Chereads / **Title: Dark Echoes of the Heart** / Chapter 2 - Dark echos of the heart

Chapter 2 - Dark echos of the heart

 Chapter 2

Y/n was now on the train looking for an empty booth, but all of them were full. As she kept walking, she managed to find one that appeared empty—or so she thought. When she opened the door, she was met with the sight of a platinum blonde staring up at her. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," she said, hesitating. This boy was gorgeous, but there was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. "Is this seat taken?" "No," he said bluntly. Taking a deep breath, she sat across from him and stretched out her hand. "Y/n, Y/n L/n," she said confidently, though inside she was a bundle of nerves. "Draco Malfoy," he replied, not even bothering to shake her hand. She pulled her hand back, a little annoyed. Great, just what she needed—a guy who thought he was the center of the universe. This guy seemed full of himself, and sure enough, he was.

"l/n, that name rings a bell," he said with a smirk, his arrogance oozing from every word. "You're a mud blood, aren't you?" he added, his tone dripping with condescension. "What's it to you?" I snapped back, trying to keep my composure. He let out a derisive laugh, shaking his head as if I were beneath his notice. "What's it to me?" he echoed, his eyes gleaming with superiority as he leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the moment."It's straightforward: you're either a pureblood, a powerful witch with deep-rooted heritage, or you're a Muggle-born, commonly referred to as a mudblood."

My blood was boiling; I couldn't believe what he had said. The nerve of him—how could he throw those words at me like they were nothing? Every syllable felt like a slap in the face, and I could feel the heat of fury surging through my veins. Did he really think he could belittle me like that and get away with it? My heart raced, and I clenched my fists, ready to unleash my wrath. He had no idea what kind of fire he was playing with, and I was done holding back. This wasn't just about the words; it was about the principle, the sheer audacity of his arrogance. 

He was going to regret ever crossing me.

 "And what that makes you some kind of prince because you have 'special' blood and have some of daddy's money? You want to know what I see when I look at you? I see an arrogant ass that will do nothing but live in his father's shadow, It must be tough knowing that no matter what you do, people will always compare you to your father. It's like you can never step out of his shadow, no matter how hard you try. Can you even be your own person?"Her heart raced as she caught a glimpse of the pain in his eyes, a reflection of the hurt she felt inside. Anger bubbled up within her, an overwhelming mix of guilt and frustration. She stood up, knowing her job was done, but the satisfaction was overshadowed by the regret gnawing at her conscience. As she grabbed her bags, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her decisions. With a final glance over her shoulder, she slammed the door behind her, the sound echoing her turmoil—a fierce expression of the emotional storm she was leaving, even as she fought to mask her own wounds.

She walked down to a booth that only had two boys inside. Noticing the welcoming atmosphere, she opened the door, put her bags away, and sat down, hoping to hide the tears in her eyes. She couldn't shake off what he had said. One of the boys, with a kind expression, asked, "Are you okay?" Wiping my eyes quickly, I replied, "Yes, I just ran into Malfoy." The ginger boy offered a sympathetic smile and said, "He's really the worst! Don't let him get to you." The dark-haired boy chimed in reassuringly, "Yeah, he just loves making people as miserable as he is. But trust me, not everyone is like him." Feeling some warmth from their kindness, I managed a small laugh. The dark-haired boy extended his hand with a friendly grin. "I'm Harry, and this is Ron," he introduced himself. I shook his hand, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm Y/N, L/N. I just transferred from Evergreen," I replied, grateful for their understanding demeanor.

After engaging in some light chit-chat and enduring a long train ride, they finally arrived at Hogwarts. As you stepped off the train, your breath caught in your throat. The sight before you was nothing short of magical; the castle towered majestically against the sky, its spires glinting in the sunlight. Your heart raced as you took in the sprawling grounds, the shimmering lake, and the lush, vibrant greenery surrounding it all. Every detail seemed more enchanting than the last, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder wash over you. This was truly a place where dreams came alive, and you struggled to believe that you were actually standing here, in a world straight out of your imagination.Harry and Ron appeared beside me, and there was a girl with them that I hadn't met before. She was holding Ron's hand, but I was too enchanted by the surroundings to think much of it. "Wow, it's so beautiful!" I exclaimed. Harry nudged my arm playfully, saying, "Just wait until you see the dining hall!" I turned to the girl and extended my hand with a warm smile. "Hey there! I'm Y/N L/N, nice to meet you!" She shook my hand and replied with a bright smile, "I'm Hermione Granger!" It felt great to make a new friend right off the bat. After a little bit of our usual get-to-know-you chit chat with Granger, I realized I wanted to find out how I would be sorted since I'm a transfer student. "I think I'll go ask Hagrid if I can join the first years for the sorting ceremony," I said. Just then, Granger caught up to me and cheerfully said, "I'll come with you!" So, we headed over to Hagrid together. When Hagrid saw Granger, his face lit up, and he exclaimed, "Hermione! It's been a while!" "Hagrid! It's so good to see you! How have you been?" Hermione said with a bright smile. Hagrid replied, "Oh, you know, things have been fantastic." He leaned in slightly and, with a mischievous grin, said, "Just between us, I've got another dragon egg!" He beamed with excitement. "I'm naming him Norbert, in honor of the original Norbert."

"Really?! When do you think it will hatch?" Granger asked with a curious smile. Hagrid chuckled and replied, "You know, I didn't think to ask the seller about that!"

"Well, let me introduce you! This is Y/N L/N, our new transfer student from Evergreen!" Granger said with a bright smile. I happily extended my hand and said, "Hi there! It's awesome to meet you!" He shook my hand back with a warm grin and replied, "Hi there! I'm Hagrid! I'll be guiding you and the first years as you get sorted into your house! "We should get going now, so come on!" He waved for me to follow, and I eagerly joined him. When we arrived, Mrs. McGonagall instructed you to wait for your name to be called in the dining hall and directed you to the door behind her. For a moment, I thought, "Isn't that the room Harry mentioned before?" As I walked through the doors, I noticed that many people were staring. Then I spotted Draco, the horrible guy from earlier. He stared at me for a moment but quickly looked away as I searched for a place to sit. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice shout, "Y/N!" I turned to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione waving at me. I smiled brightly and walked over to them."Hey everyone!" I said cheerfully as I took a seat. "How did it go?" Hermione asked with a curious smile. I let out a little sigh and replied, "They just told me to hang tight until my name was called." Harry chimed in, "What kinds of magic did you learn at Evergreen?" I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me as panic bubbled up inside. How could I share the truth—that I had been taught the dark arts by Tom Riddle—without fully understanding what that meant? It was a secret just waiting to spill out, a kind of knowledge that could change everything. The mix of excitement and fear had me feeling both thrilled and nervous. "O-oh, um—" "Harry!" Hermione chimed in. "You're going to scare her. Let's take it easy with the questions!" Harry frowned for a moment, then smiled at me. "I was just curious! Sorry if I made you uncomfortable." "Oh, no, you're totally fine! Don't worry about it," I said, smiling back to reassure him.

Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open, creaking ominously in the otherwise still hall. "It's the first years!" Ron exclaimed, his voice echoing with excitement and curiosity. You turned your gaze toward the entrance, where Mrs. McGonagall strode in with an air of authority, ushering the first years toward the front of the dining hall. At the head of the long table, Headmaster Dumbledore's eyes glimmered with intrigue as he surveyed the new arrivals. "Now, please wait here," Mrs. McGonagall instructed, her tone firm yet gentle. Before the ceremony began, she continued, "I would like to introduce Miss Y/N L/N, a new transfer student in her fourth year." The words felt like thunderclaps in your ears. Hermione nudged you hard, urging you forward. "Come on, go up there!" "Oh Merlin," you whispered, anxiety twisting in your stomach like a coiling serpent. You rose to your feet, every pair of eyes in the hall suddenly fixated on you, and walked over, your heart racing. Mrs. McGonagall directed you to the aged wooden stool—the very spot where the Sorting Hat once held the fate of countless students. You settled down, feeling as if the weight of the world rested on your shoulders. She placed the Sorting Hat atop your head, and an electric jolt surged through you. You flinched as the hat sprang to life, its voice echoing in your mind like a haunting whisper. "Hmm…very…very curious…" The fabric seemed to shift and squirm against your scalp, and the words echoed louder, "Curious indeed…hmm…it seems you are fit for every house. However…Slytherin would suit you best. But remember, it's your choice to make." A chill ran down your spine. Suddenly, a voice pierced through the cacophony of thoughts—it was not the hat that spoke, but a voice that felt dark, familiar, and chilling. "Y/N," it whispered, slithering into your mind like a shadow, "choose Slytherin." You hesitated, panic rising within you as you felt an inexplicable pull towards the suggestion. With a breath caught in your throat, you blurted out, "Slytherin!" Stunned silence enveloped the hall for a heartbeat before a cacophony of murmurs erupted. What had you just done? You were supposed to join Gryffindor, to stand alongside your friends, but now you felt as if you'd severed an unbreakable bond. How would your mother react? What would Hermione and Ron think? Would they look at you like a traitor? The weight of your decision hung heavily around your neck, and as you descended from the stool, you could already feel the judgment of peers and friends alike. The vibrant chatter of the hall faded into a low, muted roar as dread settled in your heart. You had crossed a line, and now you had to face the consequences. What awaited you in this new house, and would you be able to find your way back?