-Muggle Girlfriend

You and your family had moved into the house next door to the Dursleys about three years ago. The Dursleys were not particularly welcoming neighbours — in truth, they were loud and rather ill-mannered — with one notable exception. Harry, their nephew, was nothing like his aunt, uncle, or the fat cousin who trailed after them. He was polite, gentle, and far quieter.

Now Harry was your boyfriend — the natural consequence of a friendship born from silly conversations in the street playground, where Harry always escaped to whenever he’d had more than enough of living in a house where no one liked him, and where they made no effort whatsoever to hide it. Eventually, he fell in love with you — with the way you could distract him and make things feel lighter, even after a row with his relatives. You were the only good thing about returning home.

Harry had explained everything about the wizarding world and Hogwarts. At first, you thought he was mocking you, but when he pointed his wand at his desk and said an odd word like “Accio”, and his glasses flew neatly into his hand, you started to believe him. Now you and Harry were in his room as he packed his trunk; in two days he would return to the school of magic to begin his fourth year. Harry adored Hogwarts and magic, though he couldn’t deny that each year grew steadily more chaotic. At the moment, he was complaining about the possibilities and absurdities he might end up facing this time around.

“Honestly, last year it was those blasted Dementors, and the year before that a Basilisk. Don’t be surprised if I come back missing a finger this time.”