Y/N and Hermione were sat at breakfast enjoying each other's company. Y/N had just finished feeding Gizmo his breakfast and the Niffler happily went to sleep in the hood of Y/N's robe.

Their attention was drawn, as was most of the Great Hall, to Professor McGonagall who was walking straight towards the couple. She had a concerned look on her face and was, most unusually, accompanied by a Goblin. Most of the hall broke out in whispers- it was truly bizarre to see a Goblin in Hogwarts. The pair reached the couple and Professor McGonagall cleared her throat:

"Mr L/N, this is-"

"Griphook. Good to see you old friend" Y/N smiled. His familiarity with the Goblin surprised the Professor. What shocked her though was when he held his hand out to shake and the Goblin shook back.

"Y/N. It has been a long time. Well I trust?"

"Keeping busy. What brings you to Hogwarts?"

"I have here a legal Summons for you, Y/N" the goblin said handing over an envelope. Y/N took it without opening it as Griphook continued:

"Your presence has been requested at 6:00pm tonight at Gringotts bank. As this is a legal summons-"

"I must attend. Very well Griphook, please inform your manager I will be there and will be accompanied by my girlfriend Hermione Granger. Hermione this is Griphook. Griphook, Hermione."

Hermione smiled at the Goblin in front of her.

"Hello Griphook, um- may I shake your hand as well or?" Hermione asked unsure of the required etiquette.

"You may, and I will shake it back. Usually Goblins don't shake hands with witches and wizards, Ms.Granger, but then again few wizards have the respect in the Goblin community that Y/N does. By way of your romantic relationship that extends to you as well."

Hermione smiled as the Goblin finished and they cordially shook hands. Hermione did her best to hold in a giggle- her boyfriend never ceased to shock and amaze her.

"Speaking of romantic relationships- how is Nib, Griphook?"

"My wife is well Y/N thank you for asking. She delivered a son last month."

Y/N smiled warmly:

"Congratulations to you both. Healthy?"

"He'll be raring and bloodthirsty before you know it" the goblin smiled menacingly, his pointed teeth on display.

"Good to hear. Pass on my best and congratulations to her for me please, Griphook."

"Certainly. I must return to Gringott's.
Goodbye Hermione, pleasant to meet you. Goodbye Y/N. I will see you again."

They nodded and the Goblin turned to leave, stopping only to hurry a very bewildered Professor who had observed their interaction in disbelief. As the pair left Hermione turned to her boyfriend.

"After all this time you still never cease to amaze me baby" she smiled proudly pecking Y/N's lips.

"Gotta keep you on your toes baby. Speaking of- Dumbledore tried to use legilimency on me last night without my permission. He couldn't see anything and I called him out on it, but I'd like to step up your training if you don't mind. He loves being the puppet master but doesn't like it when someone else pulls the strings."

Hermione just smiled and agreed. There was too much to unpack in that statement and it was nearly time for class.

—~—

The day's classes passed without incident and when 3 o'clock rolled around the couple headed down to Hagrid's hut.

"Excited to train Patroclus baby?" Hermione asked as she walked hand in hand with her boyfriend.

"I am love. But I won't be easy on him like I have been with you. Not that I haven't trained you properly just that-"

"Relax I know what you mean love. Just don't be too harsh on him."

"Don't worry I won't love, not like Jacob was with me."

Y/N smiled but then went slightly glassy eyed, as a thousand memories of torment and pain came rushing back to him.

Hermione saw the pain on Y/N's face but knew he wouldn't talk about it until he was ready. There was no point pushing the matter, instead she pulled his head down towards herself and kissed him sweetly.

"You'll be a great mentor for Patroclus, I know it baby."

They arrived at Hagrid's hut to find Patroclus already there and excited, running over and hugging them both.

"Hey Patroclus, thanks for coming" Y/N smiled.

"Thanks for teaching me Y/N. Hi Hermione" Patroclus smiled at his cousin's girlfriend.

"Hey Patroclus, don't mind Hagrid and I, we are just going to have a cup of tea and watch a Master Professor at work" Hermione giggled as she took a seat next to her gigantic friend.

Y/N chuckled. "Sarcasm babe?"

"No dear, Sincerity" she smiled warmly.

Y/N returned the smile before turning to his younger cousin.

"Ok Pat, first things first. Can I see your wand?"

"Oh um sure Y/N" Patroclus said as he pulled his wand out from his sleeve and handed it over to his older cousin.

"It's a-"

Y/N held a hand up to stop Patroclus speaking as he started examining the younger boy's wand.

"Ash wood, unicorn hair, 12 inches?" Y/N asked.

Patroclus nodded stunned.

"Rigid in nature. Hmmm... interesting" Y/N trailed off deep in thought before turning and giving Patroclus his full attention again.

"So you know your wand in your most important tool next to your mind right Pat?"

"Yes sir" the boy nodded.

"So what does this wand say about you?"

"Uh?" Patroclus tried to answer but was generally stumped. It was just his wand, he'd never considered it as more than that before. Hermione smiled- Patroclus's eduction in the Y/N school of hard knocks had began.

"So for example my wand" Y/N said as he unsheathed his wand and showed Patroclus.

"Is made of Yew Wood, 12 inches with a thestral hair core and is unyielding. This says it is an extremely powerful wand, and can only be partnered with an extremely powerful wizard."

"Stay humble darling" Hermione yelled out and Hagrid chuckled. Y/N laughed as well and answered:

"It's not arrogance if it's true baby. Anyway Yew Wood is difficult to master but powerful, it imbues it's user with the power over life and death. Likewise with a thestral hair core, which can only be seen by those who have witnessed death. This wand is the only known one to use a thestral hair core, the other possible example is the Elder Wand of legend. 12 inches generally says you will be on the taller side and unyielding reflects the nature of its user to not be swayed from their beliefs, whether right or wrong. So all together this wand is extremely powerful and will only bond with an extremely powerful, and as Hermione would say, pig headed, owner."

Patroclus giggled as he saw Hermione nodding behind Y/N.

"You need to understand your wand's characteristics to understand yourself and your magic Patroclus" Y/N smiled and continued.

"So an Ash wand coupled with unicorn hair will be very powerful, reflecting its owner, and one who is rigid in their beliefs, stubborn- but not arrogant. Someone who you want next to you on the battlefield. It would also lose its power if it was given to anyone else, that's just the nature of ash wands".

Patroclus nodded trying desperately to keep up.

"So it's powerful and having a unicorn hair core it will give you consistent magic, and it has already bonded strongly with you. That works to your advantage. You don't have to worry about having a fickle wand that may not give your spells the power you need when you need it."

Y/N smiled seeing his cousin getting excited. He continued:

"It also says to me that you are loyal, will be powerful and won't be swayed from your beliefs. All very positive characteristics. So now that that is out the way we can start. Can you cast a protego shield?"

Patroclus nodded and replied:

"Dad taught me over summer. Said it was important I can defend myself, that it's the burden of our bloodline."

Y/N smiled, attempting to hide a sadness hearing his younger cousins say such things. Patroclus had no inkling of the truth and gravity behind his words.

"Ok you cast and block my spell. Ready?"

Protego

Flipendo

Y/N's spell ripped through the shield and sent Patroclus flying. Hermione got up to rush over before Y/N held his hand out to stop her and called out:

"Up Patroclus!"

The boy got up and moaned in pain before returning to his original position.

"So what happened there?"

"You broke my shield!" Patroclus said still shaking off the bump he took.

"Why?" Y/N smiled.

"Because you're strong?" he asked with a questioning tone.

"Partially, but it was partially your fault as well."

Patroclus looked at Y/N stunned.

"It's not your fault as in you cast it wrong, but it's a lack of belief and confidence. You were worried my spell would break it and it did. Can you cast flipendo?"

The boy shook his head.

"Stupify?" Again a no.

"Expelliarmus?"

The boy nodded proudly. "Dad taught me that over summer too."

"Ok awesome. Now I want you to cast it at me."

Patroclus was stunned.

"What?"

"Cast it, Patroclus" Y/N reiterated with the same calm tone.

Patroclus looked nervously towards Hermione who nodded at the boy.

Expelliarmus

He was stunned as Y/N non verbally blocked it with a protego shield.

"So what was the difference between the two?"

"Yours was non verbal". Patroclus said in awe of his older cousin.

"Yes but that doesn't impact on the force cousin. It's belief and self confidence. I know that you won't penetrate my shield, so when I cast it it holds, my casting strength doesn't waver because I know it will hold. Make sense?"

"I think so."

"Have you learnt much about non verbal spell casting?"

Patroclus shook his head.

"Ok well it's something you will learn at OWL level. But why is it important?"

"I'm not sure" The boy said feeling slightly overwhelmed.

"Think logically Pat. If I was duelling a Death Eater-"

"Again!" Hermione called out.

"Yes again thank you love" Y/N chuckled.

"If I was during a Death Eater, again..." Y/N emphasised the word while winking at Hermione:

"...why would I want to use non verbal magic Pat?"

"So they don't know what you are casting?" the second year answered with more of a question than a statement.

"That's right, good job. We will get to that eventually but for now we need to give you a solid foundation to start on. We will meet every Monday and give you a solid defensive base before moving on to attacking and then putting it together in an actual dual. Make sense?"

Patroclus nodded excitedly. He now understood where his cousin was going even though he hadn't at the time. His excitement quickly wavered though.

"So for the next 40 minutes I'm going to cast flipendo and you're going to block it. Or you'll be sore" Y/N smirked.

Flipendo