Y/N was still confused as to what was going on. Jacob and Moody took turns using the torture curse on Y/N and it was bad... but.....

This was far from the first time Jacob and Moody had used the curse on Y/N, but it didn't hurt as much as before. It still hurt like hell, the feeling of being torn to shreds from the inside out, but Y/N had been able to push through the worst of it, firing off flipendo spells both times he was tortured.

Jacob was extremely happy. He didn't go as far as complimenting Y/N, but he had smiled and said "good" before starting the torture again.

Y/N came to a realisation- Jacob might not be doing this to be mean. It hurt- but Jacob was right, Y/N was getting stronger.

Jacob had always said Y/N's training would pay off. That he would see the results eventually- be stronger, faster, meaner, harder.

Y/N had been stronger today. He had pushed through the worst pain imaginable and incapacitated his attackers. If Y/N could do that he could do anything. His confidence soared.

-~-

After an exhausting morning Y/N and Jacob returned to the Isle of Wight safehouse.

"Alright Y/N go read for a while. I'll test you after, make sure you-"

Jacob stopped mid-sentence as they entered the house. Dean was sat there, waiting for them.

"Y/N, go practice on your broom" Jacob said with a serious expression.

Y/N looked between his two elder brothers and nodded, quickly summoning his Nimbus and exiting the house as Dean threw up a silencing charm. He looked at Jacob and said:

"I've spoken to Albus. We need to talk!"

-~-

Y/N had been practicing his broomwork for a while. He did sprint drills, rolls, starfish and stick, Wronski feints- everything he could think of before he was called inside.

He assumed Dean and Jacob had had a fight- that was what usually happened. He was surprised when he entered the house to see both men smiling at him.

Y/N was shocked to learn he would spend more time will Dean and Penny. Dean would help teach him curse breaking. Penny would help teach him potions. The icing on the top was that if he worked really hard he could even have one day a fortnight where he could go out with Dean and Penny, anywhere he wanted.

Dean laughed when Y/N had pinched himself. He thought he must be dreaming. Dean smiled at his brother's excitement. Even Jacob had a small smile break out across his face before he quickly hid it behind his usual hardened glare.

Y/N promised to work harder than ever. He was so excited. He saw through the torture curse results that Jacob really did want to make him stronger. He understood now Penny wasn't lying to him, her and Dean really did love him and want him with them. Y/N was happy. He couldn't remember feeling that before.

-~-

It had been nearly a year now. Y/N had kept his word and worked harder than ever before.

In his exposure testing in the Forbidden Forest he aced his test- hunting for food, returning to visit his friends in the Centaur camp, sneaking to Hagrid's hut and visiting him on the sly.

He passed every practical exam Jacob gave him- from potions, to charms and curses to Herbology. Y/N read voraciously- anything he could get his hands on. He often had one of the House Elves, Filk, bring books from the Abandoned L/N manor house's library.

The house was still fully maintained by the devoted team of freed House Elves, but Y/N couldn't return there to pick them out for himself. Not there. Not again.

Y/N had even pushed Jacob in a duel to three minutes before being beaten. Jacob was very impressed. He had been a lot nicer lately, like all the pressure had been released a little. Penny always squished Y/N in hugs when he arrived back. Smoky would stay near him, pawing at him and sitting on his lap when he returned home, but the cat seemed to hate Penny. Smoky would glare at her from Y/N's lap, pull away when Penny tried to stroke her and more surprisingly Penny said when she was home alone the Kneazle would just glare at her, following her around the house. She was looking forward to Y/N starting Hogwarts just to get some peace from the creepy kitten.

Y/N didn't have to use the floo network anymore though. Jacob had taught him to apparate but he had to keep that secret. He apparated into Dean and Penny's house for his fortnightly stay, but only Dean was there.

"Hey big brother" Y/N smiled as he wrapped his older sibling in a tight hug. He had got a lot closer with Dean the past nine months. The flashbacks were still there but they were becoming easier to deal with.

"Hey baby bro" Dean hugged back. He couldn't believe how close he and his little brother had gotten. It was everything he ever wanted. Almost everything anyway.

"Where's Penny?" Y/N asked.

"She's gone on a girls night with Tonks, Chiara and Tulip, so you and me have a secret mission"

"Cool, What is it? Breaking a curse? Taking down a Death Eater?" Y/N asked excitedly.

Dean smiled:

"We're going to go see Penny's parents"

Y/N deadpanned his older brother.

"Uh, no offence Dean but that doesn't sound like much of a mission. Jacob and Mad Eye take me to capture or eliminate dark wizards and witches. Those are missions" Y/N laughed at his big brother.

Dean smiled: "Trust me this is much scarier"

"How do you figure?" Y/N asked with a smirk.

Dean smiled nervously this time as he spoke:

"I'm going to ask their permission to propose to Penny".

"Seriously?" Y/N asked with a huge smile on his face. Dean nodded.

"That's awesome bro, I'm so happy for you".

"Thanks, let's get going" Dean chuckled nervously.

-~-

Dean and Y/N arrived at the Heywood house and it was fair to say Dean was sweating bullets. Mrs Haywood answered the door.

"Hello sweetheart how are you" she smiled as she answered the door and kissed Dean on the cheek.

"And look at you young man, look how big and strong you have gotten".

Y/N was 5'5" now, pretty tall for an eleven year old and he had filled out considerably due to Jacobs training. Even though he had been nicer about Y/N's training, and in general, Jacob made no compromises on physical conditioning.

Y/N didn't mind. He trusted Jacob a lot more now. If Jacob said something was important it was important. Y/N had worked harder than ever. He smiled at Penny's mother.

"Thank you Mrs. Haywood" Y/N replied shaking her hand with a bow of his head.

"Call me Julie dear, we are family after all" Julie said with a smile.

Y/N smiled and nodded in reply. Dean cleared his throat:

"Actually that's what we are here about" Dean said nervously, causing his younger brother to chuckle.

"Could I speak to you and John alone?"

"Of course dear" Julie smiled as she turned and called out:

"Beatrice can you stay with Y/N in the family room for a minute"

"Sure thing mum" Beatrice Haywood called out.

Y/N walked in the lounge just as Beatrice walked round the corner. She smiled at the young boy.

"Wow Penny was right you are a cutie" Beatrice smirked at Y/N.

"Looking pretty hot yourself Bea" Y/N fired back with a wink without missing a beat.

The older girl blushed slightly.

"Smooth kid, really smooth" she giggled. "You're gonna break hearts at Hogwarts"

"Maybe" Y/N smirked. The two talked for a while about Hogwarts and what it was like before Dean, John and Julie Haywood emerged from the den. Dean and John had big smiles on their faces and Julie was crying happy tears.

Y/N smirked at his elder brother:

"Told you they would say yes".

-~-

Hermione couldn't believe tomorrow was the day. She had been so excited for the past close to twelve months. She had read her text books several times each and read both Hogwarts: A History and A History of Magical Britain as well. Her parents had bought them both as a treat so she could learn about her new school and the new world she was entering.

Hermione couldn't believe it when she got to the end of the Hogwarts book. There had been cursed vaults that opened the past few years and the older brother of the cute boy she met had been the one to close them. Dean was a famous curse breaker and Hermione hadn't had any idea who he was.

She was likewise stunned about the History of Magical Britain. The family of L/N, who she had met, were some of the highest nobles in Britain. They were an important Pure-Blood family that stretched back nearly a millenia. She read about discrimination against Muggle Borns like her and how the L/N family had defended their rights for centuries.

She would have to read a lot more to make sure she was up to date with this new wizarding world she was entering.

Hermione thought a lot about the cute boy Y/N. He was so nice and sweet and different to any of the boys she had met at her Primary School. Even the older boys were silly and childish. She hadn't been able to make any friends while there but she remembered Y/N's face light up when her dad had called him her friend.

"Maybe we will be best friends" Hermione smiled to herself as she got into bed.

She couldn't wait to find out.