It happened without sound. One moment it was a robust orange, the next it was a silent, icy azure. The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. Ron’s breath fogged in front of his face. Hermione froze, her quill hovering mid-stroke.
Tonight, he wanted to be ordinary. He wanted to be a boy lying on a rug, listening to the crackle of a fire, pretending his destiny was a forgotten footnote.
And the fire went out. End of Chapter One. harry potter audiobook original
“That’s not normal,” she whispered.
The fire returned to orange behind him, as if embarrassed. It happened without sound
Harry sat up slowly, rubbing his neck. The common room was thinning out. Older students were trudging up the spiral staircases to their dorms, their faces slack with exhaustion from a double Potions session. Seamus Finnigan was having a heated, whispered argument with his homework—a piece of parchment that kept smoking at the edges. Dean Thomas was sketching a moving picture of West Ham United’s goalie making a save, over and over, like a loop of desperate hope.
“This,” said the man, holding it up so the firelight shone through, “is the memory you lost. The night Voldemort came to Godric’s Hollow. Your mother’s final word. Your father’s last spell. You have never remembered it because a child’s mind is merciful. But mercy, Mr. Potter, is a luxury you can no longer afford.” Ron’s breath fogged in front of his face
“Of course it is,” muttered Ron. He stretched, his long legs nudging Harry’s ribs. “Move over, you’re like a horizontal wardrobe.”