Summer was much rougher than Y/N thought it would be. For the first week or two he was okay. Writing back and forth with Hermione almost hourly, he kept in fairly regular contact with Ron and had even sent a couple of letters to Harry. Harry hadn't responded yet, but both Ron and Hermione said he hadn't responded to them either. Y/N imagined it was something to do with his aunt and uncle and he'd respond when he got the chance.

He'd also managed to properly speak to his mum. He could whilst in Hogwarts obviously, but not mother to son. There was always that layer of her being his head of house and deputy headmistress. She'd given him one last berating over his actions against Quirrell, but after that she had actually told him that she was proud of him. Despite her anger, she was proud that he'd moved to stop Quirrell and done his best to defend his friends.

All in all, the first few weeks were quite relaxing. It was after then that things began to slump. He missed his friends; he'd still heard nothing from Harry and he was getting worried. He could tell that Ron and Hermione were too. He also found himself searching his feelings for a while.

There were a good few days that he found himself glancing back towards his journal right after responding to her, or idly thinking about sending Ves to Hermione with a letter despite them talking every day. He wanted nothing more than to hear her voice again and to see her. He'd done his thinking over the summer, and he knew now what he felt. She wasn't just his best friend. He had a massive crush on her.

He thought Hermione probably felt the same. She messed with him a lot, but she had said about a date during their last year and hadn't her dad said he approved? What else could that mean? She at least cared about him. He'd have to see what happened when he saw her, but he was fairly confident on how he felt.

They'd also spoken about visiting each other over the holidays. Hermione said some work was being done at her house, however Y/N had offered the spare room they had. He'd had to ask his mums permission first for the obvious reasons, but also because she was always unsure on people going into that room. However, she agreed with no argument.

And so it was that he and his mum were in the spare bedroom dusting off some of the furniture in there. It was a decent sized room, with a desk, a wooden wardrobe and a rather intricately carved wooden double bed that his mum had said had been gifted to the previous owner.

He had asked who the previous owner had been, but Minerva had shaken her head saying that she wasn't ready to speak of it yet. Y/N did not wish to push, she would tell him when she was ready. He knew that.

'You sure you're okay with 'Mione staying in here?' he'd asked her.

'Of course I am. Miss Granger is polite and I know she'll look after this place. And plus, I'm not having her share your room.'

Y/N went red at the implication, but McGonagall merely chuckled at him as she piled up old clothes that had previously been in the wardrobe.

'I've also seen how much you miss her,' she said seriously, 'and I'm more than happy to have her here for a few days if it brings a smile back to your face.'

Y/N felt confused. He hadn't been that down had he? He'd definitely been feeling a bit put out, but he wasn't THAT out of character. At least he didn't think so.

He agreed a day with Hermione and they agreed she'd stay for 3 days; it was the only time she got to spend with her family so he didn't want to take up too much of it, and he was expecting a message from Ron soon to tell both of them to join him at the burrow, so the amount of time she'd get with them was already limited.

The evening before he was due to meet Hermione, she was heading to the Leaky Cauldron and he was going to help her floo powder to them, Y/N was sat downstairs eating alone. With term having ended not long-ago, Minerva was still grading some old exam papers that she hadn't managed to get around to before they'd started cleaning the spare room.

The journal sat open next to him and he was just re-reading certain passages. They'd had a really nice conversation about a trip she'd taken to a muggle amusement park called 'sea-world' a few days ago and he liked reading about it. He was musing about a particular passage, where Hermione had told him about an otter coming up to the glass and waving at her, when his mum stepped into the kitchen and sat herself down across from him.

He closed the book and looked up at her, she looked tired but relieved.

'All done?'

She merely nodded in response as she flicked her wand and the soup she'd made began pouring itself into a bowl and floating across the room towards her.

'I wanted to get it all done before Miss Granger arrived. I'd hardly be a good host if I spent her entire visit locked up in my study.'

'She'd have understood I'm sure, she knows you're a Professor after all.' but Minerva simply shrugged.

'Speaking of Miss Granger,' she said, looking over her glasses at him. Y/N felt oddly like he was being interrogated suddenly. 'Have you thought anymore about what I said at Christmas?'

'Yeah…' said Y/N slowly, trying to avoid her gaze. He was worried that if he looked at her he'd give himself away, but apparently not making eye contact was enough too.

'I told you,' said Minerva smugly. 'I told you that whilst you may not have seen it at the time, what you felt for her was more than just friendship.'

'I still don't know,' said Y/N. 'I miss her a lot, but I don't know if I like her like that. It's still difficult to know,' he was lying through his teeth, he knew it, but some part of him still wasn't sure. It was a tiny part, but he was calling on that now in the hopes he could convince his mum.

'Despite the way I've seen you staring at your journal waiting for her response, or flicking back through it when you aren't talking to her.' He could hear the smirk on her lips and he finally caved.

'Alright fine, I think I like her okay? I want to wait till I see her before I say for sure.'

'Why do you? If you know then you know, Y/N. When are you going to tell her?'

'I'm not,' he said stubbornly and Minerva shook her head at him. 'I have time, I want to make sure I'm not just missing her. And besides, I don't need to rush into anything. We've got ages.'

'We'll see how well you hold onto that as the year continues,' said Minerva as she smirked again.

'What does that mean?'

'That means that if you haven't seen what Miss Granger has been doing then I'm not going to tell you, I'll leave it till she decides she's sick of you being dense.'

And laughing at the insulted look on Y/N's face, Minerva returned to her food.

The next morning, Y/N awoke earlier than he normally would. He wasn't sure why he'd awoken but he was wide awake. He clambered out of bed and made his way over to the wardrobe, checking his reflection in the mirror in the inside of it. He'd gotten even taller over the summer and he had a few scrapes that were fading across his face from where he'd been thrown around in the battle against Quirrell.

He caught himself subconsciously messing with his hair and trying to straighten his clothes before he'd even put them on and shook his head.

'It's only Hermione,' he stepped out of his room and made his way over to the bathroom. One shower later and he was back checking over his clothes.

'Too casual?' he muttered, pulling out a t-shirt and holding it against his chest. He shook his head and swapped it out for a button-up. 'Far too smart,' and he hung it back up. He was grateful his mum had told him how to dress like a muggle. He thought the clothes suited him.

'Good to know you don't care about her like that,' said a voice from the door and he looked across to see the familiar smirk of his mother, but she quickly retreated from the room as Y/N's shoe flew towards the door.

Twenty minutes later and he'd finally chosen what clothes to wear, and after a failed attempt to style his hair he'd made his way downstairs. There was a note resting on the table and a small pan simmering away in the kitchen. Y/N made his way forward and scooped up the note.

Reheated leftovers for breakfast, the headmaster summoned me. Should be home for early afternoon. Mum.

He folded the note up and tucked it away before making his way over to the fireplace. He'd agreed to meet Hermione early so he'd leave the pot going and go pick her up. He scooped up the small pouch of powder hanging next to the fireplace and threw a sprinkling of it into the fire, and he stepped in with a cry of 'The Leaky Cauldron!'

He'd barely stepped out of the fire when he heard a cry and something collided with his chest. He staggered slightly hugging the figure back as he heard Hermione's voice ringing into his ear.

'I missed you!'

'I missed you too,' he said laughing as he pulled her off him. 'But you don't have to break my bones over it.'

Hermione beamed back up at him, that familiar smile with her slightly large front teeth. Y/N felt the butterflies in his stomach rise up with a fury he'd never felt before.

'Well,' he thought, 'that solves that doesn't it?'

'You got everything?' he asked smiling down at her and she nodded excitedly.

'I have enough for a week just in case, you never know what's going to happen.' Did she sound hopeful?

'Well, mum had to pop out, but she left food on before she went and we've got plenty of time so let's get your stuff back and then we can always drop by the alley later and have a look around?' Hermione nodded at him excitedly, and with a wave to Tom he pulled the pouch back out of his pocket. 'You used floo powder before?'

She shook her head, looking slightly nervously at the fire.

'It's alright,' he said placing a hand on her shoulder, her face immediately brightened. He explained how to use the powder and then once he was fairly sure she had it, he handed her a pinch.

'You go first. If you pronounce it wrong, I'll say it the same way and follow.' Hermione nodded and threw the powder into the fire and vanished. He was fairly sure she'd gotten it correct so with her suitcase in one hand, Y/N stepped into the fire, throwing the powder down and a moment later, stepped out of his fireplace.

He hit something hard and threw out his hand, his arm wrapped around Hermione before she fell and he pulled her back up. Suddenly, she was pressed up against his chest. He looked down as she looked up at him, she was blushing slightly.

'Nice catch,' she said weakly, staring up into his eyes.

'Thanks,' he muttered. He knew he should let go, but he couldn't. He was getting lost in her eyes.

'Hey Y/N,' came her voice. 'You can let go of me now.'

'Right, yeah,' said Y/N, going red as he released her. He could have sworn he'd seen Hermione smirking but he purposefully kept his eyes off her and made his way over to the kitchen, dropping her suitcase at the side of the room as he began sorting breakfast for both of them.

The rest of the morning passed without Y/N making any more of a fool of himself. They spent the meal chatting about anything and everything they could think of; day to day life, classes, what this year may bring. After a short while, Y/N hauled Hermione's trunk upstairs, despite her protests, and showed her the room she'd be staying in.

'Tidied up the desk for you,' he said pointing to it, 'so you can use it if you want to read or anything in the evening, and the wardrobe has been cleared out so you can hang your clothes up if you don't want to keep them in the trunk.' Hermione was looking around in awe and then turned to him, beaming.

'It's brilliant Y/N! Thank you!'

'Was mum's idea,' he said as he sat down on the bed and Hermione moved over to join him. 'We haven't used this room in a while and she likes you. Had to get it all cleaned up, apologies if you find any dust or anything anywhere.' but Hermione shook her head.

'It's perfect.'

Y/N left to let her get settled in. He scooped up the still half asleep Ves and carried her downstairs, allowing her to rest on the table as he watched her. A short while later and Hermione re-joined them. She stroked Ves' plumage and watched as the owl's eyes fluttered open and she hooted happily upon seeing who was there.

'She really likes you,' said Y/N beaming as Ves hopped over to Hermione and started nuzzling her hand.

'I didn't even do anything,' said Hermione, but she too was smiling as she kept stroking the owl.

'Ves is a good judge of character.'

'What's the plan then?' asked Hermione, her eyes still on Ves.

'Mum says she'll be back soon, as far as I know she wants to drop by Diagon Alley to pick up some stuff, we don't have our supply lists yet but we can always just go and have a look around?'

'Sounds brilliant,' said Hermione. 'Oh, did you finish the essay from Professor Binns? I'm worried I haven't written enough.'

'Let me guess, four rolls despite him asking for two?'

Hermione went slightly red and muttered, 'Only three and a half.'

Y/N laughed and moved off upstairs to grab his essay.

Not long after Y/N had made lunch for both of them, the fireplace turned emerald green and out stepped Minerva McGonagall. She looked like she'd swallowed saltwater.

'Hi Professor McGonagall!' said Hermione brightly.

'Please, Miss Granger, its Minerva whilst we're outside of school,' she said, smiling at her and Y/N.

'Then I'm Hermione.'

'Very well Hermione. Doing okay, Y/N?'

'Yeah, are you?' he asked looking at her. 'You look like Dumbledore told you you'd have to give up the house cup.'

McGonagall had spent much of the summer holidays so far moving it around the house. As much as she wouldn't verbally admit it, she was very proud to be able to hold onto it.

'You know me, Y/N. I would never speak ill of a colleague.'

'Whoever it is, they aren't your colleague at the moment,' Y/N said. 'Right now you're my mother, you aren't our head of house.'

McGonagall shook her head but seemed as though she needed to get it off her chest and sat down with them. Ves hopped over to see her.

'Have either of you heard of Gilderoy Lockhart?' she asked as she ran her hand over Ves' head.

Y/N shook his head but he heard Hermione gasp.

'He's the handsome wizard who did all of those amazing things isn't he? Banishing the Bandon Banshee and winning Witch Weekly's most charming smile award?'

Y/N felt a stab in his stomach. Was he jealous?

'Allegedly,' said McGonagall harshly and Y/N turned his eyes on her. Hermione looked shocked. 'I am not doubting that something rid the world of the Bandon Banshee. However, I am doubting that it was Gilderoy Lockhart. The man barely knows which way to hold his wand.'

Y/N laughed harshly, but Hermione looked shocked.

'But he has all those books about the incredible things he did!'

'Hermione, if one word of it was actually true then I will eat my hat, however I struggle to believe the man is in any way capable. However, that aside, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the headmaster to hire a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and it would appear as though Gilderoy has taken to wanting the job. Probably wants to promote himself to the students.' Y/N could hear the hatred in his mother's voice, he'd rarely heard her speak of anyone like this.

Hermione seemed torn; she'd read all about him being incredible, but now suddenly one of the greatest witches of their age and one she heavily looked up to was calling him a fraud.

'Is that what the note was about?' asked Y/N. 'Were you going to interview him?'

'In a manner of speaking,' said Minerva. 'We don't really interview for the Defence position, it's that difficult to get anyone it's pretty much just if you apply, you'll get it. But we still need to keep it professional. Personally, circumstances allowing, I wouldn't have hired him at all, and I don't believe the headmaster would of either, but he has been our only application. It is worrying to say the least.'

'Don't like the sound of him,' said Y/N grumpily and took a swig of his drink. He could have sworn he'd watched Hermione and his mum share a glance before Minerva said

'Is that because you don't like what I've told you or because Hermione called him handsome?'

Y/N choked and Hermione moved around the table to thump him on the back. He didn't dare look at her.

'Which also means,' said Minerva darkly once Y/N had caught his breath. 'That your supply list will most likely contain every single one of his books. The man doesn't do things by halves. If he does get the job, which I can see happening, I have a favour to ask of both of you.'

They both looked at her.

'Normally I'd just ask Y/N this, he's my eyes amongst the student body even if I pretend I have none,' said Minerva, looking at Hermione. 'However I dare say I can trust you,' and Hermione nodded excitedly. 'I want you to keep an eye on him. Lessons, corridors, anywhere you can. I want to know if my suspicions are warranted or if he simply had a bad interview.'

'I'm sure 'Mione won't mind keeping an eye on him,' said Y/N, earning him a punch on the arm from his bushy haired friend, who'd taken the seat next to him following his coughing fit.

'Of course Minerva,' she said. 'If you don't think he's capable then there must be a reason. We'll both watch him carefully.'

'You changed your tune quickly,' said Y/N, rubbing his arm gingerly.

'Well, if he really is a fraud I'd rather it get called out, and I know full well your mum isn't,' she said shrugging at him. 'If she doubts his ability, there must be a reason. He's not even that good looking to be honest.'

'You'd kill Harry and Ron if mum told you to,' said Y/N smirking.

'Minerva knows best,' she smirked back and both Y/N and Minerva burst into laughter.

They spent another half an hour or so berating Lockhart before eventually the three of them gathered around the fire and travelled back to The Leaky Cauldron, making their way into Diagon Alley.

'I need to stop by Gringotts and then make sure I have enough supplies for the year,' said Minerva as they watched the wall of bricks slide away, revealing the alley. 'I shouldn't be more than a couple of hours; we'll meet back here?'

With a nod, Y/N and Hermione began making their way along, chatting excitedly about the window displays of many of the nearby stores. Y/N dragged Hermione over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, but this time got talked down by her as she paid for the two of them instead.

Eventually they wound up outside Flourish and Blotts to be met with a large and rather gaudy sign hung in almost every window and a banner over the door.

GILDEROY LOCKHART

will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

August 16th 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

'I swear to Merlin,' muttered Y/N looking up at the banner. 'If this tells me anything about his personality, it's going to be a long year.'

'It does seem a bit much…' said Hermione.

'A bit? 'Mione, the banner is practically burning itself into my retinas,' it had now started flashing multiple different colours. 'That feels like a health hazard,' he said, shielding his eyes from it.

'Well we'll just have to keep an eye on him won't we? That may be a good chance to get some early scouting in. We could even write to Ron and Harry and tell them to meet us here that day. I imagine we'll of had our book lists by then.'

'True,' said Y/N. 'Just need Harry to actually respond to us. Guessing you've still heard nothing?' Hermione shook her head. 'Need to get him one of the journals. Ron was saying he was planning something if he doesn't respond soon.'

'Was he!? Ron never told me that!' said Hermione, shocked.

'Course he didn't. You'd have tried to stop him or tell him off. Ron's afraid of you.'

'Good, he should be,' said Hermione grumpily. 'Wait, so why did you tell me?'

Y/N shrugged. 'Because I trust you? Didn't really think about it to be honest.'

Hermione beamed and hooked her arm around his. 'Should we go check out that Rosa Lee Teabag place? It looks quite nice.'

The rest of their time in the alley was spent inside the tiny little teahouse. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was a nice place to get out of the hustle and bustle of the alley. It felt right being here with Hermione. Even when conversation fell off, the silence was comfortable and the two found something else to talk about, you'd think they had all the topics in the world to burn through. Y/N found himself wanting to treasure this moment, just the two of them, he knew once school started up again, they wouldn't get many more opportunities.

His mind wandered onto the thing she'd said in the Hospital Wing at the end of the last year.

'Take me on a date one day to make up for it'

Was this a date? It felt like one. Part of him wanted it to be one, but they'd not confirmed it had they? And didn't he have to actually ask her out first? This was just a day out between friends, yeah, friends.

But he couldn't help but feel his stomach lurch slightly as if trying to force him forward. He shook himself slightly and re-engaged Hermione in talks about life in Muggle school.

A while later and he and Hermione had moved over to the Leaky Cauldron. Y/N introduced Hermione to Tom the barman and he provided them both free pumpkin juice as they told him about their first year.

Tom was a good audience, even gasping when Y/N told him about the encounter with the troll and even Hermione seemed lost in his story telling. She was staring at his face, looking as though she was a million miles away. He found himself glancing at her regularly. And he noticed that, every time, he was glad to see she was still watching him.

Just as he was telling the story of the forest, Minerva returned to the bar. Tom looked a little bit disappointed at not being able to hear the rest of the story, but Y/N promised him he'd finish it once he came back to pick up his school supplies. Then he, Hermione and Minerva took the fireplace back to their house.

The rest of the evening was spent relaxing. His mum turned on the wizarding wireless, and The Weird Sisters played across the house. Y/N was still unsure on them but Hermione seemed to like them. After a while, Minerva bid them both good night and headed off upstairs.

They were sat on the floor in front of the roaring fire in a comfortable silence, Hermione propped up against one of the nearby armchairs reading a book she'd bought in Diagon Alley whilst Y/N idly watched Pippa soar around the room, before Hermione suddenly snapped the book shoot and stood up.

Y/N looked at her in alarm but she walked over and held out her hand to him, he took it and she pulled him to his feet, placing his hand around her waist and grabbing the other firmly in her own.

'I don't dance,' he said quickly.

'I don't care,' she responded and she wrapped her free arm around him and began swaying.

His resistance soon crumbled and before long the two were swaying slowly along with the music, moving their way slowly around the kitchen. Y/N's mind wandered backwards.

This time last year he'd been wondering how things were going to go for his first year at Hogwarts. He had no proper friends, but he was excited at the prospect of making them. And now here he was, dancing with his best friend. The girl he liked. He remembered how much she said she'd packed for her visit.

''Mione,' he said quietly and she turned her eyes on him. 'You said you packed for a week right?'

She nodded.

'Did you want to stay for the full week?'

Hermione's face cracked into one of the largest smiles he'd ever seen on it.

'Of course I would,' she said before placing her head against his chest as they continued swaying.

'I'd offer longer but I dare say you'd want to get back to your family.'

'I can write to them?' she said. 'See what they say, I doubt they'll mind.'

'That's up to you, the summer is when you get to see them. I don't want you missing out on that.'

'It's not like I'll never see them again, and besides, I did miss you a lot. Plus it's easier to get to Diagon Alley and stuff from here.'

Y/N felt his face get hotter but he was smiling.

'Then if you want to ask them go ahead, I doubt mum will complain.'

They spent the next two songs dancing slowly around the room before eventually breaking apart. With both of them quite red in the face, they said their good nights and both went back to their bedrooms.

Minerva had no problem with Hermione spending the rest of the summer holidays with them and neither did Hermione's parents. They compromised with Hermione by getting her to promise she'd join them on their holiday to France the next year, which she had been intending to go on anyway so it was a win-win.

Around two days into Hermione's visit, they returned to The Leaky Cauldron to pick up the rest of Hermione's belongings. Y/N finished telling Tom his story of their First Year as Hermione took her parents around Diagon Alley to show them what it was like.

They told Mr and Mrs Granger what day they'd be returning to buy their school supplies, assuming they had their lists by then, and then made their way back.

Much of their next week went by uneventfully, until one day there was a loud banging sound from upstairs whilst Y/N and Hermione were working on a Potions Essay for Snape.

'Ves?' called Y/N but he heard no response. A moment later and a large brown lump of feathers came soaring down the stairs and almost crashed into the wall. Y/N stood up and caught the ball before it could hit anything else and set it down on the table.

It was Errol, Ron's owl. The owl was very old and Y/N was surprised he was even still capable of delivering letters. He saw the scroll tied to its leg and unrolled it with Hermione reading over his shoulder.

Dear Y/N

It's been too long, Fred and George have come up with an idea and we're going to go get Harry, if nothing has wrong then we'll leave and send mum and dad to do it properly, but this isn't like him. There's something wrong. I'm going to need your help on how to break this to Hermione. She'll yell at me if I tell her what we're doing but she'll want to know. What do you recommend? Quicker you can respond the better, we're going tomorrow night.

Ron

Y/N laughed.

'Yeah sure, I'll recommend what you should tell her Ron.' and Hermione smacked him on the arm.

'Makes me wonder what they're doing that they need to be afraid of what I'll say,' she said.

'Knowing that it's Fred and George's idea, probably something bad, but at the end of the day we can't stop them. Nor do I want to. If Harry is in trouble I'd rather we helped.' and Hermione nodded.

'As long as they don't get him hurt…'

'It's Ron, he wouldn't hurt his boyfriend.' and Hermione laughed as Y/N pulled a nearby loose bit of parchment towards him and wrote.

Ron

Bad news for you mate, Hermione is staying with me and she read your letter over my shoulder. Good news, she's not going to yell, yet. Bad news, she's not happy. But as long as you tell us what's going on and don't drag only half of Harry back she won't yell. We're intending to drop by Diagon Alley on August 16th so if you get the chance, bring Harry and meet us there. Let us know if we can help in anyway.

Y/N

He tied the note back to Errol's leg and guided him out of their backdoor so he couldn't crash into anything else.

'It's not nice of you to lie to your friend like that,' said Hermione as he sat back down.

'What do you mean?'

'I'm definitely going to yell at him even if he brings all of Harry back.'

'Yeah but it's more fun if I don't tell him that,' smirked Y/N.

That evening however, Y/N was awoken by a loud thumping noise as Errol once again collided with the roof of his bedroom

'Get down here,' he whispered at the owl as Errol flew recklessly around the room. He snatched him out of the air and sat him down on the edge of the bed and he pulled off the rolled of piece of parchment and read.

Y/N

Just for that you can come with us, I don't believe that she's not going to yell at us but frankly Harry is more important than that. Like I said, we're going tomorrow night, send us your address and we'll come pick you up and you can come and help. If I'm getting yelled at for this you are too.

Ron

Y/N shook his head and looked at Errol.

'Wait here,' he said. 'I'll send you back but I'll send Ves with the letter. Give you a bit of a break,' Errol hooted appreciatively and Y/N crept out of his bed and across to the door to Hermione's room. He knocked gently and heard a quiet.

'Come in.'

He opened the door an inch and slipped inside, Hermione was sat in her pyjamas on the chair in front of her desk. She looked like she was writing something but she quickly folded it up as Y/N walked in.

'What's up?' she asked and Y/N handed her the note. 'He's an arse,' she said as she finished reading it.

'Not going to yell at me are you?' said Y/N pretending to look scared and she just shook her head at him.

'I'd rather know Harry was safe, and I trust you to keep the Weasley's in check.'

'You shouldn't,' said Y/N honestly. 'Ron maybe, but there's no chance I'm keeping Fred and George in check, even mum can't manage that. Just do me a favour and buy me time if I'm not back in the morning? From what Ron said, his house is connected to the floo network so I just need to make sure I take some powder with me, but I don't know when we're going to get back.'

Hermione nodded then hesitated, she looked as though she wanted to say something.

'You okay 'Mione?' she nodded slowly.

'Whilst I've got you here. You want to stay and chat a bit more? I can't sleep.' Y/N nodded and pulled her up by her arm, leading her over to the bed. She settled herself into it as Y/N sat at the foot.

They spoke for a while. Y/N watching as her eyes drooped more and more, but every time he went to leave she stopped him saying that she wasn't sleepy yet. Eventually he went on a long rant, telling Hermione about stories from past years of Hogwarts that Minerva had told him and eventually he heard her slow deep breathing.

He turned to look at her and saw she was fast asleep. He reached out and squeezed her hand and watched her face break into a smile, before standing up and heading back to his room.