'And they apparently decided that was a perfectly reasonable thing to not tell him?'
'Y/N, you know they were just trying to protect him!'
'And what? Now we need to deal with a Harry who wants to charge down every door looking for Black because he's found out what he did?'
Y/N and Hermione were stood in the Hogwarts grounds. They had just returned from Hogsmeade. Harry had slipped back into the Honeydukes cellar and Ron had almost sprinted ahead to get away from the duo. Y/N was pacing back and forth. He wasn't angry at Hermione. Far from it, he just needed to vent.
'The most we can do now is be there for him,' she said reassuringly, placing a hand on his shoulder so Y/N's pacing slowed.
'Sorry…' said Y/N with a sigh, turning his eyes towards the Forbidden Forest. 'Just always seems like things happen to us because our 'elders' decide it's not an important enough detail until the wrong moment. Hagrid's involvement with the Chamber, Quirrell almost getting the stone, and now this. I get they don't owe us anything, but the lack of forthcoming information keeps almost getting us killed.'
'Believe me, I know,' Hermione's voice was so soft, so shaky, that Y/N turned to look at her. The frustration he felt at the teachers fading away. 'I've almost lost you two years in a row now. And we've only been here for two years. First to Quirrell and then the Basilisk. If Dumbledore and Fawkes hadn't-'
Hermione paused. Took a deep breath and then pushed on.
'-I know how you feel. Because I feel it too. But getting frustrated at the teachers won't help us. We need to just get on with things and stay out of it. Black is leagues above us and should be left to the teachers.'
'So were Riddle and Quirrell and that was still left to us…' muttered Y/N.
'And this time. I'm asking you. Help me stop them from rushing into things. I don't want us to end another year in some stupid battle with something we don't need to fight.'
'Something tells me that's not going to be our choice. But I promise I'll do my best, 'Mione.'
Hermione stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Y/N and he returned the gesture, his chin resting on top of her head. It was wonderful to see how far they'd come. This time last year, he'd been wondering whether she even liked him, despite how obvious she'd made everything. And now here he was. Here they were.
Silently, Hermione detached herself from him and held out her hand. Y/N took it and together, the two of them made their way inside.
Y/N spent dinner that night just trying to engage Harry in conversation with anything he could think of, occasionally eliciting a couple of minutes worth of back and forth before he fell silent once again. It didn't help that Ron and Hermione were both being completely silent, both merely throwing Harry furtive glances. Eventually, they all made their way back up the common room where they found that the twins had set off fireworks in a fit of Christmas celebrations. Harry used this small distraction to slip away and Ron moved over to a table by the window alone.
Y/N and Hermione instead slid over to the other side of the common room and dropped in alongside Ginny, who happily closed her book as the two arrived. Y/N dropped the bag of sweets down in front of her and Ginny's eyes narrowed at once.
'Get used to it,' he said as he sank into the seat across from her, Hermione sitting down on his left, 'Because I'm not going to stop.'
Ginny unwrapped the bag and took out one of the sweets before pushing it central so they all shared. She didn't look impressed, but didn't argue.
'So how was the trip?' she asked, looking at their faces. 'Something tells me it didn't go well.'
'It's…' Y/N froze. He wasn't sure how much he should tell Ginny. This was Harry's business, but technically he shouldn't have heard it either.
'If you don't want to tell me you don't have to,' said Ginny, looking at Y/N's torn face, 'I just thought it may be nice to get it off your chest.'
Y/N turned his eyes onto Hermione, who sighed and nodded.
Y/N lowered his voice to a whisper and repeated everything they'd heard to Ginny. By the end of it, Ginny could barely keep her jaw off the floor.
'I had no idea…' she breathed.
'Neither did any of us,' said Y/N. 'Just do me a favour and don't tell anyone, yeah? It's Harry's business.'
'Yeah of course,' said Ginny at once. 'So, what's the plan?'
'Plan?' asked Y/N
'Well, the last time a couple of your friends were threatened, you found an ancient chamber and killed a snake. I can't help but feel like you intend to do something.'
'Not this time,' said Y/N. 'This time, it's up to the teachers and ministry. We're just going to keep Harry out of trouble.'
'He's already made it into the school once,' hissed Ginny, glancing around quickly. 'He can clearly get in and out.'
'We know,' whispered Hermione, 'But there's nothing we can do without knowing how he's getting in. And even then, we don't want to rush headlong into him. If he's trying to kill Harry, then the best thing we can do is keep him away from him.'
'At least keep my brother out of trouble whilst you're at it,' said Ginny turning her eyes back onto Y/N, who hissed through his teeth.
'Ron and Y/N aren't exactly seeing eye to eye at the moment,' said Hermione.
'Not seeing eye to eye is an understatement,' muttered Y/N.
'I know what he can be like,' said Ginny quickly, 'But I also know he's likely to get himself hurt. I'm not asking you to like him, just keep an eye on him whilst you watch Harry.'
'He's never getting those lessons,' said Y/N, glancing at the red-headed boy as he began to move towards the boys' dormitory.
'That's fine. I'll take them instead,' said Ginny as she pointed to the book she'd been reading as they arrived. 'Still got some catching up to do.'
'Can't really do it in here,' said Hermione sniffily as she looked over to where Fred and George were pulling out another batch of fireworks.
'Oh. They've been talking about you actually, Y/N,' said Ginny. 'They owe you something from last year? Think they mentioned Christmas.'
'Oh no…' said Y/N. His mind wandered back to the trip to Diagon Alley the year before when he had made Fred and George agree to send something as a prank to Hermione for Christmas. He looked to Ginny and saw from the look on her face that she knew exactly what it was.
'Come on,' said Hermione, who had apparently not heard any of their conversation. 'We should be able to find an empty classroom.'
'You got lucky, Y/N,' smirked Ginny as they moved across towards the Portrait Hole.
Upon their return that evening, Hermione and Y/N hugged Ginny and wished her a Merry Christmas as she'd be returning to the Burrow early the following morning with her brothers, and then all three headed to bed. Y/N settled into his own four poster but did not sleep.
His agreement with Hermione was eating away at him.
It should be easy. How difficult was it to not go looking for a murderer? But then the thought of his own anger at Black's cowardice, his betrayal, the look he'd seen on Harry's face. He didn't know if he'd be able to keep his word on not chasing Black. And that worried him.
'You aren't a murderer,' Y/N muttered to himself. Chasing after Black was foolish. What would he even do if he caught him? No. For now, the best thing to do was keep up distractions.
When he awoke the next morning, he immediately slid out of bed and got dressed. He made his way downstairs into the Common Room and settled himself into an armchair by the fire. He knew that almost all bar the quartet would have left by now. He slipped open the book Hagrid had gotten him and settled back, flicking idly through the pages.
A short while later and he heard the sound of the girls' dormitory door creaking open and a very tired looking Hermione shuffled towards him.
'You not sleep well?' he asked, standing up to hug her and planting a kiss on her forehead before steering her down into his now vacated seat and perching himself on the arm.
Hermione shook her head as she sank into the cushion, before shimmying along slightly and patting the area next to her. Y/N slid off the arm and plonked down next to her.
'Kept having a nightmare. Black came bursting into the Common Room. Started looking for Harry. You tried to stop him-'
Y/N interrupted her by pulling her into a hug and he immediately felt her relax and melt into his hold.
'I'm still here. We're all fine. Black can't get in, we know that already. The Fat Lady wouldn't let him in and Sir Cadogan is even more stubborn. We'll be okay.'
He felt her nod solemnly against his chest then she pulled away and wrapped her arms around his neck. They leant into each other, and for the first time since their Hogsmeade date, their lips connected. Fireworks went off in Y/N's head and he lost all sense of where he was. All that mattered was him and Hermione.
Both were blushing once they pulled apart, but both supported the same stupid smile. Hermione grabbed the book Y/N had been reading and laid out in front of both of them, they put their heads together and began to read.
'What are we going to do about Harry?' she asked after a while.
'What do you mean?'
'You know what he's like and you saw his face. He's furious. He's going to go looking for Black.'
'How? He could be literally anywhere, and we can't leave the Castle Grounds.'
'Or so we thought,' said Hermione with a sigh. 'If Harry can get into Hogsmeade then it stands to reason that Black can get into the Castle.'
'He already has once,' said Y/N, 'And left a distraction to try to throw people off his tail. He may even still be here, could be that the distraction was so he could slip into his hiding place.'
'I don't know about that. Someone would have seen him by now. No one can go around Hogwarts undetected.'
'Then how did he get out of Azkaban and into Hogwarts in the first place without us seeing him? Like Dumbledore said, Dementors aren't easily fooled. He can't be going invisible or anything. He'd have to show no emotion to get past them undetected-' Y/N was struck by a sudden brainwave and stopped mid-sentence.
'You alright?' asked Hermione, looking at him quizzically.
'Yeah. I need to go see Remus,' said Y/N, getting to his feet. 'I want to ask him something.'
Hermione looked concerned but didn't say anything. She followed him to his feet, then kissed him on the cheek.
'I'll see if I can speak to Ron. He'll hopefully listen to me, at least if he's worried and Harry should listen if Ron tells him.'
'Good luck,' said Y/N darkly, 'And if he's a prat, smack him once for me as well.'
Y/N slid out of the portrait hole and began to make his way through the castle. Whilst the corridors were almost always empty this early, the castle now had an oddly eery feeling. He was fairly sure the students remaining for the holidays numbered in the single digits.
He really hoped he wasn't disturbing Remus but the conversation he'd had with his mother over the summer sprung into his mind.
'It doesn't work that way Y/N. The Dementors just sense emotions. The only way to ensure they can't is to have no emotions. To feel nothing. Spells have nothing to do with it. They can simply feel the happiness, sadness, anger, and everything else in all of us. It's how they survive. They feed on happiness.'
He knocked on Remus' door and stepped inside.
'Ah. Good morning, Y/N,' said Remus, smiling at him from behind his desk. 'To what do I owe the pleasure?'
Y/N wasn't exactly sure where to begin, and apparently Remus noticed this. He gestured Y/N forward into one of the chairs in front of his desk and folded away the document he'd been looking over as he did. Y/N noticed a goblet resting on his desk, a thin trail of smoke still faintly emanating from it.
'Sorry Professor. Just… how do Dementors work?' The moment he'd asked the question, he felt a little bit silly. Almost as though he'd asked how a toy worked, but Remus didn't seem bothered.
'An interesting question,' said Remus, slowly stroking his chin. 'Think of it this way. Every memory you ever have has an emotion tied to it. Happiness, Sadness, Grief, Love. Dementors are aware of these memories and feed on the emotions tied to them. They suck out everything good and amplify the bad.'
'Mum's told me that before…' said Y/N slowly.
'Then if you are already aware, I must ask why you have come to me about this, Y/N.'
Y/N froze. He didn't want to tell Remus everything, but he couldn't reasonably explain it away without some details.
'Harry has an invisibility cloak. Dumbledore said at the start of term feast that the Dementors aren't fooled by them-'
'And quite right they aren't,' said Remus matter of factly, 'an invisibility cloak only hides the physical outline of someone, not their emotions. The Dementors could feel them as if they were as clear as we are.'
'-but, Sirius Black got into the Castle at Halloween, and broke out of Azkaban. How did they not find him?'
Y/N had given Remus pause with this. His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he leant back in his chair. Then, as though he was stalling for time, Remus asked, 'Why so curious about this Y/N? Surely you aren't going looking for Black?'
'No, of course not,' said Y/N, 'But Harry heard from Arthur Weasley that Black may be after him and I just don't get how he's able to just walk out of the second most secure place in the country and into the first.'
'There are ways to defeat the Dementors, much like the one I will be teaching you and Harry-' began Remus.
'But wouldn't they need a wand? And surely he didn't have one when in Azkaban?'
'Y/N, if you are asking me to tell you exactly how Sirius Black broke out of Azkaban, I am afraid I can't do that.'
'No Professor of course not. Just… is there any way to mask yourself from their eyes? Or however it is they see. Make it so that they can't feel you?'
'I imagine there are,' said Remus, 'Especially some that a dark wizard would know of. You have to remember, Y/N, that Black is a servant of Lord Voldemort and the Dementors obeyed Voldemort without question before. It stands to reason that Black may have picked up a trick or two. Wandless or not, he is still very dangerous.'
There was a soft knock at the door and Remus called 'Enter'. The door crept open a couple of inches and Hermione's face poked in.
'We're heading down to breakfast if you want to…' she said very quietly, looking imploringly at Y/N who could see tears swimming in her eyes. He sprang to his feet at once and turned to Remus.
'Thank you for your time, Professor Lupin,' said Y/N with a nod to him and he turned to leave.
'Y/N. You're a very talented wizard, and you have a very keen mind. Don't lose it.'
Y/N had expected Remus to say more, however he swept up the document he'd been looking over when Y/N first arrived and began reading through it once again. Y/N moved towards the classroom door and closed it behind him where Hermione immediately flung her arms around his neck. He pulled her into a hug and glanced up and down the corridor.
'They not here?'
She shook her head and sniffed.
'They're waiting for us in the entrance hall. We're going to see Hagrid. Harry wasn't happy.' She took his hand and began leading him downstairs whilst telling him about her and Ron attempting to convince Harry to not go looking for Black.
And Harry's response of how every time the Dementors got closed to him he heard his family dying, and that Black was to blame.
'And now he wants to speak to Hagrid and he's going to ask him why he was never told about Black,' finished Hermione as they turned the corner into the Entrance Hall and began walking down to where Harry and Ron stood. The former watching them cautiously.
'Has Hermione been telling on me?' asked Harry as they came into earshot.
'She's told me what happened, yes,' said Y/N, stopping about halfway across the room. He was speaking normally, but the silence in the school made it carry.
'And have you come here to tell me to stop as well?'
'No. I've come here to join you on the trip to Hagrid's. And to tell you that if you go searching for Black, I will personally stop you.'
The threat was obvious.
Hermione looked around at Y/N in alarm and Ron took a few steps back. Harry's eyes narrowed.
'You weren't singing that tune when the Basilisk had petrified Hermione or when Quirrell was threatening you. But now Black's threatening me, it's suddenly not okay?'
'Harry, I'm telling you that because I was headstrong,' said Y/N and Harry paused, looking taken aback. 'I rushed headlong into Quirrell and it got me hit by the Cruciatus curse, twice. I rushed headlong into the Basilisk and it got me bitten. I'd be dead if not for Fawkes. Ancient beast or not, the Basilisk only managed to kill one person. Black managed thirteen with one spell and we already know he got two more besides that.'
Harry's face was stony, impassive, but he could see the frustration fading from his eyes.
'We're not here to block you or try to stop you getting your revenge. We're here to stop you getting yourself killed. You'd have put yourself in my way for Quirrell, and if we weren't forced into it, you'd have done the same for the Basilisk. All I'm telling you now is that if you wake up one morning and tell me you're hunting for Black. I will do my upmost to stop you.'
Harry took a deep breath and then said, 'And if Black finds me?'
'I'll do all in my power to help you fight.'
'Done deal,' said Harry. 'Let's go see Hagrid.'
Together, the quartet made their way down through the frozen grounds towards Hagrid's hut. Hermione wrapped herself around Y/N's arm in an attempt to keep warm, but Y/N couldn't feel the chill, his blood was pumping. He'd been expecting Harry to attempt a spell or jinx. To curse him or call him out. But perhaps he wasn't as angry as Y/N had been the previous year. Harry, at least, still had enough sense to know not to rush into a trap.
Y/N was snapped back to reality by Ron knocking on Hagrid's door. But there was no answer.
'He's not out, is he?' said Hermione, her teeth chattering.
Ron had pressed his ear to the door and was tilting his head, looking confused.
'There's a weird noise. Listen, is that Fang?'
The other three stepped forward and listened to. From inside the cabin came a series of low groans.
'It's Hagrid,' said Y/N, pulling his ear away.
'Hagrid!' called Harry, banging on the door. 'Hagrid, are you in there?'
There was a creaking sound, and then a series of footsteps before the door was flung open and they were met by Hagrid. His eyes were very red and swollen and tears still fell heavily down his face.
'Yeh've heard?' he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck.
Y/N watched as Harry's legs buckled immediately and he almost collapsed under Hagrid's weight. He stepped forward as did Ron, and they each hooked themselves under one of Hagrid's arms and dragged him back inside the cabin.
Hagrid allowed himself to be steered into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face glazed with tears that dripped down into his tangled beard.
'Hagrid, what is it?' asked Hermione, looking shocked.
Harry, however, had moved over and was inspecting an official looking letter lying open on the table.
'What's this, Hagrid?'
Hagrid's sobs redoubled, but he shoved the letter toward Harry, who picked it up and read aloud:
'Dear Mr. Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.'
'Well, that's okay then, Hagrid!' said Ron, clapping Hagrid on the back, but Y/N shook his head.
'Hagrid wouldn't be crying if that was everything. Keep reading, Harry.'
'However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.
Yours in fellowship:'
'And then it's just all the school governors,' said Harry, placing the letter back down on the table.
'Oh,' said Ron flatly.
'What have you got prepared, Hagrid?' asked Y/N. 'We should be able to pull up some extra information. There's no doubt some past history on cases like this-'
'Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!' choked Hagrid, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. 'They've got it in fer interestin' creatures!'
There was a snapping sound from the corner of the cabin. The four of them whipped around to see Buckbeak lying in the corner, chewing on something that was oozing blood.
'I couldn' leave him tied up out there in the snow!' choked Hagrid. 'All on his own! At Christmas.'
'If it's a full hearing, we still stand a chance,' said Y/N as he scooped some loose parchment off Hagrid's kitchen counter and pulled out his quill. 'We'll need to piece together past cases of this and potentially see if we can get a lesson curriculum together. Couple of witness accounts from the other students wouldn't hurt either, guaranteeing that you told us what would happen if we insulted them.'
'We'll need a solid defence,' said Hermione, immediately moving up alongside Y/N and placing a hand on Hagrid's arm. 'If we can prove Buckbeak's safe and it was Malfoy's fault-'
'Won't make no diff'rence!' sobbed Hagrid. 'Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak-'
Hagrid drew a finger along his throat and Y/N's stomach plummeted. He would not let that happen to Buckbeak.
He immediately began scribbling some names down on the parchment as Harry spoke.
'What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?'
'He's done more'n enough fer me already,' groaned Hagrid. 'Got enough on his plate what with keepin' them Dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' around.'
'Listen, Hagrid,' began Harry, 'you can't give up. Hermione and Y/N are right, you just need a good defence. You can call us as witnesses-'
'We won't work,' said Y/N at once. 'Anyone who's ever met you knows you're anti-Malfoy. Lucius will use it against Hagrid. And we're all too close to you, it'll be just as bad. But, if we can get some other people, some of the other Gryffindor's. That's what this list is. Some people we can ask for testimonies.'
'And I'm sure I've read about a case of hippogriff-baiting,' said Hermione thoughtfully, 'where the hippogriff got off. I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened.'
It took a while, but after around 15 minutes of reassurances from people and of Y/N constantly listing off ways to win the case, Hagrid blew his nose on a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth and said, 'Yer right. I can' afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together...'
Fang came timidly out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrid's knee.
'I've not bin meself lately,' said Hagrid, stroking Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. 'Worried abou' Buckbeak, an' no one likin' me classes-'
'I absolutely love them, Hagrid,' said Y/N at once.
'Yeah, they're great!' said Hermione in a not entirely convincing voice
'Er, how are the flobberworms?' asked Ron
'Dead,' said Hagrid gloomily. 'Too much lettuce.'
'Oh no!' said Ron, his lip twitching and Y/N threw him a dirty look.
'An' them Dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an' all,' said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder. 'Gotta walk past 'em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S like bein' back in Azkaban-' He fell silent, gulping his tea. Y/N raised his eyes to see the other three staring intently at Hagrid, clearly waiting for any elaboration.
After a pause, Hermione said timidly, 'Is it awful in there, Hagrid?'
'Yeh've no idea,' said Hagrid quietly. 'Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind... the day I got expelled from Hogwarts... day me dad died... day I had ter let Norbert go...'
His eyes filled with tears. Y/N's eyes wandered back to seeing Hermione petrified. Ginny face down in the Chamber. The flash of green light as he broke through the canopy outside the school.
'Yeh can' really remember who yeh are after a while. An' yeh can' see the point o' livin' at all. I used ter hope I'd jus' die in me sleep... When they let me out, it was like bein' born again, ev'rythin' came floodin' back, it was the bes' feelin' in the world. Mind, the Dementors weren't keen on lettin' me go.'
'But you were innocent!' said Hermione.
Hagrid snorted.
'Think that matters to them? They don' care. Long as they've got a couple o' hundred humans stuck there with 'em so they can leech all the happiness out of 'em, they don' give a damn who's guilty an' who's not.'
'They attacked Harry on the Quidditch pitch, remember? And did more than just sweep the train. They're dangerous creatures. Mum reckons they should be outlawed in our country the same way they are everywhere else,' said Y/N with a shudder.
Hagrid went quiet for a moment, staring into his tea. Then he said quietly, 'Thought o' jus' letting Buckbeak go... tryin' ter make him fly away, but how d'yeh explain ter a hippogriff it's gotta go inter hidin'? An'-an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law...' He looked up at them, tears leaking down his face again. 'I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban.'
'You won't, Hagrid. And you won't need to let Buckbeak run,' said Y/N bracingly. 'We'll win this thing.'
The trip down to Hagrid's had been far from happy, but Y/N now felt a burning in his stomach. He was not going to let Buckbeak suffer because of Malfoy's stupidity. Harry and Ron immediately made their way up towards the Gryffindor Common Room to start gathering things for Hagrid's defence. Hermione made to follow them, but stopped once Y/N broke off on the first floor and instead began heading down another corridor. She jogged to catch up with him.
'You okay?' she asked as she wrapped her arm around his.
'If I have to spend another minute around Ron today, I might hex him,' said Y/N.
'Where are we going then?' asked Hermione brightly.
'You should know this corridor better than anyone,' said Y/N as they arrived outside the library, 'But you don't have to come with me. You can go back with them if you want.'
'You really think I'd rather be around Harry and Ron than you?' she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
'How am I meant to know who you prefer? I haven't exactly been the most pleasant person to be around recently,' said Y/N.
Hermione stepped forward and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek. Despite how often she'd done it, Y/N felt his face alight at how brazen she'd been, and doubly so at the smirk she wore when she stepped back.
'Does that answer who I prefer?' she smirked.
'Don't know. Might need another example,' said Y/N. She shook her head and stepped forward, but this time Y/N intercepted her. He turned his face so that Hermione's lips connected with his own instead of his cheek. Her eyes widened in surprise at first, and then she seemed to relax into him.
'Pretty substantial evidence there,' he said as they broke apart. 'I think you may have given me more than enough to go off.'
'Guess I never have to do it again then,' said Hermione. Her cheeks were burning red, but her smirk was back.
'Let's see which of us caves to that first shall we?' and Y/N pushed open the door to the library.
They spent many of the next few days huddled together in the library, pouring over books to find anything they could for Buckbeak's defence. For the first few days, Madam Pince prowled the bookshelves nearby to ensure they weren't taking anything or being too loud. But after a while, even she seemed to give up and only came over to tell them off if they started joking around too loud.
Meanwhile, the rest of the school was preparing for the holidays. Streamers of Holly and Mistletoe were hung along the corridors, odd lights shone from the inside of the suits of armour and the Great Hall was kitted out with its usual twelve Christmas trees.
On Christmas morning, Y/N took the small pile of presents at the foot of his bed before sliding out of the door and down into the common room. He sat in his favourite armchair by the fire and began opening them.
He was just about to begin when there was a soft tap tap at the window and he looked around to see Ves perched just outside.
'Hello!' he called brightly as she fluttered in. 'It's been too long.'
Ves hooted happily and landed on the sofa across from where he'd been sat before looking at him expectantly. He threw a treat into the air for her and then, with a chuckle, he slid back into the chair.
He'd received a specialised book on Hippogriffs from Hagrid that covered dietary needs, exercise and almost anything else you needed to know about the creatures, boxes of sweets from Harry, a broom maintenance and cleaning kit from his mum, and from Ginny a new set of scales (his own had been getting worn down).
Finally, he turned to the last parcel and unwrapped it, out fell a deep ocean blue knitted jumped emblazoned with his initial and a note. He picked up the note and read.
'Dear Y/N
We still owed you for last year, but we couldn't convince mum to do it until she saw the two of you together over the summer. Said she'd feel bad if she put you in an awkward position. We went to ask her this year and she was already in the process of doing it, so it's been sent along to Hermione. Hope it was worth the wait!
Merry Christmas
FredGeorge Fred and GeorgeFred George'
Laughing at the mental image of Fred and George fighting over who got to write their name first, Y/N pulled the jumper on over his head and picked up the parcel that he'd wrapped himself to give to Hermione. He wasn't left waiting long as Hermione came down around 15 minutes later. He turned to greet her and choked.
Hermione was wearing a deep purple knitted jumper that suited her, but along the front was emblazoned a large red heart supporting Y/N and her initials. Y/N spluttered at the sight, but Hermione seemed completely unphased as she moved over to join him.
'Something wrong?' she asked innocently, staring at the look on his face.
'I… uhhh… no… nothing at all… Mrs Weasley sent you something nice then?'
'Oh yes,' she said brightly, looking down at her jumper. 'She said Fred and George wanted to try and embarrass me, but quite frankly I don't see what there is to be embarrassed about.' She plonked herself down onto the arm of his chair, her smile a mix of genuine happiness and a smirk.
'Well… of course not…' said Y/N, trying to compose himself. 'After all, we are dating.'
'Yep. And if people don't like it then they need to learn to deal with it,' she said and she pushed something into his hands. 'Now, before you set the chair on fire with the heat from your face, open that.'
Y/N unwrapped it and out fell a small handheld mirror. Y/N picked it up curiously and span it between his fingers, then raised it in front of him.
'Bit blurry,' he said as vague shadows moved along the outskirts of its frame.
'That's because it's not a normal mirror,' said Hermione. 'It's a foe glass.'
'Where on earth did you get one?' asked Y/N.
'Dervish and Banges. They've got all sorts in there. I didn't think you'd want a Sneakoscope, Harry's already got one so-' she was interrupted from continuing as Y/N got to his feet and hugged her. He tilted her head up and kissed her, before pulling out the wrapped package he had for her.
Her eyes lit up as she withdrew the planner, and she thumbed through it excitedly, each colour representing a different subject and awaiting her notes.
'This will be perfect for my exam revision!' she called happily once she'd finished checking it over. 'Thank you so much!'
Ves gave a hoot as the two hugged again and Hermione laughed.
'Don't worry Ves. Haven't forgotten you.' And she pulled out a small bag of owl treats, throwing a couple towards her.
'She's going to change owners soon,' said Y/N, throwing a small glare at the owl. 'Pretty sure she loves you more than me at this point.'
'Come on,' said Hermione, holding out her hand for him. 'I have something to give to Harry.'
As they arrived outside, they could hear the two boys laughing inside. Hermione pushed open the door and stepped inside, followed by Y/N.
'What are you two laughing about?'
Y/N felt a low pulse wrack his head and turned his eyes onto Harry, who was clutching a broom. A very recognisable broom.
'Where the bloody hell did you get a Firebolt?' asked Y/N cautiously as he subconsciously took the piece of chocolate Hermione was holding out for him.
'No idea,' said Harry. 'There was no card.'
Y/N felt his stomach drop. This isn't the kind of thing you anonymously sent. He turned his face onto Hermione's, who mirrored his trepidation.
'What's the matter with you two?' asked Ron.
'It's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?'
'It's the best broom there is 'Mione,' said Y/N.
'So it must've been very expensive,' continued Hermione.
'Weird of someone to send you something like that without any note,' said Y/N, turning his gaze back onto Harry.
'Who cares?' said Ron impatiently. 'Can I have a go on it, Harry?'
'We care, Ronald,' snapped Y/N, 'Because that's an extremely simple way to send something extremely cursed and dangerous.'
'I don't think anyone should be riding that broom,' added Hermione.
'I'd have thought you'd be up for giving it a go,' said Harry, looking at Y/N.
'Believe me Harry, if that's a genuine, unharmed Firebolt then I am endlessly happy for you, but I do not trust it.'
'Here,' said Harry, and he held it out. Y/N raised his eyebrows. 'You can sense curses and jinxes,' added Harry. 'Ones that the teachers couldn't. You check it'
'Keep him away from me' said Y/N harshly, nodding at Ron 'I might jinx him'
He took the broom from Harry and laid it out on the floor in front of him.
'Do me a favour 'Mione, just grab my Nimbus?'
Hermione moved over to his bed and withdrew from under it the Nimbus 2001 sitting down with it alongside Y/N. He closed his eyes and focused.
It was hard to focus specifically on his Nimbus whilst the Firebolt was so close. Whilst not overwhelming, the power of the new broom was enough to almost remove the other one from his senses. He pushed the Firebolt a small bit away and pulled his own closer.
He traced the charms and enchantments along it. Whilst he didn't know the specifics of the spells, each felt unique and recognisable. He learnt them inside and out, then passed his own back to Hermione as he pulled the Firebolt back towards him. The other three were all deadly silent during the entire process which Y/N was happy with. It helped him focus.
He let his fingers dance across the handle of the broom, it was smooth, polished, new. He traced the enchantments through his mind. Most he recognised, same as his Nimbus but stronger. Cast by a stronger wand or wizard, or possibly even just repeated alongside a few he recognised as booster enchantments. Used to enhance the brooms natural abilities and excel the spells. And nothing out of the ordinary.
In fact, it felt exactly as it had in Diagon Alley. He realised now. He'd never focused too hard on the one in the alley, but he did feel a sense of familiarity with his work, as though they'd left a vague imprint on his mind and this was now slotting perfectly into the gap.
'And?' asked Harry excitedly as Y/N scooped up the broom and passed it back to him.
'Nothing,' said Y/N simply. 'Feels exactly the same as the one in the Alley did. I'm not saying I did a perfect job, and you should be careful, but I think it'll be safe to fly.'
Harry looked ecstatic and Ron gave a small woop. Y/N tucked his broom away under his bed and then left the dormitory with Hermione close behind.
'Are you absolutely sure, Y/N?' asked Hermione the moment they were downstairs.
'I'm sure I couldn't find anything, but we should still tell mum. Get someone to watch him when he flies it for the first time. She's told me herself my sense is stronger than detection spells so I doubt it'll need anymore, but we should have people ready.'
The two of them settled in by the fire, Hermione steadily filling in her Homework planner and Y/N idly spinning the foe glass in his hand.
'What's that, Y/N?' asked Harry as he and Ron arrived in the Common Room.
'Foe glass,' said Y/N, holding it up. 'Hermione got it for me. You see the faint outlines?' He held it up so Harry could see it.
'Kind of?' said Harry, squinting.
'That's good. As long as they appear as just shimmers and shadows then you're okay. The clearer they get, the more in danger you are. They represent those you consider enemies. As long as it's vague and unfocused then they aren't close enough to be a threat. The moment they solidify however, you need to watch your back.'
'And I see you both got jumpers as well,' said Harry, nodding to the deep blue and purple the two of them supported. Hermione straightened her jumper out slightly to show the heart and Ron half coughed half laughed.
'The twins thought it would be a hilarious prank,' said Hermione simply as she turned back to her planner, 'But I quite frankly don't mind it.'
'Wonder why,' said Harry smugly.
Eventually, the time to head down for lunch rolled around and the four of them headed down together. The House Tables had all been slid away against the walls and instead, a single table set for twelve rested in the middle of the room. Professor's Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick were there, alongside Filch who had attempted to dress for the occasion. The only other people present at the table were two very scared looking first years.
'Merry Christmas!' called Dumbledore brightly as the four of them entered and made their way over. 'As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the House Tables. Sit down, sit down!'
Harry and Ron sat themselves down on one side whilst Y/N and Hermione took the other. Minerva caught Y/N's eye and nodded at Hermione's jumper, smirking knowingly.
'Crackers!' said Dumbledore excitedly, offering the other end to Snape who took it and pulled. The cracker exploded like a cannon, releasing a large, pointed hat topped with a stuffed vulture. Snape immediately pushed the hat towards Dumbledore, who did not miss a beat in swapping it out for his own.
'Dig in!' he said happily, glancing around at the table.
'Think the decorations are trying to tell you two something,' said Ron snickering as he looked at Y/N and Hermione. The two of them looked around and in unison both spotted the lump of Mistletoe now dangling above the pair of them.
Y/N looked at Hermione who simply shrugged, grabbed him by the front of his jumper and pulled him into a kiss.
All the teachers barring Snape 'awwww'd and gave a small round of applause, and even Filch joined in for a few moments. Snape was looking mutinous, Harry was smirking and Ron was open mouthed.
'May want to close that, Ron,' said Y/N, pointing to his open mouth, 'Or one of the bundles may just float in there.'
Suddenly, the Great Hall doors opened and in walked Professor Trelawney. Y/N immediately turned his face back to his plate. He wasn't keen on the idea of seeing the Divination teacher again.
'Sibyll! This is a pleasant surprise!' said Dumbledore, getting to his feet.
'I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster,' said Professor Trelawney in her mistiest, most faraway voice, 'and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…'
'Thinks she means she was hungry,' muttered Y/N, causing Hermione to duck slightly out of sight to hide her laughter.
'Certainly, certainly,' said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. 'Let me draw you up a chair—'
And much as he had done when he had visited Y/N over the summer, his wand traced through the air and a chair appeared in mid-air, revolving for a few seconds before falling between Professor's Snape and McGonagall. Y/N felt his head pulse slightly and his eye twitched. Even just on a conjuration spell, Dumbledore's power was incredible.
Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit down. Her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.
'I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!'
Y/N groaned quietly, and he watched the corners of his mother's mouth twitch.
'We'll risk it, Sibyll,' said Professor McGonagall impatiently. 'Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold.'
Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.
'Tripe, Sibyll?'
Professor Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, 'But where is dear Professor Lupin?'
'Full moon,' whispered Hermione and Y/N nodded. He too had been keeping an eye on the phases, especially after seeing the smoking goblet on his last visit to Remus' office.
'I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again,' said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. 'Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day.'
'But surely you already knew that Sibyll?' said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised.
Y/N quickly stuffed a roast potato into his mouth to smother his laughter
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.
'Certainly I knew, Minerva,' she said quietly. 'But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous.'
'That explains a great deal,' said Professor McGonagall tartly.
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty.
'If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him—'
'I happen to hope that he stays with us for a long while,' said Y/N sharply. 'I think he's an extremely good teacher.'
'I doubt,' said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to the conversation, 'that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?'
Y/N and Hermione shared a quick look as Snape nodded.
'Good,' said Dumbledore. 'Then he should be up and about in no time... Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent.'
One of the first-year boys went furiously red on being addressed directly by Dumbledore and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.
The rest of the dinner passed by uneventfully. They exchanged pleasantries with the teachers. Professor Sprout regaling them with the last Christmas she'd spent before coming to teach at Hogwarts in which she needed to tackle a Venomous Tentacula cluster, whilst Professor Flitwick spoke to them about a play he'd managed to help put on a few years prior.
As it all wrapped up, Harry and Ron got to their feet, which caused Professor Trelawney to shriek loudly.
'My dears! Which of you left his seat first? Which?'
'Dunno,' said Ron, looking between him and Harry.
'I doubt it will make much difference,' said Professor McGonagall coldly, 'unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall.'
'Dibs!' said Y/N, which made the first years, Harry and Ron laugh and caused Hermione to punch him in the arm.
'You two coming?' Harry asked them and Y/N shook his head.
'Be up later.'
Not long after Harry and Ron had left, the two first year boys scarpered away and Professor Trelawney drifted off out of the Hall. Y/N and Hermione turned towards the remaining teachers.
'I believe a congratulations is in order,' said Dumbledore happily as he raised his goblet. 'Young love truly is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished,' he said, and Professors Sprout, Flitwick and McGonagall followed suit. Snape tried but failed to look happy.
'Happy- for you-' said Filch, sounding strained. Y/N looked around in alarm, but Filch was avoiding his gaze. 'Appreciate what you did last year,' he said, still not looking at Y/N. 'Glad you're happy,' he then swung his legs off his chair and marched out.
'You know, I do believe that's the nicest thing I've ever heard him say,' said Professor Dumbledore thoughtfully, staring after the caretaker. 'Perhaps the Christmas spirit has taken over.'
'We appreciate it, Professor Dumbledore,' said Y/N, pulling Hermione into a one-armed hug 'Been a long time coming.'
Y/N caught his mum's eye and nodded to her. She waited patiently for a few moments as the other teachers all got to their feet and then leant in towards the two of them.
'Yes, Y/N?'
'Harry got a broom for Christmas,' he whispered. 'A Firebolt. No note, no evidence of who sent it. I've checked it over myself, feels exactly as a broom should. But it's still weird.'
McGonagall's face tightened.
'And you're sure you felt nothing? No curse? Felt the same as a normal broom?'
'I spent about five minutes looking it over,' said Y/N with Hermione nodding along to confirm his story. 'Had my Nimbus right next to me. Nothing weird.'
'I'll ensure myself, Professor Dumbledore and Madam Hooch are present during Potter's first flight,' said McGonagall, getting to her feet. 'If all goes well then we should hopefully not need to do anymore.'
'I think he'll be flying it as soon as possible to be honest,' said Y/N. 'We'll go let him know.'
He and Hermione made their way back upstairs to the Common Room. Y/N was about to give Sir Cadogan the password when the Portrait Hole swung open and Harry and Ron came crawling out, broomstick in hand.
'I told McGonagall,' said Y/N.
Ron looked outraged but Harry simply said, 'And?'
'Your first flight is going to be watched by her, Madam Hooch and Professor Dumbledore. If nothing goes wrong, then no more will be said on it.'
'Are they free now?' asked Harry excitedly.
'I think she's getting them together. I told her you'd be flying it as soon as possible.'
'Thanks, Y/N,' said Harry, and he could see the sincerity in his eyes. 'Are you two coming?'
'Maybe later,' said Y/N, turning his eyes onto Hermione. 'Think we'll spend some time in front of the fire first.'
