"𝙳𝚘 𝙸 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚘 𝙸 𝚏𝚒𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝙸 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕?"

𝕎𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 - 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕨𝕟 𝕄𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕤

"Finally. Maybe now we'll have a fair match,"

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"Where were you two?" Hermione asked Harry and Y/N as they approached her and Ron in the Gryffindor common room.

"Slytherin Dorms," Harry said shortly not trying to hear the laughter coming from Ron.

"Your dorm?" Ron asked in a suggestive tone.

"Yes Ronald, the Slytherin Dorms," Y/N said rolling her eyes causing Harry to snicker.

"Hey, I'm just making sure everyone is doing appropriate things," Ron said with a smirk.

"Oh, really Ron. What were you and Hermione doing for the past four hours?" Y/N asked returning his smug smile.

Color rushed to both their cheeks as Ron scowled at them.

"Hmm...That's what I thought," Y/N said smirking, while Harry made no effort to hide his laughter.

"Whatever," Hermione said trying to change the subject.

"Look," Ron said making the same effort, "it's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas! Let's do something."

"Well Harry and I thought—"

"—yes please tell us about you and Harry," Ron interrupted grinning at them.

"Harry and I," Y/N repeated shooting Ron a death glare. "Thought we should go down and see Hagrid. We haven't visited him in ages!"

"No!" Hermione shot out quickly. "Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle, Y/N-"

"Let's go," Harry said before Hermione could finish her protest. "I need to talk to him anyway. Y'know, ask him why he didn't tell me about Black and my parents."

"Well I kind of meant wishing him a Merry Christmas," Y/N said raising an eyebrow.

"Or we could have a game of chess," Ron interjected. "or Gobstones. Percy left a set—"

"I want to visit Hagrid," Harry said sternly.

None of them wanted to further push Harry after what he had been through, so they grabbed their cloaks and made their way out of the tower and through the oak doors.

The glistening snow covering the lawn was a spectacular sight. The forest looked magical with the snow covering its leaves, and Hagrid's hut looked like an iced gingerbread house.

Ron knocked, but there was no answer in return.

"Do you think he's out?" Hermione asked.

Ron shook his head and pressed his ear to the door.

"There's an odd noise," Ron said.

Y/N joined him and pressed her ear to the door as well. "Is that Fang?"

There were low moans coming from the hut. They all gave each other confused looks debating if they should open the door or walk away with whatever Hagrid was doing.

"Think we'd better go umm....get someone?" Ron asked slightly scared.

"What?" Harry exclaimed with little patience. He began to thump his fist against the door. "Hagrid! Hagrid, are you there?"

Heavy footsteps came from inside the hut and then the door creaked open. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot and his cheeks were tearstained.

"Yeh've heard?" He exclaimed and immediately flew himself onto Harry in a bone-crushing hug.

Harry looked like he was about to collapse under the half-giant's weight so Y/N, Hermione, and Ron immediately helped Hagrid back into the cabin by grabbing one of his arms.

He slumped into a chair and began sobbing more and more.

"Hagrid, what is it?" Hermione said surprised at the constant sobs.

Y/N then noticed a letter on the table that looked pretty official. Y/N nudged Harry's shoulder and pointed it out.

"What's this Hagrid?" Harry asked cautiously.

Hagrid's sobs grew deeper and louder as he pushed the letter towards Harry.

Y/N leaned over his shoulder and read aloud:

Dear Mr. Hagrid,

Further to our inquiry into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bet no responsibility for the regrettable incident.

"That's amazing Hagrid!" Ron exclaimed happily but Y/N's face made his smile turn into a frown. Y/N continued to read, the tone in her voice getting angrier and angrier.

However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.

Yours in fellowship.....

Y/N stopped reading at the list of the school governor's signatures.

"Oh," Ron said noticing his mistake. "But Buckbeak isn't a bad hippogriff. I bet he'll get off-"

"Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures! They've got in in fer interestin' creatures!" Hagrid yelled choking on his tears.

"That's absolutely ridiculous!" Y/N exclaimed. "No creature should be sentenced to death because a brain-dead idiot couldn't pay attention in class!"

"They're acting like its' all his fault!" Hagrid cried even harder.

"You'll put up a strong defense Hagrid," Hermione said placing a hand on his large arm.

"Won't make no diff'rence!" Hagrid sobbed. "Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o'him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak—"

Hagrid couldn't even finish his sentence before going into another crying fit.

"Dumbledore can't help?" Harry asked.

"Got enough on his plate, what with keepin' them dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' around-"

Y/N, Ron, and Hermione both looked at Harry cautiously. Harry looked into Y/N's Y/E/C eyes warning him not to bring the topic up.

Harry gave a look of protest but Y/N shot him a glare saying 'don't you dare'.

Either way, Harry couldn't bring himself to ask Hagrid why he kept such a secret about Sirius Black. It would make him more miserable than he already was.

"Hermione's right Hagrid," Y/N said turning her gaze back towards him, "You can call us witnesses-"

"I've read about a case of hippogriff-baiting where the hippogriff got off. I can research for you." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"We'll see exactly what happened," Y/N said comfortingly.

"You can't just let him go?" Ron suggested earning an idiotic glance from Hermione.

"They'll know it was me!" Hagrid sobbed. "An' I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban."

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

The four made their way back up to the castle a bit later noticing that visit was far from fun. All Y/N and Hermione could talk about were ways to save Buckbeak.

Y/N hadn't seen much death in her life, and the thought of executing a poor innocent magical creature made her blood boil.

They approached the corridor that would separate the trio going to the Gryffindor towers and Y/N going to her Slytherin dorm.

"I'll come see you guys in the morning," Y/N smiled as she began to head to the dungeons.

"Wait!" Harry exclaimed grabbing her wrist before she left.

"The castle's practically empty. Why don't you stay in the Gryffindor tower?" he asked.

"You can bunk with me," Hermione smiled happily. "Lavender and Pavarti are gone for the holidays and we have a four-person dorm."

"I'd love to but all my clothes are in my dorm," Y/N said realizing the long trip she would have to make.

"Just wear something of mine," Harry said quickly before Ron could laugh.

"Y'know what sure," she smiled.

The four made their way up the tower and Ron recited 'Scurvy cur' making the portrait hole swung open, but not before it gave them a 'beautiful' performance of 'Silent Night'

"Every bloody day," Ron murmured as they stepped through complaining about the singing.

Y/N laughed as she looked around for the dorms.

She had been in the Gryffindor common room countless times but never gone inside the dorms.

"Ok this way," Hermione directed pointing towards the right staircase.

"I'll bring you the clothes in a minute," Harry said before grabbing Ron's arm and dragging him up the stairs quickly.

Hermione led Y/N up the stairs and into her dorm. Hermione's part of the dorm is what anyone who has ever met her could guess it would look like. Neat, and organized. The only part that stood out was the amount of overflowing school books she had on her nightstand.

"This is the empty bed," Hermione instructed pointing to a bed close to the window. She then grabbed clothes from her trunks and walked to the bathroom to change.

Y/N sat down on her bed and looked out the window onto the white powdered snow-covered grown. It was still chilly but definitely not as cold as the dungeons.

After a few minutes, Y/N heard a soft knock on the door and she carefully opened it. Harry was standing in the doorway with gray sweatpants and a black hoodie on. His hair was as messy as ever from putting on his sweatshirt.

"Here," he said holding up the clothes and handing them to her. There was a navy blue sweater with a gold H knitted into it and a pair of black sweatpants.

"Thanks," Y/N smiled. She looked intrigued at the H sweater that he was handing her.

"Ron's mum made it for me first year," Harry explained slightly embarrassed. "It's was oversized in first year, so I reckon it will fit you."

Y/N smiled, the thought that Ron's mum had made this specially and by hand for someone made was so honest and sincere to her.

She thanked him again and Harry nervously walked back to his dorm. His stomach was doing backflips as he thought of exchanging gifts in the morning.

"What if Y/N doesn't like it?" He frantically whisper-yelled to Ron at one in the morning.

"She's going to love it, Harry," Ron said half asleep. "I want to sleep, so only wake me up when you two are engaged."

"If you don't shut up—" But Ron was already snoring and had fallen back asleep.

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his bed before his eyes got droopy and he fell fast asleep.

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

The next morning Harry was awakened by the collision of a pillow and his face.

"RON!" Harry exclaimed as he sat up and reached for his glasses.

"Oi! Presents!" Ron exclaimed already at the foot of his bed ripping the paper messily from his gifts.

"Another sweater from Mum....maroon again....see if you've got one."

Harry opened up the present marked from Mrs. Weasley and it revealed a scarlet sweater that had a lion knitted on the front. He also unwrapped a bunch of homemade pies, Christmas cake, and nut brittle.

"Oh my god, your room is a mess!" Hermione exclaimed as she walked into the boy's dormitories looking at the scraps of wrapping paper around them. She was holding Crookshanks in her arms.

"Don't bring him in here!" Ron exclaimed grabbing Scabbers and stuffing him into his pajama pocket.

"Wheres Y/N?" Harry asked noticing Hermione was alone in the doorway.

"Merry Christmas to you too," Hermione said smirking and sitting on Ron's bed. "Don't worry your girlfriend just went down to the Slytherin Dorm to get presents."

Crimson rushed into his cheeks as he looked down. His eyes then caught on to a thin package that was underneath his bed.

"What's that?" Ron asked with a pair of maroon socks in his hands he had just unwrapped

"Dunno...." Harry said perplexed.

He laid the gift on his bed and unwrapped the parcel. Harry gasped as Ron's draw dropped to the ground.

"I don't believe it," he confessed.

A Firebolt. The dream broom that he used to envy Y/N for having was laying in front of him. The same one that he had looked at day after day when he stayed at the Leaky Cauldron and often visited Diagon Alley.

"Finally. Maybe now we'll have a fair match," A voice called sarcastically.

Harry whipped his head around and saw Y/N smirking in the doorway holding presents and still in his first-year Christmas sweater.

"Merry Christmas to you too Y/N," Harry said smiling.

"Merry Christmas Harold," she said taking her place next to him and giving him a warm hug.

"She didn't give me a hug like that this morning," Hermione whispered to Ron smirking making him laugh.

Y/N pretended to not hear them and gazed at the Firebolt.

"Who do you think sent it to you?" Y/N asked.

"Maybe there's a card?" Harry suggested and started to sift through the wrappings.

"Nothing!" Y/N revealed.

"Blimey, who'd spend that much money on you?" Ron asked.

"Well, I'm guessing it wasn't the Dursleys," Harry said stunned.

"Maybe it was Dumbledore," Ron said gazing at the Firebolt admiringly.

"Damn Ron, buy it dinner first," Y/N said smirking at Ron practically kissing the broom.

"Shove off," Ron said glaring at Y/N and Harry who were now giggling.

The only person who seemed unamused with the fantastic broom was Hermione. She placed Crookshanks on Seamus's empty bed and continued to look at the broom skeptically.

"What's the matter with you?" Ron said.

"I don't know," Hermione started, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom isn't it?"

"It's the most fantastic broom there is Hermione," Ron said annoyed.

"Ron stop flirting with the broom and let her finish," Y/N said.

"As I was saying, it must've been really expensive..." Hermione said.

"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," Ron said happily earning a smack on the back of his head from Y/N.

"Ow," Ron whined, "Right, sorry."

"Well...who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares?" Ron said impatiently. "Harry, can I ride on it? Can I?"

"Ron shut up," Y/N said annoyed at how much of a child he became. "Hermione has a point, why would someone just give you a gift and not take credit?"

"I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" Hermione said frantically.

"Well, I didn't say that-" Y/N said looking at the glistening new broom.

"What d'you think Harry should do it with then Hermione?" Ron said. "Sweep the floor?"

Hermione glared at Ron and they looked like they were going to rip each other apart in five seconds.

Before any more shots could be thrown Crookshanks leaped from Seamus's bed onto Ron's chest.

"GET HIM OUT OF HERE!" Ron ordered as Crookshanks attempted to get at Scabbers in Ron's pajama pants and clawed Ron in the process.

Scabbers attempted to make an escape over Ron's shoulder but Ron grabbed him by the tail and tried to kick at Crookshanks but accidentally kicked Harry's trunk over making him let out a moan of pain.

"YOU AND THAT BLOODY CAT!" Ron yelled at Hermione.

"YOU AND THAT BLOODY RAT!" Hermione shot back.

As the two began to bicker Harry grabbed something and put it in his pocket. He then looked at Y/N and nodded his head towards the door.

Y/N grabbed her carefully wrapped gift for Harry and the two snuck down to the common room, which neither Hermione nor Ron noticed given their arguing.

"They honestly can't get along for five minutes," Y/N sighed as the two sat on the couch in front of the fire.

"They fight like an old married couple but they haven't noticed they're perfect for each other yet," Harry laughed.

There was an awkward pause until Y/N, as nervous as she was, broke the silence.

"At least now that it's quiet I can finally show you your Christmas present," Y/N smiled.

"Finally!" Harry exclaimed.

Y/N laughed to herself as he continued to act like a toddler.

She playfully rolled her eyes as she handed him a small-sized box wrapped in red wrapping paper and a red bow on top.

Smiling, Harry ripped off the wrapping paper and threw it on the ground. He then opened up the box.

Inside was a cassette tape, but it wasn't just plain black, it was it had Gryffindor-themed stickers on it, his quidditch number, and a whole bunch of decorations that matched him.

Across it was written, Harold's Playlist in neat, pretty handwriting.

"It's a mixtape," Y/N stated feeling embarrassment rush to her cheeks. "I know lots of muggles use them and umm...well there all the songs that remind me of you."

Harry just looked at the gift in awe.

"I know its kind of cheesy but-"

Y/N was cut off because she was pulled into a tight hug.

"I love it," he said into her ear with his arms around her.

"Really?" Y/N asked letting out a sigh of relief as they broke apart and looking at the green-eyed boy.

"I promise you, this topped the Firebolt." He affirmed looking at the Homemade gift in front of him.

"Now you're just trying to sweet-talk me, Harold," Y/N said laughing.

"I mean it," Harry said almost forgetting that he had to give her his gift.

He reached into his pocket and brought out a small box wrapped in green wrapping paper. "Umm... this is for you," Harry said awkwardly as he handed the box to Y/N.

She smiled at him and carefully opened it.

Inside was a breathtaking heart-shaped gold locket. She cautiously picked it up and admired the carvings on the outside.

"Open it," Harry said excitedly.

She used her two thumbs to attentively open the locket.

With a slight click the locket opened to reveal two pictures.

On the right side was a picture of Harry and Y/N making silly faces at each other in the courtyard with the snow around them and on the left side was a picture taken in the late fall with Y/N on Harry's back and Hermione's on Ron.

A huge smile spread across her face as she looked into the euphoric pictures.

"Collin really does like taking a bunch of pictures," Harry said, starting to rant and talking extremely fast. "And that antique shop in Hogsmeade said the locket was from France in the 17th century and was worn by a powerful witch from a royal family bloodline. I just thought—"

"Harry this is amazing," Y/N said engulfing him in a hug. "Thank you."

"Are you sure?" Harry said starting to get flustered. "Because I can-"

"Harold," Y/N said sternly and placed her hand on the side of his face.

"I love it," she assured.

Harry broke into a huge smile and his stomach did somersaults at the touch of Y/N's hand on his face.

"Can you help me put it on?" Y/N asked as she stood up and stood in front of the small mirror in the common room.

"Of course," Harry answered.

Y/N pushed aside her hair as he put his arms around her placing the necklace in the front and then clasped it behind her.

Her heart started pumping as she turned around to face him looking into his emerald eyes.

She shouldn't have, but she let herself notice his gorgeous raven messy hair, the way his glasses perfectly fit his face, the sweet slight smile he had on his face, the perfect symmetry of...

"HARRY TELL HERMIONE THAT THE FIREBOLT IS FINE!"

"Y/N TELL RONALD THAT THE FIREBOLT COULD BE DANGEROUS!"

The two snapped back from each other's gazes as they looked at the two still bickering running down the stairs.

Y/N shook her head trying to shake out the thoughts she had looking at Harry.

Hermione and Ron's eyes widened as they entered the full part of the common room and saw Y/N and Harry so close

"Um...did we interrupting something?" Ron asked smirking forgetting all about his fight with Hermione.

"Great to know this is the only thing that pulls them away from trying to kill each other," Y/N whispered to Harry causing him to laugh.

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"Sybill, this is a pleasant surprise!" Dumbledore said kindly when Professor Trelawney entered the Great Hall during the Christmas feast.

There were only three other students at the feast. Two fifth-year Ravenclaws and one first-year Slytherin.

"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster," Professor Trelawney explained in her creepy 'mystical' voice.

"Do you think she always talks like that?" Harry whispered to Y/N making her stifle a laugh.

"Certainly, certainly. Let me draw you up a chair," Dumbledore offered.

With a flick of his wand, a chair appeared in mid-air and fell between Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.

However, she didn't sit down but instead let out a weird soft scream.

"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"

"Let's hope Professor Snape rises first," Ron snickered making Y/N and Harry hold in laughter while Hermione slapped his arm.

"We'll risk it, Sybill," Professor McGonagall said annoyed. "Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."

Professor Trelawney cautiously sat down but tightly closed her eyes and mouth. Y/N was half expecting a lightning bolt to come and strike the table down.

"Ok...Derek have you had the chipolatas? They're excellent." Dumbledore said trying to avert the conversation.

The first-year boy shuffled nervously as he took some sausages from the platter.

For the rest of the feast, Professor Trelawney behaved almost completely normal but that was until the very end.

Y/N and Harry got up ready to leave when she shrieked.

"My dears! Which of you left the seat first? Which?"

"I don't know?" Y/N said giving her an impatient look.

"Doubt it will make much of a difference," Professor McGonagall said. "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall."

Y/N tried her best not to laugh at her Professor's comment.

"You guys coming?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.

"Yeah one second," Ron said stuffing the last of his food into his mouth. "I'm ready," he said standing up but was still chewing.

"I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall," Hermione said not looking up.

"Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes," Ron yawned as they exited the great hall.

"You coming up with us?" Harry questioned Y/N trying his best not to let his awkward instincts play out.

"Sure, what's another night with you 'Gryffindorks' anyways," she said playfully.

"Hey!" Ron exclaimed, while she swung each arm around the two boys and they walked back to the Gryffindor tower.

"Seems like the fat lady's on Christmas vacation," Ron said as they noticed, Sir Cadogan, enjoying a Christmas party with some monks on the portrait,

Harry went up to his dormitory and brought down his Firebolt for Ron to fangirl over more and grabbed the broom caring kit Y/N had bought him back from Hogsmeade the first weekend.

Suddenly, the portrait hole swung open and Hermione walked in with Professor McGonagall. The three were holding the Firebolt while Hermione didn't say a word. She just sat in the armchair and hid her face in a book.

"So that's it, is it?" Professor McGonagall stated looking at Y/N, Ron, and Harry who were sitting around the Firebolt.

"Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter."

The three looked at the bushy-haired girl but you could only see her forehead over the top of her book.

Y/N could see Harry's face growing with anger, and Ron's face was almost as red as his hair.

"May I?" Professor McGonagall asked, but she didn't wait for permission before taking the Firebolt out of their hands.

She looked over it skeptically. "Hmm. And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"

"No," Harry said nervously.

"I see," Professor McGonagall said. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."

"Wait why?" Y/N defended.

"It will need to be checked for jinxes," the Professor said plainly.

"What?!" Harry exclaimed.

"Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down-"

"Strip it down?" Ron said looking at Professor McGonagall as if she was mental.

"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," Professor McGonagall assured.

"A few weeks?" Y/N said, "But it's his Christmas present, why should he have it taken?"

"Potter will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free." Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"There's nothing wrong with it!" Harry said. "Honestly Professor-"

"You can't know that Potter," Professor McGonagall said surprisingly kindly. "not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed."

Professor McGonagall carried the broom out of the portrait hole and it closed behind her.

Y/N and Harry were fuming but they knew Hermione meant well. However, Ron turned around to Hermione looking like he was ready for murder.

"What did you go running to McGonagall for?" Ron exclaimed furiously.

She threw her book aside and faced Ron bravely.

"Because I thought...and Professor McGonagall agrees with me.....that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"

"Your absolutely mental!" Ron exclaimed. 

"We're both concerned for Harry's safety..." Hermione started. 

"We're all concerned for Harry's safety, Mione but I think we should have talked about going to a Professor," Y/N said calmly. She was trying her best not to corner the girl. 

Before another angry word could come out of either Ron or Harry, Y/N grabbed Hermione and helped her retreat to the dorms. 

Harry looked over at Ron who looked like he had just been broken up with. 

"Absolutely mental.." Ron muttered under his breath. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟑: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔

A/N: Im sorry this chapter was so late but I hope you liked this chapter. 💕

Also here is the songs on Harry's mixtape in a Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ZH9HSaPxclVraHDpAxEUA?si=814f5052bf1d4d75

Thank you so much! 💕