Transfiguration classes started, and true to Hermione's words, the trio arrived at the classroom before Professor McGonagall arrived, much to (Y/N)'s relief.

Harry scanned the classroom, hoping that he could sit beside the (H/C) haired Hufflepuff. To his disappointment, there was already another Hufflepuff next to her. Once his green eyes landed on (Y/N)'s (E/C) ones, the girl waved at him and sent him a gentle smile.

(Y/N) hoped that he was alright and back to normal, especially since he was hostile to Draco Malfoy just a few moments ago.

The Gryffindor returned the smile with a nod, reassuring the Hufflepuff. She internally sighed in relief and watched as he, Ron, and Hermione found themselves an available seat.

It didn't take long for Professor McGonagall to arrive in the classroom after that. (Y/N) recognized the woman to be the same woman that led her and the first years to the Great Hall. Due to her stern face and intimidating aura, (Y/N) wondered if she was the same as her Mato teachers.

Accurately enough, Professor Minerva McGonagall was a strict teacher. Her voice was strong and it catches every single of the students' attention in the classroom. All of them listened to the teacher intently, none of them daring to talk or doze off in front of her as they knew that there'd be serious consequences.

(Y/N) smiled when she heard her discuss the topic about 'Vera Verto', which was one of the spells that she already covered when she was in her third year in Transfiguration class.

Before classes dismissed, Professor McGonagall reminded them that they'll discuss the topic more tomorrow before heading on to transfiguring a few mice. What they'll be transfiguring the mice into, they had no idea.

As (Y/N) was about to leave the classroom, McGonagall's voice called out for her name, causing the Hufflepuff to turn around. She immediately felt nervous - was she in trouble?

"Miss Tachibana, was it?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking straight at (Y/N)'s anxious face. The girl nodded as she walked closer to the Transfiguration professor.

"Yes, Professor." She replied and tried to not show much of her nervousness in front of McGonagall, although it seems like the older woman could already tell.

"I was told that Mahoutokoro's lessons are rather advanced than that of Hogwarts. I assume that you already know about Vera Verto?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Yes, Professor. It has already been taught to us when we were in our third years." replied (Y/N) with a brief nod.

"I see." hummed the Transfiguration teacher. "I hope you won't slack off in classes just because you've already covered this before, Miss Tachibana."

Flustered, (Y/N) looked at McGonagall with wide (E/C) eyes. "Oh no, I wouldn't! Slacking off in classes is something I wouldn't do, Professor. Especially since we were taught to pay attention to every lessons in Mato." she replied and nervously rubbed the back of her neck.

"I'm just saying, Miss Tachibana. Professor Dumbledore did tell me that you are one of the top students in Mahoutokoro." McGonagall lightly smiled down at the girl but returned her stern expression before (Y/N) could notice her smile. "I know that transferring to another school might prove harder for you to fit in with your peers, but I encourage you to get along with them and take the lessons seriously, even if you've already covered them before."

(Y/N) stared at the older woman for a moment, slightly embarrassed that the headmaster of the school mentioned something like that to one of the teachers. She never liked it when people mention her academic achievements in Mato, since it feels like they want her to keep doing her best or surpass her limits, even though she just studies and does her performance tasks well.

Although, she does take pride in her golden robes that signified her hard work in the school.

"Yes, professor. I won't let you down." said (Y/N), nodding once more. Once McGonagall is satisfied with her answer, she dismissed the Hufflepuff. The girl bowed down before she walked out of the Transfiguration classroom, lightly sighing as she did so.

When she stepped out of the classroom, her eyes caught sight of Harry, who was leaning on the near the door to the classroom. (Y/N) stopped in her tracks, looking at the Gryffindor boy skeptically.

"Harry, were you waiting for me?" asked (Y/N). Harry's shoulders jumped at the mention of his name as he looked at her while adjusting his round glasses on his face.

"Um... Yeah." said Harry, who gave her a small smile. "You know, since we'd eat lunch together in the Gryffindor table."

"You didn't have to wait for me." She chuckled, tucking a small lock of (H/C) hair behind her ear. "What about your friends? Did they already go to the Great Hall?"

"Friends?" asked Harry, then his face lit up when he realized who (Y/N) could've possibly talked about. "Ah, you mean Hermione and Ron? Yeah, they've already gone ahead."

"Would it be alright with them if I sat in the Gryffindor table though?" asked (Y/N).

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be alright?" Harry shrugged and began to walk towards the Great Hall with (Y/N) following beside him. "There's no rule that students aren't allowed to sit in other houses' tables."

"That's a relief." She breathed out a sigh of relief. "I was a bit worried because there seems to be... well, a divide between the houses in this school. Especially with blood status." (Y/N) frowned when he recalled the moment where Draco called her a 'mudblood'

She's never had anyone call her that before so it was unexpected and odd. She didn't want to confront the Slytherin either since she didn't want to cause trouble for Harry and herself, especially on her first day of classes.

Harry noticed the girl's frown and tightened his fist. He never liked seeing (Y/N) sad, even as a child. The girl always wore a smile on her face, even if her peers mostly stayed away from her.

'If I see Malfoy in the hallway next time, I'll hex him.' He thought spitefully then changed his expression into a calm one as he turned to look at (Y/N). "You don't need to worry about that. I won't let anyone feel like you're not welcome." said Harry with a smile.

(Y/N) returned the smile appreciatively, her frown disappearing and causing Harry's smile to widen. She just looks so pretty when she smiles, especially now that she's older.

"Thank you, Harry. You're such a good friend." said (Y/N). Harry didn't reply to that and only looked away from her, his smile faltering as he looked down on both of their rings on their fingers.

'Friends...' He thought then felt his heart ache for a moment when those words cross through his mind once more. Does (Y/N) really only see him as a friend?

Did she not come back to England and go to Hogwarts just to be with him?

Does she not share the same feelings as Harry has for her?

He removed those thoughts out of his head. It's been too long since the two have seen each other; maybe (Y/N) hasn't developed any feelings for him just yet. He was patient when it came to her; he waited for her return for five years, after all.

Harry's crush towards the (H/C) haired girl was too strong. It only grew stronger over the course of five years, and it does sadden him that (Y/N) doesn't seem to see him that way for now.

But that could always change. Plot twists are something that just comes to Harry naturally, why should it be any different when it comes to (Y/N)'s affection towards him?

»»-----　♡　-----««

As the two reached the Great Hall, (Y/N)'s eyes met Cedric's enthusiastic ones. He was sitting with some of the players and waved at the girl, almost as if he was inviting her over to come sit with them.

(Y/N) smiled and waved back, to which Harry noticed. The Gryffindor followed the girl's gaze and frowned, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the dark haired Hufflepuff boy that's waving at her from the distance.

"You're not going over to him, are you?" He asked, making her look at him with a surprised look.

"Huh? No, I'm not. I'm just waving back at Cedric." she replied.

"Don't pay too much attention to him." said Harry as his grip on the handle of his school bag tightened. He didn't like it when (Y/N)'s suddenly giving her attention to other people other than him.

She was always with him when they were kids and the two always seemed inseparable - it just doesn't feel right to him when she looks at other people and getting along with them.

"Don't worry, Harry. He's a nice guy." said (Y/N) as she patted his back. She assumed that Harry just didn't trust other people from other houses. "He's in Hufflepuff for a reason."

Harry's frown deepened but he turned away from the girl before she could even notice. Without any reply, he walked over to the Gryffindor table where Hermione and Ron sat. (Y/N) remembered the two Gryffindors and waved at them.

"Hello." she greeted with a light bow as she sat next to the black haired boy. "I don't think I've introduced myself earlier to you two. I'm (Y/N) Tachibana. Nice to meet you."

Ron blinked at the girl's sudden kindness but smiled at her nonetheless. "I'm Ron Weasley." introduced Ron as he continued to eat his lunch.

Hermione hesitated for a moment, glancing at Harry beside her. He didn't seem to say anything but only stared at his two best friends. Whatever thoughts Harry might have in his mind, Hermione couldn't tell but she knew that she shouldn't pry deep into his thoughts.

"I'm Hermione Granger." she said, returning back to her meal. (Y/N) slightly frowned at this, feeling like they weren't that enthusiastic to meet her. Harry noticed her sad look and slightly glared at the two who sat across them.

"I heard that you're from Japan." Ron spoke up when he realized that the awkward mood started to settle in. "What's it like there?"

"Oh," (Y/N)'s smile returned and silently thanked the gods for not letting her introduction flop. "It's very nice. Tokyo is a colorful city and there's a lot of things you can do with all the shops they have."

"Really? You go to muggle shops?" Ron's interest only peaked.

"Yeah. My parents are muggles after all and I often run errands for my parents so going to muggle shops is a no brainer." replied (Y/N), causing Hermione to look up from her food.

"You're a muggleborn?" asked Hermione.

"Yup." (Y/N) nodded.

As the three continued their conversation, much to (Y/N)'s delight since she thought that she was finally making new friends, Harry silently ate his lunch and felt his heart ache again when he hears how enthusiastic (Y/N) seems to be.

Isn't he supposed to be happy that she's fitting in? That's what Professor McGonagall wanted for her too, right? To fit in and make new friends?

So, why is it that Harry feels like he doesn't want (Y/N) to have friends at all? Why does it feel like he wants things to go back to when they were five years ago - when they were inseparable and always relied on each other, no matter what happens?

Why is it that he only wants her to look at him and give all of her attention to him?

'She doesn't need any new friends. She has me, right?' Harry thought and glanced at (Y/N)'s smiling face, only it wasn't directed towards him. It was directed towards his two other friends. 'I just got her back and she's already seeing other people. She doesn't even prioritize me.'

Hermione suddenly got a feeling that something's off. While (Y/N) and Ron were talking about arcade games, she quickly stole a glance at Harry and silently gulped when she noticed how intently he was staring down at his food and mumbling unintelligible things under his breath.

It was creepy, it's like he's casting a spell or something.

She glanced back at the laughing (Y/N) and immediately grew suspicious of her and the ring that she wore with Harry's name in it. Harry never acted like this before she arrived, and it's only been a day since classes started.

How close were they, really? It looks like even (Y/N) doesn't seem too infatuated with her black haired friend, unlike him.

"Tachibana!" Before things could go hectic for her and Harry, a voice called out for the (H/C) haired girl. The group turned around to see Cedric walking up towards her with a smile.

"Oh, Cedric." said (Y/N) as she acknowledged the boy's presence. Hermione and Ron noticed the semi-murderous gaze he held towards the Hufflepuff boy that they felt uncomfortable just by seeing him tighten his grip around the spoon that he held in his hand.

"We told Professor Sprout that we're taking the field next week. Are you up for the tryouts?" asked Cedric, causing (Y/N)'s eyes to twinkle as she almost leapt out of her seat.

"Do you even need to ask? Yes, of course!" She exclaimed happily and immediately began to imagine how nice it must be to ride her broom again. Just the thought of being able to fly and zoom through the air once more with Quidditch gears and holding the Quaffle again made her excited.

Harry was about to speak up and tell the boy that there's no use holding tryouts this year because of the tournament but he held his tongue when he saw how happy (Y/N) was. He silently clenched his available fist under the table and almost felt himself shaking with anger that Cedric just keeps being there to drag her attention away.

"Professor Sprout also asked me to show you around the castle after classes. She thought that you'd need to-" Before Cedric could finish his sentence, Harry aggressively stood up from his seat, causing everyone to look at him in confusion and surprise.

"Harry?" (Y/N) called out his name in concern.

"Where are you going?" asked Ron and watched as Harry stomped off once more. "Bathroom." was all that Harry replied, not giving any more explanation.

The four watched Harry leave the Great Hall in a rush. They were concerned for the boy - Hermione was the one who was the most concerned. He stomped off from them this morning too.

As Harry angrily passed through a group of Ravenclaw students, he recalled how he felt like he couldn't breathe around the group when (Y/N) wasn't just talking to him anymore.

He was too angry.

His body was still shaking in anger and all that mattered is just going to a secluded place where he could vent his anger out in peace. When all of a sudden, a body bumped into Harry's shoulder, causing him to take a step back and almost cuss out at the person who bumped into him.

"A-Ah sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to bump into you like that." A young voice made Harry stop and look at the boy who just bumped into him. It was Colin Creevey, a third year Gryffindor who always had his camera around him at all times.

He bought a new one after his first year, which broke after his encounter with the basilisk.

Colin was holding his camera and he seemed to have been looking through the pictures he's taken yesterday and today, especially since his brother, Dennis Creevey, attended Hogwarts just this year.

Something in Harry's mind clicked as he watched the small screen that showed a picture that he took on his camera. Colin noticed his look and tilted his head to the side, wondering what's gotten his idol like that.

"Colin, could I ask you a favor?"

»»-----　♡　-----««

wc: 2,719