➵ Choice ➵ {DM and HP)

➵ Chapter 2 ➵

"Uh, hello, is it ok if we join you?" She asks nicely, and I can see two figures behind her. 

I scoot over a little on the bench and say, "Alright." 

She smiles at me and pushes in, sitting down next to me as the two others file in. I feel a little cramped by the sudden group of people, but I just turn back to my book. A hand suddenly sticks out near my face.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger, I don't think we've met." I look up and see the bushy haired girl smiling at me, her hand extended. 

I feel uneasiness fill my chest at the question. This is what I dreaded. I don't want to have to make small talk with anyone. 

But I take her hand anyway, shaking it quickly and I say, "Pleasure." 

She looks at me expectantly, awaiting my name but I just turn back to the book in my lap. 

She tries again and I stifle the urge to roll my eyes at her, "What year are you in?"

I don't look up from my book as I say in a monotone, "5th."

"Oh us too! Are you new?" Her annoying, high pitched voice asks. 

I try to stop myself from sighing out loud at her. Here we go. Now I'm going to have to explain everything.

"Yes, I transferred from Beauxbatons." 

There's a moment of heavenly silence before her pesky voice returns. 

"Are you reading Hogwarts, A History! I love that book, what chapter are you on?"

I want nothing more than the questions to stop but before I can say anything rash, another voice speaks up, 

"Hermione, I don't think she wants to talk right now. Maybe just let her read." 

I look up, finally acknowledging the other two people and my mouth almost drops open in surprise when I see the face that sits in front of me. 

The comment came from none other than Harry Potter. Yes, Harry Potter. I recognize him from the papers but he looks different in person. Better. 

His dark hair is messy and unruly, almost covering the famous lightning bolt scar that slashes his forehead. His eyes are a bright green, like a leaf at springtime and they survey me softly. A few lone freckles dot his nose and cheeks and his mouth is set in a focused line.

I give him the tiniest of smiles when our eyes meet and then my gaze is pulled to the person next to him. A bright haired boy sits next to Harry Potter, watching me with wide eyes, a bag of chips in his hands. He reddens when he sees me looking at him and focuses his gaze on the chip in his hand. 

Hermione Granger does fall silent and I turn gratefully back to the book in my lap. 

They discuss this and that as we chug pass through tunnels and rolling hills, neighborhoods falling away to give way to nature. Many times I've felt eyes watching me, but when I look up, no one seems to be looking in my direction. We've just exited an unnaturally long tunnel when I hear a grunt of pain. My head snaps up and I see Harry Potter grimacing as he touches his forehead. 

"Harry, what's happened?" Hermione Granger asks, leaning forward to look at him.

Harry Potter shakes his head, as if trying to shake a bug off his head and he gives an unconvincing smile. 

"Oh nothing, just a headache." He says and Hermione Granger shrugs, turning back to the conversation she was having with the ginger haired boy.

I keep my eyes trained on him. I know it wasn't just a headache. His eyes had glazed over for few seconds, which means he was either reliving a memory, or discovering a new one. 

Harry Potter must have felt my stare because he looks up and we meet eyes. I hold his gaze and see a flicker of interest fill his eyes but those feelings quickly disappear under a veil of pain. He instantly drops his eyes when he realizes I'm studying him. I close my book and speak for the first time in hours, 

"Ok you're not ok, I just met you, and I can see that."

His eyes widen slightly at my words and I see Hermione's and the ginger boy's heads turn in surprise. I keep my eyes trained on his and I raise my eyebrow as if daring him to disagree with me. In response, he reaches up and rubs the part of his forehead where his scar is located and, looking away, he says hesitantly, 

"Oh it's just my scar..."

"Harry!" I hear Hermione Granger's high voice but I don't look, my eyes still on his face. "Is it—"

Harry cuts her off with a look, his eyes darting to me, saying obviously that I can't hear whatever she was going to say. 

I open my book again and say, "Oh you don't need to put up a wall, it's obvious she's talking about Voldemort."

There's dead silence in the compartment and I feel their gazes and look up. The ginger boy's eyes are as wide as saucers and a chip is frozen halfway to his mouth. Hermione Granger's gaze is just as dumbfounded and her mouth has dropped open. Harry Potter's eyes are wide with wonder but I see a hint of a smile. 

God, his eyes are easy to read.

"What?" I ask, keeping my gaze locked on his.

"You say his name." He responds simply, and his voice shows he's impressed.

"Yeah, it gives him more power if you're scared to say it." I say, and he nods thoughtfully. 

The compartment falls back into silence and although I don't look up for the rest of the ride, I can feel his warm gaze on me from across the compartment. Harry Potter is confusing, but not mysterious. He doesn't seem to want to be secretive, I can tell he wants to talk but something is stopping him. It's like he doesn't want me to see his feelings, I could tell by the way he looked down when he noticed me studying him. I can relate to those sentiments. Sharing your feelings with others is terrifying, it's just more ways they can hurt you. 

Although Harry Potter doesn't want to share now, I have a feeling I will be hearing more from him very soon. 

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Author's Note:

Thank you guys again for reading Choice, it means so much to me. 

I wanted to do a special shoutout to my friend Sophie, who helps me with this story. 

'I didn't think I could fall even more in love with Harry, but you just made me." ⇝ Sophie, a strong Harry stan

Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked Choice.

Which Harry Potter character do you most resonate with?

Love you guys :)

 ➵ Natalie