It was hard to believe first year was over. The students were riding back to King's Cross on the Hogwarts Express.

Y/N hadn't spoken much to Katie after the embarrassment he had suffered in front of the student body. Katie said she wanted to sit with her sister as it was her last time on the Express. Y/N had simply replied "good".

He had sat alone in a compartment before his four friends insisted on joining him- Hermione sat next to him, Lavender, Ron and Harry across from the pair.

Y/N had looked out of the window quiet most of the way as Hermione spoke to the others.

He had noticed Harry was quiet and asked through legilimency if it was about the muggles. Harry nodded.

Don't worry Harry I think they will treat you a little better this summer.

Harry looked at Y/N puzzled and Y/N chuckled to himself. In a conversation between the two Dumbledore had said Harry had to stay with the Dursleys. That it was important for his own good. He did not however say Harry couldn't have any visitors. Y/N was going to blow off A LOT of steam.

-~-

The train was about an hour out and the trip had been non eventful mostly. Cedric stopped by and handed Y/N a small bag which he discreetly placed in his trunk. Y/N promised to stay at Cedric's place one night during the break. Cedric wanted Y/N to teach him how to duel. Should be fun.

Hermione had started to drift off and leant her head on Y/N's shoulder. Y/N smiled, closing his eyes. It felt nice.

Not two minutes later the pair were shocked out of their slumber by a massive bang on the train window. They turned to look and saw a familiar, yet very peculiar sight.

"Oh, it's the Augurey. Is that from your friend at the Department of Mysteries,Y/N?"

Hermione asked as Y/N opened the window to allow the bird in.

Hello my friend, how are you? Y/N whispered.

Important message from my Master, Prophesied One

Y/N heard back as he took a note from the bird's leg. The bird quickly flew out the window and away again.

"Why not use an owl?" Ron asked Y/N confused.

"He permanently wears a mask and named himself a number. The guy isn't exactly... balanced I guess would be the right word. And he's not my friend Hermione, more a... a benefactor".

He opened the note and read it with Hermione.

I have removed your trace. Have fun. 311

The note then burst into flames in his hand. The others gasped in shock as Y/N turned to Hermione, grinning.

"Oh. I will"

-~-

The group arrived at Kings Cross. Katie ran up and kissed Y/N before departing with her sister, promising to owl him. Ron and Lav departed next, Molly meeting Hermione and giving Y/N a big hug, promising to see him over the summer.

Harry was next to leave with a large man who resembled a pig. Y/N recognised him from Harry's memory, staring daggers into the man. He spoke directly to Harry:

See you soon bud. See you real soon!

Harry looked at Y/N confused but nodded.

It was just Hermione and Y/N left.

"So" they both said at the same time, before smiling at each other.

"Make sure you read those books 'Mione. There will be a test".

She giggled.

Y/N looked behind her shoulder and saw Monica and Wendell walking over with Dean, an angry looking Bea and an angrier looking Penny.

"Fuck me" he whispered to himself before Hermione squeezed his hand in support.

"I'm coming with you Y/N- and don't worry I've already told Penny everything!" Bea snapped.

"Fucking Fantastic" Y/N snapped back.

"Enough you two- we will talk in the car Y/N. Sorry about this Monica" Penny said with a sad smile.

"No it's fine really Penny. Teenagers and hormones, I understand" Monica smiled.

"You ready to go Hermione?" Wendell asked.

Hermione nodded her head sadly before she turned, giving Y/N a big hug which he instantly returned.

"I'm really gonna miss you 'Mione".

"I'm gonna miss you too Y/N. Owl me?"

"I will when I get back from Jacob. Is he picking me up today Dean?"

Dean nodded.

"Good" Y/N growled, noticing the shocked look on everyone's faces.

"I've had a guts full of people telling me what a prick I am. I've had it for weeks. At least with Jacob I can make myself stronger and blow shit up!"

Hermione rubbed his back and Beatrice looked mournful, for a second, then it was back to resting bitch face.

"We better go then" Wendell said as he grabbed Hermione's trunk.

"We will see you at the wedding" Monica said happily. Hermione looked surprised before Penny smiled at her.

"We invited the three of you Hermione. We want you to be there for our special day".

Hermione and Y/N smiled and the pair hugged again to say goodbye. Y/N was fighting back emotion. It took everything he had to remain stoic. The whole Katie situation really had him all over the place lately.

His mind was filled with doubts. Had he been neglecting Hermione? Had he taken her for granted? Now that it was time to say goodbye he didn't want to let her go. What about Bane's warnings? Would she be safe at home?

"You two have been hugging for like three minutes. Cmon it's only a month or so" Dean chuckled. The two released the hug as Y/N leant down and kissed Hermione on the head.

"I'll owl you first chance I get" he smiled, trying to reassure her.

Hermione nodded and wiped her eyes before leaving with her parents.

"Let's go" Y/N said gruffly as he grabbed his stuff.

-~-

The two L/Ns and two Haywoods eventually arrived at their car, loaded up and started to head off as Y/N spoke:

"We need to take a detour Dean"

Dean looked in his rear view puzzled.

"Where are we going?"

"4 Privet Drive Little Whinging" Y/N answered coldly.

"No, that's too far Y/N"

"Alright, let me out here then" Y/N said as they pulled up to a set of traffic lights. "I'll get the Knight Bus"

Y/N took off his seatbelt and opened his door as Dean spluttered:

"No stop. I'll drive us Y/N, Merlin".

Y/N smirked. "Thanks Dean".

Bea huffed next to Y/N and Penny turned round.

"So Bea tells me you have a girlfriend, Y/N. And it's not Hermione"

Y/N sighed.

"Yes. Penny"

"Why?"

"Really, we're gonna do this now?" Y/N asked.

She turned around again to look at Y/N and gave him 'the Penny glare'. Yes, they were doing this now.

"Fine. Hermione decided we couldn't date. I'm too prone to ending up in hospital and it would hurt her too much. She wanted some distance between us. It broke my heart, Penny. I felt like everything crumbled, like I had this big hole in my chest and I just wanted something to fill it. Something to not make me feel like that anymore. Lonely, anymore. I just wanted to feel loved.

Katie had been chasing me pretty hard. She kissed me after we won the Quidditch final and I kissed her back. Like I said I felt like I had a hole inside me and I just wanted something to fill it".

Y/N turned to look out his window, waiting for the screeching or insults from Beatrice to start. He was shocked when he heard nothing. He turned back to see both Haywood's looking at him with pity.

He was filled with dread that it was now going to be a big thing. He didn't like all this feeling talk.

"Why didn't you say something to me Y/N?" Beatrice asked sorrowfully.

"Because you didn't give me the chance Bea. You just scowled at me, swore at me or swung at me"

Beatrice looked at Y/N even guiltier. Y/N chuckled.

"Besides it's not all bad. It's pretty amazing, you know the snog-"

"Lalalalalala" Penny yelled with fingers in her ears. Beatrice looked out her window.

"That's enough of that conversation thank you Y/N" Penny squealed.

Y/N smirked- Mission accomplished. The rest of the drive to their destination was silent.

-~-

They arrived at Privet Drive and parked down the street slightly from number 4

"Right we are here, you want to tell me why?" Dean asked turning round.

"No. Stay here no matter what you see, not that you'll have a choice" Y/N chuckled as he got out of the car.

Dean attempted to follow but couldn't, as he looked down and swore:

"Shit! He's turned the car floor to quicksand"

-~-

The minute Harry arrived home he was grabbed by the back of the neck by his Uncle Vernon and thrown under the stairs. He sighed. It was so cramped in there. It was going to be a long summer.

Harry had been there for about ten minutes when he heard a massive crash and all hell broke loose.

-~-

Y/N approached the house and cast a silencing charm around it. The closer he got the more his breathing intensified. His anger intensified. His hatred intensified.

He aimed his wand at their front door

Bombarda

The door blew off its hinges as he heard panicked screams and yellow from inside the house. He walked in sneering, aiming his wand at the fat man who was charging at him.

Flipendo

The man was sent flying backwards, smashing into the mantle piece, sending ornaments flying as he hit the ground hard.

"Where is he?" Y/N bellowed at the frail bitter looking woman in front of him. She didn't answer.

"Where the fuck is he?" Y/N bellowed again.

She still didn't answer, so he summoned the fat bully looking kid who had been attempting to crawl out of the room on his hands and knees.

The youth screamed as he was pulled through the air towards Y/N. Y/N grabbed him by the back of the hair as he resheathed his wand.

The kid just looked at Y/N in terror, for all his bulk he had no muscle.

"Please, not my Dudders" the woman shrieked.

"Shut the fuck up bitch! You're next fat man!"

Y/N gripped Dudley's hair even tighter, smashing his face into the doorframe of their living room as the boy's mother shrieked.

"Where is he?"

Smash!

"Where is he?"

Smash!

"Where is he?"

Smash!

Each collision with the door frame caused Dudley's face to expel even more blood. By the third collision he was unconscious.

"Under the stairs! He's under the stairs" the woman shrieked.

Y/N smashed Dudley's face into the door frame again for good measure, dropping him as the unconscious boy collapsed to the floor.

Y/N walked over to the side of the staircase, seeing a small door. He gripped the door handle and tore, ripping the door from it frame as he threw it behind him. He reached in, saying gently:

"Take my hand brother"

Harry reached out and gripped it, as Y/N pulled him from his claustrophobic cage. Harry smiled at his friend before looking around shocked at the carnage around him.

Y/N walked back to the lounge, Harry behind him as he glared at Petunia.

"Right is there somewhere for Harry to sleep? A proper room?"

"Du-Dudley's spare room" she whimpered back as she held her unconscious son. Y/N exploded:

"THAT FAT FUCK HAS TWO ROOMS WHILE HARRY IS UNDER THE FUCKING STAIRS?

Petunia shrieked in fear. Harry heard Y/N's voice distort, which he had heard before, but from his position behind Y/N he didn't see what his Aunty saw....

Y/N's eyes blackened in his rage.

He closed his eyes as he attempted to calm himself, opening them as his brilliant green irises appeared as normal.

"You're gonna treat Harry right. You understand me. Three meals a day, his own room and no more of this servant shit and you do not lay a finger on him. Or-"

"You're going to pay for this. Mark my words you're going to-"

Vernon's empty threats ended as he was levitated up in the air and thrown with force through his living room window.

"Excuse me a minute Harry" Y/N said calmly as he turned and exited through the hole where the front door had stood.

-~-

Penny fought with the quicksand that had trapped her feet. They had been sat in the car for about ten minutes. They had been shocked when Y/N blew the front door off it hinges, but quickly realised he had used a silencing charm. They gasped in shock as an obese man came flying out the window. They were further shocked when Y/N walked through the 'front door' and started laying into him.

-~-

Arabella Figg walked out her front door to water her rose bushes. Harry would be returning today, it was time for her to go to work again, watching over the 'Boy who lived' and reporting to Albus Dumbledore. She glanced over at the Dursley household and dropped her watering can in shock. The youngest L/N boy was beating Vernon in the front yard. The house looked like a war zone. She rushed inside and opened her sideboard, pulling out the secret phone, the direct line to Albus Dumbledore's office. She hurriedly dialled the emergency number 3-7-1-2 and prayed to Merlin Albus answered.

-~-

Y/N stalked to Vernon Dursley, as the much larger man writhed and groaned in pain on the ground. He kicked him hard in the side, the sadistic man screaming in pain and rolling to his back. Y/N dropped, straddling the man's chest as he threw punch after punch after punch into the man's face, left and right, left and right, before he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Y/N. He's had enough!"

Y/N snapped round, snarling at the Headmaster who gasped in shock. The boy's face looked predatory... animalistic... but it was his eyes. The boy had pitch black eyes. Albus looked at his student in fear.

Y/N turned back to Vernon and gripped him by the throat.

You lay a finger on Harry and I will not stop next time. Do you hear me? DO YOU HEAR ME?

"Yes" Vernon garbled through his bloody and broken face.

"I'll beat you to death Vernon" Y/N sneered in his normal voice as he stood, kicking the man again.

"But your slut and boy will die first. Don't think I won't know when I leave Vernon"

I know everything!

Vernon's one eye that could still open widened in fear as he heard the boy's voice in his mind. Y/N turned to the Headmaster.

"You know they were abusing Harry?"

"N..no Y/N. No I didn't. I'll walk you to your brother's car. Then take care of..."

His voice trailed off as he look at the scene of devastation in front of him.

Y/N spat on Vernon before turning to walk to Dean's car.

-~-

"Jesus Christ" Dean whispered as he watched in horror, unable to move to help the man, before he saw his former Headmaster appear behind Y/N and speak to him.

One thought ran through his mind- what the hell had Jacob done to the kid? He heard Albus in his mind as his feet suddenly became free and Y/N approached.

Get him out of here before the situation becomes even worse. I will sort it out here.

Dean nodded as Y/N entered the car.

-~-

Y/N got in the car. Not a word was said but he could practically taste the fear in the air. No one spoke for the remainder of the drive.

The four of them arrived home and still no one had said a word. Y/N went to his room and packed his gear, when he emerged with his bags Jacob was already there. Y/N's two elder brothers shot him a look as Penny and Beatrice sat on the couch, still pale.

"You got everything Y/N?"

"Yeah Jacob".

Y/N turned to look at Penny and Beatrice.

"Just so you know. For years, years. They would beat and starve Harry. Force him to work as a slave. Neglect him. They deserve worse than what I gave them. I let them live. They deserve to die. See you when I get back".

Jacob walked over and grabbed Y/N's arm- the two apparating out of the apartment.

"What is happening to our little boy Dean?" Penny asked as she broke down on the couch.

Dean sat next to his fiancée and hugged her.

"I don't know babe. I don't know. Maybe finding out what they were doing to Harry triggered something in Y/N? After what Mum did and-"

"Yes that's it. That's definitely it. There's nothing wrong with Cutie Pie. He's a good boy. He's a good boy"

Penny rocked back and forth as she spoke, Dean and Beatrice exchanging a worried glance.

-~-

Y/N and Jacob disapperated to Jacob's safe house on the Isle of Wight. Moody was already waiting.

"Boy-o" Mad-Eye greeted in his Scottish accent. He looked uneasy, which could mean only one thing.

"You made a serious error taking Harry down to that Chamber Y/N. Albus said it was at Harry's insistence, but you should have incapacitated him. You've... you've got to be punished"

Jacob seemed to have... regret in his voice. Y/N placed his bags down and turned, ready to accept his fate. He whispered to Newt who emerged from his pocket and climbed down to his hand.

Go upstairs Newt. I don't want you seeing this.

The tiny creature nodded and looked sadly at his father before scampering out of the room. Jacob and Mad-Eye exchanged a concerned look as Y/N spoke coldly:

"Fine, but both of you hit me at once!"

"What?" Jacob muttered.

"I'm not the same Jacob. I want to embrace the pain. It's the only way to get stronger. Failure isn't an option. Now come on!"

Jacob and Mad-Eye pulled their wands, both muttering at the same time...

Crucio

-~-

Mad Eye had left. Y/N was sat at Jacob's kitchen table, occasionally twitching involuntarily. It was a side effect of the torture curse. His body still ached, his joints still feeling distorted. He chuckled to himself.

Hello pain my oldest friend.

Jacob brought in a plate of steak and greens and placed it next to Y/N.

"Eat. You need it"

Y/N looked at Jacob puzzled.

"Since when do you cook for me?"

"Don't get used to it. Are you keeping to your morning routine?"

"No" Y/N said with a chuckle. Jacob looked furious as Y/N swallowed a mouthful of steak and continued:

"This morning I did it twice"

"Why? What's going on?"

"I was summoned to the Centaur Camp a couple of days ago with Hermione. Bane read in the stars- something's coming next school year, something bad. He said I have to protect Hermione. She will be in danger. I...I can't... I can't fail her Jacob. I need to be stronger. I need you to push me harder. Much harder"

Jacob looked at the determination in his brother's eyes and nodded.

"Did you get the mandrake leaves Y/N?"

Y/N nodded, gingerly getting up and pulling them out of his bag.

"Good. Once you finish your dinner put one in your mouth and keep it there. Don't take it out until I tell you to".

Y/N nodded.

"So what's first after dinner Jacob, duelling?"

"No. Reading"

Y/N's face grew angry.

"But I just said-"

He cut himself off as Jacob slid some books to him.

"Magical Moste Evile, Nightshade Guide to Necromancy, Secrets of the Darkest Magic... aren't these sort of... forbidden Jacob?" Y/N asked confused.

"Can't fight what you don't understand can you? Now hurry up. We have a lot to fill in."

Y/N smirked and nodded. He would not fail her. He would not fail his Hermione.