The next week passed very quickly. Y/N had fallen into a happy routine- classes, study, secret Quiidditch training, real training, 'detentions' with Snape.

Hermione hardly left Y/N's side for any of it. When a special package arrived on Tuesday for him he had lied to her and said it was a late birthday present from Jacob. He didn't like lying to her but this was important.

They hadn't had any problems with the Snakes since the Saturday beatdown but Y/N liked to keep them on their toes. He would look into the minds of the snakes they passed to make sure they were being good boys and girls. That's when, on Wednesday, he read a particularly mean looking third year and found he was thinking about hexing Hermione when Y/N wasn't there.

Y/N decided to give a reminder. As they walked towards each other Y/N slowed and Hermione noticed before...

BAM!

Y/N had thrown a punch that missed the snake's face by mere centimetres and cannoned into the wall.

The blow left a large dent in the stone wall and blood started to trickle down from the cuts that had opened in Y/N's hand as he slowly removed his fist from the wall, staring down at the terrified student.

The snake had dropped to the floor and now looked up in terror. Y/N stared down at the boy with a death glare as he spoke coldly:

"You even think of hexing Ms Granger again and all they'll find for mummy and daddy are pieces and puddles. You understand me?"

The terrified snake nodded quickly as tears formed in his eyes. Y/N didn't need legilimency for what he said next. The smell gave it away:

"Also you might want to change your pants. I think you pissed yourself. Go. NOW!"

The snake nodded and whimpered before running away down the hall, much to the amusement of the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws who had stopped to watch the unfolding event in the corridor.

Muggleborn students were particularly grateful to Y/N. Abuse had dropped significantly since Y/N's attack on the five fifth years. Blood purist students were scared to act on their prejudice in case Y/N was lurking in the shadows, ready to attack.

Y/N yelled out to the quickly scampering student:

"Tell your friends, I'm King of the Snakes now!"

"Legilimency?" Hermione asked as she gently took hold of Y/N's broken, bleeding and bruising hand. He nodded.

Hermione looked down at his hand:

"I appreciate it Y/N, but I don't want you hurting yourself for me"

Y/N shrugged his shoulders as she continued to look at his hand. Hermione spoke again:

"Come on, hospital wing... my hero". Hermione blushed as she spoke, locking her arms around Y/N's non injured arm and the pair walked together towards the infirmary.

-~-

Y/N smiled at the memory. He was sitting in the common room now, on a couch facing the girls dorms.

It was 5:15am. He had told Hermione last night he wasn't going to training. She was shocked but he explained he had a headache caused by the legilimency and Jacob gave him a pass on those days.

If Hermione had met Jacob she would have known it was a lie, he never gave passes, but Y/N counted his blessings that Hermione thought the best of people instinctively.

He had hoped that she would sleep in but he knew her better than that. She came out of the dorms at 5:35 fully dressed and with a book in her hand as Y/N sat there in his trackpants and tank top smiling. Her eyes lit up as she saw him.

"Y/N are you feeling better?" She asked smiling. Y/N answered sheepishly:

"Actually... there was never anything wrong. Little white lie, sorry."

She paused before narrowing her eyes at Y/N, asking:

"What are you up to?"

He smiled at her as she sat across from him still glaring.

"Happy birthday 'Mione" Y/N said cheerfully.
Hermione was caught completely off guard.

"Oh it's my birthday isn't it. I completely forgot. Thank you Y/N".

"You're welcome. Here, it's not much" Y/N smiled. She took the present before opening it.

It must be a book Hermione thought before opening it to see... a pile of parchment and some quills? She looked at it confused. It was practical but seemed an odd choice.

"Thank you Y/N that's...." she was cut off by Y/N laughing loudly.

"I'm sorry 'Mione I couldn't help it. You remember the first morning in our special place, you kept going on about parchment and quills".

Hermione glared at Y/N momentarily before smiling and then giggling. She thought about what made her mutter parchment and quills and then blushed. Y/N didn't notice as he continued:

"That was just a joke. Here is your real present".

He pulled out a small wrapped box and gently handed it to her with a nervous expression. Hermione smile in return and unwrapped the gift before opening a jewellery box? She looked inside puzzled and her mouth dropped wide open:

"Oh Merlin"

Hermione couldn't comprehend what she was looking at. It was a beautiful necklace piece, with a massive Sapphire in the middle, surround by... diamonds? It hung on a gold chain.

Hermione was blown away by the present and looked at Y/N stunned before she stammered out:

"Oh Y/N I can't possibly accept this. It's far too much"

Y/N's face dropped. He had been concerned about Hermione's present. He'd never given a friend a present before. He'd never had access to his money to be able to. He had no clue what you gave as a present to a friend. Dean usually gave Penny jewellery on her birthday so Y/N went with that. Was it too much? He stammered through his confusion:

"I-I'm really sorry Hermione. I didn't know what you give to a-a friend. I can get you something else if you-"

"Oh Y/N" Hermione smiled sweetly. "I love it I truly do. It's a very sweet and well thought out gift, it's just a lot, that's all. Thank you.. so much"

The pair smiled at each other bashfully as Y/N asked quietly: "can I help you put it on?"

Hermione smiled and nodded, again with a bashful expression. Y/N sat to her right as she moved her hair and offered the back of her neck to him. She couldn't help but shiver as he reached around, gently placing the pendent on her upper chest as he clasped the necklace at the back.

Hermione picked up the pendent with her small dainty hands as she looked at it.

"It's beautiful" Hermione smiled.

"It's a sapphire, surrounded by diamonds. The sapphire is..."

"Our birthstone."

Hermione finished Y/N's sentence. She turned to face him and lent in, gently kissing his cheek before hugging him tightly. She leant back and smiled, speaking warmly:

"Thank you so much. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."

"You're very welcome" Y/N replied happily, relieved that Hermione liked her gift.

She leant on his chest as he wrapped an arm round her shoulders. They sat there happily looking into the fire.

After about ten minutes Hermione spoke, still leaning on Y/N's chest:

"This is what arrived the other day isn't it?"

Y/N smiled.

"Yeah, had to give Penny the description of what I wanted and permission to access my Gringotts vault. I told her to spare no expense. Glad she listened."

Hermione grew a puzzled expression against Y/N's chest as she asked:

"Then what was your present from Jacob?"

"What present from Jacob?" Y/N asked genuinely.

"He didn't get you anything?" Hermione asked shocked.

"It's a useless indulgence that will make you weak" Y/N said in a deep imitation before sighing.

"Jacobs complicated. Don't worry about it, today's your day."

Hermione was worried but smiled as she cuddled more into Y/N as they enjoyed the dance of the flames in front of them.