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Harry's P.O.V. 

"Well, well, well. What do we have here, Georgie?" Harry heard a voice say.

He opened his eyes groggily, groping around the couch for his glasses - wait, the couch? He found his glasses and shoved them onto his face, looking around at his environment. Harry was in the Gryffindor common room and it was early morning, maybe, since it was still rather empty. Light shone in from the windows and he could see the silhouettes of two people standing before him. 

"I think it's our little sister, tangled up on a couch with a boy," Fred said, an almost dangerous tone in his voice. 

Harry was suddenly aware that he was laying on something, no, someone. Looking down, he saw that Y/N was also laying down, her head against the arm of the couch and Harry's hands around her waist, head on her chest. 

Fred and George would never let this go. "Look, Fred, George-" 

"Don't even try," warned George. "Get off our sister," he ordered. 

But Harry didn't want to disturb her, not when she looked so peaceful in her slumber. "Just let me explain," he said, scared. Being murdered by Y/N's honorary brothers was not something he was looking forward to. 

"Fine, make it quick. Not like you'll convince us, but go on," snarled Fred, crossing his arms. 

"Last night we were doing homework and then I finished, right? So like, I laid my head down in her lap and she didn't stop me and then she played with my hair," Harry said, his voice adopting a dreamy quality at the last few words. 

George fake gagged.

"And we were just talking and then we fell asleep and I don't even know how we got in this position! Maybe she like, slid or something. I promise I didn't do anything wrong, I mean, I would never! I love her - as a friend of course, and - and-" Harry rambled nervously. 

Fred and George glared at him, lips curling into sneers. 

"Please don't kill me," he said desperately. 

The twins burst into laughter, doubling over. George even ended up on the floor, his knees giving in. "Did you see his face, Freddie?" he asked through howling laughter. Their wheezes echoed through the common room, breaking the silence of the morning. 

"Shut up! You'll wake her!" said Harry, shushing them. If Y/N woke up because of their laughter, he'd hex them into next week. 

They toned it down a little, but were still snickering. Harry glared at them, but it didn't make a difference. They were going to make fun of him for the rest of time - and he was just going to have to accept it. 

"'Shut up! You'll Wake her!'" George repeated. "Hear that? He's in love with her, basically," he told Fred. 

Harry sighed, "I'm not, she's my friend, go away," he said in a hushed whisper, burying his face in Y/N's torso, out of embarrassment, so he didn't have to face the twins. 

"You're in love with our sister," Fred said. "The least you can do is look us in the eye while you...cuddle her," he said the last bit with disgust. 

George added on, asking his brother, "Fred, why are you okay with this? We should kill him!" 

Fred put a finger on his chin, pondering. Basically, he was deciding Harry's fate. 

"Well, er, preferably, I'd rather not be killed," Harry said, looking up at the twins. 

Then, he felt Y/N shift below him and panicked. He didn't say anything and neither did the redheads, in fear of her waking up and wrecking havoc on them. 

Well, she woke up anyway. "I'd rather you weren't killed, either," Y/N mumbled tiredly, snuggling closer. 

He grinned, " g'morning, sleepy head," he said, raising himself above her by a few inches. 

"Good morning," she said, raising her head slightly. Then, Y/N leaned back onto the couch, closing her eyes and immediately falling asleep again. 

The twins shook their heads, "That's our Y/N for you," Fred said. 

"Hate's waking up, this one," George said, then yelped as an empty inkpot, leftover from last night, made contact with his face. 

Y/N threatened, "If you don't pipe down, I'll make you wish you didn't wake up." 

Harry chuckled, it would've sounded more threatening if she wasn't half asleep, her hair a mess and her eyes barely open. 

(And the minor fact that she was wrapped in his arms. Which, In Harry's opinion, was where she should stay). 

"Scary," said Fred in a bored tone. 

"Go away, you're being gits," she whined, cuddling up to Harry. He was pretty sure his heart was beating out of his chest, but only because he was nervous. And he wasn't nervous because he liked Y/N, he was nervous because if he said anything wrong, she'd jinx him.

Yeah. That's why. 

"So, sister dearest," Fred started. Y/N gave him a look, indicating for him to go on. George continued in his place. 

"Do inform us as to why you're cuddled up to Mr. Potter, here," said George, pointing at Harry. Though he had already joked about it, he was genuinely slightly annoyed. That was his sister. 

Y/N yawned, then said in a bored voice to Harry, "You're the only not annoying person here right now. I'm gonna ignore them and talk to you," she stated. 

Harry smirked, "I'm not complaining," he said. Then was immediately startled - where did he get this burst of confidence? 

She narrowed her eyes at him. "It is too early for you to be cocky. Freddie, what time is it?" 

Fred checked his watch, "It's twelve," he said casually. 

Y/N's eyes widened and she bolted upright off the couch. Harry tumbled off of her and onto the floor. 

"Okay, ouch," he muttered, rubbing his hip where he hit the ground. 

"Harry! We've missed so much class," she got up, frantically fixing the pillows and collecting her homework from last night into her bookbag. "I don't know how Hermione hasn't already-" 

Then it struck her. "Wait." 

"Waiting...?" said Harry, confused. He probably should've been more concerned about missing class, but he didn't exactly mind. His morning had been amazing, besides the undertones of threats from Fred and George. 

Fred and George looked away, busying themselves with god knows what. George even started whistling. 

"You arsehole!" Y/N yelled at Fred, chucking another inkpot (still filled with ink), a quill (which didn't go far) and a pillow (which hit his face with a 'flump') at him. 

He looked thoroughly offended,  "What did I do, sister dearest?" he asked innocently. 

Her anger didn't waver. "You - you - go snog Angelina, you git!" 

"He wouldn't mind it," George muttered. His twin glared at him. 

"You could have, you know, been nice for once. I'm aware it's not twelve," Y/N said, taking a quick glance at Fred's watch. "It's six in the morning. We have so much time 'til breakfast," she complained. "I'm going back to bed." 

Y/N dragged herself to the stairway to her dorm slowly, still hung-over from sleep. "G'night," she said, then ascended the staircase.

When Harry and the Weasley's heard the door click closed, they immediately rounded on him. "You have our blessings," they said wisely. Bipolar, much? 

"I thought you didn't approve...?" Harry asked hesitantly. It's not like he actually liked Y/N...

"It's called changing our minds. Now, go away before we change them again and forbid you from dating her." 

"I don't want to date her!" 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Harry was at lunch with Ron when Y/N and Hermione came from god knows where. They were giggling about something the boys couldn't hear and Y/N was blushing furiously. They then sat down, wiping the silly smiles off their faces. 

"What's got you two so giggly?" Ron asked, stabbing at his pie. 

"Nothing," said Hermione. "Just something that happened in our dorm this morning, with Lavender and Parvati," she continued, convincingly. 

Y/N seemed distracted, but when Harry caught her eye, she just smirked and looked away, leaving butterflies in Harry's stomach. 

Harry had a sneaking suspicion that the reason she was giggling and blushing...was the events of the morning. 

They finished their food quickly, then rushed to their afternoon classes. Finally, it was Defense Against the Dark Arts - the class they had all been waiting for. Especially Y/N, since her uncle was teaching it. 

Professor Lupin wasn't in the classroom when they entered, but they sat down quietly nonetheless. The class took out their books, quills and parchment, waiting patiently. When their professor entered, he beamed at Y/N, then gave the class vague smile, putting his tattered briefcase on the desk. 

"Good afternoon," he greeted the class. A reply rung through the room, then he continued. "You all can put your things away, we will be doing a practical lesson, you will only need your wands." 

The class exchanged curious looks, then obeyed. Their Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers had always been...well, rather strange. Especially to Harry, Y/N, Ron and Hermione. Probably because the first one tried to murder Harry and the second one tried to erase his and Ron's memories. 

But Professor Lupin, with his scars and sandy hair and comfortable presence, seemed...trustworthy. It was an inexplicable feeling Harry had, but he learned to trust his gut. 

Once everyone's desks were empty, Lupin said, "Now...don't tell anyone," in a hushed, joking tone. "But you're my favourite class," he stated. 

Dean Thomas raised a hand and Harry saw Y/N groan and hide her head in her arms. 

Lupin acknowledged Dean, asking, "Yes, Mr. Thomas?" 

Dean paused. "How do you know my name?" 

Lupin shrugged, "My niece, who so happens to be in this class. That's why you're my favourites," he grinned. 

"Da - uncle Remus," she whined. 

Understanding immediately, Dean teased Y/N, "Aww, Sterling! You talk about me! I love you too!" 

"Thomas, shut up before I dye your hair green," she grumbled. Lupin raised a brow, but said nothing. 

The whole class was snickering quietly at the exchange, well...besides Malfoy. He had a very sour expression on his face, staring at Y/N. 

Even Hermione nudged Y/N, whispering, "Yeah, Lupin's niece. How 'bout you take over the lesson?" Y/N just shoved her face away while Hermione laughed. 

"Right then, if you'd follow me," Lupin said. 

They all rose from their seats and followed him out of the classroom. Trailing behind him, he led them through a deserted corridor and around a corner, where they were met with Peeves the Poltergeist, floating upside down in mid-air and shoving chewing gum into a keyhole. 

Peeves didn't acknowledge them until Professor Lupin cleared his throat roughly. When he finally did, he broke into song. 

"Loony, loopy, Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy, Lupin-" 

Though Peeves usually tried to respect the teacher of Hogwarts, he kept singing. Harry thought Professor Lupin might lose his temper, or something. But when he looked over at his Professor's face, Harry saw that he was smiling. 

"I'd take the gum out of that keyhole If I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be too happy." 

Peeves ignored him and Harry heard Y/N scoff. He leaned into her ear, muttering, "Maybe you can help, after all, you're Lupin's niece," he teased. She hit him on the arm and he laughed lowly. She was cute when she was annoyed. 

Professor Lupin gave a soft sigh and pulled out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. Then, he pointed his wand at Peeves and said, "Waddiwasi!" 

With the force of a bullet, the gum shot out of the keyhole, flying towards Peeves and up into his left nostril. He whirled around, cursing, and flew off. 

"Cool, sir!" exclaimed Seamus and Dean. In all honesty, It was. Harry had gotten into some rough spots with Peeves - maybe Lupin could help him out with that. 

"Thank you, Seamus, Dean," Lupin said, but Harry saw a mischievous glint in his eye. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving Harry wondering If he was hallucinating. 

The class had earned a new respect for Professor Lupin and Y/N was beaming widely at her uncle. He noticed and smiled back. They followed him through the hallways to the Staff Room. 

Lupin gestured to the door, "Inside, please," he said, opening it and standing back. 

They filed inside the staff room a large, panelled ro-

"Ouch, Ron! That was my toe," complained Hermione. 

-om full of old, mismatched chairs. It was empty except for one teacher. Professor Severus Snape was sat in an old armchair, looking around as the class entered. A nasty sneer overtook his lips when he saw Neville. Professor Lupin entered last, making to close the door behind him. 

"Leave it open, Lupin," Snape said. "I'd rather not witness this." He got up and strode past the class, his black robes billowing. In Harry's opinion, he looked like a dementor. Maybe even uglier. 

The Gryffindors in the class glared at him as he passed. He stopped at the door and faced Lupin, "Possibly no one has warned you, Lupin...but this class contains Neville Longbottom," he sneered. "It isn't best to trust him with anything difficult, unless Miss Granger is murmuring instructions in his ear."

Neville went scarlet. It was bad enough that he was bullied by Snape in potions. Now, the potions professor had expanded his reach, bullying Neville other places. 

Professor Lupin raised his eyebrows. Y/N must've gotten that trait from him. "I was thinking that Neville could help me with our demonstration," he said. "I'm sure he will perform it admirably." 

Snape's lip curled, then he left, slamming the door like a dramatic teenager. Ron laughed under his breath. "Slimy git, destroy him, Professor Lupin," he murmured. Harry, Hermione and Y/N laughed. 

Y/N's uncle led the students to the back of the room. Their eyes fell on a wardrobe that the teachers used to hang their coats and such. When Lupin stood next to it, the wardrobe suddenly began to rattle, banging off the wall. 

"Not to worry," said Lupin when some students jumped back in alarm. "There's a boggart in there." 

Y/N grabbed Harry's hand out of instinct. He turned to study her face - it seemed as though she knew what a boggart was and she didn't like it. Did he need to be worried?

In fact, most people seemed worried. Neville's stared at Lupin with a look of terror while Lavender eyed the doorknob apprehensively. "The first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?" Lupin said. Y/N raised her hand, but lowered it with a huff when Lupin added, "Y/N, you're not allowed to answer." 

Dean snickered and Y/N stuck her tongue out at him. Hermione raised her hand. 

"It's a shapeshifter," she said. "It takes the form of whatever frightens us most." 

"Couldn't have said it better myself," praised Lupin. Hermione glowed. 

"Finally, someone is appreciating her brains," thought Harry. 

Lupin explained some more. "So, the boggart sitting in the wardrobe has not assumed a form. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when they're alone, but when I let him free, he will immediately become whatever each of us fears most." 

"That's really comforting," Harry whispered to Ron. Ron just nodded, eyes fixed on the wardrobe. 

"That means we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?" asked Professor Lupin. 

Harry jumped, startled that he had been asked a question. He tried to think, but it was rather hard when Hermione was bobbing up and down beside him, dying to answer the question. Y/N snickered. "Er...because it won't know what shape to take since there are so many of us?" Harry guessed.

"Precisely, Harry!" said Lupin with a smile. "Now, we can learn the spell to ward off a Boggart." 

The class perked up. 

"Everyone, repeat after me," he said. "Riddikulus!" 

"Riddikulus!" they echoed. 

"This class is ridiculous," said Draco Malfoy seethingly. 

Y/N glared at him, squeezing Harry's hand harder. She murmured something under her breath that Harry didn't catch. Weird. 

Lupin called Neville up to the front. The boy walked forward, trembling. The professor gave him a comforting smile, "Don't be afraid, Neville," he said. "Now, what would you say frightens you the most?" 

Neville said something, but nobody heard. Then, in a louder, more confident voice, he repeated, "Professor Snape..

Nearly everyone laughed - even Professor Lupin looked like he wanted to chuckle. Then, he adopted a thoughtful look. "Professor Snape...you live with your grandmother, yes?" 

Nodding, Neville said, "Er...yes, but I don't want it to turn into her either!" 

"No, you misunderstood me," said Lupin. "Can you describe what kind of clothes she wears?" 

Obliging, Neville began to describe. His grandmother wore a hat with a vulture on it, a long green coat, a fox fur scarf and she carried a large scarlet handbag. "Grandma aesthetic," Y/N whispered in Harry's ear. He chuckled, turning back to the front. 

"I would like you all to think about what you fear the most. Think of a way to counter it, so that when Neville is finished, the Boggart will turn on all of us," Lupin said.

What did Harry fear the most? His first thought was Lord Voldemort, a Voldemort in full power. But then, another image came to his mind...a withered hand, the cold sensation. The feeling of his soul separating from his body....

"A dementor."

Harry looked around, seeing that everyone had their eyes closed, probably planning their tactics. Ron was saying to himself, "Take it's legs off..." no doubt talking about spiders. 

Once everyone opened their eyes and gave the signal, Professor Lupin opened the wardrobe with a flick of his wand. Out of it walked Professor Snape, a sneer on his lips and his black robes shrouding him. 

Neville stumbled, reaching inside his robes for his wand. "R-r-riddikulus!" he whimpered. 

With a snap, Snape's robes were replaced with a long, lace-trimmed coat. Atop his head perched the vulture-hat and on his arm was the red handbag. Boggart-Snape scowled daggers at Neville. 

There was roaring laughter as Lupin called the next person up, Parvati. Her greatest fear was a mummy. Then Seamus went, tackling a screaming banshee. After Seamus was Dean, who's Boggart seemed confused for a moment. Finally, it took form as severed hand. Dean caught it in a mouse trap, then it was Ron's turn. 

A giant spider, like Harry suspected, appeared in the middle of the room. Ron yelled, "Riddikulus!" and it's legs vanished, it's body rolling onto the floor. Lavender squealed. 

Then, it was Y/N's turn. Harry watched as she stared at the Boggart with a bored expression. It whirred for a moment, changing between many things. Then, finally, it formed into two figures. A man and a woman that greatly resembled Y/N - but they looked...ghoul-like. Their skin was rotten, their cheekbones hollow. They were dead. They were her parents. 

"We never loved you!" the woman laughed mirthlessly. 

"You really believe that Potter boy?" the man asked. 

"You think we underwent that for you?"  their faces and voices voices blended together, resulting in hazy and utterly terrifying effect. 

Y/N backed up, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. 

Harry wanted to go to her, to her hug and tell her that It was just her fears. He took a step forward, but Ron pulled him back. "Mate, it's nothing," he said. 

Y/N's P.O.V. 

She backed up, her breaths coming ragged. Her vision was blurred with tears as her parents continued, "We don't know you, why should we love you?" the blended voice asked. "Why do you believe we love you?" 

Her mom slowly walked towards her, her father following. Remus stepped forward, brandishing his wand. Y/N shook her head at him. She needed to do this.

"Riddikulus!" she exclaimed, voice weak. 

Her ghoul-parents suddenly froze. Then, they turned a vibrant shade of pink and began to sing the Hogwarts School Song. 

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy-warty Hogwarts-"

Y/N forced out a laugh along with her other classmates. 

She stepped back, relieved and panting. Hermione took her hand, leading Y/N to her and Ron. 

It was Harry's turn to face the Boggart now. He stood facing it, then, slowly, the Boggart began to shift. But before anyone could see what it was, her uncle shouted, "Here!" 

The Boggart turned to him, whirring and spinning into a silver-white orb - the moon. Y/N expected as much, seeing as he'd taken care of some boggarts back at Lupin Cottage. "Riddikulus!"  he shouted, then the orb deflated into a balloon. He waved his wand, banishing the Boggart back to the cupboard. 

"Excellent!" Remus exclaimed "Excellent, everyone! Five points to everyone who tackled the boggart and five points to Harry and Hermione for answering my questions." 

Y/N locked eyes with him. Then, he said, "For homework, just read the chapter on Boggarts and summarize it for me in...about five hundred words. Off you go!" The class made to exit the door. Before Y/N could leave alongside her friends, Remus said, "Stay back a moment, Y/N."

"Go, I'll meet you in the common room later," she said to her friends. They nodded, then left and closed the door behind them. 

Before she knew what was happening, Y/N was engulfed in a bone-crushing hug. "I- I never knew...why didn't you tell me...Is that why you always refused to help me with Boggarts 'round the house?" Remus said. 

Hugging him back, Y/N said sadly, "Er...yeah, but you were busy all of the time. And stressed, it's fine." 

"No, N/N. It's not fine," he said firmly. He pulled away slightly, resting his hands on her shoulders. "I should've noticed sooner." 

She laughed, "It's okay, really. Anyway, I've been meaning to talk to you," she pulled away, (before she started crying) and sat on a desk. 

He followed suit, sitting beside her and swinging his legs childishly. "I missed you, N/N. The Teacher's Lounge is so boring," he said. 

Y/N raised a brow. "You're being a softie," she stuck her tongue out at him. But Y/N really appreciated Remus. "But I love you, dad." 

Remus leaned in and placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead. "I love you, kid. They love you too, you know," he said in reassurance. 

"I know...Harry told me the same thing," she said. "But sometimes I forget that. Because I never forget what happened to them and how...they don't remember me." The tears were brewing now. 

"Hey, it's okay to cry. I've done my fair share of it," he said, pulling her into another hug. Y/N cried against him, taking in the smell of coffee and old books. He held her for a while, until Y/N had wiped her tears away. 

When she began to pull away, he took the hint and released her. Remus looked away as she wiped some last tears away, knowing how she felt about people seeing her cry. Sensing the need for a distraction, he hopped off the desk and walked over to his briefcase, opening it. 

Y/N watched as he pulled out a piece of parchment and waved it in front of her face. "What's that?" she asked, immensely grateful that her voice had lost that sad quality. 

She would cry more later. 

"Letter from Amos," he replied with a grin. The Diggory's had been close family friends since Remus moved to Lupin Cottage. It was near a small muggle village called Ottery St. Catchpole in Devon, England. Of course, the Diggory's knew of Remus's...furry little problem. 

Amos Diggory had helped Remus evade fire from the Ministry when his lycanthropy was revealed and the Ministry regarded him as unsuitable to care for Y/N. He had been on Dumbledore's side to convince the regulators. 

"The Diggory's! Love 'em," she said. "What's it about?" 

"We can't visit them this Christmas," replied Remus. 

"What? Whyyyyyy?" she whined. "I love shoving pie into Ced's face during Christmas dinner! You can't take that away from me!" 

Remus chuckled. "They're visiting Barcelona and Cedric is staying here, so the pie isn't out of the equation," he said. 

Y/N smiled mischievously. "if he's here...I can do more than pie. If, of course, you don't tell Mr. and Mrs. Diggory. Gotta keep my reputation with them," she said. "Also, no putting me in detention!" 

"I can promise the first one, but the second one...we'll see," he grinned. 

"Dad!" Y/N pouted sarcastically. 

"Y/N!" 

"Go away," she said playfully. 

He raised a brow. "Last I checked, this is my classroom. You go away." he said. Y/N gasped very dramatically, putting a hand to her heart. 

"Also, find Cedric for me. He came to me, earlier, told me how happy he is that I'm his teacher," said Remus with a smile. She gave him a salute and a smile, just happy to be here. 

"Okay, now genuinely. Go away, you little problem," he said teasingly. 

"I have stuff to grade." He pulled her by her arm to the door while she complained. "See you, kid. Love you," he said as she left. 

"See ya, Dad. Love you," she replied, walking into the corridor, turning the corner and disappearing from view. 

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In no time at all, Defense Against the Dark Arts became the favourite class of basically the whole student body. But, of course, Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins always had something negative to say. 

"Look at his robes," Malfoy would say with a sneer in a loud whisper when Remus passed him. "He dresses like our old house elf." 

Y/N had to calm herself down each time, but it wasn't easy. The tinging of her palms and the anger burning in her veins could usually only be cured by Harry grabbing her hand. 

If her anger was on a lower level, a whisper of "Y/N, no!" from Hermione usually did the trick. Sometimes Hermione had to remind Y/N that there was no Harry (and Ron and herself) in Azkaban. 

Ron, of course, never stopped her. On most occasions, he was cheering her on aloud, telling her to beat his arse to a hair-gelled pulp. He always groaned when she calmed down, but knew it was for the best anyway. 

But nobody else cared that Y/N's uncles clothes were patched and frayed. Honestly, did the Slytherins not understand aesthetic reasons? 

In Y/N's opinion (the right opinion), her uncle was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher ever.

 After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps - nasty little creatures that found their homes in battlefields, basking in the bloodshed, waiting to bludgeon those that had gone lost. After Red-Caps, they studied Kappas that dwelled  in the kelp and seagrass of lakes, pulling unsuspecting swimmers into the depths. 

She only wished some other classes were going well. Y/N had good grades, getting O's and E's on every assignment, but the classes were just boring. From being around Professor Snape in Potions, she had gotten another detention. Divination was just boring and frankly, a little weird. 

Professor Trelawney had started tearing up every time she laid eyes on Y/N and Harry. It was unsettling, but Y/N made fun of Harry nonetheless. Lavender and Parvati began to haunt Trelawney's tower during lunchtimes, always returning with smug looks on their faces, as if they knew things that everyone else didn't. 

Thought Y/N loved Hagrid, she couldn't deny that his classes were getting boring. After the action-packed first lesson, Hagrid had toned it down. Now, they were working with Flobberworms, ugly, slimy creatures that didn't do much. 

"Why would anyone want to take care of these buggers," Ron said glumly, shoving a piece of lettuce down the animals throat - like he had been doing. For an hour. 

"Maybe they'll be the cure to...er...Hermione, what hasn't been cured?" Y/N said, poking her Flobberworm with a twig. 

"Evanesce Dystrophy," Hermione replied tiredly. She too, had given up and was just holding the lettuce at the worm's mouth. The worm just stared at it. 

Harry hadn't even tried. The whole period, Y/N could feel his eyes on her. She willed herself not to blush, but didn't know if it was working. 

Ron noticed. "Harry, how 'bout you give those snog-me eyes to the Flobberworm and not my sister," he said roughly. 

Hermione snickered. "Yeah, Harry," she said teasingly. 

Both Y/N and Harry blushed profusely, then Harry looked away, determinedly forcing lettuce down the Flobberworm's slimy throat. 

But the start of October brought one exciting thing - Quidditch. Y/N played for fun, never really considering trying out, but Harry had been a staple player on the team since their first year. He was the youngest and arguably most skilled Seeker of the century. 

Was he really hot while playing Quidditch? Maybe. 

Harry had practice three evenings a week. But Y/N, Ron and Hermione found time to watch every single one, even through the rain and the muddy weather. Usually, Hermione would place some charms upon them to keep them warm and to prevent their homework from getting drenched. 

One night after Harry's practice, the quartet was sitting in the common room, completing star charts for Astronomy. Hermione had completed hers and Y/N was almost finished when the topic of Hogsmeade popped up. 

"First Hogsmeade weekend on Halloween!' exclaimed Ron, neglecting his paper. 

Y/N frowned as Harry looked at the floor. He hadn't been able to get his form signed. 

"I'm sure you'll be able to go next time, Harry," said Hermione. 

"Yeah," Y/N agreed. "They're bound to catch Black soon. Ignore your weird interaction with Malfoy...him going on about you playing hero..." she said. "Anyway, they've sighted him already." 

Ron interjected, "Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade. Ask Professor McGonagall if you can go! Next one might not be for ages."  

"Ron!" Hermione scolded. "Harry isn't supposed to leave school grounds!" 

"Without the highest level of security. Lets hire some Aurors to protect him, maybe then he can come," said Y/N jokingly. Ron and Harry snickered. 

Hermione gave her a look. "This is not a laughing matter, Y/N!" 

"Just let him ask McGonagall. He can't be the only third year left behind!" Y/N said. 

Still looking at the floor, Harry made up his mind. "Yeah, yeah. I'll ask," he said. 

Feeling something swishing around her ankles, Y/N saw Crookshanks circling her legs. She scratched him behind the ears, laughing as he lightly jumped into her lap. He walked across her, making her squirm and settled on Hermione's lap. From his mouth dangled a dead spider. 

Making a disgusted face, Ron said, "Why does it have to eat that in front of us?" 

"Just to annoy you, mate," said Harry tiredly, exhausted from Quidditch practice. 

Hermione and Y/N looked fondly at the cat. "Did you catch that all by yourself, Crookshanks?" she praised. 

"Just- keep that thing away from me, alright?" said Ron. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag." 

Suddenly, as if he understood Ron,  Crookshanks pounced at Ron's bag, scaring Scabbers out of it. "GET OFF, YOU STUPID CAT!" Ron bellowed. 

A wild chase ensued, with roars from Ron. "CATCH THAT CAT!" he exclaimed. Eventually, Scabbers ran under a table and out of reach from Crookshanks. Ron spent ten minutes coaxing his rat out. When Scabbers finally appeared, Ron hurried upstairs and locked the rat in the boy's dorm. When he came back, he scowled dagger at the cat. 

"Keep that damn cat away. Lock him in your dorm!" Ron said to Hermione. "He's fucking stupid."

Y/N leaned over, picking the animal up. She asked the cat, "Aww, is poor Ronnie over there being mean to you?" 

Ron glowered even harder. 

Crookshanks didn't reply. 

Chuckling, Harry said, "I think he's saying 'Let go of me, you giant, stubborn-'" 

"Finish that sentence, Potter." 

"No thanks...!" 

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

i love remus sm 

anyway, thank you for reading this chapter! pls point out spelling mistakes bc all my chapters are unedited :) 

also, ik not many people have read this, but i appreciate everyone who has - pls leave a comment <3 

fred, george and ron being protective bros >>>> 

soon, i promise, SOOOONNN we'll see elijahhh, also i wanna be friends with cedric idk....😏

anyway, love ya 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

- dizzyann1e