A/N ~ Forth year is coming to an end soon ahhh :') This is the longest chapter I've ever written yet. Also, I can't stop putting lame gen z references in this story goodbye-

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(One month after the Yule Ball...)

Y/N felt like she was dead. She was alive, but dead.

The past month has been a blank and empty memory for her, in the worse way possible.

She went to all her classes with Hermione, saying nothing, answering nothing- just doing her work in the back of the class silently.

After Rita Skeeter's horrible article about Hagrid after the ball, Y/N had reported the woman's invasion of privacy to Dumbledore, who immediately banned Skeeter from the Hogwarts grounds.

The fact that that was the only good thing that happened in the past month was quite concerning...

Many people had gotten together, after the Yule Ball, mostly with the people they didn't even go to the ball with.

Ginny was now dating Micheal Corner, a dark haired Ravenclaw, Fred and Angelina were talking, and Rolf and Luna were hanging out a lot more often, even though Luna didn't seem to want anything more than their friendship.

Hermione and Krum were a thing, but Hermione barely talked about it, with Y/N. She didn't want to rub it in for her.

Cho and Cedric were also a couple. Turns out, Harry didn't please Cho much, and Fleur did not like Cedric at all- 'I go for the looks, but I only stay for the personality.' were her words.

But that didn't make any difference to Y/N's anger towards Harry.

Sure, it wasn't his fault that he was drugged with love potion by Fred and George, but he didn't seem to try and make up with her, afterwards, at all.

Y/N hated Harry's presence. It reminded her of the happy moments they had together- and how she'll never get to experience them ever again.

She almost forgot what smiling was like. Fleur and Hermione would make her laugh occasionally, but it was nothing- nothing like how Harry made her laugh.

She didn't know how he was keeping up; she didn't want to know. Because if he were completely fine without her, that would crush her ten times more.

Hermione had decided she was not going to talk to either Ron or Harry, for Y/N's sake. She, too, didn't seem as cheerful as always.

"I told you, Hermione," Y/N said weakly. "You can go talk to them. They're still your friends."

"Not without you, no," Hermione said stiffly. "Our friendship is nonexistent without you."

That made Y/N feel even more horrible.

She couldn't stand the Quartet being seperated, she couldn't stand bumping into Harry around the castle (especially after the day in the prefects' bathroom), she couldn't stand Malfoy's creepy sneers, and she couldn't stand not being with Harry in general.

His absence made her realize that it was too late. It was too late for her to turn back from falling for him.

(A/N ~ The next little scene was requested by one of you guys, enjoy<3)

The start of February felt unreal, just because Y/N had spent the whole of January not saying a single word to Ron or Harry at all.

And she didn't think she could take it any longer.

"Hermione, I've got to do something- anything." Y/N said desperately, covering her face, as Hermione got dressed, on a windy day. "How do I fix this? I'm still mad at him, but I can't... I just can't-"

"Oh, Y/N," Hermione sighed, as she slipped on her jumper. "It's not something for you to fix. It was entirely Harry's fault- betraying you like that. If this is going to be fixed, he will have to do it- not you."

"Should I just try to accept that he doesn't like me that way and forgive him?" Y/N said quietly, her hands still covering her face. "And maybe we could be friends again?"

"Friends don't hurt each other like that." Hermione said firmly, putting a hand on Y/N's shoulder.

"I can't get the stupid picture of him dancing with Cho out of my head!" Y/N fused, face palming herself on every word.

"Isn't Cho dating Cedric?" Hermione frowned. "She's not interested in Harry anymore, right?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean Harry doesn't like her." Y/N groaned, rolling around her bed like a spoiled child. "But then again... it wasn't his fault the twins fed him the love potion..."

"But it is his fault for not talking to you about it." Hermione said, sitting cross-legged on Y/N's bed. "I'm not trying to prevent you from him, but it seems to me that you've done nothing wrong in this situation, Y/N Scamander."

"I... I guess that's also true." Y/N said weakly, patting Hermione's leg sadly.

Little did the two girls know, they had left the door of their dormitory open, just slightly.

And at the branch between the girls and boys dormitories, Harry and Ron had heard parts of the conversation, since the walls muffled Y/N and Hermione's voices slightly.

"You heard that, mate?" Ron hissed to Harry excitedly."

"All I heard was Hermione saying that Y/N's not wrong in this situation." Harry said grimly, turning away and heading up the boys staircase. "Which is quite inaccurate, if you ask me-"

"Didn't you hear Y/N say something about you and Cho dancing-?" Ron quickly jogged after Harry. "Harry- make some sense. Have you seen her smiling, lately?"

"I..." Harry thought about it. No. Y/N would always keep her head down in class and even ignored some of her friends when they'd ask her a question.

To be true, Harry, himself, didn't remember the last time he smiled. He felt absolutely empty and even slightly ashamed... and he was undoubtedly still protective of her.

Whenever Malfoy tried to talk to Y/N or when he randomly sits with her during lunch, Harry would feel a growling creature in the pit of his stomach, wanting to chuck Malfoy into the deepest part of the Black Lake.

But he was also still angry at Y/N.

"You need her, mate." Ron said quietly, in his usual comforting and shy tone. "And she needs you..."

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It was a chilly day in February, also the day before the second task.

Everyone was excited- betting and chatting eagerly. But Y/N wasn't part of it all- Fleur was going to be great (she went to bed early for the task), and that was all Y/N cared about.

And so, she and Hermione studied, like always, in the library.

"Are you sure you don't want to... check up on him?" Hermione asked, as Y/N casually studied in the library, independently.

"Nope." Y/N said firmly, not taking her eyes off her homework. "He can drown in that lake, for all I care..." Hermione gave her a look. "You know I didn't mean that." Y/N quickly added, turning back to her Transfiguration essay.

"I know you don't." Hermione said darkly. "Fleur, on the other hand-"

"She'll be fine." Y/N said firmly. "She's a master at the Bubble-Head Charm. And she'd learned some useful defense spells from Maxime."

"Are you going to go watch, tomorrow?" Hermione asked quietly.

"'Course I am!" Y/N said, laughing slightly- which made her realize how long it had been since she genuinely laughed. "I gotta go cheer on Fleur."

"Y/N, can I ask you something?" Hermione asked slowly, looking up from her homework. Y/N stopped writing and looked up.

"Sure?"

"Do you still care for him?" Hermione asked quietly. "Harry, I mean."

Y/N blinked and froze at the sudden question, looking taken back.

"I..." she knew that she absolutely did. But it wouldn't help with anything, answering Hermione truthfully. It would just make her feel more embarrassed and stressed.

"Ahem," came a sharp cough.

Y/N and Hermione dropped their quills and turned to their right, to see Professor McGonagall crouching near them, with a sympathetic look on her face.

"Professor McGonagall!" Y/N exclaimed, slightly taken back. "I-... is it past curfew-?"

"It's not, Miss Scamander." The Professor smiled and adjusted her pointy hat. "I'm just here to collect you two to my office. If you don't mind."

"Oh- no, not at all." Hermione said, slightly frowning. "Your... office?"

"Er... are we trouble?" Y/N asked hesitantly.

"No, Miss Scamander, you are not." Professor McGonagall replied. "I just need to talk to you two about something. Now- quickly pack and follow me, please."

"Erm- OK..." Y/N quickly put her stationary in her school bag and got up from her seat, turning to wait for Hermione.

Hermione zipped up her bag and threw it over her shoulder, her hardcover books rattling inside it loudly.

Y/N forced her a smile, before following Professor McGonagall out of the library.

The professor led the two girls through countless corridors and hallways. They walked past the east tower, and right past Professor McGonagall's office... Y/N started to frown.

"Er, Professor?" She said slowly, looking around the empty hallway.

"Yes, Miss Scamander?" Professor McGonagall said in a sharp tone.

"We just past your office..." Y/N said, clutching onto the strap of her bag. "Where exactly are we going?"

"Professor Dumbledore's office." McGonagall replied shortly, walking faster down the hallway.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, but didn't say a thing. She gave Y/N a questioning look.

Y/N didn't ask more. She frowned and quickly jogged after the professor, until the three reached a huge statue of a Griffin.

"Bertie Bott's every flavor beans." Professor McGonagall recited clearly.

To Y/N's surprise, the Griffin statue became alive and hopped out of their way, revealing a spiral staircase.

"Follow me," Professor McGonagall said swiftly.

Y/N looked at Hermione in alarm, but quickly hopped up the stairs after Professor McGonagall, Hermione following her right behind.

Once they reached the door to Dumbledore's office, it swung open immediately. Professor McGonagall rushed Y/N and Hermione inside, before locking the door after her quickly.

Y/N stared around the room.

It was a circular room, with countless pieces of golden furniture, filled cupboards and flasks. Professor Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, in his pajamas, smiling softly, as his eyes twinkled.

Y/N was surprised to see Fleur's eight-year-old sister, Gabrielle, and Cho Chang, standing in the middle of the room, looking slightly frightened. They were both in their nightgowns.

"Gabrielle?" Y/N frowned, walking forwards to her friend's sister and putting a hand on her shoulder. "What's going on?"

Gabrielle looked exactly like Fleur- only tinier. Y/N had talked to her before, but Gabrielle barely understood English.

She shrugged, muttering something breathlessly in French and giving Y/N desperate look.

"We don't know either." Cho said, giving Y/N and Hermione a weak smile.

"Professor, why are we here?" Y/N asked Dumbledore in confusion, breaking the silence.

"I apologize dearly, girls," Dumbledore said calmly, standing up and walking around to the front of his desk. "but you all will be used as hostages, for the second task."

Y/N felt her body freeze. She didn't know what to expect. Fleur wasn't allowed to tell her about the task, so she knew absolutely nothing.

She heard Gabrielle whimper beside her.

"It's OK..." Y/N said to her soothingly, but felt her own voice shake.

"You're right, Miss Scamander." Dumbledore smiled. "You all will be completely safe- you will be put under a sleeping curse."

"What?" The four girls exclaimed.

"So we won't be able to watch the task?" Cho asked desperately. "But Cedric doesn't know-"

"Mr Diggory will be the one saving you, Miss Chang." said Professor McGonagall with a warm smile. "All champions will each have one treasured possession stolen from them. And they will have to retrieve them from the bottom of the Black Lake."

Y/N went still and glanced at Hermione. The bushy-haired girl was looking sick and pale in the face.

Y/N then turned to her side and frowned at Gabrielle.

"Wait- then why is Gabrielle here?" She asked the two Professors. Surely, if Y/N, herself, was Fleur's hostage, there was no reason for her own sister to be there?

"She is Miss Delacour's hostage." Professor McGonagall replied shortly.

"Then why am I here?" Y/N asked, still frowning.

Hermione was definitely Krum's hostage, and she knew Cho and Cedric were deeply in love with each other. Gabrielle was Fleur's... which left Y/N with-

"Harry is why you're here." Dumbledore said, with a slight grin on his face. "He will have to retrieve you from the merpeople."

Y/N felt her jaw drop, and the three other girls giggled quietly.

"B-but thats just-!" Y/N stammered, her head spinning. "That's just unreasonable- how do you know I'm his most 'prized possession'? What if he doesn't care about me enough to save me from dying?"

"Because, Scamander." Said Professor McGonagall, trying to hide her smile. "We've secretly performed an official Care Test on all of the champions. It was a test provided by the Ministry of Magic, to find out what (or who) the champions care about the most- and the results are in front of you."

The professor gestured to the four girls.

"And we will not let any of you perish." Dumbledore said with a small smile.

Hermione looked over at Y/N and gave her a hopeful smile, while Y/N simply stood glued to her spot, numb and confused.

She didn't know if she wanted to celebrate or ask a dozen more questions.

She was the person Harry cared for the most.

That had to mean something.

"For fair game's sake," Professor McGonagall quickly continued, raising her wand. "I will have to perform the charm right here and now. Hope you all understand."

Before Y/N could say or think anything- with a very bright flash, everything around her dissolved and went dark.

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"Last night, the champions' most prized possessions have been stolen." Mr Bagman announced, as the crowd went crazy.

Everyone was gathered at a wide deck with three stands, at the edge of the Black Lake. The weather was typical- cloudy and windy.

Harry was shuddering, holding the Gillyweed that Dobby had given to him, ten minutes ago. He was hesitant- but it was the last hope he's got.

"You'll be fine, mate." Ron said weakly, patting Harry's shoulder. "I'll- I'll go wait at the stands. Good luck."

He gave Harry a small smile before walking back to rest of the Gryffindors. The redhead looked around and frowned. Y/N and Hermione weren't there.

"The champions have one hour to retreat their stolen possessions-" Bagman continued, his voice echoing the deck. "-at the bottom of the Black Lake! Home to friendly creatures like Grindylows and Giant Squids!"

The crowd chuckled lamely.

"Get ready champions, task starts in 10 minutes!" Mr Crouch announced, giving all of them a smile.

Harry looked to his side to see Cedric rubbing his hands nervously, Krum talking to Karkaroff, and Fleur looking around, desperately.

She was loooking for her friends, Y/N and Hermione, and her little sister- but they were all gone.

"Hey, Harry," George approached him from behind, followed by Fred. They were both wearing sweaters and woollen hats that Harry wished he had at that moment, shivering in his red champion tank top and shorts.

"Hullo." Harry muttered, not in the mood to talk to anyone. He stared ahead of him firmly.

"We were just wondering," Fred smiled, tapping his 'bet box' mischievously. "Do you want any help? Asking from a friend?"

"You guys bet on me, didn't you?" Harry asked grimly, shivering, as a gush of wind past by.

"Well, you and little Y/N aren't talking anymore," George shrugged. "so we don't know how well you're keeping up with everything."

"I'm fine without her, thanks." Harry straight up lied.

"What happened to you two, anyway?" Fred asked, genuinely curious.

"Long story." Harry replied, staring out into the dark lake.

"Oh, but you have- 8 minutes to explain to us," said George, checking the clock that hung over their heads.

"Asking from a friend?" Fred went on, nudging Harry's bare shoulder. "C'mon, Harry, we just want to help- if we can."

"You can't help. If you must know, she's befriended Malfoy." Harry replied shortly, not looking at the twins.

"Malfoy?" Fred frowned, sending a glance at Malfoy, who was now bullying Dennis Creevey at the stands. "Last time I saw him, he was quite desperately flirting with her. She didn't seem interested- petrified him- like always."

"Well she went to meet up with him, on the night after the dance practice, OK?" Harry exclaimed, wanting more and more to jump into the Black Lake. "After I told her I liked her. Does that not mean enough?"

The twins raised their eyebrows at the word 'liked' and sent each other a knowing look.

Fleur was now searching the deck for her friends, with a huge frown on her face- why weren't they there?

"The night..." Fred slowly frowned. "the night after the dance practice? About a week before the ball?"

"I guess." Harry growled.

"But Harry, we were in the common room." George said, frowning thoughtfully. "We hung around in the common room every night, in December."

"What?" Harry finally looked at the twins.

"Well, that night, we waited until Ron dragged you up to bed, and then we went down to the common room." said Fred. "To brew our potion- Cheering Potion, four galleons a bottle, by the way."

Harry slowly felt his stomach sting. Could this mean-?

"Yes! Merlin-" George gaped- for once, he didn't sound like he was joking. "It's all been a huge misunderstanding! Harry-"

"But Malfoy had her woollen hat," Harry said quietly, his hope disappearing again. "She left it at the Slytherin common room."

"Hat?" George frowned, but his voice rose higher. "Harry! Is it the F/C hat you gave her, last year?"

"Yes. Why?" Harry asked eagerly, completely forgetting about the task.

"Y/N's been looking for it everywhere!" Fred exclaimed, shaking his leg excitedly. "She asked us if we've see it- right after the dance practice! I remember her asking people around!"

"Wait... so Malfoy found it... randomly?" Harry felt his anger and happiness rise. "He told me she left it with him- so he just lied?"

Harry felt his whole body sting, mentally, slowly realizing that he had fallen for one of Malfoy's lies, again.

"THAT SOLVES IT." The twins chorused, there eyes and mouths wide.

"Blimey..." Harry felt a smile of relief bloom on his face, but then realized something. "Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no- and she saw me ask Cho to the ball- I messed up!" He bellowed, gripping a fist full of his hair.

"She probably thinks you were drugged with Amortentia, or something." Fred muttered, with no tone of joke in his voice anymore.

"And now she's not even here to watch the task because of me!" Harry fussed, hating every inch on himself. "I- I- and I kind of... showed affection to her, the night before I asked Cho..."

"You what?" George exclaimed. "Why'd you ask Cho?"

"I was mad at Y/N for going to the ball with Malfoy!" Harry felt his head ache badly. "But he must've lied about that too and asked her after- I have to find her and-!"

"Champions, on the count of three!" Bagman said loudly. Cedric, Krum and Fleur quickly rushed to the edge of the deck.

"Good luck, mate!" George thumped Harry on the back and shoved him forwards.

"We'll help look for Y/N while you're gone." Fred said firmly. "And please try your best. You're worth three galleons."

"GOOD LUCK, CEDRIC!" Rolf bellowed. Harry turned and looked at him. Rolf caught his eye and scowled. "Not you, Harry."

Harry flushed red- even Y/N's brother was angry at him.

"What are you waiting for, sonny?!" Moody's voice came out of nowhere. "Eat the Gillyweed!"

Harry looked around, to find Moody standing right behind him. He quickly shoved the slimy Gillyweed into his mouth and chewed.

It tasted like raw squid tentacles.

Harry felt like he was going to be sick. He made a face and felt the side of his neck start to burn.

He immediately choked, coughing uncontrollably. Moody thumped him on the back.

Harry shook his hands and took a deep breath. The other champions were waving around at their friends with huge frowns on their faces.

"Every body ready?" Bagman asked loudly, not looking for an answer. "On the sound of the canyon-"

POW!

"Never mind, off you go!" Bagman said brightly.

The three champions, not including Harry, quickly leaped into the dark surface of the lake, disappearing underwater, with their charms preventing them from drowning.

Before Harry could swallow all of it, Moody roughly used his cane to push Harry's back, making him Yelp and fall into the lake...

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Harry's gills and web feet (from the Gillyweed) did not help him with his panic at all as he saw what was in front of him.

"Y/N?!" He blubbered, and gaped like a goldfish underwater.

The bottom of the lake was dark, and swarming with merpeople with long spheres.

But Harry could definitely tell that it was Y/N, along with three other students, tied up by the waist, bobbing pathetically in the middle of the group of merpeople.

He quickly swam nearer, slightly taken back by how peaceful all the merpeople looked. They didn't even turn to look, when Harry swam closer to the hostages.

He quickly swam to Y/N in panic, putting a hand on her cheek- she was stone cold. Her face was peaceful, and her hair and robes floated around her quite creepily.

"Y/N- why are you-?" But then Harry remembered. "Of course... you're my most prized possession. Well... you're not my possession, but you're definitely prized."

A mermaid so ty a long sphere turned and looked at him weirdly, frowning slightly.

Harry realized that he probably sounded pretty stupid to them, spitting bubbles out of his mouth and talking to an unconscious girl.

He then looked around at the three others- Cho, Hermione and a girl that resembled a mini Fleur.

He looked around hesitantly.

What if the others didn't make it?

But his question was answered, as both Krum and Cedric approached him from the back.

Krum, now half shark, didn't hesitate to rush towards Hermione, ripping the robe around her waist with his shark teeth.

He then wrapped an arm around her and swam away immediately.

Cedric approached Harry and gave him a thumbs up.

Harry quickly pointed towards Fleur's sister, and then motioned a 'where?'

Cedric did an action that represented an octopus, and snatched the water in front of him.

"Grindylow?" Harry mouthed.

Cedric nodded. He then quickly dived forwards to release Cho and dragged her away, diving up, after Krum.

Harry knew what he had to do.

He quickly grabbed a sharp rock from the floor of the lake and cut the rope around Y/N's waist successfully.

He grabbed her firmly around the waist and pulled her body and himself towards Fleur's sister.

He cut the rope around the little girl's waist successfully, again.

But just as Harry was about to leave with the two girls, the fifty merpeople around him growled and swam forwards, surrounding him.

"Take only one!" They growled in a raspy voice.

"But she's my friend's friend's sister!" Harry protested, holding tight to both Y/N and Fleur's sister.

The merpeople pulled out their spheres and pointed them directly at Harry's throat.

When none of them seem to be having it, Harry pulled out his wand and yelled out a curse, reflecting all of them away, successfully.

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Y/N gasped loudly, her head buzzing like crazy.

It took her two seconds to realize what was going on- she was in the middle of the Black Lake, a few dozen feet from the deck with the cheering crowd.

A lot of people have left their seats and were crowding around the front of the deck, helping their friends and cheering loudly.

Y/N's eyes were droopy and her heavy school robes were weighing her down. She kicked her legs underwater to keep her face above the water.

So Harry did save her, after all.

"Aidez moi!" cried a tiny voice from Y/N's left. Y/N immediately turned to see Fleur's little sister flapping her arms desperately. "Help, Y/N!"

"Gabrielle!" Y/N exclaimed, quickly swimming towards Gabrielle's little body. "Hold my arm, OK? We'll swim to shore together."

"OK," Gabrielle whimpered, gripping onto Y/N's right arm tightly. The water in the lake was icy, making the both of them shudder.

Y/N smiled at Gabrielle reassuringly, before kicking her feet, hard, and pushing the two of them towards the deck.

"Y/N!" Hermione and Ron exclaimed, quickly rushing forwards and helping Y/N and Gabrielle.

Once Y/N and Gabrielle were fully pulled to shore, Gabrielle quickly trotted to Madam Maxime at the Beauxbatons stands, who quickly threw a towel around her little body.

Y/N's two friends wrapped their arms around her, Hermione still dripping with water, and Ron chuckling happily.

"R-Ron..." Y/N said shakily, looking at Ron's freckled face. Ron stared back at her and grinned widely. "You... you're- you're not mad at me?"

"Oh, don't be daft," Ron smiled, hugging her tighter, like a protective big brother (no offense, Rolf). "Besides, it was my fault, kind of- avoiding you two like that."

Hermione grinned at him gratefully, catching Ron's eye. Ron looked at her for a moment and gave her a assuring nod.

"Miss Scamander, there you are." Professor McGonagall came forwards and put a heavy towel over Y/N's shoulder. "Weasley, Granger, make sure she's feeling alright."

"Y/N where are you-? Oh, thank Helga!" Y/N looked up to see Rolf pushing and shoving everyone aside, making his way to his little sister.

He was in his warm Hufflepuff sweater and long trousers and had a worried look on his face. His hair bounced around as he attacked Y/N with a hug.

"Ouch-! Rolf- too tight!" Y/N gasped in her brother's arms. "I'm alright! You can let go, now."

Rolf chuckled happily and released her, before ruffling her hair like he always did.

"Yeah, that's it." He said teasingly. "Just here to check if you're alive or not."

"Piss off," Y/N shot, but she, too, was smiling.

"Cedric got here first, though," Rolf said in a sing-song tone, making Y/N roll her eyes. "Gotta go back to Luna- before some sixth year attacks her again. See ya!"

He punched Y/N lightly on the arm before trotting back to the stands.

"Thank Merlin you're alright!" Ron said, grinning at Y/N and Hermione, as Professor McGonagall left to the back of the deck.

"Thank Merlin Harry didn't leave me back there to drown." Y/N laughed loudly- but Ron and Hermione didn't.

Their faces immediately dropped. Y/N blinked at them and frowned. "Is... everything alright?"

"Y/N... where is Harry?" Hermione asked slowly, looking around.

"W-what do you mean?" Y/N asked, her heart racing fast. "I-Is he not back?"

"No!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed with panic in their eyes. The three friends looked at each other in alarm, not knowing what to do.

"Y/N! Y/N! Oh, Y/N!" Fleur quickly came forwards in her periwinkle swimming suit, and wrapped her arms around Y/N, making her fall backwards. Fleur's hair was also damp, but it seemed dryer than Y/N and Hermione's. "You're alright! Thank you for helping Gabrielle- I failed!"

She leaned down and kissed Y/N on the forehead thankfully.

"It was nothing, Fleur!" Y/N yelled through the loud cheers of the crowd. "But Harry- Harry's gone!"

Y/N felt like she wanted to cry- she looked around the deck and bellow the water, but Harry wasn't there.

She stood still in her spot, near the edge of the deck and stared at the other champions. Harry was definitely not there.

Y/N looked over at Fleur, Ron and Hermione... they were staring at the water behind Y/N, exchanging uneasy looks. The three slowly back away. Y/N frowned.

"What're you guys-?"

"ASCENDIO!"

Y/N screamed loudly as Harry's body emerged from the water behind her and painfully landed right beside her, with a loud flop.

He was panting loudly and was drenched. He had red bruises at the sides of his neck, from the Gillyweed. He also returned last, and past the time they were given.

"OH GODRIC, HARRY!" Y/N bellowed, scooting away from him in shock. "YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT! What took you so long?"

"Y/N?"  Harry coughed, his body sprawled on the floor of the deck. "I- I arrived a-at the bottom of the lake first, b-but- I had to save Fleur's sister too..."

"Harry- did you really think Dumbledore would let us die?" Hermione sighed from behind them.

"I- no..." Harry felt unbelievably stupid. He now regretted wasting his time and saving Fleur's sister.

"How heroic." Y/N huffed sarcastically.

Their eyes met. Harry seemed to be staring deep into Y/N's eyes- he remembered his discussion with the twins before the task and his heart fluttered.

Y/N, on the other hand, was still hurt- but she was relieved to have him back safely.

And without any warning, they both leaped forwards and attacked each other with tight hugs, making the both of them fall onto the floor again.

Fleur, Ron and Hermione exchanged confused looks.

"Let's... go?" Ron said hesitantly. Fleur and Hermione firmly nodded, and the three left their hugging friends, that were now rocking back and forth on the floor.

"I thought I was too late-" Harry gasped, gripping the back of Y/N's head.

"I thought you drowned-"

"I was panicking-"

"I was about to cry-"

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, Harry, I can't stand this anymore." said Y/N, pulling away from the hug and looking at Harry's scarred face.

"No, no, I need to explain..." Harry said, but he was cut off by his own cold shivers. He shuddered and breathed out shakily.

Y/N unwrapped the towel from her body and swung it over Harry's shoulders, wrapping it around him.

"Harry, listen," Y/N said weakly, not wanting to meet his eyes. "I've been acting horrible. I know you didn't ask for the potion- I shouldn't have been mad of you for it."

"What?" Harry exclaimed, frowning at Y/N's shameful expression.

"I just can't stand not being with you and Ron," Y/N continued breathlessly. "We can just- be friends again. If that's fine?"

"Y/N, what potion?" Harry asked loudly, with a huge frown on his face.

"The love potion the twins gave you, of course." Y/N said. "I know it wasn't your fault your personality switched up like that. I'm sorry for being petty about it."

"What?" Harry repeated, shaking his head unbelievably. "Love potion? Pfft, Y/N- you think I snogged you because I was spiked with love potion?"

At that sentence, the both of them froze and blushed deeply, looking away from each other.
Y/N felt her stomach twist into knots and felt her ears burn, even in the chilly weather.

Silence grew.

"Well... were you?" Y/N asked quietly, her face growing hot and her heart thumping loudly.

"No," Harry said, chuckling slightly. "It was... real."

"Real..." Y/N felt herself blush so bad, that her vision got blurry. "Then why did you ask Cho-"

"Because I thought you and Malfoy snogged." Harry said, feeling awfully guilty.

"Now, it's my turn to say- what?" Y/N scoffed loudly. "Malfoy? Why would you ever think- you think I would ever snog him, willingly? Because I would never!"

"Right. Understandable." Harry grunted, feeling ashamed but also overly relieved.

Y/N sighed and felt her body overload with thousands of emotions.

"We need to talk after this." She said, looking around at the loud chatting crowd in front of her. It was too loud and chaotic for them to have a serious talk.

"I agree." Harry nodded, too afraid to make eye contact with her.

"You done?" Ron came skipping back to them, with a mischievous grin on his face. "Everything resolved?"

"Not entirely," Y/N shrugged. Harry's face dropped, and Y/N caught his eye. "But let's just say... it could be."

Fleur and Hermione approached them after Ron and gave Y/N a comforting smile.

"You alright, Fleur?" Y/N asked her half veela friend.

"Ugh, the Grindylows took me." Fleur said painfully, shaking her head. "I thought my sister and best friend was going to die! Thank you, Y/N, thank you, Harry."

"It was nothing." Y/N and Harry chorused.

"It is time for announcing the winner for this task, ladies and men!" Bagman said loudly, with his wand pressed onto his neck.

The students and teachers went silent and waited in suspense. They all held each other's hands and crossed their fingers.

Y/N gripped onto Harry and Fleur's shoulders tightly and gave the both of them a soft grin.

"At last place we have... Miss Fleur Delacour!" Bagman said loudly. "According to our spectators, she mastered the Bubble-Head Charm amazingly! But was unfortunately attacked by the Grindylows... we award her 25 points!"

"You did so amazing!" Y/N applauded, rubbing Fleur's back soothingly.

"I deserved zero," said Fleur throatily, shaking her magnificent head.

"No you don't," Ron said breathlessly, gaping at her in awe. Hermione huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Next, in third place, we have Mr Viktor Krum!" Bagman bellowed. Applause from the stands. "He successfully used incomplete transfiguration and returned with his hostage on time- we award him 40 points!"

More applause from the stands.

"Next, is Mr Harry Potter in second place!" Bagman cheered.

"Second place!" Hermione said brightly, thumping Harry's back.

"That's really good, mate!" Ron clapped, jumping up and down in his spot.

"You are the chosen one," Y/N shrugged and rolled her eyes sarcastically. Harry threw her a grumpy look, which made her bellow with laughter.

"He returned last, but the merpeople told us, that it was because he was making sure the other hostages were saved- we award him 45 points!"

"YEAH! GO HARRY!" Hagrid cheered from the stands, clapping louder than anyone.

"That isn't horrible at all!" Hermione exclaimed happily.

But Harry really didn't care. His mind was all on Y/N, and he was already happy to have her back.

"And now... in first place, we have..." Bagman smiled. "CEDRIC DIGGORY WITH 47 POINTS!"

The Quartet and Fleur clapped politely for Cedric.

Rolf and Luna cheered excitedly, as Cedric bent down to plant a loving kiss on Cho's cheek. The Ravenclaw girl blushed and grinned proudly up at him.

"Today's been like a rollercoaster." Y/N said, shaking her head, turning back to Harry.

"Hopefully like the ones that give you butterflies?" Harry said quietly.

Already, Harry?

"We'll see." Y/N said with an eye roll, as they all applauded loudly for the official end of the second task.

"Y/N- Y/N? Harry?" Said a very familiar voice of a middle-aged woman.

Y/N neck nearly snapped as she whipped her head around, looking for the source of the sound. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Mother?" She called out, her eyes darting around the crowd.

Moments later, a very cheerful-looking Alexis Scamander appeared from the crowd, beaming brightly at the kids in her usual Auror uniform.

"Y/N! Oh, Helga, it's you!" Mrs Scamander pulled her soaked daughter right into her arms, crushing her with a long hug. She chuckled happily and planted a kiss on Y/N's forehead.

Y/N hugged her mum back just as tight, confused, but pleased.

"What are you doing here, Mum?" She asked over her mum's shoulder brightly. She noticed that she had gotten taller than her, over the year.

"There was a Death Eater attack, near Hogsmeade." Mrs Scamander said sadly, taking a good look at her daughter's face. "But I'm on break, so I came here to watch the second task!"

"Hello, Mrs Scamander." Hermione, Harry and Ron chorused, beaming at Y/N's Mum.

"Hello, kids!" Mrs Scamander greeted, giving all of them a quick hug. "You've all grown so much taller! You're all taller than me! Hermione, you look so much like your mother- you're so beautiful!"

The Quartet chuckled weakly, as Mrs Scamander went on and on about their glow ups.

"This is wonderful," she said brightly. "I can't stay long, unfortunately. Gotta leave really soon."

"But Mum, please just write back to me." Y/N said desperately. "You've written to me only once this year."

"I'm so sorry, Y/N, oh Merlin," Miss Scamander shook her head, feeling all the guilt rush into her. "I'm on countless shifts and also training our new Auror. I barely go back home."

"It's OK, Mum," Y/N said with a small smile. "I'm just worried about you. And I don't read the Daily Prophet anymore, so I barely get any news."

"Oh, I'm fine, Niff." Mrs Scamander chuckled, ruffling Y/N's hair. "But please- be careful with yourselves. Rolf just told me that he'll take care of you- I trust him with that."

"Bad choice." Y/N said darkly, glancing at her brother at the stands.

"He also seems really happy with that girl." Mrs Scamander looked over at Rolf- he was now talking excitedly with Luna, who looked equally eager in the conversation.

Luna leaned in and whispered something into his ear, making him and herself burst into laughter.

"Yeah, they're... talking." Y/N said, narrowing her eyes at the couple.

"Well, I hope he's making her happy." Mrs Scamander beamed, giving Harry a slight wink, making him blush in embarrassment and shame. "I've got to go, now, Nymphadora's waiting. Do take care- all of you."

"You too, Mrs Scamander." Hermione said warmly.

"We'll see you soon." Ron smiled politely.

"Take care, Mrs Scamander." Harry said with a grin.

Y/N made a pouty look and hugged her mother once again.

"I've missed you." She said, trying not to get emotional.

"Miss you too, Niff. Take care." Mrs Scamander pulled away and waved at all of them, before walking back into the busy crowd.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

As the party in the Gryffindor common room went on, Y/N and Harry spent time, alone, on the floor by the fire place. They each explained their point of view from the events before the Yule Ball.

Once they both finished, they sat there quietly, each blushing with embarrassment and shame.

"You think I snogged Malfoy?" Y/N asked weakly, staring into the flames in the fireplace.

"You think I was drugged?" Harry retorted back, with a slight smirk. Y/N looked at him and rolled her eyes like she always did.

"Y/N! it's your cue to ask, 'so what's going to happen between us next?'" Ron yelled from across the room, clearly listening to their conversation. Hermione quickly slapped him on the arm, turning his attention back.

"I told you, Ron, no eavesdropping!" Y/N yelled back with a smile. Harry chuckled lightly.

"But he's got a point," he shrugged. "I don't know... after knowing that that- night- after the dance practice was all real... what do you think?"

"Huh..." Y/N stopped and thought her words through carefully. "It's hard to put it together in a few sentences, but I think... I know, that I still stand by what I said that night."

Y/N didn't know why, but whenever it was late at night, she would always be more open with things.

"Yeah... er- me too." Harry said nervously, looking at Y/N hesitantly. "So... what does that mean?"

"Date! Date! Date-!"

"Ronald, I'm going to kill you!" Y/N bellowed across the room.

Ron and Hermione burst into laughter and even Harry chuckled quietly.

"Again, he's got a point..." Harry muttered, avoiding Y/N's eye contact.

"Come again?" Y/N grinned, feeling herself blush for the third time that evening.

"I don't know." Harry quickly covered.

"Harry, what do you want?" Y/N asked weakly.

"I- I don't know what I want." Harry said with a shrug- it was partly a lie. "Anything but ignoring each other again."

"Yeah, that was horrifying." Y/N agreed, making a face.

"I'm sorry- again." Harry said shamefully, drumming his fingers on the carpet nervously. "I should've-"

"It's alright, Harry," Y/N said quickly. "it was partly my fault, too."

"And mine!" Ron said loudly.

Y/N whipped her head around and glared at the redhead.

"Now, that's not a true point." Harry said with a grin.

"It definitely isn't." Y/N said, shaking her head. "Harry..."

"Hmm?" Harry's face became hopeful.

"What about this-" Y/N started. Harry nodded and listened carefully. "Why not try to work our way through this thing... without a label?"

"So... you want us to be friends?" Harry asked, his face slightly dropping.

"No- I mean-" Y/N groaned. "I... yes, I like you that way. And you-"

"-like you that way too." Harry said very quickly, before turning his head away in embarrassment.

"Yeah, that." Y/N said, loving the boy with all her heart. "Why don't we just let that continue? Without calling our relationship anything?"

"I..." Harry stopped and thought it through slowly, staring into the chaotic party in front of them. "I... well, does that mean I get to... to.... do things with you that friends don't usually do?"

Y/N immediately clapped her hand on her mouth to contain her snort. She eventually let go and chuckled loudly.

"It depends." She said with a grin. "If it's something we've done before, then I guess... that's a yes from me."

A grin crept on Harry's face slowly and eventually broke into a blush.

"And... do I get to spend time with you?" Harry asked with an innocent grin.

"Of course," Y/N huffed.

"That's settled, then." Harry said brightly. "Very settled. Settled good."

"You're not speaking English anymore." Y/N said grimly.

"Sorry, I'm just- happy." Harry said, officially beaming. "The past month has been..." he drifted off, not able to find a horrible enough word.

"I know. I get it. I really do." Y/N nodded, thinking back to her January without Harry or Ron. The depressing memories, mixed with the cold air of Hogwarts, made her shudder physically.

"You cold?" Harry frowned.

"Yeah, I forgot my jumper upstairs." Y/N said, rubbing her hands together.

"Oh. Right." Harry said with a frown, looking at her sweatpants and bare t-shirt. "No, you're probably freezing. Here, take mine-"

He quickly pulled off his grey hoodie, leaving himself in his oversized t-shirt (presumably his Uncle Vernon's) and long pants.

"No, Harry, you just bought that-" Y/N started, but Harry had already shoved his hoodie into her hands. "Mine's only upstairs- in fact, I can go get it right now-"

"Take it, Y/N." Harry said with a small grin.

"I- I'll give it back as soon as the sun rises-"

"No. Keep it." Harry said, taking the grey hoodie from her hand and putting it through Y/N's head firmly.

"I can put it on myself, Harold." Y/N chuckled, putting her arms through the sleeves. It smelled like Harry, and was definitely a little too big for her. "You want me to keep it?"

"Yeah, as a 'welcome back' present," Harry shrugged. "You look way better in it than I do, anyway."

Y/N raised her eyebrows.

Harry quickly realized what he had just said and his ears and neck turned red.

"You have a habit of saying your thoughts out loud." Y/N said with her eyebrows raised. "Sometimes it really isn't a bad thing..."

"Hey, you two!" Fred called, from the middle of the party. Y/N and Harry turned to look at him. "Fancy a butterbeer or two?"

"Yes, please," Harry grinned and quickly got up.

"You're in a good mood." Y/N acknowledged, nudging his shoulder. Harry turned and gave her a side smile.

"That's entirely your fault." He said, matter-of-factly, as Fred threw the two each a bottle of butterbeer.

"Is that Harry's?" Ron came rushing into the middle of the party, to where Y/N and Harry were standing with their butterbeers. He stared at the hoodie Y/N was wearing. "It is! It's Harry's grey hoodie!"

"Don't be silly, it's Y/N's now." Hermione approached them after the redhead. She gave Y/N a smile that read, 'I'm happy for you.'

"So are you guys officially together?" Ron asked eagerly, as Y/N gulped down her cold butterbeer.

"Well... not really." Y/N shrugged.

"Aw, come on!" Ron frowned grumpily, snatching Harry's butterbeer and draining down almost half all of it.

"Well..." Harry started hesitantly, glancing at Y/N. "Y/N said she wouldn't mind if we ki-"

"Harry, shush!" Y/N hushed, leaving Ron and Hermione's eyebrows knitted in confusion.

Harry grinned and gave Y/N a knowing look.

For the rest of the night, the Quartet grabbed as much food as possible and brought them to their favorite spot in front of the fireplace, where they talked and caught up with each other.

Harry said that he would go and meet up with Sirius- Snuffles, the next time they go to Hogsmeade. He and Y/N promised each other to make up for their missing Christmas gifts.

As the night went on, as they talked more, Y/N slowly leaned onto Harry's shoulder, and he slowly leaned onto her head.

By the time Professor McGonagall came in to the common room to shoo everyone to bed, Harry had his arm firmly wrapped around Y/N, and Y/N was almost asleep.

"Hey- Niff, bed time." Harry chuckled, looking at Y/N droopy eyelids.

"I'm already in bed." Y/N groaned, but eventually pulled her body away from his.

"See you upstairs, Y/N," Hermione grinned, taking Ron's wrist and forcefully dragging him away from Y/N and Harry.

The left over people from the party were now packing away and saying good night to their friends.

Harry grinned gratefully and looked down at Y/N with a knowing look.

"Miss Scamander, Mr Potter, bed!" Professor McGonagall said firmly, but somehow, she was smiling. "I trust you two to go to bed in five minutes, alright?"

"Y-yes, Professor," Y/N said, her cheeks burning slightly.

Professor McGonagall nodded and left the common room, up to her own personal bedroom.

Once everyone was gone, the lights were turned off and Y/N and Harry stood at the branch between the girls and boys dormitories.

The window in the middle gave them enough moonlight to see the tracing of each other's faces.

"Well- good night, Harold." Y/N said, smiling at him and slightly shrugging.

"Good night..." Harry said slowly, looking a little bit disappointed.

"Everything alright?" Y/N asked with a frown.

"Er... yeah? Maybe?" Harry had no idea how to give her hints. He stood there, staring at Y/N's face.

"OK..." Y/N said hesitantly. She nodded slowly, before turning her back to Harry and stepping up the first steps.

"Niff!" Harry exclaimed quietly, making Y/N turn back.

"Harold!" Y/N mocked his whisper-yell, grinning at him cheekily. Harry grinned and rolled his eyes.

"No one's here, Y/N." He said quietly.

"I know, that's why I'm going to bed." Y/N said, laughing slightly. "What do you want, Harry?"

"I er... I don't know how to put it together in a not-so-weird way." Harry said quickly, scratching the back of his neck. "Since you said we could do things we've... already done..."

He paused and scratched the back of his neck again.

"Harry... are you asking me for a-?" Y/N couldn't say it either. It felt too new for the two of them. But Harry nodded eagerly. "Huh," Y/N slowly grinned.

She stepped back down the stairs and found herself only a few inches from Harry's face.

Harry smiled and comfortably put a hand Y/N's waist and pulled her close, sending weird feelings throughout her body. Harry grinned when he saw Y/N breathe out shakily.

"Cheers, Harry." Y/N said quietly.

"What did you say?" Harry asked with a quiet chuckle.

"You know what I said." Y/N grinned, flicking a piece of Harry's messy hair out of his face. Harry felt his stomach do an odd backflip.

With their eyes closed, the both of them chuckled and leaned into each other eagerly... just when their lips barely grazed each other, Y/N suddenly tilted her head and planted a firm kiss on Harry's cheek.

"Y/N!" Harry complained with a small quiet gasp.

Y/N laughed loudly, and teasingly pulled him into an apologetic hug, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"My heart- is... beating." Harry said breathlessly, his face turning pinker and pinker as Y/N hugged him longingly.

"That's mind blowing." Y/N grinned into his chest.

"That's so not funny." Harry said, but he had started to smile over her head. "So are you going to do it?"

"Oh, I definitely will," Y/N said seriously, pulling away from the hug and staring at Harry's eyes that sat beautifully behind his glasses. Harry looked back at her, full of hope. "next time." Y/N grinned, pushing Harry's face away gently.

"Really," Harry scoffed sarcastically and smiled, as Y/N quickly let go of him and jogged up the first steps, before turning back and giving him a wide innocent grin.

"Good night." She said shortly.

"Good night, Y/N." said Harry, as Y/N turned  away and walked up the stairs to her dormitory.

Harry sighed and punched the air triumphantly, celebrating their reunion.

Everything was alright again. He didn't know what he wanted exactly, but Y/N was back to talking to him and messing around with him again.

And that was all that mattered.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ This is my time to say THANK YOU. I just can't thank u all enough. For everything- the wholesome comments, the funny comments, the supportive snaps, the votes- just thank you.

This was a long chapter, so please lmk if you find any mistakes. Also lmk how it was in general :)

Hope u had an amazing Christmas!

-ScribblingQuills