Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter Twenty-Three: Midnight Conversations

Rose Potter sat on her bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, the warm glow of the moonlight spilling through the window and casting shadows on the stone walls. Her roommates, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, were fast asleep, their steady breathing a rhythmic hum against the occasional creak of the old castle. Rose, however, couldn't sleep. She wrapped her blanket tighter around herself, her thoughts swirling like the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall during dinner.

The first week at Hogwarts had been incredible. Every corner of the castle seemed alive with magic, from the moving staircases to the talking portraits. The lessons were everything she'd dreamed of growing up, filled with spells and potions, charms, and history. Yet, as much as she loved Hogwarts, something felt… off.

She had made two wonderful friends—Ron Weasley, with his easy humor and tales of his boisterous family, and Hermione Granger, whose quick mind and insatiable curiosity made even the most boring topics fascinating. But Ron and Hermione couldn't stand each other. Rose spent much of her free time navigating their arguments, balancing her friendship with Ron's fun-loving nature and Hermione's academic brilliance.

Still, even with their bickering, Rose felt happy—except when she thought about Harry.

Her twin was having a completely different experience. From their first Charms lesson, where Harry performed the Lumos spell silently and without wand movements, the school had been abuzz. Whispers followed him wherever he went.

"They say he's the most gifted student since Dumbledore," someone had murmured in the common room.

"I heard he doesn't even need to say the spells!" another had exclaimed.

Even the professors were talking. Professor McGonagall, a Gryffindor through and through, had taken Rose aside after class.

"Miss Potter, I must say, the Sorting Hat made a curious decision with your brother," McGonagall had said, her voice tinged with disapproval. "I firmly believe he belongs in Gryffindor."

Rose had nodded politely, but deep down, she felt proud. Harry had always been special, but now the whole school could see it too. Still, she couldn't help but miss him.

At the Potter estate, no matter how reserved Harry was, she could always find him in his room, reading or quietly working on something. Here, he was surrounded by students who either admired or feared him. And while Rose had Ron and Hermione, Harry didn't seem to make any friends in Slytherin.

A soft sound pulled her from her thoughts. She froze, her heart pounding. Slowly, she turned her head, expecting to see one of her roommates waking up. Instead, she saw a faint shimmer in the air, like rippling water.

Before she could react, the shimmer disappeared, revealing Harry standing there, draped in an invisibility cloak.

"Harry!" she whispered, startled.

"Shh," he said, putting a finger to his lips. His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief.

"How did you—"

"Come with me," he said, holding out his hand.

Rose didn't hesitate. Sliding out of bed, she slipped her hand into his, and he threw the cloak over both of them. The world around them dimmed as they became invisible, and Rose felt a rush of excitement.

They moved silently through the castle, their footsteps muffled by the cloak. The corridors were eerily quiet, the only sound the distant hoot of an owl or the faint rustle of a tapestry in the night breeze.

Finally, they reached the Astronomy Tower. Harry removed the cloak, and the two of them settled on a stone bench, the cool night air brushing against their faces.

Above them, the stars glittered like scattered diamonds, their light reflecting in Harry's eyes. Rose leaned back, letting the beauty of the moment wash over her.

"It's so peaceful up here," she said softly.

Harry nodded. "It reminds me of home."

Rose glanced at him, her heart aching slightly. "I miss you," she admitted. "At home, I could always find you. But here… you're always busy, and everyone's talking about you."

"I miss you too," Harry said, his voice quiet but sincere. "It's different here. People expect things from me."

Rose frowned. "But you don't let it bother you. You just… do your thing. You're amazing, Harry. Everyone thinks so."

Harry turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Rose, I'm still your brother. That hasn't changed."

Rose smiled, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. "You're not like me, though. You're… special. You're the Boy Who Lived."

"Don't say that," Harry said sharply, surprising her.

Rose blinked. "What?"

"I hate that title," Harry said, his voice filled with an emotion Rose couldn't quite place. "I'm not a hero, Rose. I'm just Harry."

"But you are a hero," Rose argued. "You defeated You-Know-Who!"

Harry sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair. "That was luck, Rose. I didn't do anything special."

Rose studied him, her brows furrowing. There was a weight in his words, something deeper than he was letting on.

"Harry…" she began, but he cut her off.

"Let's not talk about that," he said, forcing a smile. "Tell me about your week. How are Ron and Hermione?"

Rose hesitated, then decided to let it go. If Harry didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't push him. Instead, she launched into a recount of her week, describing Ron's antics at dinner and Hermione's determination to ace every class.

Harry listened attentively, a small smile playing on his lips. He laughed at Ron's attempts to impress the older students and nodded in approval at Hermione's dedication.

"You've made good friends," he said.

"I think so," Rose agreed. "But they don't like each other. It's exhausting trying to keep them from arguing all the time."

Harry chuckled. "Give them time. They'll come around."

The hours slipped by as they talked, the stars shifting in the sky. Rose felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt all week. Sitting here with Harry, she could almost forget the pressures of being a Potter at Hogwarts.

As the first hints of dawn painted the horizon, Harry stood and stretched. "We should get back before anyone notices we're gone."

Rose nodded, stifling a yawn. Together, they slipped back under the invisibility cloak and made their way back to the Gryffindor common room.

When they reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Anytime you need me, Rose, just let me know," he said.

"I will," Rose promised, smiling up at him.

With that, Harry disappeared into the shadows, leaving Rose to climb back into bed with a heart full of warmth and hope. Whatever challenges lay ahead, she knew they would face them together.