A/N: I'm sorry it took me longer to get this one out! Thank you for your patience! This turned out to be MUCH longer than I anticipated, but I am pretty happy with the direction it took and providing a bit more depth to some of our other beloved characters. I hope you enjoy this last and final chapter of this little one-shot!

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

Barnaby tapped his quill absently on the desk, his mind far from Snape's demonstration of the Forgetfulness potion (not that anyone could remember making the potion in the first place). Barnaby was much too preoccupied by the very empty chair where Arah Annon usually sat. The vacant space next to Rowan Khanna felt similar to the gaping hole where his heart should be- if he had one. He didn't even know why he cared so much- it's not like they were mates or anything, but Barnaby found the guilt of this morning absolutely tearing him apart- his stomach twisted into knots to the point that he felt ill. Barnaby pressed his fingers over his eyelids, trying to forget what had transpired earlier that day.

It had started off as a good day, it really had. Then he mucked it up. Bad.

Barnaby had stood in the Dining Hall, considering his options for where to sit for his morning breakfast. For a second, he almost found himself walking to his usual spot across Merula and Ismelda before he stopped himself. He was still right-miffed at the girls and was stubbornly committed to holding this grudge as long as it took. He was just about to resort to taking his food down to the kitchens with the house elves when a familiar voice called out to him.

"You can sit with me if you'd like." Liz Tuttle waved at Barnaby, patting the seat next to her.

Liz Tuttle was a bit of a loner. Barnaby was convinced she could hold a conversation longer with a Niffler than an actual person. Barnaby had really barely known the fellow Slytherin as she preferred the company of magical creatures over actual people. It wasn't until the start of their Care of Magical Creatures class that he got to know the quirky witch. They had been partnered to care for a particularly nasty Fire Crab and bonded over their love for magizoology (and their singed eyebrows). Liz Tuttle may be a bit odd, but she was brilliantly sharp when it came to magical creatures and had taught Barnaby quite a bit over the last couple of months since starting the course. He was pleasantly surprised to find that he rather enjoyed her company.

"Thanks, Liz." Barnaby forced a smile, sitting down beside her. Through bleary eyes, he began to shovel the scalding porridge down his throat- realizing just how hungry he was after his rather eventful evening.

Barnaby stole a glance over to Merula and Ismelda as they glowered at him, seemingly surprised by his choice of company over them. He turned his attention to the table of Gryffindors- Arah Annon was in the midst of a rather animated conversation with her friend, Rowan Khanna- the shadows under her eyes proof of what had transpired last night. Barnaby found himself smiling as he reflected on their midnight meeting, gulping down some much-needed tea, nearly choking as he realized Liz was in the middle of talking to him.

"Sorry, what was that?" he sputtered.

"I said my friends call me Lizard." Liz smiled, pushing up her giant monocles up her nose. Barnaby couldn't help but wonder what 'friends' she was referring to- to his knowledge, she didn't have many. A warmth blossomed through his chest at the honor to bestow Liz with such a nickname, affirming their companionship.

Barnaby gave her a warm smile, lifting up his steaming cup of tea in a toast. "Cheers then, Lizard."

Liz beamed, perking up at the gesture, as her already magnified eyes grew larger beneath the thick lens of her glasses. They continued to eat as Liz rambled on about all the humane ways to gather the tentacles of a Murtlap. Barnaby grinned as he ate, thinking to himself he could get used to this new seating arrangement.

Things were really looking up for him. That is until they weren't.

There were two rules Slytherins followed; Rule One: don't intermingle with the other houses in the Great Hall, ever. During meal time, Slytherins tend to be rather prideful, mostly sticking to their own kind. To choose to sit at a house other than your own would be considered an act of treason, resulting in social suicide. Rule Two: Hate Gryffindor. With a passion. So one can imagine the looks of utter dismay as Arah Annon, Rowan Khanna, and Tulip Karasau waltzed up to Barnaby mid-bite, sitting in the chair directly across him. It was blasphemous. He was convinced Arah Annon had a literal death wish.

"Morning Barnaby!" Arah sang, crossing her arms on the table, completely oblivious to the looks of shock that surrounded her.

Barnaby forced the thick porridge down his throat, afraid it might actually get stuck. If he were so lucky, he'd choke right then and there and die on the spot.

"This is Rowan, by the way!" Arah continued on as if she were doing nothing wrong whatsoever. This witch would be the death of him, he was sure of it.

"Pleasure!" Rowan beamed, adjusting her glasses.

"And you know Tulip, of course." The Ravenclaw gave a silent salute as Barnaby shrunk more in his chair.

A buzz of whispers surrounded him as the table of Slytherins gaped at such an unforgiving sight. A Gryffindor would never approach the Slytherin table. It was preposterous, no - absolutely maddening. Barnaby's skin prickled as he felt the dozens of eyes staring at him- a mixture of shock and disgust plastered on all their faces. He could only imagine what Merula must look like- he could feel her gaze burning a hole through him.

"We were wondering if you wanted to meet later today to practice dueling! I figured I'd take you up on your offer since... you know, I beat you -" she whispered the last part much too loudly. A gasp or two echoed across the table and Barnaby decided it was actually possible to pass away from embarrassment.

"Anyways, I don't have Quidditch practice today, so I figured we can meet! I can even teach you a thing or two like I promised." Arah leaned forward, cupping her chin in her hands. "So what do you say?"

Panic began to swell within his chest as the whispers grew louder around him- a sweat trickling down the back of his neck. Sure, he had agreed to help Arah Annon and he planned to keep that promise, but he never agreed to be so- so public about it. For Merlin's sake, he had a reputation to uphold- a prestige he had worked hard to earn! His parents would be absolutely mortified to know their son's stature was being tainted by a girl - a Gryffindor at that. Arah Annon must be absolutely starking to think she could march right up to him as if they had been bloody best mates for years.

Barnaby glanced around nervously as the entire table of Slytherins waited with bated breath for the 'toughest wizard in their year' (perhaps even the school) to respond to the young Gryffindor. Honestly, how did she expect him to react? Barnaby grimaced in her direction.

"Are you mad?" he heard himself say.

"What?" Arah's smile faltered, her brows wrinkling with confusion.

Barnaby forced out a laugh. "You must have confused me for a Boggart. Why would I ever train with you?" Snickers began to echo around him, Barnaby almost sighed with relief to see his fellow Slytherins believing the facade. He plastered on his typical smug grin. "I mean, they do call you 'Mad Annon'. Besides, they say you're cursed. I don't plan to become a human popsicle anytime soon like your friends, Weasley and Copper."

The Slytherins howled with laughter, a few clapping Barnaby's back in praise as he joined them, their reactions only fueling his arrogance. But the feeling was short-lived, his laughter died in his throat as his eyes met Arah's, her jaw clenched to keep her lips from trembling, eyes filling with unshed tears. Barnaby's heart sank through his chest.

Rowan wrapped a protective arm around her, guiding her out of the chair. "Come on, Arah. Let's go. He's not worth it."

With as much reserve as Arah could muster, she stood up as straight as she could, chin tilted high. "I should have known you weren't any better than the rest of them. How could I have been so daft?" With that, she spun on her heels and stormed away, leaving Barnaby with a deep ache of regret.

"Really Barnaby?" Tulip scolded, "That's low, even for you." she turned away, chasing after the two Gryffindors.

Through all the praise he received from his fellow Slytherins, Barnaby couldn't help but notice the disapproving look of Liz, her disappointment magnified behind her glasses. Barnaby forced himself to look away, picking at his food- his appetite suddenly gone. But really, what did Arah expect him to do? He was supposed to be the toughest wizard in their year! She had given him no choice... right? Barnaby groaned, dragging a hand over his face. He really mucked things up, hadn't he?

A loud poof erupted from the cauldron, snapping Barnaby back to reality as Snape added several drops of Standard Ingredient. He sighed, glancing over to Rowan Khanna, the Gryffindor practically buried in a book as she furiously scribbled down notes. He knew he had to make things right. Rowan Khanna was Arah's best mate- surely she would know where Arah must have run off to. Barnaby waited until Professor Snape was distracted while pruning a bundle of Valerian Sprigs. Taking his chance, he leaned over the desk to get closer to Rowan.

"Psst, Khanna." He whispered under his breath. Rowan discreetly turned, giving him a much-deserved scowl. "I need to talk to Arah. Where can I find her?'

"What's it to you?" she hissed back.

Barnaby paused, not sure where to even begin. It's not like they were friends, but he found himself absolutely gutted over how he had treated Arah. It was so unlike him to feel so ashamed- it wasn't as if he had acted out of character. Yet, he'd felt as if he were stung by a Glumbumble all day. He realized he'd do just about anything to make it up to her. Sod his reputation. Sod it all.

"I need to apolog-"

"Mr. Lee!" Snape barked, causing Barnaby to nearly jump out of his seat. "Since you are so keen to speak in the middle of class, why don't you tell us what ingredient you add after adding two drops of Lethe water?"

"Uhhh..."

"Don't tell me the fumes have already gotten to your head." Barnaby heard a couple of Ravenclaws giggle behind him as his skin went hot.

"I don't know sir," Barnaby mumbled, looking away in embarrassment.

"If you were paying attention, you would know the answer is four crushed Mistletoe Berries. That will be 10 points from Slytherin." a chorus of groans and snickers resonated throughout the class as Barnaby's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red. "I advice you do better, Mr. Lee." Snape scolded, pushing his robe back in a dramatic flare as he continued the lecture.

"Yes sir." Barnaby sulked, feeling even worst than he did before. The emotions he had been so good at repressing now threatened to claw their way out as his throat began to constrict, his eyes starting to burn. Barnaby swallowed as he turned his attention to his sloppy notes, attempting (and failing) to follow along for the remainder of the class.

The resounding gong of the clock tower signaling the end of their lesson brought little relief. Barnaby moped, gathering his belongings when Rowan approached nervously wringing the sleeves of her robes.

"She's going to kill me for this... you can find Arah at the docks near the lake."

Barnaby perked up, baffled as to what he did to earn such knowledge. "Th-thank you, Rowan."

"I don't know what Arah saw in you, but she was convinced you were one of the good ones. I for one, do not. I hope you can change both of our minds." she squinted at him through her glasses.

Barnaby took this as a challenge. Out of all the challenges he had faced, he was determined more than ever to overcome this one. "I will." he nodded with resolve. "I promise." And Barnaby Lee kept his word.

The corridors were crowded with the typical throng of students as they made their way to their next classes. On a typical day, Barnby would find himself heading to Charms, but here he was, pushing through a sea of students for a Gryffindor he had only just met. He couldn't understand it, the hold that Arah Annon had on him. What he did know was that there was nothing more pressing to him than finding her.

Barnaby weaved through the school until he made it to the stairs overlooking the lake. He huffed as he made his way down the steps, the warm breeze ruffling his brown hair- the hints of crisp autumn hung in the air. His steps met the pebbled shore as the rocks crunched under his feet, announcing his presence. As he approached the docks, he could see Arah slumped over the edge, feet dangling above the water, her silver hair wisped loosely in the gentle breeze as she flicked her wand lazily, casting a pebble to skip across the water's glassy surface.

"If you've come to mock me more, don't bother. I assure you I've heard it all." Arah said dully, casting another rock in the water as it skipped several times before sinking with a clunk. A wave of shame crashed over him at her assumptions of his cruelty. It was heartless, what he had said- Barnaby knew the weight his words had carried that morning after Arah had confided in him the night before. The guilt devoured him from the inside out.

"No, I... err..." Barnaby combed a hand nervously through his hair, looking to the ground. Arah had consumed every ounce of his thoughts that entire day, yet, he realized he never fully thought through what he'd say to her...

Arah sighed, her shoulders drooping even lower, still refusing to look at him. "What do you want, Barnaby?"

"I wanted to say I'm sorry."

Arah shifted slightly, glancing her head in his direction, but still not bringing herself to look fully at him. He took her silence as permission to continue. "If I had a time-turner, I'd take it all back. I don't even have an excuse for what I did other than I'm a total idiot and a terrible person..."

She sat unmoving, the quiet pushing Barnaby to fill the uncomfortable silence.

"I don't know why I care so much about what others think. I shouldn't- I know that." He was rambling now, he really wish he'd stop, but he didn't think he could if he tried, "I don't know what you think you saw in me, Arah, but you were wrong... I'm not a good person. I'm absolute shit."

Barnaby's words echoed across the glassy lake, the stillness making his honesty seem all the more vulnerable as Arah remained frozen, staring out into its murky depths.

"Anyways... I just thought I'd apologize." Barnaby mumbled, kicking a piece of driftwood awkwardly, "My offer to help still stands... if you want it." He shoved his hands in his pockets, turning away dejectedly when the sound of her voice stopped him in his tracks.

"I don't think you're an idiot," she spoke above a whisper, just enough to hear over the lapping waters as they kissed the shore. "I don't think you're a terrible person either."

"You don't?" Barnaby turned to look at her- his eyebrows wrinkled with confusion as to how she could possibly say those things when he's proved nothing but the opposite.

"I've seen the way you stand up for Liz Tuttle when Billingsley teases her. In detention, I once saw you speak with the House Elves... you treated them with such a warm kindness and respect. Besides, I'm pretty sure I've heard you go on and on about all the uses of Dragon Dung and Acromantula venom."

Barnaby blinked, speechless at the way she had taken notice of him. To Arah, he wasn't just some dumb brute, the heartless son of Death Eaters, or some arrogant Slytherin... Arah saw more in him than he recognized in himself. His whole life, he was told he wasn't good enough- wasn't smart enough. It was the first time Barnaby was noticed for anything more than his toughness or strength but for his heart and passion.

Arah turned to face him, her eyes piercing his. "I think if you're told something long enough, you start to believe it. So no, Barnaby, you're not shit."

Barnaby swallowed the lump that formed in his throat, diverting his eyes away in fear that Arah might see the effects her words had on him.

"I'm not asking to be mates, but I am asking to be a team. Which means we have each other's backs, no matter what. So you're either with us or not at all."

Barnaby nodded, knowing exactly what he was sacrificing. The damage he would take to his social rank, the looks, and whispers that would come with it, not to mention Merula's wrath- but he found he no longer cared about any of those things. To hell with it.

"I'm with you."

The corner of Arah's lips lifted slightly. "Good."

"... Although I'll admit, I'm still not certain I fully understand what exactly I've signed up for...but sure. Why not?" he returned her smile, the previous tension subsiding between them.

"Fair enough." Arah shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure I know either." The sound of a small laugh escaped her lips and its song made his heart skip. All seemed right again as her smile brightened, it was like a balm to a festering wound.

Barnaby cleared his throat as he realized he was staring at her again "Right, well. I believe I owe you a dueling lesson?"

Arah perked up, eyebrows shooting up with excitement. "Really?" she practically squeaked.

"I promised you, didn't I?" Barnaby could feel the grin forming on his lips as he chuckled, strolling over to join her on the rickety pier. He sat beside her, all too aware of the space between them. "Welcome to Dueling with Barnaby 101."

Arah sat up eagerly as if she were a 1st year attending their first flying lesson.

"Lesson number one. When casting any spell, you need to cast with intention- you need to mean it." Barnaby eyed the rocky shore, finding the pile of pebbles Arah had been skipping previously. "Here, watch this." He lifted his ash wand, flicking his wrist at a particularly smooth stone. The rock lifted and shot across the water, skipping nearly halfway across the lake before it disappeared with a thunk. Arah looked in awe.

"How did you do that?!"

Barnaby cleared his throat, trying not to let his own arrogance get the best of him as Arah marveled at his power, "So. When casting offensive spells, you need to cast...well offensively. As brash as it sounds, you need to intend to cause harm." Arah's face twisted with conflict at the thought. "I know, it's... complicated. What helps me is to picture someone... or something that makes me angry."

"Hmm. Okay... I'll try." She closed her eyes, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. Barnaby took this as a chance to look at her, really look. Her white silver hair fluttered in the light breeze- taking note of the tan freckles that peppered her nose. Her skin was still colored from the summer's sun - her pink lips slightly parted. He all but tried to ignore the unmistakable stir within him -she really was quite beautiful. Arah opened her golden eyes, a fierceness unmistakable as she cast a stone across the water- skipping it almost as far as he had. Arah gasped at her own ability - her face filled with a child-like wonder.

"I did it!

"Wow." Barnaby breathed, thoroughly impressed by her strength. "What did you think of?"

Arah hesitated, her smile waning slightly, "My Dad."

A hollow laugh escaped Barnaby- his dark sense of humor getting the best of him at the realization they actually had something in common.

"What's so funny?' Arah turned to him inquisitively.

"Nothing..." Barnaby shook off the thought, "I think of my Father too."

Arah nodded slowly, the excitement of her spell fading. "What was he like?"

Barnaby blinked, surprised at such a personal question and even more so to hear himself answer, "My relationship with my Father was... complicated. It's hard to remember, but I don't particularly have a ton of happy memories with him. My parents were quite strict. They had high expectations of me, my Father was particularly relentless."

It was easy to feel that uncontrollable rage thinking of all the horrible things his Father would say or force Barnaby to do. He found it almost healing to talk about his troubled past, something he seldom did with anyone. The words effortlessly continued, grateful for Arah's presence as she listened to him intently. "When You-Know-Who was in power, my family were some of the first to pledge their allegiance to him. The pressure only increased from there."

Arah nodded, "They were Death Eaters." She stated as if she were saying the sky was blue or the grass was green. Typically, this was the part of the conversation where most people shrank away- timid by Barnaby's shadowed past, yet Arah remained indifferent, "Did you ever meet him? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

Maybe it was Arah's Gryffindor bravery that kept her sitting there with him, talking about what others could only dream of in their worst nightmares. Barnaby could remember it so vividly, the time Voldemort had come to meet his parents at their home- discussing what other pure-blood families their son could be arranged with. He was only nine.

"I saw him. My Dad met with him at our house when I was just a little kid."

"Were you scared?"

"A little," Barnaby admitted, surprised at how easy it was to talk to her, "but my Dad admired him. He told me that if I could become as powerful as You-Know-Who, I could do anything. I've spent my entire life trying to get as strong as possible. Even after my Dad was gone."

"I'm sorry about your parents." She spoke, "It must have still been difficult to lose them."

It was. It was sad and confusing and difficult and scary and a relief. Barnaby was sorry they were gone, but also sorry that they were so twisted and misguided compared to most normal parents. Yet, no matter how terrible they could be, there was still a deep ache for his Mum and Dad. He grieved for them and grieved for himself and all that he had endured because of them.

"Me too..."

A silence set between them as Arah processed all that he had said. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but one that felt gentle. Suddenly, a giant tentacle emerged from the Black Lake, causing the still waters to erupt in a series of ripples. Arah lifted her hand as if she were waving back at the Giant Squid. Barnaby glimpsed at her, a tug of desire to discover more about this strange Gryffindor girl who was bold and brash, who was an incredible dueller, who asked much too personal questions and waved at Giant Squids.

"What about you? What was your Dad like?"

"Oh," Arah's arm dropped back to her lap, a frown evident as the tentacle disappeared back under the murky depths, "My Dad left us when I was fairly young, leaving me with just my Mum and brother. I remember him coming back less and less... then eventually he never came back. My Mum was heartbroken... Jacob was never the same after that. He fell into the wrong crowd and became obsessed with The Cursed Vaults and... well, we all know how that ended." Arah laughed dully. "After Jacob, my Mum kind of lost herself... it's as if she's a husk of a person. I guess I blame my Dad for everything- my brother's disappearance, my Mum..." Arah slumped, the ripples on the water faded to its previous glassy surface.

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well... Slytherins aren't the only ones with interesting childhoods, you know." Arah smirked, the air shifting back to it's lighter tone.

Barnaby chuckled, "Speaking of which, I'm surprised you didn't think of Merula." he joked in an attempt to change the subject.

Arah snorted, "Trust me, she was a close second... How did you become friends with Merula anyways"

Barnaby shrugged, "We have a lot in common. The obvious being both of our parents are in Azkaban for being Death Eaters." he said matter-of-factly. He glanced at her, waiting for the familiar uncomfortable squirm at the topic- but Arah sat beside him, expression unchanging.

Merula could be cold, but they were similar in the sense they had each formed their own armor - presenting an exterior mask of toughness and callousness in an attempt to shield themselves. Barnaby could recall a particular moment of weakness in their first year, he had let his mask slip as Merula found him crying in the midnight solitude of their common room after a particularly horrible nightmare involving his parents and Dementors. He had waited for Merula's cruel remarks, but instead, she sat silently next to him, her violet eyes strained and weary as if she had been haunted by a similar trauma. They didn't say a word to one another or reach out in any gesture of comfort, but they just sat together in solidarity until his sobs subdued. Even now, he was deeply appreciative of Merula's company that night.

"You know, she's not so bad- Merula. It's rare, but she has her moments. She's been a friend to me when I needed one, believe it or not."

Arah scoffed, "Yeah, I don't believe you."

"You never know, she might come around eventually."

Arah lifted a challenging eyebrow, "Bollocks."

"I don't know." Barnaby shrugged, "I mean... look at us for example. I never pictured I'd be skipping stones with Arah Annon instead of going to Charms. Did you?"

Arah's eyes squinted as she mulled this over, "You have a point." she admitted. "But the day Merula and I become mates will be the day Ben Copper isn't afraid of his own shadow."

"That'll be the day." Barnaby chuckled.

The sun shifted in the sky as classes continued on, yet they remained on the rickety boat docks, skipping rocks and chatting with one another- sharing their pasts, their passions, and hopes for the future. Barnaby knew that becoming mates wasn't part of their deal, but he was quickly starting to discover that he had found a companion in Arah that he never had. It was a friendship he would cling to for years to come; one he would protect fiercely and loyally, that would tear down the walls he had built, that would bring joy and laughter and the best kinds of mischief, that would be tested and tried, and one day evolve into a deep profound love.

A/N: THE END! Hope you enjoyed this as much as I have loved writing it and showing the very beginning stages of their friendship back when they were wee little tweens who were so naive and innocent 3

Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of it all! And thanks to those who continue to come back and review regularly, it truly means so so much to me!

Also if you are interested in reading more about Barnaby's troubled past, check out my other one-shot, Legilimency, if you are interested!