It was the 1st of September 1991. Y/N had arrived at Kings Cross Station at about 10:15am with Dean and Penny. They had crossed through to Platform Nine and Three Quarters and were saying their goodbyes.

"Sure you wanna get on now mate? The Hogwarts Express doesn't leave for another 45 minutes" Dean asked.

"Yeah all good bro, I know you both have to get to work so I'll get settled and get some reading in" Y/N answered with a smile.

"Haven't you finished all the books yet?" Penny giggled.

"I've finished the first three years curriculum but I want to get this fourth year Arithmancy textbook finished before I have to start back on the easy stuff" Y/N answered honestly.

Dean rolled his eyes and Penny giggled: "You are something else aren't you kiddo"

"So they say" Y/N smirked.

He quickly wrapped Penny in a big hug.

"Thank you for everything, I love you so much Pens. I'm really gonna miss you".

This started Penny's waterworks. She kissed Y/N's head as she hugged him tightly.

"You don't have to thank me for anything Cutie Pie. You mean the world to me. I love you too"

After eventually letting go Y/N turned to his big brother and wrapped him in just as big a hug.

"I'm sorry things used to be hard Dean, it's just I would always think of-"

He was cut off by a tighter hug from his brother.

"You don't have to apologise little man. I'm sorry things were so bad for you but we are together now and that's all that matters."

Y/N nodded and hugged tightly before letting go. He lifted his trunks and Smoky's cage on the train before turning around to address the couple.

"Don't forget to let me know ASAP ok"

Dean winked but Penny looked at Y/N confused and asked:

"Let you know what?"

"Nothing see you at Christmas" Y/N smiled and with that he turned and entered the train.

Penny looked at Dean with an eyebrow raised. Dean smirked at her and said "Don't ask me I think he's been hanging around Mad-Eye too long".

Penny burst into laughter and added "let's go get a coffee".

-~-

The couple were sat in the train station coffee shop when they couldn't help but recognise a familiar face walk past.

"Molly" Dean called out to his godmother.

Molly Weasley turned to the sound of her name being called and smiled widely at her godson.

"How lovely to see you both" she said hugging both of them and kissing their cheeks.

"Have you already seen Y/N off?" She asked with a smile.

"Yeah, he wanted to get some more reading in" Dean said with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes.

"That boy... Jacob pushes him far too hard. Keep an eye on him Ron, make sure he gets plenty of down time" Molly spoke in a worried tone to her youngest son.

"No worries mum" Ron replied.

"Well we better be off, good to see you both. You must come round for dinner next week" Molly said to the pair cheerfully.

"Good to see you too Molly. Say hi to Arthur for us" Dean replied.

With that Molly Weasley turned to run after the twins who were currently trying to jinx a pigeon.

-~-

Hermione got on the train just after half past ten. She waved goodbye to her parents and had kept an eye out for Y/N, but after finding an empty compartment she decided to take it.

"I'm sure I'll see him at some point" she said to herself as she settled down to read.

A few minutes later a boy who identified himself as Neville Longbottom asked if he could sit with her. She agreed but decided to keep reading.

-~-

Y/N had been quietly reading his book before hearing a disturbance come down the corridor or the train. It could only be described as being similar to a herd of erumpents. He looked up to see bright ginger hair he recognised.

"Hello lads" he smirked at the twins Fred and George as they entered his compartment.

"Well if it isn't Y/N L/N, how are you mate?" Fred asked

"Good yourselves?" Y/N answered giving both a fist bump.

"We're just looking for Lee, mind looking after Ronny boy for us?" George asked with a smirk. It only got larger at the unenthusiastic expression Y/N returned.

"No worries lads" Y/N replied with a sigh.
He didn't particularly dislike Ron, but it felt like the lad was always chasing after him like a lost puppy.

Whenever Y/N went to family functions or to visit the Weasleys with Dean, Ron would always pester him when he was trying to chat to one of the older boys.

Y/N was friends with Bill, Charlie, even the twins. Not Percy though. At the last family barbecue Y/N had attended at the Burrow with Dean and Penny Y/N remarked the stick up Percy's arse must have had a stick up it's arse. The comment was met with raucous laughter from the Weasley men and Dean and a slap across the back of the head from Penny. He did glimpse her smirk though.

"Alright Ron" Y/N asked as he shook the boy's hand. He instantly regretted it. Man this kid had sweaty palms.

"Hi Y/N how are you? Good? Learnt anything new from Jacob?" Ron asked excitedly.

"You know I can't discuss it Ron" Y/N answered in a serious tone.

"Oh right, yeah" Ron replied, disappointed.

At that moment a small boy appeared at the door. He looked completely lost with his messy hair, large glasses and baggy clothes. He knocked on the door and asked:

"Do you mind if I sit here, everywhere else is full"

"Not at all pull up a seat next to Ronny over there" Y/N quickly answered. He secretly hoped the lad might be able to keep the ginger nut entertained.

The boy sat and introduced himself:

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter"

"Huh, the boy who lived. Nice to meet you, I'm Y/N L/N"

Y/N held his hand out for a handshake and as Harry gripped his hand something happened.

Y/N got a weird sense of... kinship? Fraternity? He wasn't sure what it was but it was something... unusual. The look in Harry's eyes said he experienced the same thing.

Y/N leant back puzzled, pondering the meaning of... 'it', as Ron had a complete fan boy moment over Harry. Perfect time for Y/N to go back to reading.

-~-

Y/N was losing the fight to concentrate as Ron kept asking him stupid questions. Just as Y/N was about to lose his cool the trolley lady came round to their compartment.

"Anything off the trolley dears?" She asked with a happy tone.

Y/N saw his opportunity and seized it.

"Two of everything except the Pumpkin Pasties. Have three of those please" he added quickly, pulling a few galleons out of his pocket and telling the witch to keep the change.

He dumped the haul next to the lads across from him and took only a single pumpkin pasty.

"Is that all you're gonna eat Y/N?" Ron asked.

Y/N nodded as he opened the pasty packet:

"Yeah I'm not allowed to eat that processed crap" he replied quickly.

"Says who?" Ron snorted.

"Jacob" Y/N replied sternly.

"Oh" Ron answered wide eyed. Ron didn't like Jacob. Well truth be told Jacob didn't like Ron and Ron was absolutely terrified of Jacob.

"Who's Jacob?" Harry asked confused.

"My eldest brother, he's also my legal guardian" Y/N answered quickly.

"Yeah he's really scary" Ron replied with a shiver.

"He has his moments" Y/N smirked. He hoped that would be the end of the conversation but no.

"Jacob's really badarse Harry, he's training Y/N to be a wizard soldier!"

"Really.... wow" Harry answered in shock.

"Yeah" Y/N replied. "Enough of that you boys knock yourselves out" he finished by pointing at the mountain of sweets next to them.

"Thanks" they both said in unison.

Finally some peace and quiet Y/N thought to himself.

-~-

Harry was enjoying the sweets that Y/N was generous enough to buy for them and was trying to listen intently to Ron explain about each one. Harry though couldn't help but glance over at Y/N.

He was different to them that was for sure. He was much taller than the other first years Harry had seen and was bigger than Dudley. The big difference though was where Dudley was fat, Y/N looked like solid muscle. It was hard to believe he was only 11. Plus something weird happened when they shook hands. Harry felt a strange feeling overcome him, almost like recognising a long lost brother. He noticed Y/N looked puzzled at the handshake as well. Then Ron had said Y/N was being trained as a soldier even though he was just a kid. It was weird.

At the same time though Y/N was really nice to Harry, even if Ron seemed to frustrate him. Just as Harry was considering everything the compartment door opened and a girl was standing there.

-~-

"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one"

Y/N smiled looking up from his book. He recognised that voice.

"Oh hello Y/N. How lovely to see you again" Hermione smiled with an obvious blush on her cheeks.

"Hermione it's wonderful to see you too. I had hoped I would run into you" Y/N replied with a large genuine smile.

Hermione smiled back before glancing over to the red haired boy. He had a scruffy looking wand in his hand.

"Oh are you boys doing magic? Let's see then" Hermione said as she sat down right next to Y/N. Their legs touched but Y/N realised Hermione didn't move away from the contact.

He turned his attention to Ron and noticed for the first time the redhead had his wand out. Y/N chuckled to himself, he had really been concentrating on his book hard.

Ron nervously cleared his throat as he now had an audience before stating:

"Sunshine, daises, butter mellow. Turn this stupid fat rat yellow".

Nothing happened. Y/N looked at him dumbstruck asking:

"Ron... What the hell are you doing?"

"What?" Ron answered somewhat forcefully.

Y/N looked at Ron like he was an idiot asking:

"How many spells have you cast?"

"None" Ron replied snootily.

"Well I've cast hundreds and not one of them was in English" Y/N snapped back.

Harry looked at Y/N in awe while Hermione looked down and to the right, smirking before she composed herself and added:

"Y..yeah are you sure that's a real spell? It's not very good is it. I've tried a few but they've all worked for me. For instance Oculus Reparo"

Hermione pointed her wand at Harry's glasses and in an instant they were magically fixed. She got up and turned to Y/N with a smile.

"I better get back to looking for that toad. Good to see you Y/N"

"Good to see you too Hermione" Y/N smiled as she walked out the door.

He heard Ron grumble something about the girl before sending Ron a death stare. It seemed to get the message across.

Y/N had just settled back into his book when the door slammed open again.

"Oh for fuck's sake" Y/N roared, much to the shock of both the three boys in the doorway and the two opposite him.

"What now!" Y/N snapped again.

The leader of the doorway group, a small weasel looking boy with slicked blonde hair, who Y/N unfortunately recognised, stammered at Y/N:

"Uh umm. L/N... hello..."

Before turning to the two boys across from him:

"So it's true what they are saying. Harry Potter has come back to Hogwarts. I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ron snickered at the name before Draco sent him a death stare.

"Think my name is funny do you? Don't need to ask yours. Red hair and hand me down clothes. You must be a Weasley!"

One of his goons cracked his knuckles as Y/N shot up off his seat and stood right in the faces of the three boys.

"Yeah? So what if he is? Got a fucking problem with that?" Y/N snarled venomously as he stared the three boys down.

Draco took a few steps back in fear before composing himself, turning towards Harry, attempting to ignore the large dangerous frame directly in front of him.

"You'll soon find some wizarding families are better than others Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sorts. I can help you there."

"I think I can figure out the wrong sort for myself thanks" Harry answered from behind Y/N's shoulder.

Y/N chuckled.

"You heard him Malfuck, now piss off" Y/N's face changed from a chuckle to a glare as he finished speaking.

"Wh... what did you say?" Draco asked shocked.

"Did I st...st...st...stutter Malfuck? Piss off while you can still walk" Y/N snapped.

Draco stepped back and signalled to his two large goons:

"You know Crabb and Goyle L/N. I think you need to learn a lesson in respect!"

The two bullies went to move forward but were hesitant. Y/N smirked at the pair. They were about the same height as him but had nowhere near the muscle mass he had. He knew he could take them both in a fist fight. But he had a better idea.

"Really" Y/N smirked, before Crabb went flying back into the wall behind them and hit it hard. He was instantly knocked out cold.

Draco and Goyle looked back at his unconscious body before looking forward again, this time in fear.

"BOO" Y/N yelled and the pair scampered out of the compartment, leaving their unconscious friend behind.

Y/N chuckled and shook his head, closing the compartment door before returning to his seat. He picked up his book and began to read. He had only got a few lines down when he felt eyes staring at him and looked up. He chuckled at the stunned faces of Harry and Ron, both sat seemingly in shock, their mouths and eyes wide open.

After a few moments Ron exclaimed:
"That was bloody brilliant"

"Thanks Y/N" Harry nodded in agreement.

"No worries lads I got your backs" Y/N chuckled.

The two both smiled at Y/N as Hermione rushed through the door.

"What on earth is going on here? Have you boys been fighting?" She asked in a bossy tone.

"We haven't, Y/N has!" Ron yelled.

Y/N sent the redhead a glare. So that's how it is he thought to himself.

He was shocked as Hermione's whole demeanour changed in an instant. She rushed to Y/N, checking him all over.

"Oh my god Y/N are you ok?"

Y/N chuckled at her.

"Yes I'm fine Hermione. They were just pure blood supremacist scum who needed to know their place" he said with a smirk.

"Oh I'm so glad you're ok. I'm still looking for the toad, you think you could help me?"

As Hermione asked she looked down and blushed.

"It would be a pleasure to help a lady in distress" Y/N smiled with an exaggerated bow as Hermione giggled.

Her bossy tone returned as she turned to the other two boys.

"You should put your robes on. We'll be arriving soon".

"Y/N doesn't have his robes either" Ron exclaimed. Strike two Y/N thought to himself as he pulled out his wand.

"No problem Weasley" Y/N smirked. He held his wand to his head and lowered it along his body. As he did his clothes turned to Hogwarts robes. He smirked at the two even more dumbstruck faces looking at him before turning to Hermione.

"You have dirt on your nose do you realise. Just there" she pointed at Ron, who scratched his nose furiously.

"Lead the way mi'lady" Y/N smiled at Hermione causing her to giggle again.

As the pair walked down the train's corridor he spoke to her:

"Thanks for getting my arse out of there. I was ready to hit that ginger dickhead"

"Language" Hermione giggled as she playfully slapped his arm.

"Sorry ma'am" Y/N smirked with a chuckle. "I'll have to work on that." He added.

They sat back in Hermione's compartment after Neville thought he left his toad at home. The two fell into easy conversation as they just talked and got to know each other. Y/N and Hermione both smiled the entire time.