A/N: I've had the idea of writing this fic for a while now, and I'm excited to see where it takes us. I especially thought it would be interesting to learn a bit more about Barnaby Lee before the MC befriends him. I do hope you enjoy this multi-chapter story!

Portions of this one-shot were borrowed directly from the game, which I do not own.

Year 3: An Unexpected Partnership

Being the son of two Death Eaters was a badge Barnaby Lee could never shed from his past. So instead of running from it, he embraced it and the reputation that followed. Students kept their distance from him, his past and reputation making him near unapproachable, and maybe that was for the best. To be feared was a form of power after all and Barnaby Lee was determined to be a force to be reckoned with. Many claimed he was the strongest wizard in their year, and he would say they were right. Between his physical strength and his undeniable talent for dueling, he was not someone to be trifled with. Rumor had it he even beat a 5th year once. No older student dared to face him for fear that humiliation would soon follow suit. Power and strength were ingrained in Barnaby for as long as he could remember. There was no room for weakness or hesitation. Doubt and misjudgments were unacceptable. Power was not meant for the faint of heart, emotions were to be smothered, no matter how hard they tried to claw their way out.

These were the things his father had instilled in him since he was a young boy. Barnaby strived in every aspect to make his parents proud, yet he always had come up short- always a disappointment. They were gone now, locked away in Azkaban, the sound of their voices long forgotten, but the expectation for strength still thrummed within him. It was the least he could do, he owed it to them after all they had sacrificed to show him the meaning of strength. So he would become powerful. And he was. His parents would be proud to see their Slytherin son already feared by half the school- and a 3rd year at that. Yet something ached within him- an overwhelming and hopeless feeling of being lost. It was as if he were a small boy again, fleeing from their home as the Aurors came to capture his Death Eater parents all those years ago.

A frown creased his brow as he absently played with the blood pudding and sausages on his plate. A burble of laughter erupted from across the Great Hall as a group of Gryffindors giggled at some unheard joke. He glanced up to see her. Arah Annon. Or as the school like to call her; 'Mad Annon' or the 'Cursed Girl'. Rumors swirled around the school that she could often be heard muttering madly to herself, claiming she can hear her dead brother (although, she swears he is only "missing"). Misfortune seemed to follow her everywhere she went- many blamed her for the latest Boggart crisis in the school. Students kept their distance, afraid that if they got too close to her, they might become cursed themselves. His stomach churned as he watched her laugh, nostrils flaring between each fit of giggles. He scowled turning back to his plate, smearing his food into an unidentifiable pile of mush.

Her words from earlier played in his head like a Fwooper's song, driving him mad.

"Why are you even working for her? She's terrible to everyone. Especially you." Arah had challenged him after a particularly explosive potions class.

Barnaby knew the answer. Merula was cunning, she was resourceful, and her tongue was as razor-sharp as her mind. And if anyone could find the legendary Cursed Vaults, it was her. It was why he didn't hesitate when Merula approached him, asking for help uncovering the castle's most ancient secrets. The Cursed Vaults were rumored to hold untold power and fortune. If he could become even stronger, he would be unstoppable. Maybe, just maybe, this pathetic feeling eating away at him would finally go away. He would never feel helpless again like he did all those years ago when his parents were taken away.

"I don't work for her. We're partners."

"Has she ever let you make a decision? Does she ever share her plans with you? Has she ever thanked you for anything?" she arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms confidently.

Barnaby furrowed his brow, the words stirring up uncomfortable sediment, clouding his thoughts from any sound judgment. "...what do you want, Annon?"

Arah straightened her posture, tucking her silver hair behind her shoulders as if she were about to give a lecture on the 10 different uses of Flobberworm mucus. "Merula is using you. I want you to work with us instead." her golden eyes met his, unwavering.

Barnaby wasn't sure why he ever entertained such an offer, he clearly wasn't thinking. His eyes narrowed. "Why do you think I can help you?"

Arah's resolute demeanor softened, "I know how hard it is to find and enter a Cursed Vault. I've heard you're the most powerful wizard in our year. I promise I won't boss you around. I won't call you names. I'm not like Merula. I just want your help. I need to find my brother."

Barnaby's father would have found such groveling pathetic... yet, Barnaby found a deep part of himself intrigued by Arah Annon; captured by the way she held herself upright and unashamedly so, despite all that was said about her. Something about her chipped away at the armor he had worked so hard to build and he cursed himself for it.

But Arah Annon was weak in every sense as one could be. She relied too heavily on her 'heart' and put too much trust in 'others'. Barnaby's father would scoff at such frailty. If there was anything Barnaby had learned over the years it was to never rely on anyone but himself. So Barnaby snuffed the flame that had flickered ever so gently in his hardened heart and responded as appropriately as he should: by threatening to vanish every bone in her body if he crossed paths with her again.

The flicker of disappointment did not go unnoticed before Arah furrowed her eyebrows intently, "I don't want to be your enemy Barnaby Lee, but if you stand in my way, you'll answer to my wand." She had said with such Gryffindor fervor he didn't know whether to laugh or gag. No one had ever dreamed to threaten Barnaby Lee, the strongest wizard in their year. It was almost respectable. Almost.

"You don't want to fight me, Arah. I've never lost a duel." he scoffed.

She simply shrugged, "You're right, I don't. I have more important things to do." And with that, she turned and left him alone in the dungeon hallway, her words echoing in his head long after their confrontation.

It wasn't like him to feel so... so unsettled, and by 'Mad Annon' no less. But he couldn't stop thinking about it- about her. He concluded it was merely a sense of respect for her boldness, something he seldom felt for anyone.

Another wave of laughter brought Barnaby back from his trance. "Do they ever shut up?" Ismelda hissed. "I swear on Salazar's grave, I'm hexing the first Gryffindor that crosses me today."

"Absolutely insufferable- the lot of them." Merula chided. "Especially Annon. Which is why we need to find the Cursed Vault before her. I can't wait to see the look on her face once she realizes we got to it first." she smirked wickedly.

"But we've searched the entire castle, Merula," Ismelda groaned. "We should cast the Cruciatus Curse on them to see what they know. Torture makes everyone talk."

"Ismelda, you don't even know the Cruciatus Curse." Merula rolled her eyes. Suddenly Barnaby felt a sharp kick to his shins from under the table. "OY, Lee! Anything going on in that puffskein-sized brain of yours?"

Barnaby could already feel his short temper teetering over the edge like an overboiled cauldron. "Shut it, Merula," he muttered under his breath.

"The oaf speaks! You've barely said a word all morning. Anything you'd like to share with the class?"

Barnaby ignored her, his jaw clenching as he continued to swirl his food around his plate.

"I swear, sometimes I am convinced you're just a glorified troll."

That had done it. Barnaby stood abruptly, dishes and cutlery scattered across the table as he shoved it back in anger. "Don't talk to me like that!" He growled. The Great Hall went quiet as a hundred eyes landed on them. His face went hot and he hated himself for feeling such embarrassment.

"Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist. Merlin's beard, sit down." Merula tugged his sleeve back down. "Get a grip. You've been sulking for over a day now, what's got you in a mood?"

Barnaby peered across the Great Hall, glancing back at Arah. For the briefest of moments, their eyes met- a look of pity flashed across her face. Blood rushed to his cheeks as he tore his gaze away. Pity was not something he would tolerate, not for Barnaby Lee- the most powerful wizard in their year. And as long as Merula continued to ridicule him, it would never end. It had to stop.

"Nothing. I'm not hungry." He muttered while he hastily began to gather his belongings. Merula and Ismelda argued silently just outside his vision.

Say something!

No, you!

They must have really taken him for an idiot.

"Where do you think you're going?" Merula berated.

Without saying another word, he abandoned the two witches - leaving them gaping as he found himself storming toward the table of Gryffindors. Arah's eyes widened as large as a Moon Calf's, the maroon and gold table going silent as nervous glances flitted toward him - a look he was much too accustomed to.

Barnaby towered over the Gryffindor girl that had managed to shake him so. He leaned over her shoulder so that only she could hear, her body stiffening at such close proximity. "Meet me at the Training Grounds after curfew. If you want my help, you're going to have to prove to me that you're tough enough to handle it. If you beat me in a duel, I promise to help you."

Arah's original look of shock shifted into one of fierce determination as she nodded earnestly. "You're on."

A/N: I don't write in Barnaby's POV often, so I'll be curious to hear what everyone thinks of the narrative I have given him. I wanted to make his upbringing and values realistic to the "old Barnaby", but I also wanted to be careful not to villanize him too much. I hope I made that internal struggle clear (it was more challenging than I thought!)

Anyways, your reviews are always so deeply appreciated. Thank you to those who continue to leave feedback, it truly empowers me to keep writing. ClosetCannons OUT.

P.S. I promise I'll get the next chapter up soon!