A/N: The song above is best listened to at the start of the chapter, during Y/N's training montage. Enjoy

Y/N sat at the table, finishing off Magick Moste Eville. The time had just passed 11:00pm. Y/N had read all three books Jacob had given him, non stop, in the last five hours. Jacob had told him before he went to bed that they were Y/N's training for the following day. As Y/N got into his sleeping bag on the floor, Newt settling on the pillow next to him, Y/N smirked to himself. Jacob needed to come up with something new tomorrow.

Y/N would not stop. Y/N would not slow down. If Hermione was in danger now it meant Y/N was a weakling. He couldn't get the job done. Y/N knew what had to happen- he had to become a beast. Nothing would happen to Hermione, he vowed it.

-~-

Hermione had cried most of the way home. She missed him so much already. She was a ball of confusion, of doubt, of uncertainty.

Wendell needed to return to work so Monica made two cups of tea and sat with her daughter in the lounge, wanting to know what was happening after Y/N's interaction with Beatrice at Platform Nine and three quarters.

Hermione told her everything. She told her mother of the Leviathan attack. Y/N's actions afterwards. Their argument and separation. His award, the depth of his bond with Magical Creatures as a whisperer and their brief reconciliation before Hermione decided she needed distance.

She told her mother of her hurt, her regret, her confusion. Of seeing Y/N with Katie. Of Hermione's realised feelings for him. Monica looked at her daughter sympathetically.

"Hermione dear, can you see how trying to protect yourself only caused you to hurt more?"

Hermione nodded as she wiped her tears.

"Love means sometimes you need to put yourself out there. There's a danger of being hurt yes, there always is when you make yourself vulnerable. But the alternative is more pain. You can't live life afraid of what could happen"

Hermione nodded, giving her mother a sad smile.

"Why don't the two of us go to Diagon Alley tomorrow? You can pick out a couple of books, tide you over until we see Penny and Dean next week for dinner"

Monica smiled as Hermione lit up at her suggestion, bounding over to her mother for a tight hug. Hermione considered her mum's words. When the time was right she would tell Y/N how she felt. She would rather have love than be afraid, come what may.

-~-

Y/N was thrown through a fence, slamming hard into the wooden panelling as he felt it graze and splinter in his back. He pulled himself to his feet and roared:

"Again!"

Jacob furrowed his brows as he and Mad-Eye began firing spells. Y/N used both his wands, blocking everything he could and attempting to return fire before he was blown back. He rolled along the grass as steam emanated from his blistered skin. He raised up, ignoring the pain and roaring at the two:

"Again!"

-~-

Y/N got up, blood trickling down his face, another burn mark on his shoulder. He steadily pushed himself up to his feet, his two wands in hand. He momentarily dropped to one knee again as Jacob yelled out:

"That's enough for one day Y/N, for Merlin's sake. We've been at it for twelve hours! We're done!"

Mad-Eye nodded in agreement as Y/N glared at the two older wizards, pulling himself up to his feet once more.

"We're done when I say we're fucking done. Again!" Y/N roared as he fired a Confringo at his brother, an Incendio at Mad-Eye, dual wielding his wands, casting Protego shields before going on the offensive again.

-~-

Four days had passed. Four nights. Every night was the same- Y/N ran in desperation only to find Hermione's corpse. It drove him forward. Each day was the same- he would duel with Jacob and Mad-Eye from dawn to dusk. No matter how much he was knocked down he would get back up. After dusk he would read- scores and scores of magical texts Jacob had stashed away in his Moke pouch. No matter the topic, if it was magical or important Y/N consumed it. Anything for a shred of information, knowledge, a skill, a spell, anything that could help him protect Hermione.

It had just ticked passed 10:30pm and Y/N was sat at the dining room table of the Isle of Man hideout. He was on his fifth text of the evening, a biography of Urquhart Rackharrow, who worked as a Healer at St. Mungos in the 1600s, and who was the creator of a number of the darkest curses known to wizarding kind. Jacob walked into the room and scowled:

"Y/N are you going to eat? I told you we're going to Liverpool tomorrow and-"

Y/N cut off his brother, completely ignoring what Jacob had said as he spoke:

"This text on Urquhart Rackharrow made me realise something Jacob. My combat training with you and Mad-Eye is only effective to a point. You're both holding back"

"Well we aren't going to try to k- what are you thinking?" Jacob asked suddenly concerned. Y/N looked at his guardian coldly as he replied:

"I need someone who won't"

Jacob's eyes widened as he roared and swore in frustration. Y/N had apparated.

-~-

Y/N appeared in Knockturn Alley. It was a relatively quiet night, there were only five or six lowlifes milling around. Y/N smiled to himself sadistically as he utilised his legilimency and quickly found a suitable target. A pure blooded supremacist who had killed and tortured Muggleborns before.... Leonard Burke.

Y/N unsheathed his wands, quickly firing off five full-body bind curses non-verbally as Leonard looked around puzzled at the wizards and witches dropping around him. His expression soon turned to a sadistic smirk of his own as Y/N stepped out in front of him, glaring.

"You're out late aren't you boy? Do mummy and daddy know you're out of bed?"

Y/N's lip curled, turning into a snarl as he practically spat:

"It's time for you to be punished for your crimes Burke. You've tortured and killed Muggleborns, and for that you're gonna pay"

Leonard fired off a Flipendo spell that Y/N cut down in a single motion, his wand splitting the orange spell easily. Leonard was shocked at a child cutting down his spell so easily, quickly firing off a Bombarda.

Y/N snarled further, waving his spare wand at the incoming spell. It deflected it easily, the explosive spell diverting off, smashing the front windows out of Cobb & Webb's. Leonard was furious as he cast a final spell at Y/N:

Crucio

He smirked as he expected the boy to fall to the floor in a crying screaming heap. His eyes widened in fear as Y/N cocked his head and smirked. The curse hurt, a lot, but Y/N knew how to push through now. The curse was released as Burke backed up in fear, muttering:

"What the f-mmm"

Y/N had cast Langlock with his main wand, instantly following it up with Levicorpus with his spare wand.

Burke was quickly lifted in the air by his right foot, hanging in the air upside down as Y/N felt his wand... throb? It was like it was urging Y/N on. It wanted him to take the next step, again. Y/N chuckled, casting a final spell. One he had just learnt from the Rackharrow biography:

Exentera

Burke screamed a mumbled scream as he was quickly sliced deep across his abdomen, his intestines slopping out and down his inverted torso. He was dumped on his head, quickly bleeding out.

Y/N smirked as he picked up the deceased man's wand, placing it in his back pocket before he levitated the five bound and terrified witches and wizards next to each other, releasing their bonds before he pointed his wand at them:

Obliviate

-~-

Dean sat at his Gringott's office desk, sipping on his coffee as he looked at the front page of the Daily Prophet.

Gruesome Murder in Knockturn

A scene of horror was discovered by aurors late last night as a man, later identified as former Azkaban inmate and Knockturn Alley proprietor Leonard Burke, 43, was found brutally murdered.

Mr Burke's body was found to have been gruesomely and agonisingly murdered via disembowelment. There were five terrified witnesses located in the Alley, all of whom had had their memories altered by the assailant. All they could recall from the attack was that Burke 'deserved to be punished for his crimes'. It is not currently known what crimes these were. His wand was also removed from the scene of the crime and is currently unaccounted for.

The Ministry of Magic has no leads at this time but the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is investigating.

Dean was shocked as he read the story, muttering to himself:

"Merlin. I hope they catch this sicko quickly"

-~-

Jacob had been furious when Y/N returned to the hideout- screaming, shouting, swearing- asking what the fuck Y/N thought he was doing. Y/N snapped back he needed practical deployment to keep himself sharp as he pulled someone's wand from his back pocket and placed it in his backpack.

Jacob's head tilted as his brow furrowed- Y/N had been duelling twelve hours a day with himself and Mad-Eye and was talking about it like it was a theoretical exercise.

He had been surprised when his brother had snapped back at him. Y/N had always been submissive to Jacob. For him to be this assertive, acting this independently- something had definitely changed in his youngest brother.

-~-

The next morning Jacob approached Y/N as he finished packing, holding out a satchel looking pouch Y/N immediately recognised.

"Here Y/N. I got you a Moke pouch. It's got an undetectable extension charm on it, so shrink your gear and load it up"

Y/N nodded, attaching the pouch around his waist and loading his gear before Jacob stood in front of Y/N, grabbing his shoulder as the two of them apparated.

-~-

Y/N looked up at the building in front of him. It's sign read 'Crunch MMA Liverpool'. Y/N entered behind Jacob and looked around. There was a gym with a large amount of equipment Y/N hadn't seen before as well as a large ring. A man approached the pair- he was tall, muscular and looked vaguely familiar.

"Good to see you Jacob" the man smiled as the two shook hands before he turned to Y/N. He introduced himself as Noel Longbottom.

"Neville's brother?" Y/N asked.

"Cousin" Noel smiled.

The two gave Y/N an explanation of what he would be doing and learning.

"...and when I realised I was a squib, I decided if I couldn't defend myself with magic then I would defend myself with my fists" Noel explained.

Y/N nodded as Noel smiled.

"I'm going to assess you first. See where you're at and where we need you to get to".

Y/N nodded as he took his shirt off.

-~-

Y/N was sweaty and out of breathe when he finished being ran through his paces. Noel smiled.

"You've got fantastic strength and cardio for your age Y/N, but we don't want to ignore other important aspects of physical fitness. We're gonna spend the next week working on your mobility and metabolic conditioning, and in the afternoon we will work on fighting. Let's get started"

The next week was physical hell for Y/N. He was pushed to places he didn't know he had. He was introduced to a variety of new exercises he needed to incorporate into his routine- Burpees, shuttle runs, squats, step up jumps, bear crawls, battle rope waves, lunges, blast off pushups and skater jumps.

In the afternoons he had been given a crash course in proper fighting technique- striking, defence and take downs. He had had his arse kicked. He didn't complain once, simply taking each hit with a steely glare and 'let's fucking go again'.

Jacob asked Y/N frequently if he had his mandrake leaf in his mouth still. Y/N nodded. It was permanently under his tongue at this point.

As the pair left Noel had suggested Yoga would be a good idea for Y/N, to work on his flexibility further. Jacob nodded, having no idea where the hell to find a magical yoga instructor. He sent a quick message to Dumbledore through his legilimency before he and Y/N apparated to Diagon Alley. He gave Y/N a list of what he needed to get and told him to hurry up and meet him at the Three Broomsticks when he was done.

Y/N had taken 20 minutes when he finally returned to Jacob with his purchases in his pouch- a crystal phial, a silver teaspoon and a chrysalis of a Deaths Head Hawk moth. All were securely away in Y/N's pouch when Jacob said "C'mon Floo now. Dumbledore's office".

Y/N nodded, using the fireplace after Jacob had.

-~-

Y/N stepped from the Floo network, into his Headmaster's office. He was talking with Jacob, the two of them stopping as Y/N approached.

"Hello Y/N, busy summer so far I trust?" Albus asked as he smiled. Most people would have returned the smile, but Y/N saw straight through it- it wasn't a friendly smile... it was an anxious one.

"Painful, violent, intense Dumbledore. Still I feel I need to push harder. Why are we here Jacob?"

The Headmaster and the drill sergeant exchanged a worried glance before Albus replied:

"Jacob sought my guidance, it's been recommended that you study yoga. I know someone, someone very special who will teach you, as well as meditation. It is a good way to still the mind, calm the rage".

Y/N nodded.

"That may be helpful. Combat the nightmare if nothing else".

"The ones about Lyra?" Jacob asked puzzled, why were they bothering Y/N all of a sudden?

"No. These have been since Bane's warning... perhaps it would be better to show you both"

The two men nodded as Y/N sent them his memory of the nightmare. Albus paled. He recognised what this was straight away.

"Perhaps you would be good enough to wait here Jacob? I will be back momentarily"

Jacob nodded.

"In two weeks apparate to the Shetlands hideout Y/N. I'll be waiting. Don't forget the instructions"

Y/N nodded as his Headmaster gripped his shoulder and the pair apparated.

-~-

Y/N and Albus arrived somewhere... high. Y/N was instantly aware of the cold, it hit him instantly invading his senses- his eyes, his nose, his mouth as he indomitably stood and looked out at the view in front of him.

It was breathtaking, as was the weather, Y/N's attention drawn behind him as the Headmaster spoke.

"In here Y/N".

Y/N turned and was taken back at the sight in front of him.

"Where are we Dumbledore?" Y/N asked as he took in the temple they had entered.

"The Himalayas Y/N, in the border region of India and Nepal. You are very fortunate to be studying under an old friend of mine".

Y/N nodded as the pair entered a large hall type room. In front of a large alter with an elephant man on it stood a most curious man.

The man joined his hands and bowed, smiling to the two as Albus returned the gesture, Y/N following his lead.

"Y/N, this is Lord Dhalsim. He is a Yogi Master and one of the most powerful wizards on the planet"

Y/N smiled and nodded, greeting the smiling man politely. He quickly replied with a thick Indian accent:

"It is a pleasure to meet you Y/N L/N. We will begin immediately. The three most important aspects of yoga are alignment, focus and breathing..."

Albus quickly took his leave and apparated back to his office. He invited Jacob to have a seat as he himself sat in his office chair. He was deeply concerned.

"What is it Albus? I've seen that look before" Jacob asked worriedly.

"What your brother shared Jacob, it was no nightmare. It seems Y/N has inherited more than just the ability to conjure Diabolica from your Grandfather. I suggest you visit Vano. A stay may be in order when Y/N returns.

-~-

The fortnight passed quickly. Y/N had learnt much from Lord Dhalsim, as much as he could in such a short time. His body had strengthened in mobility and flexibility, his mind in the ability to find self reflection and stillness.

Lord Dhalsim was giving Y/N some last minute reminders, as their time came to an end.

"There is a duality in everything, my loyal and humble student. Good and Evil, order and chaos, the body and the mind"

"Yes guru" Y/N nodded.

"Many expect you to pick a path, light or dark, and keep to it Shishya, but that is not your path forward"

Y/N looked up for the first time, into Dhalsim's eyes.

"You must embrace the darkness inside you Y/N. You must become a monster! Then you must learn how to control it. Always remember, it is better to be a warrior in a garden, then a gardener in a war. Your time with me is done"

Y/N nodded as he stood, his hands together as he bowed:

"Thank you Lord Dhalsim. Thank you for your wisdom, your knowledge and your guidance".

The Guru returned the bow and smiled as Y/N apparated.

-~-

Y/N apparated and arrived at the Shetlands hideout just as Jacob had instructed him. The night was in its death throes as Y/N chuckled, unsurprised that Jacob was sat waiting for him.

"Jacob, how are you?" Y/N asked.

"Did you get it?"

Y/N chuckled again.

"Made friends with a family of Yetis while I was there. They allowed me into their cave. One silver teaspoon of untouched dew in a crystal phial that received the pure rays of the moon. Now what?"

"It's been a month. Place the leaf in your phial, along with the moth chrysalis and one of your hairs".

Y/N did as instructed, placing the phial carefully in his pouch as Jacob summoned him outside quickly.

"It's dawn. Place the tip of your wand over your heart Y/N and say the incantation Amato animo animato animagus"

Y/N did as he was instructed, aiming the wand at his heart and repeating the magical phrase.

"Good Y/N. You have to do that at dawn and dusk each day"

"For how long?" Y/N asked.

"Until I tell you to stop" Jacob huffed. Y/N sighed, how hard was it to give him some fucking information.

Jacob walked back inside to retrieve his Moke pouch before returning outside. He gripped Y/N's shoulder from behind as the earth spun.

Y/N's eyes came back into focus as he looked around shocked.

He turned and snarled to his guardian:

"Jacob I fucking told you. I need to get stronger, for Hermione. Nothing else! I love the Romany but-"

"Shut up and let me speak Y/N!" Jacob snapped in surprise at his brother's aggressiveness.

Y/N did stop, but glared angrily as Jacob held his hands up for calm.

"What you showed Albus and I, Y/N that wasn't a nightmare. It was a vision"

The hostility dropped from Y/N instantly, replaced with curiousity:

"What do you mean?"

"Albus and I... we think you might be a Seer Y/N, that the stress around Hermione, not to mention hormones and puberty may be making this ability manifest itself so strongly, to be having the same vision night after night. The Romany are experts at Divination and Crystal Balls. We're here to-"

"So they're gonna help me protect Hermione" Y/N interrupted as he spoke in realisation. Jacob nodded.

"Let's get started" Y/N said resolutely.

-~-

It had been a draining fortnight. Y/N had spent all day everyday with the Seers and Prophetesses of the community, learning tarot, crystal balls, different methods of what the Romany called Dukkerin. He would spend hour after hour staring into a Crystal Ball gifted to him by the community, desperate for any hint, any sign of something he had missed or the attempt to expand his vision. He had expanded his morning workouts, pushing himself ever harder, and he was meditating an hour a day, keeping to the routine Lord Dhalsim had given him. He was doing all he could.

-~-

It was Y/N's final evening with the Romany. Prior to the final feast Jacob had received an Augurey letter, immediately after which he had grabbed Y/N and apparated.

The pair of them were standing in the Shetland Islands, at the hideout, on a cliff side as rain roared around them, the skies lighting up and erupting. It looked as if Zeus himself was stabbing the sky with bolts of lightning.

"Now Y/N!" Jacob yelled over the hurricane force wind blasting into the pair. Y/N pulled the Crystal Phial from his pouch, downing its contents as he held his wand's tip to his heart:

"Amato Animo Animato Animagus!"

Y/N felt the second heartbeat he had been experiencing in his chest for the past fortnight again, but this time it felt like it was going to beat straight out of his chest. He saw an animal appear in his mind's eye and his jaw dropped.

He felt his limbs distort and lengthen, roaring in pain as he felt one of the worst fiery pains he had felt in his life. He felt his body morphing, new appendages growing as Jacob looked up at his brother in stunned silence.

Y/N looked around stunned at his height, before picturing his human body and almost instantly his body transformed once more.

Y/N knelt down with one fist on the ground, the torrential rain still pouring around him as he roared "Fuck that hurt!"

Jacob placed a hand on Y/N's shoulder and the two of them were back at the Romany community again, just outside the circle of carriages, as the feast was being laid out.

"Fucking fantastic Y/N. Fucking fantastic. I wanted you to be more inconspicuous in your animagus form. You won't be incon-fucking-spicuous in that form, but it will be even better!"

He quickly cast drying charms on himself and Y/N before holding his hand out, Y/N taking it as he was pulled to his feet. He looked at his eldest brother suspiciously.

"You feeling all right Jacob? That's the first time you've complemented me. Ever"

Jacob thought back and chuckled.

"Yeah, you're right. Still you've done well over the summer Y/N. Real well"

"Better fucking be enough" Y/N replied, going to walk towards the gathered community before he was stopped.

"Give me your left forearm Y/N"

Y/N's brow furrowed in confusion but he did as he was told, Jacob placing his left arm together with Y/N's in an arm clasp. He muttered an incantation Y/N hadn't heard before and Y/N instantly felt an intense burning in his arm and smelt cooked flesh. He realised from Jacob's expression he felt it too. The pair separated and Y/N looked down in surprise. He and Jacob had matching tattoo like symbols on their arms.

"That's a magical SOS Y/N. All you have to do is tap your wand on it and I'll come to you. No matter what happens this year, I know you can do it. You can protect her".

Y/N attempted to speak before he was cut off by Vano, King of the Romany, who came from the feast that was beginning:

"There you are, my guests of honour. Come, let us feast, then we must talk Y/N"

-~-

Y/N enjoyed the feast. He ate within his specialised diet, but enjoyed what he did, sampling the Romany's wine and enjoying the dancing girls who entertained the community as they dined.

Towards the end of the feast, Vano stood, the noise of the community stopping as he spoke:

"It gives me pleasure my Roma, to thank our guests of honour. It has been wonderful having you with us again, and we thank you for your humility and your friendship with our people. Long may it continue"

Jacob went to stand but chuckled as Y/N was on his feet first, holding his decorated, ceremonial Romany Rhyton, up high, careful not to spill the wine within:

"My brother and I thank you, dear King Vano, and all the members of the Romany nation, for your warmth, your generosity, your hospitality and for the honour of being allowed to study and learn with you. Raduime!"

"Raduime!" The King and other Romany members replied as they cheered each other and drank. Y/N took his seat again as Vano continued:

"There is one more thing Y/N. I would like to offer you the chance to join with us, through our sacred ceremony of Manêrg. It will symbolise you are one of the tribe, a man, and swear in times of need to defend our community, our women and children, with your life".

The entire community looked over to Y/N as a happy smile broke across his face. He stood and bowed.

"It would be an honour, my King"

-~-

Y/N was knelt next to the central campfire in the Romany camp. The community was around him. Drums started to play as King Vano stepped forward with the Gypsy High Priestess next to him. She carried a cushion, a twelve inch long needle sitting on it.

Words were spoken, none of which Y/N understood, as the needle was held into the flames before the King smiled down at Y/N, piercing him through the left earlobe.

Y/N passed the test of manhood, not uttering a sound as the needle was withdrawn, the dripping blood quickly cleaned, and a large golden hoop inserted through the hole in his ear.

"You are now a man of the Romany Nation Y/N L/N. I welcome you as a brother and as my son"

Y/N smiled at King Vano's words as he stood, the two embracing before Y/N kissed the Gypsy Priestesses hand and the community erupted in applause.

Y/N was handed a mirror, looking at the earring and realising how badly he needed a shave and a haircut.

The mirror was taken as King Vano pulled Y/N's head close to his, their foreheads joining as he uttered:

Skepil Dui Duxuria

Y/N went inwards with the king, heard him speak but was confused as the King smiled.

"A Romany spell, linking two earrings. I can call you simply by squeezing my earring. Welcome Y/N. You will forever be one of us now"

-~-

By the time Y/N had said thank you and good bye to everyone and Jacob, it was nearly 9:00pm. He apparated to Dean and Penny's house, arriving in a darkened kitchen. Y/N sat at Dean and Penny's kitchen table exhausted. It had been a long five weeks.