'I'm sure it won't be that bad, Y/N.'

Thud, thud, thud

'Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?'

Thud, thud, thud

'Hit your head against the table again and I will freeze you until the end of the day.'

'Well that's just rude,' said Y/N, looking into Hermione's face.

They were sitting at the Gryffindor table for breakfast and Professor McGonagall had just moved passed, handing out their timetables. Y/N had taken one look at his and had immediately seen they had Defence Against the Dark Arts that afternoon. The moment he had, the table and his forehead had begun becoming well-acquainted.

'And so is just giving up without giving him a chance,' said Hermione, sliding a bowl of cereal under where he'd just been hitting his head so he wouldn't do it again.

'I did give him a chance in Flourish and Blotts. He proved he was a waste of space.'

'All he did was sign books and show off with Harry.'

'That is enough,' said Y/N matter of factly as Harry and Ron sank into the bench opposite them.

'What's eating you up?' Ron asked.

'He's upset because we have Professor Lockhart's lesson this afternoon,' said Hermione and Harry groaned.

'Tables pretty good company if you need it mate,' said Y/N, gazing longingly down onto the wooden surface, but Hermione held her hand between his eyes and the table to stop him, which in turn allowed Ron to lean over and pick up her timetable.

'Oh hey, Y/N,' he said smirking as he turned his eyes on the pair of them. 'Think Hermione has a message for you,' and he turned the paper to show Y/N the timetable.

Across the sides and top of the timetable were several small love hearts which all seemed to contain Y/N's name. He looked at the timetable in mild shock for a moment before Hermione took it back out of Ron's hand.

'I believe you've had long enough to look now, Ronald,' she said, folding it away inside her robes. She didn't look in the least bit embarrassed, Y/N however was red as a tomato. 'Double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs this morning,' she continued as if nothing had happened.

'Yeah, wonder what-' but Ron was cut off as Neville sank into a seat near them.

'Morning guys,' he said brightly. 'You okay Y/N?'

'Hmm, what, yeah, all good,' he said far too quickly, earning a giggle from Hermione and she threw him a wink.

Was she flirting with him?

'Mail's due any minute,' continued Neville, having missed the interaction. 'I think Gran's sending a few things I forgot.'

Sure enough, a short while later and a sea of owls fluttered in through the open windows and began swooping down to see them. A package fell down in front of Neville and Ves landed in front of Y/N with a small package wrapped around her leg. He quickly detached it and stuffed it inside his robes.

'What-' began Hermione, but she was interrupted as the plates around them were crushed by a large brown ball of feathers.

'That owl is going to do itself in, Ron,' said Y/N as Hermione extracted Errol from the jug he'd ended up in. He flopped down onto the table unconscious, a deep red envelope in his beak.

'Oh no,' said Ron.

'It's all right, he's still alive,' said Hermione, poking Errol gingerly.

'I think he's talking about the Howler,' said Y/N, pointing at the red envelope being held by the owl and Ron nodded solemnly. Neville too was looking at the letter as if expecting it to explode.

'What's the matter?' asked Harry.

'You'd better open it, Ron,' said Neville in a whisper. 'It'll be worse if you don't. My gran sent me one once and I ignored it, it was horrible.'

'Mums had them before too,' said Y/N. 'You don't teach without annoying some people, better to open it than see it catch fire.'

'What's a Howler?' Harry asked them but the envelope had now began producing smoke from the corners.

'If you don't do it I will, Ron,' said Y/N.

Ron stretched out a shaking hand and took the envelope before Errol and opened it. Neville stuffed his fingers in his ears and Y/N threw his hands around Hermione's as the letter exploded into a barrage of sound so loud it seemed to shake the ceiling.

'— STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE—'

Mrs Weasley's voice was echoing around the entire hall. Even the teachers had gone quiet and were watching on as the entire hall turned their attention to try and see who had received the letter. Ron slowly began to sink away into his seat.

'— LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED —'

Now it was Harry's turn to go red. He too began to try and avoid eye contact with anyone and seemed to slip a little bit away under the table. Meanwhile, Ron was down to only his eyes being seen above the wooden surface.

'— ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED, YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME.'

A bliss and welcome silence fell over the Gryffindor table as the letter shredded itself and burst into flame. Y/N gingerly took his hands away from Hermione's ears. His own were ringing.

A moment later and a few people laughed, and noise began to return to the Great Hall as people went back to their breakfasts

Hermione smiled appreciatively at Y/N before turning her eyes on the two boys.

'I don't know what you expected Ron, but-'

'Don't say I deserved it,' Ron cut across her.

'You kind of did,' said Y/N. 'What?' he added as Ron glared daggers at him. 'You only told 'Mione not to say it.'

Harry pushed his food away, looking ashamed. Y/N thought it was best to drop it here. He didn't want to mock them when they actually did feel bad for their actions. Besides, a moment later Professor McGonagall had swept up to the table handing out the rest of the timetables.

'Wait, how did you have yours already if she's only just doing it?' said Ron, looking at Y/N and Hermione.

'Teacher's favourite.'

Once Ron and Harry had recovered enough to eat something, the five of them stood up and made their way down towards the greenhouses. Neville moving off a little bit ahead, seemingly excited to return to his plants

As they approached, they saw the Hufflepuffs already gathered outside waiting for Professor Sprout. They gathered with their classmates and began chatting but before long Professor Sprout appeared, marching towards them, followed by Professor Lockhart.

'How is he everywhere?' hissed Y/N as he watched them approach.

Harry nudged him and pointed just past them towards the Whomping Willow, it was covered in bandages.

'Oh, hello there!' called Gilderoy brightly as he saw the assembled students. 'Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow. But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels.'

Y/N scoffed as Professor Sprout, looking rather irritable, interrupted the rest of Lockhart's speech.

'Greenhouse three today chaps!' and a murmur rippled through the assembled students. Greenhouse three housed the dangerous plants far more interesting than last years. Professor Sprout took a key from her belt and unlocked the door to the greenhouse. As they began to filter in, they heard Lockhart's voice from behind them.

'Harry! I've been wanting a word. You don't mind if I borrow him for a few minutes, Professor Sprout?'

Professor Sprout looked mutinous but Lockhart wheeled Harry around and wandered out of view with him. Ron, Hermione and Y/N set themselves up at one of the trays. Lying along it were piles of earmuffs. Y/N picked up the ones in front of him and placed them just off of his ears.

'Reckon pink's my colour?' he asked Hermione as he supported the fluffy pink earmuffs.

'Oh definitely,' she said, trying not to laugh. 'Really brings out… something.'

Y/N laughed as he took them off and placed them back down.

'Reckon it's Mandrakes?' he asked Hermione.

'Either that or Banshees,' said Hermione, 'and I doubt Professor Sprout has any of those lying around.'

'I should bloody hope not,' came Seamus' voice.

A short while later, Harry re-joined them looking disgruntled. The moment he joined the trio at their station, Professor Sprout began the lesson.

'We'll be repotting Mandrakes today.' Y/N and Hermione high fived under the table. 'Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake.'

Y/N had to duck sideways as Hermione's hand flew up past him into the air.

'Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state,' she reeled off.

'Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor. The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Can anyone tell me why?'

Once again, Hermione's hand almost knocked Y/N out as it shot into the air.

'The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it.'

'Precisely, take another ten points.'

'Good to know you weren't just zoning out into my face whilst we studied those,' said Y/N smirking at Hermione, but to his surprise this caused her to go pink.

'Now, the mandrakes here are still very young,' continued Professor Sprout and she pointed to a tow of trays. They shuffled forward and glanced inside. Rows upon rows of green and purple plants were growing. Y/N could see the marks on the leaves that made them seem almost like hair to the root like babies resting in the soil below.

'Everyone take a pair of earmuffs.'

Many students scrambled to pick up a pair that wasn't pink or fluffy. However, Y/N swept his up happily.

'When I tell you to put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered,' said Professor Sprout. 'When it is safe to remove them, I will give you the thumbs up. Right, earmuffs on!' They snapped their earmuffs over their heads and everything went quiet. The earmuffs blocked any and all sound.

Professor Sprout placed on her own pair before rolling up her sleeves and grabbing one of the leaf stems and pulled. The tiny root like baby appeared out of the pot, Y/N could see its face scrunched up and mouth wide open as it let out a cry that none of them could hear.

Professor Sprout pulled a pot out from under her workstation and thrust the Mandrake into it, before beginning to pile on the last of the soil, covering it completely. She gave a thumbs-up and then removed her own earmuffs.

'As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, they won't kill yet,' she said once everyone had removed their earmuffs. 'However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I'm sure none of you want to miss your first day back. Make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work. I will get your attention once we're done. Four to a tray, and watching out for the Venomous Tentacula, it's teething.'

She smacked away one of the plants that had been slowly creeping as if to strangle her which retreated and pulled away.

'Lot of people are threatening me with missing today,' said Y/N offhandedly as they made their way over to grab compost for repotting the Mandrakes. They began their work at the tray together alongside a group of Hufflepuffs. All bar one had gone to collect spare compost and the one turned to them as they returned.

'Justin Finch-Fletchley,' he said brightly, extending his hand towards Harry. 'Know who you are of course, the famous Harry Potter.'

'You're Hermione Granger, always top in everything,' Hermione looked ecstatic as she too shook Justin's hand. Y/N felt his stomach lurch with jealousy again.

'You're Y/N L/N. McGonagall's son. You helped stop Quirrell too didn't you?'

'And the troll at Halloween,' said Y/N as he shook Justin's hand a little bit more forcefully than normal. 'But he had it coming.'

'And you're Ron Weasley. Wasn't that your car?' Justin finished as he turned to Ron, Ron didn't look impressed. The Howler was clearly still bothering him.

'That Lockhart's something, isn't he?' said Justin happily as the quartet began filling their plant pots with dragon dung compost. 'Awfully brave chap. Have you read his books? I'd have died of fear if I'd been cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool and, zap, just fantastic.' Y/N bit his tongue. He didn't feel like annoying the friendly Hufflepuff.

'My name was down for Eton, you know. I can't tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course, Mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart's books I think she's begun to see how useful it'll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family...'

Justin was cut off from continuing however as his Hufflepuffs compatriots returned and the quartet finished placing the compost. They snapped their earmuffs back on and got to work.

The Mandrakes were wriggly little things, constantly fighting and struggling to avoid going back in the earth, despite how upset they seemed to be at being out of it. It really was like wrestling with slightly larger babies. All in all the lesson was interesting but exhausting, and almost all of them finished out of breath and covered in dirt.

They headed back up towards the castle to wash up, then began making their way towards Transfiguration.

'Any idea what she's got in store for us?' Harry asked Y/N and Hermione as they headed down the corridor.

'What makes you think I do?' asked Hermione.

'You stayed the summer with her, and you knew what Sprout was planning,' said Ron.

'Staying the summer with her doesn't mean she tells us anything. She's not that kind of woman,' said Y/N as they stepped into the classroom.

Y/N and Hermione took a shared desk next to Ron and Harry and waited for Professor McGonagall to appear. Once she'd arrived, she set them the task of turning a beetle into a button. It wasn't easy, not least of all because the beetle kept trying to scuttle away as they worked. Y/N squeezed his ring and Pippa fluttered up and wrapped one of its silver claws around the beetle, pinning it to the desk.

'Clever,' smiled Hermione as she immobilised her own.

They kept working at it, Ron apparently having very poor luck, sparks kept coming from their area off to the side and at one point, him and Harry seemed to get surrounded by a rather thick smoke that they both crawled out of, gagging. A short while later, he had to ask Professor McGonagall for a new beetle, having squashed his own.

Hermione managed the spell fully before Y/N. He watched as her beetles legs shrank and its body rounded and a perfect coat button sat on the table in front of them. He gave her a small round of applause which made her blush before turning his attention to his own.

After a few failed attempts, Hermione was guiding his hand by holding his wrist and he managed it, his own beetle formed into a perfect button and he threw her a radiant smile.

'Where would I be without you?' he said as he inspected the button.

The class came to an end and they all filtered out to head down to lunch, Hermione excitedly showed Ron and Harry her and Y/N's collections of buttons, which made both of them look very unhappy.

'What do you think Lockhart's lesson is going to be like?' asked Harry after a quick look at Ron's face.

'Awful I expect,' said Y/N bitterly and Hermione shook her head at him.

'Give him a chance Y/N! We haven't even seen what he can do yet.'

'Tell you what then, if we do this lesson, all goes swimmingly and he gives me no reason to complain, I will never insult him in front of you again. How does that sound?'

'Why did you clarify in front of me?'

'Because what I do in the safety of our dorm is for only our knowledge,' he said, gesturing at Harry and Ron who smirked.

'Fine,' she said smiling in spite of herself.

They finished their lunch and made their way outside, Hermione sat down on a stone nearby and Ron and Harry moved off a little ways chatting about Quidditch.

Y/N watched Hermione settle herself down, it was an odd feeling. He'd seen her do it a thousand times before but it all seemed so enrapturing now, he couldn't look away. The way she shifted her hair out of her face and swung her bag around to stop it being in the way.

'You just gonna stare or are you joining me?' Hermione said with a smirk.

'Don't be so good looking and I won't stare,' said Y/N without thinking. Hermione stammered and went scarlet and he could feel his own face warming up too. He hadn't even thought about it, he'd just said it. He looked away from her and at his own feet, he was about to make up some excuse and scurry away when she responded.

'You're one to talk. If I'm good looking then that makes you positively radiant.' If he didn't know her voice so well then he wouldn't have believed it was her. His eyes wandered up to her in shock. She was still pink in the face but she was smirking at him. He could see the challenge in her eyes, but also… was that hope?

'You won't mind if I sit right here then will you?' he said settling himself down so close next to her their legs were touching.

'Of course I won't, means I can do this,' and she let her head drop onto his shoulder. She reached into her bag and pulled out one of Lockhart's books and began reading it. Y/N pretended to but his mind was miles away.

He'd just accidentally flirted with Hermione, and not only had it embarrassed her. She'd done it back! She'd even called him good looking, or to use her words, radiant. He'd always thought her previous comments had been teasing, or jokes, but had she actually been flirting with him?

'What are they doing?' came a far-off whisper and his vision and mind refocused. He followed Hermione's gaze to Harry and Ron who had been joined now by multiple people.

There was a very small mousy-haired boy with a normal muggle camera hanging around his neck, and stood right behind him was Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

'Who's the kid?' Y/N whispered back.

'Think Malfoy said something about Harry giving out signed photos.'

Y/N sighed and got to his feet, Hermione snapped her book closed and followed cautiously.

'Everyone line up!' Malfoy called around as they approached. 'Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!'

'See you're front of the line Malfoy,' said Y/N as he swept up alongside them. Goyle stepped between Y/N and Malfoy, cracking his knuckles. 'I'm terrified,' he said dryly, looking at the boy.

'You're just jealous!' called Colin.

'Jealous?' laughed Malfoy. 'Of what? I don't want a foul scar right across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head cut open makes you that special, myself.'

'Does that mean if we cut yours open you'll shut up?' said Ron stepping forward. Crabbe now moved between him and Malfoy. Ron threw a look at Y/N who shook his head.

'Eat slugs Malfoy,' Ron spat, turning his attention back to the pale faced boy.

'Be careful Weasley,' sneered Malfoy. 'You don't want to start any trouble or your mummy'll have to come and take you away from school,' he put on a shrill, piercing voice. ''If you put another toe out of line-'' but he was cut off as Goyle went soaring backwards into him and the two collapsed to the floor. Crabbe turned to advance on Y/N but he pointed his wand at him.

'You couldn't even cast the hovering charm if your life depended on it Crabbe, don't try. You won't reach me.'

'What's all this, what's all this?' called a voice from behind them. Gilderoy Lockhart was striding across the grounds towards them as Goyle and Malfoy untangled themselves and got to their feet.

'L/N attacked me sir!' said Malfoy immediately but Lockhart didn't seem to be listening. His eyes were on the camera in Colin's hands.

'Who's giving out signed photos?' he called before scooping up Harry. 'Shouldn't have asked! We meet again Harry,' he called. Harry's face was burning but he was trapped to Lockhart's side. Malfoy looked furious and retreated into the crowd. Goyle threw Y/N a look before following Malfoy.

'The day he learns how to cast a spell, I'll be in trouble,' said Y/N quietly to Hermione.

'Come on then, Mr Creevey,' said Lockhart as he beamed at Colin. 'A double portrait, can't do better than that, and we'll both sign it.'

Y/N stepped forward and took the camera from Colin. 'Go join them mate, let whoever see all three of you.' Colin looked ecstatic as Lockhart swept him under his other arm and Y/N clicked the shutter. Colin thanked him over and over as the bell rang behind them. Lockhart, still with Harry under his arm, span and began wheeling him up towards the castle.

'That was really nice of you, Y/N,' said Hermione as she and Ron moved up next to him.

'Lockhart wasn't letting Harry out of it so I figured why not let him be in it too. There was no way to stop it so just make it the best we can for him.' Hermione beamed at him. Ron however, looked grumpy.

'Why did you stop me?' he asked as they made their own way back to the castle, and into the Great Hall.

'What do you mean?' Y/N asked.

'I look to you to see if we were fighting, you shook your head then you attacked.'

'Ron, your wand is that badly damaged, you'd have done more to yourself than them. If I'd have said yes we'd have been cleaning you off the courtyard. Any other time I whole heartedly stand by you helping and acting, but it would have only caused more harm there.'

''Suppose,' said Ron, but he still didn't look convinced.

'Look mate, I know what you can do. I taught you a spell last year for goodness sake. I'm not trying to claim credit, just your wand would have backfired.'

'Yeah, alright,' Ron trailed off. Y/N looked down at Hermione who shrugged. He made a mental note to check in with Ron later. Before long, they arrived outside Lockhart's classroom and entered. Harry was already present, at a desk at the very back hiding behind his stack of Lockhart books.

Ron sat down on Harry's left, Y/N took the seat to his right and Hermione next to Y/N.

'You could've fried an egg on your face,' said Ron to Harry. 'Best hope Colin doesn't meet Ginny or they'll be starting a Harry Potter fan club.'

'Shut up,' said Harry, which was lucky, because Y/N had been about to say the same thing.

The rest of the class steadily filtered in and before long they had all arrived. Lockhart cleared his throat and they all fell quiet. Lockhart scooped up Neville's copy of Travels with Trolls and held it up to show his own face.

'Me,' he said, pointing at the picture. Y/N's head swung towards the desk again but Hermione placed her hand in the way.

'Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award, but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!'

'You'd of made her scream you melt,' muttered Y/N and Harry had to hide behind his books so Lockhart didn't see him laughing.

'I see you've all bought a complete set of my books, well done,' Lockhart continued. 'I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about, just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in,' he swept around the room handing out the test papers before returning to the front of the class.

'You have thirty minutes.'

Y/N looked down at the quiz and read the first few questions.

1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?

2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?

3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?

There were three full sides of paper worth of this, leading all the way up to

54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?

As much as Y/N hated to admit it, he knew the answer to most of these questions. He had read all of Lockhart's books alongside Hermione over the summer. He'd hated the books, but had stayed for the company. But sadly that now meant he realised how much pointless information had been crammed into his brain.

He fumbled most of his answers, some genuine, others nonsense and one or two snide comments wondering whether Lockhart would actually read 54 questions from every single student present.

At the end of the thirty minutes, Lockhart swept around the classroom, gathering up the papers.

'Tut, tut, hardly any of you remembered that my favourite colour is lilac. I say so in 'Year with the Yeti'. And a few of you need to read 'Wanderings with Werewolves' more carefully. I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non-magic peoples, though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky!'

He winked at the class and Y/N was disappointed to see one or two of the girls swoon, though he was happier to see one of them wasn't Hermione. Dean and Seamus seemed to be trying very hard not to laugh.

'Sadly,' Lockhart continued, 'It would appear as no one got full marks, I'm disappointed,' he spoke as if he was joking, but their seemed to be some truth to his words. Y/N nudged Hermione.

'I knew all of those,' he whispered.

'And?' she replied.

'If I did then so do you.'

'What's your point?'

'Why is he saying no one got everything right?'

'I'm not answering 54 questions to feed our teachers vanity,' she hissed back, her eyes meeting Y/N's. 'He's not worth it.'

Y/N felt a flutter in his stomach. Ever since the scene in his kitchen, he'd always been grateful for the rare moments Hermione agreed with him on Lockhart being a waste of space. He turned his attention back to the front desk just as Lockhart placed something on top of it that seemed to be under some form of covering.

'Now be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm,' said Lockhart.

A mixture of shock and disappointment took over Y/N. He was surprised Lockhart had even managed to procure something so dangerous, never mind keep it inside his classroom. But he'd also really been hoping to be able to return to his mum and tell her how much of a fraud Lockhart was.

'I must ask you not to scream,' Lockhart said in a low voice, 'it might provoke them,' and Lockhart pulled off the covering.

'Yes!' the voice was as dramatic as his flourish of the cloth had been. 'Freshly caught Cornish pixies.'

'Oh dear Merlin,' came Hermione's voice as Seamus burst out laughing.

'Yes?' Lockhart said, smiling at Seamus.

'Well they're not very dangerous are they?' Seamus managed between laughing.

'Don't be so sure,' said Lockhart, wagging a finger. 'Devilish tricky little blighters they can be.'

The pixies were a very light blue and very small, their voices were so high pitched they sounded almost like birds and they were all fluttering around the cage making noises and rude faces at the class.

'Still believe it won't be that bad?' Y/N asked Hermione who simply shook her head.

'Right then,' said Lockhart. 'Let's see what you make of them,' and he opened the cage.

The pixies flew in all directions, two swooped down and picked Neville up before hanging him from the chandelier, a few flew straight through the windows causing them to shatter and the rest began flying around and tearing apart the room. Y/N and Hermione quickly stuffed their books back away in their bag but Y/N quickly pulled one out again as a pixie flew straight at Hermione's face. He smacked the pixie so hard it went sailing across the room and through another one of the windows.

'Come on now — round them up, round them up, they're only pixies,' called Lockhart from the front of the class as he raised his wand. 'Peskipiksi Pesternomi!' It did nothing. A pixie flew by, taking Lockhart's wand and throwing it out of the window too. Lockhart looked in shock, and as he did a straining sound echoed around the room as the chandelier began to give way. Y/N drew his wand

'Arresto Momentum!' he pointed his wand at Neville as the boy began to fall and Neville slowed, meanwhile Hermione too had drawn her wand and cried.

'Immobulus!' several of the nearby pixies froze in their acts just as the bell rang. The rest of the class began making a mad dash towards the door, but the quartet remained. Lockhart straightened up.

'Well, you seem to have this under control, I'll ask you lot to just nip the rest of them back into their cage,' and he began moving towards the door too. Y/N turned his wand on him but Hermione pushed it down and shook her hand.

'Pixies first.'

'Fine,' he muttered darkly and he turned his attention back to the rampaging pixies.

'Can you believe him?' asked Ron as one pixie seemed to sink its tiny little teeth into his ear.

Y/N ducked as one went soaring towards him and Hermione hit it full in the face with another freezing charm. Y/N caught it and hurled it in the direction of the cage.

It took around 5 minutes of well-placed freezing charms from Y/N and Hermione coupled with the seeker skills of Harry and the surprising tenacity of Ron to get the rest of the pixies back inside the cage.

'Colloportus,' said Harry, pointing his wand at the cage as Y/N turned his eyes onto Neville who was still in the classroom with them.

'You alright Neville?' asked Y/N.

'Yeah, thanks Y/N. That's the second time you've saved me with that spell.'

'It's a useful trick,' said Y/N. 'Wish I knew where I'd picked it up from. Just sort of used it that first time and then I've been able to cast a weaker version of the spell ever since.'

'Well, I still appreciate it, a lot,' said Neville and he left hurriedly.

'You remember this morning-' Y/N began, turning back to the other three.

'Shut up Y/N,' said Hermione, not looking at him.

'When you said it wouldn't be that bad-'

'Shut. Up. Y/N.'

'And that I was just overreacting-'

'Last warning.'

'I don't think I was,' he said as he turned his back on them.

'Petrificus Totalus.'

Y/N felt his entire body freeze, his arms snapped to his side and his legs slammed together, he wobbled dangerously and he toppled over. His heart was racing, his pulse quickened. He began to fight it, struggle in place, he even forced his fingers to move a couple of times despite the enchantment.

'Hermione, remove it,' came a voice from somewhere nearby.

'I warned him, Harry-' came another.

'No! Remove it! Now!' yelled the first.

Y/N felt his arms and legs unlock and he scrambled away from the trio, his breathing was heavy and his wand was in his hand. He aimed it at the three of them. Ron looked alarmed; Hermione frightened but Harry had his hands raised in a surrender.

'It's us, Y/N. Just us. Nothing's happening, nothing's going wrong. It's just us.'

Y/N breathed heavily as he felt the panic leaving his body, his muscles relaxed and the adrenaline began to leave his system. He stumbled and Harry moved forward immediately, supporting him down onto a desk.

'Sorry,' said Y/N weakly but Harry shook his head.

'Of all the spells Hermione…' Harry said looking at her.

Hermione looked confused for a moment before she clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes began swimming with tears. Ron, however, still didn't get it.

'What?' he asked, looking around at them all.

'Last year Ron,' said Harry. 'After Y/N wandered off, Quirrell attacked him remember, and he hit him with-'

'The full body bind,' said Ron, suddenly understanding.

Y/N shook his head.

'Silly, should have known it was you guys. Foolish, just, memories,' he said distantly but Harry shook his head again.

'What happened, happened mate, we don't choose what affects us and what doesn't.' Y/N nodded slowly.

'Thanks Harry,' said Y/N. 'I'm okay now, would you mind giving me and Hermione a moment alone?'

'Course not,' said Harry, getting up and moving to follow Ron who had already turned to leave. 'We'll see you at dinner?' Y/N nodded and the two boys left.

Y/N walked over to Hermione, she turned away from him, hiding her face. So instead he wrapped his arms around the back of her. That was enough to tip her over the edge.

She turned towards him and threw her arms around him, her entire body heaving with sobs as she cried into his chest. They stood there for a while, Y/N slowly stroking her hair whilst Hermione tried to get control of herself.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she turned her eyes onto his, they were very red and bloodshot and his weren't much better. He'd been silently crying too.

'Sorry doesn't even begin to make up for that,' she said, 'but I am so, so sorry.'

'You didn't know,' he said. 'None of us could have, even me. It was just another prank and just another spell. Anything could have happened.'

'I should have been smarter, should have realised. Harry picked up on it before I did.'

'You were cross at me; I doubt you were even looking after you cast the spell.'

'That doesn't mean-'

''Mione, shut up.' She went quiet, gazing up into his face. 'It was an accident. None of us thought that would happen, myself included. I don't know why it happened. I knew where I was, who I was with, but it just felt so similar. The classroom, the spell, being caught off guard. It was apparently too much.'

Hermione squeezed him and he squeezed her back, she buried her face in his chest.

'I've never seen you like that before,' she said quietly. 'It was scary, you looked ready to take on the school.'

'I felt it too,' he said. 'I was prepared to hex all of you and get the hell out of here. I've never felt anything like that.'

'Y/N. Please, talk to me, tell me about what happened. Again. I know I've heard it all but there must still be some parts of it that you are struggling with or can't deal with. I know I can't solve the problems, but I want to know so I can help with them. Share them with you,' she looked up into his eyes.

There they were, those beautiful brown orbs, even when this red they still held their wonderful colour. He nodded.

'Of course, but not now. Let's head down to dinner, we can talk about this later.'

'Can we stay here, together? Just for a little while.' Y/N nodded. Together they sat, arms around each other, without saying a word. After an amount of time neither of them knew. They got up together and, hand in hand, made their way down towards the Great Hall.