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Y/N's P.O.V.

For the next couple days, the school was bustling, especially the teachers. Everywhere the quartet went, they saw tighter security. Flitwick was attempting to teach the front doors to recognize Sirius Black from a photo.

Easter was approaching and so were...more security restrictions. Yay!

They narrowly avoided Filch, who was running around and fixing every nook and crany of the castle. Sir Cadogan, to Y/N's great disappointment, had been sacked. His portrait returned back to the lonely landing on the seventh floor.

The Fat Lady, who had never really liked Y/N, was returned to all her glory as the Door of the Gryffindor common room. She would only accept if she had security, so Dumbledore hired surly-looking guard trolls who always swung their clubs menancingly.

During breakfast on Monday, Neville received a red envelope. Every student in the hall already knew what it was.

Y/N heard Ron tell Neville, "Run for it," as the boy ran out of the Great Hall, clutching the envelope in one hand.

Y/N smirked to Hermione, knowing she was thinking of the same thing. That time in second year, when Harry and Ron crashed Mister Weasley's car into the Whomping Willow and Ron had received a Howler.

///

"RONALD WEASLEY!" Missus Weasley's voice roared from the letter. "HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR?"

Y/N, Harry and Hermione were all snickering, while Ron was as red as his hair.

"I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED!" the Howler spat. "YOUR FATHER IS FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK - AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT!"

Ron winced away from the letter as Y/N and Harry burst out into laughter and Hermione gave a disapproving look.

"IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!"

With a load groan, Ron slumped so far into his seat that nobody could see him. Y/N and Harry were clutching each other, wheezing. It was just so incredibly unfortunate - it was absolutely hilarious!

Harry wiped Y/N's tears away while Y/N laughed into his shoulder.

"Oh, and Ginny dear," Missus Weasley's voice softened. "You got into Gryffindor! Your father and I are so proud!"

This just caused Y/N and Harry to relapse - long story short, they kept at it for ten minutes.

///

But, after everything had been boarded up, Harry had whispered to Y/N in class one day, "Hey...the one-eyed witch statue...isn't boarded up..."

Y/N immediately widened her eyes, "You're not using it. I don't care if only you, I, Hermione, Ron, the twins and Elijah know about it," she said, counting on her fingers. "Damn, that's a lot of people."

"But-"

"No."

So Harry had turned to Ron and began talking to him instead, about what, Y/N didn't know.

Speaking of Ron, he had become an instant celebrity. He had expressed to Y/N many times that he felt as though Harry got all the attention, but now the spotlight was on him. He was recounting the attack to anyone who would listen.

Even though Hermione and Ron had their...moment...on the night of the break-in, they were back to their argumentative selves once more.

As the class was exiting their room, Y/N was walking with Hermione and heard Ron tell the tale to a couple second years.

"...Standing over me...giant knife...must've been twelve inches...my bed hangings in shreds...standing over me like a skeleton...mane of filthy black hair..."

"Ooooh," chorused the second years.

"And I looked at him...and he looked at me...and I looked at him...and he looked at me!" Ron exclaimed, waving his hands.

The second years jumped back, startled. Y/N tried not to laugh.

"And then I yelled...and then he scarpered - why-"

But Y/N didn't hear the rest, for Hermione had roughly dragged her away.

"Sorry, Trouble," Hermione said, wincing at how hard she pulled.

Y/N rubbed her arm with her free hand and mumbled a, "It's okay."

"I - I just...I can't see him," Hermione said, running a hand through her hair, messing up her mane.

Y/N and Hermione had been down to see Hagrid many-a-times after he first told them about Buckbeak's hearing. Usually, they helped Hagrid research for the case. He had left for London the previous day and they were praying that he won his case. Sometimes, Y/N and Hagrid would comfort Hermione while she cried about Ron.

It made Y/N's blood boil, her palms tingle and it gave her a strong urge to find Ron, interrupt whatever he was doing and jinx him to a jelly.

"That's understandable, Herms," Y/N said, patting her friends arm. "He's been such a prick - I was so surprised when you two...you know, cuddled that night."

"It wasn't cuddling," Hermione said firmly. "I was just scared of him...getting hurt. Just because we're on bad terms doesn't mean he's not my friend..." she trailed off. "Even though he acts like I don't exist."

"He's wrong for that, Hermione!" Y/N exclaimed, causing some heads in the hallway to turn. "He's so wrong for that. It's not like you did anything wrong - did you? It was your cat, that you have no control over!"

Hermione shrugged sadly and sighed. "He'll come around, he always does."

"But that doesn't mean its right for him to treat you this way!" Y/N said angrily, clenching her fists, feeling her palms tingle again.

They continued this conversation all the way to the library, where they were then forced to speak in hushed whispers.

While they sat down, Y/N saw Elijah out of the corner of her eye. Apparently, Hermione saw him too, for she smirked and said, "There's your lover," she teased.

"Shut up," Y/N murmured, cheeks slightly pink.

"I will not," Hermione said. "He calls you, 'Pretty rascal,' that's enough said."

Y/N stuck out her tongue at Hermione and got up, whispering, "I gotta get a book - Hippogriff readings, you know? Be right back."

She strolled over to the shelf they had previously pillaged, happy to see new books. Y/N trailed her fingers along a row, checking off the books she already read in her mind. A couple of rows gone.

The only row she hadn't read anything from was a row that was...out of her reach.

Y/N looked around to see if Madam Pince, the librarian, was anywhere near. When the coast was clear, Y/N pulled out her wand, even though they weren't technically supposed to do magic in the library.

Before she could do anything, a hand reached over her and grabbed a book from the shelf.

She looked up to see a familiar blond-haired, brown-eyed Slytherin. Elijah Collins. Well, Ellie Collins.

"Hi, Ellie," Y/N said smiling, hoping she wasn't blushing. If she was, that'd be incredibly embarrassing.

Elijah handed her the book and smiled, "Hi, you rascal," he said.

Y/N raised a brow, "Oh, so I'm not pretty today?" she asked jokingly, beginning to walk back over to Hermione.

"I was waiting for you to notice that," Elijah grinned. "Wanted to see how...accustomed...you got."

Now Y/N was definitely red. Was he doing this on purpose? Probably. Despite her slightly pink face, Y/N rolled her eyes and said, "Anyway, why're you here?"

"Studying...?" Elijah said with a laugh as they reached Y/N and Hermione's table.

"You study?" Y/N said in mock shock as she sat down.

"Oh, Y/N - you're back! I just found something else about Hippo - oh!" Hermione said, not looking up at first. When she did look up, she saw Elijah and said, "Hello, Collins," with a sweet smile.

Elijah crinkled up his nose. "Elijah, or Eli, if you please. You're Hermione - right?"

"Yes, I'm Hermione!"

"Y/N talks about you all the time," Elijah said. "Says you're her best friend, honestly hurts a little," he said, playfully nudging Y/N.

"Oh, sit down, Ellie," Y/N said. "And obviously I talk about Herms - she's my number one," she grinned.

Hermione beamed.

"Are Harry and Ron with you?" Elijah asked casually.

Y/N glanced at Hermione, whose expression hardened. Y/N thought that this could go one of two ways: Elijah would get his feelings hurt by a silver-tongued Hermione, or Hermione would be nice.

Unfortunately, Hermione chose the latter.

"They're not with us," she said, not a hint of anger in her voice. "Probably out...doing whatever they do."

Y/N tuned out the small talk that Hermione and Elijah made. She opened the book that Elijah got for her, Hippogriffs, A History, and began to flip through the pages.

"Where are the twins?" Y/N asked, joining the conversation once more.

Elijah shrugged, "Probably somewhere doing something stupid that we'll have to clean up later," he said.

With a smirk, Y/N corrected, "You mean that you'll clean it up later."

Hermione gave a small smile and widened her eyes at Y/N slightly. Y/N got the hint. "Anyway, Ellie, I'll see you later. Hermione and I have some super secret girl talk to...talk about," she said.

With an understanding nod and look, Elijah got up and left with a, "Bye, you pretty rascal - and you, Hermione."

"Bye!" the two of them said.

"He's nice, Elijah," Hermione said once Elijah walked away. "Didn't expect that from a Slytherin - does he know I'm a muggleborn?"

Y/N blinked, "Yes, he knows. Come on, I talk about you all the time! He's not prejudiced, he's actually really against it - despite being a pureblood."

"That's really refreshing," Hermione said. "Anyway, have you found anything?"

With a groan, Y/N said, "No! All these books are a load of waffle." She really did not want to continue with this one moment longer.

Just then, someone tapped Y/N on the shoulder. It was a second year - one of the ones who had been listening to Ron's story earlier. He was literally trembling.

"Oh, hello!" Y/N greeted, hoping she could calm his nerves a little bit.

"H - hi," the kid stuttered out. Hermione and Y/N traded a glance.

"And what's your name...?" Y/N asked sweetly. She didn't want to scare him away. He was short for a second year, with dark hair and honey brown eyes.

"C-Colin Creevey," he said. He wasn't fidgeting as much anymore and Y/N hoped that he was less nervous.

"Hello, Colin!" Y/N said cheerily, sticking out a hand. Hermione said hello as well and Colin beamed at them.

"You two are Harry Potter's friends - right?" Colin asked. "He talked about you two! Especially you," he said, pointing to Y/N.

Huh? Harry was talking about her? But how would Colin know that when Colin had just met her?

"What do you mean?" she said, puzzled.

"He kept saying things about this girl named 'Y/N," while Ron was talking about the Black attack - which is terrifying," said Colin brightly. "And Hermione - smartest girl in the year! You guys are his best friends - and Ron."

Hermione and Y/N blushed, but both for different reasons.

"Anyways,' Colin said. "Hagrid sent me to give you this-" he pulled out a letter. "Told me you'd be in the library."

Y/N took the letter from his hands and thanked him. Before he went off, Colin asked the two,

"Can I talk to you...like when I feel like it? You're nice."

Y/N was pretty sure that her heart had just melted into a puddle of mush. He was only a year younger than her, but Colin Creevey was the most adorable person to ever exist in the history of ever.

"Of course you can, Colin!" Y/N and Hermione said.

"Yay!" Colin exclaimed, though in a whisper, because they were in the library. He half hugged Hermione and Y/N, then ran out of the library, positively skipping with glee.

Immediately, Hermione and Y/N gushed.

"He's so sweet!" Hermione said.

"He's my son," Y/N said firmly. "I'm adopting him, he's legally my child."

"And Harry is his dad-"

"Open the letter, Herms."

Hermione peeled off the hasty wax stamp and opened the envelope. She showed the parchment inside to Y/N - it was covered in drops of liquid that Y/N desperately hoped was water.

"Go on, what is it?" Y/N asked, trying to peer over Hermione's shoulder. Hermione stilled and they read the letter together.

"Dear Y/N and Hermione,

We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. We lost. Execution date to be fixed.

Beaky has enjoyed London.

I won't forget all the help you two gave us."

There was no signature. The handwriting was incredibly messy and the page was splattered in tears.

"No..." Y/N whispered. She couldn't believe it. "He can't've lost - he can't..."

When she turned to head to look at Hermione, Y/N saw that she had tears in her eyes. Soundlessly, they came to an agreement. They had to tell Harry and Ron.

Rushing, the two girls packed their bookbags and basically ran out of the library. It was dark outside now, so probably around seven in the evening.

"Hurry up, Hermione!" Y/N said as they sprinted through the halls.

They burst into the Gryffindor common room to find Harry and Ron playing Wizards chess. When Ron saw them, he immediately glared.

"What did we do this time, huh? Have you told on us again?" he spat.

Y/N glared at him, but Hermione said in a small voice, holding up the envelope, "We just thought you ought to know...Hagrid lost the case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."

Ron and Harry gaped at them.

"He...he sent us this," Hermione said, handing Harry the letter.

Harry's expression turned angry, "They can't do this!" Harry said. "They just can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous!" he said, throwing his hands in the air.

"That prat, blondie, Malfoy git, probably interfered!" Y/N gave her input. "He's got them wrapped around his galleon-laden fingers!"

This was so incredibly stupid. Buckbeak was completely innocent - Draco Malfoy hadn't listened and he got what was coming to him.

Hermione nodded sadly, "He's got the Committee frightened - doddery old fools. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Chance of changing Buckbeak's fate...slim to none, though," Hermione said, wiping tears away.

"No!" Ron said fiercely. "We can still win this! You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help you."

Woah.

Coming from Ron during a time his mind was set on disliking Hermione?

In Y/N's opinion, this was an act of true love like in those cheesy rom coms that Harry always talked about.

"Wait-" Y/N said. "I was working on it, too!"

But she was ignored.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, bursting into tears and throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

Y/N had to refrain from snickering when Ron awkwardly patted Hermione on the head and looked to Harry for help.

Harry just gave Ron a thumbs up. Ron glared at him, Y/N finally gave in to her laughs.

"Ron - I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers!" Hermione wailed, pulling away from Ron.

Y/N gave an offended look, "No, you're not-"

"Yes, I am!"

"Er...it's alright, he was old anyways..." Ron said, looking thoroughly relieved that Hermione had released him from her bone-crushing hug. But the moment she let go, he looked at her longingly.

"And a bit useless," Ron continued. "Mum and dad might get me an owl, now!"

"So it was that simple?" Y/N said, slightly outraged. "You forgave her just like that-" Y/N snapped, "- after ignoring her for weeks?"

Ron looked slightly ashamed of himself, which Y/N felt was perfectly reasonable. He looked at Harry for help.

"Mate, I'm sorry, but don't bring me into this," Harry said, putting his hands up. "I don't want to make Y/N angrier than she already is." He walked over to Y/N and interlocked their hands in an attempt to calm her down.

"Don't be a git, Ron. Answer the question," Y/N said with gritted teeth.

Harry began to rub small, gentle circles with his thumb like he always did. And it helped, a lot, but Ron didn't need to know that.

"Stop it, Harry. I'm trying to be scary," she whisper-grumbled to him. He just grinned and squeezed her hand tighter.

"Would you look at that," Ron said. "It's dinner time - maybe we can catch Hagrid on the way back!"

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

They, in fact, did not catch Hagrid on the way back. Unable to speak to him in the evenings due to the security measures, they were forced to hang back after Care of Magical Creatures on Monday.

Hagrid was numb with shock at the verdict. " 'S all my fault - sittin' up there, go' all tongue-tied," he mumbled, playing with his fingers. "I dropped all them cue-card's you made fer me, Hermione - an' the scrip', Y/N - an' all the dates," Hagrid said miserably.

Y/N gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. Nobody deserved this - he was going to drive himself depressed.

"An' then Lucius Malfoy-"

"Not that fucking dipshit," Y/N said under her breath, knowing that she'd get scolded if Hermione heard her.

"He...he said a couple o' words an' the Committee were on his side," Hagrid said, wiping a tear away.

"There's still the appeal!" Ron said fiercely. "We won't give up!"

His little glance at Hermione and the smile they shared told Y/N all she needed to know - and enough to make fun of Hermione later.

"Get ter class, you four," Hagrid said sadly. "Don' wan' that ter be my faul' too."

"Hagrid! Don't say that!" Y/N reprimanded. Hagrid just shrugged.

After the others, too, reprimanded him for the for the negative self talk, the quartet gave him a tight hug and departed to their next class - Charms.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry suddenly said, halfway to the classroom.

He was holding Y/N's hand, which seemed like a regular reoccurrence that Y/N was not complaining about.

"Huh? What do you mean, shes-" Y/N said, gesturing to where Hermione was, right beside her. Then, she turned and Hermione was not, in fact, right beside her.

"I could've sworn she was here!" Ron said in disbelief.

Y/N stayed silent, trying not to snicker to herself. That Time Turner was really coming in handy - Y/N loved that she knew about it and Harry and Ron didn't.

"Maybe she forgot something," Y/N said, stalling for her friend. "She'll meet us at Charms."

Hermione did not meet them at Charms. Y/N assumed she was either doing something important, or sleeping.

"She could've done with cheering charms, too," Ron said. Harry nodded in agreement. "Has she been off with you, Y/N?"

Y/N thought about it. "No, just really...tired."

Charms went by and Y/N, Ron and Harry were walking back to Gryffindor tower for their twenty-minute break between Charms and Divination.

"Ron, could you walk any slower?" Y/N complained when she tripped on the back of his robes.

Harry nodded, jokingly considering it. "He probably could - don't test him."

"This is the seventh time I've stepped on your trainers and I'm about to leave them up to Crookshank's will," Y/N said.

She ignored Harry's comment, then immediately felt bad when he jokingly pouted and grabbed his hand in mock comfort.

They arrived at the Portrait Hole and the group said the password, (Flibbertigibbit!) and entered the common room.

Sitting at a table with her head down was Hermione. Y/N rushed over to her and gently shook her awake. "Herms..."

Hermione didn't answer.

"Herms...it's time to wake up..."

Still out.

"Herms, wake uuupp! Professor McGonagall is giving out extra credit-"

"WHAT?"

"Well, that did it," Y/N said sarcastically, but hugged her bestfriend nonetheless.

"Where did you go? Why weren't you at Charms?" Ron asked, walking up to Hermione.

Harry and Y/N traded smirks while Hermione gazed tiredly at Ron and Ron stared back.

"What time is it?" Hermione asked. "What class do we have - wait, I wasn't in Charms?" she said in a panicked voice.

Y/N rubbed her back comfortingly, "It was only one lesson, we just did cheering charms."

Hermione's eyes widened - obviously, this wasn't the right thing to say. "I missed cheering charms?!" Hermione shrieked, jumping out of her seat.

"Wait, no, Herms, it wasn't that important-"

"I have to go apologize to Professor Flitwick!"

And with that, Hermione packed up all her stuff and ran out of the common room, leaving the other three bewildered.

"Ooookkayyy..." Y/N said slowly.

Harry and Ron just shrugged.

"Hey, I'm gonna go get my Divination stuff from upstairs - you coming, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry shook his head, "No I have mine. We'll wait down here," said Harry. He grabbed Y/N's hand and pulled her towards a trio of armchairs in the corner.

"Potter, I can walk myself," Y/N said playfully.

"Okay, fine," Harry said. He dropped her hand and walked away, leaving Y/N yearning for the touch. But before he turned, Y/N saw the ghost of a smirk on his face - he was enjoying this. What a git.

She jogged after him anyway, "I didn't say leave me!"

✦

"The fates have informed me that your exam will involve Crystal Balls, so we have started them early," said Professor Trelawney.

They had made it to Divination, taking a four-person table.

"The fates have informed her," Hermione scoffed. "It's her who sets the exam!"

"What an amazing prediction, going to change the world, that is," Y/N said dryly.

"Hey, I'm not complaining," said Harry. "I was getting tired of her flinching every time she looked at my hands."

Ron groaned, "This is stupid, why am I even here?"

"You and me both, Ronnie," Y/N agreed. "This whole thing is such utter bullocks," she said as Professor Trelawney handed out the orbs.

"Crystal-gazing," Professor Trelawney began, "Is an extremely refined art. I do not expect any of you to See the first time - but we will practice our external eyes and mind today-"

Y/N, Ron, Harry and Hermione began to snigger uncontrollably at this. Ron even had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise. Y/N was biting incredibly hard on her bottom lip to halt the sounds.

"- as to clear our Inner Eye and relax the superconsious. If we are lucky, some of you will See before the end of class."

Y/N felt incredibly foolish as the class fell silent, each student staring at their Crystal Ball. As she stared into the milky white depths, Y/N let her mind wander.

She hadn't seen Remus in a while...

What did she have for lunch today? Oh, yeah. Chicken.

Speaking of lunch, Y/N was kind of hungry. What time was it? When did class end?

When could she get food?

Would her friends come with her to the kitchens? They'd never been there before. Harry might come.

Oh, Harry! She glanced at Harry. He, too, was staring mindlessly at his Crystal Ball. Then Y/N turned to Hermione and Ron - they were doing the same. Ron kept breaking into silent giggles and Hermione kept "tutting."

"Anyone see anything yet?" Harry whispered, clasping his hands together on the table. His hands...

"Er...no...unless you count chicken," Y/N said quietly.

"Yeah," Ron said. "There's a burn on this table - someone's spilled their candle wax." He pointed to a dark spot on the table.

The group stared at the burn for at least ten minutes in silence. It was more interesting than the Crystal Balls, anyway.

Their trance was broken when Professor Trelawney asked, "Has anyone Seen anything yet?" in that wispy voice of hers. "Does anybody need help deciphering the meaning of the images?"

Ron chuckled slightly, bringing his gaze back to his Crystal Ball. "I don't need help, I know exactly what this means - there's going to be a load of fog tonight."

At this, the quartet broke into uncontrollable giggles. They clutched their stomach in laughter and Y/N had to lean on Hermione, who was also laughing.

"Now, really!" their professor scolded as students turned their heads in their direction. Yes, really.

"You're disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations of the class," Trelawney said.

She approached their table, looking Y/N straight in the eye. Then, her gaze shifted to Harry's Crystal Ball.

Y/N internally groaned - the Grim, again, obviously.

"My dear..." Trelawney said to Harry. "My dear...your visions...they contain the Gr-"

"Not the Grim again!" Y/N said at the same time as Hermione.

"It is a dog! I think strays are pretty common!" Y/N said.

"This is ridiculous - for goodness sake!" Hermione exclaimed

Professor Trelawney gave the two of them a small frown. Then, she said to Hermione in a small voice, "From the moment you walked in the room, my dear, I knew you did not have the mindset or making for Divination."

Oooh...this was going to be bad. Y/N would always be on Hermione's side though, so it was okay.

There was a moments silence, then -

"Fine!" Hermione said, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future into her bag. "Fine - I quit!" she exclaimed, swinging her bag onto her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his seat.

Y/N watched in awe as she strode over to the trap door, kicked it open and descended down the silver ladder.

Getting up silently, Y/N picked up her bag (which she hadn't bothered to unpack) and walked to the trap door as well.

"What she said - bye!"

And with that, she followed Hermione away from that goddamn Vision Room, or whatever.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

That night in the common room, Harry and Ron didn't shut up about the Divination disaster.

"You two can't just walk out!" Ron said, waving his arms.

Hermione and Y/N looked at each other, which was rather hard, since Hermione's legs were propped in Y/N's lap while she lay down.

"I thought we did, though," Y/N said dryly.

"Well, I did first," Hermione pointed out.

"Neither of you should have!" Harry said. "And Y/N - you gave no indication you were quitting the subject as a whole - what would Remus say?"

Y/N blinked at Harry. He was really really cute when he was confused, it was an odd feeling.

"Well, I mean, I say 'What she said,' so I think that's enough," she reasoned. "Also, Remus knows, obviously-" she scoffed, "- he's fine with it, says I can take up Arithmancy instead."

Hermione beamed at her, "Arithmancy is amazing - you'll love it, or take Runes - or -"

"I think Arithmancy is okay," Y/N said weakly.

They all went silent for a moment, then they be Hermione, who was lying down, didn't join back into the conversation. When Y/N checked on her, she found that Hermione was asleep.

"Poor thing," Harry said. "She's tired herself out."

It was true - Herms had large eyebags and she was never full-energy nowadays.

"I'll take her up to bed," Ron said, rising from his seat. He picked up Hermione without waking her, but Y/N stopped him.

"Ronnie, that's adorable," she grinned. "But..."

"But?" Ron asked.

"You can't climb the girls staircase, you dimwit," Y/N said affectionately. At least he was trying. "I'll take her up." Y/N put her arms out, waiting for Ron to give Hermione to her.

Ron scowled, "Fine," he grumbled. Carefully, he transferred Hermione to Y/N and sat back down. Y/N brought Hermione upstairs and placed her on her bed gently.

"G'night, Herms," Y/N mumbled, giving Hermione a quick hug.

She checked the time, eleven p.m. and hurried back downstairs. When she got to the bottom step, she saw that Ron was absolutely red and Harry was smirking.

"Ronnie," Y/N called, thankful for the empty common room. "That was adorable, please be in love with her when she's actually awake."

"I'm not in love with her!" Ron said hotly. "I'm just...worried."

"Weren't so worried when you were ignoring her," Harry pointed out and Y/N nodded in agreement.

"I'm going to bed," Ron said fervently. "And this conversation is not continuing in the morning."

"Okay, Weasley," Y/N said with an eyeroll. He would do anything to change the topic, but sleep was probably needed for all of them right now.

"You, coming, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Er, yeah," Harry said. He got up from his seat and approached Y/N in her chair. He pulled her up and out of her seat, grinning when she raised a brow.

Harry wrapped Y/N in a hug, bringing his arms around her waist. They rested there, making Y/N's stomach flood with butterflies. He was doing things to her and she really needed to figure out how she felt.

"Goodnight, Y/N," said Harry in her ear.

"Goodnight, Harry," she whispered back.

They only pulled away when Ron gave a loud, fake cough. Rolling their eyes, Harry walked with Ron to the staircase.

"Aren't you going to sleep?" Ron asked.

Y/N nodded, "Yeah, I'll go up in a bit - want to read a little," she said with a yawn.

"Alright, goodnight, sis," Ron said.

"Goodnight weirdo," Y/N replied cheerily.

The two boys left, but Harry sent her a small smile before he did. Y/N sighed and curled up on the couch with a book, feeling her eyes droop

Five more pages...

Drooping lower.

Two more pages...?

And she was asleep.

✦

And she was being shook awake.

The common room was dark, the fire had been put out a while ago. Y/N wasn't cold, though. She had Harry's sweater to help with that.

Speaking of Harry, he was shaking her awake.

"Go away, Scarface," Y/N grumbled, turning over and pulling the neck of the hoodie over her eyes.

"Get up, Y/N," Harry urged, shaking her harder.

"And why would I do that?" came her muffled voice. Was he daft or did he not value sleep?

"Because," he said calmly. Too calmly. "I've just seem the name, 'Peter Pettigrew,' on the Marauders Map."

Right...Peter Pettigrew...Marauders Map...

Wait, what?

Y/N bolted straight upright and Harry jumped slightly. "That got you up," he said, pulling on the sleeves of his grey hoodie...that he looked particularly good in.

"No shit, thanks, Potter!" Y/N whispered. "What do you mean you saw Pettigrews name on the map?! He's dead!"

"Well, I saw it," Harry said. "And you're going to come with me to see whats happening."

"Obviously."

Harry pulled Y/N off the couch and they exited the common room. When the Fat Lady opened the door, she grumbled, "Who is going out at this hour?"

Y/N and Harry said nothing and crept away as the Fat Lady dissolved back into snores.

They tiptoed through the dark hallways, trying to read the Marauders Map, trying to find Pettigrew.

"Lumos," Y/N whispered. Harry did the same and they pointed their wands at the parchment.

Something behind them groaned. They whipped around, terrified, only to find that one of the portraits had made a noise.

"Will you put that light out?" a male voice snapped from inside a portrait.

"Shh, you're a painting. Just close your eyes," Y/N whispered.

Suddenly, Harry grabbed her hand. "Y/N, Y/N, Y/N-"

"Yes?" Y/N asked, panicked. She began to rub her thumb across his hand like he always did for her.

"It's him - It's Pettigrew! He's getting closer," Harry said, pointing his glowing wand at some footsteps on the map.

"What?" Y/N whispered, following his wand. Sure enough, a pair of footsteps labeled, 'Peter Pettigrew,' in curly handwriting was approaching them...and fast.

Y/N turned her head in all directions, waiting for a man to appear from the darkness

Closer.

Nobody there.

Even closer.

Still, nobody there.

Then, the labeled footsteps had passed them and Harry and Y/N turned in circles, confused. Where had Pettigrew gone? The map was probably malfunctioning.

When Y/N glanced back at the Marauders Map, her heart dropped. Walking slowly down the hallway she and Harry were in, was Severus Snape.

"Harry, Harry, Harry!" she said, panicked. "It's Snape - you're so done for!"

"Hey!" Harry whispered, affronted. "He hates you too!"

"But I don't care," Y/N reminded him. Then she remembered the situation they were in.

Harry paused for a moment to roll his eyes. "Put out your wand!" he said. Harry mumbled, "Nox," and his wandlight went out. Y/N did the same with no questions.

"Now what?" she whispered into the darkness.

Then she felt a hand brush her side, but it passed her and grabbed something behind her. Y/N heard the click of a doorknob and she was being pushed backwards.

What the bloody hell was that? And why was it making her feel...weird?

"Harry! What are you doing?" Y/N demanded as the door closed. The space they were in was tiny. She felt her feet hit something and decided it was a mop and bucket.

"Shh!" Harry shushed, placing a hand over her mouth. "Just...shh..."

In all honesty, Y/N was extremely glad it was pitch-dark. If it wasn't, Harry would see her red face and how wide her eyes were.

She felt some movement, which turned out to be Harry stuffing the Marauders Map into the pocket of his hoodie.

Her heart was beating so fast she was scared it would explode.

Their bodies were pressed up together. His lips were inches from hers.

"Harry?" Y/N said.

"Hm?" he asked, readjusting himself so that his hands were around her waist. When Y/N froze, he mumbled a sheepish, "Sorry - there's...er...not much space, you know?"

"Right..." Y/N said breathlessly. "Yeah..."

Harry's back was to the door, holding Y/N in place against the wall of the tiny closet.

"Has Snape gone yet?"

"I - I'll...er...check," Harry replied awkwardly.

He shuffled, trying to get his wand to illuminate the map. But before he could, the closet door burst open and Harry stumbled backwards.

Shit, shit, shit.

With no other choice, Y/N dejectedly exited the closet, coming face-to-face with the illuminated wand of none other than Severus Snape.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"So," Snape said. "The Famous Harry Potter and Miss Y/N Sterling believe they are exempt from curfew?"

Harry shook his head, panicked. "No, Professor-"

"Everyone from the Ministry of Magic and downwards has put so much effort into keeping the Famous Harry Potter safe. But what does the Famous Harry Potter do? He wanders the dark hallways after curfew, with Miss Sterling trailing behind him like a lost dog," Snape spat.

"You say that one more time and I hex-"

"But no! Famous Harry Potter does what he wants, when he wants."

Y/N gave Harry a side glance. In the light of Snape's wand, Y/N could see Harry clench his jaw, but stay silent. She grabbed his hand.

"You are incredibly like your father, Potter," Snape suddenly said. Which was odd, in Y/N's opinion. "A small amount of Quidditch talent made him think he was above the rest of us, strutting about the castle-"

"My dad didn't strut," Harry sneered. "And nor do I."

Yeah, tell him, Harry. Keep talking like that. It was driving Y/N insane.

"Your father was a swine - didn't go by rules either. As a Quidditch Champion, he was above rules. You seem to be taking after him, aren't you?" Snape said harshly, glancing at Y/N.

"You're just angry because my father was a good man - he saved you! I know what happened, Dumbledore told me!" Harry said.

With a raised brow, "I never would have been in that situation if your father and his friends..." his eyes flickered to Y/N. "Hadn't almost killed me."

Harry squeezed Y/N's hand hard.

Snape continued, "Oh yes, a little 'prank,' that would've taken my life - if your father hadn't gotten cold feet and backed out last moment. He was saving his own skin while saving mine. Had their joke succeeded, they would have been expelled from Hogwarts."

Harry and Y/N kept silent but Harry's grip on her hand was incredibly tight. He was glaring up at Snape with hatred in his eyes.

"And you, Miss Sterling- never without trouble," Snape hissed.

"You know it, Severus," Y/N said tiredly. Could he be done scolding them so she could go back to sleep?

He grunted, but chose to ignore her comment. "And what are you two doing so late, in a closet, may I ask?" Snape asked in a low tone.

"Well...er..." Harry said awkwardly, looking at Y/N for help.

What was she supposed to do about this?! She jerked her head, indicating that he should answer before they got detention.

"Er...well...we were...."

"Spit it out, Potter."

"We were snogging," Harry said simply.

What the bloody hell? Why the bloody hell - why did...why didn't Y/N's brain immediately object to that?

Y/N willed to the Universe that Harry wouldn't look at her, because if he did, all he'd see was a tomato. But, alas, he was looking directly at her.

Trying to maintain a straight face, Y/N almost lost her composure when Harry smirked at her. Where had that awkward boy from three seconds ago gone?

Why was it making her feel so flustered and tingly and stupid and ugh!

Snape's eyebrows practically shot into his greasy hair. "Excuse me?"

"We were snogging," Harry said firmly, still smirking at Y/N and giving her butterflies. "And Y/N's an amazing kisser, if you want details-"

Could she hex him to shut up? It's not like she didn't want him saying these things, but to SNAPE?

Snape looked absolutely flabbergasted.

"Well..." he said at a loss for words. Y/N could relate. "Get back to your dormitory before I give you detention," Snape said in shock and disbelief.

"Yes, Professor Slime - I mean, Snape," Y/N said as innocently as possible.

As they turned to leave, there was a soft thump! on the floor. Harry and Y/N froze on the spot - the Marauders Map had fallen out of Harry's pocket.

"Well, what is this?" Snape sneered, picking up the blank parchment.

"Spare bit of parchment," Harry said with a shrug. This was going to end terribly.

Snape turned it over in his hands, eyes moving between Harry and Y/N. "Surely you wouldn't need this old parchment," he said. "Why don't I-" he made a motion with his wand to light the paper on fire.

"No!" Y/N and Harry said at the same time, stretching their hands out to the map.

Snape gave a triumphant smile which looked really ugly because Snape never smiled. "So - what is it, then? A treasured possession? A letter, perhaps - written in invisible ink?"

Harry and Y/N blinked, turning to each other.

"Show yourself!" Snape said, tapping the paper with his wand.

Nothing.

"Reveal your secrets!"

Still, nothing. Y/N was resisting the urge to laugh in his face.

"Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to reveal the secrets of this parchment!"

Y/N and Harry burst into giggles. Master of this school? Okay, Severus.

But before Snape could reprimand them, curly handwriting bloomed across the map. Y/N panicked for a moment, thinking their secret was out...but...it was so much better.

"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, but request him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business. Oh, and to stop bullying students."

Harry and Y/N immediately stopped their laughs and looked at the paper, dumbstruck. The laugh was building at the back of her throat, but Y/N couldn't let it free...it would make the situation worse.

Snape looked absolutely livid.

"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony and would like to add that Snape is an ugly, greasy git."

Again, the two students stayed silent.

Snape's scowl deepened and he looked almost murderous when they read the next message.

"Mr. Padfoot would like to make it known that he is astonished at the fact that someone so stupid could ever become a Professor at Hogwarts."

His grip on the parchment was so tight, Y/N was scared that he'd rip the map.

Harry had closed his eyes in horror, opening them only after Y/N nudged him once the last sentence was finished.

"Mr. Wormtail wishes Professor Snape a good day, but advises him to wash his underpants - the slimeball."

"So..." Snape said softly. "We'll see about this..." He began to walk, leaving clear indication that they were to follow.

"Harry," Y/N groaned quietly. He squeezed her hand as invitation to continue. "We're so absolutely fucked - there's no way out of this."

Harry shrugged, "We'll figure it out - I'm Harry Potter."

"Can you stop being cocky for two minutes this is not the time!"

"You literally tell me that I can do anything because I'm Harry Potter like, every day," Harry argued.

"That cancels out when it's Snape - like, PEDMAS, or something!" Y/N reasoned.

"Get in here, you two," Snape snarled, pushing them into a classroom with a fire place. Taking some floo powder from the mantle, he threw it into the flames and barked, "Lupin!"

A moment later, Y/N's uncle was in the room.

"You called, Severus?" he asked mildly.

"I did," Snape said, face contorted in rage. "I have just caught these two students - Mister Potter and your niece, Miss Sterling, breaking curfew."

Lupin nodded. "That seems to be the case."

"These two students were...participating in activities," Snape said slowly.

Why would he say that. Now Y/N would have to convince Remus that nothing happened! Which was true, but her word against a Professors - even if it was Professor Snape - wasn't much. What the fuck, Severus.

"And when something fell out of Mister Potter's pocket...I confess, I was curious," Snape said in the most monotone voice ever.

He showed Remus the map, pointing to the signatures of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Her uncle's eyebrows raised a little bit.

As Remus stared at the map, Harry's hand squeezed hers again. She could tell that Remus was doing some very quick thinking.

"Well?" Snape prompted. "This map is obviously full of dark magic!"

"Full of dark magic?" Remus repeated amusedly. Thank Merlin. "I suppose this is a product from a joke shop? Zonkos, perhaps, Mister Potter?" he asked Harry.

Harry vigorously nodded, "Yeah! Ron got it for me in Hogsmeade!"

"Yes, I was with him," Y/N added. "He took like twenty minutes to pick it out!"

"See, Severus?" Remus asked. "Just a silly joke."

Snape's jaw clenched. "Just a silly joke? You think a joke shop could supply Mister Weasley with something like this? I would assume this came...straight from the manufacturers."

"Mister Potter, do you know any of these men?" Remus said. Y/N could tell he was trying to be mild, not wanting to show his anger in front of Snape.

Ugh, he was going to interrogate her so much later. So much time being wasted, time she could spend with Harry! And Ron and Hermione, of course.

"No," Harry said quickly.

"Well, that clears that up!" Remus said clapping his hands. "You may leave now, Severus."

Harry and Y/N watched with interest as Remus and Snape had a mini staring contest. Remus's gaze never wavered. Snape grunted, turned on his heel and left, his black roes billowing behind him.

"Now..." Remus said, turning to them. "Get to bed, you two," he said firmly. "Oh, and I will be keeping this. I cannot let you have this in your possession - these mapmakers would want to lure you out of school."

Did her uncle know them?

"Do you know them?" Harry and Y/N asked, impressed.

"We've met," Remus answered shortly.

"Now...off to bed - and remember, Mister Potter, this is for your safety. Don't go gambling your parent's sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."

Harry nodded and Y/N gave a slight laugh, stopping when she noticed her uncle glaring at Harry.

"And Y/N, meet me in my office tomorrow for a...conversation...about your essay," Remus said, trying to be casual. But the anger in his eyes told her everything.

"Alright, dad," Y/N said. "Goodnight!" she called to him, dragging Harry out of the classroom.

"So..." Harry started awkwardly, hands in his pockets.

"So..." Y/N mimicked absently.

"Want to make my lie a reality?" Harry asked slyly a hand ghosting her waist even while they walked.

It took a moment for his words to process, but when they did, Y/N blushed furiously and said, flustered, "Potter - you can't - what - I -"

Harry burst into laughter, which only infuriated Y/N even more. She began to chase him down the hall and they laughed quietly all the way to Gryffindor Tower.

The conversation with Remus tomorrow was going to be messy.

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

hey pookies i lowkey forget when i updated last but this chapter is like 7,300 words so forgive me

ermm....the convo with remus...

but did u guys like the chapter :)

did u see the romione did u did u did u did u :)

anyways guys - please point out mistakes because im writing this while rly tired <3

vote n comment ! it's really motivating for me to keep writing !

i didn't feel like using emojis this time BUT I WILL SOON!

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