'So when I'm running away you know the tripping jinx, but when we're chasing the twins you just happened to forget.'

'You just went! What else was I meant to do? It was all I could do to even keep up!'

'You managed fine on me in first year.'

'You weren't that fast in first year! Plus, you had my diary.'

'Ahhh, so you didn't trip them because they didn't do anything to you?'

The two of them glared at each other. Then both their faces cracked into wide smiles and they fell into a laughing fit.

'You two are hopeless,' smirked Ginny.

'Ahh well, I'll catch up to them eventually,' said Y/N, pulling Hermione into a hug. 'What's next on the agenda?'

'Ancient Runes homework,' she said, looking up at him, 'Professor Babbling wants it by Monday.'

'Right, cool, yeah. Hey Ginny, how's Flipendo going? You want a lesson?'

'Y/N!'

'What? Ginny needs help with the spell, don't you?'

'Actually, I could do with it if you're willing to offer. But don't go failing your homework on my account. Not least of all cause Hermione looks ready to murder you.'

'She doesn't mind, do you?' he added looking down at her only to be met by a glaring pair of eyes.

'You're lucky she actually needs help,' grumbled Hermione. 'Come on, let's go find an empty classroom.'

The three of them made their way up to the second floor where they found an empty classroom that was sometimes used for Herbology if the greenhouses were unreachable. Hermione waved her wand as they entered, and the loose desks and chairs all slid up against the walls. Another wave and one set came back which she settled herself on.

'Right then,' said Y/N, drawing his wand and turning to face Ginny. 'How many times have you managed it so far?'

'I haven't,' said Ginny as she drew her own, 'Hence asking for your help.'

'Let's test fundamentals then,' said Y/N, waving his wand so one of the tables came soaring towards him, sliding to a stop in front. He placed his wand down on it and stepped back. 'Levitate it.'

Ginny narrowed her eyes at Y/N's wand. 'Wingardium Leviosa,' she said, waving her wand at Y/N's. It didn't move

'Right, good start. Couple of points,' said Y/N, wandering around behind her and placing his arms on her shoulders. 'Feet in line with my hands, you want a solid stance. Next, swish and flick-' he reached around her and grabbed her arm and guided her hand in the movement.

'-low steady curve through the air with a sharp drop at the end, sharp drop should end pointing at whatever you want to levitate. Finally Win-garrrr-dium Leviosa. Make the gar nice and long.'

Ginny nodded and took a deep breath.

'Good, again.'

'Wingardium Leviosa!'

Ginny's aim was off, it landed slightly right of where the wand lay, but the wand wobbled a little bit all the same.

'Much better and much closer,' said Y/N, stepping back over to where his wand lay and readjusting it. 'Your aim was slightly off. Once more. Focus and take your time.'

'Wingardium Leviosa!' Ginny cried again.

This time her aim was on point and Y/N's wand began to hover slightly off the desk. Y/N snatched it up as Hermione burst into applause. Ginny beamed.

'Atta girl!' he called. 'Confidence is everything in spellcasting. If you don't think you're going to do it, you aren't going to.'

'Who made you so wise in the ways of spells, Y/N?' smirked Ginny.

'Professor Lupin. Now whilst you may not have had a proper first year, that's still first year magic. Which means we're going up a level- Um…. Yes?' he added with a raised eyebrow as he turned to look at Hermione, who had her hand in the air.

'Well you're being a teacher, thought it was only fair,' she shrugged.

Y/N shook his head and then said, 'Well then yes, Miss Granger?'

'Ginny didn't get a proper first year just like you said. So, wouldn't it be best to teach her some more spells from first year? The teachers don't expect her to know everything straight away and it'll allow you to build up her foundation instead of just leaping in with the hard stuff. This doesn't have to be the only time we do this.'

'What do you think, Ginny?' asked Y/N, turning back towards her.

'It wouldn't hurt, if anything it would make it so that I need to take my extra classes less. I could catch up with this year's stuff separately.'

'Well then excellent suggestion, Miss Granger,' said Y/N with a nod to Hermione, who blushed so intensely she almost matched her scarlet robes. 'You alright?' he added.

'You know what she's like around teachers,' smirked Ginny, 'Now her boyfriend is the teacher. She'll be living for this.'

'Shut up Ginny!' came Hermione's muffled voice as she hid her face under her robes.

'Well,' interrupted Y/N as Ginny opened her mouth to retort, 'For today we'll focus on the initial point, but for next time I'll have something more solid ready for you. So next up, disarming. Technically not a Hogwarts lesson but probably the only good thing Tom pulled off last year.'

'Stop calling him Tom!' called both girls in unison.

'Can't make me,' said Y/N as he waved his wand and the table he'd been using slid back against the wall. 'Now, watch and learn.' He raised his wand and turned it on Ginny.

'Wait-!'

'Expelliarmus!' he waved his wand and Ginny's went soaring out of her hand, it flew through the air and Y/N caught it.

'I was going to say I already know that one,' grumbled Ginny as she stepped forward to take her wand back.

'Then you no longer have an excuse as to why that worked. Hermione, front and centre for me.'

Hermione sprung to her feet at once and moved up next to him.

'You're both going to practice it. I already know Hermione can do it-' his brain flashed back to the memory of her kiss on his cheek after the duelling club, he felt his face getting hot '-but I haven't see you pull it off yet,' he added quickly. 'On my count, 3, 2, 1.'

'Expelliarmus!' cried Ginny

If he hadn't had been watching Hermione, he would have missed it. But Ginny's spell soared across the room towards her and seemed to connect, but a split-second later Y/N saw a silvery something fade away from around Hermione.

'Thought you knew how to do it?' asked Y/N, turning towards Ginny whose mouth was hanging open.

'I do! I used it at the end of last year and it worked!'

'Well Hermione still seems to still have her wand,' said Y/N with a gesture at the bushy haired girl.

'Let me try again,' said Ginny, raising her wand.

Two more times Ginny tried and both times Hermione seemed unaffected once the spell hit, but a moment afterwards that same shimmer appeared.

'But I know it worked!' called Ginny, she was getting increasingly frustrated. 'Let me try it on you Y/N!'

'Alright,' said Y/N, moving over to take Hermione's place.

'Y/N wait-'

'Don't worry 'Mione. I'm sure I'll be fine.' And he threw her a wink whilst Ginny repositioned herself 'Count us in for me,' he added.

'3, 2, 1.'

'Protego,' muttered Y/N.

Ginny's spell collided… with the shield. The spell dispersed and Y/N was left standing and clutching his wand.

'Oh for Merlin's sake!' yelled Ginny.

'Language,' said Y/N stepping forward, 'Your stance is wrong. You're getting too frustrated. Here,' He readjusted her as Hermione took her position back in the other end. Their eyes connected. "Let it through" he mouthed, and she nodded. 'Calmer this time Gin. You're trying to disarm Hermione, not kill her. Angers good but not when you don't want to hurt the person.'

He counted them in, and this time Ginny's spell struck home, Hermione's wand went soaring out of her hand and Ginny caught it.

'There we go!' she called victoriously.

'Don't let your emotions rule you,' said Y/N with an approving nod. 'Use them to strengthen you, not control you.'

'You really are beginning to sound like a Professor,' smiled Ginny as she passed Hermione her wand back.

They proceeded through a few more rounds of disarming before they attempted the knockback jinx. It took Ginny a number of attempts but finally she managed to hit the table they'd dragged out with the spell and send it flying into the wall where it shattered.

'I did it!' she cried happily as Y/N repaired the desk.

'Very well-done Ginny!' called Hermione happily.

'You did brilliantly,' said Y/N proudly as Ginny paced excitedly.

'I've got to go show Luna. Thanks Y/N,' she ran forward and hugged him before breaking away and running out of the classroom.

'So, what did you think?' asked Y/N, turning to face Hermione.

'I think you made an incredible teacher,' she said.

'Well I just hope she got something out of it,' he said, staring towards the door.

'Of course she did. She cast the levitation charm, a disarming spell to rival Snape's on LOCKHART-' she deliberately emphasised his surname, '-and managed to pull off the knockback jinx all in around an hour.'

'Speaking of,' said Y/N raising an eyebrow, 'When did you pick up the shield charm?'

'I've been watching Lupin cast it in your lessons with him. I gave it a go the other week, took a couple of attempts but I managed it. Surprised you saw it, I tried to make it subtle.'

'We take an entire lesson dedicated to me being able to see it, 'Mione. Anyway,' he waved his wand and one of the desks and chairs soared across the room, pushing itself right up against where Hermione was sat, 'Shall we get this Runes homework done?'

()()()()()()

The next couple of weeks passed by simply enough. Y/N had a couple more lessons with Ginny, trying to help flesh out her knowledge of the first-year curriculum. Ron was still talking to Y/N and Hermione though distantly and only if he felt as though he had to. They all knew he was only doing it for Harry's sake. And Professor Lupin gave the duo some very odd news.

'I'm afraid our lessons the week after next won't be able to take place,' he said to both of them the final Thursday lesson before Halloween as they gathered their things to leave. 'I have some personal business to attend to outside of the school so will not be present for them.'

'What about your classes, professor?' asked Y/N, looking around at him.

'They will be taken by Professor Snape in my absence,' said Remus with a smile. 'I assure you he is quite capable,' he added when Y/N groaned.

'It's not him being capable that I'm worried about,' muttered Y/N, but Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled up at him reassuringly. 'Well, I hope whatever your business is goes well and you can get back to us quickly.'

'As do I, Y/N. And I trust both of you to be able to handle Severus. Keep up with your practice Y/N. it's imperative you do not fall behind. Even one week could be enough for us to lose a lot of the progress we've gained so far. Have Hermione help you, I dare say she's learnt the shield charm by now.'

Hermione nodded excitedly and smiled at Remus. Together the two of them exited.

'Wonder what kind of business he's got going on,' said Y/N as they walked back up the corridor towards the cupboard they used to turn back time and get to Potions.

'No idea,' said Hermione, pulling him inside and throwing the chain over both their necks, 'We can always ask him once we're back.'

Remus' excursion didn't stick in Y/N's brain for long however, he was now beginning to get slightly nervous. He'd never been on a date before. And, whilst he wouldn't admit it to Hermione, the idea of it was making him more nervous than confessing to her had. It felt like anything could go wrong at the drop of a hat.

On Friday evening, the quartet were all sat gathered around the fire talking about the Potions lesson with Snape the day prior, in which he had been particularly vindictive towards Dean Thomas, when a piece of paper hit Y/N on the side of the head. He leant down off the arm of Hermione's chair and picked it up. None of the others seemed to notice. He unrolled it quickly and read.

Fifth year boys dorm.

Y/N looked around the common room quickly and saw Lee Jordan give him a short nod before disappearing away up the dormitory staircase.

'Just need to go grab something from my dorm. Back in a moment.' And with that he slipped off the arm of Hermione's chair and up towards the dormitory stairs.

He climbed straight past where the third years slept and reached a door marked 'Fifth Years'. He gave a short knock before it was wrenched open and he was yanked inside.

'Damn Lee, trying to take my arm off?' asked Y/N, rubbing it gingerly as Lee snapped the door closed behind him.

'It's what they told me to do!' said Lee defensively, pointing across the room as Fred and George emerged from the shadows.

'If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were about to rob me,' said Y/N cautiously as the twins moved forward.

'Oh please, if we wanted to rob you, we'd have done it by now,' said Fred with a rather sinister laugh.

'Okay, so maybe you'd like to tell me what this is about then before I start getting concerned.'

'Ah right, yeah,' said George, waving his wand and three pieces of parchment soared into his hand. 'Plan for tomorrow. We can't have Ron with us at all times, we have some personal stuff to do. So, this is where we'll leave him.' And George passed Y/N one of the pieces.

'This is where we think you and Hermione will like to go. Lots of places for bookworms and lovey dovey sorts,' said Fred, handing over the second piece of parchment with a slight look of disgust. 'Plus, a few recommendations from us.'

'And this,' said George, holding up the third piece which was completely blank, 'Is for us. If he appears and starts tailing you two, write your location on it, it'll burn up and vanish but we'll receive it and come take him back off your hands.'

'Wow,' said Y/N, looking down at the parchments in his hand. 'You guys really thought of everything.'

'You helped us out a great deal, Y/N,' said Fred, clapping him on the back. 'Really didn't want Filch with that map. Would have been far too dangerous. Besides, we've got some plans for it, and you've helped put them back in motion.'

'If this all works out, I owe you all a butterbeer,' said Y/N, looking around at the three of them.

'It will work out mate. Have you seen how she looks at you?' said George.

'She's crazy for you mate, has been for years,' smirked Fred.

'They're completely right, Y/N,' added Lee.

'Well, besides the point,' said Y/N, fighting the heat rising in his face, 'I still appreciate it.'

With a final wave, Y/N slipped out of the fifth-year dormitory and moved back down to the third years, where he stowed all three pieces of parchment under his pillow. He'd be reading those this evening. Then, he made his way back downstairs.

Y/N lay awake for a long while that evening, he'd purposefully gone to bed early to give himself enough time to read over the notes, but even still it took some time to figure out exactly where and what Fred and George had marked, not least of all because he was needing to do it via the light of Pippa's eyes to avoid disturbing his fellow dormmates.

Even once he finally fell asleep, Y/N found himself waking often, his heart pounding or tossing and turning.

'It's only Hermione,' he told himself every time before rolling over and trying to get back to sleep. Finally, at around 6am, he simply conceded and headed downstairs to practice some more of his spell work.

Breakfast arrived as a semi-dreary affair. Whilst Ron and Hermione were excited to go down to the village, they did their best to hide it from Harry who looked miserable from the moment he arrived in the common room. Y/N didn't have to try particularly hard to hide any excitement. Most of it was being hidden under his fear anyway.

'We'll bring you back loads of sweets from Honeydukes,' said Hermione consolingly.

'Yeah, loads,' said Ron. 'Fred and George have even invited me to Zonko's with them, so I should be able to snag you some really good tricks.'

'Zonko's first, we can probably buy you around an hour there if we keep showing him stuff. He's easily entertained. Use it to show Hermione around. You'll want to be off the streets by the time we leave.'

Y/N ran over the parchment he'd received from the twins in his head.

'Don't worry about me,' said Harry in a false off-hand voice that Y/N saw straight through, 'I'll see you all at the feast, have a good time.'

The four of them made their way out into the Entrance Hall where they said their goodbyes to Harry then lined up, heading towards the front doors where Filch stood ticking off names on a list to make sure no one who shouldn't be going to Hogsmeade was leaving.

'So, Zonko's first,' said Ron the moment Harry was out of earshot, the excitement blossoming onto his face, 'Fred and George have promised to show us around, then I really want to go to the Three Broomsticks, apparently the butterbeer there is incredible. Then-'

They made their way slowly up the line with Ron listing off everywhere he wanted to go and what he wanted to do. Y/N and Hermione doing nothing more than exchanging glances and smirks as he did so. Finally Filch took their names, ticking them off and let them out into the Hogwarts grounds where Fred and George appeared seemingly out of nowhere and scooped Ron up by the arms.

'Borrowing our brother,' called Fred over his shoulder as they marched him down the path, 'you can have him back later.'

Hermione and Y/N both laughed and waved as the twins dragged Ron further away before setting off themselves. Hermione gave a sigh then wrapped herself around Y/N's arm as they walked.

'Been waiting for over a year now,' she said, 'Ever since that night in the Hospital Wing after Quirrell. Was always wondering when you were going to ask me.'

'You know you could have asked me. Didn't have to wait on me to do it. Also I tried, you're the one who said Sir Nick's deathday party didn't count,' said Y/N.

'I didn't know how you felt. You could have just seen me as a good friend. I left the option for you there to ask me if and when you wanted to. And it didn't. I wanted to make a big deal for it. That was just a spur of the moment dance.'

'Is that not a date? Well there go my plans,' said Y/N worriedly and Hermione smacked his arm. 'You left a lot of options for me. And made it fairly obvious how you felt in hindsight,' said Y/N, his hand drifting up to rest on his cheek.

'I wanted to know whether you felt the same. I didn't want to keep going along trying to guess. Then after I heard you in the carriage with Neville I knew that you did. After that I just had to get you to admit it. You took your time.'

'I told you, everything you did was obvious in hindsight. But I didn't realise until after your Valentines poem. That was when it clicked. It's all in the past now anyway. Let's just enjoy today together, yeah?'

'Of course,' she said happily squeezing his arm. 'Where to first?'

'Anywhere that isn't Zonko's,' smirked Y/N. 'How about we have a wander around, some window shopping, then after we can decide on somewhere more solid?'

And with that, the two finished their walk into Hogsmeade proper and gasped as they saw the bustling shop fronts and sea of students moving place to place.

Hermione immediately seized his hand and dragged Y/N off to the closest building which was a brownish grey and engraved over the door were the words 'Post Office'.

Upon crossing the threshold, Hermione gasped and Y/N let out an impressed 'Woah…'

Above them, hundreds and hundreds of owls sat resting on different pedestals, many of which were colour coded. They ranged from great grey owls all the way down into tiny little scoops owls which hopped around on the lower levels. There was a constant sound of rustling as the birds flew this way and that, some carrying letters, some returning. There was a rather friendly looking wizard behind the counter flicking through a large tome, and several more staff members wandering the floor or halfway up ladders tossing letters towards owls who swooped in and caught them with ease.

'This is amazing,' said Hermione, looking awestruck. 'You'd think they'd been doing it all their lives.'

'I sometimes forget how smart owls are,' said Y/N, looking at a couple of the nearby scoops hopping around each other with their wings held high behind their backs. 'It's quite incredible that they can be taught to do this.'

The duo made their way place to place. Hermione dragging Y/N in through almost every door available. To begin with he was keeping an eye out nervously for the twins and Ron, but after a while he couldn't help but get excited. It was their first time in the village, and on a date, he was allowed to enjoy it without worrying about Ron.

They visited Honeydukes, the sweet shop that held all sorts of odd creations with even weirder side effects. They scooped up a bag of stuff for Harry and Y/N grabbed a few extra to give to Ginny once they'd returned. She'd seemed upset about not being able to join them for the trip so hopefully this made up for it.

They also stopped by Dervish and Banges, a shop near the end of the high street that bought, modified, and resold muggle items and artifacts. There were quite a few interesting items in here, including Sneakoscopes much like the one Harry had that'd gone off before the Dementor arrived.

'Two major places left,' said Hermione as she counted shops off on her fingers. 'The Three Broomsticks and The Shrieking Shack.'

'Hold on,' said Y/N, reaching into his pocket and withdrawing the parchment he got from Fred and George. 'Ron and the twins are at the shack at the moment. Let's head to the Three Broomsticks.'

'Did they give you a timetable?' Hermione asked as they moved back off up the street.

'Yep. They gave me some shop recommendations and stuff too. Plus, some stuff for couples but I'm saving those for next time.'

'They may be troublemakers but it's hard to be mad at them,' said Hermione with a warm smile. 'They're always looking out for us.'

'They're like the big brothers I never had,' said Y/N, 'And Ginny the little sister. They've all always looked out for me, feels only fair that I return the favour.'

They wandered into The Three Broomsticks, Y/N gestured Hermione over to one of the empty tables as he walked up to the bar, where he was approached by the bartender, a curvy woman with a very pretty face.

'Anything I can get you, dear?'

'Um… yes, two butterbeers please?'

'First time in Hogsmeade?' she asked with a slight smile as she reached under the counter and pulled out two tankards. Y/N nodded. 'Well, I'm Madam Rosmerta. Owner of this fine establishment you find yourself in. If you need anything at all give me a shout, we've got bits for snacks if you get hungry and a menu if you want to look at other options.'

Y/N said his thanks and wandered back over to the table with Hermione and slid her drink towards her.

'Thanks Y/N. How much?' she asked, reaching for her coin purse.

'You owe me another date,' said Y/N as he took a swig of his drink, looking around the room. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him but when he didn't let up, she simply giggled and took a sip from her own. Her entire body seemed to relax and almost sink backwards into her chair.

'Wow… that really warms you up doesn't it?' she asked incredulously, looking first at the tankard and then at Y/N who nodded.

'Mum got me some last year, gave it to me after you got petrified, it's weird stuff. Wonderful, but weird.'

'I don't think we ever really spoke about that,' said Hermione, her voice softening slightly. 'Are you sure you're okay?'

Y/N opened his mouth and stopped himself, the image of his boggart swimming back into his mind's eye.

'No, no I'm not sure,' he said with a sigh, 'But I will be. I'll protect both of us, no Basilisk stopped me before and no Sirius Black, Voldemort, or anything else will stop me this time. As long as you're there,' he wrapped his hand around hers and she went red, but smiled at him and intertwined their fingers.

They continued talking for a while, hands interlocked before the door swung open and in walked a sea of red.

'Come on,' whispered Hermione as Fred and George marched a very embarrassed looking Ron up to the bar. 'We can slip out of here quickly.'

The two ducked and weaved around the tables and darted quickly out of the door of the pub. Hermione giggled and then held out her hand to Y/N, who took it and then felt as she wrapped herself around his entire arm, letting her head fall against it.

'Felt like some sort of Secret Agent,' she said happily as they began to climb the hill towards their final destination, the Shrieking Shack.

'Secret Agent?' asked Y/N with a raised eyebrow.

'You mean-? You've never-? But it's in all sorts of films and shows-'

'Hermione, I come from a wizard family remember?'

'Yes but you always seem to know far more than most wizards about these things.'

'That's because mum taught me the basics. Most of what I needed to know, how to talk to them, dress like them and stuff. She didn't give me the ins and outs of all their secrets.'

Hermione launched into a tale about governments and the secret groups of people that they apparently had working for them.

'They just sound like wizards,' said Y/N. 'Completely undetected, no one knows they exist, bypassing top muggle security with ease.'

'I… wait… you don't reckon they're actually wizards, do you?' she asked, suddenly looking curious.

'I think it's very possible. Explains a lot of what you just told me. They may not have even done it, just used memory charms to make the muggles think they had.'

'Oh my…' said Hermione distantly. She seemed lost in thought and was still staring into space as they arrived at the top of the pathway.

Over the fence and a short ways up the last stretch of the hill was an abandoned house. It's windows and doors were all boarded up but even still, the wind whistled through them sounding like whispers and eery moans carrying across the empty stretch towards him. Y/N could tell why it was called the Shrieking Shack.

'Hey, 'Mione' he said quietly. She shook herself slightly and looked straight ahead at the house and she let out a quiet gasp, pulling herself closer into his arm.

They stared at the house for a while in silence, listening to the wind howl around them. It wasn't exactly a windy day, but the shack seemed to amplify it.

'I was thinking… about what you said to Luna,' said Hermione suddenly, 'And earlier about Fred, George, and Ginny. About us all being like a family. I don't think I can see my life without you, Y/N. You've always been there, always been my support. It feels like I've known you forever and we only met two years ago.'

'I know what you mean,' said Y/N quietly, looking down at her wrapped around his arm, 'But I'm happy for it. My life is brilliant with you in it. I don't even want to imagine what it would be like if you weren't.'

She turned her head to look up at him, those big brown eyes full of warmth and adoration. They truly cared about each other. Y/N knew now that he'd made the right choice in telling her how he felt. This is the Hermione he wanted to know. His Best Friend and Girlfriend.

Neither of them realised they were doing it, both too lost in the other's eyes, their faces inched closer, their eyes closed.

Their lips connected. It was only fleeting, a second at most, and they broke apart. But neither pulled away, both were bright pink and Hermione giggled slightly, placing her forehead against his. Y/N placed a hand against her chin, tilting her head up, and looked into her eyes once more. Those lovely, dark brown eyes.

Their lips connected again, with more weight and for longer this time.

When the two broke apart again they didn't move away, but Y/N ran his thumb lightly along Hermione's cheek. She closed her eyes and gave a contented sigh.

'I could stay like this forever.'

'So could I,' said Y/N, 'But I think we're running out of time, I can see students going back.'

'I'll race you down the hill,' said Hermione and with a smirk. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and sprinted down the hill with Y/N running after her.

()()()()()()

'Where did you two go?' said Ron as he sat down in the common room across from Hermione and Y/N. Both of whom were still rather red in the face.

'Hogsmeade?' said Y/N with a raised eyebrow.

'You know what I meant! I didn't see you the entire time.'

'You were with your brothers, didn't want to interrupt that,' said Hermione at once. 'We were managing fine together. Picked up some stuff for Harry and got to see a lot of the village.'

'Oh! Did you go to-' and Ron immediately launched into just about every place up and down the high street.

'Back in a second,' Y/N whispered to Hermione and he slipped off the arm of her chair, moving over to where his red-haired friend sat looking slightly put out. 'Everything good?' he asked as he sat down.

'Oh, hey Y/N,' she said. 'Just sucks. Half the school was out at Hogsmeade today and I just had to sit here. Suppose I shouldn't be too mad cause I got a decent amount of work done. But still-' but she stopped as Y/N placed the large bag of sweets on the table in front of her, her mouth fell open as she looked at it.

'You didn't get to go so I thought I'd bring you some stuff back. Didn't really know what your favourite was so I just got you a little bit of everything.'

'Y/N I can't accept that,' she said trying to push the bag back towards him, but Y/N blocked it.

'Ginny, you make it sound like I've just put 1000 Galleons in front of you. Just take it and enjoy it, find out what your favourites are, let me know and I'll pick you some more up next time yeah?'

Ginny stared at the bag, then got to her feet and hugged Y/N.

'Thanks Y/N,' she said as she retook her seat. 'So, what did you all get up to?'

'We ditched Ron-' Y/N went into the story of his and Hermione's day out, but he stopped once he got to the Shrieking Shack. This had been the wrong move.

'And…?' asked Ginny, her eyes lighting up.

'We kissed,' Y/N whispered. Ginny squealed and Y/N immediately shushed her. 'Not so loud! Don't want all of Gryffindor knowing.'

'Sorry! It's just exciting! You two are adorable together!'

'Shut up,' Y/N hissed as a group of nearby girls looked around curiously. 'Save it till there's less people, or more of them being a lot louder.'

'I'm gonna ask her all about it,' Ginny whispered.

'If you do-' but Y/N was cut off as Hermione appeared at his shoulder.

'Everything okay?' she asked, looking between the smirking Ginny and red-faced Y/N.

'Oh yes, Y/N was just telling me about your visit to the shack.' Much to Y/N's surprise, Hermione gave a small giggle and whispered something to Ginny before seizing Y/N's hand and dragging him back over to where Ron was sitting, Harry had arrived in the time he had been speaking to Ginny.

Hermione sank back into the armchair they'd been sharing as Y/N perched himself on the arm and listened to Ron telling Harry about everywhere he'd been.

'What did you do?' Hermione asked once Ron had paused for breath. 'Did you get any work done?'

'No,' said Harry flatly. 'Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in.' and Harry told them all about Snape giving Lupin a goblet, that was apparently steaming, which Lupin drank without question. Harry was saying it could have been poisoned but Lupin had apparently asked Snape to make it.

'Lupin drank it? Is he mad?' Ron asked incredulously.

'Snape's hardly going to poison Remus in the castle, is he? And besides, we didn't trust Snape before and look where that got us,' said Y/N.

'We'd better go down,' said Hermione as she checked her watch, 'The feast'll be starting soon.'

They hurried out of the portrait hole and began making their way down the stairs.

'But like Y/N said,' said Hermione in a hushed whisper, 'if Snape was trying to poison Professor Lupin, he wouldn't do it in front of Harry or in the castle.'

'Yeah, maybe…' said Harry, sounding unconvinced.

They entered the Great Hall to see candle filled pumpkins hovering high overhead, clouds of bats fluttered around the room and many long orange streamers floated lazily through the air. Y/N and Hermione gasped as they entered and looked around in awe.

'It's not that different to last time,' said Harry.

'We haven't done one of these before, remember Harry?' said Y/N as they walked over to the Gryffindor table. 'Me and Hermione missed both thanks to the ghost party and the troll.'

The feast was magnificent and was a wonderful end to what had been an amazing day. Even with Ron and Harry making snide comments at how much Y/N and Hermione kept smirking at each other.

'They're just jealous that they didn't get to kiss a pretty girl today,' whispered Y/N and Hermione giggled.

Once done, the quartet left the Great Hall with the rest of Gryffindor house and began making their way back towards their tower. Hermione had wrapped herself around Y/N's arm and was almost falling asleep on his shoulder. They rounded the corner to the corridor containing the
Fat Lady's portrait and almost walked straight into the gathering of students.

'Why isn't anyone going in?' asked Ron, standing on tiptoes to attempt to see over the crowd. The portrait hole still seemed to be closed.

'Let me through please,' came Percy's voice as he pushed through the crowd 'What's the holdup here? Surely you haven't all forgotten the password? Excuse me, I'm Head Boy-'

A rippling silence travelled across the crowd that made the hairs on the back of Y/N's neck stand on end. He drew his wand with his free hand.

'Somebody get Professor Dumbledore, quick,' came Percy's voice, there was no hint of his usual pompous attitude in there. Did he sound afraid?

'What's going on?' asked Ginny, appearing at Y/N's elbow.

But before anyone could say a word, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping up the corridor. The students squeezed together to let him pass and the quartet got a decent view. Hermione's grip on his arm turned into a vice.

The Fat Lady was no longer in her portrait. Probably a good thing, as the canvas had been slashed so viciously that most of it now littered the floor instead of the frame. Dumbledore took one look at the scraps then turned back as Professors Lupin, Snape and McGonagall came bustling towards him.

'We need to find her,' Dumbledore said at once. 'Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady.'

'You'll be lucky!' came a cackling voice as Peeves the Poltergeist swung into view, hovering over the crowd and staring down at all the worried looking faces.

'What do you mean, Peeves?' said Dumbledore. He spoke calmly, but all of them could tell he wasn't in the mood for jokes. Peeves included. Peeves instead chose to adopt an oily voice.

'Ashamed, your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape on the fourth floor, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful.' and he cackled, before adding, 'Poor thing.'

'Did she say who did it?' said Dumbledore quietly.

'Oh yes, Professorhead,' said Peeves, his face splitting into an evil smile. 'He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in you see. Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black.'