Back in the Gryffindor common room, Ron had sprawled out in front of the fire, lazily tossing Chocolate Frog cards onto a stack.
"You're taking what?" he spluttered when Harry told him.
"Ancient Runes and Arithmancy," Harry repeated quietly.
Ron sat up, eyebrows flying upward like rogue pixies. "You're seriously not taking Divination? Mate, that's the easy one! Everyone's taking it!"
Harry shrugged. "Hermione explained it. Runes just… I don't know. It sounds right. I've been asking around."
"Right? What, are you planning to become a—what, a magical accountant or something?" Ron's voice edged toward annoyance. "C'mon, Harry. I thought we were doing this together. Me, you, and—well, not her, obviously."
Harry frowned. "I'm not picking just to take the easy road. This feels important."
Ron's ears turned red. "So I'm lazy now?"
"No! Ron, that's not what I meant."
But Ron had turned away, arms folded. "Fine. Go learn your squiggly numbers. I'll be over here, waiting for my grim death or whatever Trelawney sees in her teacup."
Harry opened his mouth, then closed it. There was no point arguing when Ron got like this.
He retreated upstairs, form in hand, and sat on his bed. The room was quiet now. Neville was in the bathroom, and Seamus was still downstairs. Harry had space to think.
He took out his quill.
He remembered what the Ravenclaw said about theory. What the Slytherin said about thinking sideways. What Hermione had said about structure and power.
He circled Ancient Runes.
Then, feeling that quiet click of alignment deep in his chest, he circled Arithmancy.
The moment the ink settled, something shifted.
Not dramatically. Not with a flash of light or a roll of thunder. But like breath after holding it too long. Like stepping into a room and knowing you're meant to be there.
Downstairs, Ron's laughter at some joke sounded hollow.
And in the bottom of Harry's trunk, where Lily Potter's journal lay hidden beneath old socks and unused parchment, a corner of the cover warmed faintly—just once—before falling still again....