the way i wrote a chapter of a fanfic before my 7 page paper due tomorrow at midnight. wish me luck guys
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Harry ran off shortly after they found him in the snow and didn't bother coming down for dinner. At first, (Y/N) was worried. After a while, she knew instead it was very smart of him.

She had hoped no one noticed her change in demeanor earlier that day and thought it would be left alone for a while. But she'd underestimated Hermione and Ron; they had noticed, and it was all they could think about. This was very unfortunate for (Y/N), who wanted desperately to pretend like she knew nothing.

She spent dinner avoiding their lingering gazes and ended up excusing herself halfway through to return to the dormitory. She was relieved when neither one of them followed.

Gryffindor Tower was quiet, as expected. (Y/N) nearly marched straight up the stairs to hide away until morning, but she noticed the boy sitting quietly by the fire. Harry hugged his knees to his chest as he absentmindedly watched the flames. She wondered if he even noticed her come in.

"Hey," she ventured.

Harry already looked annoyed when he turned, but his expression softened when he saw it was only her. "Hey," he said, and he looked away.

He hadn't expected her to stay. If she wanted to go up to bed, she could, and he would think no less of her for it. (Y/N) thought he may even be grateful that she left. And though all she'd wanted not five minutes before was to be alone, she asked, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

She could've sworn she saw him relax. He scooted over so she'd have room.

She took her place beside him, and they let the silence swallow them whole. It was nice, not having to speak. They just stared ahead at ember and flame. (Y/N) thought she could stay there forever.

She saw Harry glance at her from the corner of her eye. He let his gaze abide before he turned away again. Then, he finally spoke.

"Earlier today," he began, "at the Three Broomsticks, McGonagall mentioned Black killed a woman. Her last name was (L/N), too." He looked at her again. She knew he was trying to gauge her reaction. "I didn't put it together right away, but was she...?"

"My mum," said (Y/N). "I think she was friends with Black, too."

Harry was quiet for what felt like a long time. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't know what to say," she admitted. "Besides, it's not a very cheerful conversation, is it?"

Harry managed a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes, but (Y/N) could tell it was genuine. She traced her finger along the carpet for something to do.

"Black is my godfather." Harry's fingers curled around his knees. "McGonagall said. And he plans to kill me, too; finish what he started."

"I won't let him," (Y/N) said without thinking.

"I know," said Harry. "I'm just worried. You don't think he'll try and hurt you, too, do you?"

(Y/N) shivered. She hadn't thought of it before. Though, if he meant to finish what he started with Lily and James, who was to say he wouldn't want to do the same with Catherine? After all, as far as (Y/N) knew, she was the last of the (L/N) name. Perhaps his escape was part of something much bigger.

Harry must have noticed he startled her because he hurried to say, "I wouldn't let him hurt you, either. And I know Hermione and Ron would protect you, too."

But Black was a much older and much more powerful wizard than the four of them. Still, it brought (Y/N) some solace to know her friends would be behind her.

"If he is after me," she said, trying to sound brave, "I suppose nothing has really changed. He would have found me one way or another, coming after you."

Harry watched her for a moment. Then he said, "I'm sorry about your mum,"

(Y/N) shrugged. "I'm sorry about yours,

"If you wanted to keep it to yourself, I won't tell anyone."

"It's alright," she said. "Hermione and Ron have already started looking at me funny. I'll probably have to tell them soon, anyway."

"I hate when they do that,"

(Y/N) managed a laugh. "Me, too."

They sat by the fire a little while longer. When students began trickling in from dinner, they agreed Harry would explain everything to Ron and that (Y/N) would talk to Hermione, and they went up to bed.

Hermione took the news about as well as (Y/N) expected, though she already had some idea Catherine (L/N) was the reason she was upset after reading something in the paper. (Y/N) let her get all of her sympathies out before bed, but asked her if things could just be normal by morning. Hermione promised she wouldn't mention it again.

The next morning, when (Y/N) went down for breakfast, Harry and Ron were already waiting. Ron looked her over once and asked, "Y'alright?"

"Great, thanks," she said.

He nodded, and that was that. Normal, indeed. (Y/N) had never been more grateful for her friends.

***

The winter holiday had begun at last, which meant no classes, empty corridors, and most enjoyably, a break from Quidditch practices in the cold. Harry used the holiday to begin private lessons with Professor Lupin, which meant he was gone most of the time. During the day, Hermione typically cracked open her books to get a head start on the next term, so (Y/N) and Ron were often left to their own devices for entertainment.

He tried for the hundredth time to teach (Y/N) how to play Wizard's Chess, but it was no use. He won every game except for one, and that was only because Percy Weasley was telling (Y/N) where to move. They moved on to exploding snap with Fred and George, next, but (Y/N) didn't have much experience playing that, either. Fred usually ended up the victor.

When Hermione wasn't studying and Harry was free from lessons, they spent some time visiting Hagrid. He wasn't quite himself; he'd just received notice that Buckbeak would have a hearing after what happened to Draco. Lucius was looking to have the hippogriff killed, and Hagrid had an awful feeling he'd get his way. They always tried their best to cheer him up, but sometimes it seemed nothing could raise his spirits.

(Y/N) tried writing a letter to her godfather asking him to see reason. She told him that Hagrid explained the rules and Draco disobeyed them. She even told him how she befriended Buckbeak, and that he was really very sweet. She received no reply.

After that, she and Ron instead spent most of their free time reading up on anything that could help with the trial.

Christmas morning was a welcome distraction. Alcestis woke (Y/N) early with a loud screech. She had a heavy-looking pouch tied to her ankle and a letter clutched in her beak. Narcissa had sent (Y/N) a few extra galleons to spend in Hogsmeade and apologized in the letter about Buckbeak. She also explained a new cauldron would be coming a few days later, one that allegedly cut brewing time in half.

When (Y/N) went downstairs, she found everyone gathered around the fire. Clearly, they'd already opened their gifts, too. Each Weasley wore the sweater Mrs. Weasley made every year – Fred and George had switched theirs – and already began breaking into the sweets. As (Y/N) found a spot beside Harry, Hermione passed her a warm mug of hot cocoa overflowing with marshmallows.

"We were wondering when you'd come down," she teased.

"I had to write home," (Y/N) explained light-heartedly. "Happy Christmas, everyone,"

A chorus of "happy Christmas!"s echoed around the common room. Harry reached for a thin parcel on the table. "You've got something," he said, passing it along.

There was nothing on the front save for her name. She gave Harry a questioning look just as Ginny said, "Well go on! We've been dying to know what it is!"

"It's not from any of you?"

Everyone shook their heads, and (Y/N), both thrilled and a bit nervous, tore into it.

It was another record by, presumably, another Muggle band called The Romantics. She knew right away it was from Professor Lupin, but he'd included a note.

This was another one of your mum's favorites. I thought you might enjoy it.
Happy Christmas!
R. J. Lupin

"It's an album!"

"Who's it from?" asked Ginny.

(Y/N) almost showed everyone the note Lupin left, but thought better of it. She didn't know what Percy might have to say about professors leaving gifts for students. Instead, she only shrugged. "It doesn't say."

But Harry had seen the note when it fell into her lap and Hermione and Ron could devise who sent it on their own. They knew what it meant to her.

"Lee's got a record player in the dormitory; I don't think he'd mind if we brought it down," said George.

Fred was already on his feet. "I'll go get it,"

They spent the rest of the morning listening to the album, all the while snacking on sweets and enjoying one another's company.

***

Holiday ended all too soon and classes resumed. Hagrid put together a rather enjoyable class the first day back involving a bonfire and flame-loving salamanders. It was the first time Draco found nothing to complain about.

In Divination, they began palmistry, and (Y/N) thought it meant Lavender and Parvati would finally shut up about Harry's Grim. Unfortunately, Professor Trelawney remarked that he had about the shortest lifeline she'd ever seen. (Y/N) didn't think they would stop worrying any time soon.

Halfway through January, Scabbers turned up missing. Ron was adamant that it was Crookshanks' doing, but Hermione insisted he was innocent. The two of them were often bickering about it, so (Y/N) and Harry tried to busy themselves with anything else. Usually, it was a game of Gobstones, and (Y/N) was relieved to finally find a game she was halfway decent at.

However, the afternoon following Buckbeak's hearing, Hermione, and Ron put aside their differences to pay Hagrid a visit. The four of them ventured to his hut, but they found him instead by the lake, teary-eyed and pink in the face. For a long while, they just sat with him as he skipped stones. Finally, Hermione asked, "How'd it go, Hagrid? The hearing?"

"Well, first off, the committee members took turns talking about why we were there. Then I got up; did my piece. Said how Buckbeak was a good Hippogriff; always cleaned his feathers." He threw a stone and watched it skip across the surface of the lake before he continued, almost like he was gathering the nerve. "And then, Lucius Malfoy got up..."

(Y/N) knew already it meant nothing good.

"Well," said Hagrid. "Yeh can imagine. He said Buckbeak was a deadly and dangerous creature who would kill yeh as soon as look at yeh."

"But that's not true!" insisted (Y/N). "I told him that wasn't true!"

"I know," said Hagrid, "And I appreciate it, but he still asked for the worst, did ol' Lucius."

Ron looked appalled. "They're not sacking you!"

"No, I'm not sacked." Hagrid threw another stone. "Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!"