"𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎."

ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣 - 𝕁𝕒𝕪𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕘

"Going to miss my glorious presence aren't you Harold?"

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"Watching her while she sleeps is creepy mate."

"I'm not watching her while she sleeps, Ron."

"Then what do you call what you're doing right now?"

"She looks peaceful, okay."

"Whipped."

"If you don't-"

"Shhh will you two be quiet, she's waking up..."

Y/N felt her eyes flutter open being blinded by light pouring in. 

She groggily opened her eyes to see, Hermione, and Ron standing at the foot of her bed in the hospital wing, and Harry standing on her immediate side. 

She looked up at Harry and saw his emerald green eyes wash over with relief seeing her come to consciousness. 

"Wait," Y/N said groggily looking at Harry confused. "Who are you?"

Harry's face dropped. "What?"

He looked at the confused girl in a panic until he saw her break out into a smile. 

Y/N started sitting up breaking into laughter, while Harry gaped at her trying to hide his smile by rolling his eyes. 

"I hate you," Harry said sarcastically rolling his eyes. 

"Don't lie to yourself Harold," Y/N said, still laughing. She sat up on her bed taking in her surroundings. 

She was still in the hospital wing but the dark night that she remembered was gone, and the golden summer sun was shining brightly through the windows. 

"Wait what happened?" she asked.

"You died," Ron said flatly. 

"Ronald!" Hermione scolded, hitting his shoulder, making him mouth 'what?' rubbing the spot where she had hit him. "You over-exerted yourself. Madam Pomfrey says you used up a lot of your energy. Which explains why you were pale. Basically, you passed out and took a really long nap."

"Two days is not a long nap Hermione," Harry objected. 

"Ive been out for two days!" Y/N exclaimed, starting to stand up. 

"One and a half!" Hermione assured sending a glare at Harry. "Between producing that Patronus, dehydration, lack of food, your arm, and your sprained ankle, which you then broke further," Hermione pointed out, "you've been in and out for hours. Madam Pomfrey mended your bones though."

"Padfoot's okay?" Y/N then asked disguising Sirius's name. 

"Yeah everything's fine," Hermione assured. 

"You should've seen Snape he went ballistic right after you passed out," Ron said. "Blamed all of us and the unconscious you for doing something with Sirius."

Y/N chuckled imagining Snape yelling at them all for breaking Sirius out of Filch's office, while the others thought he was crazy for assuming four thirteen-year-olds could do something with a convicted murderer. 

She started to notice the hunger she was feeling in her stomach longing for something to eat. 

Her eyes went to her nightstand that was filled with sweets from her friends.

She bypassed a bag of chocolate frogs from Daphne and a bag of coconut ice from Tracey. She then grabbed a bag of honey-colored toffee that was signed with a sweet note wishing her to feel better from Neville.

"Great you're up!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed rushing to Y/N at the hospital wing. She grabbed Y/N's head up while she was still mid-chew and pressed a hand to her forehead. "You still seem weak," Madam Pomfrey observed. 

She grabbed the bag of toffee from Y/N who made a frowning face at Madam Pomfrey for taking away her sweets. 

"You need a proper meal," she ordered. She turned to Ron and Hermione who were standing on the side. "Lunch is happening right now, one of you be useful please, and bring up a meal?"

"I can just go down—" Y/N started to protest. 

"No you lay back," Madam Pomfrey demanded, pushing her right back in her seat. 

"I'll do it," Hermione offered about to head out. 

Ron stood there awkwardly for a moment, then called after her, "I'll come with you!"

"Just stay put and rest," Madam Pomfrey said before returning back to her office. 

Y/N pouted, not liking that she had to sit still. She sat cross-legged on the bed. 

Harry moved to sit on the bed, sitting in front of her. He looked at her oddly while she was sneaking a look at the candy on the table and then back to Madam Pomfrey's office door. 

She settled on a bag of treacle fudge from Blaise and against Madam Pomfrey's wishes began eating again. 

"What?" Y/N asked looking at Harry with a raised eyebrow before stuffing some more fudge into her mouth. "Oh don't give me that look, I haven't eaten in two days."

Harry let out a light laugh looking down into his lap. 

"I'm really sorry about Sirius," Y/N said softly looking at Harry after she had swallowed. 

"It's okay. Maybe one day," Harry said looking at the corner of the room. "I guess the hope of leaving the Dursleys made losing him harder."

Y/N looked at him sympathetically and interlocked her hand with his. 

Harry sighed. "What about you? You've been out for a day and I know the dementors aren't really the best experience."

He noticed Y/N's face change when he mentioned the dementors. 

"What?"

"I heard something, completely different," Y/N said. "Before the screams."

"When the dementors were near?"

She nodded. "Voices. Ones that I didn't recognize."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there was a man and a woman, yelling about saving someone. Her."

"You didn't hear any names?"

"No. Only something about betraying Voldemort and Inferi."

"Inferi? What's that?"

"Their a weapon dark wizards used to use," a voice said entering the hospital wing. The three turned their heads to Hermione and Ron who were each carrying two plates of food. 

"Madame Pomfrey told you not to eat sweets Y/N," Hermione scolded grabbing Y/N's fudge and setting it aside. 

"People need to stop taking my candy," Y/N scowled. 

"Shush up and eat this," Hermione said ordering a plate into Y/N's lap and handing another plate to Harry.

She and Ron sat in the bed that was next to them and began to eat their lunch. 

"What do you mean about dark wizards?" Harry asked going back to the previous topic. 

"Inferi were dead bodies spelled to do dark wizards bidding," Hermione explained taking a bite of food. 

Ron shuddered, "Why exactly are you guys talking about that?"

"I heard a weird conversation when the dementors came yesterday, or two days ago, whenever it was," Y/N said flustered at what the time was. "Something about betraying Voldemort and Inferi coming after him. There was a male voice and a young female voice."

"Why would you hear that?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food earning a side-eye from Hermione. "I thought you lived in America most of your life."

"I don't know," Y/N shrugged taking another bite. 

"Well that has to be one of your treacherous memories," Hermione concluded. 

"I have no idea who these people are though Hermione," Y/N said. "The voices were not my parents or anyone I could even be close with."

"Harry you hear the screams of your parents because you were there for their death," Hermione said trying to connect the dots. 

Harry nodded. 

"Well, then you had to have been there for those screams you keep hearing," Hermione said, taking a simple bite of her food. 

"Maybe I was just hearing things, the dementors were particularly close—"

"They feed off your most painful memories in life Y/N," Hermione said. "If there's a moment you don't remember but the dementors can see, then...I don't know."

Y/N furrowed her brow taking another bite. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

 "Harry! Ron!" Y/N exclaimed running up to Hermione, Harry, and Ron in the corridor the next day.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked looking at the girls panicked expression

"Lupin's not teaching anymore!"

"What? Do you mean they fired him?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, but Snape told all the Slytherins this morning. He practically wants to throw a party."

"I'm going to go see him," Harry said. 

"I'll come with you," Y/N said determined to check on her favorite teacher. 

"But if he's resigned-"

"-doesn't sound like there's anything we can do-" Ron and Hermione both pointed out

"I don't care. I still want to see him," Harry said sternly. 

"We'll meet you at the Great hall," Y/N assured. 

The two broke away from Ron and Hermione and made their way to Lupin's office. His door was slightly ajar and when they walked in they saw he had packed most of his things. 

"I saw you two coming," Lupin said brightly, holding up the Marauder's Map. "I assumed you'd come."

"Snape said your leaving! It's not true right?" Y/N said frantically.

"I'm afraid it is," Lupin said, beginning to work on emptying his desk drawers. 

"Why?" Harry asked. "The Ministry of Magic doesn't think you were helping Sirius, do they?"

Y/N closed the door making sure no one would hear.

"No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives. That was the final straw for Severus."

"What do you mean final straw?" Y/N asked. 

"Well, the minister was going to give him second or first Order of Merlin ranks. Once Sirius escaped it hit him hard. So umm...he accidentally let slip that I'm a werewolf this morning at breakfast."

"Of course he did!" Y/N said annoyed, crossing her arms. 

"Well, surely you're not leaving because of that!" Harry exclaimed, devastated he was about to lose the only DADA teacher he had ever liked, or y'know not turn to dust as he did with Professor Quirrell in first year. 

"This time tomorrow all the owls will start arriving from parents...They won't want a werewolf around their children. After that night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you...That must never happen again."

"That's ridiculous! Please don't go," Y/N said. 

"You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher I've ever had!" Harry proclaimed. 

Lupin sighed. He kept organizing his desk's contents packing them away neatly. 

"From what the headmaster told me this morning, you two saved a lot of lives that night. Why don't you tell me about the Patronus Charm."

The two were still distracted by Lupin's resigning to have told him anything. 

"How did you know?"

"What else could have driven the dementors back?" Lupin said. "What was your Patronus Harry?"

"A stag," Harry said making Lupin break into a grin. 

"Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed. That's why we called him Prongs."

"Why do I have the same Patronus as him?" Harry questioned. 

"Love and happiness is the fueling power for a Patronus. I imagine you miss your dad desperately because of your love for him. I also imagine your Patronus compliments your best friend here," he said nodding at Y/N. "Your Patronus's don't match, they complement each other. The male version of a doe would be a stag. It shows how well you two work together."

Lupin smiled while Harry and Y/N tried to avert each other's eyes. 

Lupin wished his best friends could personally see their son and how much he resembled them. However, Lupin knew James and Lily were probably smirking from heaven and James was a hundred percent placing bets on Harry and his new 'best friend'. 

"Now that I am no longer your teacher I don't feel guilty about giving this back to you," Lupin said handing back the Marauders Map. "I have no hesitations saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passages out of the castle."

Harry took the map happily but stuffed it into his pockets quickly when there was a knock at the door. Professor Dumbledore entered.

"Your carriage is at the gates, Remus," he informed. 

"Thank you, Headmaster."

Lupin picked up his tattered suitcase and the now-empty grindylow cage. 

He turned to Y/N and Harry. 

"It has been a real pleasure teaching you two. I'm sure we'll meet again sometime."

He looked at Y/N, "You're a brilliant witch, you should be proud of all you accomplished this year."

Y/N embraced him in a hug. She was upset the kind teacher who had risked his life to save them, and who had been through so much was leaving. Lupin hugged the girl kindly back, realizing it had been a while since he was hugged by people who cared for him. He tried his best to hide his sad face. Harry joined in, hugging the teacher before he left. 

They pulled apart and soberly Dumbledore said, "Goodbye Remus."

Lupin nodded his head and sent a kind nod in Y/N and Harry's direction before he exited the office. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ─── 

The whole school was buzzing with theories of what happened to Buckbeak and Sirius. The only people who knew the truth were Ron, Harry, Hermione, Y/N, and Dumbledore. 

Draco was furious when he found out about Buckbeak's escape. Y/N, Daphne, and Tracey took heavy amusement seeing him have a fit in the common room when he found out from a poor first-year who was talking about the topic with his friend. 

Percy was talking to the only person who would listen about Sirius's escape. Penelope, his girlfriend. 

"If I manage to get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!"

Most students were miserable about Lupin's leave, given how many odd DADA teachers had come in, and Lupin seemed the sanest.  

"Wonder what they'll give us next year?" Seamus asked. 

"Maybe a vampire," Dean suggested hopefully. 

Not knowing where Peter Pettigrew was and whether he and Voldemort had reconnected yet, kept Harry on edge. 

Now, Harry was miserable thinking back on how he now had to go to the Dursleys. Away from Hogwarts and his best friends, more specifically Y/N, for three months. 

He had, for about a half-hour, a shred of hope that he would get to live with his parent's best friend but Sirius was now well into hiding, and the home Harry had thought was possible was gone. 

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Y/N decided to sit together in a secluded cart on the Hogwarts Express when it was time to go home. 

"I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided to drop Muggle Studies," Hermione said suddenly taking a seat next to Ron. 

"But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent!" Ron exclaimed.

"I know but I can't stand another year with that Time-Turner, it was driving me mad." 

"I can't believe you didn't tell us about it," Ron said grumpily. "We're supposed to be your friends."

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone," Hermione hissed. 

Y/N rolled her eyes at the two bickering turning her attention to Harry, who was looking out the window watching his true home disappear as they got further and further away.

Y/N leaned her head over Harry's shoulder watching the view he was taking in. "Cheer up Harold, we'll be back soon enough."

Harry smiled. "Yeah, I guess your right. The summer's going to feel so long though."

"I agree, I'm not looking forward to sitting in a hot house alone all summer."

"Alone?"

"My parents will probably be working even more after Sirius's escape," Y/N sighed. 

"Harry," Ron said bringing both of them out of their conversation. Apparently, he and Hermione had finished their old married couple quarrel. "You've got to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now-"

"a telephone, Ronald," Hermione said rolling her eyes. "You should be taking Muggle Studies next year. 

Y/N let out a laugh when Ron completely ignored her continuing his conversation. 

"It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How bout it guys? Come and stay, and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work."

Harry's spirits lifted at this offer. 

"Yeah, I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come. Especially after what I did to Aunt Marge..."

The four became engaged in multiple games of Exploding Snap and they all bought lunch when the cart came around. 

Later into the afternoon, something caught Y/N's eye through the window. 

"Harry," she said shaking him and looking over his shoulder to see the window. "What's that outside the window?"

Harry looked at a small and gray owl carrying a letter that was bigger than itself beyond the glass. 

He pulled down the window and grabbed the owl, carefully bringing it inside. The owl dropped its letter and then began flying around the cart. 

Y/N heard Hedwig and Athena click their beaks signifying the two were not happy with the new passenger. Crookshanks sat up following the owl hungrily with its eyes.

Ron quickly took the tiny owl out of Crookshanks view.

"It's from Sirius," Harry said looking over the letter. 

"Read it aloud," Hermione said. 

Dear Harry, 

I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post. 

Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where in case this falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about the owl's reliability, but he's the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job. 

I believe the dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts so that the security on the castle will be lifted. 

There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt-

Hermione perked up looking at Ron who went red. 

"Ha!" Hermione said victoriously. "See! I told you it was from him!"

"Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it had he?" Ron said. "Ouch!"

Ron held onto one of his fingers, that the owl had nibbled happily, showing its affection. 

Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from Gringotts vault number seven hundred and eleven...my own. Please consider it as a thirteen birthday's worth of presents from your godfather. 

I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable. 

If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me. 

I'll write again soon. 

Sirius

Harry looked inside the envelope to see a piece of parchment enclosed. It had a quick note written on it. 

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.

Harry broke into a huge smile. "That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" 

"Wait there's a P.S," Y/N pointed out looking at the letter. 

I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat. 

"Keep him?" Ron said looking at the owl suspiciously who was hooting. 

Ron unexpectedly put the tiny owl near Crookshanks to sniff. 

"What d'you reckon? Definitely an owl?" Ron asked the cat, not wanting to repeat another Scabbers incident. 

Crookshanks purred calmly. 

"That's good enough for me," Ron said. "He's mine."

Y/N rested her head on Harry's shoulder when she noticed him growing nervous. 

"Sirius'll be fine," she assured. "He's smart and resourceful."

Harry nodded, and Y/N felt him relax.

Y/N exited the train cart with her friends to see her cousin standing in the station wearing her favorite vintage leather jacket she wore all the time.

Harry saw his aunt and uncle looking at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley oddly while they hugged Harry lovingly. The last thing they would expect is for anyone to show 'that horrible boy' affection.

Mrs. Weasley introduced herself to Y/N sweetly and Y/N introduced herself after.

"Nice to meet you, dear," Mrs. Weasley said kindly taking Y/N into a hug even though she barely knew her. "Ron and the twins have written plenty about you!"

Ron bid them all a goodbye as he headed off with his family.

Y/N hugged Hermione tightly before she went off with her parents who were looking at the wizards astounded. 

Despite the sour looks from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, Harry stood to the side waiting until Y/N was done saying goodbye to Tracey and Daphne and bidding goodbye to Theo, Blaise, and Cedric. 

He pushed his trolley near her's when she was done. "Promise me you'll write?"

"Awww, going to miss my glorious presence aren't you Harold?" Y/N smiled looking at his bittersweet expression. 

"I won't miss your nicknames," Harry said playfully rolling his eyes. 

"Lies, you know you love them," Y/N smirked. 

To Y/N's surprise, Harry wrapped his arms around her, wishing he didn't have to let go. 

"Someone's going to miss me," Y/N smirked hugging him back.

"Oh shut up," Harry mumbled playfully as he hid his face in her neck, the smell of her shampoo intoxicating him. 

"You've lasted thirteen years without me, I think you can do three months," Y/N said. "Just don't do anything stupid while I'm gone."

"What? You mean like die?" Harry laughed. "Can't promise you that."

The two pulled apart looking at each other for the last time until August. 

"I'll see you next year Harold," Y/N smirked. "I promise I'll write every day."

Harry hesitated before placing a kiss on the girl's cheek changing the smirk she had into a flustered expression. 

"See you later Y/N," he said, now the one smirking.

"Ahem," the two heard a voice cough from beside them. 

They looked to see Uncle Vernon, greeting Harry with his usual coldness. 

"What's that?" Uncle Vernon sneered looking at the envelope from Sirius he was still holding. 

"It's a letter from my godfather," Harry said brightly, knowing exactly how to piss off his uncle. 

"Godfather?" Uncle Vernon snarled. "You haven't got a godfather."

"Yes I have," Harry said as cheerful as ever. "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me though.....keep up with my news.....check if I'm happy..."

Y/N was trying her best to hold back her laughter as she watched Harry smile broadly at his Uncle while he looked terrified. 

"W—wha—" Uncle Vernon stammered looking at him with his jaw dropped. "Whatever. You're done saying goodbye to your little girlfriend, let's go." 

Harry grinned happily at Y/N before pushing his cart after his aunt and uncle towards the station's exit. 

Y/N smiled back before her cousin's amused voice brought her out of her gaze. 

"One year here and you got yourself a boyfriend I see," Rue said approvingly. "The Harry Potter. Good work."

"Oh shove off," Y/N said playfully rolling her eyes.

"No no, tell me about him, don't act like I didn't see the kiss on the cheek," Rue smirked.

"Wow, I was just about to say how happy I am to see you, and now, I take it back," Y/N said.

"Ouch," Rue said pretending to be fake hurt. 

"Wheres, mom and dad?" Y/N asked looking around. 

Rue's expression dropped. 

"Let me guess.."

"Your mum and dad we're busy today, they're at home though," Rue said quickly.

"Well let's go see mummy and daddy dearest," Y/N said jokingly making Rue smile. 

Rue grabbed some of her bags and the two made their way out of Kings Cross Station. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟑: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟒

A/N: That's a wrap on year 3! There will be about 3 chapters of the summer and then Year 4 starts! I can't thank you all enough for the support on this book. In two weeks it will be two months since I have started this book and the growth is tremendous. Thank you so much! 

💕