A/N ~ HEY I'M BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER!! Hope this makes your week a little better, enjoy!! :)

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The next thing Y/N knew, she was lying in a warm and comfortable bed and looking up at a bright lamp.

Her head felt abnormally numb as she stirred on the bed. Then, with some force, she raised her head awkwardly.

There on her left was a familiar-looking, freckly, red-haired person.

"Nice of you to drop in," said Ron, grinning. "How're you feeling?"

Y/N blinked and looked around- of course, she was in the hospital wing.

The sun was setting outside, meaning the match must have finished hours ago.

Y/N raised a hand and touched her forehead, feeling a stiff turban of bandages around her head.

"What happened?" she asked blankly.

"Cracked skull," said Madam Pomfrey, bustling in and pushing her back against her pillows. "Nothing to worry about, I mended it at once, but I'm keeping you in overnight."

Then, with a great hot rush of realization, Y/N remembered what happened. Cormac McLaggen had hit her with a Bludger, which had apparently fractured her skull.

"I don't want to stay here overnight," said Y/N at once, sitting up and throwing back her covers. "I want to find McLaggen and kill him."

"I'm afraid that would mean more overexertion," said Madam Pomfrey, pushing her firmly back onto the bed. "You will stay here and kill no one, Miss Scamander."

"Besides, Harry's already done that for you," Ron shrugged.

"Harry... what?" Y/N said wearingly, sinking back into her pillows.

Madam Pomfrey looked glad Ron had distracted her. She pursed her lips and strode back to her office.

Y/N bolted right up again when the nurse was out of sight.

"What happened after I fell?" she asked Ron, her heart pounding heavily. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but she asked anyway.

"Well, Harry was the one who caught you when you fell," Ron explained quietly. "He was furious. You should've seen... so was Rolf."

"They're both Seekers..." Y/N muttered. "Did we-?"

"We didn't win," said Ron apologetically. "Final score was three hundred and twenty to sixty."

"Well shit," Y/N groaned, covering her face.

"Rolf caught the Snitch right after you fell," said Ron, "he didn't know what was happening, though. When he noticed your unconscious body, he jumped off his broom- almost broke his ankle."

"I'm going to end McLaggen," said Y/N savagely. "As soon as I get to leave this place-"

"You don't want to get hold of him, he's the size of a troll," said Ron reasonably. "Plus, Harry and Rolf and the rest of the team already dealt with him, they're not happy..."

"If by 'dealt' with him you mean lectured him, you're not stopping me-"

"Harry kind of punched him in the jaw," said Ron. There was a note of badly suppressed glee in his voice. Y/N fell silent. "Right after the professors took care of you, he ran up to McLaggen and..."

Ron gestured a dramatic punch and the sound of cracking bone.

"I saw the blood from up here," Ron continued, "Rolf looked like he wanted to join him, but his team held him back."

"Merlin," Y/N said faintly, easily picturing the scene. "Where's- where is Harry?"

"He's been by your side since they brought you here," said Ron, hesitantly, "but he left, an hour ago, detention with McGonagall for punching McLaggen."

"Right," said Y/N. She still remembered what she'd heard right before the match and still intended to talk to Harry. "when will he be back?"

"Soon, I reckon," said Ron, not looking directly at her. "Look, Y/N, I know he was a git that night, but he still cares for you. Please don't be mad at him. Everyone saw how badly worried he was-"

"I know, Ron," Y/N said quietly, "I know."

"You... do?" Ron looked completely baffled. "That's- that's good, alright then, that's cool. Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool, cool-"

Y/N sent him a bitter look and he immediately shut his mouth.

Silence fell, as Ron frowned and contemplated what might've caused Y/N's change of heart.

"It was Romilda Vane," Y/N said grimly, noticing his curiosity.

"Romilda Vane?" Ron remained to look puzzled.

Y/N sighed and turned on her bed to face him, then told him everything she and Hermione heard before the match.

Ron was as equally angry as she was.

"Who does she think she is?" he grumbled furiously. "Does she realize Amortentia doesn't create real love?"

"Probably, but does she look like she cares?" Y/N huffed, feeling the familiar rise of anger in her chest.

"What'll happen, next, then?" Ron asked.

"What d'you mean?"

"You and Harry," Ron said swiftly, "now that you know he didn't mean it when he said... things,"

"Well..." Y/N didn't know.

Sure, now she knew it wasn't his fault he was given Devil's Draught that night, but it felt like there were things that haven't been said yet.

Weirdly enough, right at that moment, the heavy doors of the quiet hospital wing swung open.

Y/N and Ron turned to the entrance of the room and saw, standing right in front of them, Harry.

He'd change into clean clothes, his glasses were slightly lop-sided, and he was gazing at Y/N with both worry and relief.

"Y/N..." he whispered, then dashed across the room to Y/N's bed.

The next thing Y/N knew, she was wrapped in his arms and he was hugging her tight as if he was afraid he would lose her if he'd let go.

"Harry- Harry, I'm fine," Y/N uttered, letting a small smile slip onto her face.

"Damn right you are," Harry whispered into her hair, "otherwise I'd be in Azkaban right now. Charged for the murder of Cormac McLaggen."

Y/N smiled and hugged him back firmly, absorbing his familiar scent and his familiar sense of comfort she had missed dearly.

"I'm sorry about the match," she said in a low voice.

"It was no way your fault, Y/N," Harry said firmly, pulling away and cupping her face in his hands. "Are you alright?"

"Gentle, mate, her skull's still fragile," said Ron, though he was grinning at the sight.

Harry finally let go of her, red in the face, though he looked determined.

"Y/N, you've got to listen to me," he said, and pulled a stool by her bed closer, so he sat right beside her.

He slowly reached out and laced his fingers with hers and held her hand tightly. Y/N let him do so.

"You don't have to forgive me- in fact, don't forgive me," said Harry, his green eyes gazing at her. "but I would never forgive myself if you- if you never got to know the truth."

"Took you long enough to realize," said Ron. Y/N and Harry stared at him blankly.

The redhead sniggered and turned to his side to face away from the two. Harry turned back to Y/N.

"Look," he said, taking a deep breath, "I don't know what happened that night. The things I've said- I don't mean a single bit. I don't believe you'd ever leave me for Malfoy, and I-"

He stopped himself, cringing at the thought of his own words from a few months back.

"The thing is," said Harry, looking furious with himself, "I love you, Y/N Scamander... I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't."

He squeezed her hand tighter. Y/N squeezed his back, allowing him to continue.

"You don't have to believe me," Harry said weakly, looking sadly at her. "because I wouldn't trust me either, after what I said. But I'm telling the truth. I'd take a shot of Veritaserum to prove it if I could."

Y/N smiled softly. She already believed him, but remained silent and let him continue.

"I know I won't gain your trust back easily," Harry said determinedly. "but I will. I'll prove it to you with my actions and words-"

"Harry-"

"-that I care for you more than anything-"

"Harry, I believe you."

"-I'd take that Bludger for you if I could, Y/N, I... wait, what?" Harry looked up at her with raised eyebrows.

"I know you're telling the truth," Y/N smiled, amused by his baffled expression.

"But why would you?" Harry sounded offended she believed him. "After all I've done..."

Y/N took a deep breath and started telling him all of what she heard from Romilda Vane and her friend before the Quidditch match.

As she told him every detail, about the Devil's Draught, and the love potions ("yes, I know, plural,") Romilda had attempted to give him.

Harry's face twisted with emotions that ranged from disbelief to anger.

"How could I be so stupid?" Harry strained, when she finished talking. "I shouldn't have accepted that drink... Merlin, I should've known... I'm so sorry, Y/N."

"It's alright, Harry, it isn't your fault," said Y/N, "Sorry I didn't tell you about it right away," she then chuckled slightly. "your apology was cute, though."

"As sly as a Niffler, you are," Harry shook his head, grinning. "You have no idea how much I've missed talking to you, you can ask Ron-"

"Truth," Ron grumbled from the next bed, "I had to white noise him out whenever he ran his mouth about you."

"Hermione's been white noising me out, too," Y/N said grimly. "though she at least tries to act genuine."

Ron shook his red head without looking back at them and Harry laughed, brushing a strand of hair away from Y/N's face.

Y/N looked back at him and smiled.

"Merlin, I've missed that smile," Harry said, gazing at her through his round glasses.

"Still sticking with that name, are we," Y/N said with a huff, and Harry nodded brightly. "Harold the Hummingbird,"

"Now, that's a new one," said Ron, with his back still facing them. "Though, Harry wins with 'Y/N The Pebble'."

"Ronald Bilius Weasley," Y/N drawled, "white noise us out, please,"

Ron's body shook from laughter and he threw his covers over his head.

Harry meant it when he said he'd missed her smile.

The way joy overflows her face and the way her eyes slightly creased was overly contagious to him.

And, for the first time in four months, Harry felt whole again.

He smiled and brought her hand to his lips. He closed his eyes and planted a kiss on her knuckle.

"I love you... so much," he whispered, grinning against the back of her hand.

"Well, sorry to break it to you," Y/N grinned broadly. "but I beat you at that."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

Y/N and Ron were now able to enjoy the benefits of having been knocked out and poisoned; the Quartet was reunited again.

Hermione and Ron were friends again, and Y/N and Harry were... slowly rebuilding their relationship.

Hermione and Harry escorted Y/N and Ron down to breakfast, Monday morning when they were restored to full health by Madam Pomfrey.

Harry had been drastically gentler around her, Y/N noticed, so she assured him she no longer held a grudge.

"I know, I just don't want to lose you again," said Harry, grinning at her.

Y/N met his dazzling emerald eyes and slowly reached out to grasp his hand and held it tightly in hers.

Harry's cheeks glowed pink and he had to bite down his bottom lip to contain his wide grin.

Y/N's been quieter and more hesitant with him than she was, four months ago, Harry could tell. And maybe just slightly distant.

Y/N was relieved and beyond happy she was back with the boy she loved, but everything happened so abruptly that it would take her some time to adjust back.

And Harry respected it. He could wait. He would wait.

Just the fact that she was talking to him again, holding his hand, smiling, was enough to convince Harry he'd never let her go again.

"Harry," Ron barked, for Harry had been grinning and blushing for the past two minutes.

"Hmm?" he said numbly.

"Since when does hand-holding make you blush so hard?" Ron sniggered, "Bloody hell, wait until you two snog again. You'd be crowned Mr Magenta."

"Ron, leave him alone," scolded Hermione, though she flashed Y/N a quick wink.

"Right, first of all," Harry said swiftly, "I'm not... blushing. Just motion sick from the Quidditch match this morning."

"Surely, you could come up with a better excuse than that?" Y/N sneered quietly, earning a round of 'ohh's from Ron and Hermione.

"You all are reading over the lines," Harry grinned and shook his head, looking straight forward.

Ron and Hermione continued to smirk and Harry was most relieved when a voice behind them called, "Harry!" giving him an excuse to turn his flushed face away.

"Oh, hi, Luna," he said weakly.

"Hey, Luna," Y/N beamed. It felt good to be able to smile so flawlessly again.

"Y/N, you're as good as new," Luna grinned back, "Rolf would be thrilled. He's in the Great Hall, are you guys heading there?"

"Yeah, we are, actually," said Harry.

Luna turned her gaze at him and caught sight of Y/N's hand gripped in his. She understood immediately.

"Oh! See, what did I tell you?" She said brightly, looking up at Y/N, "I knew you two would find a way back to each other- though, second thoughts, Rolf wouldn't be that thrilled."

"And I'm terrified," Harry said grimly. "Did you want something, Luna?"

"Oh, I went to the hospital wing to find you," said Luna, rummaging in her bag. "I thought you'd be visiting Y/N, but they said you all left..."

She thrust what appeared to be a green onion, a large spotted toadstool, and a good amount of what looked like cat litter into Ron's hands.

She finally pulled out a rather grubby scroll of parchment and handed it to Harry.

"I've been told to give you this."

It was a small roll of parchment, which Harry seemed to recognize at once.

He looked up at Y/N and gave her a knowing look.

"Tonight," he said, catching her eye.

"You didn't have to say that in front of all of us," said Ron, fake gagging. Hermione burst into a roar of laughter, receiving scowls from Harry and Y/N.

"It's an invitation to another lesson with Dumbledore," Harry muttered.

"Your mind goes places, Ron," Luna acknowledged casually.

"Well, after such a wholesome make up, I'd think you would switch things up- OK, I'll stop." he quickly said, for Y/N was now strangling him with her gaze.

Hermione's laughed subsided and she gave Ron a proud high-five, which Y/N thought was, in a good way, quite out of her character.

"Nice commentary last match, by the way," said Ron to Luna, as she took back the green onion, the toadstool, and the cat litter from him.

"You're making fun of me, aren't you?" she said, smiling at him vaguely. "Everyone says I was dreadful."

"No, I'm serious!" said Ron earnestly. "I can't remember enjoying commentary more! What is this, by the way?"

He held up the onion-like object up to eye level.

"Oh, it's a Gurdyroot," Luna said, stuffing the cat litter and the toadstool back into her bag. "You can keep it if you like, I've got a few of them."

"And they're for...?"

"They're really excellent for warding off Gulping Plimpies." she said, "just have one in your bag and you'll be fine."

And she walked away, leaving Ron chortling, still clutching the Gurdyroot.

"You know, she's grown on me, Luna," he said, as they set off again for the Great Hall. "I know she's insane, but it's in a good-"

He stopped talking very suddenly. Lavender Brown was standing at the foot of the marble staircase looking thunderous.

"Hi," said Ron nervously.

"C'mon," Harry muttered to Y/N and Hermione, and they sped right past.

They entered the Great Hall, which looked a lot brighter than usual, or so Y/N thought- since she'd woken up, everything seemed to be a lot brighter from her point of view.

Still holding her hand firmly, Harry led Y/N into the crowded room and to a few empty seats in the middle of the Gryffindor table.

The three sat down with identical grins on their faces. They were all glad to have their relationships back.

"We've got a lot to catch up," said Hermione, sighing brightly and helping herself with a bowl of oatmeal.

"A lot," agreed Harry, picking up a piece of toast.

"Alright, first thing I want to know," said Y/N, trying not to seem too delightful, "What did you do to McLaggen?"

"Oh, Merlin," said Hermione, before Harry could reply. She didn't look so approving. "It was horri-"

"-well deserved," Harry finished her sentence before she got the chance to. "I would've done more if Peakes and Robins weren't holding me back."

"You earned yourself two weeks of detention, Harry," Hermione said sternly.

"And I'll do it again," Harry said cooly, taking a bite off his buttered toast.

"But be honest, Hermione," said Y/N, grinning, "would you be upset if Harry didn't get in trouble for it?"

"Well..." Hermione looked hesitant. "Well, Cormac really did deserve it."

Harry clapped his hands triumphantly and Y/N gave a satisfied nod.

"Great," she said, beaming, "then watch this..."

"Wait- Y/N," Hermione immediately grew anxious. "Y/N, what are you doing?"

"Not getting in trouble," Y/N said casually.

She fixed her eyes on the smug-looking Cormac McLaggen at the end of their table- specifically the pot of cold black tea he had in his hands.

She felt the warm surge of her exitiumagus powers flow through her and gathered at her eyes.

Seconds later, a loud explosion echoed the room. Some people screamed, some shrieked with laughter, and some ducked under the table.

Y/N, Hermione, and Harry fought back their laughter as they watched McLaggen yell in horror and leap from his seat, his arms rose above his head and the front of his white shirt stained with tea.

The pot had disappeared and a pile of ceramic bits sprawled all over the table.

Once they realized what had happened, the hall erupted with laughter.

"What in the name of Godric Gryffindor is going on?" Professor McGonagall came striding into the scene at once.

"The- the t-teapot, Professor!" McLaggen exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger at the pile of pearly dust on the table. "It just- exploded! In my hands!"

Professor McGonagall furrowed her eyebrows and immediately searched the Gryffindor table, finally landing her gaze on Y/N.

Y/N felt her face go cold. She forgot Professor McGonagall knew about her powers.

"Well," The professor huffed, turning back to McLaggen, "I suppose you'll have to be more gentle with your teapot, next time, Mr McLaggen."

Y/N's spirit lifted up again. Either McGonagall forgot about her powers, or she was defending her. Either way, Y/N was pleased.

"It wasn't me, professor-!"

"I suggest you change before your next class, McLaggen." Professor McGonagall said swiftly.

"But-!"

"Off you go before I take away house points!" Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared.

McLaggen looked furious, but he obliged and left the Great Hall, stomping his feet and dripping black tea behind him.

Professor McGonagall waved her wand, attempting to fix the teapot, but the remains did not stir. The damage was permanent... something Y/N never realized.

The professor sighed and turned to Y/N.

"Miss Scamander," she said calmly.

"Y-Yes, Professor?" Y/N couldn't handle the professor's dangerous tone. Even Harry and Hermione gulped.

"Next time," Professor McGonagall said, "notify me when you get dismissed from the hospital wing. I need to know about my students' whereabouts."

"Oh- right... yes, professor," Y/N nodded, trying to contain her relief.

The Head of House nodded once, and left, striding back to the staff table. Y/N wasn't sure, but she thought she saw a small grin on the professor's face.

Hermione tutted loudly.

"What?" Y/N questioned, whirling at her.

"Hermione, don't you dare tell her that wasn't just brilliant," Harry said, smiling widely.

"No, no, that was pretty awesome," Hermione smirked, but she quickly scowled. "But- ugh, I can't help but envy you- you're totally McGonagall's favourite!"

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The next week went by, and everything seemed normal from an outsider's view, but it was the best week Y/N's had since Christmas.

She and Harry purposely kept their relationship subtle to avoid more eyes.

The whole school was clueless about their reconcile, but some sharp brains definitely knew.

Romilda Vane was one of the first to find out.

On Saturday, Y/N was studying in the common room and Harry had fallen asleep on the sofa with his head in her lap, while she read A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration.

Everything was going fine until Romilda walked into the room with her ginger friend.

She saw the sight and looked as though she wanted to tear Y/N apart. She later stormed up to her dormitory, tossing her curls of shiny black hair, leaving Y/N feeling relieved.

Apart from Romilda, who kept what she saw quiet since she didn't want to embarrass herself, no one else knew.

Except for Luna and perhaps Rolf, who seemed like he was either clueless or very good at hiding his emotions.

Y/N and Harry's relationship wasn't exactly back to normal just yet, but Harry cherished every moment he had with her.

Just her smile, her laugh, her hand, her weird way of forming sentences when she was around him- he loved it all.

Though Harry hoped for it so much that he often daydreamed about it, a kiss wasn't needed for him to feel the overwhelming love she had for him...

After his meeting with Dumbledore, Harry came back to the common room to tell his friends that Slughorn's missing memory was very much needed as soon as possible.

He wracked his brains over the whole week as to how he was to persuade Slughorn to hand over the true memory, but nothing came to his mind.

"Look, we have Potions this afternoon," said Ron over breakfast, one morning. "Just try and soften Slughorn up a bit!"

"Fifty-seventh time lucky, you think?" said Harry bitterly.

"Lucky," said Y/N suddenly, and all her friends whirled in her direction. "Harry, that's it- get lucky!"

"What d'you mean?"

"Use your lucky potion!" Y/N exclaimed.

"Wait... that's genius!" Ron chimed in, equally enthusiastic.

"Y/N, that's it!" said Hermione, sounding stunned. "Of course! Why didn't I think of it?"

Harry stared at them all blankly.

"Felix Felicis?" he said. "I dunno... I was sort of- saving it..."

"What on earth is more important than this memory, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"What're you saving it for?" demanded Ron.

Harry did not answer. He shifted in his seat slightly, and a mere glance up at Y/N was enough for Ron to understand.

"Oh, bloody hell," Ron said, his face scrunched up. "I'm sure you don't need lucky potion for that!"

"Whatever you think it is, it's not, Ron," Harry said through gritted teeth, as he felt his face turn red.

"Ron, what are you implying?" Hermione asked, letting out a humorous huff.

"He's going to use it for Y/N," Ron said mockingly. "For Y/N..."

"No idea what you're talking about," said Harry stubbornly.

"Oh, come on, mate," Ron said, grinning, "It's alright! But I'm sure Y/N wouldn't mind a beginner's mistake- or two,"

"I was going to use it for Y/N," Harry said bitterly, "but judging by your tone, you clearly have the wrong idea."

"But Ron's right Harry," Y/N said dully. "Despite his... innuendo, he's right. You don't have to use Felix Feleicis with me."

"I just thought maybe my words of apology weren't enough," said Harry quietly, sounding aghast. "I don't want to risk the chances of losing you again."

"You 're not going to lose me," Y/N said, slightly frustrated by the fact that he thought he needed the potion for her. "You're perfect just how you are, Harry. No potion is needed for me to realize that."

She sounded serious and even annoyed, but all Harry could think of was that he wanted to kiss her.

How could she just sit there and frown at him and look so beautiful?

He wouldn't even care if Ron and Hermione and dozens of others were there, he just wanted to seize the front of her robes and crash his lips onto hers.

"Harry?" Hermione called. "Harry!"

Harry jumped back to his surroundings.

"Are you going to use it for the memory or not?" asked Ron.

"Fine. I s'pose I'd better," said Harry, sighing. "I don't reckon I'll need all of it, I'll just take a mouthful. Two or three hours should do it."

"It's a great feeling when you take it," said Ron reminiscently. "Like you can't do anything wrong."

"What are you talking about?" said Hermione, laughing. "You've never taken any!"

"Yeah, but I thought I had, didn't I?" said Ron, as though explaining the obvious. "Same difference really..."

When the sun had sunk into the treetops in the Forbidden Forest that day, they decided the moment had come.

After checking carefully that Neville, Dean, and Seamus were all in the common room, the Quartet sneaked up to the boys' dormitory.

Harry rummaged the bottom of his trunk and extracted the tiny, gleaming bottle.

"Well, here goes," said Harry, and he raised the little vial to his lips and took a carefully measured gulp.

"Well," whispered Hermione. "How do you feel?"

Harry did not answer for a moment. Then, slowly but surely, a child-like grin crept onto his face.

"Excellent," he said, and got to his feet, smiling, brimming with confidence. "Really excellent."

"OK, now cloak yourself and get going," Y/N stuffed his invisibility cloak into his hand, though Harry barely noticed.

"Right..." He hummed, "I'm going down to Hagrid's."

"What?" said Y/N, Ron, and Hermione together, looking puzzled.

"No, Harry, you've got to go and see Slughorn, remember?" said Hermione.

"No," said Harry cheerfully. "I've got a good feeling about going to Hagrid's."

"You've got a good feeling about burying a dead giant spider that tried to kill you, four years ago?" asked Y/N, her mouth agape.

"Trust me, Niff," said Harry, putting his hands on each of her shoulders so he was looking at her straight in the eye. "I feel like it's- it's the place to be tonight. D'you know what I mean?"

"No," said Y/N, Ron, and Hermione, all of them looking positively alarmed now.

"You sure this isn't- like- Devil's Draught?" Y/N asked him anxiously.

Harry laughed, and Ron and Hermione looked even more alarmed.

"You've seen a devil like this?" Harry said with a smirk, ruffling Y/N's hair.

"This is way scarier than a devil," Y/N said, looking stunned.

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing," Harry assured her. "or at least- Felix does... see you!"

To Y/N's pleasant surprise, he swooped down and kissed her cheek, then proceeded to wave energetically at Ron and Hermione before walking out of the room.

Y/N heard Harry exclaim an enthusiastic 'hi!' at Neville, as he climbed back through the portrait hole.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Y/N, psst-! Y/N, it's morning, rise and shine!"

Y/N jolted awake, springing abruptly right up from the velvet sofa she'd fallen asleep in.

She looked around in confusion, seeing it was pitch black outside and the common room was completely empty, except for the scruffy-haired boy in front of her.

"Hey, it's only me," Harry was on his knees before her, grinning gently. "I just got back. It's not morning, by the way, I just had to wake you up somehow."

"Tosspot," Y/N scoffed, though she was also smiling.

"I'll take it," Harry shrugged.

Y/N hadn't been woken up by Harry in some time, and though she didn't enjoy it, she had to admit she missed it.

"May I?" Harry asked, jerking his head at the seat next to her.

Y/N made some space for him on the sofa, tucking her legs to her chest. Harry got up from the floor and fell into the spot she'd left him.

"So how did it go?" Y/N asked.

"Oh, right, the memory," said Harry, his voice slightly hoarse. "Good news is- I got it."

"That's amazing, Harry!" said Y/N, smiling up at him proudly.

"Bad news is, Horcruxes are far worse than what we've theorized," Harry said with a deep sigh.

He then proceeded to tell Y/N what Slughorn told Tom Riddle decades ago about Horcruxes.

Y/N was left speechless for a moment when he finished off.

"Basically an object which one can hide a fragment of his or her soul in?" Y/N's throat felt dry.

"Basically," Harry nodded, "and we can't kill them unless the Horcrux is destroyed."

"Dumbledore thinks Voldemort's made seven of them?" Y/N really hoped she'd heard wrong.

"Precisely," Harry replied grimly. "Though, the diary and the ring are already destroyed."

"And Dumbledore wants you to help him find and destroy the other five?" Y/N asked, feeling a pang of dislike for the man.

"I insisted I wanted to," said Harry. "I'm going with him, next time he finds a Horcrux."

"Why would you, Harry?" Y/N said unbelievably, "I've never stopped you from being your stubbornly heroic self, but hunting for objects containing mini Voldemorts? You're mad."

"And you're adorable when you're worried," said Harry.

Y/N tilted her head up to look at him and realized he was grinning at her. She frowned at him.

Harry cleared his throat loudly and his face flushed, as he quickly looked away from her. To his surprise, Y/N laughed.

"You're not scared of me, are you, Harold?" she asked, nudging his ribs gently.

"Terrified," Harry replied, smirking, as his gaze found its way back to her. "So what's gonna happen next?"

"With the Horcruxes?"

"What- no, I thought we moved on from the dark talk," Harry huffed. "I mean what's going to happen... with us?"

"Oh, right... us," Y/N nodded, now understanding the path of the conversation.

"We don't have to rush right back," Harry said quickly, "if you still need time, I'll give you time."

"Harry, I love being with you," said Y/N, and she meant it from the bottom of her heart. "But I've got to admit it's a little odd- after four months of... well... no you."

"I understand, Niff," Harry closed his eyes and planted a tiny kiss at the top of Y/N's head. "I'm sorry..."

"Harry, we've been through this," Y/N said warily, reaching out and grabbing his hand. He immediately adjusted comfortably in her grip. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."

"Right," Harry whispered, his stomach feeling suddenly floaty.

She'd forgiven him, yes, but he would never forgive himself. Though it wasn't his fault, he'd still done the damage.

As though she heard his thoughts, Y/N wrapped her arms around his torso and they practically melted into each other.

She gazed up at him once more and gently kissed him on the jaw reassuringly.

Harry closed his eyes and hugged her to his chest, holding her close, as she nestled into his warmth.

They hadn't had time alone since Christmas, at the Burrow, where the situation wasn't so fitting for a cuddle.

Though Harry didn't tell her, he's missed having her in his arms so much that he could feel his own shaky heartbeats when she finally was.

"I've never told you this before," Harry started slowly. Y/N listened to his voice carefully. "but... you remembered that day when we first kissed, right?"

"Oh, the number of times I have to be reminded of that," Y/N grinned and shook her head. She remembered the day quite well.

Harry had woken her up because he had founded Peter Pettigrew's name on the Marauder's Map.

They went out in the middle of the night and were cornered up by Snape. Y/N remembered the pounding panic in her chest and Harry's determined look.

The next thing thirteen-year-old Y/N knew, Harry's arms were around her waist and his lips were on hers.

"I kind of kissed you on purpose," Harry admitted with a sly grin. "I had the invisibly cloak with me and could've used that- but I didn't. So I-"

"Snogged my face off," Y/N laughed, earning a chuckle of agreement from Harry.

"I did, didn't I?" He huffed, now playing with her fingers and drawing circles on the back of her hand.

"I knew you did it on purpose," said Y/N, shaking her head. "It was quite obvious. I only played along because-"

"You also wanted to snog my face off," Harry sneered.

"Wasn't what I was going to say," Y/N said bitterly, as Harry smirked.

"It's what you thought," he drawled, tugging her hoodie string playfully.

"Don't flatter yourself," Y/N muttered, though she felt her cheeks grow hot.

"We could recreate that, right now."

"Or not."

"You know you want to, Y/N The Pebble," Harry grinned, "Go on... just say the word, your wish is my command."

"You totally did that on purpose!" Y/N scoffed, "Bribing me with Queen lyrics? Smart, Harry Potter, very witty... but not today..."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Wow," said Ron, when Harry had finally finished telling him and Hermione about his Felix Felecis journey the next morning, in the Great Hall.

"That's one way to react," Harry said grimly.

"Wow." Ron repeated, "You're actually going to go with Dumbledore... and try and destroy... wow."

"Ron, you're making it snow," said Hermione patiently, grabbing his wrist and redirecting his wand away from the magical ceiling.

Lavender Brown, Y/N noticed, glared at Hermione from the Ravenclaw table through very red eyes, her Ravenclaw friend, Parvati, looking concerned.

Hermione immediately let go of Ron's arm.

"Oh yeah," said Ron, looking down at his shoulders in vague surprise. "Sorry... looks like we've all got horrible dandruff now."

He brushed some of the fake snow off Hermione's shoulder.

Lavender burst into tears. Ron looked immensely guilty and turned his back on her.

"This is uncomfortable," he grumbled, shifting in his seat.

"Harry..." Hermione whispered suddenly, her eyes squinting at the end of the Gryffindor table. "Katie Bell... she's back,"

Y/N, Harry, and Ron whirled around, and sure enough, at the end of the table, Katie Bell was being hugged and welcomed by her friends that squealed delightedly.

"You should go talk to her," said Y/N, nudging Harry's arm.

Harry nodded in agreement, turned around, swung his legs over the bench, and stood up.

Y/N, Ron, and Hermione watched as he walked determinedly across the hall to the group of seventh year Gryffindors.

"You still think it was Malfoy who cursed her?" Hermione asked Y/N.

"I know it was Malfoy," Y/N said in a voice lower than a whisper. "The necklace, the poison, the odd disappearances-"

"He could be sick," Hermione suggested, "he looks so,"

"Do you reckon Parkinson knows what he's up to?" Ron asked, looking at Y/N specifically since she was closest to Pansy.

"I doubt so," Y/N said seriously, "Her parents aren't Death Eaters, as far as we know, and she doesn't want to be associated with them. Malfoy would keep her out of it."

"Plus, she doesn't look ill," said Hermione, jerking her head at the Slytherin table.

Pansy sat sandwiched between Blaise and Ginny, talking loudly to her friends with the familiar smug look on her face.

No one could ever tell when she was having fun, but Y/N assumed so, judging from Blaise and Ginny's laughter.

"Why don't you ask her?" Ron said wittily.

"Oh, come off it," Y/N said with a slight laugh. "I'm barely her friend... we could have Ginny ask her, though."

"Ginny? My sister, Ginny?" Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "What's she got to do with any of it?"

"Sorry to break it to you, Ron," sighed Hermione. "But you're the only one who hasn't noticed the obvious- Ginny's gotten close with Pansy. They've been hanging out a lot since Slughorn's party."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, Hermione," Y/N sighed, "Pansy's the one she's been visiting in the dungeons all along."

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione said with a tongue click, "the way Ginny acted when I asked her where she was going... no one acts like that when they're meeting with a friend."

"Finally! Someone notices," Y/N said with a huge sigh. She'd thought she was the only one who noticed Pansy and Ginny's chemistry. "I thought I was the only one who thought-"

"Ginny's with Dorcan Wells?" Ron questioned.

"Exactly!"

"No!"

Y/N and Hermione stared at each other.

"That's wasn't what I was about to say," Y/N said grimly. "Ginny isn't dating Dorcan Wells, she's-"

"Hey! You lot!" Ginny called loudly from the Slytherin table behind them.

Y/N, Hermione, and Ron whirled around in alarm.

Sitting with Pansy, along with the Blaise and the Greengrass sisters, Ginny was eying them suspiciously.

"I heard my name," she said, tucking her red hair behind her ears and crossing her arms.

Pansy raised her eyebrows at the Gryffindors.

"Gossiping isn't so Scamander of you, Y/N," she said, smirking teasingly, which made Ginny smirk too.

"I wasn't gossiping! Just talking about our Quidditch team," Y/N defended.

Ginny and Pansy continued to frown at her, so Y/N quickly turned back to Ron and Hermione with a heavy sigh.

"It's so bloody obvious," she muttered to herself, smiling and shaking her head.

Then, a realization popped into her head.

"Hold the front door... where's Harry?"

Ron and Hermione looked up, alarmed, and immediately scanned around the room. The Great Hall was Harry-less.

"Where'd he go?" said Y/N.

"This can't be good," Hermione said faintly, seeing that Katie remained with her friends.

"Should we go find him?" Y/N asked worriedly.

"Relax, you two," said Ron broadly, "it's not the first time he's gone missing."

True enough, Y/N thought. She calmed herself down.

"Alright, you guys full?" she asked her friends. "We should go back to the common room. Finish Snape's essay on inferi."

"Ditch food for homework?" Ron groaned in agast, though Hermione looked like she could kiss Y/N.

"I love you, my Y/N!" she exclaimed dramatically, jumping up to her feet. "Amazing idea! Study we go! C'mon, Ron, wrap those eclairs in a napkin and get to your feet!"

"How am I friends with you?" Ron asked, shaking his head, though he obeyed happily.

"How are you still friends with her?" Y/N whispered to him when they left the Great Hall. Hermione was skipping ahead of them. "Ask her out, already!"

"You bloody wish," Ron ushered back urgently. "You ask Harry out, then, if it's so easy!"

"We just made up," Y/N hissed, her face flushing. "I don't want to rush things... but you had six years! Just tell me- are you planning to take her out, or-?"

"Did you two snog, yet?"

"What- no! And don't avoid my question!"

"I reckon Harry's planning to do something for you-"

"Ron, you-"

"He continues to ask me for girl advice, you know? How hard can you be-?"

"Hey, what are you two whispering about?" Hermione had spun around and raised a brow at her two friends.

"Nothing," Y/N and Ron chorused.

"It sure was something," Hermione narrowed her eyes skeptically.

"If you must know," Y/N sighed sarcastically. "Ron was going on about how good your hair looked from the back-"

"RIGHT! Come on, Mione, ignore her," Ron quickly strode forwards and wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulders, steering her away from Y/N.

"Rude," Y/N mumbled, though she was grinning wildly.

The three finally arrived at the Fat Lady's portrait, recited the password, and climbed into the portrait hole to the warm and cozy common room.

"Wait here, I'll go get our bags," Hermione said to Y/N brightly, before practically skipping up to their dormitory.

Their usual spot was taken by the first year Gobstone club, so Y/N and Ron found a table by the window that cast a nice view of the grounds.

"So," said Ron, clearing his throat. "now are you going to admit you still fancy my best mate?"

"I do find myself fanciable at times," Y/N shrugged.

"I meant Harry," Ron scowled, rolling his eyes, "Go on, deny your feelings! But I better not catch you two making out in my dormitory-"

"I'm not denying my feelings," Y/N said grimly. "And whatever Harry and I decide to do together doesn't concern you, big brother."

Ron's ears glowed red, but though he wanted to argue, the way Y/N called him 'big brother' so casually softened him up.

Suddenly, the portrait hole at the entrance of the common room swung open again.

Harry came in, stumbling on his feet, panting heavily, His white shirt was stained bright red.

His glasses were lopsided, his forehead gleamed with sweat, and his trousers were dripping blood water.

Y/N and Ron's jaws fell open as they stared at him.

"Where've you-? Why are you soaking-? Is that blood?" Ron gasped, looking bewildered at the sight of Harry.

"What have you done?" Y/N said breathlessly.

"I need your book," Harry panted. "Your Potions book. Quick... give it to me..."

"But what about the Half-Blood-"

"I'll explain later!"

"Mine's upstairs, Hermione's getting it."

"I've got mine," Ron quickly roamed his bag, pulled out his copy of Advanced Potion-Making, and handed it over.

Harry immediately sprinted off, back to the portrait hole.

"Whose blood was that?" Y/N rasped out, when the common room went silent.

"Whoever's it is," Ron said, his face pale, "they're either extremely injured, dying, or dead."

"Well, thanks for the wholesome words, Ron!"

"Just stating the obvious..."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ I know, I know, this isn't that much of an eventful chapter, action-wise... but dialogue-wise, you're welcome.

Btw, I don't check my Wattpad DMs and I rarely check my Snap, so please reach out to me via message board or TikTok :)

See you all next week, peoplethatmakemylifesomuchbetter x

-ScribblingQuills