children. It's mad in here. Let's go outside," he said with a tight smile, his eyes darkening as they landed on Lucius.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Well, well, well. Weasley senior." His voice dripped with mockery as he turned to Arthur. "Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur? All those extra raids? I do hope they're paying you overtime... but judging by the state of this-" he gestured toward the Weasleys' worn clothes and second-hand belongings, "-I'd say not. What's the use in being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

Arthur's jaw clenched, his glare sharp. "We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy."

Lucius replied, "Clearly," before his gaze drifted to the Grangers standing awkwardly nearby. His sneer returned as he muttered, "Associating with Muggles."

He dropped Ginny's book back into her hands, but Ophelia's sharp eyes caught sight of a second, darker tome that had been slipped into her possession. She said nothing, her smirk deepening as Lucius turned back to Arthur. "And I thought your family could sink no lower," he added with a venomous smile. "I'll see you at work."

Lucius tipped his head toward Ophelia. "Miss Gaunt," he said, his tone dipping in deference before he turned on his heel and walked out with Draco trailing behind. Draco threw a quick, smug look at Harry. "See you at school, Potter." With that, the Malfoys left.

"Well," Hermes said, breaking the silence, his tone light but his eyes sharp, "another Malfoy performance. Always entertaining."

Ophelia smirked, crossing her arms as she tilted her head at him. "You could take notes, Granger. Maybe if you practiced, you'd learn to deliver such cutting lines with a bit more... finesse." Her tone was playful but laced with their usual competitive edge.

Hermes raised an eyebrow, a half-smile forming on his lips. "Oh, I don't need finesse to outshine you, Gaunt. I prefer results over theatrics."

Ophelia's smirk deepened, her gaze unwavering. "We'll see about that at school, won't we? Don't get too comfortable at the top."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Hermes replied smoothly, his voice carrying just enough challenge to match her own. With a nod, he added, "See you at Hogwarts."

Ophelia gave him a small, mock-salute, her grin sharp. "I'll be waiting. Try to keep up."

With that, the competitive spark between them left an electric tension in the air as they parted ways, each already thinking about the next time they'd cross wands-or words.

✩₊˚.⋆☾╶⃝⃤☽⋆⁺₊✧

By: SilverMist707

If you have any ideas for Ophelia, please let me know. <3