Y/N walked towards the Great Hall after his early morning solitary work out. Bloody hell he missed having Hermione with him. Katie would probably be more than willing to go with him and watch, but there was no way that was happening. The Room of Requirement was his and Hermione's special place. No one else's. As he walked through the corridor leading to the Hall he stopped and smiled.

The victorious Gryffindor Quidditch team display had already been assembled. The first team to dethrone Slytherin in eight years. It was a good feeling. He would be rubbing it into Dean for sure.

-~-

Y/N sat at the Gryffindor table with Newt on his shoulder, smiling to himself happily. He had won the Quidditch Cup for his house less than 24 hours previously. He had a girlfriend. Someone to love him, accept him. The smile faded as he remembered Hermione the previous evening. He hoped against hope she would still be his best friend. He had honoured her wishes. Surely she would stay his best friend. She made it clear she wasn't interested that way. He filled the hole in his chest with another.

His thoughts went to Katie again. He did care for her. She had a hard outer shell and liked to portray herself as the baddest bitch around, but he was sure she had a sweetness in her core, she just kept it covered. She had always been sweet around him.

He smiled as she entered the Great Hall. She smiled even more, squealing and rushing over to her boyfriend. She jumped onto his lap and pulled him into a deep kiss.

"Morning handsome" she smiled ecstatically.

"Morning Katie" Y/N smirked before she peppered his lips again.

The two heard a throat clean as Katie placed one more kiss on Y/N's lips before they turned to the source of said throat clearing.

Beatrice and Cedric were stood across the table from them. Cedric looked shocked. Beatrice looked furious. She held the same look Penny had on the few occasions she was angry. It wasn't a good thing.

Katie smiled as she got up and kissed Y/N one last time.

"I'm gonna go see Angelina and Alicia, good luck" she giggled, smiling at Beatrice as she walked off.

Y/N turned back to look at his friends just as a hard slap across the face widened his eyes.

Beatrice sat down furious while Cedric looked shocked at what his girlfriend had done, but sat down as well.

"Good morning to you too Bea" Y/N chuckled.

"What the hell are you doing Y/N?" Beatrice roared.

"I'm just relaxing and enjoying myself Bea, what's your problem?" Y/N snapped back.

"What about Hermione?"

Y/N sighed and shook his head.

"She decided she didn't want me Bea. I tried but she wasn't interested. What am I supposed to do, mope?"

Beatrice tutted, dismissively at Y/N, before she snapped again:

"Of course she is interested you just need to-"

Beatrice was abruptly cut off by Y/N snapping back at her:

"I don't want to discuss it Bea. Just be happy for me. Or don't. Frankly I don't care. When were you going to tell me about you two?"

Beatrice was suddenly on the defensive.

"Oh... um... well I was going to but then Quirrell and the game and..."

She was cut off from her stammering as Y/N raised a hand to silence her before turning to Cedric.

"Remember what I said Ced. Broken heart broken neck. And I'm happy for you..." Y/N turned to look at Beatrice, who had returned to her previous angered expression. He concluded: "...both of you".

Lavender, Hermione, Ron and Harry entered the Great Hall. They tentatively approached Y/N as Beatrice stood, still glaring at Y/N furiously. She spoke harshly:

"I've got to owl my sister. We will finish this conversation later"

She turned and stormed off as Y/N sarcastically replied: "Can't wait"

He turned to a slightly panicked Cedric with a smirk and a chuckle:

"You'd better go after her Ced. A Haywood woman on the warpath heh. It's quite a fucking sight to behold".

Cedric nodded and stood, Y/N adding:

"Just agree with anything she says. I'm the biggest cunt under the sun. No need to rock the boat mate I won't take any offence".

Cedric nodded again, saying quickly:

"Oh, ok thanks Y/N, and congrats on the cup and you know, Katie".

Before he took off after Beatrice. Y/N went back to his eggs. The four friends had watched their interaction and slowly approached Y/N. He didn't look up from his plate as Harry spoke nervously:

"Can we sit here Y/N?"

Y/N now looked up, with a puzzled expression.

"Why would you even have to ask?"

He went back to eating. Three of the group smiled and sat down, Lavender though was still extremely angry at him. They all sat in silence before Hermione finally spoke up:

"Congratulations to you Y/N. I hope she makes you happy".

Hermione smiled, holding her nerve as much as she could. Y/N sighed and looked up at the girl across from him with a pained expression.

"Thanks 'Mione. I wanted to tell you first, in private but, yeah. I really hope we can still be friends".

He reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand and smiled at her, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She returned his smile as he continued:

"I can't imagine my life without you in it."

Hermione smiled as her heart fluttered. She noticed Katie staring from down the table in her peripheral vision. She slowly retracted her hand, still smiling, as she replied:

"Of course Y/N. You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you".

Y/N exhaled in relief as the collective attention of the Hall was drawn upwards, the mail owls arriving.

Y/N looked up and smiled as Archimedes dropped a package to him before flying over to Beatrice.

Y/N pulled the note from the top of the package and smiled as he read:

Hi Cutie Pie,

Here's the books you asked for. Dean already had them in our library but I got you brand new copies like you asked. I hope everything is ok? Dean has received a couple of Hogwarts owls but he keeps reassuring me everything is ok. Hope Hermione is well. See you very soon, I'm marking down the days on my calendar.

Love,
Penny
xxxxxxxxx

Y/N smiled having read the letter and chuckled at the amount of kisses at the end before he looked up at Hermione, telling her:

"Penny sends her best Hermione"

Hermione smiled and looked at the package Y/N had received curiously.

"What did you get Y/N? We finish at the end of the week, surely it could have waited?" she asked with a smile.

Y/N shot Hermione his signature cocky smirk and gently slid the package over to her. She looked at him confused. He chuckled:

"I ordered a present for you Hermione".

Hermione looked at Y/N wondering what he was up to as she opened the package, a large smile quickly breaking across her face.

BOOKS! Hermione was always happy to be given books, especially when, like these ones, she hadn't read them before.

"Thank you Y/N!" She squealed happily as she looked through them.

Beginners Guide to Occlumency
Protect yourself from intrusion
Mind your mind- a practical guidebook
Guide to Advanced Occlumency

Hermione stood and reached over the table, hugging Y/N tightly. He happily returned the gesture.

"Thank you again Y/N, but what's this about?"

"Well I was hoping you wanted to continue our private tuition next year?"

Hermione nodded happily before a thought came to her.

"Won't Katie mind?"

Y/N looked at Hermione puzzled.

"No. Why would she? But anyway it wouldn't matter if she did. You're my best friend and I'm not gonna give that up"

Hermione gave him her biggest smile yet of the morning. She went back to looking at her prized new possessions asking:

"So these are?"

"Your homework over the summer. Next year I'm teaching you occlumency. It's important you know how to defend yourself. Not just in combat but from any form of attack".

Y/N spoke with conviction. Hermione smiled again, leaning over the table to hug him, again. As the pair released the hug Katie walked up and stood behind Y/N, placing her hands on his shoulders. As he looked back to her she leant down and kissed him.

Y/N's eyes closed into the kiss. Katie's remained open, looking straight into the uncomfortable stare of Hermione who quickly looked away.

Katie stood back again and smiled sweetly to Y/N:

"I was just wondering if we could go to the Black Lake baby? Just the two of us?"

Y/N smiled and nodded as he stood.

"Sound great Katie, lets go. I'll see you guys later".

The couple left, Katie grabbing hold of Y/N's hand as they did. She quickly looked back to stare at Hermione again before turning her attention back to her boyfriend.

"Bloody bitch" Lavender muttered, death glaring at the couple before she looked back at Hermione who had already begun to read one of the books. Lavender smiled at her best friend, saying gently:

"He just gave you a 'Hermione bunch of flowers' didn't he?"

Hermione looked up from A Beginner's Guide and smiled, replying: "Yep...roses"

She smiled again to herself.

-~-

The young couple were laying on the shore of the Black Lake. Under them was a magically conjured blanket. They were gently kissing when the boy heard hooves approaching and looked up, much to the chagrin of the girl he was with.

Y/N stood just in time to see an old friend approach from the trees near them. Katie gasped. It was her first time seeing a Centaur. She was shocked when her boyfriend approached the half breed and clasped arms with him, a large smile appearing on the Centaur's face.

"Firenze, my old friend. How are you brother?"

"I am well my friend. I am well. Congratulations on defeating the Fallen One and his lackey and protecting the
Philosopher's Stone."

Y/N smiled, but he knew Centaurs didn't appear in front of people just to chew the fat, even with old friends.

"I thank you Firenze. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Firenze smiled at his young friend.

"Bane has requested you come to our camp Tuesday night. He wishes to speak with you..."

Firenze paused to look over at the girl on the blanket who smiled nervously.

"Also bring your Soul... bring Hermione. Bane specified it. I will meet you at Hagrid's hut at 7:00pm. Professor Dumbledore is already aware and has allowed it. I take my leave Y/N. See you soon"

With a nod the Centaur took off towards the Forbidden Forest. Y/N chuckled. Firenze was always direct and to the point. He turned and walked back to his girlfriend, sitting down next to her.

"I didn't know you were friends with the Centaurs?" Katie said with a tone of awe and intimidation.

"Katie, there's a lot about me you don't know" Y/N chuckled, leaning down and kissing her again.