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

Y/N's P.O.V. 

"What is going on here?!" 

Y/N snapped her eyes open and turned her head around sleepily, searching for the source of the noise. 

Wherever she was, it was extremely bright. White bedsheets, white walls. There was a weight on her lap, but she didn't know what it was. Y/N shook her head and looked around, she was in the Hospital Wing. The weight in her lap shifted and Y/N glanced down to see Harry's head resting there. 

She smiled. 

When the brightness died down, she saw Madam Pomfrey hurrying towards her. 

"Miss Sterling!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. 

"Huh...?" 

"Why are you here, Miss Sterling!?" 

Y/N thought that was a stupid question. "To see Harry...?" 

Madam Pomfrey gave her a scolding look. "And when did you come? It is eight in the morning. Student's aren't allowed out of bed at night." 

Giving her the most innocent look Y/N could muster, she said, "I got here and hour ago - must've been really tired. Fell asleep."

With a raised brow, the Matron asked, "Is this the story you will stick you, Miss Sterling?" with her hands on her hips and a tired voice. 

Nodding, Y/N said, "Yes, because it's the truth," she said seriously. Madam Pomfrey might give her detention for Hogsmeade weekend and she really didn't want that. 

Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes, then broke out into a smile. "Alright, I'll believe you. I've had many students sneak in to see a lover," she gave Y/N a small wink. 

"He's not my boyfriend!" 

She could tell her face was burning. Y/N didn't want him to be her boyfriend. Nope. 

"Who's...? Not huh...?" Harry mumbled tiredly from her lap. 

"Nothing, Harry. Sleep," Y/N said softly, running a hand through his hair. He fell back into slumber, breathing slowly. 

"Your uncle, Professor Lupin, had...people come to see him, yes," Madam Pomfrey said cheekily. Then, she paused, a somber expression blooming on her features. "They...were...his best friends. His lover," she said.

Y/N furrowed her brows. Her uncle had told her stories, yes. But...why did Madam Pomfrey seem so sad? 

She put on a smile and said, "Oh I'll tease him about it later," with a grin. Madam Pomfrey smiled back and turned, heading to her office. 

Pushing his messy hair out of his eyes, Y/N said whispered, "Harry, you can wake up now...wake up..." 

He didn't budge. He didn't make a sound.

"Harry...?" 

"Harry!" 

"Harry, If you don't wake up I'll never speak to you again." 

He was still unresponsive. Was he deaf? Or just so tired he couldn't physically open his eyes? 

An idea popped into Y/N's brain. If Harry could make flirty jokes...

"Harry, Please. If you don't wake up I'll tell Remus you kissed me." 

He shot up immediately, bright red, hitting his forehead on her chin and yelling, "NO!" 

Y/N rubbed her chin where he hit her and gave a teasing smirk, "Damn, alright, Potter. Didn't know you were so opposed to the thought-" 

"No, er - that's not what I meant. You're great, who wouldn't want to kiss you! I mean, like, coming from your friend - I only said 'No!' because Professor Lupin would kill me, I would die. Voldemort wouldn't have a chance-" 

She burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "You're adorable." 

Harry turned even redder, if that's possible. His mouth gaped open and his eyes were wide. 

"Close that mouth before you catch flies, Potter," she teased, getting up from the bed. When he caught her by the arm, she felt her heart flutter. This was not the plan. 

The Plan was a simple, four-step plan: 

1. Propose a flustering idea. 

2. Watch him get flustered. 

3. Do not explain further. 

4. Leave. 

It didn't work. She turned, glancing at Harry. "You can't just say that and leave," he pointed out, playfully offended. 

"Watch me, Scarface." 

Y/N turned again and walked towards the door. She pushed it open and glanced back at Harry, sent him a wink, then left him to his own thoughts. 

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

Harry's P.O.V. 

Madam Pomfrey insisted to keep him in the Hospital Wing for the weekend. This gave him a lot of time to think. Maybe too much time. 

Y/N was on his mind. The way she teased him, the way she left him on Saturday morning. The way she ran her hand through his hair...

But that was another matter. Throughout Harry's whole stay, he didn't let Madam Pomfrey throw out the remains of his Nimbus 2001. He knew it was stupid. He knew it was beyond repair - but Harry felt like he had just lost one of his best friends. 

Harry had a stream of visitors. Hagrid sent him some yellow flowers that reminded him of cabbages. Ginny came in and delivered him a card that would sing shrilly unless he shoved it under her pillow. 

It was a nice gesture, but he...

He just...didn't see Ginny like that. 

The whole Gryffindor team visited him on Sunday. This time, they were accompanied by Oliver Wood, who told Harry (in a dead, hollow sort of voice), that he didn't blame him in the slightest for losing the match. 

Y/N, Ron and Hermione only left his side at night time. Well...on Saturday night, Y/N came back. She lied to Madam Pomfrey again on Sunday morning, but the Matron just smiled. During the night, they just spoke about random things until Harry fell asleep, head in her lap. 

It was blissful to Harry, having Y/N with him. As friends, of course. 

Harry hadn't told anyone about the Grim. Not even Y/N, Ron and Hermione. Ron would immediately panic, Hermione would scoff and Y/N...well, she'd make him feel better. But still, he didn't want to worry her in any way. 

He figured out who the screaming voice belonged to on Friday night, with Y/N. It had been reoccurring every time he dozed off without her. 

While taking naps (without anyone around), Harry would constantly wake up in cold sweat, his mother's voice ringing in his ears. 

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

He was incredibly relieved to return to the hustle and bustle of the school on Monday. Harry was forced to think about other things, even if he had to endure the teasing of Draco Malfoy. 

Harry, Y/N, Ron and Hermione were sitting in Potions class at their usual four-person table. Malfoy, who had taken off his bandages, was doing what he did best. 

Being an arsehole. 

"Oh, Pansy! Look, I've fallen off my broom, the scary Dementors looked at me!" Malfoy exclaimed, pretending to fall off his stool. 

Y/N scowled. "He literally almost wet himself on the train," she told them. "Came to my compartment and begged to stay - Elijah had to use his Prefect status to get the git out." 

"Good on him. He's a Slytherin, right?" Ron asked casually. 

"Mhm!" 

"And he's basically in love with you, Y/N," Harry said more grumpily than he intended. 

Hermione gave Y/N a look and whispered in her ear. Harry didn't know exactly what about.

"He is not," Y/N argued, but she was blushing. 

Nudging her, Hermione teased, "Oh, come on, Y/N. It's so obvious, plus, he's good-looking," said Hermione. "Couldn't hurt to give it a try." 

Y/N rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Harry glanced at Ron, who's jaw was clenched. At this, Harry realized that his own fists were curled tightly. 

"Anyway," Hermione said airily. "Ron, have you finished your werewolf essay?" 

Ron snapped out of his trance. "Huh? Oh, no! Why would I, 'Mione?"he asked. "We still have two days-" 

"It's due today, Ronnie," Y/N said with a chuckle. Like she knew something they didn't. 

Ron and Harry's jaws dropped. Harry hadn't finished it either, and knowing Snape...Harry was in deep shit.

But Snape couldn't decide their final mark...so Harry would just ask Y/N to convince Professor Lupin to leave it off his record. 

Malfoy's voice rung through the dungeon again. "The dementors send their love, Potter!" he said while waving his arms. 

Finally cracking, Ron picked up a slimy crocodile heart and launched it at Malfoy. It smacked him in the face, which caused Snape to- 

"Fifty points from Gryffindor, Weasley!" Snape reprimanded with a sneer. 

"You-" 

"Ron, don't," said Harry tiredly. He appreciated it, but Ron didn't need more points taken off. Harry could endure Malfoy's taunts until lunch. 

"Ron, do," Y/N said, gripping her knife. 

"Ron, don't listen to Y/N," Hermione said exasperatedly. She flicked through her potions textbook for the next instruction, then glanced at what Ron was doing. Clicking her tongue, Hermione said, "Come here, Ron. I'll show you how to do it properly." 

Blushing at his ears, Ron went over and took her help. 

Harry locked eyes with Y/N, sending her a knowing look. 

✦

After lunch, they headed to Professor Lupin's classroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Hermione, Y/N!" said Ron. "Check who's in there! If it's Snape, I'm skipping."

They rolled their eyes as Harry nodded in agreement, but poked their heads into the classroom. 

"All clear! Dad's back," Y/N said, skipping into the classroom, hands locked with Hermione, who was also skipping. 

Harry chuckled, watching the chirpy h/c wave to her uncle and sit down. 

Ron nudged him, "Eyes off, Harry," he said grumpily. 

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Harry sheepishly, sitting down in a seat, Ron following suit. 

Once everyone in the class had sat down, Professor Lupin smiled at them. 

Then, the complaints began. 

"It's not fair - he's only filling in! Why should he set us homework!" 

"Shove my wand so far up his-" 

"Weren't supposed to do werewolves until forever! We don't know-" 

"This is racism!" Dean complained. 

" - Two rolls of parchment!" 

Lupin frowned, but Harry saw him send Y/N the hint of a wink. "Did you tell Professor Snape that you hadn't covered werewolves?" 

The babble erupted again. Louder, this time.

"His hair's too greasy, information stops at his follicles so he can't comprehend-" 

"He wouldn't listen-" 

"And homophobia!" Dean added. 

"-TWO ROLLS OF PARCHMENT!" 

Professor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every students face. "I shall speak to Professor Snape, you don't have to do the essay," he said. 

Harry immediately brightened.

He turned to Ron, who was also grinning, extremely relieved. None of them had finished the essay and this was basically a blessing. He and Ron high-fived. 

Hermione, on the other hand, looked disappointed and said, "But I already finished it!" 

Y/N laughed, " 'Mione, I told you not to do it," she said, nudging her bushy-haired friend. 

"But I wanted to," Hermione pointed out. 

"Then why're you complaining?" asked Harry with a grin. Hermione glared at him playfully but he just kept smiling.  

"Yeah, Hermione! Tried to convince me to do it, too," Ron added from beside Harry, chuckling. "I can't believe you right now," he said childishly.

They had a very enjoyable lesson. Y/N's uncle brought in a monster - a Hinkypunk. They were small, wisp-like creatures that held glowing lanterns. When Seamus pointed out that they seemed harmless, Lupin informed them that they lured travelers into bogs...and- 

The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise inside it's cage. 

When the bell rang, students rushed to leave. "Harry? Would you stay for a moment?" Lupin called to him. 

Harry gave an apologetic look to his friends.

"Talk to him, we'll wait for you in the common room," said Hermione. 

"Yeah," agreed Y/N. "Give my uncle a hug for me-" she paused when Harry raised a brow and laughed a little. 

She laughed slightly too. It was a breathy, light laugh that could make anyone brighten immediately.

 "Yeah, okay, Potter. Maybe don't hug him, but tell him I say 'Hi'," said Y/N. 

"Can we go nooowwww?" Ron complained. "Fred and George promised me chocolate if I got to the common room before them!" 

Hermione rolled her eyes, but Harry saw the smallest smile on her face as she gazed at Ron. "Ronald, you know they won't give it to you," she pointed out. 

"Well, that's the start of them bickering," Y/N said to Harry with a grin. He grinned back. "Wish me luck, dealing with those two," she said. Harry laughed and his three friends walked off. 

Doubling back around, Harry walked to Professor Lupin's desk. He was placing a cover over the Hinkypunk's cage. 

"I heard about the match," Lupin said, turning to his desk and piling books into his briefcase. "I'm sorry about your broomstick," he added. 

Harry was puzzled. "How do you - er...Professor, may I ask how you know about my broomstick?" 

"Y/N told me," he said simply. "She talks about her friends all the time." Lupin snapped his briefcase shut and placed it upright on the desk. "Is there any chance of fixing it?" 

"No," said Harry glumly. He just loved being reminded of it. "That damn tree - sorry - the tree smashed it to bits." 

Lupin sighed, "They planted the Whomping Willow the same year I arrived at Hogwarts," he said. "People used to play a game - trying to get close enough to touch the bark of the trunk. In the end, a boy almost lost an eye. We were forbidden to go near it. A broomstick wouldn't stand a chance." 

With great difficulty, Harry asked, "Did you hear about the Dementors too?" 

Glancing quickly at him, Lupin said "Yes, I did. I don't think anyone has seen Dumbledore that angry. They stormed onto the pitch, he was fuming. I suppose they are the reason you fell?" 

"Yes," Harry answered. He hesitated, but then the question that had been running in his mind for days burst out. "Why do they affect me like that?" He asked. He hated how it made him feel. How powerless, how...useless. How terrible. "Am I just-?" 

"It has nothing to do with weakness," Lupin said sharply, as though reading Harry's mind. "The Dementors affect you so because you have horrors in your past that others do not." 

Harry thought this wasn't objectively true. "But - Y/N! Her...er...parents..." he said slowly, making sure that Lupin could stop him if this was an uncomfortable topic. 

When there was no interruption from his Professor, Harry continued, "Her parents were tortured! How come the Dementors don't affect her?" 

"Y/N...she pretends not to care," Lupin said sadly. "She does, though. I can tell you know. But...they don't affect her like they do you...because her parents are still alive."

After what must have been a quizzical look on Harry's end, Professor Lupin continued. "Your trauma runs deeper because you have nothing to ground you - to remind you that everything is okay. Y/N sees her parents occasionally. She's okay - well...okay as she can be." 

It made sense. It was logical, but Harry still felt a pang in his heart. "I hear Voldemort...when they're near," he admitted to Lupin sadly. "I hear Voldemort murdering my mum." 

Lupin made a quick jerking motion with his arm, as though he were about to grip Harry's shoulder in comfort. He restrained himself and there was a moment of silence. 

Harry ended up walking out of the classroom ten minutes later, fresh with Professor Lupin's promise of teaching him how to keep the Dementors at bay. How to keep his fear at bay. 

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

Two weeks before the end of term, the sky was considerably brighter - and so was Harry's mood. With the promise of defense lessons from Y/N's uncle and the fact that Ravenclaw absolutely flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of November, he was joyful. 

Hogwarts was already decorated for Christmas with shimmering lights and garlands of mistletoe. 

The quartet was sitting in the common room on the Saturday morning of a Hogsmeade trip - the very last weekend of the term. 

It wasn't empty: in fact, many students were there, all talking about the trip. the Weasley twins were sitting in a corner, in Time Out from Y/N. 

They had turned her pajamas into Dementor's robes that morning and she was fuming. She had changed, of course, but she was petty and stubborn. 

After a well performed jinx, the twins were motionless and dragged to the corner by the girl. Y/N informed their still bodies that the jinx would wear off in an hour. 

A while after that, Harry was talking with Ron while Y/N and Hermione spoke in hushed whispers. 

"Mate, come on. Ask McGonagall about Hogsmeade again!" Ron said to Harry. "She can't deny forever."

"Ronald, Harry can't keep pestering her! She'll take points off," Hermione said.

 Y/N nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we'll just find another way to get Harry to Hogsmeade-" 

"No, we won't," Hermione said tiredly. 

"I, personally, think that's a wonderful idea," Harry grinned. 

Sagely, Y/N said, "That's because it was my idea." She shifted on the couch, picking up Crookshanks while he tried to pass by. 

"But anyway, where...where are you guys going for Christmas...?" Harry asked. He wouldn't be going back to the Dursleys, he would rather get eaten by a Hippogriff. But...if his friends were leaving, he'd be alone. It would be like his life at the Dursleys. 

"I, er, need to use the library," said Hermione. 

"Yeah! Well, I don't, who goes to the library?" said Ron. 

Hermione and Y/N stuck their tongues out at him. 

Ron continued, "But I also don't need two weeks with Percy," reasoned Ron. He avoided Harry's eyes, then glared at Crookshanks. 

With a smile, Y/N added, "Remus isn't going home - he can't. So I can't either," she shrugged. "Plus, I can't leave you guys, can I?" 

Harry was immensely relived. He knew they were just making excuses so that he wouldn't be alone - but he was grateful nonetheless. 

"Anyway, Ronnie, 'Mione, I hope you have fun at Hogsmeade," said Y/N, leaning back on the couch and muttering an "ouch!" when Crookshanks walked across her stomach. 

Before either Ron or Hermione could say anything, Harry asked, "Aren't you going with them?" 

She gave him a confused look. "No...?" 

"He's just going to yell at you, Y/N," Hermione said, also wincing as Crookshanks sat on top of her and dug his claws into her arm lightly. 

Ron swatted Crookshanks's paws away from Hermione and said, "Harry won't let it slide." 

And he was right. "Why aren't you going?" Harry asked Y/N. He wasn't going to let her miss out for him. 

"Because I don't want tooo," Y/N said, dragging it out. "It's cold and because you can't go-" 

"No - Y/N!" said Harry, affronted. "You can't miss out just because-" 

"Watch me." 

"No!" 

"Yes!" 

"No!" 

"Yes!" 

"No!"

"Fine, Heads or Tails," Y/N finally decided. Harry was completely opposed to this. Why couldn't she just cooperate and leave him and go have fun? 

Harry shook his head, "No." He had noticed that Ron and Hermione had started their own conversation, completely tuning out Y/N and Harry. 

Y/N crossed her arms, "Then I'm staying," she said stubbornly. 

Groaning, Harry finally agreed. "You're so difficult," he told her grumpily, rummaging through his pocket and pulling out a Galleon. 

"Shake on it - If I win, I stay," Y/N demanded, holding out her hand. Harry rolled his eyes and gripped her hand. They shook firmly and Harry couldn't stop thinking about how soft her hands were and how pretty she looked when she- 

"I call Tails," she said. 

"Fine by me."

Ron finally joined back in, "Go on, flip it," he said, jerking his head at the coin.

Hermione locked eyes with Harry, then slowly pulled out her wand without Y/N noticing. She murmured something Harry couldn't hear, but he knew what she was doing. 

Flipping the coin into the air, Harry let it fall into his palm, then he slapped it onto the back of his other hand. He knew what it was, anyway. 

He smirked in satisfaction, "Take that, Y/N," he thought. 

Peeking over as he lifted, his hand, Y/N let out a groan when she saw that it was Heads. 

"I want a redo!" she exclaimed. 

"Nope, I won!" said Harry smugly. "Fair and square," he lied and stuck his tongue out at her. Hermione did the winning, but Y/N didn't need to know that.

"I think we should vote on it," Y/N said, turning to Ron and Hermione. Hermione was holding Rons hand, tentatively trying to get him to pet Crookshanks. 

"Softly, Ron!" she instructed. 

"What do you say, Ronnie, 'Mione?" asked Y/N. "Should we vote on it?" she sent Hermione an exaggerated wink, hoping her friend be on her side. Harry knew better. 

Harry looked at her accusingly, "No vote, I won!" 

"This is a democracy!" Y/N argued. "I have free will," she pushed a pillow off her lap. "I'm staying!" 

"We shook on it," he pointed it out with a deadpan look. 

The girl puffed out her cheeks and huffed, "This is stupid, this is unfair, this is-" 

"You won't go back on your word, will you, Y/N? After all, it was your idea to confirm with a handshake. Got a little bit ahead of yourself, did you? Or did you just want to hold my hand?" Harry teased. 

Only when Y/N turned red did Harry realize how flirty he sounded. When had he gotten so...bold?

Panicked, he glanced at Ron, who was glaring daggers at Harry, one hand tangled up in Crookshanks's fur. 

"He's right, Y/N," said Hermione with the hint of a laugh. 

"Oh, not you too!" Y/N complained. "You're supposed to be on my side, Hermione!" she said, tugging on Hermione's sleeve like a toddler. "You're literally betraying me right now." 

The other three laughed, "What a drama queen," Ron said jokingly. 

"All I'm hearing is 'Queen'," Y/N shot back playfully with a wink. 

When Ron just looked at her, she chuckled and curled her legs up on the couch, tucking her hair over her shoulder. Not that Harry was paying attention, of course. 

Of course. 

"So, it's settled, then?" said Harry brightly, clapping his hands together. 

"Settled," agreed Ron and Hermione. Y/N rolled her eyes and huffed again. 

Hermione took her by the arm and dragged her upstairs, while Y/N muttered, "Our voting system is seriously broken...democracy is so underappreciated nowadays..." 

Harry and Ron just laughed. 

✦

They were standing in the Entrance Hall. Ron, Y/N and Hermione were wrapped in their cloaks and scarves, prepared to brave the snowy weather. 

"Bye, Potter," Y/N said grumpily, obviously still annoyed at his antics. Well, he hoped she wasn't actually annoyed.  

"Bye, Sterling," he said mockingly. She scoffed, linking arms with Hermione as Harry said, "Bye, 'Mione, Ron." 

He watched their departing figures, Y/N skipping with Hermione, Y/N ruffling Ron's hair. With a small sigh, he turned back and walked through the marble hallways. 

Snow had started to fall lightly and the castle was still quiet. This left Harry alone with his thoughts, until- 

"Psst! Harry!" 

He turned at the corner of a third floor corridor and saw Fred and George peering at him from behind a statue of a one-eyed witch. 

"What are you two doing?" Harry asked. "Why aren't you at Hogsmeade?" 

They didn't answer. "We've come to give you some festive cheer," said Fred. "You look like you need it." 

"Am I that obvious?" Harry asked sarcastically. 

George scoffed, then said,"Come in here..." he nodded towards an empty classroom beside the statue.

Harry looked around the hallway, checking is anyone was around. When he saw it was clear, he slipped into the classroom. 

"Early Christmas present for you, Harry," George said, beaming. 

When Harry looked at him expectantly, Fred pulled something from the pockets of his robes. With a flourish, he placed a folded, worn piece of parchment on the desk in front of him. Harry just stared at it - was this one of their pranks? Was Y/N in on it? 

"Er - what's that supposed to be?" he asked them. 

George patted the parchment fondly, "This, Harry, is the secret to our success." 

"Real wretch giving it to you," Fred added. "But, we decided this morning, your needs are greater than ours." 

With a raised brow - Y/N's habits were really growing on him - Harry asked, "Yeah? What made you decide?" 

"Well, while in Time Out, we heard the little...dispute you had with our little sister," Fred explained. "See, we can't bare to keep you two apart." 

Harry felt his cheeks heat up slightly, but distracted the twins. "And why do I need an old bit of parchment?" 

"A spare bit of parchment?" Fred closed his eyes, grimacing, as though Harry had just insulted his whole family name and spit at his feet. "Georgie, explain." 

"Well, Harry," said George. "When we were in our first year, young, carefree, innocent-"

Harry snorted. He doubted whether Fred and George had ever had even a shred of innocence in them. 

"Well...more innocent than we are now." 

"Anyway,  we got into a rather rough spot with Filch," Fred supplied. 

George scoffed, "We set off a dungbomb in the corridor and he got mad for some reason." 

"Hauled us off to his office, the usual threats-" 

"Detention." 

"Disembowelment." 

"But...we couldn't help notice his drawer labelled, "Confiscated and Highly Dangerous," Fred said. 

Harry fought a grin. "You didn't-"

"Who wouldn't have? We just caused another diversion and nicked this beauty," George said, holding up the parchment. 

But still, one crucial piece of the puzzle was missing. "And you know how to work...this...parchment?" Harry asked. 

"Yeah," Fred smirked. "This has taught us more than all the teachers in the school combined." 

Growing impatient, Harry said, "You're winding me up." 

"Oh, are we, now?" said George. 

Harry watched in awe as George took out his wand and placed the tip gently on the parchment. 

He said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Ink began to bleed across the paper, twisting and forming into shapes, criss-crossing through every corner of the parchment. It swirled everywhere, creating a show of texture and design. At the very end, in a curly sort of font, the paper proclaimed: 

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs 

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief Makers are proud to present 

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

In absolute shock and awe, Harry examined the map closer. Upon inspection, he discovered that it was map of Hogwarts, but the truly peculiar and amazing thing was...there were footsteps. Footsteps, blotted in ink, trailing all through the corridors. Each was labelled with a different name in correspondence to an individual. 

Harry saw that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his office and that Mrs. Norris (Filch's cat) was prowling the second floor.

His gaze trailed through familiar hallways. Then, he saw passageways that he had never used before. 

"Right into Hogsmeade," Fred told him, tracing the secret path with his finger. 

The twins pointed out the useable passageways and the...er...well, unsuable ones. After that, they sent him on his way with one last warning. 

"When you're done, you'll want to tap it and say, 'Mischief managed,'" said George. "Or else anyone can read it." 

Nodding vigorously and thanking them profusely, Harry watched them leave the classroom. "See you in Honeydukes," Fred whispered as he passed. 

He could go to Hogsmeade, now. He could be with Y/N, Ron and Hermione - he could have fun. 

But...this map...was it sentient? Last time Harry had come into contact with self-writing parchment, Ginny Weasley almost died and the Chamber of Secrets had been opened. Everything had been at risk. Y/N (and Hermione) got petrified...

But If Fred and George had been using it for years...it couldn't hurt, right? 

Making up his mind, Harry found the passageway to Honeydukes. Marching outside, he tapped the statue of the one-eyed witch and said, "Dissendium!" 

It opened wide enough to emit a fairly thin person. Harry slipped inside, beginning a ten-minute walk to the wizarding village of Hogsmeade. 

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

Y/N's P.O.V.  

Honeydukes would remain glorious every time she set foot in there. Racks upon racks, shelves upon shelves and bins upon bins of candy and sweets filled the shop. 

Y/N, Ron and Hermione were sifting through candy, trying to find things to bring back for Harry. 

"How 'bout this?" Ron asked, holding up a blood-coloured lolipop. 

Hermione cringed, "Eugh, Ron! That's for vampires, I expect. Put it back." 

Shuffling through some more candy, Y/N picked up a jar of blue sweets. She read the label out loud, "Pixie Kisses." 

Scrunching up his nose, Ron asked, "Sounds horrid. What is it?" 

"It...ew! It's really gooey," Y/N said in disgust. "It's just normal candy, though. Pixie flavoured. What do Pixies even taste like?" 

"Well-" Hermione said, but was cut off by Ron. And for the first time, Y/N was glad. She really didn't need an explanation of how a Pixie tasted. 

"What about these?" He asked, shoving a jar of Cockroach Cluster under her nose. 

"Definitely not," said a voice behind Y/N. Ron nearly dropped the jar. 

The three of them whipped around to see Harry. Wait...Harry?

"Scarface! How are you-" Y/N started. Hermione joined her, saying, "How are you here?!" Hermione placed the sweets she was looking at back on the shelves. 

Ron looked impressed. "You've learned to apparate!" he said. 

Y/N glared at him, "Don't be daft, Ronnie," she said. "But, seriously Potter, How are you here?" 

Wordlessly, Harry took her by the arm and brought her to a quiet, more secluded corner of Honeydukes. Ron and Hermione trailed after them. The following conversation left Y/N astounded, and, honestly? A little bit offended. 

After Harry had told them all about Fred, George and the Marauder's Map, there were very different reactions within the group. 

"And they didn't think to give it to me?" Y/N asked, affronted. "I'm literally their partner in crime. I'm their sister!" she exclaimed. 

That hurt. Well, no, it didn't. She just liked being dramatic.

Ron was outraged, too. "Yeah! How come they never gave it to me? I'm their brother!" 

Hermione, however, had a look of concern plastered on her face. "But Harry isn't going to keep it!" she said, as though the mere thought of it was ludicrous. "He's going to turn it in to Professor McGonagall, won't you, Harry?" 

Y/N's mouth was agape. "Hermione! Why would he?" 

After a good ten minutes of convincing Hermione that everything was okay, (Y/N was gentle about it), the quartet headed to the Three Broomsticks for a nice, warm Butterbeer. 

All around the village, on doors and windows, was a Ministry of Magic Notice about Dementor Patrol. It gave Y/N an uneasy feeling, but she ignored it. Once they arrived at the pub, they found a table. 

"I'll...I'll order and get the drinks," Ron said, glancing towards the barmaid, Madam Rosmerta. She was a curvy sort of woman with a pretty face. 

"Alright," Hermione said. Y/N caught the stiff tone of her voice and looked at her apologetically. 

Harry grabbed her hand and led them to a vacant table near a large Christmas tree. They sat down and chatted. Five minutes later, Ron returned with the Butterbeers and they all began to drink. 

A sudden breeze and the jingle of a bell brought their attention to the door. Entering the pub were three boys: Y/N's pranksters. 

"Hey! Over here!" she waved at them cheerily. 

Elijah caught her eye and smirked, sending the slightest heat to her face. 

"Hey," Fred, George and Elijah greeted. 

"Hi," Y/N, Harry, Ron and Hermione chorused back. "What brings you here?" 

Elijah shrugged, "Needed my- er, our - rascal," he said, holding a hand out for her to get up. 

She raised a brow, catching on to the "my." It seemed as though her friends did too, for Hermione giggled, Ron coughed loudly and Harry grunted. 

Still, she took his hand and let herself be helped out of her seat.

"What for?" Y/N asked.

Fred took a bow, "For the development of a new mischievous endeavor, we require Her Majesty's presence at the Jest Store of Lord Zonkos. Her professional opinion must be taken into account for this decision," he said pompously. 

"We request she reports there with haste - there is not a moment to spare," George finished, also bowing. 

The others laughed and Y/N just pushed the twins upright. She glanced at Elijah who was laughing freely, his blonde hair shining in the candlelight of the pub. "Get up, you dorks," she said. 

"Yeah, you dorks," Elijah teased. 

Y/N gave an overly dramatic gasp. "Ellie! That's not nice," she jokingly reprimanded. He rolled his eyes. 

Turning back to Harry, Ron and Hermione, Y/N said, "I'll be back, you lot. Don't make any life-altering decisions or discoveries without me!" 

"Oh, never," Ron said dryly. Harry snorted a laugh. 

"It's almost like they made discoveries while we were petrified last year," Hermione said with an innocent look on her face. 

"Yeah, yeah," said Y/N with a grin. "Anyway, tell me if you have important conversations!" 

"Yes ma'am," Harry said, giving her a small salute. 

She laughed and saluted back, bowed, then grabbed Hermione's Butterbeer and took a sip. "Hey! That's mine!" Hermione  protested, but she was laughing.

Y/N shrugged, "I finished mine," she pointed out. "And I'm about to venture into the cold, 'Mione! You can't let a lowly traveler like me freeze to death!" 

"Warming charm," Hermione said with a deadpan look, then burst into giggles. "Okay, now go away, N/N!" she said childishly. 

"I'm going, 'Mione!" 

So, Y/N left the pub, not knowing what was about to go down. She walked next to her partners in crime, Georgie, Freddie and Ellie. Wow, she sure did like her "ie's". 

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH sorry for the rly rly rly late updatteeee

its exam season and school js started again and I got a shit ton of homework 😭✋

its a long-ish chapter to make up for the lack of postinngggg (forgive me? <3) 

kinda fluffy, kinda flirty 

spot the romione!! 🔍

A HUGGGEEEEE THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SPAMMING COMMENTS LIKE THERES NO TOMORROW ❤️

I SMILE SO HARD READING THEM YOU DONT EVEN KNOOWWWW‼️

I APPRECIATE EVERYONNNNNEEE 💋

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 650 READS AND 47 VOTES IT MEANS THE WORLLDDDD🥰

okokokok i need to sleep 

remember to comment n vote if you liked this chapter :)) 

-dizzyann1e