Y/N's eyes were closed. His mind empty. The tendrils were wandering outwards away from him, gripping the boundary around his house. Drawing on it, feeling its way through.

He felt an ache begin to form in his temple but pushed it aside. He'd deal with the consequences of that later. He separated out the enchantments again. He'd gotten to number fifteen last time. It was time for number sixteen.

He imagined flicking through them like pieces of paper in a filing cabinet. The one's he already knew of simply flashed by in his mind. Then he arrived at the one that he needed.

He pushed the rest out of his mind. They didn't matter right now. He focused all his effort on this one spell, tracing through its outline.

And much as he was now semi-used to, the image of Minerva McGonagall swam into view. And again, standing alongside her was that shapeless figure, wand also raised. It looked human, they were about the same height as Minerva, but had no other discernible features. Y/N had guessed that this was most likely the old occupant of the other room, the one Hermione stayed in. But he did not want to press for the answer to that point, lest his mum find out what he was doing.

He watched her wand trace through the air downwards whilst her other hand was held up, palm out.

'Salvio Hexia.'

The image left his view. It was only a matter of seconds, but it was long enough. Y/N opened his eyes and turned back to the parchment on his desk, noting down the incantation and wand movement before snapping off a piece of the chocolate resting on the desk next to him and placing it in his mouth with a sigh.

It had taken a while for Y/N to figure out that he could do this. Not long after he'd arrived back home, he'd begun experimenting with his sense to see how far he could stretch it. How much he could draw from the enchantments that he knew surrounded his house. He'd felt a feeling of familiarity with one of them. He recognised it as the shield charm, but a different iteration. Stronger even than the Protego Duo he'd been contesting the year before against Remus.

He'd followed the thread, investigating the spell and then an image had swum into mind. His mother, much younger than she was now, tracing her wand through the air before aiming it up into the sky.

'Protego Horribilis!'

A silvery beam had shot out of her wand and looked as though it was beginning to form a dome, but the vision faded not long after. The memory of it did not, however. Y/N noted down the spell at once and then began trying again and sure enough, as he focused on each spell, the image of the initial casting swam into view.

There were several in here that Y/N was now heavily looking for, though he was concerned that there was one he would not be able to find. The Fidelius charm.

He knew it was complex magic, knew it would take a lot for him to be able to perform it, but that didn't curb his interest in the spell. The idea of it intrigued him, not least of all because it guaranteed protection from unwanted eyes, though he also knew that Hermione, Dumbledore, Remus and the Weasley's once in a car had all visited him without direct permission from his mother. So, he doubted that the Fidelius charm was actually in place.

This didn't discourage him, however. These spells were guaranteed to be life savers should he ever have any use of them. And in a weird way he saw it as forward revision. His ability had gotten so used to these enchantments now that he could normally tick through three to four of them before he properly began to feel it, and even that was beginning to subside.

He heard a hoot from his wardrobe and quickly stuffed the piece of parchment into his desk draw just as his door opened.

'How are you getting along? Nearly packed?' asked Minerva as she stepped inside.

'Mostly,' said Y/N, glancing towards his trunk. 'Just need to get those last pair of jeans to dry. Washing everything muggle style is weird.'

'You're going to have to get used to it if you're staying with them for a couple of weeks,' said Minerva. 'You know full well you can't cast magic outside of the school. Not least of all in front of muggles, whether they're parents of a witch or not.'

'I know, don't worry. I think 'Mione would have my head off if I tried. Besides, I don't want to scare Mr and Mrs Granger. I get magic can be quite daunting for those without it.'

'It's going to be weird not having you around for the Summer,' said Minerva fondly, looking back at him, 'but I suppose you had to grow up someday.'

'It's not like I'm moving out,' said Y/N. 'And besides, you've said already that you could do with the time. The Tournament is hardly going to arrange itself.'

'No,' said Minerva with a sigh, 'but I do wish that it would. It's beginning to become more laborious than hiring Professor Lockhart was.'

'I thought Mr Bagman was handling most of it?'

'He was, until Karkaroff decided he didn't like the idea of coming to Hogwarts despite that being the arrangement for the past 9 months. Now he's been trying to overwrite all our plans by sending us to Durmstrang. I think Ludo got a bit snappish with him, so Mr Crouch had to take over.'

'Ah,' said Y/N. 'And obviously that means-'

'That everything is being checked half a dozen times to make sure it is up to the Ministry's standard. Yes,' said Minerva with a sigh. 'Honestly, you'd think the school hadn't been running for almost a millennia with the way he checks things.'

'Can't say I'm looking forward to meeting him. Sounds like a bossier version of Percy and that's saying something.'

'Yes, well, Percy Weasley at least respected the authority alongside or above him. Always did as a teacher asked. Mr Crouch, however, waves documentation around stating that he may go and do as he pleases. The only ones who can technically order him away are Dumbledore and Fudge, and I suppose he's there to do his job at the end of the day.'

'You just don't have to like it,' smirked Y/N.

'Well. They'll most likely be dry within a couple of hours,' said Minerva, her eyes on the sun blazing through Y/N's window, 'so once they are, get them packed up. You hardly want to keep the Grangers waiting when they've so kindly offered to pick you up.'

'No of course not. I'll get on it as soon as they're done,' said Y/N and with a nod, Minerva swept from the room.

Y/N had not yet told any of his friends about the upcoming Triwizard Tournament. He wanted to wait until he was in person with Hermione to tell her and, quite surprisingly, he'd received a P.S at the bottom of Ginny's first letter to him over the summer from Mrs Weasley asking him not to tell any of their family. Apparently, they wanted to keep it a secret. Y/N had assumed this by extension led to Harry, as Harry would undoubtedly tell Ron.

He just hoped telling Hermione wouldn't be a mistake. She'd already failed to keep one of their most important secrets, the Time-Turner, quiet from Ginny the year prior.

'Appreciate the heads-up, girl,' Y/N called to the wardrobe, and Ves gave another soft hoot before snatching the owl treat he threw to her out of the air.

Y/N knew he shouldn't be toying with the magic the way he was, not least of all because all it would take is one wrong move and he'd be passed out on his desk, but he was being careful and saw no harm in some quiet exploration. However, after he'd been almost caught twice, he'd persuaded Ves to perch as subtly and as close to the door as she could to overhear when his mother was approaching.

Luckily, this had happened less as the week progressed.

Y/N had only actually been home for twelve days. They were closing on late afternoon of the Friday the week after they'd gone home for the summer. Hermione had written to him in their shared journals within a couple of hours of their departure at Kings Cross. Y/N figured it was after she'd manage to make it home.

Her message was detailing everything they needed to discuss for Y/N making a visit to the Granger household. How long they were happy to have Y/N for, where he'd be staying, asking what food he liked, any places he may like to visit and anything in between. It was almost like a checklist.

The two of them had discussed back and forth and agreed that Hermione's parents would pick him up on the Monday of the third week from The Leaky Cauldron. Then had come the news about the tournament.

Minerva had not been expecting to get so caught up in the preparations for the tournament. She'd told Y/N about the plans for it the first evening they'd been back, but stated that she no doubt would only be needed in an advisory sense.

But once the tide began to sweep her away there was no coming back. Minerva was being asked to help with more and more preparations, as were the rest of the staff and many different hands within the Ministry. Y/N wasn't even sure what they were preparing for, but Minerva was getting calls all hours of the day and needing to go dashing away.

Y/N remembered writing a sentence casually to Hermione alongside a different conversation.

'Mums getting super busy by the way. Lots of big things going on at Hogwarts next year. I'll explain more when I see you but she's going to be tearing her hair out.'

Only to be bombarded by replies from Hermione speaking about taking some pressure off her. Finally, they'd agreed that instead the Grangers would pick Y/N up on the Saturday and he'd stay with them for just over two weeks, until they made their trip to the burrow in the first week of August.

Y/N was not keen on the idea of staying at the Burrow. He liked the Weasleys, but they were a large family by normal means. And then with the cup around the corner, Ginny had already told him about the arrival of her brothers Charlie and Bill, putting their numbers up to 9. And with Harry, Hermione and Y/N thrown into the mix, it was going to be very close living for a while. Which he was not used too. Y/N enjoyed having the space.

'I can survive for a while,' he said, 'as long as Ron doesn't barge my door down first thing. That's assuming I'm not in the same room as him.' and he grimaced.

Thunk.

'I swear to Merlin, that owl is going to get itself killed,' said Y/N, spinning towards his window and cracking it open slightly so that the small Scoops owl could soar inside.

Pigwidgeon had been given to Ron at the end of last year by Sirius after the fiasco with Scabbers. Ron had only had the owl for a few short days when it had taken to its new name courtesy of Ginny, Ron's younger sister and Y/N's best friend outside of Hermione. She had found the name and believed it was cute. She'd then proceeded to use it so often, Pigwidgeon would not respond to anything else.

It dropped the letter it had been carrying on his desk, twittering madly. Y/N squeezed the silver tail of the ring around his finger and allowed the phoenix ring he'd named Pippa to take to the skies to entertain the Scoops owl whilst he slid open the letter and read.

'Dear Y/N

What aren't you telling me! Mum, Charlie, and Bill have all been hinting at something now since we got back! They keep saying it's happening at Hogwarts! Your mum's Deputy Headmistress so she must know! Get it out of her and tell us once you arrive. It's driving me mad having them act so knowing and I know Fred and George are the same.

Anyway, happier note. Hi! Sorry, needed to get that out. I really hope you're enjoying your holidays and sorry about whatever my mum put on that last letter. She demanded she had something to tell your mum, hope it wasn't anything bad. Things are loud here, much louder than I'm used to, but it's nice to have everyone back together. I know mum and dad are stressing about rooms though. That's actually the main reason I'm writing to you. They're thinking about where to try and put you. Harry will go with Ron and Hermione with me, but obviously you don't fully get along with Ron and Fred and George are already going to be in there. And four people in that room is already pushing it. That leaves you with either Bill and Charlie or me and Hermione.

I'm happy to have you in my room, but just please can you and Hermione just not… with any of your coupley stuff? Like the standard stuff I don't mind but… I'm sure you get what I mean. I trust you both enough but I just need to make sure. If you aren't comfortable, let me know and we'll arrange something else, but that seems like the best plan at the moment.

Can't wait to see you both and say hi to Hermione for me!

Lots of love

Ginny.

Y/N let out a breath. Sharing a room with Hermione? That would be new. They'd slept together on the sofa in the Common Room before and occasionally sat by the side of the other if one was in the Hospital Wing, but that was about the length of it. But they'd never shared a bed to sleep…

And they probably wouldn't. Mr and Mrs Weasley would put in another bed, right? He'd probably be up the other end to the girls just to keep the distance. He could go change in another room, it's fine, it wouldn't be awkward.

'Oh good lord it's going to be awkward,' said Y/N.

He quickly scrawled a response back to Ginny stating that he was fine with that arrangement and making absolutely no comment on the first point before tying it to Pigwidgeon and sending him back out the window.

'Really is an odd name,' said Y/N, staring after the Scoops Owl as Pippa wrapped around his finger again with a gentle cry. 'I do wonder how Ginny found it.' Ves clicked her beak. 'Nah your names brilliant! Vesper! It's got a certain mystery to it, don't you think?'

Ves threw him a look.

'I can start calling you Pigwidgeon if you want?'

Twenty minutes later and he was still nursing the slightly bleeding beak mark on his finger.

'Since when did you get so bitey?' he asked the barn owl, who simply hooted and then fluttered down next to him. She looked somewhat apologetic.

'Hey, don't go getting all soft on me now,' he said soppily as he scratched under her chin. 'That tough exterior is what makes you. Lose that and I might not be so afraid.'

Ves gave a gentle hoot and then fluttered back off on top of the wardrobe to keep watch. Y/N pressed his fingers against his palm and then suddenly realised he wasn't wearing his holster.

'Ah, yeah,' he said, looking over to where it sat on his bedside table. 'Can't do magic. Almost forgot that.'

It felt oddly naked without his holster. It'd been such a life saver even in the few months since he'd gotten it from Remus that he was just used to having it. Even if he had his wand in his pocket, he didn't think he'd feel as safe. The pressure on his fingers wasn't there.

'People like getting me things I can wear,' he said, fiddling absent-mindedly with the "brother" bracelet that hung around his wrist, his mind distracted.

Remus had promised he'd write. Promised that once he got to wherever he was going next, he'd speak to Y/N. Let him know where and how he was. And yet Y/N had heard nothing. He understood, of course. Remus was no doubt still on the move, possibly either looking for work or just for a place to stay until he could manage to write something, but it didn't stop the pang he felt when he thought about his old Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.

'I'll give him another week. If I don't hear from him, then I'll write to him. I just hope he doesn't ignore me,' said Y/N as he got up and made his way outside. He returned a few moments later with the last pair of muggle jeans he'd bought and stuffed them into his trunk.

Going muggle shopping had been a very odd experience. With wizards, it was easy. Mostly just differently coloured robes depending on the occasion or dress-robes if you had to go to something fancy. Y/N was already aware that he'd need to get some for the coming year courtesy of the Yule Ball.

But muggles could not make things more complicated. They had several different "styles", some of which were considered acceptable whilst others weren't. Then they had different styles for male and female, then adults versus children, spring versus winter. Then different cultures had theirs thrown into the mix. It was a very good thing that he'd gone with Minerva as she simply picked up clothes that she said would work together and suit him before dragging him onto the next store.

Y/N didn't really feel like walking around the Granger household in his robes, doubly so if half of the plans Hermione excitedly wrote to him about were going to happen.

Speaking of.

Y/N got to his feet and headed next door where he knocked gently on the door to his mother's study. The door swung open, and he stepped inside.

'Yes Y/N? What can I help you with?'

'I was wondering… dress robes. You kind of decided what suited me and what didn't when we were muggle shopping and I liked most of what you chose. Can you help me pick for the Yule Ball as well? I'd like to look good.'

'Of course, Y/N. In fact, I already know of some that I can place on special order that I think will suit you wonderfully. Obviously if you disagree, feel free to change your mind once they arrive. The main reason is the style of them. I assume you know the colour change charm?' Y/N nodded. 'Then there should be no problem. I'll have them sent straight along to you once they're ready.'

'Brilliant! Thanks mum. That's one less weight off my mind.' and with a smile he exited her study.

The rest of the evening blazed by, with Y/N doing a mix of revising for his lessons and spells the following year and packing up the remained of his belongings.

He didn't dare risk toying with the enchantments again. Not yet. He'd have next summer to do it properly. He didn't want to overwork his ability the day before he went to visit Hermione. She'd tear through him worse than his mother ever could.

'Reckon the Quidditch World Cups going to have protective charms?' he said absent-mindedly to Vesper. 'I'm sure the Burrow will, maybe I can get some new ideas from there.'

He and Hermione wrote one final message back and forth confirming that they'd be meeting at 11am the following day in the Leaky Cauldron and bidding each other good night. Y/N folded closed the journal and nudged it away from him.

His heart was pounding, and he didn't know if he'd be able to sleep. This time tomorrow, he'd be at the Granger's house. It shouldn't be as scary as it felt like it was going to be, but in a weird way, he felt like he had to impress. Hermione meant the world to him and if he made a bad impression on her parents, he felt like he'd be risking a lot. He didn't want her to hate him just because her family did.

Sitting with his thoughts wasn't a good idea. So instead, he turned his mind now onto his journal, then an idea struck him. He'd been telling himself all evening not to do this, but he couldn't help it. He had to know. He sat up and pulled the book towards him, slowly thumbing through the pages with his eyes closed and mind focused, his mind combing through it. Somewhere. Somewhere…. There!

He felt it as he hit the halfway point through the journal. It did worry him how little effort it took to get there. The journal had over 1000 pages, and he and Hermione had used over 400 already. At least he knew how to clear them. Different matter, one for another time.

He ran an imaginary finger along the enchantment, toying with it. Experimenting. Then, the image came swimming into view. His mum was sitting at her desk in her study at Hogwarts, the diary open in front of her. A paperweight sat on the side to ensure it remained open as she traced her wand through the air. It was a complex movement, one that he tried to put to memory as best as he could. Then, with a final flourish, she pointed her wand at the book. The next part caught him off guard, however.

His mum had clearly cast the spell non-verbally. Her mouth did not move as the spell took effect and he saw it begin to take effect as the pages rippled. In the very corner of the vision, he saw the outline of a similar shaped book doing the same. But he did not hear the incantation. Instead, he saw it.

As though someone had simply reached into Minerva's brain and withdrew the word, it floated lazily forward.

'Exemplum.'

His mind snapped back, and he shook his head. It pulsed dangerously, but held together as he fumbled with and snapped off another piece of chocolate. It wasn't the best he'd done, and it seemed to have taken more out of him. He wondered if that's because it had been non-verbal, and he'd had to pull the incantation a different way. But no matter. He'd managed it, and now knew that he could.

'This should put me to sleep,' he muttered, rubbing his head lightly as he slipped out of the chair at his desk and withdrew the last set of clothes from his wardrobe. His pyjamas. He got changed and staggered into bed, but he simply sat there staring ahead.

The words Dumbledore had spoken to him before his first year rang through his head.

'Do please remember Y/N. You will never be free of all of it, I believe the headaches will most likely be your trigger. But once you've mastered it, you'll find they lessen. Your father even said that sometimes he could sense the spell that had been cast on the item in question. It's about learning to live with it, not fighting it.'

He even said that sometimes he could sense the spell?

Is this what he meant? This felt like more than sometimes. Y/N hadn't yet found a spell he couldn't sense. He couldn't do too many at once admittedly, but it wasn't exactly difficult to just sense specifics. Maybe his dad didn't know how to? Maybe his dad lied? It wasn't really something he could ask him.

His mind wandered instead onto his mother, Maria. He wondered whether she knew anything about his ability. Whether she'd seen his dad use it. Surely she must have? He highly doubted they went for so many years without him ever showing it. Hermione found out on the second day they'd spent together.

'I did that to make sure I slept,' he said defiantly as he lay back in bed. And yet, even as sleep swept through his bones and he felt his mind drift off, he couldn't stop the thoughts from chasing each other through his mind.

Which meant he was even more surprised when he awoke the next morning without having the dream. In fact, it was mildly frustrating. He wanted to have it again. The last time it had happened, he'd learnt so much more than any of the other times. But now that he was strong enough to gleam even more, he was being denied.

But did he truly want to know more? He knew what had happened to his father and had some inclination as to who had done it. Did he really need more than that? Did he really need to watch his father die over and over in the vain hope that he got one more breadcrumb of information?

Wallowing wouldn't do him any favours. Y/N got to his feet and seized the handle of his trunk, dragging it and Ves' cage downstairs. She wasn't back from her night-time hunt yet, but Y/N wasn't worried, she knew where to go if he wasn't there when she got back. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she'd gotten there before him.

It wasn't long before Minerva stepped out of the fireplace, dusting herself and moving over to join Y/N for breakfast.

'You sure you've got everything?' she asked, as she took her seat opposite him.

'Fairly sure. Don't think there's even anything left in the room. Bar your books, of course.'

'You mean the one's you're done with,' smirked Minerva.

'They're interesting, okay? Excuse me for being interested in magic!'

'I suppose I can let you off,' said Minerva with a slight chuckle. 'At least let me know how things are going, won't you? I'm not saying write daily, but at least let me know.'

'Of course!' said Y/N. 'I'm really sorry you can't come to the World Cup with us.' but Minerva shook her head.

'If I wanted to get tickets, I could. The Tournament is taking too much of our focus. I could hardly afford the day off. The only reason Mr Crouch and Bagman get it are because Mr Crouch is heading Muggle Liaison.'

'And Mr Bagman?'

'He'd give himself a day off in the middle of a crisis,' said Minerva with an air of intense disapproval. 'Unreliable and childish, but he has the people behind him thanks to his Quidditch years. Not much can be done.'

They spent the next hour or so chatting about the upcoming tournament before Minerva glanced at the clock and got to her feet.

'Well, you've got about twenty minutes before they're due to arrive,' said Minerva.

'Right,' said Y/N, taking a deep breath. It was only the Grangers.

'You'll be fine,' said Minerva, pulling him into hug. 'Hermione thinks the world of you, and I'm sure her parents will feel much the same. People have a hard time disliking our family.'

Y/N laughed and hugged her back, before grabbing his trunk and Ves' cage.

'I'll see you soon, mum. Try not to break the other judges before we get to the Castle.'

'I can't promise that, Y/N,' said Minerva and, with a chuckle and wave, Y/N stepped into the emerald green flames.

'Ah Y/N! A pleasure!' said Tom the barman as Y/N stepped out into the pub. 'Got time for a drink?'

'I think so,' said Y/N, glancing around the pub quickly and, once he'd confirmed Hermione wasn't there, he shuffled over.

'So what's the rush?' said Tom, pushing a drink towards him and raising his hand in refusal as Y/N went for his money pouch.

'Going to stay with Hermione. You remember her? The bushy haired girl?'

'Ah yes,' said Tom. 'Is she your girlfriend then or simply a good friend?'

'Girlfriend,' said Y/N brightly. 'As of last summer. She's already been to stay with us, but her parents offered this summer and with mum being so busy with the Triwizard Tournament, it made sense.'

'I did hear a rumour that it may be being hosted at Hogwarts this year. So it's true?'

'You hear rumours about everything, Tom,' smirked Y/N. 'Nothing gets past you. Yep, they're in the middle of arranging things at the moment. Hit a couple of snags hence no public announcement yet, but most of the parents know. Parents with kids who come of age this year at least. No one under 17 is being allowed in.'

'Well I'm happy for you,' said Tom, 'for both. Remember you telling me about how lonely it was at home so I'm glad you've found someone. And I'm happy to get to see the tournament in action again. It's meant to be legendary.'

Y/N spent the next ten minutes or so chatting with Tom about random nonsense before he saw the bartenders face crack into a smirk.

'What?' said Y/N. 'Have I got something in my teeth?'

He picked up his glass and began examining his reflection just in time to see something brown move around behind him-

-before being almost yanked backwards off his stool into a strong pair of arms.

'Got ya!' trilled Hermione as she clung to him.

'Breath… 'Mione- please!'

'Oh! Sorry…' said Hermione meekly as she released Y/N and he coughed, before his face cracked into an evil smirk and he seized her.

'Got ya!' he called victoriously.

'That's not fair! You can't pretend you're choking and then do that!' said Hermione, pouting slightly.

'I can and I did. You need to work on your poker face, Tom,' said Y/N, looking over his shoulder at the bartender who simply shrugged. He released Hermione who turned to face him, arms crossed and with an extremely grumpy look on her face.

'That doesn't help you,' said Y/N, leaning in and kissing her cheek. 'You just look adorable.'

Her eyes narrowed, but then she simply giggled and flung her arms around him again.

'Ready to go?'

'Think so,' said Y/N, looking down at his trunk and cage. 'If not, then I'm sure mum can send it along.'

'Where's Ves?'

'Somewhere out there,' said Y/N, gesturing vaguely. 'She was out hunting when I left so she'll be back soon. She may even be waiting for us when we get back to yours.'

'Come on then!' she said brightly. Hermione scooped up the empty cage and Y/N grabbed his suitcase and, with a final wave to Tom, he made his exit from the pub onto the muggle street outside.

There he saw Mr and Mrs Granger waiting around a car. They smiled happily as they saw the two of them approaching and Mr Granger stepped forward to help Y/N load his trunk into the boot.

'Pleasure to see you again, Y/N,' he said brightly, shaking Y/N's hand. 'You ever been in a car before?'

'Surprisingly yes,' said Y/N. 'Even driven one, but not on the ground. It could fly.'

Mr Granger looked at him as though he couldn't tell whether it was a joke or not.

'He genuinely did, dad,' said Hermione with a half-smile. 'You remember Mr Weasley? He had an enchanted car, it can fly.'

'It lives in the forest by the school now,' said Y/N matter-of-factly.

'The tales that come from your time in that school sound like something out of a fantasy story,' smiled Mrs Granger.

'To be honest, it feels like a fantasy story on certain days,' said Y/N as he turned to look at Hermione, 'but I wouldn't trade it in for the world.'