Hermione had sat with the two girls following dinner. While Y/N went upstairs for his nightly routine she gushed about the Scamanders, how nice and caring and welcoming they were, how Y/N took the time to introduce her to each of the many creatures that were in the Reserve. About how nice it was just to spend time with Y/N alone.

"You love him don't you?" Ginny asked innocently. Hermione nodded and the two girls smiled.

"He loves you too Hermione. He talks about you all the time" Ginny said with a smile. Hermione's face lit up.

-~-

The next morning the weather was beautiful, the sun providing warm rays of sunshine and the breeze was gentle and cooling.

The group were sat in the yard of the Burrow enjoying the peace and quiet. Hermione had her head resting on Y/N's shoulder, his arm was around her lower back. She looked up at him and smiled deeply. His eyes were closed, his head was held high and he was smiling happily enjoying the breeze blowing on him.

"You love the outdoors don't you?" Hermione asked with a smile. Y/N chuckled.

"Yeah, some of my favourite times with Jacob were when we were on the road. Camping with Romany, Centaurs, even just wilderness survival. Those times he'd dump me in the forest and tell me to survive. Most of those times were great. One time though when I was nine..."

Y/N looked off to the distance and started chuckling.

"I accidentally grabbed some stinging nettle leaves to ahh... clean up after dispatching a train."

It took Hermione a few moments to realise what he was talking about. When it clicked all she could do was cover her mouth with her hand. Maisy and Ginny had the same reaction. The twins, Harry and Ron meanwhile thought it was hilarious. Y/N laughed as well, adding:

"I wouldn't recommend it. Arse itched something shocking for a week".

The group were all laughing at this point but Hermione still felt terrible for her best friend. When she was nine she thought she had it hard when her parents told her no more reading because it was time for bed.

"So Jacob, he doesn't seem to care that much Y/N" Fred asked sympathetically. Y/N sighed.

"He does, just has a funny way of showing it. Like when I got back after the end of last year. He flipped when he found out I had fought Voldemort. Said it was too early and I wasn't ready. That's why he gave me this."

Y/N held up his arm with the tattoo.

"Mum told us we weren't allowed to ask about it" Ron said looking downwards.

"It's a protection sigil. Just needs a wand tapped on it and-"

"Like this?" George laughed and pulled out his wand. He tapped it on the tattoo before Y/N could stop him.

Hermione saw a look of panic in Y/N's eyes. He shot up quickly on his feet and Hermione was shocked until she heard a loud pop. Jacob appeared in front of the group with his wand drawn pointing it around.

"Where's the threat Y/N? Where's the fucking threat?" Jacob roared in a panic. The group were all terrified at his aggression, one more so than the rest. Y/N stammered:

"I-I-I'm sorry Jacob, it was an accident and-"

There was a loud crack, the group were shocked. Jacob had punched Y/N, hard, right in the mouth. Hermione looked at her best friend on the ground, his lip split and it was already bleeding profusely. She was about to jump on Y/N protectively when she heard Jacob scream a single horrifying word...

Crucio

It caught Y/N off guard, still being in shock from being punched. The intense pain of the torture causing him to writhe on the ground.

Crucio

Jacob roared again. Y/N groaned even louder as he seethed, starting to push back when Molly emerged from the house in total shock.

"What on earth are you doing Jacob?" She shouted before her eyes widened in horror.

CRUCIO

Jacob roared this time. Y/N caught a glimpse of Ginny's terrified face and his concentration, his defences, broke. He writhed even harder and groaned even louder as Molly rushed over and screamed:

"JACOB YOU STOP THIS NOW!" With her wand out. Hermione and the others watched in shocked horror as Jacob finally released the curse. Y/N laid limp on the ground.

"Keep out of this Molly! I told you it wasn't a FUCKING TOY Y/N! I was on a hunt. Muggles may have FUCKING DIED because you wanted to fuck around! Fuck up again and it will be worse Y/N! Much more fucking worse!"

With that he disappeared. Y/N was laying on his side, trying to get up. Ginny was in tears, hugging Maisy tightly. Hermione and the others were in complete shock, unable to process what just happened. Molly rushed to Y/N, rubbing his back gently as he tried to raise himself up.

"Oh my boy. My poor poor boy. Come on inside, lets get this lip patched up."

She tried to help Y/N up as he brushed her off.

"I'm fine Molly. I can stand on my own."

He managed to gingerly get up, holding his abdomen groaning as Hermione rushed over, wrapping an arm around his lower back.

"Come on, I've got you Y/N."

"Y/N I'm so sorry I didn't-" George started to try and apologise but Y/N cut him off abruptly:

"Forget about it George I don't want to talk about it."

Y/N limped off towards the house, supported by Hermione as Molly looked at her daughter sadly. Ginny was sobbing into Maisy's shoulder.

"Are you ok Ginny? I just have to-"

"It's fine Molly, go take care of Y/N, I'll look after Ginny" Maisy smiled. Molly returned it, thanking her before heading to the kitchen.

-~-

Molly sat Y/N at the kitchen table, Hermione sat right next to him, rubbing his back. He didn't say a word while he was being healed, only mumbling a thank you when she was finished as he rose to his feet and gingerly walked to the opposite yard to where the others were sat.

"I hate to think about what that poor boy has been through" Molly said to Hermione sadly.

"Jacob is such a bastard. He should have come to us or Dean and Penny".

Hermione nodded her head. That was her first time meeting Jacob. She already hated him.

Molly went out the back to check on Ginny and the others. They had all been badly shaken up. Hermione went to where Y/N had gone. She found him sitting alone, his head down.

"Can I sit with you Y/N?" she asked tenderly. Y/N nodded. Hermione sat down and cuddled into him tightly.

They sat in silence for a while before Hermione asked gently:

"Are you ok? I know you can block out pain but that was... you looked..."

Y/N replied quietly, emotionless:

"I was caught off guard after the punch. I was starting to push back against the pain but I looked at Ginny, the fear in her eyes. I lost concentration and I... I took the full blast of the cruciatis."

Hermione hugged him tighter. They sat together for what seemed like hours.

-~-

Y/N didn't speak for the rest of the day. He kept to himself mostly, keeping his head down. Newt was constantly hugging his neck and looking over at Hermione with concern in his little eyes. It broke Hermione's heart to see Y/N like this. In truth, all the kids were rattled from the morning's events.

That night when the pair went to bed, Y/N still wasn't talking. Hermione made a decision. She walked over to his bed where he was laying staring at the ceiling. She stood there looking at him as she said firmly:

"Move over".

Y/N looked at Hermione stunned.

"Pardon?" He asked, wondering if he had misheard his best friend. She smiled to herself. She had got him talking.

"I don't want you alone right now. Move over, I'm sleeping next to you."

Hermione stared into Y/N's eyes. She was nervous as anything but she didn't want to show it. She impressed herself, somehow managing to hold her nerve. She smiled as Y/N moved over and held the sheets up. She crawled into bed next to him and looked up into his eyes.

"You don't have to do this 'Mione" Y/N said as he looked down at her sadly.

"I know. I want to" Hermione replied with a smile. Y/N wrapped his arm round Hermione, pulling her close. She wrapped her arm around his torso. They both at the same moment felt safe, happy, contented.

"Good night 'Mione". Y/N smiled. She was ecstatic. It was the first time he had smiled since it happened.

Hermione smiled back, whispering "Good night Y/N".

Y/N fell asleep quickly. When he did
Hermione leant up and kissed his cheek.

"Good night my wonderful guy. I- I love you Y/N".

Y/N smiled in his sleep.

-~-

The next day turned out to be as unpleasant as the last. Katie had owled Y/N early in the morning. She and her family were back from America and she asked if she could see him. He asked Molly, unenthusiastically, if she could come round. Y/N returned her owl and Erin dropped her off about half an hour later.

-~-

Hermione had tried her best to avoid the couple for most of the day. Ginny took an instant dislike to Katie, and Maisy already didn't like her, so the three girls hung around together. Fred and George avoided the awkwardness by staying in their room, as did Harry and Ron.

Hermione was getting more and more frustrated as the day went on- they could easily overhear Y/N and Katie's conversations- Katie spent half the time going on about America and the other half kissing and groping Y/N, which Hermione most definitely did not want to see. She had scoffed and growled when it took four hours for Katie to notice Y/N's earring and tattoo.

Hermione though wasn't ready for what happened when Katie was leaving. The three girls were sat under the old oak tree in the yard when Erin Bell arrived to pick Katie up. Katie led Y/N to her sister by the hand, kissing Y/N goodbye and looking up from the kiss to smirk at Hermione. When they separated she dropped the bombshell.

"So surprise. I spoke to my parents and you're coming home to stay with me for a while" Katie said excitedly.

Hermione's heart sank.

"What? No I'm not!" Y/N argued back with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes. You are" Katie said firmly.

"No. I'm not" Y/N snapped.

Hermione could tell he was getting angry.

"Why not? It's cos of her isn't it?" Katie snapped again, pointing and glaring at Hermione. Y/N's eyes narrowed.

"Yes. I already told you about Bane's warning" Y/N replied sharply.

"I don't like sharing MY boyfriend Y/N. You need to think long and hard for the rest of the break. When we get back to Hogwarts you need to decide. Me or her!"

With that Katie turned and walked up to her sister. They left without saying another word.

"She's such a fuckin' bitch" Maisy whispered to Hermione. Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

Y/N was quiet again after the argument but Hermione thought back to Lavender's advice and decided it was best to give Y/N some alone time to think.