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

Harry's P.O.V. 

The weather grew worse as the Quidditch match approached, but the spirit of the Gryffindor team remained never wavered. 

Under the watchful eye of Madam Hooch, who had to supervise practice because of Harry, they all trained harder than ever. Through mud, through rain, through storms. 

Y/N, Hermione and Ron came to his practices, of course. After he was finished, Hermione would place a warming charm on him and Y/N would chuck a blanket at his face. 

Ron would just laugh at him. 

A week ago, Harry under the impression that they were playing Slytherin, but then Y/N informed him that they were playing Hufflepuff. When he asked her how she knew, she said, "Oh, Ceddy and Ellie - er - Cedric, and Elijah told me -  oh, and Oliver." 

It wavered Harry's spirit a little. 

✦ 

The day before the match, the winds were howling, trees bending from the strength. The torches in the corridors were lit even during the day, flickering when students ran past. 

Harry and Y/N were running past. 

They were very late to Defense Against the Dark Arts because Y/N took too much time speaking to Sir Cadogan. Then, Oliver Wood pestered Harry about practicing and playing his best - making them ten minutes late. 

"Hurry up, Y/N" 

"These books are bloody heavy, Merlin!" she complained, quickening her pace. 

"You don't care 'cause its not like your uncle's gonna give you detention!" 

"Obviously!" 

He and Y/N skidded to a halt outside the classroom door, Harry jerked it open and the two strode inside. 

"Sorry, Uncle Rem-"

"Sorry, Professor Lup-"

But it wasn't Professor Lupin that looked up at them from the desk. It was Snape. Harry's lips curled into a frown by habit. 

"This lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, Sterling," he said. "So, two Gryffindors, ten minutes. Let's take twenty points from Gryffindor. Sit down." 

But Harry and Y/N didn't move. 

"Where's my uncle?" 

"Where's Professor Lupin?" 

Snape rolled his eyes. "He is too ill to teach today," he said with a smirk. "Now, I believe I told you to sit down." 

They dragged themselves over to a desk and sat down. Then, Harry heard Y/N murmur, "I'll ask Remus about it later...oh," she said with something that sounded like realization.

"Hm?" he asked. 

"Nothing," Y/N said quietly, taking her textbook out. He knew it was something, but didn't press the matter. 

"As I was saying before Potter and Y/N interrupted," began Snape. "Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you've covered-" 

"Please, sir. We've covered Boggarts, Red Caps, Kappas and Grindylows," said Hermione quickly. "We were about to begin-" 

"Be quiet," snapped Snape. "I was not inquiring information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupins...organization abilities," he said. 

Harry saw Y/N's hands form into fists beside him. He knew what she was thinking. 

"Do not mess up his potions ingredient store room, he loves organization," 

"I'm gonna mess up his potions ingredient store room, let him talk about organization," 

They said at the same time. Harry shook his head, "No, you just finished your third detention from the prank. You still have four to go, don't add another," he whispered to her. 

"You sound like Hermione," she answered grumpily. 

He rolled his eyes, "And I'm okay with that as long as you don't get detention." 

"Aww, does Mr. Potter care?" Y/N teased, nudging him. 

Harry blushed, "Okay - well, er, maybe I do, but, er-" 

Snape slammed a textbook down on his desk. "Today, we shall discuss," he began, flipping through the pages of the textbook, ending at the very back chapter, one they hadn't covered yet. "Werewolves." 

Hermione raised her hand, unable to restrain herself. "But, sir - we're not supposed to start werewolves yet, we're due to cover Hinkypunks-" 

"Miss Granger, I am teaching this lesson. Now, all of you, turn to page three-hundred and ninety-four," said Snape in a dangerously calm voice. 

Harry didn't open his book, staring at Snape in defiance. How did he speak to Hermione like that? He had no respect for his students, so why should Harry respect him? 

"Turn to page three-hundred and ninety-four, Potter," Snape said harshly. 

Opening his book with a scowl, Harry flipped to the page. He glanced to Y/N, who had the page open but wasn't looking. She must already know all of this since her uncle was the teacher. 

"Now, which of you can tell me how to distinguish between a werewolf and a true wolf?" asked Snape. 

Harry knew Hermione's hand would shoot up, but he also expected Y/N to know. The h/c kept her gaze on the book while Snape looked around. 

"Anyone?" he asked, ignoring Hermione's hand. His twisted smile was back, "Are you telling me that Professor Lupin has not even taught you basic distinction?" 

"Professor, we told you," said Parvati Patil. "We haven't started werewolves-" 

"Silence!" Snape snarled. "Oh, I will be informing Dumbledore how far behind you are and of Lupins abysmal teaching skills," he said. 

Y/N slammed her fist on the desk, glaring at Snape and opening her mouth to shout. Harry grabbed her hand from the desk and rubbed soft circles with his thumb. 

" 's not worth it," he mumbled. 

"Did you hear what he said about Remus?" Y/N whisper-yelled. 

Harry nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on Snape, who was scolding Neville about something or the other. "Yes, I did. But you can't yell at him." 

She raised a brow, "And why is that, Harry?" 

"Because, what if he gives you detention for tomorrow? You can't miss my Quidditch match!" he said. 

"You are something else," Y/N said while shaking her head. Harry didn't care that he was blushing, he was just glad that she had calmed down. 

"Thank you," he replied childishly. 

"Potter, Y/N, shut up," said Snape sharply. The Professor looked around the class and asked again, "Anyone?" 

"Please, sir!" interjected Hermione. "The werewolf can be distinguished by it's snout-" 

"That is the second time you spoken out of turn, Ms. Granger," Snape said coldly. "Five points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all." 

Hermione went very red and Y/N squeezed Harry's hand so hard he was worried for his circulation. 

The entire class was glaring at Snape with loathing - a mark of how much they hated him, for they had all called Hermione a know-it-all at least once (either rudely or jokingly).

Ron, who was sitting next to Hermione and called her a know-it-all at least twice a week, spoke loudly, "You asked us a question, Hermione knows the answer! Why ask if you don't want to be told?" he demanded. 

Hermione winced and placed a hand on his shoulder in warning. 

Snape gave a cruel smile. "Detention, Weasley. Talk to me after class." Mumbling angrily in agreement, Ron nodded and Snape continued. "And if you criticize the way I teach my class again, you will be very sorry."

"It's not his class!" whispered Y/N in anger. Harry just rubbed her hand with his thumb again and she fell quiet. 

The class did not make another sound for the rest of the lesson. They silently took notes about werewolves. When the bell rang and the students rose to leave, Snape assigned them an essay about werewolves. 

Harry, Y/N, Hermione and Ron (once he had spoken to Snape) waited until they were out of earshot of the classroom, then began to cuss out Snape. 

"At least I have detention with Y/N," Ron said glumly, but wrapped an arm around her. 

"Oh, that's... so great..." Y/N said sarcastically. Harry and Hermione smiled. "Wait - do you know  what they detention is?" 

Ron replied, "Scrubbing the bedpans in the hospital wing - without magic," he said in annoyance. Y/N groaned. 

"Why couldn't Black have hidden in Snape's office? Should've finished him off for us!" 

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

Harry was awoken extremely early the next morning. Y/N was shaking him, whispering, "Harry, Harry, Harry!" in his ear. Once she saw his eyes flutter open, she backed off. 

Reaching for his glasses on his bedside table, he asked, "What's going on?" in a raspy voice. 

When he put his glasses on an sat up, he saw that Y/N's face was completely red. Weird. 

"Your Quidditch match is today! Get up!" she exclaimed, opening his Trunk and shuffling through the contents. 

"Mhmm..." said Harry, swinging his legs off the bed and watching Y/N. "What're you doing?" 

She ignored him, pushing clothes and books aside before pulling his red Quidditch robes from his trunk. Y/N threw them at his face, but he caught them due to his Seeker reflexes. 

"Nice try, you know I always catch everything." 

"The banana that I threw at you in second year says otherwise," she grinned. 

Harry glanced at his alarm clock and was absolutely outraged at the time. "Y/N! It is half past four in the morning!" he whispered, since Ron and the others were still sleeping. 

Y/N nodded, "I know," she said. "I haven't spent time with you in forever, plus, you went to bed super early. Plus plus, it'll distract you." 

He rolled his eyes playfully and got up. Y/N turned away from him and averted her gaze as he changed into his scarlet Quidditch robes. Once he gave her the "Okay," she turned back around. 

Her face was, again, completely red. 

This time, Harry smirked - he absolutely loved seeing her flustered. 

Wait. No he didn't...

But, he ignored it. He could flirt with her just this once...it didn't mean he liked her. It was a Friend Thing. It was a one-time thing. 

Yeah. Friend Things. 

As Y/N stood near his bed, fussing with his bedsheets, Harry went over to his Trunk. Digging through the contents, he pulled out a hoodie. His black hoodie - his favorite hoodie. 

"Y/N?" he called. She turned around, a smile on her face. She was still wearing her plaid red pajama pants a tank top. 

"Yeah?" Y/N responded, eyeing the sweater in his hands. On Halloween evening, before they had gone to bed, Y/N told him that his black hoodie looked good on him. At the time, it had made him blush furiously. It was her turn, now. 

"You said my black hoodie looked good on me, that day, Halloween," he began slowly with a grin. 

She scoffed playfully, "No, I didn't. Are you going insane, Potter?" 

He moved closer to her with a bold smile. "If I quote you exactly, you said, 'Potter, have I ever told you that you look fit in that hoodie?'" he said teasingly, hanging the hoodie over his shoulder. 

This was fun. 

Y/N gasped. "Woah, I did not." 

Harry raised a brow and she continued,

"I said, 'Harry, you look good in that hoodie.' Don't put words into my mouth!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, you admit I looked good?" he asked. They were feet apart now. 

Y/N flushed, "Well-" 

Harry smirked, then pulled the hoodie off his shoulder. "Now..." he began, pushing the hoodie into Y/N's arms. "Let's see how you look in my hoodie," Harry said.

Then he heard Y/N's breath hitch. It just encouraged him. 

"Put it on, I'll see you in the common room, Y/N," he said, sending her a wink, grabbing his Nimbus 2000 and exiting his dorm. 

As he descended the staircase, he could tell he was red. Like, completely red. But...that was fun. That was thrilling - he convinced himself it was practice. Y/N was one of his best friends. 

He sat down in the armchair by the fire and leaned back, imagining what she'd look like in his hoodie...

✦

Meanwhile... 

Y/N's P.O.V. 

Her heart was racing. She literally couldn't breathe - what was that? When had Harry, her awkward, kind friend, gotten so...bold? 

She had to admit, it was attractive. But then again, he was one of her best friends. Friendly flirting was a thing, right? 

Right. 

Y/N stared at the sweater, face burning. Harry had asked her to put it on... maybe she could get him back for it. 

Slipping the sweater on over her red tank top, Y/N fixed Harry's bedsheet (that wasn't messed up) just to avoid going downstairs. 

Once she could find nothing else to do, she walked down the stairs and into the common room. Harry was sitting in an armchair by the fire and when he saw Y/N, he sent her a triumphant smirk. 

"Guess now I know how you look in my hoodie," Harry said smugly as Y/N approached him. "Beautiful." 

Well, her whole plan of "getting him back" was run over by the Hogwarts Express, waterboarded, shot with a gun, then burned at the stake when he said that. 

His voice was still raspy from the morning and his Quidditch robes looked particularly good on him...but she'd never tell him that. 

"Shut your face, Potter," mumbled Y/N, gaslighting herself into thinking she wasn't blushing. 

"My handsome one?" Harry teased, referencing the day they laid in their sleeping bags, after Black's break-in. 

Y/N groaned, "Stop. Just - we're done here," she said. Harry shrugged, but his smirk never left, as she sat down on the couch.

The two began light conversation, which quickly evolved into random queries. Which Dragon would they be in a fight and why? What colour was each subject? Potions was green, no argument, in Y/N's opinion. But in Harry's... 

"C'mon, Herbology is green!" he exclaimed. 

"Herbology is sage." 

"What's the difference?!" 

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

They talked the hours away, then when it was finally time, they walked down to Breakfast. Y/N was still in Harry's hoodie when Hermione and Ron joined them at the table. Ron raised a brow at Harry, Hermione stared between Y/N and Harry, beaming. 

"Right, Mate! Big match," Ron said, patting Harry on the back. 

"You'll win for sure," said Y/N. "Please win, I know I've already said it, but I want to shove it in Ced's face," she explained. 

Harry's expression hardened for a moment, then went back to normal. "Alright...that was odd," thought Y/N, but she shrugged it off. 

"You've beaten Hufflepuff once before," said Hermione. "You caught the snitch in about five minutes. You'll do great, Harry." 

The raven-haired boy smiled at her gratefully, but the smile vanished when Oliver Wood approached them. 

"I see you've already changed, Potter," Wood said to Harry. 

Y/N caught Harry's eye - the events after Harry changed...she shook those thoughts away. 

Harry nodded and Oliver continued, "Right, then. To the pitch," he said, pulling Harry up by the arm and dragging him away. 

Hermione cast some warming charms on herself, Y/N and Ron. They headed to the pitch, clutching their jackets close to them. The wind was howling as the rain pounded down. 

Taking their place at the Gryffindor's stand, Y/N asked Hermione worriedly, "What if something bad happens? This weather can't be good." 

"Everything will be okay, Y/N," reassured Hermione, tiredly. 

The Hufflepuffs were approaching the pitch, wearing their canary yellow robes. Y/N searched for Cedric - then saw him at the front, team Captain. 

He sent her a wave and a smile, so Y/N sent one back. 

"Mount your brooms!" said Madam Hooch, her voice amplified by a charm. 

The players mounted their brooms and Y/N saw Harry swing his leg over his Nimbus 2000. He searched the crowd, looking for his friends. When he found Y/N, Hermione and Ron, he sent them a grin. 

Hermione and Ron looked away to talk to Dean for a moment, so Harry sent Y/N a wink. "Potter," she grumbled in her mind. 

"Captains, shake hands," ordered Madam Hooch. 

And the game began. 

✦

Harry's P.O.V. 

Harry been only been flying for five minutes, but he was already drenched. He could barely see his teammates, let alone a tiny snitch. He couldn't hear the commentary over the wind, he had no idea what was happening. At one point, he was almost knocked off his broom by a Bludger - the crowd was a sea of cloaks and battered umbrellas. 

He lost track of time, the sky darkened as though night had come early. With the first flash of lightning, Harry saw Wood's illuminated figure through the fog. He beckoned Harry to the ground. 

The team huddled under an umbrella at the edge of the Pitch. "I've called for a time out," said Oliver. 

"What's the score?" asked Fred.

"We're fifty points up," Oliver answered. "But if we don't catch the Snitch soon, we'll be playing into the night," he said, looking at Harry. 

Harry hurriedly wiped his glasses, though it didn't do much. "I can't see anything in these! Fat chance even seeing the Quaffle - let alone the Snitch!" he said. 

At that very moment, his friends appeared at his shoulder. They were beaming. 

"I've had an idea, Harry! Give me your glasses, quick!" ordered Y/N. He pulled them off his face and handed them to her. 

The team watched in amazement as Y/N tapped them with her wand and said, "Impervius!" 

"There!" Hermione said as Ron grabbed the glasses and handed them to Harry. 

"Now they'll repel water! It's the spell I used to stay safe from the orange juice," Y/N explained. 

Wood looked like he could've kissed her. 

Harry sent Wood a glare. 

Fred and George whistled appreciatively, "That's how you did it!" Then, they pause, looking affronted. "Why didn't you place it on us and Elijah?!" 

Y/N said nothing, disappearing with Ron and Hermione into the crowd. "Brilliant! Alright, team," said Wood. 

"Let's go for it." 

✦

Y/N's charm had worked, like, well, a charm. 

Harry was still numb with cold and wetter than ever, but he could see. And that was all that mattered. Fresh with determination, Harry whipped his head in every direction, avoiding Bludgers and looking for the Snitch. 

Another clap of thunder. 

Followed by forked lightning. 

This was getting more and more dangerous - Harry needed to get to the Snitch as soon as possible. 

Another flash of lightning.

And then, Harry saw it. 

Illuminated in the top corner of the stands, in the empty row of seats, was a large, black dog. The Grim. 

His hand slipped off his broom. He fell a few feet, then shook his head and squinted his eyes towards the stands - the dog was gone. The Grim was gone. 

"Harry!" came a cry from Wood, at the goalpost. "Harry! Behind you!" 

Harry swung around, searching wildly. Cedric was streaking up the Pitch, chasing a shimmering golden ball... 

Flattening himself against the handle of his Nimbus 2000, Harry shot through the sky towards the Snitch. 

But the wind, it was silent. 

And the rain, it felt like nothing. 

It was as though someone had muted the world. An eerie silence spread over the pitch. 

What was going on? 

And then, a cold sensation swept over him. Dread built up in his chest, pounding in his ears. Harry became suddenly aware of something...moving on the pitch below... 

He took his eyes of the Snitch and looked down to see at least a hundred Dementors. Looking up at him, their faces hidden by cloth. 

He heard a scream...the same scream...the screaming woman. 

"Not Harry! Please, not Harry!" 

"Stand aside, you silly girl...I said stand aside." 

"Please, not Harry! Take me, kill me instead-"  

What was Harry doing? Why was he playing Quidditch? This woman was dying...he needed to...he needed to help her... 

He was falling. 

Icy mist whipping his face. 

"Not Harry! Have mercy, please, have mercy!" 

A shrill laugh rung in Harry's ears, the woman's scream's never stopping.

And then Harry knew nothing but black. 

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

"Merlin, it's a miracle he's alive!" 

"I knew something would happen!" 

"Lucky the ground was so soft, he didn't even break his glasses... I thought he'd be dead for sure." 

"Shut up, George! Why would you even say that?" 

"Look, he's waking up!" 

Harry could hear the whispered voices, but they made no sense to him. He didn't have a clue as to what was going on, but he knew Y/N was there. 

"That was the scariest thing I've ever seen." 

Scariest...fear...feeding off fear...hooded black figures and shrill screaming... 

Harry snapped his eyes open to see that he was in the Hospital Wing. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, still in their scarlet robes, surrounded him. Y/N, Ron and Hermione were there as well. 

"Harry!" exclaimed Fred, who looked extremely white. "How're you feeling?" 

"Like a million galleons," said Harry, dryly. 

Y/N frowned at him, "This is so not the time, Harry," she said softly. She was still wearing his hoodie and it made his heart flutter. 

" 'M sorry - but, er, what happened?" he asked, sitting up suddenly and eliciting a gasp from everyone.

"You fell off," said Hermione. Harry tried not to roll his eyes at her stating the obvious. 

Ron added, "Had to be at least fifty feet." 

Alicia Spinnet was shaking, "We thought you'd died." 

"Y/N was out of her mind with worry," said Hermione, glancing at the h/c. Hermione, Ron, and Y/N's eyes were bloodshot. But Y/N...the red rimming her eyes was noticeable, highlighting the tears that still glistened in her eyes. "We all were." 

Harry only had one thing in mind. "We didn't - we didn't...lose...did we...?" 

George scratched his neck awkwardly. "Cedric...he caught the Snitch just after you fell," he said. 

Y/N sniffed and Harry saw her wipe remains of tears from her eyes. "Ced - he wanted a rematch, said he felt terrible when he saw you on the ground," she said. 

"But it was done, they won fair and square - even Wood admits it," said Angelina Johnson. 

"Where is Wood?" said Harry. 

"In the showers, still," Fred responded. "We think he's trying to drown himself." 

Harry groaned, bringing his hands to his head and gripping his hair in frustration. Fred took hold of his shoulder and shook it roughly. He felt horrible - and not because of the fall. 

"C'mon, Harry! You've never missed the Snitch before," said Fred. 

George nodded, "There had to be one time when you didn't get it." 

"We lost by one hundred, so If Hufflepuff loses to Ravenclaw...and we beat Ravenclaw and Slytherin..." said Fred. 

"But Hufflepuff'll need to lose by at least two hundred..." George pointed out. 

Harry wasn't listening.

Harry wanted to drown himself in the showers, too. This was his first ever loss - and it was hitting hard. He looked up into the faces of his friends and teammates. He failed them... 

Everything had been fine this morning. His talk with Y/N had dissolved all his nerves - and then this happened. 

Madam Pomfrey ushered the team out. They all gave him comforting pats on the back before leaving. As the door clicked closed, Y/N, Ron and Hermione came closer. 

"Oh, Harry, why do you always end up in the Hospital Wing?" said Hermione sadly. 

"He's Harry Potter, 'Mione. He's going to be in the Hospital Wing at least once a year," Y/N replied with a weak chuckle. 

"Dumbledore was really angry," said Ron. "Never seen him like that before. He waved his wand at you and you sort of, er, slowed down before you hit the ground." 

Hermione added, "Then he shot some silver stuff at the Dementors...they flew away." 

"That silver stuff is a-" Y/N said. 

"Magicked you onto a stretcher and brought you here," Ron finished. Y/N huffed. 

Harry looked up at them. The three were looking so anxious, he racked his brain for something to say. "Did someone get my Nimbus?" he asked. 

They all traded guilty glances. 

"Er-'

"What?" Harry asked, looking between the three of them. 

Hermione nudged Y/N to start, which was a good idea, since Y/N was least likely to be yelled at by Harry.

 Y/N sent her a look, but said, "Well...when you fell off, it got blown away..." she began hesitantly. 

"And...?" 

"And - Harry, it..." Hermione said, then glanced again at Y/N for help. 

She huffed and said, "It...well, it hit... the Whomping Willow..." 

Harry's stomach lurched. The Whomping Willow was a large tree in the middle of the grounds - a very large, very violent tree. 

"And...?" he asked again, dreading the answer. 

Ron spoke this time. "And...you know...the Whomping Willow doesn't like to be hit..." 

"Professor Flitwick retrieved it after the match..." said Hermione in a very small voice. 

Slowly, Hermione reached down and presented a bag to Harry. She flipped it over, dumping the pieces of Harry's faithful, finally beaten broomstick at the foot of his bed. 

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

Y/N's P.O.V. 

"'Mione, hand me your paper on werewolves," Ron said, making grabby-hands at Hermione. 

She looked at him skeptically, "Ronald, do your own work for once!" she complained. "I helped you with Transfiguration." 

"And now I need help with D.A.D.A!" he said with a playfully solemn expression. 

"Do your own work, Ronnie," called Y/N from the other side of the room. 

She was bent over Fred, who was asleep on the couch. Slowly but surely, she was creating a stack of random objects on top of him. Her tower was getting higher and higher, tipping precariously. 

It was just...something to distract her from Harry. How hurt he was, how he fell...

It just helped her keep Harry off her mind. 

Even though he was always there. 

But this way. she could stop worrying about him. She'd seen him that afternoon, with Ron and Hermione.

Ron frowned at her, "You're not even doing work! It's your uncle's class!" 

"Already finished!" Y/N lied through her teeth. Remus would call the essay off anyway. Y/N had told Hermione, but Hermione insisted that she wanted to do the essay. It was very...Hermione of her. 

Remus would call the essay off because, firstly, Snape couldn't assign them homework. Second, he didn't want anyone connecting the dots and discovering his lycanthropy. 

"Show me!" Ron exclaimed.

She ignored him, then stacked more objects on her pile. The pile started with a wide pillow, but contained: textbooks, quills, potted plants, etc. "Ron!" Y/N called

"YEAH?" Ron perked up, hoping Y/N would give him answers. 

"Pass me Scabbers, would you, Ron?" 

"No!" Ron said, outraged. He groaned sadly and turned back to Hermione.

"Hermione!" Y/N called again. 

"Yes, Y/N?" Hermione asked, looking up from her essay. 

"Pass me Crookshanks, would you?" 

"No." 

George came through the Portrait Hole with Elijah. Nobody said anything, Elijah's presence was a reoccurrence that everyone had gotten used to. He flicked his blonde hair and sent her a smile, readjusting his bookbag on his shoulder.

"Hey, you pretty rascal" Elijah greeted Y/N. "Whatcha doing...?" he eyed the tower apprehensively. "Why is there a frying pan in your hand...?

"Yeah, and where's Freddie?" asked George. 

"He's underneath the stuff!" Y/N said simply.

They looked at her and Elijah bent down, searching for Fred in the pile. She placed the frying pan on top of the tower and smiled, satisfied. 

Y/N snapped her fingers at George jokingly. "Pass me Ellie's bookbag," she told him. He obliged, snatching the bag off of Elijah's shoulder and handing it to Y/N. 

Carefully, she brought it closer to the top of the pile. Biting her lip in concentration, she inched the bookbag closer. Once she had finally placed it, she clapped her hands. 

"Success!" 

Fred screamed as the whole tower came tumbling down. 

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

It was midnight, two days after the Quidditch match. And Y/N was doing what Y/N did best - no good. 

A couple hours ago, she had snuck up to the Boy's Dormitory and taken Harry's Invisibility Cloak. 

Now, she was sitting criss-cross on her bed. After making sure everyone was asleep, she pocketed her wand, slipped the Cloak on over her pajamas and exited the dorm. Y/N tiptoed down the staircase and across the common room. Pushing open the Portrait Hole and ignored Sir Cadogan's yells. 

"Who goes there? Show yourself, you mangy cur!" 

He couldn't see her, she'd be fine. 

Y/N walked quietly through the hallways, narrowly avoiding Snape. "What's he doing awake at this hour?" she observed, glaring at him until he turned the corner, disappearing from sight. 

Cursing him out silently, she continued on her journey. After a couple more minutes, she reached the Hospital Wing. The door was closed, but Y/N just murmured a quick "Alohomora!" and it clicked open. 

Madam Pomfrey really needed some better security. 

Creeping inside, Y/N froze as she heard footsteps. Madam Pomfrey was walking towards the door, tutting to herself. She murmured, "I thought I closed this-" and slowly pushed the door shut. 

Once she had walked away and into her office, which was separate from the Hospital Wing, Y/N let out the breath she was holding. 

The Ward was empty, well, except for one bed at the far side. Harry's bed. 

Y/N hurried over, gently shaking Harry awake. 

"What? Who-" 

She took the Cloak off quickly, covering Harry's mouth with her hand. "Pipe down, Potter!" she whispered. She'd been doing a lot of whispering, lately. 

Harry looked immensely relieved. Y/N took his glasses from his bedside and fixed them onto his face. "Thanks," he said.

"Why're you here?" Harry asked, sitting up. 

Y/N shrugged, "I guess you could say I missed you," she said simply. No embarrassment there - it was true. "You're all alone here, thought I'd keep you some company." 

"In the middle of the night?" Harry asked skeptically. 

"I don't have time, like, ever! During the day is school and after school I'm with Ron and 'Mione. We come and see you but we gotta leave, sharpish," Y/N explained. 

Harry nodded, "Do anything else?" 

"Well, sometimes I hang out with Fred, George and Elijah. Occasionally Ced, but he's with his Hufflepuff friends," Y/N said. 

"So...you came at midnight? You need sleep, Y/N!" said Harry. "You're already sleep deprived." 

"That's not the point, the point is you're alone and injured. And I'm your friend. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't check up on you?" Y/N asked, hands on her hips. 

Harry mumbled something under his breath that Y/N didn't catch. "Come again?" 

"Nothing," he said quickly. 

Okay...? 

"Why'd you wake up so quick? I thought you'd be out like a light," Y/N said, sitting down at the edge of his bed. 

Harry shook his head, "I dunno, the screaming...It keeps playing. Over and over and over," he told her. 

"What screaming?" said Y/N sharply. Was Harry okay? 

"It's - a voice. It always happens when I'm near a Dementor...It's a voice begging Voldemort...to..." It seemed as though something had dawned on him. 

Harry's voice shook as he continued, "It...was my mum. It was my mum begging Voldemort to spare me-" he choked on his words. "To spare me and take her instead..." 

Y/N's eyes widened, "Oh...Harry..." she said in sympathy. She could tell him about Patronusses, to keep the Dementors at bay, but she felt that it wasn't the time. "Harry, I didn't know..."

He sniffed, quickly wiping his tears away. "Stay with me...?"  

She wanted to stay, she wanted to wrap Harry in her arms for forever. "But - Madam Pomfrey?" 

"I don't care," said Harry. "It's not like you care about detention anyway." 

It was true, she didn't. But she did care about the stupid feelings instead her chest that weren't leaving. What was happening? 

It was fucking annoying. It felt like Y/N was going to have a panic attack but not  a panic attack because all she felt was...care for Harry. 

Then the butterflies started. "Nope. Not today. I swear to Merlin, get the bloody hell out. Out, I say." 

But she gave in - not because Harry begged her. But because that's what she wanted anyway.

"Alright, you've convinced me," she said teasingly with a brief laugh. Harry smiled. 

"Soooo, what'd I miss in Defense Against the Dark Arts today?" he asked. 

Y/N chuckled, "I...er, okay," she said. It took all of her strength to burst into laughter. "Okay - well, you didn't miss anything in class. But after, Malfoy was belittling you to our faces." 

"When does he not?" Harry said. 

"True," agreed Y/N. "Anyway, then he said something about my parents, so I hexed his nose off." 

Harry's eyes widened, "Like...actually...?" 

With a proud look, "Yep! Dad had to beg me to turn it back, also I talked to him about the werewolf essay. He'll take care of it." 

Harry laughed quietly. "I don't know how Professor Lupin puts up with you," he teased. 

"I don't know how Professor Lupin puts up with you," Y/N mimicked, purposefully pitching her voice higher. 

"I don't sound like that!" Harry protested with a laugh. 

"Whatever you say, Potter," she replied. "You're a whiny git." 

Harry gasped. "And you're very mean," he said childishly, crossing his arms. Then, he grabbed her hand and said, "Apologize for being mean." 

"No!" 

"Yes!" 

"No!" 

"Fine, then!" Harry said, pulling her down onto the hospital bed and shoving a pillow in her face. "This is what you get, Sterling" 

Y/N pushed him off playfully, fixing her hair. She sat up again but kept their hands together. "And I'm the mean one, am I, Harry?" 

He nodded matter-of-factly. "Yeah, that's what I said." 

Rolling her eyes, Y/N made to leave, but Harry pulled her down again. "Not so fast, Y/N," he said. Her stomach whirled. The physical touch...lately...it had been, well, overwhelming. In the good way. 

"What do you want, Scarhead?" she asked playfully. He gave her a look.

"What an original nickname," Harry said dryly as Y/N grinned. She loved being annoying. 

He continued, "Stay, please? You can pull up a chair, or something, but I need something to distract me from the screams." 

Y/N felt horrible. It was Friday...tomorrow was a weekend..."Okay, but If Madam Pomfrey gives me detention, it's your fault." 

"I am completely at peace with that!" Harry grinned. 

Rolling her eyes, Y/N dragged a chair to his bedside and sat down. After talking for a while about random things, Y/N shifted uncomfortably. "This chair feels like a rock," she groaned. 

"Come join me on the bed," Harry said casually. Then his eyes widened and his face turned pink. "I- I didn't mean it like that- I just-" 

Y/N burst into laughter. She loved his awkward side. 

"Y/N!" he whined. 

"I- I'm sorry," she said through laughs. "It's just-" 

"Don't. Just get on the bed," Harry said. "In the friend way," he clarified. 

Still laughing, she sat against the headboard. And Harry did what she was hoping he'd do. He shifted, repositioning himself so that his head was in her lap. Just like that day in the common room. 

Y/N had told Hermione about that and Hermione had absolutely freaked out, making them a little bit late to breakfast. 

Looking up at her, Harry said, "Entertain me." 

She raised her brows at him, "Where are your manners, Harry?" she tutted jokingly. 

"Manners don't work with you, unless you're actually in a formal situation," Harry argued. He was right. 

"Alright, alright," she said, bringing a hand up and resting it in his hair. "Do you want me to tell you a story," teased Y/N. 

To her surprise, Harry nodded. "Yeah, go for it, love." 

Love? 

He said love. 

He called her love. 

Harry James Potter called her love. 

She was speechless and apparently, Harry noticed. "Er - I mean, I love stories," he supplied awkwardly. 

"Right," she said slowly. Her mind was spinning. 

"Anyway, Dad told me that, back when he went to Hogwarts, he ended up in the Hospital Wing all the time," she told Harry. She knew why, of course. He ended up there after every full moon, after his transformation back into a human. He never named his friends, but they seemed like the best friends anyone could ask for. 

Well, after Harry, Ron and Hermione. They were Y/N's everything (along with Remus). 

"Go on," Harry said, closing her eyes. 

"Well, one time, his best friend - he always described him as 'short with long dark hair'- and this friend, he drank an infected goblet of pumpkin juice. It made him green, literally, and he was throwing up. Rushed him to the Hospital Wing," she said. Harry nodded for her to go on. 

"Madam Pomfrey put him right in about thirty seconds, but he insisted that he wasn't feeling well. He convinced Madam Pomfrey to let him stay and he sat by Dad's side all night." 

Harry mumbled sleepily, "Sounds like you..."

"Dad always says he had the best friends in the world, and-" she began, but then looked down and let out a small chuckle

Harry's eyes were closed and his breathing was slowed. A soft smile was spread on his face. Y/N took his glasses of him and placed them on the nightstand.  

"G'night, Scarface," she said softly, leaning back against the headboard and letting the lull of sleep wash over her. 

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

wooooooo quidditch chapter done! i put a lot of y/n and harry moments in this one for ya'll 

a little bit of romione if you squint hard enough 

i'm updating as often as possible, babes 💋

if u like the story so far, pls comment and vote! comments and votes give me so much motivation its crazy 

please point out spelling mistakes, babes, bc this chapter is unedited!

i'll update sooooonn (probably??) <3 

-dizzyann1e