Hermione had enjoyed the past three days. She had her best friend back- awake, alive, responsive.

Y/N though wasn't in the best of moods. He was hurting, he was tired and he was frustrated.

Y/N L/N was not a good patient. Penny and Dean has come again after Y/N had woken up. Penny had cried on Y/N's shoulder for nearly an hour- all the emotional strain of his week long coma pouring out of her. Y/N had just held her, comforted her, whispered sweet reassurances in her ear. Dean had chuckled, it wasn't long ago Penny was doing that for Y/N. It seemed their roles had reversed.

Y/N had got a lot of mail from smart looking owls- many people had wanted to wish the son of the Archduke and one of the heirs of House of L/N well and a speedy recovery. He had also got a number of letters delivered by a strange large bird, he had explained to Hermione it was called an Augurey.

He said the letters were from the Head of the Department of Mysteries but were enchanted so he couldn't discuss what was in them. The letters would self incinerate as soon as Y/N finished reading them.

The near-kiss hadn't been discussed past Y/N's interrupted apology. Y/N was certain he'd made a mistake and didn't want to risk their friendship again. Hermione was still too embarrassed at running away and didn't have the confidence to bring up the subject.

Y/N was hurting from the incident but did what he did best, fell back to his stoic hardened self. Pushed the pain deep down inside. He thanked Jacob in his head for all the training in ignoring pain and keeping a straight face, although if he was being honest the cuts and burns he received from Jacob were preferable to this.

Hermione had been sleeping back in her dorm now Y/N was awake, at McGonagall and Pomfrey's insistence. She had though, been allowed to spend her days in the infirmary. Classes had finished teaching new subject matter now, and all classes were focusing on revision in time for exams. Hermione spent her days revising in the hospital wing next to Y/N.

She arrived after breakfast and smiled, kissing Y/N on the cheek. Y/N smiled, but she could see there was a sadness behind it. A sadness he wanted to hide. Hermione had made her mind up. She was going to tell him today. She had wanted to kiss him too.

The two best friends smiled at each other, both saying at the same time:

"We need to talk. I have to tell you something"

They looked at each other and laughed. Hermione slightly chickened out, saying to Y/N: "you first."

Y/N inhaled deeply, steadying himself.

He hadn't told Hermione he was checking himself out of hospital this morning. He hadn't told her that he was going back into the water to speak to the Leviathan. He remembered Dumbledore's warning.

"Remember. Ms Granger is only concerned with your safety."

Y/N sighed. This was going to suck.

"Ok. So there's no easy way to say this. The Ministry want to kill the Leviathan."

"Good" Hermione replied coldly. Y/N's eyes widened, his mouth dropping open in shock.

"'Mione... he's a Magical Creature, more than that a Legendary Creature. He's been alive since the first age. He could be the last of his kind..."

Hermione looked at Y/N angrily.

"It nearly killed you Y/N. You didn't see yourself."

Tears fell from her eyes as she started to cry. She whimpered:

"You nearly died."

Y/N sighed again as he wiped away her tears.

"It wasn't his fault 'Mione. He was bewitched."

Hermione hesitantly nodded. Y/N braced himself and continued:

"So in order to save him... we... I have to demonstrate he isn't a risk. I'm checking out in a minute and-"

"No"

Y/N was abruptly cut off by a furious looking Hermione. He stammered back in shock.

"I-Uh... Pardon?"

"No" Hermione repeated, in an extremely angry tone.

"What do you mean no?" Y/N asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No you're not" Hermione reiterated. "You're staying here until you are fully healed."

Y/N's brow furrowed slightly.

"'Mione. I have to. I have to go speak to him and..."

"WHAT?" Hermione shrieked in an explosion of shock and horror. "You are not going back there to speak to him".

Y/N got angrier. He didn't raise his voice but he spoke firmly:

"Yes I am Hermione. I have to demonstrate to the Ministry that it's safe to be in the water with him. I'm the only one who can talk to him."

Hermione's face turned to one of terror before it turned back to rage.

"No. No no no no no! I won't allow it. I'm not doing this again, Y/N. I can't see you like that again, not knowing if you will wake up. I can't. I won't. I won't allow you to do this!"

Y/N looked back even more frustrated:

"It's not your decision 'Mione. I don't have a choice. I have to save him".

A line of tears fell from Hermione's eyes. She spoke firmly, resolutely:

"You're right Y/N. You're right. It's not my choice. It's yours. And if you decide to go swimming with the Leviathan. Then I won't be here when you get back. This..."

Hermione pointed between herself and Y/N:

"Whatever this is will be over!"

Y/N felt his heart break in two. She was his best friend. He felt for her like he never had for anyone in his life... but he had no choice. The noble creature had been alive for millennia. It was ancient, from the First Age of monsters and magic. It was royal, sacred, predating even the Pharoahs. Y/N wouldn't allow these lesser men, these jumped up Ministry nobodies, to kill it. He felt every cell in his body telling him to protect it, even at the cost of his own life. He couldn't explain it if he tried.

He answered Hermione quietly as tears ran down his cheeks:

"If that's your decision..."

"No" Hermione replied just as quiet, her own tears falling harder:

"It's yours"

Hermione turned and left, running from the infirmary. She hadn't realised that Harry, Lavender, Ron, Beatrice and Cedric had entered the hospital for a surprise visit and had been standing there the whole time. They heard everything.

She ran passed the group sobbing, tears erupting from her eyes as she made it out the infirmary. Beatrice and Lavender ran after her.

The three boys stood there in shock, unsure what to do when Y/N called out from his cubicle:

"Ced! Come help me get my trunks on. I'm in too much pain to do it myself!"

Cedric sighed and walked towards his friend. Damn stubborn, hard headed Y/N. What could he do?

He asked Y/N over and over not to go as he knelt down, trying to ignore Y/N's junk in front of him as he helped Y/N get his swimwear on. Y/N had just smiled a sad smile and replied "mate, just help me get on my clothes"

When his trunks were on he thanked his older friend, before handing Newt to Harry, asking him to take the Bowtruckle to their dorm room. With that he nodded, turned, and limped out of the infirmary.

-~-

Y/N had received many odd looks from students as he walked through the halls of Hogwarts, barefooted and topless, only his swimming trunks covering him.

Some of the girls looked at his physique with a hungered expression, some of the boys with a jealous one. Most of the students though were shocked and a little frightened at the huge scar and bruising that covered his chest. He finally made it down to the Reserve and entered, walking along the path to the Ocean Biome.

Barnaby had seen him out of the windows of the Ranger's Station and rushed over, asking what Y/N was doing. He stopped in shock as Y/N continued walking forward, telling Barnaby he was "doing what had to be done."

Y/N entered the Ocean Biome to witness a tense stand off. Executioners from the Committee for the Disposal of Magical Creatures were stood with wands out. Standing across from them were a number of Unspeakables, all under the same Glamour, also with their wands out staring back at the Executioners.

Between the two groups of wizards were five individuals Y/N recognised immediately. His Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and dear friend Newt Scamander, the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures Gethsemane Prickle.

The Head of the Department of Mysteries, the man known only as 311. He had what he always had on when Y/N had seen him, a mysterious mask that moved with his words and distorted his voice.

And there was of course the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

They looked at Y/N, and particularly at his chest, horrified.

Well Fudge, Newt and Gethsemane were horrified. Dumbledore was well aware of his injury, and who knew what was going on under 311's mask.

Fudge spluttered and stuttered at Y/N, his eyes the size of dinner plates:

"Y/N L/N my boy, how you look like your father. Your injury... shouldn't you be in hospital"

"Couldn't stay in hospital when Ms Prickle here wants to execute possibly the last remaining Leviathan, Minister" Y/N replied coldly.

Gethsemane looked at Y/N, still wide eyed at the injury on his chest as she spoke in a panicked voice:

"I assure you Mr L/N, want has nothing to do with it. This creature, Legendary or not, it nearly killed you, an Heir of House L/N. It's a danger and-"

She was abruptly cut off by a furious Y/N.

"Precisely, Ms Prickle. This creature nearly killed an heir of House L/N. It was an innocent creature caught up in an assassination attempt made on my life. The creature was bewitched, surely Professor Dumbledore and 311 told you that?"

She nodded, taken aback by the authority in the voice of a twelve year old boy as she muttered:

"They did, but what assassination attempt? And bewitched or not that creature is dangerous, too dangerous to-"

"My good lady that creature is no more dangerous than I am" Y/N shot back. "And it was attempt by someone who knew I would be in the Reserve. Someone within Hogwarts"

"My boy, my boy, who could possibly want to assassinate you" Fudge chuckled nervously.

"Oh I don't know... one of the many Death Eaters employed in your Ministry, Fudge?"

Y/N roared in anger. Fudge paled and stuttered:

"Th-the-there- there aren't any-"

"Corbyn Yaxley, Francis Crabb, Bertram Goyle, Gerald Rosier... him!"

Y/N scowled with a look of hatred, pointing to one of the executioners:

"Walden McNair. An executioner... you're a disgrace to your ancestors!"

Y/N looked at the man, lip curled in anger as Walden went wide eyed in fear, hearing the boy's voice in his head:

I'm gonna be the one who kills you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow... but I'm gonna kill you!

"Or perhaps Minister, the man who is also on the Hogwarts Governor's board, who would have known I volunteer in the Reserve... Lucius Malfoy?"

Cornelius turned even paler and continued to splutter:

"All the men you've mentioned were acquitted and found to be under the Imperius Curse, they were-"

"If you believe that you're as stupid as you look, Cornelius. Now I came here to demonstrate this creature is no threat"

Cornelius Fudge turned a shade of purple. Dumbledore's lips twitched. 311 could be heard chuckling under his mask.

"H-how do you intend to do that, Mr.L/N?"

Y/N looked at Gethsemane with a cocky smirk.

"I have a way with animals, Ms.Prickle"

Y/N walked to the edge of the short pier and looked out at the water as he began to whisper.

Mighty Leviathan, are you there? I wish to speak to you about an urgent matter.

Everything was quiet momentarily. Fudge went to talk before he stopped as the Headmaster placed a finger to his lips and whispered:

"Just watch"

The water in front of Y/N began to bubble and churn, the wizards and witches behind Y/N took a step back in fear as an enormous body rose to peer out of the water. It was covered in sharp spines, their ends shimmering purples, greens and blacks, all tipped with curses. Y/N heard a booming voice in his head.

You... you're the boy I attacked when I was maddened. Have you come to kill me?

No, mighty Leviathan. Some of these insignificant people behind me may wish to, but I would never harm you.

It has been centuries since I encountered a Whisperer boy. What is your name?

Y/N L/N, a descendant of the MacNairs.

Interesting. I am sorry for attacking you. I am relieved you survived. If you do not wish to kill me why did you whisper to me?

I wish to show these people that you pose no risk. That you are as gentle and kind as you are wise and mighty.

How do you propose to do that?

Some of the assembled witches and wizards shrieked as Y/N dove into the water.

-~-

Harry was sat in the Common Room, on the couches always occupied by their friendship group. One friend though was missing, and the other four were concerned for his welfare. It was night time. Curfew had passed. No one had seen Y/N since he checked himself out of hospital that morning, limping across the Hogwarts grounds in only his board shorts. Harry could never do that. He chuckled to himself, Y/N never cared what anyone thought of him. Y/N definitely belonged in Gryffindor.

He had been sat with Ron, across from Hermione and Lavender.

Hermione had cried for a few hours after their argument, but since her tears dried had been sat with her nose in a book. Harry didn't recognise it, it was something about Magical Creatures from North America. Ron was happily playing with Scabbers, oblivious to the unfolding drama. Harry and Lavender made awkward small talk, both looking worriedly at Hermione frequently.

Harry turned, hearing the door open behind him, Lavender looking up as well. Y/N walked in the portrait hole with a smile on his face. He was still only wearing his swimming trunks.

"Hey Y/N" Harry said happily, overjoyed his friend was safe and sound.

"Hey Harry" Y/N said with an anxious smile as his eyes darted to Hermione. Ron didn't look up from playing with his rat. Lavender looked between Hermione and Y/N but didn't say anything.

Hermione didn't look up from her book as the worry grew larger on Y/N's face.

"Hey 'Mione" Y/N said apprehensively.

Hermione still didn't look up, only asking him coldly:

"So did you go?"

Y/N looked genuinely worried as he replied:

"Yes. Do you want to know how I went?"

Hermione answered, again coldly, saying only:

"No. You made your decision".

She got up without looking at Y/N and walked off towards the girls dorms. Lavender looked at Y/N, giving him a worried glance before chasing after Hermione.

Harry looked at Y/N, who had a look of sheer devastation on his face.

"Y/N are you-"

Before Harry could finish his sentence Y/N had turned and stormed towards the boys dorms. Harry sat there, unsure what to do. Ron was still obliviously playing with his rat.

Y/N re entered a minute later. He had a bundle of clothes in his arms and Newt on his shoulder. He stormed passed Harry without saying a word.

Lavender reappeared from the girls dorms and called out to Y/N:

"Y/N wait!"

But he stormed out of the common room, slamming the door behind him without saying a word. Harry was concerned, having no idea where Y/N was going to sleep. He turned to Lavender as she stood with her hand across her eyes, looking up towards the ceiling.

"Lav, what's going on?" Harry asked worried.

Lavender sighed looking at Harry with a frustrated smile:

"Just these two stubborn jackarses Harry. Can you talk to Y/N if he comes back? I've got to try and calm Hermione down."

"Of course I will Lav" Harry answered with worry in his voice.

-~-

Y/N stormed to the Room of Requirement. He was hurt, he was angry, he was frustrated.

He threw his clothes onto a tallboy near the bed that had appeared in the room, gently placing Newt down in the small Bowtruckle terrarium that the room had provided. Newt looked up at Y/N saddened as the boy stormed off to the far side of the room.

He walked into the centre of a darkened arena and stood there, looking down as he inhaled deeply hearing a familiar voice in his head again. It was his own.

Inhale

Exhale

You were kidding yourself!

Inhale

Exhale

You think you deserved someone like that?

Inhale

Exhale

You deserve nothing! You are nothing!

Y/N looked up with fury, a darkened scowl on appearing on curled lips as he was surrounded by training dummies with wands-12 of them... 24 of them... 48 of them....

More and more appeared as the voice whispered again, so quietly within his mind as to be almost impossible to hear:

Embrace the rage! Embrace the hatred!
Embrace the darkness!

Y/N fired a salvo at the Magical automatons

Bombarda

Depulso

Reducto

Confringo

He threw up a protego shield protecting himself from return fire, before casting a large

Incendio

Waving his wand around his head, releasing a torrent of fire, destroying a dozen dummies in the blink of an eye.

He fired a large bombarda, the target narrowly avoiding it as the spell cannoned into the wall behind, exploding violently, sending shards of debris everywhere. Y/N was hit from behind with three spells in quick succession, dropping him to a knee as he growled in anger, levitating the aforementioned debris up and casting

Oppugno

The debris flew across the room, crushing another dozen dummies in moments as Y/N held his wand out towards the sole remaining upright dummy. His eyes turned jet black as he muttered a single word:

Crucio

The automaton fell to the floor, jerking around in mock pain as Y/N's lip scowled more

CRUCIO!

The automaton jerked faster, appearing to be about to break apart at the seams as Y/N released the curse, uttering next:

Avada Kedavra

A green flash shot from his wand, the dummy laying on the floor, now limp.

Y/N dropped to a knee in exhaustion as he thought for a moment he heard an evil laughter from somewhere deep within his own mind before he stood and muttered to the Room:

"Again!"

-~-

Harry and Lavender didn't see Y/N at all the next day, which was Sunday. He wasn't at meals and didn't turn up at all in the library or common room. They were extremely concerned.

They felt relief at breakfast Monday morning, when they saw Y/N sitting by himself at the end of the Gryffindor table. Harry had walked up happy, greeting Y/N warmly. He was shocked, instantly noticing Y/N was different- dark, brooding, angered. Harry was further shocked when Y/N looked up coldly, barely grunting in acknowledgement.

The students were doing exam revision in all their classes now. Y/N had done the same at each class. He simply approached the teacher, got what was required for revision and left. Harry realised some of the teachers had even looked scared of him. Hermione had been very quiet, not speaking much to anyone but Lavender. Lav had told Harry Hermione had been crying a lot but every time Lavender had tried to talk to Hermione about Y/N she had just shut down, saying the same thing over and over:

"He made his decision. He decided what was more important."

-~-

It was late Friday afternoon. Exams started the following week and everyone was stressed. Hermione and Lavender had been revising together non stop.

The four friends were sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Lavender and Hermione were revising, Ron and Harry playing Chocolate Frog Cards to take the pressure off- at least Harry was. He had the suspicion Ron just wanted to play cards.

Harry looked up and saw Y/N sitting by himself at the Senior end of the table. Harry frowned. He was worried about Y/N. Y/N had completely isolated himself since the argument with Hermione. Harry saw Katie Bell approach him but leave fairly quickly. As she walked passed the four first years with her sister they heard Erin telling Katie:

"Just give him time Katie. He's still hurting. He'll come round"

Hermione didn't look up but Harry noticed her grip her book even tighter. Harry thought back to Wednesday. Harry had been walking to the library with Hermione and Lavender when they had been stopped by a Slytherin Prefect in the hall:

"If it isn't the Mudblood and two half bloods".

Before the Slytherin could continue he shrieked in fear as he was levitated up in the air and was slammed into the wall to his left. He hit the wall with a large crack, blood gushing from his nose. He was then slammed into the wall on his right before being dropped to the floor unconscious.

The group looked at him in shock before looking up to see Y/N walking towards them. He didn't stop, or talk, he just simply walked alone passed them and continued on.

Harry was snapped out of his thoughts by Hermione berating him.

"It's pathetic. Exams start next week and you two are playing with your cards. Lavender is the only one studying!"

"I think Y/N is, Hermione" Harry said as he
pointed to him. Hermione looked over, her face softening as she looked at him sadly, before it hardened as she turned to the two boys again.

"Y/N is perfectly capable of doing whatever he wants. He made that clear. But what about you two?"

"I know everything anyway. Test me. Go on" Ron snorted.

"What are the ingredients of a forgetfulness potion?" Hermione asked, firing off the question without a moment's hesitation.

Ron looked down for a moment before he snickered:

"Um, I forgot".

Hermione scowled as Lavender rolled her eyes:

"And what will you do if it's in the exam?"

"Copy off you?" Ron replied.

"You will not" Hermione snapped. Lavender looked at the red head just as angrily:

"Besides Ronald. We will be given special anti-cheating quills. McGonagall said so"

"That's insulting" Ron gasped, outraged.

Harry meanwhile was more concerned with their estranged friend. He'd noticed Beatrice and Cedric approach and sit with Y/N.

"I think Bea and Ced are trying to talk to him" Harry said to the others. Hermione turned to look as Ron tutted "who cares" before he was bopped on the head with a book by Lavender.

The others watched as Beatrice looked to get more and more upset. She stood suddenly and covered her mouth, walking towards the four as Cedric looked genuinely torn, before he got up and followed her. As they approached the four Gryffindors Lavender asked: "Are you ok Beatrice?"

The fourth year Hufflepuff sat next to Lavender, Cedric sitting on her other side, as Bea took the hankey Lavender offered and wiped her eyes.

"Thanks Lav. No I'm not" Beatrice said tearfully.

"Is Y/N ok?" Harry asked with concern.

"No Harry. He's not" She replied as she wiped her eyes again.

"Y/N has completely shut himself off since the...other week. I haven't seen him this bad since things were at their worst with Jacob. I'm scared for him guys. I'm really scared".

Lav wrapped her in a big hug. Beatrice smiled into it, and as the pair released she turned to Cedric:

"Can we go to the common room please Ced? I really need to be alone with you."

"O-of course Bea" Cedric answered as the two got up and left after saying their goodbyes.

Lavender turned to Hermione:

"Are you sure you won't talk to him Hermione?"

Hermione looked conflicted as she began to answer: "I-I..."

Harry spoke up, interrupting her stammering:

"It's too late"

He pointed to the empty space where Y/N had been.

"He's gone".