Y/N woke early and got ready to work out, he was surprised to see Hermione in the common room waiting when he got down there.

"Baby it's Sunday, what are you doing up so early?" he asked with slight concern. As hard as they were working with all their subjects he was worried Hermione would need her rest. Hermione though smiled at Y/N sweetly and replied:

"You didn't think I'd let you go alone did you? After you disappeared all day yesterday? I missed you."

Y/N picked her up by the waist and she giggled as she was lifted and wrapped her legs around his waist. They kissed before Y/N pulled back and spoke:

"I missed you too, but if we start we won't stop."

Hermione groaned and unwrapped her legs as Y/N lowered her to the ground.

"Fine, but let's spend tonight in our special place" she said with a shy giggle.

"Deal" Y/N smiled "Although you may not want to. When we get to the special place, we have to have a talk."

Hermione raised an eyebrow and took Y/N's hand.

"Let's hurry then."

They arrived to see along with the gym and study area a comfy couch and a lit fireplace.

"This room always calls me out" Y/N chuckled.

As they sat Hermione cuddled into Y/N's chest and asked "So what is it my love?"

"Yesterday. I ran into someone. A former death eater, a knight of Merlin. He hunted muggleborns for sport."

"Is he dead?" Hermione asked her boyfriend, not looking up.

"Yes. It will be in the paper today or tomorrow. There were a lot of witnesses. He needed to be punished.

"Good" Hermione replied as she squeezed tighter. This genuinely surprised Y/N. He looked down at her and asked:

"Babe?"

Hermione kissed Y/N's chest before looking up at him.

"I know who you are, Y/N. I know you better than anyone. I don't shy away or lie to myself. You're a killer. You've killed a lot of people. But you're also a loving, caring, decent man. I know anyone you've killed has deserved it. I know you haven't hurt anyone good, or innocent. You're a killer, not a murderer. And I know that whoever that was, the world is a better place without him in it."

Y/N leant down and kissed Hermione gently, passionately after parting he connected their foreheads:

"You're the only person who accepts me for me. The only person who doesn't fear or judge me. I would be nothing without you Hermione, nothing. You are everything to me."

Hermione smiled and pecked her lovers lips again.

"It goes both ways my love" she said as she embraced him and squeezed tightly. Y/N chuckled and braced himself:

"There's... something else as well."

She pulled back from the hug and narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend.

"Go on."

He sighed. "You know he is coming back."

Hermione nodded and replying "Voldemort."

That was the first time she had said his name. Y/N's eyes lit up and he kissed her.

"What was that for?" She giggled.

"I'm proud of you love. I don't know many who can say him name without flinching or stuttering."

Hermione blushed and replied "You were saying?"

"Well here's the thing love. He's coming back. And those in the dark will swear fealty and rush to him out of fear, whether they want to or not. What if there was another option?"

Hermione looked at her lover puzzled.

"I've started gathering my own forces. I have men and women already swearing fealty to me. One of them I rescued last night. He had been brutally tortured but refused to betray me. That's how I came across Rosier. I'm only telling you, love, because I could never lie to you. I don't want you involved or knowing specifics, but I just wanted you to know."

Hermione looked at her boyfriend. She took in his words but didn't say anything. Her prolonged silence only added to Y/N's anxiety before his mouth dropped at her words.

"I think... it's a genius move, babe. The girlfriend in me is screaming in panic and terror, but my intellectual side is conceding that's a tactically brilliant. Limit his forces and preemptively get ready to strike. I'm... I'm not a fan of anything that puts you in danger, but I understand why you are doing it. Well done."

She hugged Y/N who was genuinely and legitimately shocked but hugged back.

"I... I have to admit being surprised love. I expected you to wake up both towers screaming at me."

Hermione giggled. "Part of me still wants to. But he is coming back. We will be at war. You gathering strength to fight him and taking those who would serve away from him is a brilliant and logical step. Dumbledore leading the attack from the light and you from..."

She hesitated. She couldn't say those words. Not yet at least.

"The dark, love. To me light and dark isn't as simple as good and bad. That's how a child views the world. If I use the killing curse, a dark spell, to save your life, was that evil? Or was it darkness used for good? Darkness and light are simply shades. What matters is the motive. Like the blow up I had with Dean, his way may make him feel morally superior to me, but my way has made sure the scumbags I put down can never rape or kill someone innocent again."

Hermione nodded.

"I know. You really have grown men and women swearing fealty to you?"

"Call me Lord and everything. It's funny though, me being "Lord" before Jacob with him being too slack to finally take his position. But that would make you Lady Granger" Y/N smiled before tickling Hermione, causing her to break out in hysterics.

"No. No. Stop please my Lord" she managed through fits of laughter.

Y/N stopped and looked at her, a glint in his eye.

"You know when you say it.... it has an effect unlike anyone else..."

Hermione instantly recognised the look in Y/N's eyes.

Oh god I've made him horny she thought to herself. She pointed at the gym.

"Go on. Otherwise I'll have you complaining about not working out all day. If you're a good boy maybe I'll call you it tonight."

Y/N's eyes lit up even more as he replied: "Of course my Lady". He mock bowed before going to workout.

"Such a dork" Hermione giggled to herself.

After working out and showering Y/N and Hermione went down for breakfast. They had been sat alone for quite a while, it was almost half nine before they were finally joined by their friends, Harry and Lavender cautiously approaching the pair.

"Morning Y/N" Lavender said.

Y/N looked up at them with an expression that was hard to read.

"Morning" he replied in a tone of neutrality before turning back to Hermione. Lavender sighed:

"Look Y/N. We know what McGonagall said yesterday. She was wrong. We aren't afraid of you. Have we been afraid when things kick off? Yes. Was I afraid when you beat up those Slytherins last year? Yes. That doesn't mean I'm afraid of you. You and Hermione are my best friends, along with you Harry and of course Ron. I'm afraid of the things you do, not of you." Lavender said with sincerity.

"And you Harry?" Y/N asked with the same difficult to read tone of voice.

"The same, Y/N. I get scared when you do... what you do, but I'm not scared of you. You're my brother. I'm just not built like you. I'm not built for... everything you do."

Harry looked down. Hermione glanced at Y/N and was relieved when she saw him smiling. He placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry looked up at him and smiled back.

"You are Harry. You just don't know it yet".

"But I'm afraid. Like when Sirius was in the castle, I was so scared. You just went off looking for him."

Y/N chuckled, looking into Harry's eyes and replying:

"Because I was afraid Harry."

All three looked at Y/N with the same expression. Y/N had never admitted being afraid of anything, apart from Hermione's safety the previous year.

"I was afraid of Severus getting hurt. I went to Azkaban because I was afraid of Hermione getting hurt. Look it's not a lack of fear that makes me how I am Harry. Do you want to know a secret?"

Harry nodded as the girls listened.

"Jacob taught me, one of the very first thing he taught me... was that fear is a constant. But accepting it makes you stronger. Bravery isn't strength in the absence of fear. It's strength in spite of it."

"What about dying though Y/N? When you're in a fight with some dark wizard or some terrifying monster, aren't you afraid of dying?" Lavender asked. Y/N shook his head.

"No. Dying is the easy part." Snap, he snapped his fingers, "it's over you're dead. The hard part is knowing someone else died, someone you cared for. Someone you loved, and you didn't do everything in your power to save them. That's the hard part. That's what keeps me up at night. That's what I fear."

Harry, Lavender and even Hermione took in his words. Before they could reply Ron came running up to them with a paper he had grabbed off a first year

"Guys guys look, look at the Prophet. The Punisher-" he paused looking directly at Y/N "-has struck again."

Lavender snatched the paper out of his hands and read the story out loud.

Murder in Knockturn.

Magical Britain will be shocked this morning to waken to another Brutal Murder in Knockturn Alley overnight, again attributed to The Punisher.

The body was found at 11:00pm last night, the Screaming Skull calling card illuminating above the Alley and summoning Aurors. They found dozens of witnesses, none of whom could identify the identity of the unknown vigilante, even under the effect of Veritaserum.

Without upsetting our readers as to the graphic nature of events, it wasn't possible to identify the victim without referring to his Ministry identification. The Ministry revealed at 1:30am in a press release by the Minister of Magic that the body was of pure blooded playboy Gerald Rosier, a sitting member of the Wizengamot and personal friend of Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge.

"I am deeply troubled by this senseless crime. Gerald was a cherished friend and upstanding member of the wizarding community. We believe this to be the work of the Punisher, a violent psychopath who has been tracking down and killing purebloods. I say now to you Punisher, whoever you are. We will catch you, and we will take you down".

However, a Ministry insider revealed to this dashing reporter, that Rosier's corpse was found to have a Dark Mark on his left forearm, consistent with the Punisher's other victims. Did the Ministry know of Rosier's loyalty to the Dark Lord? How many more are there hiding in the halls of power? And who is this Punisher? How does he know his victims crimes?

-Rita Skeeter.

Lavender looked up at Y/N as she finished reading. Hermione had gone back to her breakfast, Y/N had a small smirk on his face as he cut up an egg.

"Y/N... you didn't, did you?" Ron asked.

"Don't know what you're asking Ron. What I do know is Gerald Rosier was a Death Eater and a Knight of Merlin and he killed Muggleborns for fun. I'd say the world is better of without him."

"But the Minister said they would catch y- him" Harry corrected himself quickly.

"The Ministry?" Y/N chuckled. "The Ministry couldn't catch a cold". He stood up to go to Ghoul Studies, kissing Hermione.

"Besides I'm a Hogwarts student. I was here all day. How could I possibly be in London?"

"Do you want me to come to Ghoul Studies Baby?" Hermione asked.

"No love. I need to have a chat with Sam. It may be unpleasant."

Hermione looked at him momentarily before replying:

"Ok. Be careful."

"Nothing I can't handle love" Y/N smiled and kissed her again before leaving.

He made his way to the Ghoul Studies class and walked in without knocking.

"Y/N? You're here early. Keen for class?" Sam said with a smile, already sat at his desk.

"Yeah, keen to get started Sammy. Got a lot for you to look over" Y/N replied.

—~—

They had been sat down for about half an hour as Sam read through the scrolls Y/N had written with a smile on his face.

"These are outstanding Y/N. Truly. Covers everything I asked for".

"I'm glad Sam, I'm glad to hear it" Y/N replied.

Sam started reading again and was fully focused on the scroll in front of him. Y/N waited a few minutes and then asked:

"So an Archon, bit of a surprise hey?"

"Yeah, I'll say. Not what we were expecting" Sam replied without looking up.

"We?" Y/N asked.

"Yeah Bobby and I, we-"

Sam realised too late what he had said and looked up. Y/N was pissed.

"How long have you known Sam?"

"Y/N, I-"

"HOW LONG?" Y/N roared. The lights dimmed, the windows vibrated. Sam could see his breath in front of him.

"The Saturday night after the vampire mission. I was, we were, summoned to a meeting."

Y/N glared, his trust gone, his heart breaking. He responded coldly:

"I'm your professor. Your mentor. Your partner. Your friend. Trust me." Y/N repeated Sam's words to him.

"Y/N, it's not what you're thinking"

"Were you lying to me the whole time? Watching me? Hunting me?"

"What? Y/N no."

"I thought I could trust you Sam. I thought we were friends. I should have fucking known you were the same as everyone else!"

"It's not like that Y/N, I promise you. Yes I knew you were an Archon, Bobby and I were invited to a meeting where Dumbledore told us, but we were asked to watch over you, train you, help you. We were told about the prophecy."

"That's all I am isn't it. A weapon, an attack dog".

"No Y/N, look you need to calm down and-"

"DON'T FUCKING TELL ME TO CALM DOWN

Y/N roared as his eyes blackened. The class's windows shattered- Sam ducked and covered his head at the falling glass.

"What on earth?" Professor McGonagall asked as she rushed into the classroom with a look of shock on her face, a number of students who were in the hall gaping into the class.

"Mr. L/N" she said shocked, knowing it must have been one of Y/N's outbursts. She was ignored as Sam held his hands up to Y/N across from him:

"Y/N, listen to me. This isn't you. This is the... you know what... exerting pressure on you."

"We're worried about you Y/N. You're edgy, you're erratic..." McGonagall started.

"Unless you're hunting because then you're downright scary." Sam finished. "You need to let us help you man".

Y/N blinked and shook his head, trying to push the Archon's influence down.

"No you need to stay the hell away from me. For your own safety for a while." Y/N said as he stood and backed up from Sam's desk. He said quickly as he turned:

"I'm going hunting. Get a new creature for the Reserve. See you next week."

"Oh..." McGonagall said as she held a hand out towards Y/N, feeling powerless to stop him as he stormed out of the classroom. The students who had been gaping moved out the way and looked down in unison, a path splitting open like the parting of the Red Sea.

Y/N walked passed them all, muttering "insects" to himself as he walked down the hall and out of the castle.

"What happened Sam?" McGonagall asked him as she shut the door, cast Reparo and fixed the windows.

"Y/N he... I accidentally revealed I knew about his... condition... that Bobby and I were told at the meeting."

"Oh no" McGonagall gasped.

—~—

Y/N made it out towards the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid was at his front door waving out:

"'Ello Y/N. How're you?"

Y/N looked at the half giant, a dear friend and someone who couldn't tell a lie. He decided to just ask outright.

"I'm an Archon, Hagrid. How do you think I am?"

"You're a what? Is that some new Quidditch move?" Hagrid asked in confusion.

"You really don't know?"

"No. Ne'er heard of it. Is it impor'ant? Are you ok?"

"Fine Hagrid. Forget I mentioned it. What are you up to?"

Y/N sighed as he spoke, of course Hagrid wouldn't lie to him.

"Just gettin' ready for the week ahead. What about you?"

"Taking my boy hunting" Y/N smiled.

"Yer boy?" Hagrid asked confused.

Y/N whistled loudly and Hati came bolting out the forest, stopping at his father as Y/N climbed on his back into the saddle.

"Y/N, that's a... he's a Direwolf" Hagrid said in amazement, looking at the gigantic wolf who stood near eye level with the half giant.

"Yes. This is my boy Hati. Hati this is my friend, Hagrid."

"Can I pat him?" Hagrid asked hopefully.

Can Hagrid pat you Hati? He cares for magical creatures almost as much as I do.

He may. This once.

"You can Hagrid, but just this once" Y/N smiled.

Hagrid held out his hand for Hati to gain his scent. Hati sniffed and Hagrid rubbed behind his ear. Suddenly Hati started whimpering and his back leg tapped on the ground.

Seriously? Y/N asked with a chuckle.

Father, please. This is embarrassing the pup whimpered.

Y/N looked up and saw Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore walking down towards Hagrid's hut.

"We better go Hagrid, we're on a hunt for the reserve. YAR!" Y/N yelled, Hati taking off at full speed into the Forbidden Forest.

"Hagrid. How was Y/N?" Dumbledore asked as they arrived.

"Headmaster, Professors. Y/N was ok. Seemed down about some quidditch move, archoning or something. Then introduced me to his Direwolf. Magnificent beast. He said they were going hunting and then took off."

Snape and McGonagall exchanged worried glances.

"Did he say what he was hunting Hagrid?" Snape asked with concern.

"No, just something fer the reserve. He'll be ok won't he?" Hagrid asked suddenly concerned.

"Yes Hagrid, I'm sure he will be fine". The Headmaster smiled as they turned to return to the castle.

—~—

Hati was tearing through the Forbidden Forest, both he and Y/N enjoying the breeze in their hair.

Where are we going, Father?

Go to the edge, I'll jump off there. I'm looking for Dementors.

Why Father?

I need to capture one.

You- what?

Just trust me Hati.

The wolf howled as he kept running.

They eventually made it to the edge, two dementors hovering nearby.

"Hut" Y/N said jumping off the Direwolf and stalked towards his prey.

Leave Hati.

But Father-

Now. Hati. I don't want you to see this.

Ok. Please be safe.

The Direwolf sped off, Y/N calling out to the Dementors.

"Oi"

The Dementors turned to him with the closest they could relate to joy. One charged and was met with an Angel Blade to the face, it's eyes and mouth exploded in light as it fell dead. The other hesitated.

"Come on. Don't you want a nice juicy snack?"

Y/N asked, lowering his shields, allowing his happiest memories to flow to the front of his mind.

The Dementor took the bait. It flew towards Y/N as fast as it could, desperate to taste the succulent joy. It was shocked as Y/N grabbed it by the throat, his eyes turning black. No mortal had that power. Y/N apparated to the front of the Dark humanoid biome in the enclosure, shoving the Dementor through the magical barrier.

It soared towards him in anger, smashing into the invisible forcefield before rebounding back.

"Welcome to your new home. I hope you enjoy it" Y/N said turning as he heard Barnaby and Liz exiting the keepers hut.

"Hey B, Liz!" Y/N called out, jogging over to them. Barnaby happily shook Y/N's hand, Liz then giving him a hug.

"I won't be in here this week, have work to do in the library. Just be careful with the humanoid biome, there's a Dementor in there now" Y/N said nonchalantly. He apparated again, leaving a very confused Barnaby and Liz behind him.

—~—

Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall were in the Ghoul Studies classroom with Sam. Dumbledore was reading through the scrolls Sam had shown him.

"Yes you're quite right Sam, these are very well done, and at a NEWT level. I have no qualms with you grading them as Outstanding. You have done as amazing job as Y/N's mentor."

"I really doubt that Albus" Sam said sadly.

With a small pop Y/N was in the classroom. McGonagall jumped in shock.

"Oh, Mr L/N."

Y/N didn't respond, instead looking at Sam coldly:

"Sam. There's a Dementor in the Dark Humanoid biome now. I am assuming you want the same information as for the Obscurus scroll?"

The four adults mouths dropped, including Dumbledore. Sam eventually replied:

"Uh, yes please, Y/N. I've just graded these with the Headmaster. All Outstanding, well done."

"Are we ignoring what he just said?" McGonagall called out in frustration, turning to Y/N:

"How did you get a Dementor in the biome?"

"Would you believe I asked it nicely?"

"Y/N L/N!" She called out in frustration.

"Believe it or not I actually know what I'm doing out there ma'am. If that's all I'm going to the library to write this scroll."

With that he turned and left.

"How long can we let this go on Albus?" Minerva asked him frustrated. Albus sighed.

"I'm afraid you're right, Minerva. Please tell everyone to meet at 7:00pm Saturday. I think it is time to show Y/N what he wants to see."

—~—

Y/N went to the library and was not surprised to see Hermione and Lavender in there. He went and stood next to them.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Baby" Hermione said jumping up and hugging him in surprise.

"I thought you would still be with Sam. How did it go?"

"Tell you about it later love. Really don't want to get into it now."

He sat down and started working as Hermione and Lavender looked at each other worried.