This is the problem, without him I don't feel the same

Talking to Danny had made him feel better, but hadn't help him completely clear his head. Brandon was still stuck in his sudden insecure rut and Lily knew it, so she tried to keep his mind off his worries, but that wasn't easy. The train had just left Dufftown, and they had the entire train ride back to talk things through.

"He really loves you." She said, causing Brandon's head to snap up.

"I know." He whispered sadly, leaning his chin on his arms. "I hate how little time we get together."

"He waits for you Bran, he's loyal to you, he hasn't gone with other boys whilst you're here, he writes to you every chance he gets! I saw the way he looked at you, I saw the look on his face when he was worried. Bran you have everything, even good grades, you just have to keep working for it." She told him.

"It's getting harder; I can't keep up." Brandon murmured sadly, she sighed.

"That's because you're letting it! You're letting your worries take hold of you, you have to most beautiful boy sat waiting for you. St Mungos are desperate to have you on their staff, and you're letting it all slip away because the works a little bit harder? Come on."

"I guess." Brandon agreed sullenly, Lily sighed again and pulled his phone out of his hands, showing him the lockscreen.

"Look at him." She ordered, the boy looked at his lockscreen, a picture of him and Danny hugging. "Look at him, do you really want to let him down? He wants you to succeed, he wants you to achieve your dreams. Are you really going to let him down?" She asked, Brandon looked at his phone again.

"No." He shook his head.

"I thought not." Lily smiled, she could see that her repeated comments about Danny's looks had been grating on Brandon's anger, he was both jealous and protective. It indicated that he was slowly becoming himself again.

"I know he's beautiful, but he's mine." Brandon growled in a sudden burst of anger.

"Now that's more normal!" Lily cheered happily. Brandon rolled his eyes and put his phone back in his pocket.

"I never would have met him if I hadn't snuck out that day." Brandon sighed. "He's been by my side ever since, I knew I liked him in the summer between first and second year, I just never worked up the courage to ask him, and then I kissed him."

"You worked to get the courage, just like you need to work to get your grades." Lily smiled at him.

"I guess I do." Brandon nodded.

"Shame we can't smuggle him into the castle." She sighed.

"I think it would freak him out to be honest. He's a sceptic." Brandon sighed.

"Hey Bran?" She asked gently a while later.

"Yeah?" Brandon looked up from where he was sitting with his head lying on the table.

"Tobes said you mentioned something about an alcoholic father. Was that about Danny?" She asked. Brandon nodded.

"He didn't just walk out on him, before that he got angry when drunk and he... I've never seen Danny so scared." Brandon's voice shook.

"Is that why you're so overprotective?" Lily asked.

Brandon nodded. "He hadn't hurt Danny before, but he really went for him, he was so hurt, I was going to call the police, but his dad walked out. That's when I realised I loved him, as I comforted as he cried, with a bust lip, black eye and broken ribs. I don't want to see him like that again."

"That's why you want to be a healer?" Lily asked, her eyes wide, she was learning more about her best friend than she had known before.

"I had the stupid idea that if I knew how to help, I could make things better. For everyone." Brandon answered with a shrug.

"You still can, nothing has to change. Bran that wasn't a stupid idea." Lily told him.

"I guess." He agreed.

"When you freaked out because he was at a friends and you thought there was something he wasn't telling you, were you worried his dad had come back?" She asked carefully.

"He will one day, I just don't want Danny to get hurt." He answered.

"I know you love him, I know you worry about him, but he can handle himself, he's a smart kid." She said.

"I know but- "Brandon tried to argue, but she interrupted him.

"No buts."

^^^

They spent the rest of the train ride in silence, Brandon asleep and Lily thinking about what had happened. When they reached Hogsmeade and got off the train, Professor Longbottom and Professor McGonagall were stood waiting for them, and they did not look impressed.

"Where have you two been? Fifty points from Gryffindor for endangering yourselves, and you'll both be in detention for the next month." McGonagall asked angrily.

"We had to professor, We'll explain everything, I promise." Lily answered.

When they reached the headmistresses office, Lily promptly explained everything. Longbottom watched Brandon with worry, whilst McGonagall looked unimpressed at the story.

"And the best solution to solving Mr Fawley's dilemma seemed to be to go Dufftown to use muggle technology so he could talk to his boyfriend?" McGonagall asked.

"I feel better now actually." Brandon muttered unhelpfully.

"Well Mr Fawley, it has been brought to my attention that you seem to be having a few issues, perhaps we should address them." McGonagall said calmly.

"He had a confidence crash and he wanted to talk to his boyfriend about it, it was the only way to help." Lily said.

"Brandon, your grades are exceptional, what do you have to worry about?" Longbottom asked.

Brandon sighed, for the entire meeting he had been staring at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore, which reminded him of a character from a muggle film. He looked up and sighed again.

"I-I don't know; I really do not know." He answered, his voice shaking.