Not quite in Hogwarts yet, but felt that this needed to happen as I'd been planning this ending for a bit ;) hope you all like it! hope it settles any frustrations you had as Nox certainly settled his.

expect more chapters over the weekends typically, as I work sporadically during the week so I will almost always update on Saturdays/Sundays and Tuesdays most likely.

But please review and let me know what you think! It's tougher writing Harry and Nox now without them being entirely trusting...

I stormed over to the nearest tree and slammed a fist into it, making its branches quiver as the twins let out long whistles and Hermione rushed over.

"Nox! Your hand!"

"I'm fine," I snapped back, earning a frown from her as I focused on the throbbing in my knuckles as a way to calm my temper. "I'm just… frustrated, with the lot of them. Putting me in the Order but ensuring I have no part, making a mess of my house, acting like I don't know what I'm doing with my own creatures."

"You tell 'em Nox," Fred chimed in, bobbing his head as George did the same.

"We deserve just as much a right as them to know what's going on."

"And who are they ta kick me out when I'm the one who offered them a place in my home anyway," I huffed, my Scottish drawl kicking in as I moved towards the shed and dug through its contents for what I'd need. "Been workin' with these creatures for years… Who's she ta tell me what ta do? And Remus being a git and teamin' up with her… runnin' off first chance he gets ta avoid me. Here."

I passed over a bucket of food to the nearest person—Harry—who blinked as I swung two dead rabbits to Fred and George, who grinned, and a basket of vegetables to Ginny.

"What're we feeding today, Nox?"

"The dragons?"

"The kelpie?"

I rolled my eyes, almost regretting having told the twins about the more dangerous creatures on the reserve. "We're feeding the Mooncalves, checking up on the Occamies, and the rabbits are for the two Thestrals Harry and I used. Then, the vegetables are for the Diricrawl and any other herbivores that may drop in."

"Boo. Why can't we see anything cool?"

"Because my dragons—though better than most—are still very hesitant about others," I explained. "And I don't want to get soaked tonight, so no kelpie. The Graphorn is still aggressive and the hippogriffs have already been fed and are undoubtedly resting for the night."

"No fun," they pouted, and I sighed.

"If you behave, I might show you the Zouwu, okay?"

They grinned, high fiving.

"But don't tell your mother," I grumbled. "She'd scold me the rest of the evening if she found out and I've had enough yelling for one night."

We started through the forest and the fresh air helped me relax a bit until something heavy jumped onto my back, making me stumble.

"Nox, are you—"

"I'm fine," I grunted, waving out my free hand. "Hand me an apple, Ginny."

She did and I held it up, making them gape as the apple appeared to float in midair before being munched away.

"This is Wisp. He's a Demiguise," I grumbled, taking another apple as the silver monkey-like creature made itself visible for the rest of them. "He's more curious than most which is probably why he was caught so easily. Their fur is highly valuable for spinning Invisibility Cloaks."

They continued to feed him a few more fruits and veggies before he hopped down and scampered away as we approached a small clearing in the forest where a herd of Mooncalves all perked up and scampered over. They fed them easily enough, mostly because Mooncalves were relatively docile, and the Diricrawls began to Apparate into the mix as well, startling Ron when one snatched a carrot from his hand before he realized it was there. Once they were satisfied, I led them to the Occamies, who were newly hatched and easily passed around the group—though Fred was bitten by one upon wiggling a finger at it. No harm was done though, and after the twins grew bored, they began to hound me about the Zouwu.

"All right, already," I huffed at them, digging into my coat pocket and pulling out a cat toy, earning raised brows. "Don't give me that. He's literally a giant cat. You want to meet him without having him getting upset, then I have to entertain him first, okay?"

They both saluted. "Yes, boss!"

"Don't call me boss," I grumbled, walking further into the forest until I found another nice empty patch of grass.

I then lifted the cat toy up above me, holding out a hand to keep the others back and give me room as I moved to the center of the space. Then, I jingled it, allowing the small bells on it to chime. Nothing happened for a moment as I waved it around before I heard the smallest rustle and ducked down just in time for the large creature to fly overhead. It's long reddish ribbon of a tail swooped along behind it, drawing gasps of surprise from the girls at the edge of the tree line, before the creature turned to face me.

I smiled softly at him as his wide eyes latched onto the cat toy, rumbling coos echoing from between large canines—one of which was cracked and missing the tip. I slipped the toy back into my pocket and his eyes shifted to me before purring louder and shifting his long body forward, bumping his head against me. I leaned my full body into him as well, cooing back.

"Yes, hello. I missed you too, Sabe," I hummed back chuckling when his hand wrapped around me and pulled me close, and I ruffled his mane. "He's okay now," I informed the others, "just move slowly, all right?"

The group started forward slowly, making Sabe tip his head curiously and set me down as I continued to pet him.

"He's… wow," Hermione breathed, earning a nod from Ginny.

"Does he breathe fire?" Fred asked.

"Or eat people?" George followed, earning a snort from me.

"I mean, he could eat people if he wanted to, I suppose. He's honestly nothing more than a big house cat right now though. I fed him before I left to get Harry. And no, he doesn't breathe fire. He can warp space and travel up to 1600 kilometers a day though."

"Wicked," Ron murmured, reaching out to touch him only for Sabe to ram his face into his hand happily.

"He's really… calm," Harry noted and I nodded.

"Zouwu are often used in circuses, but by people who assume they're terribly dangerous. They're actually really relaxed for the most part and shy, even, though I suppose they're terrible to handle while upset."

"Well, I think he's really sweet," Hermione mentioned, smiling as Sabe purred against her palm.

"Most creatures are, but people are too blinkered to try and see that," I sighed, giving Sabe a final pet before pulling out the toy and tossing it into the trees.

The Zouwu bounded after it and I looked to the others.

"We best be getting back, before Mrs. Weasley has an aneurism."

I was exhausted. Upon returning to the house, an argument had broken out between everyone with Mrs. Weasley again stating that none of the kids should know anything about what was happening when Sirius tried to offer Harry some information. My migraine had doubled, even with Lupin trying to actually keep peace between them this time. I felt my name had been brought up too much in the conversation though, used by both sides to argue whether any of us should hear information and why it was a poor decision to do so.

Harry wanted to know what was going on. Fred, George, Ginny, and the others demanded that if he knew then they should too. Mrs. Weasley refused to budge because we were children. Sirius argued in return that he was Harry's Godfather and he should have the ultimate say. Lupin informed them that some information should be given but more important details should not. I was one step away from losing my patience and it was only Duffy appearing at my side with a glass of whiskey and a headache potion that helped.

Eventually, though, a decision had been made. Everyone would hear answers to Harry's questions—sans Ginny, who would undoubtedly find out anyway—and the adults were going to hand-pick what they felt Harry should know. Already knowing what Voldemort was after and what was going on, I excused myself to head upstairs but bypassed my own bedroom to move into the study. The Boggart in the writing desk appeared, but for once, seeing my father's ghostly image didn't really upset me. The Boggart often had trouble deciphering my true fear anyway, occasionally switching to Harry or one of the others lying dead on the floor, Lupin shouting that he hated me and wishing he'd never bothered to get close to me, a creature of mine being killed, or one of the poor souls I'd already killed back home.

Duffy appeared again, hesitantly refilling my cup as my tired gaze drifted to my ghostly father screaming curses at me and calling me useless, complaining about how I turned his home into a pile of garbage with the creatures running free and freeloaders lying about. The poor house-elf flinched when he shouted and I told him to leave the bottle and go help with cleaning the dining room and kitchen, earning a concerned look in return. With my wand gone, all I could do was listen to the abuse and even then, it just made me feel even more tired.

I'd finished off the bottle by the time someone found me, half asleep and sprawled across the arms of the chair. Lupin glanced at the Boggart with a wince as father screamed about being no better than the creatures outside, waving his wand and vanishing it as it shifted into a figure I couldn't make out saying they hated him. It was new, but my fogged mind couldn't be bothered to work it out as Lupin came over and scowled at the empty bottle and glass on the desk.

"Nox, I've told you; you shouldn't be drinking. It's not good for—"

"Not good for a kid," I grumbled, shooting him a drab look. "I know. I've heard plenty of things I'm not allowed ta do cos of my age. Can't drink, can't play with my creatures, can be in the Order but can't do nothin'." I ticked off my fingers. "Can't own a house, can't run a business, can't—"

"Nox, enough."

"What?" I complained, pushing myself upright only to struggle with the swaying of my vision. "Can't be a kid and complain 'bout unfairness now too?"

"Nox, that's not what I meant," he pressed, looking tired himself. "Let's just get to bed, okay?"

"Oh, have I gotta bedtime? Sure, why not? Give ya a house ta live in, place for your meetin', informants ta work with, and no appreciation," I complained, getting up and having to catch myself on the desk before I fell.

"Please, Nox. Let's not do this now."

"Then, when?" I snapped, glaring at him as a lump formed in my throat. "When ya leave on another deadly mission for the Order? When ya've got Mrs. Weasley backing ya up? I've been wantin' ta talk but ya haven't given me a chance!"

"I have—"

"No, ya haven't!" I cried back. "If we're not fighin' you're avoiding me! You're running off on missions o-or volunteering ta leave! I'm trying ta do my best and help everyone, cos Harry's my friend! I don't want to see him or anyone else hurt, but you're making it impossible ta do anything! How can I help if I don't have anyone supporting me!"

"We do support you, Nox! Harry—"

"Harry doesn't trust me!" I told him, earning a look of surprise. "No one understands, and I thought you were the one person who did! I thought… I-I thought I finally had someone who cared about me and what I had to say, but you just keep kicking me out." My voice cracked and the emotional upheaval caused by the alcohol, hormones, and buildup of stress had me sagging into Lupin's arms as he kept me from sinking to the floor.

"Nox… Nox, I do care. I care more than anyone," he murmured, pulling me close. "That's why I've been doing what I have been, and I know you understand that. You're smart enough to see that I'm only trying to protect you. That's the only reason I didn't want you in the Order. I didn't want you to get hurt before anything even started. We wouldn't have half the information we have if it weren't for you and I sincerely appreciate how you've managed to help us. But you… you're like a son to me, Nox, and that scares me."

"You told Moody I wasn't…" I argued weakly.

He sighed lightly. "Well, I wasn't entirely telling the truth, Nox. You're not my actual son, but you are close enough to me that you might as well be, and that's… that's frightening. I've already done so much to hurt you." His eyes drifted to my shoulder where the bitemark still resided. "I don't know what I'd do if I allowed something like that to happen again."

"Idiot," I murmured, trying to look as determined as I could while drunk. "As if I'll let someone kill me now. You don't think I'm exercising for fun, do you?"

He cracked a small smile. "I honestly don't know what to think about your methods."

I smiled as well, prodding him in the shoulder. "We should duel sometime. I'll show you. I can kick any Death Eater's arse."

He snorted, patting my shoulder as he stood, giving me a once over with a soft sigh. "You've grown so much."

I hadn't really realized it, but he wasn't wrong. In the last few months my growth spurt had finally kicked in and I had just about reached his chin in height, edging on up to his nose. I would undoubtedly reach his 6'2" within the next year or so at the rate I was going, and with my exercising and my father's build, I wouldn't exactly be a pushover either.

"Will you be around for the full moon?" I asked then, feeling that hint of worry edging into me once more.

He nodded though, patting my shoulder again. "Absolutely. I'm sorry for missing the previous ones. Sirius says they've been…"

"Pretty bad, yeah," I murmured, dragging a hand through my tousled hair, which needed a trim soon. "I don't know what's going on. My magic's finally settled, so I'm not getting headaches like before."

"Could be the stress," he offered, looking me over and bringing up a hand to tap just under my eye. "You've not been sleeping."

"Pot calling kettle," I chimed with a small quirk of my lips, for he too had dark bags lining his eyes. "And I don't exactly see you tearing yourself up like I've been."

"Yes, well, I'm sure we'll figure something out. Maybe a sleeping draught would help."

"Oh, yeah, cos mixing potions is always a fun idea," I snorted, swaying a bit and making him catch my arm to stop me stumbling again.

"Says the boy who just mixed alcohol with a cure for headaches," Lupin chided. "Let's get you to bed."

"You first," I slurred, chuckling and leaning against him as he helped me to my room before my smile fell. "And… I'm sorry 'bout the stuff I said before. You're nothing like father, I'm just… frustrated."

"I know, and I'm sorry for everything I've said as well. I'll try to listen to you more, Nox. You're clever and have good insight, and I know that better than anyone here. So, it's about time I showed it."

I hummed, before remembering something and cracking a smirk as I prodded his side. "Ya gonna tell me 'bout Tonks too?"

It was hilarious to watch him falter at that question and try to recompose himself.

"Tell you about—Tell you what exactly."

I snorted, smacking his chest a few times with a wicked grin. "Oh, don't play coy, pops. I've seen you two lookin' at each other. I've got bets with Sirius on who'll confess first, and it's not you."

He sputtered as I chuckled, leaning into him and making him stumble as he tried to come up with an argument—neither of us having noticed I called him "pops."

I groaned the next morning, head pounding and the twisting of nausea in my stomach as I made my way downstairs for breakfast. Upon reaching the kitchen and collapsing in a chair, Duffy appeared at my side with a new potion that I downed quickly with a shiver of disgust. Still, least the hangover is fading. Magic is amazing.

"Thanks, Duffy," I murmured, shooting him a look as he started to fill my plate with food. "Make sure you eat breakfast too."

He looked at me with wide eyes before bobbing his head, so his ears flopped back and forth over his eyes.

"And get the stuff ready for me to feed the creatures if you could." I paused then—brows furrowed. "Did we remember to get the cows for the dragons?"

He nodded again, digging through the pockets of the old hoodie he was wearing and pulling out a notepad that he scribbled on before showing me.

"Ah, good. I'll have to butcher them first then. Thank you, Duffy."

He tugged his ears over his face in his embarrassment at my thanks before vanishing just as Harry and the others had arrived.

"He really is a bit… shy, isn't he?"

I nodded. "Any praise and it's as if I presented him with an award. He gets all embarrassed, though I don't blame him. I don't even want to think how father was treating him until now," I mused calmly, prodding at my eggs as they sat at the table.

"Hey, what was up on the walls before?" Ron asked, curious as he shoveled food onto his own plate. "Portraits?"

"Shoulder mounts of creatures," I said blandly, making Hermione choke on her drink.

"W-What!"

"Wasn't my house until recently," I reminded her, handing her a napkin to wipe at her face. "It's the only thing ever on the walls. He didn't like photos taken other than a few in his study of his successes. He tore down anything mother had put up, and I took down anything of his." I shrugged, chomping down on my toast before remembering something. "Mrs. Weasley? How were the Doxies?"

Said woman poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled politely. "All taken care of dear. There weren't many and I shooed them out into the forest for you."

"All right. And the Boggart was dealt with last night, so you won't have to worry about it."

Her expression shifted. "By yourself?"

I pushed down the urge to bristle at her coddling. "While I could have easily done it myself, I had Remus's help. Has he been down yet?"

"Came down earlier, had a bite, then was swept out to get some reports," she informed me. "He told me to tell you he'd be back, day after next."

I nodded with a hum, finished my breakfast, and got up with a stretch. "Welp, I've got a cow to butcher and creatures to feed."

Fred and George perked up. "Cow?"

I shushed them quickly, ensuring Mrs. Weasley wasn't still listening before leaning forward and whispering. "Give me an hour and if you swear to do everything I tell you in absolute silence, I'll let you see a dragon, okay?"

"We swear," they replied back, grinning like madmen as Ron smacked Harry eagerly as I looked between them all.

"If she asks, we're going to see the hippogriffs."

Time seemed to fly by while everyone was staying in Nox's home. Harry and the others were kept busy helping him with the creatures, discovering new ones almost every day from unicorns to a Wampus cat—something Nox refused to let them catch more than a glimpse of—and even a Hippocampus (a sort of half-horse, half-fish creature living in the lake on the property). Tensions finally reached their peak though, when the day before the full moon, Nox had been told an important Order meeting had been planned to go over his informant's information without him the night the moon was full.

Harry had never seen him so furious. Even the adults who were in the room at the time had very little to say when he went off. He demanded they reschedule, refusing to give out any information his informants had given, threatened to boot out Mrs. Weasley for even suggesting he step down from the Order and his work, and challenged anyone who opposed him to a duel where he would promptly "bury them so far into the dirt that their ancestors will greet them." Mundungus hadn't taken that threat seriously and… well, let's just say Fred and George made a lot of money betting on Nox winning that duel, and Mundungus still flinches whenever Nox is within view.

Few of the adults had much to say after that, and the ones who did soon learned why Nox was well-known at Hogwarts by the students for getting his just-revenge without getting caught. With Lupin not around to really control him—and the few other adults who would try feeling that he was right in his anger—the Order's meeting had been changed and peace restored. Mostly, anyway. Mrs. Weasley would still mutter about him being too young, but only when he wasn't around and, more often than not, only being listened to by her husband; who had to admit that Nox's skills and information network were impressive.

The full moon had proven difficult for Nox though. Harry swore he heard his pained howls during the night at some point and when the dawn had finally returned, Nox hadn't reappeared. Lupin had to try and reassure them that he was all right, but they could all tell that he wasn't being truthful, even more so when Nox finally did show his face. He was limping rather heavily and had bandages peeking out of the collar of his shirt. With his pale skin and exhausted gaze on top of that, he looked absolutely terrible. Bad enough that any disagreement Hermione had with him about Duffy had been forgotten, as she stuck close to his side and pestered him into helping him with everything she could.

Nox didn't seem to mind it either, much to Harry's surprise. He expected Nox to get frustrated with her coddling, but either they had gotten close enough for him to not care or he was in just that much pain. It was nice to have them getting along though, and Harry rather enjoyed the few afternoons they spent playing games or flying around the reserve on brooms Nox had found tucked away in a shed with Tonks, Lupin, and Sirius joining in when they had the chance. Then, came their Hogwarts letters.

"Booklists have arrived," Ron announced, bringing in the letters and passing them to everyone as Nox lightly snoozed with his head on Hermione's lap, her fingers running through his hair and Dubh sleeping on his chest. "About time, I thought they'd forgotten, they usually come much earlier than this."

The letter he tossed woke up Dubh, who cawed in annoyance before hitting Nox over the nose with said letter, waking him.

"Waz sis?" He slurred, still tired, and squinting at the letter before grunting as he sat up.

"Booklist," Harry informed, opening his. "Only two new ones. The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk, and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard."

Nox scowled, making Harry raise a brow.

"What's wrong?"

Nox went to answer only for Fred and George to Apparate beside Harry and interrupt.

"We were just wondering who set the Slinkhard book," Fred started.

"Because it means Dumbledore's found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"And about time too."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back. And from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."

"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four," George mused.

"One sacked, one dead, one's memory removed and one locked in a trunk for months," Harry listed off. "Not to mention all the trauma Nox caused them all."

"Oi, I resent that," Nox grumbled, yawning and giving Duffy a pat when the house-elf dropped off some coffee for him and he opened his letter. "Well, shit."

"What?"

Nox lifted a finger and point to Ron, who was gaping at his letter. "Somebody got Prefect."

"No way," Fred and George gaped, bounding over and dumping out the gold Prefect badge as they grabbed the letter and held it up to the light in suspicion.

"There's been a mistake. No one in their right mind would make Ron a Prefect."

They whipped to Harry and Nox. "We thought it'd be one of you two for sure!"

"Winning the Triwizard!"

"Working with the Order!"

"We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick one of you!"

Nox waved a hand in front of his face. "Not me. I've pranked too many teachers and don't have the… enthusiasm for it. I'm honestly lazy when it comes to following and upholding rules."

"Good point," the twins agreed.

"Harry too. You've caused too much trouble, mate. Well, at least one of you has got their priorities right." Fred gave Ron a pat on the back. "Prefect. Ickle Ronnie the Prefect."

"Oh, Mum's going to be revolting," George complained, shoving the badge back at Ron.

And he wasn't wrong either. The only ones disappointed in Ron's new job were Hermione—who was also prefect—and Harry, who wasn't exactly wanting the job but begun to feel bitter. Hadn't he deserved it after all the things he'd done? A party was held though, to celebrate and the twins endless teasing wasn't about to stop when school started, of course. This hardly put a dent in the subtle joy Ron had now, though it made things a bit awkward with Harry who had started to feel almost useless. The only one who'd noticed this was Nox.

"You want to talk about it?" He had asked that evening, having seen Harry leave early and followed him out.

"Talk about what?" Harry questioned, tone bitter, though Nox didn't appear phased.

He simply shrugged. "Dunno. Anything, really. We can chat or just have a cup of tea somewhere less—" He winced when something downstairs crashed, making him frown over his shoulder as the twins shouted apologies to their now-shouting mother. "—hectic."

"Shouldn't you be there with them?" Harry scowled. "Hermione got Prefect too."

"And I congratulated her," Nox hummed, moving up to pass him on the stairs. "But we have an understanding that I'm not one to hang around when there's a closed room full of wizards."

Harry had forgotten about Nox's magic sensitivity, making to mutter some form of apology only for him to continue.

"I'm a little more on edge thanks to Barty Jr. Too many wands too close to me makes me…" Nox paused, staring up at the ceiling in thought. "…anxious."

Then, he continued walking and, unable to help but feel curious about this sudden confession, Harry followed him down the hall. They stepped up to a door that Harry remembered was locked during one of the group's trips around the house, but Nox pulled out a set of keys and unlocked it, stepping into a study. Harry looked around curiously, eyeing the bookshelves, writing desk, and papers scattered around. He jumped though, when something appeared off to his left and Nox drew his wand.

"Riddikulus," he drawled, shattering the image of his angry father instantly. "Sorry. Thought we'd gotten rid of that, or another moved in. They like it here."

"Um, where is here?"

"It's my father's old study," Nox shrugged, lifting Dubh off his shoulder and depositing the sleepy bird onto a cushioned stand for him to rest in. "I use it for work and unwinding."

"Hard to unwind with your father haunting it, isn't it?" Harry quipped, earning a hint of a smile from Nox, as bitter as it was.

"Yes, well… He tends to keep me in check and the house is usually empty, so keeps me company too."

Harry fidgeted at that, having often been jealous of the fact that Nox had a home to return to without the abuse now that his father was gone, while Harry still had the Dursley's to deal with. He sat though, still sort of looking around as Duffy appeared and set up tea for them, earning a pat on the head before vanishing with an embarrassed squeak.

"You… You knew Ron was going to be Prefect, didn't you?" Harry asked hesitantly, still uncertain about discussing Nox's so-called future knowledge.

"I remembered he became one at some point, though my mind's a bit hazy, so I wasn't entirely sure when."

"Do you… Well, do you know why?"

Nox gave him a look. "Do you want to know why?"

Harry bristled before Nox continued.

"Because the way I see it, Dumbledore puts someone into the position of Prefect not because he feels they're better than someone but because he feels being in that position means said person will get something from it."

"But—"

"Harry, you've done some amazing shit for a kid your age but what would you get from being Prefect?"

Harry's mouth closed and his brows furrowed, earning a smile from Nox as he sipped his tea.

"See? Now, what does Ron get? A nice boost of self-confidence for one thing. A chance to have someone rely on him instead of him relying on you. It's a chance for him to feel important, Harry, to grow. You don't need that. You've fought Dementors, Quirrell, Tom Riddle, a Basilisk, and Voldemort! And that skill is going to help you in the future, but you know what else is? Your friends, and in order for them to grow and be helpful to you, they need the chance to shine themselves. They need to be able to fight in the same sort of circumstances as you without all the experience you have. That's all this is."

Harry pondered this for a moment and Nox waited patiently, sipping his tea and checking through a few papers that were waiting on his desk. Harry soon drank some of his tea as well and sat silently until speaking again.

"Something big is going to happen, isn't it?"

Nox stopped drinking and slowly lowered his cup. "Bigger than you know. Voldemort is back, Harry, and you don't need to know what I do to know that this isn't going to be good. This year is the start of it, and you'll see why when we return to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?" He questioned, hoping to pry more out of Nox but also fearing what he might find out.

Nox didn't give though, simply setting aside his paperwork with a sigh. "I'll try my best to help, but mostly because I don't feel I'll be able to hold back in this case. You saw what happened when I tried to keep it in for too long."

Harry winced, remembering Nox's shouting from a few weeks ago and how eerily calm it started before finally exploding into full-blown rage. Which was probably why he was surprised when Nox smiled suddenly with a chuckle.

"Probably why Dumbledore didn't try to make me Prefect. You thought I was bad with Lockhart, ha! This year I'll be surprised if I don't actually get expelled."

"You can't!" Harry blurted out, standing up out of his seat.

As much as his trust wavered in regards to Nox, Harry wasn't sure what would happen if Nox was just suddenly not there. He feared not only Nox getting expelled but who or what would cause Nox to lose control to that extent. Nox was always calm, level-headed. It was only until more recently that he started to lose his temper with people (Mrs. Weasley and Lupin being the prime suspects lately, as with Lockhart it was more an overabundance of annoyance than anything). And that was only because he'd been holding it in until bursting and people were being too stubborn to give his logic a chance.

At Hogwarts though, Nox appeared to have almost put a leash on himself. One that always kept his temper back when facing his professors or Dumbledore. He forced himself to stay just on the line of getting in serious trouble; never tiptoeing over it to risk anything more than a few detentions. He was much like Fred and George in that aspect, though where they focused their actions on pranks and creating laughter in the halls, Nox set his sights to righting the very wrongs committed in those halls. And if his warning was true—which Harry didn't doubt it was, given the evidence he'd been shown as to the accuracy of Nox's prophecies—then this upcoming year would be the worst he's had to deal with yet.

"S-So, Voldemort is—"

"For once, Voldemort should be the least of your worries." Nox pointed a stern finger at him then, making him stiffen. "And I sincerely mean that. Don't worry about him. I mean… well, worry as you usually do I suppose, b-but don't go expecting him to do anything crazy, got it?"

Harry went to say something, closed his mouth, then tried again, as Nox's brows furrowed and he mouthed his own words back to himself.

"Um, was that supposed to be a hint or something?"

Nox stuttered for a second before speaking again, a hand reaching to scratch the back of his head. "I-I, um… maybe? Sorry. I wasn't thinking of the consequences of that, so… yes?" He dragged out the last word and then tipped his head, turning it into more of a question than a statement before muttering to himself. "Can I give hints? I mean, I suppose he won't always listen, but it worked out decently last time… well, I say decent…"

"You know," Harry started, eyeing him. "It's really hard to trust you when you start talking to yourself like that."

Nox paused, mouth hanging open before closing it and letting out a sputter of laughter. "Pft, I suppose it is isn't it?"

Harry even managed a small smile at Nox's amusement, turning towards the door. "Um… thanks though, Nox. For… For talking, I guess."

"Course. Now, go congratulate Ron properly, eh?" Nox hummed. "I'm sure he'd actually be thrilled to know you support him."

It was interesting to wander in to screaming from Mrs. Weasley the day we were supposed to head to London to board the Hogwarts Express. Fred and George had gotten carried away with their magic again, leaving me patching up poor Ginny who'd gotten knocked down a flight of stairs by their levitating trunks. Much to everyone's joy though, I'd been working hard that morning to prepare our travel arrangements; the Thestral herd. Each one would carry two people and knew to take us to the train station around the back way, out of sight. We would have traveled more normally but were too far from London to walk and didn't have any form of vehicle to drive. Even when the suggestion of brooms came up, there weren't enough to go around so I'd mentioned the Thestrals.

Everyone had agreed and when it was announced, they were all thrilled—sans Sirius. Said man could not be spotted at all out of risk of persecution and was incapable of riding a Thestral while shifted into his Animagus. This meant his goodbyes were held on the porch before we took off into the air in groups of two or three.

Everyone made it to the station safely and trunks were unloaded from the enchanted bags that had been brought before we slipped into the station and through to the proper platform. Once there, a quick report was given and Moody scowled in annoyance.

"I'll still be reporting Sturgis to Dumbledore. That's the second time he's not turned up in a week. Getting as unreliable as Mundungus."

"Check on him," I said then, drawing his attention to me as Lupin too, eyed me in uncertainty. "Anyone not turning up should be looked into, no matter how unreliable in normal circumstances." I looked at Moody seriously, something rather hard to do with his magical eye whirling around looking at every witch and wizard near us. "Look into it, especially if he's in the Ministry. They're the ones at the most risk to begin with. We shouldn't risk ignoring it."

Moody grunted, turning to Lupin. "Smart lad. Better hang onto him."

Lupin sighed as Moody limped off towards Harry to remind him to be careful. "I don't need to warn you, do I?"

I snorted. "Not in the slightest. I'm the most prepared for this sort of thing out of the lot of us."

"Which only makes me worry more," he murmured, eyeing me with a look that said he wanted to tell me something but struggling to do so.

"I'll keep them in check," I informed him, assuming he wanted me to keep Harry out of trouble.

"I don't doubt it. It's you I'm worried about."

I sighed softly, frowning in mild annoyance. "I'll start taking my potions tomorrow since the full moon—"

"That's not what I meant, Nox," Lupin muttered, letting out a sigh of his own. "Just… promise me you'll be careful. Send letters often, stay out of trouble with your professors, do your best in class, and—"

"Careful," I lightly chided him, cracking a smile. "People might think you're my parent or something."

My smile faltered at the look in his eyes as he cleared his throat and turned his gaze away. Something ached in my chest and I struggled to try and figure out what I'd said wrong.

"N-Not that you're like him. I didn't mean it like that Remus. I only meant—"

I was shoved by someone passing by, glaring at them as they hurried past and turning back to Lupin to try and apologize again, only for a letter to be held under my nose. I blinked, going a little cross-eyed at how close it was before he lowered it and pressed it into my hand.

"I… I wanted you to have this before you go," he said quietly; his voice almost buried in the noise of the platform as the warning whistle on the train sounded. "I meant to tell you earlier, but I… I couldn't find the right time."

"What is it?" I asked, looking over the simple piece of parchment that was being held closed with a bit of dark amber wax.

"Perhaps you should read it on the train," he said, lifting his gaze to the workers starting to herd students on.

I'd already pried it open though, skimming the contents until I reached the signature at the bottom, feeling like my heart was in my throat as the noise in the background turned to a light buzzing in my ears. My fingers tightened on the parchment as I read it a second time, double and triple-checking that what was on the page was true and that the signature on the bottom was his—actually his.

"Nox, you're going to miss the train—" Lupin was cut off as my arms suddenly wrapped around his neck tightly, burying my face into his shoulder.

"Y-You idiot. W-Why didn't you tell me!"

Lupin softened and held me to. "I told you. I wasn't sure how. We'd only just made up and with me being gone half the time… I hadn't even thought it'd be proper of me. Dumbledore had mentioned it back when I was still teaching." He pulled away, hands still on my arms. "I didn't think I could do it, could handle having that sort of responsibility. And after I changed you… I thought you wouldn't… I couldn't bring myself to do it. But when I thought of you out there, doing ridiculous things like hunting down Barty Crouch Jr. based on a hunch? Doing everything on your own? I was scared, petrified, even."

Another whistle went off and his grip tightened.

"I realized I never wanted you to feel alone like that again. I didn't want to be alone again. So, I took Dumbledore up on his offer. If you'll have me, of course. I may not end up being the best, but—"

"Are you kidding?" I breathed, smiling the biggest grin I'd had my entire second life. "I would be honored."

Lupin too smiled and pulled me close again with a choked breath of laughter, relieved. "Thank you. Oh, Nox. Thank you."

"Idiot, I should be thanking you," I murmured back, letting him go again as he smiled softly and nudged my chin with his hand.

"Stay strong and try not to get into trouble this term."

"Can't promise that," I smiled, hurrying onto the train, giving him one last smile as I climbed further in only to ram right into Malfoy.

"Watch it, Sterling!" He snapped, but before he could do anything, my wand had slipped out and he was dangling upside down in the corridor by one foot as I smirked over him.

"That's Lupin to you, prick."