It had been a quiet week. Neville was released from the Hospital wing in time for classes Tuesday and the week passed non eventful until Wednesday afternoon. Pansy had pulled Y/N and Neville aside to tell them Thursday was Hermione's birthday. Y/N had never had a birthday celebration before. The closest thing he had was when his Hogwarts letter was delivered to the Leaky Cauldron when he turned 11. He was nervous when Pansy had told him and Neville they should give Hermione a present.

What made a good present? What do you give to a friend?

He didn't want to admit that he had no idea, that he hadn't had a birthday, so he kept quiet. The only thing he could think of was giving Hermione his copy of History of the Quidditch World Cup.

Hermione had read Quidditch Through the Ages as preparation for flying class. She was quite nervous about Y/N playing. Maybe this could help her?

He wrapped it in a spare piece of Parchment and placed it in his trunk until the next morning.

The three friends snuck out early to the common room the next morning- Hermione was always up early to sit and read before breakfast. They surprised her and she was quite overwhelmed.

Pansy gave her some wizard lollies, Neville gave her new parchment and quills. Y/N handed his present over nervously.

"I hope it's ok. Sorry if it's not"

Hermione smiled at the book shaped present. It looked like it had been carefully wrapped. She took care to undo the wrapping and smiled at the book in front of her. Y/N spoke quickly.

"I thought because you were nervous about flying, and about me playing, that might help a bit. Sorry if it's no good. I can try to-"

His stammering was cut off by a tight hug from Hermione. He stood there awkwardly as she squeezed around his neck, before he patted her slowly on the back.

"Y/N I love it. Thank you"

"Um. I'm glad. You're welcome" he said with a bright blush as Hermione released the hug and giggled at him.

—~—

On Friday the four were sat at lunch when an owl flew into the great hall with a large package.

"Strange time for mail?" Pansy asked looking up. The sole owl dropped a large package straight into Y/N's arms. He looked at it with an expression that was hard to read on his face. In his mind he remembered the intense agony, the searing pain of the cursed quill. He placed the package down.

"No thanks not interested"

He tensed as a hand was placed on his forearm before realising it was Hermione next to him.

"Look Y/N. It's safe"

Y/N followed her line to sight to the teachers table, Professor McGonagall smiling at him as she stroked her owl.

Y/N nodded with a small smirk, one that would have been missed by most but filled the Head of House with joy. He slowly opened the envelope that sat on top of the parcel.

This contains your new broomstick. Please don't open it at the table or all the first years will want one.

Y/N looked up and spoke to his friends.

"Want to come up to the common room guys?" he asked, his friends nodding.

They exited the hall and saw Draco and his morons walking towards them. The three put their heads down and walked passed quickly, Y/N chuckling as they did.

They arrived at the common room and were surprised to see Harry and Ron sitting in the corner playing chess. Y/N ignored them as he sat a the couch, Neville sitting next to him, the girls opposite.

"Well go on, open it" Neville smiled.

Y/N nodded apprehensively but did so. It was a sleek shiny new broomstick.

"That's a Nimbus 2000. They're the fastest brooms ever" Ron near shouted.

Y/N looked up to see the two boys had walked over and were staring at the broom enviously.

"Yeah, it's.... nice" Y/N muttered. He was feeling really overwhelmed.

"Nice? Nice? It's incredible. It's amazing. It's-"

"Enough Weasley!" Pansy snapped, turning back to look at her friend with concern.

"Are you ok Y/N?"

Y/N looked up from the broom to see the two worried faces of his female friends.

"Yeah. Sorry. It's just... this is my first, uh, my first present. It just feels weird"

The other five looked at him shocked.

"What? Ever?" Ron asked in a tone of aggressive disbelief.

Y/N nodded, staring at the broom again before he was rushed by two bodies. The girls wrapped him tightly in a hug. His body reacted instantly, stiffening before he relaxed slightly, both girls realising at the same time he was hugging them back. Not awkwardly patting them. He was hugging them.

Although neither could see the other they had both broke out in smiles. Y/N looked across to Neville who sat there smiling awkwardly.

"Nev could you put the broom in our dorm? I could be here a while"

—~—

Y/N had been quiet in the afternoon's classes and disappeared after dinner. The girls and Neville had been worried when he didn't come to the library like he normally would. They sat in the common room five minutes before curfew, debating whether or not to tell McGonagall when Y/N appeared through the portrait hole, Swoop on his shoulder.

He was gang tackled again.

"Where have you been?" Pansy berated as she hugged.

"We've been worried sick" Hermione added doing the same.

"Sorry just needed some time alone. Went to see Hagrid for a while then Swoop and I had a fly".

The two girls nodded as they released the hug, Hermione smiling.

"Can you let us know next time? Please? We've been ever so worried".

Y/N nodded. The four sat in front of the fire for a while before going to bed. As Y/N wished Neville and Harry good night he thought about the day's events. He wasn't used to having people be nice to him, care about him. Worry about him. It made him feel... feelings. They were strange. They made him uncomfortable... but he didn't not like them.

He was completely confused.

—~—

It was early the next morning when Y/N and Wood arrived at the Quidditch Pitch. Wood had planned to give Y/N a run through of the rules so was delighted when he already knew them.

"Leaves more time for this" Wood smiled as he released the Golden Snitch.

"Go on"

—~—

The next month passed quietly. Most students had accepted the fact that Y/N Deimos was attending Hogwarts, that apart from being someone not to be messed with, he wasn't Voldemort reincarnated and to the surprise of many was close friends with a Muggleborn.

The students fell into a pattern of classes and study. Y/N had Quidditch practice three nights a week and it was one of the few things that could keep Hermione and Pansy away from the library. The trio of Hermione, Pansy and Neville didn't miss a single session rain, hail or shine and Katie Bell, one of the Gryffindor chasers, had labelled them the 'Deimos cheer section'.

This was seized upon by the twins who liked to remind Y/N of it at every opportunity.

Y/N had grown closer with the twins, the three of them playing several pranks on the witless caretaker. At this point they had him running in circles, never knowing where the next Dungbomb or Fanged Frisbee would come from.

The weather came in cold as it got to Halloween, most students being very excited for the evening's feast. The Gryffindors and Slytherins were sat in charms as Professor Flitwick prepared them to cast the spell they had been learning. The students had been split into pairs- Pansy was with Y/N, Hermione was with Ron, Neville was with Dean Thomas and Harry had been placed with Seamus.

"One of a wizards most rudimentary skills is levitation, or the ability to make objects fly. Do you all have your feathers?" He asked, smiling as Hermione held hers up.

"Good. Now don't forget the wrist movement we've been practicing- swish and flick. And remember to enunciate- Wingardium Leviosa".

The students started to practice together. Hermione glanced to her friends on the other side of the room and felt a pang of jealousy as Y/N, who had demonstrated the spell earlier in the week, was helping Pansy.

"No Pans you're swishing too fast to get a good flick" Y/N smiled.

She practiced again with the same mistake.

"Hang on here let me help you" Y/N smiled gently as he stood and reached around. He gripped her hand as he leant over behind her and guided her.

"Now see that, slowly slowly swish and then..." He jolted her hand "....flick. Great, now you give it a try".

Hermione observed their interaction before her attention was drawn to her partner Ron who was furiously flicking his wand up and down.

"No look stop stop stop. You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-o-sar. Not Levi-o-sahhh".

Ron shoved the feather at Hermione at snapped, getting Y/N's attention.

"You do it then if you're so clever. Go on, go on!"

Hermione cleared her throat and cast the spell at the same time Pansy had, both of them levitating their feathers in the air.

"Oh ho well done" Flitwick cheered. 
"Ms Granger and Ms Parkinson have done it. Splendid, 10 points each to Gryffindor".

Seamus looked away from the feathers and thrust his wand towards the feather he and Harry shared.

"Wingard Laviosa Wingard Laviosa"

A large boom was heard as he blew his feather up, covering himself and Harry in ash as the Professor shrieked in shock.

"I think we're going to need another feather Professor" Harry said dryly, looking at Flitwick with a blackened face.

At the end of class Y/N congratulated both the girls as they exited, just behind Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus. They overheard Ron mouthing off, mocking Hermione's accent.

"It's Levi-O-sa not LEVI-o-sar. Honesty she's a nightmare. The only reason she has friends is Deimos felt sorry for her".

Dean and Seamus laughed as Hermione burst into tears and ran off, elbowing Ron on the way passed.

"Hermione wait" Pansy yelled out chasing after her.

"I think she heard you" Harry said to Ron scowling.

Y/N stopped in his tracks. He looked down. He appeared to be hyperventilating.

"Y/N are you ok?" Neville asked his best friend.

The four boys stopped and turned, Ron growing a look of fear.

—~—

Y/N looked down. He breathed deep. He felt it again. The Deimos Curse. The Fury of his Bloodline. He remembered the two word incantation his mother had taught him. It took all his will power to hold himself back. He looked up into Ron's eyes.

—~—

Ron gulped in fear at the boy in front of him. Y/N stalked towards Ron with the look of a madman. He gripped Ron by the throat and lifted him in the air, squeezing.

Y/N looked into the Redhead's eyes. He seemed to be peering into his very soul. Ron looked back into the brilliant grey orbs that seemed to grow darker by the second as he felt oxygen leaving his body.

"You call me a monster but you made a twelve year old girl cry for trying to help you".

He squeezed again as Ron choked. The others watching in fear except for Neville, who rushed over and grabbed his friends arm.

"Y/N he's not worth it. We've got to find the girls".

Y/N looked at Neville momentarily before snarling as he threw Ron to the ground hard, the whole courtyard stopping and watching the interaction now.

"You're not worth going back to Azkaban for Weasley. But you better not ever make her cry again".

Y/N turned and left, heading towards the direction the girls headed, the students in front of him parting like the Red Sea, all looking away in fear.

It took Y/N and Neville about ten minutes of walking and asking if anyone had seen the girls to learn they had gone to the girls bathroom on the ground floor. Y/N and Neville raced there, Neville being particularly out of breath and sitting on a bench as soon as they arrived.

Y/N banged on the door hard.

"Hermione! Pansy! Are you in there?"

A couple of moments later Pansy came rushing out.

"Hey Y/N. Neville are you ok?"

Neville looked up, heavily flushed, breathing heavy and gave the girl a weak thumbs up.

"Is Hermione in there Pansy? Is she ok?" Y/N asked, concern in his voice.

"She is" Pansy nodded. "I've got her out of the stall but she doesn't want to come out. She's really upset. The feast is starting in a moment, you two go, I'll calm Hermione down and we'll join you" Pansy finished by smiling.

Y/N shook his head.

"No we'll stay here and wait for you. It's-"

He was cut off by Pansy hugging him.

"It's ok, go. Hermione needs a little girl talk anyway. We'll be there soon".

Y/N looked at the toilet door before sighing and nodding in defeat. Pansy smiled and walked back into the bathroom.

"Come on Nev, we can't do much here" Y/N said sadly, Neville standing and nodding as Y/N looked at the bathroom door again before leaving.

—~—

The feast had been going for about half an hour. The hall was lit up with hundreds of floating, candle-lit enchanted pumpkins as Y/N picked at his food, looking around impatiently.

The girls still hadn't returned. Y/N glared at Ron stuffing his face as Neville smiled.

"It's ok Y/N, they'll be here soon".

Y/N opened his mouth to respond when Professor Quirrell burst through the doors of the main hall, screeching at the top of his lungs.

"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON! TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! Just thought you ought to know!"

He collapsed as he passed out from fear.

The hall was silent before mad panic broke out, students screaming at the top of their lungs.

"SILENCE" Dumbledore roared, the hall shocked into silence before he spoke again, calmly this time.

"Prefects will lead their students back to their dorms, teachers will follow me to the dungeon. Now off you go".

Y/N looked at Neville panicked.

"Nev, we've got to go. The girls, they don't know"

Y/N stood and looked down at Neville. He was paralysed with fear.

"Troll. Troll. Troll". He whispered to himself as Y/N leant down.

"Nev, you follow the prefects and go back to Gryffindor Tower. I'll find the girls ok mate".

Y/N turned to leave before Neville grabbed his arm. He looked in Neville's eyes and saw two things- fear and guilt.

"It's ok mate. It's ok" Y/N broke a rare and reassuring smile. "I'll be back there soon"

Neville nodded as Y/N slipped away, in the shadows. As soon as he got to the doors he ran. Harry watched Y/N leave and turned to Ron.

"Hermione and Pansy. He must be going after them. We have to help him"

—~—

Hermione and Pansy were sat on the tiled floor, leaning against the toilet stalls. Hermione's tears had finally stopped flowing.

"I'm sorry Pansy. I'm sorry for getting so upset. I was just so alone before I came here. Until I met you and Y/N and Neville. I'd never had a friend before. Sometimes I can't believe I have friends now, and when Ron said-"

Hermione was cut off as the Parkinson heir pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry Hermione, but it's Ron. He's an idiot. And a jealous idiot at that. Y/N didn't feel sorry for you. He likes you, we all do. Sometimes I worry he likes you too- oh what is that smell?"

Pansy pulled from the hug and covered her nose, looking at Hermione. She was puzzled as Hermione looked both unresponsive and terrified. Pansy turned and her eyes widened, looking at the giant figure staring down at them.

—~—

Y/N pushed himself as fast as he could. His lungs were on fire as he ignored the need to breath deep and willed himself forward. As he got close to the bathroom he heard a girl's terrified scream. He rushed inside to see half the bathroom destroyed, his two friends huddled in the corner in fear, the troll raising his giant wooden club high in the air.

"OI PEABRAIN" Y/N bellowed, his wand drawn as he levitated a broken door and smashed it into the back of the troll's head.

The giant beast turned furious and glared at   Y/N, roaring loudly.

"Girls move!" Y/N yelled again before pointing his wand and screaming.

BOMBARDA MAXIMA!

A giant fireball exploded out of Y/N's wand and struck the troll in the face. It screeched in pain as it's flesh burnt, a horrible smell of cooked rotten meat filling the air. The troll was sent back several feet as Pansy gripped Hermione's hand tight and pulled the terrified girl along the wall of faucets and behind Y/N.

The troll, angered even more with its seared and singed flesh, roared even angrier as Y/N spoke again.

"Turn around girls I don't want you to see this"

Pansy pulled Hermione into a tight hug behind Y/N's large frame, both their eyes tightly closed as they heard Y/N utter a single word.

A word his mother had taught him. A word for the incantation of a spell Y/N knew to work against notoriously magically resistant mountain trolls.

Labefactum

The bludgeoning curse.

The troll screeched and screamed in pain as invisible blunt instruments cannoned down into it's head and neck, flesh and blood and bone and sinew flying across the bathroom until the troll fell dead and Y/N released the curse. He turned and saw the two girls hugging, shaking in fear, their eyes closed tight. Y/N stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the pair of them whispering:

"Shh. Shh it's ok. It's gone now".

The two girls sobbed and wrapped their arms around Y/N as Harry and Ron burst through the doors, shocked to see Y/N comforting the pair and more shocked to see what was left of the troll.

"Come on you two, to the hospital wing" Y/N said gently as he moved the girls forward, glaring at Ron.

"Harry wait here for a teacher. You're safe. It's not getting up" Y/N said as he guided the girls out of the bathroom.

Harry walked up to the troll and saw what remained of its upper torso, promptly emptying the contents of his stomach on the bathroom floor.

"Is it dead?" Ron asked, too scared to look.

"Yeah" Harry answered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Definitely Dead".

Y/N exited with an arm around each frightened girl and they almost instantly ran into a panicked McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell.

"Oh Mr Deimos, girls, what-" McGonagall stuttered before Y/N spoke calmly, walking passed them.

"The troll's in there, dead. Harry and Ron are waiting for you. The girls need to go straight to the infirmary. Ask that ginger prick why the girls were in there in the first place" Y/N answered coolly as he continued to guide the girls forward.