'Mate…' said Y/N slowly. 'You know-'
'I know it can't have been him,' said Harry quickly. 'But it looked exactly like him. I've got pictures of him. The Patronus had 4 legs. Looked a lot like a unicorn but I'd almost passed out by then. But I knew it wasn't Y/N 'cause his is a Phoenix-'
'And I was passed out right next to you,' added Y/N.
'Well yeah, and that too,' said Harry impatiently, 'But it looked exactly like my dad.'
'Are you sure it wasn't a trick of the light, Harry?' asked Hermione gently. 'The Patronus should have lit whoever it was up quite brightly, maybe you mistook some of the features.'
'Maybe,' said Harry, but Y/N could tell that he didn't believe that.
The three of them and Buckbeak were sat in the very edge of the treeline to the Forbidden Forest. They'd been talking quietly about what happened with the Dementors, doing their best to avoid any wandering people.
They'd seen the trio of Ministry officials and Dumbledore making their way back up towards the castle shortly after they ducked into the Willow and had watched Remus sprint across the ground a short while later, prod the knot at the base of the Willow and disappear inside the tunnel after them.
They then had a very near miss once Hagrid chose to leave his hut. He strolled away off up the grounds singing loudly to himself, weaving side to side as he walked and swinging a bottle in his hand. Buckbeak had sprung to attention at this and attempted to charge after the Gamekeeper. Luckily, Hermione was so attached to Y/N's arm, she was able to help him haul Buckbeak back into the treeline.
'There goes Snape,' said Harry absent-mindedly as a dark spec moved across the grounds. 'Hate that he got that,' Harry added as the figure bent down, straightened up and then vanished from site.
'He didn't keep it for long,' growled Y/N. 'Thinks he can sneak up on me.'
'Good thing you were there,' said Hermione. 'Could have been a lot worse if you weren't.'
'Could have been a lot better too. At least I wouldn't have dragged us into the Dementors-'
'You didn't,' said Harry at once. 'The moment you and Sirius left we took off after you. Even if you hadn't have been here I'd have done the same. Remus wasn't himself and after I heard Sirius' yelp-' Harry shuddered.
'I was so worried,' said Hermione weakly from next to him. 'I thought Remus had turned around and attacked you both.'
'I think Sirius felt the Dementor's before I did,' said Y/N. 'He got distracted and tripped. Sent us both down to the floor. I think I hit my head.'
'You did,' said Hermione. 'I remember seeing it when we arrived. Your face was covered in blood.'
'What happened with your Patronus?' asked Harry. 'It was there and then it wasn't.'
'I was still tired from the shack,' said Y/N. 'I couldn't hold it. Once it started slipping, I saw everyone, saw Hermione-' he took a shaky breath and felt her wrap their hands together, '-then when you two arrived I felt a surge. Like I was ready to take them all on. But that doesn't mean my body agreed. Then once Hermione collapsed, I just lost it. Couldn't hold it together anymore. It was my fault-'
'We just told you it wasn't,' said Harry harshly as Y/N hung his head.
'Harry, look away for a moment, would you?' asked Hermione.
Harry raised an eyebrow and then closed his eyes.
'What-?' but Y/N got nothing else out. Hermione seized his face and forced it upwards before kissing him with enough force she practically pushed him onto his back.
'I was so scared,' whispered Hermione once they'd broken away, their faces inches from each other, 'but I wasn't going to let that stop me. You needed me. We're a team, we said we'd be in this together. We've always said that. We'll always stand by each other's sides. None of that was your fault. None of it would ever be your fault. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant I could fight alongside you.'
The look in her eyes was compelling, so much so that it took him a few seconds to realise it was his turn to speak. He opened his mouth a couple of times, and no sound came out. Eventually he simply settled on…
'I love you.'
'I love you too.'
She placed another kiss on his lips, much gentler and softer this time, but it held as much feeling as the last one did and then she pulled him into a rib-cracking hug.
'Can I look now?' asked Harry cautiously.
'If I say no, are you going to do it anyway?' said Hermione.
'You know, I'd expect that kind of a response off him,' said Harry, opening his eyes and gesturing at Y/N.
'He's been a good influence on me,' shrugged Hermione.
'A good influence?' asked Y/N incredulously.
'The best,' beamed Hermione.
Harry made a retching sound.
'Ah yes,' said Y/N, his eyes turning onto the black-haired boy. 'Forgive me, I forgot Ravenclaw seekers were more your type. Reckon Cho would prefer a broom or flowers for her birthday?'
Harry's face didn't seem to be able to decide whether it wanted to go white or red.
'How-'
'Harry, you should know by now that if one of us doesn't spot something, the other does,' said Y/N. 'And besides, you weren't exactly keeping it together when she wished you good luck before the Slytherin match.'
'Thought you didn't notice…' said Harry quietly.
'Ohhh I noticed, I just had other things on my mind. But you should know by now that we aren't a healthy duo to tangle with.'
'I'm not going to live this down, am I?' asked Harry, smiling slightly.
'It is story time, Mister Potter!' declared Y/N.
'Oh good lord,' said Harry.
'Cast your mind back, to the beginning of this year. There we were, within the Leaky Cauldron. The three of us, all sitting together-'
'Shut up Y/N,' groaned Harry.
'-when we raised our glasses and toasted to me and Hermione.' He mimed raising his hand in a toast and to his surprise, Hermione copied him, a smirk plastered across her face.
'You two are sadistic,' said Harry.
'And do you remember what you said, Mister Potter?'
'I'm not playing this game.'
'You said - and I quote! - "A toast, to the two of you, for finally actually doing something about it." And do you remember what my response was, Mr Potter?'
'Vaguely,' said Harry.
'My response-!'
'Alright I get it,' said Harry. 'I remember what we said. Look, it's nothing more than a crush. She just flew really well and she's quite pretty y'know?'
'Not really. Haven't really paid much attention,' said Y/N with a shrug as he pulled Hermione in towards him.
'That's because you met your perfect girl the day you got here,' said Harry, shaking his head.
'A couple of weeks before actually, we met in Diagon Alley, but y'know. Not saying it's the perfect love story, but she is pretty perfect.'
'You two are sickening,' said Harry.
'I swear Ginny told us something similar,' said Y/N to Hermione.
'She said 'sickeningly sweet', But it's basically the same thing. Just one's from someone who actually knows what romance is.'
'Is this all the next few hours are going to be?' asked Harry. 'just you two bullying me?'
'You started this. Don't reap what you can't sow, Potter.'
'So how have you two actually been managing this year?' asked Harry, who seemed keen to drag the conversation off himself. 'Feels like we've barely spoken. And now I find out you've been time-travelling all year.'
''Mione's been tearing her hair out, bless her,' said Y/N, running his hand through the hair in question as she shimmied down to place her head in his lap and sighed contentedly 'It's been weird having such a messy timetable. But with no Divination and not having Remus' lessons, I imagine next year will be normal for me.'
'I'm going to drop Muggle Studies,' said Hermione. 'I can't keep doing it. It's weird without Y/N there and I already know it all. It's just annoying me. That should put me back on a normal timetable as well.'
'I still don't get how you were keeping up with your work. Me and Ron were struggling, and we only took two.'
'It got rough towards the end,' said Y/N. 'It's lucky you two never go into the library.'
'What do you mean?'
'Meant you never saw we were in both of them,' said Hermione. 'We'd be studying some classes in the Common Room, then rewind and go to the library. It's why it looked like we were barely sleeping as well. We'd sleep, rewind and work whilst we slept.'
'You two are crazy.'
'We also had no choice,' said Y/N. 'I had it easier from pretty much the word go with me dropping Divination immediately, but I still wanted to keep Hermione company.'
'You what?' said Hermione indignantly. 'I thought you always had the work to do as well!'
'Well of course I was going to tell you that wasn't I?' said Y/N, 'But did you not see me doing Snape's werewolf essay again like two weeks ago?'
Hermione's eyes narrowed and Y/N simply stared back down at her.
'If I told you I wasn't doing work, would you have argued?'
'Yes of course-'
'And would I have listened?'
'You know he wouldn't have,' said Harry as Hermione simply glared at him.
Hermione let out a sigh and simply closed her eyes as Y/N kept running his hand through her hair.
'Well, thank you Y/N. It means a lot.' Y/N leant down and placed a kiss on her forehead, her face split into a smile but her eyes did not open. Instead, he turned his attention onto Harry.
'What's up?'
Harry was eyeing Y/N cautiously.
'I… I wanted to ask… about your mum.'
'She works up at the school,' said Y/N evasively.
'You know which one I mean Y/N'
Y/N heaved a sigh and then looked past Harry into the treeline.
'I don't really know what else to say,' he said after a small pause. 'After I woke up with Quirrell before you got there, he and Voldemort told me about her. Apparently, she was in Voldemort's inner circle. One of his best Death Eaters, despite being a muggleborn. He didn't trust her at first, but apparently she proved herself time and time again. Then she met my dad. He didn't trust Voldemort, for good reason. Especially once he moved into the open. He managed to convince her to leave him and the two of them ran off. From what I know, they were in hiding for about 6 years. Towards the back end of that she became pregnant with me. Mum turned to one of her Death Eater friends for something when I was born. Dolohov. He betrayed them both to Voldemort. A group of four hunted down my dad. Bellatrix, Dolohov, Avery, and one more-' each name was engraved into Y/N's head as if chiselled there, 'they overpowered him. Voldemort killed him. Right out there.' Y/N pointed in the direction of the Hogwarts gate.
Harry's face had paled, and Hermione's eyes were open. There were no tears in them, but she was staring up at Y/N with an unreadable expression.
'I still dream about it occasionally. It's rare. Very rare. Used to happen a lot more, but yeah. He brought me to the castle and threw me over the wall to safety, and in doing so he gave up his own life. Voldemort told me he'd sent four after my mother but that she'd managed to overpower them and escape. One of them being Pettigrew is just one more on the list of names I need to be on the lookout for.'
'And that was the same night he attacked my parents?' asked Harry.
'As far as I know, yeah. I've heard he fell the same evening so I can only assume so. They were going to send me to an orphanage as well. Don't think they had any other choice. But mum, well Minerva, told me that she couldn't watch it happen to two boys. She'd been there when Dumbledore left you at Privet Drive and had seen what the Dursleys were like.'
'Really knows who to piss off, doesn't he? Old Voldemort,' sighed Harry. 'Who knew the two people he'd try to kill in the same night would become friends.'
'For what it's worth, I'm sorry things ended up the way they did. I got put in the wizarding world whilst you got stuck with your aunt and uncle.'
Harry shook his head.
'They're insufferable on the best days, but I'm glad you ended up somewhere decent. I think I'd have been left to them either way.'
Y/N let his eyes now roam instead down towards Hermione, she still had that same look in her eyes. A veiled sadness, but with something unreadable behind them.
'You okay?' he asked, running a finger along her cheek.
'Yeah… I just… I didn't know.'
'Of course you didn't,' said Y/N. 'There was enough going on after Quirrell that I didn't need to pile more on top. I haven't thought about it much since then to be honest. I'm kind of just contented to keep as I am at the moment. If she's been missing for this long, I doubt I'm going to just turn a corner and find her. And in the meantime, everyone else is out there,' he gestured vaguely. 'I'm not strong enough to get them yet. But when I am-'
'We'll fight them together,' said Hermione. 'If they've hurt you, then they've hurt me. We'll show them not to mess with us.'
'And don't forget about me and Ron,' said Harry brightly. 'I owe every single one of Voldemort's supporters.'
'Which makes what we need to do tonight even worse,' said Y/N, looking back towards the Willow. 'I hate having to let him go.'
'I know,' said Harry. 'But we'll get him one day. Sirius caught up to him once, we can do it again.'
'Hey, Y/N?'
'Yes 'Mione?' said Y/N, smiling down at her.
'Can I see your Patronus?'
'Which one?'
'What do you mean?'
'Y/N has two,' said Harry. 'They're the same base thing but one's a hybrid.'
'A hybrid?' asked Hermione.
'Here,' said Y/N, pulling out his wand. He thought back to the feeling after winning the Quidditch cup. The elation he'd managed to feel for a few days at clawing it back off Slytherin and beating Malfoy. 'Expecto Patronum!'
The pure Phoenix burst from his wand and soared leisurely around above their heads, it gave a faint cry and then dispersed into silvery mist.
'Wow…' said Hermione breathlessly.
'That's mine,' said Y/N, 'but the first time, the memory I used was from the Shack. The first time,' he clarified as Hermione smirked at him. He remembered how he'd felt when leaning in to kiss her for the first time and repeated the incantation.
Once more, the silvery wings burst from his wand, but unlike before it was warped. The beak looked closer to a snout, the wings ended in long claws and the tail was rounded instead of splayed.
'And that's the hybrid?' asked Hermione.
'Do you recognise the other animal?'
'Not really,' said Hermione. 'It still looked a bit too much like a Phoenix.'
'Give it some thought. If I was thinking of you, and that memory of just us, what do you think it shared it with?' Hermione was silent for a few moments as Y/N watched the willow carefully. Then she gasped.
'It was an otter!' and she shook the wrist bearing Sammy upwards towards him.
'Yep,' said Y/N happily. 'A weird blend between a Phoenix and an Otter. Remus said that it happens when our emotions feel so strongly about something, we basically draw on the other person. If you have a happy memory with someone, then the happier it is the more likely and more powerful the blend is. My first thought was just about the Quidditch cup. But because I love you-'
'They merged together,' said Hermione in an awestruck voice. 'I guess that means my Patronus is an otter then?'
'Certainly seems like it,' said Y/N, 'which I think is fitting for you given the stories you've told me.' and Hermione beamed.
'We'll want to be careful,' said Harry after a short silence. 'We'll be coming out soon.' Y/N nodded and glanced down at Hermione, who immediately pouted.
'I need my legs back if we're going to do this.'
'Yes, but you don't need them back yet.'
'Hermione I don't want to move either-'
'Don't then,' she said matter-of-factly, placing a hand against his chest and pushing him back against the tree. 'Just stay there till we need to move. We'll have a bit of time once we all start coming out anyway. Remus didn't start transforming until we were about half-way towards the castle.'
Y/N looked incredulously over at Harry, who was hiding a smirk and simply shrugged.
'You got into the relationship, mate. That looks like a whole lot of not my problem.'
'Then stop looking or it's about to become a problem for you,' said Y/N as he leant in towards Hermione.
Sure enough, around half an hour later and they watched as the first shapes of their group exited the Whomping Willow.
'Right, we're going to need to be ready,' said Y/N as Hermione got to her feet and he gingerly tested his weight on the now dead leg. 'Whoever clears out those Dementors can't see us. And we'll have to make sure we move to follow them when Snape picks us up. We'll want to be ready for going to get Sirius.'
'Who's going to fly Buckbeak?' asked Harry cautiously. 'You're the only one of us who has.'
'Then I guess I will, but it's really not that difficult,' said Y/N.
They watched as the group of them exited the Willow, Y/N watched himself attempt to balance himself, and then the group set off towards the castle. Then after about 5 minutes, the clouds parted.
'Wait!' said Harry suddenly as the Defence teacher keeled over. 'We've got to move. Remus ran around the lake and into the forest this way.'
'Take Buckbeak and go to Hagrid's hut,' said Y/N. 'I'll lead him off.'
'Not alone you won't,' said Hermione at once. 'Disillusion us. We'll use sounds and smell to confuse him, but make sure he can't see us.'
''Mione-' began Y/N, but he relented at once under the look she was giving him.
'We just had a massive discussion about being a team, you'd best not be about to tell me that I'm not doing it.'
'Okay okay,' said Y/N, twirling his wand and tapping her on the head. 'You win.'
'Take Buckbeak to the hut, Harry.' Y/N continued. 'Keep an eye on the lake. Once the Dementors clear, try and get close to the Castle. We don't want to risk Hagrid coming back out and catching you.' Harry nodded.
'Good luck, both of you,' he said.
Y/N nodded and then disillusioned himself. Just as he began to fade, he felt Hermione seize his hand and the two of them took off, skirting the outline of the forest. They heard Y/N's voice in the distance and watched as the white blur slowed.
'Lucky they aren't magic resistant,' said Y/N. 'Going to make this a lot easier.'
They watched carefully as the spec that was Y/N and Black began to gain on Remus, then Remus tore off again, hopping along the outskirts of the lake. Sprinting straight towards the boundary.
'I swear he was meant to have turned by now,' said Y/N.
Hermione gasped and then stood up.
'Vermillious!'
The red sparks rocketed towards Remus. They didn't hurt the wolf, but he skidded to a halt. At the same time, Sirius let out a yelp and collapsed.
'Come on!' yelled Hermione and together, the two of them sprinted into the forest. The distant sound of running footsteps getting louder.
Of course. Y/N had taken his eyes off Remus to look for the Dementors. But Sirius mustn't have. He must have seen the sparks and panicked. That was why they tripped. And Hermione and Harry must have seen the sparks whilst giving chase
Y/N and Hermione thundered through the underbrush, sending loose knockback jinxes into anything they could see. Eventually, Y/N felt his arm get yanked hard and he almost collapsed into a small ditch. He immediately felt Hermione's hand wrap around his mouth.
The sound of the sprinting werewolf slowed. Y/N could hear the sound of sniffing very close by. The footsteps were getting louder, coming closer to where Y/N and Hermione were sat, invisible.
Then a snarl and a howl before the sprinting took off again, deeper into the forest.
'We shouldn't be in here-' breathed Y/N carefully once Hermione had removed her hand from his mouth, '-there are werewolves in here.'
'And sadly, this time it is a full moon,' said Hermione. 'Come on, we need to get back to the lake.' she pulled Y/N back up on to the path and as quickly and quietly as they could, they darted along it. Soon, the lake was coming into view, as was the swirling mass of Dementors. Y/N watched as a small speck of light in the distance flickered and fell.
'I think that was me collapsing,' he said. 'Come on.'
They had barely taken two steps out of the forest however, when a piercing light shot through the darkness. Galloping head down towards the swirling mass of Dementor's was a bright, silver stag. His head held low as its antlers lead the way. It crashed straight into the largest cluster of them and the Dementor's scattered, all swerving away from the group around the lake. As they did, Y/N watched as the stag illuminated one last figure stood alone by the lake, who promptly collapsed.
'Come on,' he whispered and began dragging Hermione towards where the stag had come from. However, upon reaching the bank that the Patronus had appeared from, he saw the last person he'd expected to see. Harry was standing there running his hand gently along the nose of the stag and as he did so, it vanished.
'Harry!' hissed Y/N, reversing his own disillusionment charm as he approached. 'What on earth are you doing?!'
'Saving our lives!' said Harry. 'Come here, I'll explain. Where's Hermione?'
Y/N followed the hand he was holding up until he found her head, then disillusioned her. Harry led them aside and began speaking in a hushed whisper.
'So I came to see, I wanted to know who cast the Patronus. I watched you and Sirius arrive, Y/N. Then me and Hermione got here. You two collapsed and I was thinking any moment now. Then it didn't happen, I watched my own spell fizzle out. One of the Dementors swooped down towards me. I think it was going to kiss me. There were one's going for you two and Sirius as well-' Y/N felt his stomach freeze over.
'Then, I realised. I didn't see my dad. I saw me. I just thought I was my dad. So, I jumped out and cast.'
'So your Patronus is a stag,' said Y/N, staring at the point where the outline had vanished.
'I think… I think that's what my dad was. His Animagus form. It felt like him. It's weird.'
'It's not weird at all, mate,' said Y/N. 'I guarantee that was him. And thank you, for saving all our lives. For saving Hermione. I'll never be able to pay that one back.'
'Don't be daft,' said Harry.
'That's really incredible, Harry!' said Hermione. 'You produced a Patronus that got rid of over a hundred Dementors.'
'Try not to sound too impressed, 'Mione' said Y/N pouting a little, but she simply giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
'I knew I could do it this time because I'd done it before. If that makes sense…?' said Harry, looking unsure.
'Kind of,' said Y/N.
'Look at Snape!' whispered Hermione.
The three of them all turned their eyes towards the lake. Snape was conscious again. Five stretchers were hovering in the air around him. One already seemed to be bearing a red-headed boy. Y/N watched as he threw Y/N none too gently onto his.
'You know, I always thought Snape liked me a bit more than the other Gryffindor's,' he said. 'Helped me go see 'Mione last year, always seemed to respect me. Think I might have lost that after stunning him.'
'Want to send him some flowers to make up for it?' smirked Harry.
'Sure, I'll write "from James" on them too. See how he takes it.' and Harry glared at him before laughing.
'Come on,' said Hermione, also trying to suppress a smile. 'We've got about 45 minutes before Dumbledore locks the doors to the Hospital Wing. We need to be back by then.'
They watched the window in question carefully. Then after around fifteen minutes, the light in the window flicked on.
'This is it,' said Harry. 'I think Buckbeak can only fit two of us though.'
'You two go,' said Y/N at once. 'I can disillusion myself,' he added as Hermione opened her mouth. 'I'll be able to slip inside the castle much easier.'
'But…' Hermione looked terrified.
'Hey,' he said, stepping forward and grabbing her hands, 'you've flown with me before, it won't be much different. You'll be okay. I'll be waiting for you outside of the tower, yeah?'
Hermione gave a shaky nod, though she still looked unsure. Y/N leant in and kissed her before turning to Harry.
'You kill her and I'm knocking you out the sky.'
'What happened to you owing me?' said Harry, who'd already mounted Buckbeak.
'Don't be daft,' said Y/N.
He gave Hermione a leg up and then gave her hand one last squeeze before twirling his wand around himself and vanishing from sight. He began sprinting up towards the castle just as he heard the great wings unfurl behind him and, with a whoosh and a quickly muffled squeak, Buckbeak took to the skies.
Y/N sprinted in over the threshold of the castle and began taking the stairs two at a time. It was lucky that Black had just been brought inside, it meant all the teachers were elsewhere and dealing with other things. He wasn't looking forward to what his mother would say when she'd found out what he'd done. But that was a problem for future him. Or past him?
'This time stuffs weird,' he muttered as he tore along the seventh-floor corridor. He sprinted past the entrance to the West Tower and slowed, counting the windows as he jogged. He had to miss a couple owing to rooms he couldn't enter. It was lucky he'd come to a halt so that he could try to figure out how many windows he'd passed. At that moment, two figures turned the corner. The very last two figures that Y/N wanted to see right now.
Snape and Fudge were walking up the corridor towards him, muttering to each other.
'There is no harm in him speaking to the students, Severus. I'm sure he simply wishes to know what kind of a state they may be in,' said Fudge.
'I only hope that Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties,' said Snape. 'The kiss will be performed immediately?'
'As soon as Macnair returns with the Dementors.' Y/N felt his stomach turn over. 'This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet that we've got him at last. I daresay they'll want to interview you Snape, and once young Harry's back in his right mind I expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him.'
Fudge and Snape turned round the corner at the end of the hallway. Y/N was about to keep searching when the two people he was looking for came sprinting out of a nearby tower looking left and right. Hermione looked terrified, but they both broke into a sprint up the corridor towards him. Y/N twirled his wand and revealed himself.
Harry started and reached for his wand, and Hermione screamed before sprinting at him and almost throwing herself into Y/N's arms.
'I am never riding on one of those again. Harry flies nowhere near as safely as you do!'
'It's not a broom! I couldn't fly it any other way!'
'Come on, save it for the Hospital Wing,' said Y/N panting heavily. The other two nodded and together, they all sprinted off back through the corridors. Y/N wished he'd just stayed downstairs. Doing laps of Hogwarts wasn't exactly something that excited him.
They tore around the entrance to the final corridor just in time to see Dumbledore's back retreating out of the Hospital Wing.
'I am going to lock you in.' They could hear him saying. 'It is, five minutes to midnight. Three turns should do it. Good luck.'
He closed the door and then pulled out his wand, but looked around as he heard the footsteps approaching and smiled at the three of them. 'Well?' he asked quietly.
'We did it,' said Harry breathlessly. Y/N was keeled over, clutching his side. 'Sirius has gone on Buckbeak.'
Dumbledore beamed at them.
'Very well done. I think-' he listened in for a moment, 'Yes I think you've gone too. Get inside, I'll lock you in.'
The three of them slipped inside and heard the click of the door behind them. Harry crept off to his own bed whilst Y/N and Hermione crept towards the one they'd been sharing, Hermione stuffing the Time-turner down the front of her robes.
It was lucky that Madam Pomfrey did not come out immediately. Y/N didn't think he'd be able to catch his breath for about ten years. Luckily, he was just beginning to regather himself when her office door opened, and she stepped out.
'Am I allowed to look after my patients now?' she said angrily.
She was in a very bad mood. So much so that Hermione almost went to move off of Y/N's bed at her approach, but she simply sighed and held out a piece of chocolate to both of them.
'I've learnt with you two that separating you will only bring you back into the same bed half an hour later. Just do try to let each other rest.' She stood and watched to make sure all three of them ate the pieces they'd been given and then moved back off.
Then, they heard it. A roar that almost shook the very foundations of the school. Y/N stuffed the new piece of chocolate he'd been given into his mouth to hide his laughter.
'What was that?' said Madam Pomfrey in alarm.
There were voices in the distance getting louder. Angry voices. Madam Pomfrey's eyes span onto the door.
'Really, they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing-?'
But her sentence was stopped. The speaker had clearly turned the corridor, the voice now lost its muffled quality and instead rang through as though amplified.
'He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out-' came the Minster's voice.
'HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!' Snape roared. 'YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS. HAS. SOMETHING. TO. DO. WITH. POTTER!'
'Severus, be reasonable, Harry has been locked up-'
BAM.
The Hospital Wing doors blasted open. Y/N instinctively shot his wand out of his holster and twirled it nervously between his fingers.
Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore looked calm, in fact, it looked like he too, was trying to suppress laughter. Fudge looked angry, but it was nothing compared to the look on Snape's face.
'OUT WITH IT, THE LOT OF YOU!' Snape bellowed, looking between the three of them. 'WHAT DID YOU DO?!'
'Professor Snape!' shrieked Madam Pomfrey. 'Control yourself!'
'See here, Snape, be reasonable,' said Fudge weakly. 'This door's been locked. We just had to-'
'THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE. I KNOW IT!' Snape howled, pointing between Harry, Y/N and Hermione. His face was twisted.
'Calm down, man!' barked Fudge. 'You're talking nonsense.'
'YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!' shrieked Snape. 'HE DID IT. I KNOW HE DID IT-'
'That will do, Severus,' said Dumbledore. His voice was quite neutral, but it carried a weight that brought a silence over all of them. 'Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?'
'Of course not!' said Madam Pomfrey. 'I would have heard them! And nothing will get Miss Granger off Mr L/N's arm unless he moved as well.'
Y/N looked away to hide his smirk.
'Well there you have it, Severus,' said Dumbledore. 'Unless you are suggesting that Harry, Hermione and Y/N can be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further.'
It was lucky Y/N was still looking away.
He heard footsteps marching away across the tiled floor and looked back in time to watch Snape storm out of the room.
'Fellow seems quite unbalanced,' said Fudge. 'I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore.'
'Oh, he's not unbalanced,' said Dumbledore. 'He's just suffered a Sirius disappointment.'
It took a lot for Y/N to not break at this. Especially after Dumbledore threw him a wink.
'He's not the only one!' said Fudge indignantly. 'The Daily Prophets going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers again. All it needs now is for the story of the hippogriff's escape and I'll be a laughingstock! Well… I'd better go and notify the Ministry.'
'And the Dementors?' said Dumbledore. 'They'll be removed from the school, I trust?'
'Oh yes, they'll have to go,' said Fudge. 'Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the kiss on three innocent students. You have my apologies,' he added to the three of them. 'I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight. Perhaps we should think about Dragons in the school entrance.'
'Hagrid would like that,' said Dumbledore with another wry smile towards the trio and he and Fudge, exited.
Madam Pomfrey marched over to the door, muttering darkly under her breath and locked it before moving back over to her office.
Just as she vanished, there came a low moan from the other side of the ward and they all looked up to see Ron sitting up, rubbing his head, and looking around.
'What… what happened? Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?'
Harry looked across, smirking at Y/N and Hermione.
'You two tell him.'
'Nope,' said Hermione, raising her wand. 'This one's all you.' and the curtains drew themselves around Y/N and Hermione as she jumped on him.
()()()()()()
Madam Pomfrey did not keep them for long. Y/N was left with minor scarring and Ron's leg was fully healed by noon the next day. Together, the four of them left the Hospital Wing and no sooner had they hit the Entrance Hall when there came a squealing and Y/N felt something hit him hard around the stomach.
'Good to see you too, Gin,' he coughed, hugging her back.
'We don't hang out for three weeks and you end up in the Hospital Wing! What were you doing?'
'That is a very long story. And one we need to tell your brother anyway. You don't mind her knowing, do you?' Y/N asked Harry.
'Nah, you two trust her so I do too.' and he threw a smile at Ginny, which made her go the same colour as her hair.
Together, the five of them set off across the grounds with Harry, Hermione and Y/N taking turns telling the events of the previous evening. The grounds were deserted much as the rest of the castle seemed to be.
'Where even is everyone, Gin?' asked Y/N as the conversation lulled.
'Hogsmeade,' she said. 'They arranged another trip after… well…'
'What?' said Y/N.
'This morning… at breakfast… Snape,' Ginny took a deep breath. 'He told the Slytherins that Professor Lupin is a werewolf. Most of the school knows by now. I think the Professor is getting ready to leave.'
Y/N and Harry looked at each other.
'We need to see him,' said Harry at once.
'But if he's leaving, there's nothing you can do,' said Ron.
'I don't care. Harry's right. We need to see him. You coming?' Y/N asked Hermione.
'Of course, if you want me there?'
Y/N nodded.
'I'll stay here,' said Ginny. 'I'd like a quick word with my brother.'
Ron looked slightly scared, and Y/N laughed.
'Don't kill him. That's my job.'
The three of them moved back off into the Castle and through the corridors.
Remus' office door was open. Most of his things had already been packed. An empty tank that used to hold the Grindylow was next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Remus was looking over something on his desk and looked up when Harry knocked.
'I saw you all coming,' he said with a smile, pointing to the Marauder's map which was lying on the desk.
'We were speaking to Ginny. She told us what Snape did,' said Y/N.
Remus grimaced.
'Yes. I handed in my resignation shortly afterwards,' said Remus as he began emptying out the drawers in his desk.
'Why?' said Harry. 'The Ministry don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?'
Remus gestured them inside and once they'd entered, the office door closed behind them.
'No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives,' said Remus. 'That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he "accidentally" let slip that I am a werewolf.'
'You aren't leaving just because of that are you?' asked Harry.
Remus gave a sad smile
'This time tomorrow the owls will start arriving from parents. They will not want a werewolf teaching their children. And after last night I can see their point.' His eyes span onto Hermione and Y/N. 'You both took a terrible risk in luring me into that forest. I could have bitten either of you.'
'I wasn't going to let you do that,' said Y/N. 'My teacher was too good. And so was my girlfriend.'
Remus smiled, but it was still that same sad smile. None of his old energy.
Harry was staring mouth open as though trying to come up with an argument. Then in desperation he turned to Y/N.
'Remus,' said Y/N.
Remus straightened up and turned to look him. Y/N crossed the room in a few strides and hugged him. Remus froze for a few seconds and then returned the gesture.
'Thank you, for everything. I'll never forget everything you did for me. I promise to return the favour one day.'
'You already have, Y/N. By simply being willing to keep my secret. By treating me as an equal and treating me as a colleague, a professor, and a friend, you have my infinite gratitude. As you both do too,' said Remus to Harry and Hermione. 'All three of you will grow into incredible wizards. I'm just glad I could be here to help with that.'
Y/N stepped back from Remus and gave a shaky sigh.
'I promise, if I have anything to say about it, you will get hired here again. My mother's the Deputy Headmistress. I have some pull.'
Remus gave a small laugh and Y/N moved back over to Hermione, who immediately wrapped herself around him.
'Tell me about your Patronus, Harry,' said Remus, his voice shook a little as he spoke.
'How d'you know about that?' asked Harry.
'What else could have driven the Dementors back? And I know Y/N was in the forest luring me away.'
Harry recounted the story of what happened at the lake. By the time he'd finished, Remus' smile was back. His old one, the one that showed his true youth.
'Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed. Well guessed, Harry. That's why we called him Prongs.'
Remus threw the last of his belongings away in his trunk and closed the lid.
'Come here,' he said to Harry. 'I don't dare pass this over to you with Y/N standing so close.'
Y/N raised his eyebrows, but soon cottoned on as he felt his head pulse.
'Yep, cheers,' he said, backing up a little as Harry stuffed the invisibility cloak into his robes.
'I recovered it after I reverted to myself. And…' Remus paused, and then scooped up the Marauder's map and held it out to Harry. 'I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving you this back. I have no use for it and I daresay you'll all find one. Especially if shape-shifting rats start running around again.'
'You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would've wanted to lure me out of school,' said Harry. 'You said they'd have thought it was funny.'
'And so we would have,' said Remus. 'I have no hesitation in saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passageways out of the castle.'
There was a soft knock at the door. Y/N watched Harry stuff the map away inside his pocket and then opened the door.
Professor Dumbledore smiled at him and then stepped inside. He didn't look surprised to see any of them.
'Your carriage is at the gates, Remus,' he said.
'Thank you, headmaster.'
Remus picked up his suitcase in one hand and the Grindylow tank in the other.
'Well. Goodbye,' he said, looking around at the three of them. 'It has been a real pleasure teaching all of you. I'm sure we'll meet again some-time. Headmaster, there's no need to see me to the gates, I can manage.'
'Good-bye then Remus,' said Dumbledore. Remus shifted the tank around slightly so he and Dumbledore could shake hands.
'Write to me, won't you?' asked Y/N. 'Once you get to wherever you're going next. Let me know how you're doing?'
Remus held Y/N's gaze and then smiled; it was a very warm smile.
'Of course.'
And with that. He was gone. Harry immediately moved over to the chair behind the desk and sat down. Y/N and Hermione looked to each other, and then at Dumbledore who smiled and closed the door. Harry looked up.
'Why so miserable, Harry?' he said quietly. 'You should all be very proud of yourselves after last night.'
'It didn't make any difference,' said Harry bitterly. 'Pettigrew got away.'
'Didn't make any difference?' said Dumbledore quietly. 'It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.'
Harry's face froze, he looked like he was remembering something, then he looked around at them all.
'Um, Professor Dumbledore, yesterday, when I was having my Divination exam, Professor Trelawney went very- very strange.' Y/N scoffed.
'Indeed?' said Dumbledore with a wry smile. 'Stranger than usual you mean?'
'Yes… her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said… Voldemort's servant was going to set out to return to him before midnight. She said the servant would help him come back to power.'
Y/N stared open-mouthed. Trelawney? Making an actual real prediction?
'And then… she became normal again, and she couldn't remember anything she'd said. Was she making a real prediction?'
Dumbledore looked mildly impressed and he threw a slight smile at Y/N.
'Do you know Harry, I think she might have been. Who'd have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two, I should offer her a pay rise.'
Y/N and Hermione snorted with laughter.
'But…' said Harry, looking around at all of them, 'But… I stopped Sirius and Professor Lupin from killing Pettigrew! That makes it my fault if Voldemort comes back!'
'It does not,' said Dumbledore quietly. 'Hasn't your experience with the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed... Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that. Even if the McGonagall's don't see it,' and he threw Y/N another smile. 'You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrew's life.'
'But if he helps Voldemort back to power-!'
'Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt. When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them, and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter.'
'I don't want a connection with Pettigrew!' said Harry. 'He betrayed my parents and tried to kill Y/N's mum!'
'This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me, the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life. I knew your father very well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry,' said Dumbledore gently. 'He would have saved Pettigrew too; I am sure of it.'
Harry looked unsure towards Y/N and Hermione and Y/N gave him an encouraging nod. He didn't know what he was encouraging, but Harry looked like he needed to say whatever it was.
'I thought it was my dad who'd conjured my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake... I thought I was seeing him.'
'An easy mistake to make,' said Dumbledore softly. 'I expect you'll tire of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for the eyes... you have your mother's eyes.'
Harry shook his head.
'It was stupid, thinking it was him,' he muttered. 'I mean, I knew he was dead.'
'It wasn't stupid, Harry,' said Y/N at once. 'We told you that yesterday. He was there with you last night. That was shown in what your Patronus was, what it became. Your dad, Prongs, was there in the grounds again last night and he saved you. Saved all of us.'
Dumbledore was nodding along.
'Y/N is quite right, Harry. A part of your father will always live inside of you. That part came to life last night and always will whenever you use your Patronus. You will always carry that part of him with you. And because of that, he will never truly be gone.'
()()()()()()
Over the next few weeks, rumours spread like wildfire. But only Y/N, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Dumbledore knew the truth. McGonagall had called Y/N aside the day after Remus left on the pre-tense of wanting to check up on him, but Y/N knew she was trying to poke for answers out of him. However, there was no evidence as to the fact that he'd been anywhere near the Shrieking Shack that night and, for some reason, any record of them being in the Hospital wing seemed non-existent. So, all Y/N and Hermione had to do was feign innocence and McGonagall could not push any further.
Y/N felt bad lying to his mother again, but it was safer this way. Easier. It would have been a whole lot of questions if she knew the truth as to what he'd been doing that night.
On the last day of term, the exam results came back. Hermione beamed when she saw that Y/N had kept up with her and even eclipsed her in a couple of subjects. And they were both even more impressed when they saw Harry's Defence Against the Dark Arts grade.
'I only just beat you,' said Y/N, staring down at Harry's results. 'And you beat Hermione. Very impressive.'
'Yeah, but it was a one off,' said Harry nonchalantly.
'Don't be so sure, Potter. She was convinced she'd failed Muggle Studies. And does that look like a fail to you?' he said, pointing at the 320% marking next to Hermione's result causing Hermione to go crimson and attempt to hide her result page. 'I guarantee we both tried out best.'
For the third year in a row, Gryffindor managed to pull off a win in the house championship thanks to the points earned from Quidditch, and the five of them spent a wonderful evening eating, laughing, and spending time together.
The next morning, Y/N, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and Ron were all sitting together in a compartment as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of Hogsmeade station.
'Did you drop it then?' asked Ginny, looking to Hermione who nodded.
'Drop what?' asked Ron.
'Muggle Studies,' said Hermione. 'It wasn't worth the hassle, especially without Y/N there. I just want a normal timetable again. I've given Professor McGonagall the Time-Turner back.'
'I can't believe you didn't tell us you had it,' said Ron, looking between Hermione and Y/N.
'We promised we wouldn't tell anyone!' said Hermione indignantly.
'And we weren't exactly on speaking terms for most of the year. Even Ginny didn't know.'
'Ahhh… um,' said Hermione weakly.
'Oh my good lord. And you wonder why secrets travel so fast around Hogwarts,' said Y/N.
Hermione looked up at him giving him her best puppy dog eyes. Unfortunately, they were pretty good.
'Fine,' said Y/N exasperatedly, 'but you know Ginny is going to be our downfall. She knows all of our secrets.'
'And never forget it,' said Ginny smugly.
'You alright, Harry?' asked Ron.
'Hmmm? Yeah,' said Harry quickly. 'Just thinking about the holidays.'
'Yeah, I've been thinking about them too,' said Ron. 'Harry, you've got to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad and they'll call you. It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer and Dad's getting tickets. How about it? Come and stay and we'll go and see it.'
'Gee, thanks for inviting Harry when we're right here, Ron,' said Y/N.
'Well, you guys can come too obviously,' said Ron quickly, but he stopped as he saw the smirk on Y/N's face.
'I got to them first, Ron,' said Ginny. 'I invited them to stay over a month ago. The night Y/N gave you that actually,' she said, pointing to the now healed over scar on Ron's cheek.
'Nice to know he slices my face, and you invite him to Quidditch.'
'If I get his stomach, can I come to Sunday Lunch?' asked Y/N.
'Speaking of actually,' said Ron. 'Where were my lessons?'
'About half-way between we told you so and shove it up your-'
'Yeah right okay,' said Ron begrudgingly. 'But next year?'
'We'll see,' said Y/N, 'though you may be asking Harry for them soon. He's already getting close to where I am.'
Hermione lay herself down across the seat, her head in Y/N's lap and watched as the other four played exploding snap. She was invited to join several times, but seemed contented to just let Y/N stroke her hair between hands.
Then, as the afternoon rolled around, she spoke up.
'Harry? What's that outside your window?'
They all looked around and saw something very small and grey that seemed to keep appearing and disappearing out of site in the window. After a moment, Y/N saw a wing.
'It's an owl,' he said.
Harry moved over and attempted to grab the owl out of the air, it was so small it seemed to keep tumbling over, but he managed to catch it and bring it inside.
'There go those seeker reflexes again,' said Y/N.
The owl dropped a letter onto the seat and then began flying around and around above their heads, twittering madly. It seemed to be quite proud of itself. Hedwig clicked her beak at it and Ves was watching with narrowed eyes. Ron stood up and scooped the owl out of the air.
Harry scooped up the letter and then called, 'it's from Sirius!'
'What does it say?' said Hermione excitedly from Y/N's lap.
Harry slid the letter open and read aloud.
'Dear Harry,
I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post. Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted. There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt-'
Y/N and Hermione high fived.
'Yeah yeah alright,' said Harry with a half-smile. 'He wasn't exactly trying to kill me though, was he?'
'Ah yes, because we were well aware of that at the time. Keep reading,' said Y/N.
'Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name, but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather. I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you. I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.
If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me.
I'll write again soon.
Sirius.'
Harry shoved his hand back inside the envelope and pulled out what looked like a small scrap of paper.
'I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.'
'That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!' said Harry happily as he glanced back at the letter. 'Wait, hang on, there's a P.S…'
'I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat.'
Ron's eyes widened and he looked down at the tiny little pygmy owl clutched in his hand, it was still hooting very excitedly and had been the entire time.
'Keep him?' said Ron, sounding uncertain. He looked down at the owl and then held it out to Crookshanks.
'What do you reckon?' he asked. 'Definitely an owl?'
Crookshanks purred.
'That's good enough for me! He's mine!'
'I think I like this new Ron and it's scaring me,' Y/N whispered to Ginny, and she giggled.
The train pulled into the station not long after and together, the five of them made their way back out onto the platform proper. Ginny immediately turned to Y/N and Hermione.
'I'll be in touch about when you're coming. Like I said, I'd like to get you around early, but it's not for another month yet and I dare say you'll want some time to yourselves. I'll let you know once I do,' and she hugged both of them.
'Of course,' said Y/N, 'and if you ever need a break.' He pushed a small pouch of floo powder into her hands. 'My address is on the inside, just come visit.' Ginny beamed and then hurried off. Y/N turned to Hermione, but she shook her head.
'Not goodbye yet, come on,' and she seized his hand, pulling him over to where Mr and Mrs Granger stood.
'Well. Whilst we've been properly introduced, we haven't seen each other since you two became an item. Are you looking after her?' asked Mr Granger.
'With every fibre of my being, sir,' said Y/N. 'She's been getting annoyed at how good of a job I've been doing.'
Hermione smacked his arm, which caused both of the Grangers to laugh.
'We wanted to invite you to stay with us for a while,' said Mrs Granger. 'You and your mother are always so kind to be looking after Hermione, and she's told us your mother works at the school. We'd be happy to have you around for a few weeks if it helped her out.'
'What do you reckon?' said Y/N, turning to Hermione. 'Think you can put up with me for a bit longer?'
'I dare say I'll survive,' smirked Hermione.
'Then I happily accept. Thank you for your hospitality,' said Y/N with a very slight bow.
'No need to be so formal with us, young man,' said Mr Granger jovially, clapping him on the back. 'Just y'know, don't break her heart, and we'll have no problems.'
'I have no intention of ever doing that, sir,' said Y/N, wrapping his arm around her. 'She means too much to me for that.'
'I'll write to you as soon as I'm back. We'll arrange a day,' said Hermione as her parents moved off so they could say their goodbyes. 'I don't know how long you want to stay for, but I'm happy to have you until the world cup. Obviously I don't want you to get sick of me or spend too much time together but-'
This time it was his turn to silence her with a kiss.
'Right, yeah, sorry,' she said once they'd pulled away.
'I'll never get sick of you. Let me know when and I'll speak to mum. I doubt she'll mind,' said Y/N. 'Safe trip back and I'll speak to you later.'
Hermione nodded and threw her arms around his neck.
'I love you.'
'Love you too.'
And with a wave she was gone, running along after her parents. Y/N sank onto his usual bench by the wall and closed his eyes. He had a feeling that if he counted the minutes since the train had arrived, he'd be able to count her in.
And it was definitely around the usual time when he heard someone clear their throat nearby.
'Like clockwork, mother,' smirked Y/N as he looked up at her.
She simply shook her head at him.
'One of these days, you're going to get yourself into serious trouble, Y/N.'
'We've had enough Sirius for one year, mum. I think I'm good.'
(A/N: Well, that's all for this one folks. As I said in the beginning for those who read it, this book was quite difficult for me to write but I did my best to turn it into my own, and in the end, I'm at least satisfied with the outcome. Even if the road to get here was a bit bumpy.
Next up, Goblet of Fire. Goblet of Fire will majorly twist away from what I've done so far. I'll cover it more in that books introduction but expect new characters, new concepts, new spells, and new drama. So far, it has been the Harry Potter story from Y/N's point of view. From Goblet onwards it will be Y/N's story. More about his family, his future, and his capabilities. Though as always, I will not be stripping Harry of his story. For example, Y/N will not be a champion in the tournament. For those this disappoints I'm sorry. But he will have things going on unique to him instead, so please at least give me a chance
Hope you're all excited and thank you again for all the love and support you all give these stories. It honestly means the world to me. These got so much bigger than I ever thought they would and you're all amazing. I love you all, and I'll speak to you again soon
ArcanicScrolls)
P.S - I messed up! I accidentally forgot to upload one of the final chapters! For those who read the story over the last few weeks I am very sorry! Chapters 17, 18, and 19 are all now correctly uploaded and in the right order
