A/N ~ going into spring break soon and imma try update more frequently- enjoy the chapter :)

& watch me embarrass myself with more spelling mistakes😩

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The Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match was only a week away.

Y/N had attended two practices so far, and knew in her heart that she was good at Quidditch, as everyone had told her.

Even Angelina said Y/N barely needed any training ("all gifted seekers are like this- when they're good, they're good. No need for daily practices." She said).

The two new beaters were not horrible, but nothing compared to Fred and George.

Ron, on the other hand, was doing worse.

Not that he was a bad player, but he would always get distracted by the singing Slytherins by the stands- concluding of Malfoy, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle.

Even Y/N could barely concentrate- with them howling with laughter every ten seconds, during their practices.

Y/N had accidentally turned Andrew Kirke's practice bludger into dust, when they were ten minutes into their first practice.

At dinner after their second practice, when Y/N and Ron joined Harry and Hermione for dinner, Luna came gliding across the Great Hall to towards the Quartet, with her broom in her hand.

She was kind enough to offer her broom for Y/N to lend, since she didn't have one, and buying a brand new one would be a waste.

"It's nothing fancy- a Comet Two-Ninety," Luna said in her light feathery voice, as she handed Y/N her shiny new broom. "Dad gifted it to me on my fourteenth birthday."

"Luna, thank you so much- I really can't thank you enough," Y/N beamed at the blonde Ravenclaw with gratitude, as Luna's face lit up with a smile.

"You're very welcome," Luna said brightly, "I only use it to travel long distances, but I don't really play Quidditch- only with Rolf. I love helping him with his Seeker training."

Cute. Fine, alright, they're cute. Y/N thought to herself.

"-but I'd rather have my feet on the ground, most of the time. I sleepwalk, you see- my feet already have enough."

"Right," Y/N chuckled, holding Luna's broom carefully in her hands. "thanks again. Better not tell Rolf though, he wouldn't be too happy."

"Oh, I've told him," Luna said casually. "he said he didn't have a problem. I suspect he has some teeth problems though, because he was gritting them like mad."

"Oh- yeah," Y/N tried not to laugh, imagining her brother's face of displease once he found out Luna was helping the Gryffindor team.

"Good luck on the game," Luna said with a smile. "oh, and nice choice of jewellery, by the way..."

Luna glanced down at Y/N's mood bracelet and pebble ring, before waving at her dreamily and walking back to the Ravenclaw table.

"How's training, so far?" Harry asked Y/N, as she sat down next to him and continued with her meal.

"Not far," Y/N sighed.

"You're far," Ron said bitterly, stabbing his steak with a fork. "You and everyone else is doing all good. It's me who's lousy and messing up our practices. Especially today's practice."

"I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Hermione said gently, glancing at Y/n for confirmation.

"Yes, it was." Ron scowled. "Angelina was nearly in tears by the end of it and it's all my f-"

"Don't say that Ron," Hermione snapped. "I've seen you play. You just get nervous when the Slytherins sing- that song-"

"Well, that's just great!" Ron said sarcastically, "because the Slytherins will definitely not sing that song during our next match. And I'll definitely not mess up and embarrass myself!"

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"Toast?"

"No."

"Bacon? You love bacon."

"No."

"Or at least some pumpkin juice won't hurt-"

"I don't want anything, Y/N." Ron said through gritted teeth.

Y/N's small smile slipped off her face.

She fell silent as she, Harry and Hermione watched Ron stare at the food in front of him sickly.

It was finally the day of the match, and Harry had told Y/N that Ron couldn't sleep for the whole night.

It was odd seeing Harry and the twins without Quidditch robes, when the rest of the team was sitting with them.

Ron's bright Keeper outfit made his face look even paler and yellower.

As always, he'd refused to eat anything.

Y/N nodded weakly and turned to the rest of the team- Angelina was talking rapidly to Katie and Alicia.

Her face was coated with anxiety and worry, as her lips moved minimally but urgently.

Y/N looked over at the enthusiastic people of the Hufflepuff table.

The Hufflepuff's team captain was smiling brightly, as his team members chatted with each other enthusiastically.

Rolf was looking determined and confident, gripping his broom in one hand and eating a bowl of cereal with another.

Luna sat across from him with her chin rested on her hand and was talking to him with a dreamy smile on her face.

She'd decided not to make a house hat for this match, for she supported both Y/N and Rolf.

"You all good, in there?" Harry nudged Y/N on the arm.

She broke her gaze from the Hufflepuff table and looked back at Harry.

He was wearing a Gryffindor sweater, like most of the other Gyrffindors, and was grinning at her enthusiastically.

His ring was glowing yellow- indicating his pure excitement.

"Yeah, 'course..." Y/N said quietly, but the green gem on bracelet was illuminating with worry.

She quickly pulled her hand away from view and hid it under the table.

"Hey, you'll do just fine, Niff-" Harry said quietly, placing a hand on her shaking leg comfortingly.

"I've been to only four practices," Y/N whispered back at him, so no one else would know she was as worried as Ron was.

"Well, you've been practicing on your own, too," Harry said with a frown.

"Barely! I lied to Ange, OK?" Y/N fussed. "I barely practiced and I only got a decent broom a week ago-"

"But you're a natural, I've seen you fly," Harry said reassuringly, not breaking his eyes from her. "Oh, and you look good in those robes by the way..."

"Are you kidding, right now?" Y/N snapped, looking at him unbelievably.

"No, I'm not, you really do." said Harry, with a fake serious tone. "But, Niff-the-Pebble-Scamander, you look good in everything. So it's no surprise, really."

Y/N really tried hard to keep her scowling face, but Harry never failed to make her smile, even in the worst situations.

She broke into a blushing grin and turned away, shaking her head, as Harry pretended to not see her and grinned down at his plate.

However, their smiles quickly faded away when they met Ron's deadly look.

"C'mon, Ron..." Hermione said gently, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I mean- It's just a game, isn't it?"

"Hermione," said Harry, shaking his head, "you're good on feelings and stuff, but Quidditch isn't just a game."

"Maybe not," Hermione said darkly, "but at least my happiness doesn't depend on Ron's goalkeeping ability."

Even though Harry would rather have jumped off the Astronomy Tower than admit it to her, he would have given any number of Galleons not to care about Quidditch either.

By the time the time they reached the Quidditch field, Slytherin's horrid singing was already echoing the place.

Harry could tell Ron had tensed up more, if that was even possible.

"Hey, mate-"

"You won't make me feel better, Harry." Ron croaked, as the cheering from the stands grew steadily.

"It's embarrassing for them, really," Hermione said, scowling up at the Slytherins, "Kindergarten didn't teach them right. Ron, are you-?"

"I'm off. Bye." Ron said bluntly, not looking at any of his friends.

Before anyone could wish him luck, he threw his broom over his shoulder and took off towards the changing room.

"I better go after him," Y/N sighed, swinging Luna's Comet Two-Ninety over her shoulder. She took a deep breath and started after Ron.

"Wait-!" Harry caught hold of her wrist, spinning her back to face him and Hermione. "it's only fair if I give you a good luck hug,"

Y/N blinked at him for a second.

"I dunno how it is for you, but I really don't need one, Harry-"

"Read the back of my hand."

"You barbaric! We don't joke about that-"

"Whatever, shut up and just hug me back." Harry grinned.

Before Y/N could protest, Harry got hold of her waist and drew her close, leaving Y/N no choice but to drop Luna's broom and stumble into his arms.

Once his arms were wrapped around her, Y/N realized how much she actually needed the hug.

She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him back, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Hermione shook her head, grinning at two with her arms crossed.

Y/N caught her eye and they both broke into silent chuckles.

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"Captains, shake hands." Madam Hooch the referee bellowed.

Angelina and Semmerby (captain of the Hufflepuff team) shook hands, respectfully nodding at each other.

Y/N tried her hardest to remain calm, but her mind and heart were practically somersaulting all over her body.

She looked up at the Gryffindor stand- saw Dean, Seamus Neville, Harry and Hermione cheering from the front row with tiny red flags in their hands.

She caught Harry's eye and he gave her a firm thumbs-up.

Y/N scrunched up her face like she had swallowed a lemon and mouthed 'get me out of here.'

Harry laughed and shook his head, before scrunching his nose back, trying to imitate her, mouthing a very visible 'no!'

'Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King!'

"Kindly shut the fuck up!" Y/N heard Ginny shout at the Slytherins from the crowd of raging Gryffindors.

Ron was now visibly shaking from anger, embarrassment and worry.

Y/N wanted more than anything to go say some comforting words to him, but it was too late.

"Players, mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch yelled. "If you're ready... let the game- begin!" she blew hard on her whistle.

That's when the Gryffindor's nightmare began.

The very best thing anyone could say about the match was that it was short.

Luckily, the Gryffindor spectators had to endure only twenty-two minutes of agony.

It was hard to say what the worst thing was.

Harry thought it was a close-run contest.

Between Ron's fourteenth failed save, Sloper accidentally hitting Angelina in the mouth with his bat, and Kirke falling off his broom as Zacharias Smith zoomed at him, carrying the Quaffle.

The only miracle and the only thing impressive of the match was that Gryffindor only lost by ten points.

Y/N had spotted the Golden Snitch several times during the first twenty minutes, but had avoided catching it, since Hufflepuff was more than a hundred fifty points ahead of them.

But when Katie fell off her broom, hit in the arm by a very rough bludger from Gaia Jensen, Y/N had enough.

Ron was missing every single save, Angelina was almost in tears (her lip was also bleeding uncontrollably), and Katie and Kirke were already rushed to the hospital wing.

That's when Y/N decided to snatch the Snitch from right under her brother's nose, so that the final score was two hundred and forty versus two hundred and thirty.

Rolf was kind enough to comfort her- that it was a good catch- but it still didn't change the fact that Hufflepuff had won.

Back in the Gryffindor common room, the atmosphere closely resembled a funeral.

Harry had taken Y/N right in his arms after the game and brought her to one of the available armchairs near the fireplace.

"Come- sit here." Harry urgently patted his lap, after he threw himself onto the armchair.

Y/N was too tired to even decline.

She took off her coat and carefully placed Luna's broom on the rug, before climbing onto the armchair and into Harry's embrace.

"I'm filthy, sorry..." she said quietly, as a chunk of melting snow fell onto harry's trousers.

"Aren't we all? It's fine," Even though Gryffindor had lost, Harry couldn't help but smile proudly at her. "That was an amazing catch, Niff."

"I was lucky," Y/N shrugged. "It wasn't a very fast Snitch and Rolf's got a cold- he sneezed and closed his eyes at exactly the wrong moment. Anyway, once you're back on the team-"

"Niff, I've got a lifelong ban."

"You're banned as long as Umbridge is in the school," Y/N corrected him stubbornly. "Anyway, once you're back, it's all going to fine again."

Harry looked over at Ron, who was hunched on the floor, leaning on the wall and staring at his knees, a bottle of butterbeer clutched in his hand.

"Angelina still won't let him resign," Y/N sighed. "She says she knows he's got it in him."

Harry liked Angelina for the faith she was showing in Ron, but at the same time thought it would really be kinder to let him leave the team.

Ron had left the pitch to another booming chorus of 'WeasleyIs Our King' sung with great gusto by the Slytherins.

Y/N had flipped off Pansy Parkinson on their way back- unfortunately Madam Hooch saw her and took twenty points from Gryffindor.

Fred, George and Lee wandered over and sat on the sofa next to Y/N and Harry.

"I haven't got the heart to take the mickey out of him, even," said Fred, looking over at Ron's crumpled figure. "Mind you- when he missed the fourteenth..."

He made wild motions with his arms as though doing an upright doggy-paddle.

Ron dragged himself up to bed shortly after this.

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The next day, something made the atmosphere moderately better.

When the Quartet arrived at the Gryffindor table and sat down in the Great Hall, a good half a dozen owls fluttered down and landed on the table, surrounding Harry's plate.

"What's going on?" Ron asked in amazement.

The whole of Gryffindor table leaned forward to watch as another seven owls landed amongst the first ones, screeching, hooting, and flapping their wings.

"Oh no," Y/N whispered, remembering what happened last time that happened to her. "It's hate mail- run!"

"No, don't run! Harry!" said Hermione breathlessly.

She her hands into the feathery mass and pulling out a screech owl bearing a long, cylindrical package.

"What the-?"

"I think I know what this means- open this one first!" Hermione said enthusiastically.

Harry ripped off the brown packaging.

Out rolled a tightly furled copy of March's edition of The Quibbler.

He unrolled it to see his own face grinning sheepishly at him from the front cover.

In large red letters across his picture were the words:

HARRY POTTER SPEAKS OUT AT LAST: THE TRUTH ABOUT HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED AND THE NIGHT I SAW HIM RETURN

"It's good, isn't it?" said Luna, who had drifted over to the Gryffindor table and now squeezed herself onto the bench between Fred and Ron.

"You really published it!" Y/N said enthusiastically. "That's amazing, Luna!"

"It came out yesterday." Luna nodded in excitement. "Dad sent a free copy to Harry. The other letters must be from the readers."

"That's what I thought," said Hermione eagerly, "Harry, d'you mind if we-?"

"Help yourself," said Harry, feeling slightly bemused.

Ron and Hermione both started ripping open envelopes.

"Look out for Bubotuber pus," Y/N said quickly, sitting out on the letter-opening cautiously.

"This bloke thinks you're off your rocker," said Ron, glancing down at his letter. "Ah well..."

"This woman recommends you try a good course of Shock Spells at St. Mungo's," said Hermione, crumpling up a second letter.

"This one looks okay, though," said Harry slowly, scanning a long letter from a witch in Paisley. "Hey, she says she believes me!"

"This one's in two minds," said Fred, who had joined in the letter-opening with enthusiasm. "Blimey, what a waste of parchment..."

"Here's another one you've convinced, Harry!" said Hermione excitedly. " 'Having read your side of the story I am forced to the conclusion that the Daily Prophet has treated you very unfairly.' This is amazing!"

"What is going on here?" said a falsely sweet, girlish voice.

Harry looked up with his hands full of envelopes.

Professor Umbridge was standing behind Fred and Luna, her bulging toad's eyes scanning the mess of owls and letters on the table in front of Harry.

Everyone at the Gryffindor table glared up at her.

Behind her, Y/N saw many of the Ravenclaw students watching them avidly.

"Why have you got all these letters, Mr Potter?" she asked slowly.

"Is that a crime now?" said Fred loudly. "Getting mail?"

"Be careful, Mr Weasley, or I shall have to put you in detention," said Umbridge. "Well, Mr Potter?"

Harry hesitated, but he didn't see how he could avoid answering.

"People have written to me because I gave an interview," he said boldy. "About what happened to me last June."

"An interview?" repeated Umbridge, her voice higher than ever. "What do you mean?"

Harry tried his hardest not to roll his eyes.

"Here-" he grunted, throwing the copy of The Quibbler at her.

She caught it and stared down at the cover.

"When did you do this?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Last Hogsmeade weekend," said Harry casually.

She looked up at him with rage, the magazine shaking in her stubby fingers.

"There will be no more Hogsmeade trips for you, Mr. Potter," she whispered. "How you dare- how you could-" She took a deep breath.

Harry was prepared for the worst.

"I have tried again and again to teach you not to tell lies." Umbridge hissed. "The message, apparently, has still not sunk in. Fifty points from Gryffindor and another week of detentions."

"Detentions? More like literally torture-!" Y/N bellowed through gritted teeth, but suddenly felt a hand tighten around her wrist.

"Don't get into this," Harry whispered, looking at Y/N pleadingly.

Umbridge ignored her and stalked away, clutching The Quibbler to her chest, the eyes of many students following her.

But for that day, the fact that he had another week of detention with Umbridge didn't bring down Harry's mood completely.

People in the hallways weren't glaring and scowling at him anymore.

Some of them even grinned at him as he walked from one classroom to another.

To add on to Harry's unexpected joy, no sooner had he arrived outside Transfiguration, Seamus stepped out of the queue to face him.

"I just wanted to say," he mumbled guiltily,"I believe you. And I've sent a copy of that magazine to me mam."

If anything more was needed to complete Harry's happiness, it was Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle's reactions.

He saw them with their heads together later that afternoon in the library, together with Theodore Nott.

They were apparently angered by the fact that Harry had mentioned all their fathers in the Quibbler interview.

Pansy Parkinson, however...

"Oh, Harry, that was so, very, brave of you!"

Y/N physically froze and cringed at the sound of Pansy's voice.

The next thing she knew, the Slytherin was all over Harry- clutching onto his arm and leaning into his side.

"Oi!" Ron exclaimed heatedly, his face and neck turning scarlet.

"I can't believe you actually did that," Pansy sighed dreamily, as Harry shuffled uncomfortably in his spot.

"Th-thanks, but please let me go-"

"You're only saying that because Scamander's here, aren't you?" Pansy giggled, running her fingers in her shiny black hair.

"Let me go-!"

"Let's just show her what we've been doing when she's not around then!"

To Y/N's horror, Pansy threw her a triumphant look, before grabbing Harry's shirt collar and pulling him down, aiming her lips at his.

But- to everyone's relief, Harry yelled in horror and jumped away from her urgently.

There was a moment of just relieved sighs. Then-

"When will you ever get it in you're thick skull, Parkinson-" Hermione hissed. "Harry is with Y/N!"

"Yeah, get a grip!" Ron added, stepping in front of Hermione. "Be ashamed of yourself! Don't you think it's messed up to get in the way of two perfectly happy people?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, it's messed up!" Pansy exclaimed, her face bright red with anger and embarrassment.

And with that, she adjusted her robes and hair dramatically before storming off, away from the corridor.

Ron, Hermione and Harry looked at each other in confusion.

"What was that?"

Y/N, on the other hand, felt like the pieces were slowly fitting...

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Only a few days letter, a knew proclamation was announced- and another framed poster was hung on the wall in front of the Great Hall right after dinner.

"Why exactly are you happy about this?" Y/N asked Hermione, for she was beaming at the framed poster as if it were her own pride and joy.

"This means she's scared, Y/N," Hermione said in delight, as the two girls back to their dormitory. "The Ministry is scared!" She added gleefully.

However, they had to come to a halt, once they passed by the double doors to the courtyard.

Around five dozen students were muttering all around the entrance, whispering by and muttering loudly- so the two Gryffindors had to curiously stop by.

Professor Trelawney was standing in the middle of the Courtyard,

Her hair was sticking up on end, her glasses were lopsided, and her scarves were trailing crazily from her shoulders.

Two large trunks lay on the floor beside her, one of them upside-down.

Professor Trelawney was staring, apparently terrified, at no other than Dolores Umbridge.

"What the hell's going on?" Y/N asked Dean, as she blended in with the curious crowd.

"Dunno," Dean shrugged his shoulders, peering over the group of Ravenclaws in front of him. "looks like she's got fired-"

"No!" Trelawney shrieked. "NO! This cannot be happening... it cannot... I refuse to accept it!"

"You didn't realize this was coming?" Umbridge said in a high girlish voice.

"You c- can't!" howled Professor Trelawney, tears streaming down her face, "you c-can't sack me! I've b-been here sixteen years! H-Hogwarts is my h-home!"

"It was your home, dear," said Professor Umbridge, and Y/N was revolted to see the enjoyment stretching on her toadlike face.

She couldn't help but feel sympathy for Professor Trelawney.

"Now kindly remove yourself from this campus." Umbridge snarled, "You are embarrassing us."

"Y/N- Y/N, what's going on?"

"Oh- Harry, hey-" Y/N looked over her shoulder to see Harry frowning ahead of him curiously. "Trelawney's getting sacked... I thought you had Occlumency-?"

She studied him for a moment- like always, his face was pale and he looked slightly shaken up.

What was Snape doing to him?

"Yeah, but Snape wanted to check out the commotion," said Harry, putting a hand on her shoulder and standing on the tips of his toes.

Then, they heard footsteps.

Professor McGonagall had broke away from the spectators, marched straight up to Professor Trelawney.

She looked shocked for a moment, but calmly patted her on the back and handed her a napkin. 

"There, there, Sibyll... it's not as bad as you think, now- you are not going to have to leave Hogwarts."

"Oh really, Professor McGonagall?" said Umbridge in a deadly voice, taking a few steps forward. "And your authority for that statement is-?"

"That would be mine," said a deep voice.

The oaken front doors had swung open, and out came Professor Dumbledore- looking calm and casual in his usual blue robes.

"Might I ask you to escort Sibyll back upstairs, Professor McGonagall?" The Headmaster said smoothly.

"Of course," said McGonagall. "Up you get, Sibyll..."

Professor Sprout came hurrying forwards out of the crowd and grabbed Professor Trelawney'sother arm.

Together, they guided her past Umbridge and up the marble stairs, with Professor Flitwick scurrying after them with Professor Trelawney's trunks.

"Dumbledore," Umbridge's voice shook, "Might I remind you that I have all the rights to-"

"-dismiss my teachers." Dumbledore nodded understandingly. "However, you do not have the authority to banish them from the grounds. That power remains with me."

Umbridge looked like she wanted to physically attack Dumbledore.

"for now." She said, her nose flaring with anger.

She glared around the students and returned back into the castle.

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"Ron! Pay. Attention. Please." Angelina pleaded, turning her broom around to face Ron.

Y/N could tell she was clearly disturbed and tired.

The Slytherins had been hanging around during all of their practices- even after their loss to Hufflepuff- making Ron practically lose his mind.

Katie and Alicia had screamed shut up at them several times and Jack and Andrew had offered Angelina to hit them with their practice bludgers.

Angelina simply flared her nostrils and told them to ignore the Slytherins.

"Hey, Scamander!" Pansy shrieked, smiling triumphantly at Y/N from the stands. "I tripped and sprained my ankle today, and guess who helped? Your boyfriend!"

"Ignore him, Y/N, she's lying," Katie Bell whispered, as she passed by Y/N with the Quaffle.

"Alright, Ron, we're trying again, alright?" Angelina said, her voice shaking from anger and annoyance. "Katie, go easy on him."

Katie nodded and sped her broom to the middle of the field.

She steadied herself on the spot for a few seconds before taking off.

She shot across the field towards the three goal hoops- with Ron hovering in front of the middle one.

Alicia and Angelina raced along her side as defense, but Katie swerved to her side and sped towards the right hoop.

Y/N, Jack and Andrew held their breaths and watched as Ron looked at Katie and the Quaffle fiercely- preparing himself for the twelfth time.

"Weasley, Weasley!" Malfoy bellowed, smirking in satisfactory at Ron's nervous expression. "THANKS FOR THE LOUSY SAVES, WE OWE YOU!"

With that, Ron's face turned bright red and he lost focus.

He dove to the left hoop, just as Katie's Quaffle went right through the right one.

The Slytherins broke into a cheer of celebration, all laughing and shrieking childishly.

"That's it!" Angelina growled, "it's no use practicing, today."

"I'm sorry," Ron said miserably, as Katie and Alicia each patted him on the back.

"No, it's not your fault," Angelina said cooly, "I know you're an amazing Keeper, Ron- your nerves just get you easily."

Y/N nodded in agreement, and also gave Ron a pat on the shoulder.

"Now- next practice will be on Friday." Angelina continued, as the Slytherins started chanting 'Weasley Is Our King'. "Y/N, you don't have to come if you don't want to-"

"No, I will," Y/N said firmly, glancing at the miserable-looking Ron.

Angelina nodded once and collected the practice balls from all the players, before tilting her broom down and leading the team to the ground.

"Say thanks to Harry for me, Scamander!" Pansy shrieked through her fit of giggles. "But no need for a kiss- I already gave him that!"

"Right, that's it." Y/N muttered to herself.

She pushed her hair away from her face and jumped off her broom.

She walked over to Ron and forced Luna's broom into the confused redhead's hand, before turning away.

"Y/N, what-?"

"Be right back." Y/N said through gritted teeth.

Her ears were ringing with anger and annoyance, and her hands were physically shaking.

She could feel her teammates' confused stares glued to the back of her head as she started towards the stand.

Once she was at the bottom steps, she broke into a jog- and then a run- until she heard Pansy and Malfoy's horrid laughter growing louder and louder.

"Did you see the look on her face-?"

"Damn, I guess her Potty's gone-!"

"Parkinson-" Y/N said, once she reached the laughing Slytherins, slightly out of breath.

When their eyes fell on her, they bursted into laughter once again, clutching their stomachs and shedding their non-existent tears of laughter.

Y/N felt her face burn with anger, but she ignored it and walked forwards- seizing Pansy's wrist.

Her hysteric expression immediately tensed up.

"Ow! Scamander, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Pansy demanded, struggling from Y/N's grip desperately.

"Let go of her." Malfoy said sharply, also falling out of his character- even though Crabbe and Goyle were still laughing their arses off in the back.

Y/N rolled her eyes and got hold of her wand from under her robes with her free hand, before pointing it at Malfoy's chest.

"Petrificus Totalus," she said calmly.

Immediately, Malfoy's limbs snapped to his sides, his body tensed up, his eyes widened, and he fell backwards onto a row of seats.

"What did you do to him!" Pansy cried, her eyes wide with fear.

"If you'd paid attention to Quirrell in our first year, you'd know he's only petrified." Y/N said grimly.

She didn't wait for another interruption.

She quickly shoved her wand into her pocket and headed down the stands, pulling the shrieking Pansy after her.

She ignored Pansy's yells and people's weird stares, stalking quickly to a broom shed nearby.

She didn't stop walking until she and Pansy were both in the broom shed.

"Let me go, you nasty bitch! Let go-!"

"Shut up." Y/N said cooly, but finally letting Pansy's wrist go. "You think I want to touch you? Because I sure don't."

Pansy whimpered and massaged her wrist dramatically.

"Now, you're going to tell me- exactly- what you want from me." Y/N snarled, crossing her arms.

"Or what?" Pansy spat, looking at Y/N up and down sourly.

"Well, I don't know," Y/N shrugged. "I just dragged you here with one hand- play with that information however you want."

Pansy looked as if she wanted to rip all the hairs out of Y/N's scalp, but at the same time, she looked terrified.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She said firmly.

Her arms were crossed and her abnormally red lips were pursed.

"Don't worry, I'll educate you," Y/N smiled at her warmly. "This year you've been clinging onto Harry like mad, even though you've hated him since first year."

"I'm not answering your stupid questions-"

"I know you don't fancy him," Y/N continued cooly. "you're just doing- all this- to annoy me. I just want to know why. That's all."

Pansy raised her eyebrows, slightly surprised by Y/N's calm tone.

"Speak, Parkinson, I don't have all day!" Y/N snapped- making both of their fiery expressions return.

"You took him." Pansy said spitefully, her nose flaring with anger.

"Oh, please," Y/N scoffed, shaking her head and taking a step towards Pansy intimidatingly. "He's not mine to take. Or yours. I'll ask you again- why'd you do it?"

"I'm not talking to you," Pansy rolled her huge black eyes dramatically.

"Good one. I love irony." Y/N snarled. "Now- I know you've hated Harry from the start. Why the change of heart, Parkinson?"

"You t-took him," Pansy repeated.

Y/N's expression slightly softened, once she realised- Pansy had tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I can assure you I did not take Harry from y-"

"NOT HARRY, YOU DUMB ARSE! IT'S DRACO! YOU TOOK DRACO FROM ME!"

Pansy's expression was painful to even witness.

Her teary eyes had made her mascara smudge all over her eye bags.

Y/N found herself gaping blankly at Pansy- shocked, but also understanding everything perfectly.

"I'VE SPENT ALL MY YEARS CARING FOR HIM- I WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR HIM!" the Slytherins yelled, angry tears spilling from her dark eyes. "I STILL CARE FOR HIM, JUST LIKE HOW YOU AND POTTER CARE FOR EACH OTHER!"

Y/N's suspicions were finally confirmed.

"Pansy-"

"Don't you dare use my first name-!"

"Fine, Parkinson, what the hell!" Y/N shouted, not letting herself be the victim of the argument. "I absolutely despise Malfoy! And I'm sorry he doesn't return your feelings."

"Don't you dare-"

"But I'd help you," Y/N continued, ignoring Pansy's piercing glare. "I'd do anything to help you, but I'm tired of you acting as though this is my fault!"

It seemed like Pansy wasn't even listening, but she also had no more anger in her eyes or face- only tears.

"He chose you... and you despise him." she said breathlessly, shaking her head. "YOU'VE NEVER CARED FOR HIM, BUT HE STILL CHOSE YOU!"

"Then you deserve better, Parkinson," Y/N said seriously. "if you feel as though your efforts have been wasted on him, then you're not the problem here-"

"I don't need your pity!" Pansy spat, her eyes and face bloodshot. "You've ruined it for me! Ruined it! So- play with that information however you want, Scamander!"

With that, Pansy swatted off her tears with the back of her hands and pushed Y/N through, leaving the broom shed without another word.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Oh- Niff, there you are!" Harry rushed to the entrance of the Room of Requirements, when he spotted Y/N by the entrance.

He helped her take off her coat and held her in his arms.

"Ron said you took off with Parkinson- did she do anything to you-?"

"No, it's all good." Y/N replied bluntly, giving Harry a small smile.

"You sure?" Harry asked, touching the side of Y/N's face as she nodded. "You're cold- come, you can practice near the fireplace with me. We're doing patronuses, today."

Y/N nodded and looked around the brightly lit room.

They had finally started to work on Patronuses, which everybody seemed very keen to practice.

"Wait- I did it! Luna, I did!" Cho said brightly to Luna, watching her silvery swan-shaped Patronus soar around the Room of Requirements. "They're so pretty!"

"They're not supposed to be pretty, they're supposed to protect you," said Harry.

"I still- can't- do it!" Lavender fussed angrily, as she watched Cho's patronus enviously.

Neville was having trouble, too.

His face was screwed up in concentration, but only feeble wisps of silver smoke issued from his wand tip.

"You've got to think of something happy," Harry reminded him.

"I'm trying," said Neville miserably.

"Harry, I think I'm doing it" yelled Seamus, who had been brought along to his first ever DA meeting by Dean. "Look- ah- it's gone... but it was definitely something hairy, Harry!"

"Excellent- keep trying," Harry said encouragingly, as he brought Y/N to the end of the room near the fireplace. "You all good, Niff?"

"Yeah, I think." said Y/N, trying to shake Pansy's words out of her head.

"Right. I think you know how to produce a patronus, right?" Harry grinned, nudging Y/N on the shoulder.

"Mhm... right." Y/N straightened herself and pulled out her wand. She cleared her throat and closed her eyes, "Expecto... Expecto Patronum!"

A silver wisp of smoke came shooting from her wand- but wasn't a specific shape.

"Ah, dang it." Y/N fussed, shaking her hands loose and taking another deep breath.

"Try using the memory you used, back in third year," Harry said. "What was it, anyway?"

"You. I just- you're my happiest memory." Y/N blurted, quickly regretting everything when Harry started to grin at her knowingly.

"Right then- c'mere, you... I'll help." Harry reached out his hand and wrapped it around Y/N's hand, with her wand tightly gripped in it. "Bracelet says it's working." Harry added.

Y/N didn't have to look at her bracelet to know that the pink jewel was glowing again.

"Ring says he's enjoying this too," said Y/N, grinning at the cold ring that was pressing against her knuckles- that was now glowing pink.

"You're also my happiest memory, I guess." Harry said quietly, smirking slightly, but looking straight forwards, avoiding Y/N's gaze as she looked up at him. "Now try."

Y/N nodded and closed her eyes.

She felt Harry's thumb run along her hand, making chills crawl all over her body. She cleared her throat and said firmly,

"Expecto Patronum!"

She knew she had succeeded, for Harry had let go of her hand and started clapping.

"You did it, Niff!" he said enthusiastically, as Y/N opened her eyes to see a silver doe patronus trot around her body energetically.

Y/N smiled, as the doe nudged her cheek with it's nose and continued to bounce around in the air.

"Oh, Y/N!" Hermione exclaimed from a few yards away, as she saw Y/N's patronus. "Is that a doe?"

"Yeah- it is-" Y/N said, grinning at her glowing patronus.

"But... oh, Y/N, Harry,- do you know what this means?" said Hermione breathlessly, walking towards Y/N, with her silver otter swimming after her.

"That I'm skilled at charms?" Y/N chuckled.

"No, Y/N!" Hermione scoffed, shaking her head but smiling brightly between Y/N and Harry. "Don't you get it? When you have a matching patronus with someone, you're simply-"

But she was cut off.

The door of the Room of Requirement had opened, and closed.

Harry looked round to see who had entered, but there did not seem to be anybody there.

Next thing he knew, something was tugging at his robes somewhere near the knee.

He looked down and saw, to his very great astonishment, Dobby the house-elf with his usual eight woolly hats on his head.

"Hi, Dobby!" Harry said. "What are you- What's wrong?"

The elf's eyes were wide with terror and he was shaking.

Everybody in the room had stopped what they were doing and were now watching Dobby.

The few Patronuses people had managed to conjure faded away into silver mist, leaving the room looking much darker thanbefore.

"Harry Potter, sir..." squeaked the elf, trembling from head to foot, "Harry Potter, sir- Dobbyhas come to warn you... but the house-elves have been warned not to tell..."

He ran head-first at the wall.

Y/N lunged forwards and tried to seize him, but Dobby merely bounced off the stone, cushioned by his eight hats.

Hermione and a few of the other people let out squeaks of fear and sympathy.

"What's happened, Dobby?" Y/N asked, grabbing the elf's tiny arm and holding him away from anything he might hurt himself with.

"Miss Girfend... she... she-"Dobby hit himself hard on the nose with his free fist. Y/N seized that, too.

"Who's 'she', Dobby?" Harry asked urgently.

The elf looked up at him, slightly cross-eyed, and mouthed wordlessly.

"Umbridge?" asked Harry, horrified.

Dobby nodded, then tried to bang his head on Y/N's knee.

Harry came forwards and helped Y/N, holding him at arm's length.

"Wait, Dobby-" Y/N said slowly. "She hasn't found out about this- about us- about the DA?"

She read the answer in the elf's stricken face.

"Is she coming?" Harry asked quietly.

Dobby let out a howl, and began beating his bare feet hard on the floor.

"Yes, Harry Potter, yes!" 

A beat of silence.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" Harry bellowed. "RUN!"

They all shot towards the exit at once, forming a scrum at the door, then people bursted through.

Harry could hear them sprinting along the corridors and hoped they'd make it to their dormitories.

"Harry, grab Y/N and come on!" shrieked Hermione from the center of the knot of people now fighting to get out.

Harry took Y/N's hand and scooped up Dobby, who was still attempting to do himself serious injury, and joined the group of sprinting DA members.

"Dobby- this is an order- get back to the kitchen and if she asks you whether you warned me, lie and say no!" said Harry. "And I forbid you to hurt yourself!"

He dropped the elf gently on the floor and slammed the door behind him.

"Thank you, Harry Potter!" squeaked Dobby, and he streaked off.

"Y/N, bare with me, alright?" Harry yelled through the chaos, gripping onto her hand tightly.

"I'm not going anywhere," Y/N said, looking around for Ron and Hermione worriedly- but they both were already gone.

With a harsh yank, Harry pulled Y/N with him by the hand, down the corridor- as he tried to visualize the Marauder's Map in his mind.

"Niff, try not to-"

"AAARGH!" Something had caught Y/N around the ankles and she fell spectacularly.

She was forced away from Harry's grip and skid on her front for six feet, before coming to a halt.

"Y/N! Y/N are you alright?" Harry came running to her side and gliding onto his knees, trying to untangle the vines around Y/N's ankles.

Someone behind them was laughing.

Y/N rolled over to her back and saw Malfoy laughing triumphantly at the end of the corridor.

"It's a trip Jinx, love!" he said. "Hey Professor- PROFESSOR! I've got two, here!"

"The hell are you doing?" Y/N slapped Harry's hand away from her ankles. "RUN!"

Harry hesitated for a moment, but as he stopped to think, Malfoy bellowed,

"Impedimenta!"

Harry tripped on the air in front of him and fell to the floor, face first, right beside Y/N.

Umbridge came bustling round the far corner, breathless but wearing a delighted smile.

"Well, well, well- am I surprised, really?" Umbridge snarled with a triumphant smile on her face, staring down at Y/N and Harry. "Draco, Vincent, leave these two to me."

"Where are you taking them, Professor?" Malfoy asked, smirking to himself.

"The Headmaster's office," said Umbridge, loud enough for Y/N and Harry to fully hear her. "stand up and follow me- and you will be immediately be expelled if you disobey..."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ OK OK OK this is so random but like imagine a Quidditch scene with Supermassive Black Hole playing in the background JXJEJSJ it'd be so badass- the Cullens are qUaKiNg.

AND WE'RE SO CLOSE TO SIX YEAR WOOHOO!! ILY ALL SM!!

-ScribblingQuills