A/N ~ You all know what's about to happen...

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

It was a quarter to ten at night and the sun was beginning to stoop low.

Y/N and Harry watched the sunset in silence as they leaned against the trunk of the apple tree at the end of the meadow.

The sunset was ethereal. The bright orange sun sank behind the treetops of the forbidden forest, striking rays of pink and gold before them.

Y/N wondered in her head why it looked so alluring that day.

Or has it always been this breathtakingly beautiful, but was only noticed on some days?

"It's beautiful," Y/N smiled, though it's been minutes since the peak of the sunset.

"Is it?" said Harry. "Why's so?"

"It makes me happy," Y/N replied. It didn't make sense, but it felt right.

"What about it makes you happy?" Harry asked curiously, glancing sideways at her.

"The colours, I suppose?" said Y/N, frowning, as she studied the sky. But crayons didn't make her happy, and they were colourful... "The brightness?" Light bulbs didn't appeal to her much either...

"That's it?"

"No... that's not even part of it." Y/N said thoughtfully.

"Huh..." said Harry.

"I... have no idea what's so great about it." Y/N said, slowly, "Just looking at it makes me happy." she closed her eyes... the powerful feeling still remained. "No... just being in its presence makes me happy."

She opened her eyes again and glanced at Harry, to see that a small smile had appeared on his face.

"You described it perfectly." said Harry, happily, "If you ever wonder what it feels like to be in love with you, just compare yourself to the sunset."

Y/N blinked and stared at him. His adorable grin, his messy raven black hair, his round glasses, his bright green eyes.

Over the years they've been together, Harry made her feel special and valued.

She'd always been secretly insecure and sometimes even ashamed about herself, growing up, though she told no one.

It was like Harry had handed her a mirror that showed the reflection of the wonderful person she truly was.

"No one's ever compared me to a sunset before," she said quietly, sounding stunned.

"The sunset's presence makes you happy- like how your presence makes me happy," Harry shrugged. "Also... because the sun's pretty hot, and, well..."

Harry smirked and looked her up and down briefly.

"Way to ruin the moment, Harry Potter," Y/N laughed, grinning and shaking her head, as she felt blood rush to her face. "You're an arse."

"An arse that speaks facts."

"You're lucky I'm not in the mood to object," said Y/N, reaching out her hand and messing up his hair as she got up to her feet. "C'mon, let's go inside before it gets dark real quick."

"Helping hand?" Harry reached out his hand to her, grinning innocently. "Go on, don't leave me hanging,"

Y/N smiled and grasped his hand, pulling him up to his feet with slight struggle.

"Thanks," said Harry brightly.

"Hey, all the picnic stuff is gone," Y/N acknowledged, as they turned back to the meadow they'd spent all afternoon in.

"Dobby's work," sighed Harry, feeling beyond grateful for the elf. "he also was the one who made all the stuff pop up you weren't looking."

"Remind me to go thank him int he kitchen tomorrow," said Y/N gratefully.

As it quickly became dark, the two made their way across the grounds and carefully back up into the castle.

Harry brought out the Marauder's Map and checked each corner of the castle before they made each move. It was way past curfew, so the entrance hall was very much deserted.

Filch was on the sixth floor, as well as Mrs Norris, but other than that, they were safe to go.

They kept quiet all the way and Y/N let Harry lead her way, however, when he completely walked past the corridor that led to their common room, she grabbed his wrist.

"Where are you going?" she whispered. "Our common room's down that corridor."

"I have more things planned for us," Harry whispered back, half his face glowing from the light that shone from the tip of his wand. "If that's OK with you,"

Y/N studied him thoughtfully for a moment, having no clue what this might lead to. Finally, she gave a small nod of her head.

"Alright," she said quietly, "Lead the way..."

Harry smiled and gave her a thankful kiss on the forehead, then proceeded down the corridor, checking the map in his hand every few seconds.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

Whatever Y/N was expecting from him, it sure definitely was not the Astronomy Tower. But it was a delightful surprise.

They reached the last steps at the very top of the tower and were greeted by a chilly breeze.

There were no walls on top of the tower and they were surrounded by utter darkness, apart from the light from their wands and the scarce sunlight.

A great and magnificent telescope stood by the railings, as well as a stack of star charts and books about astronomy.

"Isn't this place out of bounds?" asked Y/N, as she looked around the beautifully structured tower.

"Yeah, along with the rest of the castle, past curfew," said Harry.

Y/N turned back to him and was surprised to see that he was holding onto two white heavy blankets and the same mat they'd previously used for their picnic.

"How are things just popping out of nowhere, today?" Y/N said, impressed, and Harry threw her a blanket.

"I'm just stealthy," Harry shrugged, smirking.

"You mean- Dobby is just stealthy," Y/N corrected him. "So... why are we here?"

Harry didn't answer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

He guided her to the side of the tower that was the most open to the sky and stopped in front of the railing.

"Ever watched a meteor shower before?" he asked, glancing at her curious expression.

"Well- once, I think..." she replied.

It had been a family trip she'd taken to France, with her mother, father, and brother, almost ten years ago.

The meteor shower was beautiful- she still remembered its whimsical feel. But she didn't really get the chance to see anything such again, since.

"Only once?" said Harry unbelievably.

"I never know when and how," said Y/N, shrugging. "But I've always wanted to see one again."

"Well you will, today," Harry said brightly and laid down the rug-looking picnic mat onto the hard ground, a few yards behind the metal railing.

Y/N stared at him, feeling the sudden urge to mentally marry him.

"You're amazing, you know that?" she said, admiring his face as he sat himself down on the mat and threw a blanket over himself. "But won't it get colder, soom?"

"If you want my arms around you, you can just say that." Harry teased, and Y/N gave him a bitter look. "I think the blankets will do." He quickly said.

"Alright, but be warned- I might accidentally fall asleep," Y/N said grimly.

"With the meteor shower right in front of you, you won't," Harry assured. "Come, sit..." he patted on the mat under him.

Y/N hesitated for half a second, but went around and sat down next to him.

Harry took her blanket and wrapped it around her body so that her head was her only visible body part.

"How long do we have to wait?" asked Y/N, shivering under the blanket and staring into the darkness.

"Not long," said Harry, "I presume..." he added.

"You presume," Y/N laughed, "when have you ever presumed accurately?"

"Are you kidding? All the time," Harry defended, giving her an offended look. "But you can take a short nap, I s'pose. I'll wake you up when it's time."

Y/N nodded and fell back onto the mat in exhaustion, already finding her lids heavy, and adjusted the blanket around herself.

"Hey- hey, what are you doing?" Harry demanded.

Y/N stopped moving and frowned at him.

"Taking a nap?" she said blankly.

"You'll wake up with a concussion if you sleep on the floor," Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "Just lean on me. My shoulder, my lap, I don't care... but I'm not letting you sleep on the floor."

Harry had always been protective of her, and it was quite odd sometimes. Even Remus would've let her sleep anywhere she wanted to.

Y/N didn't mind, though. In fact, she was glad he suggested it the second she laid her head on his lap and he started stroking her hair with his warm hand.

She knew, now, why he'd always loved when she did that for him. She closed her eyes and smiled softly, as Harry's fingers brushed against her skin.

"I can see you're enjoying it," Harry smirked.

"It's alright," Y/N lied in a mumble, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

Harry grinned at her knowingly and continued running his fingers through her hair like how she usually did for him.

This made Y/N noticed how sleepy she was and she closed her eyes, the sight of the navy blue dark sky fading away as she drifted to sleep...

The next moment she became aware of her surroundings, Harry was calling her name enthusiastically and shaking her shoulder.

"Y/N, wake up! It's happening!"

As usual, Y/N groaned and flipped to her side, facing away from him. She was too tired for anything, including a beautiful meteor shower.

"Just a glance, come on," said Harry, squeezing her shoulder. "Just one peek and you can go to sleep after if you want to."

"Fine," Y/N mumbled, and turned back to him, rubbing her eyes with both her hands before opening them, just very slightly.

Where she laid was perfectly aligned with the open sky. She would've gasped, but she felt utterly speechless.

The ink-black sky was sprawled and decked with millions of glistening stars.

Some shone brightly and boldly, some were blinking as if they were flickering on and off.

Quite a few were shooting rapidly across the sky- she could make more than enough wishes for a lifetime.

The sky was so mesmerizing that Y/N didn't even realize she'd gotten up and now had her hands on the railing.

"What do you think?" Harry said delightedly from behind her, and Y/N felt his arm slide around her waist.

"Harry..." Y/N whispered, her eyes locked with the view of the rest of the universe in front of her. "It's magical."

There was the word. Magical. So simple, yet, it described it all.

"Go on, then, make a wish." Harry urged, hugging her waist in comfort.

"How many?" Y/N asked, laughing slightly and glancing up at him.

"How many you'd like," Harry shrugged.

Y/N closed her eyes and genuinely made a wish, grinning softly to herself.

"Alright, done." She said, opening her eyes again.

"So how many did you make?"

"One."

"Aren't you going to wish for more?" Harry asked her curiously. "There's more than enough shooting stars."

"I'm good, thanks," Y/N shrugged, beaming wildly at the stars. "I'm good..."

She held onto his arms that sat around her waist and continued to gaze at the sky, feeling as though she could never get enough of the beautiful sight.

There really wasn't anything she could wish for more. Her life wasn't perfect, and there were times that it seemed miserable.

There were even moments she was desperate for change, but at the end of the day, everything was already changing.

Harry understood as he watched her grin at the sky as though that was all she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

"I also made a wish," said Harry.

"Hmm, yeah..." Y/N said sloppily. "I wonder what it could-"

She completely froze in her spot. She'd just spun back around to face him and was taken by surprise to find that he was holding a ring.

First, she thought stupidly he might be proposing, but then recognized the ring the moment she got a good look at it.

"My pebble ring..." she uttered the obvious, gaping at the piece of jewelry. "But that's not- I thought I lost it... how did you get it?"

"Hermione found it," said Harry, examining the ring broadly. "She said you abandoned it when we had our fight- but she reckoned you might regret throwing it away later, so she kept it."

"And that's another reason why Hermione Granger's my best friend," said Y/N, noting to herself she'd thank Hermione later.

"You still want it back?" Asked Harry.

"More than anything," said Y/N, staring fondly at the simple ring and its grey pebble.

"I guessed," Harry said brightly, getting hold of her hand. He slid the ring right onto her ring finger and it still fit perfectly.

Y/N smiled, feeling relief and warmth flood over her. Harry looked at her peaceful eyes and could see starlight reflecting from them.

His heart overflowed with all the feelings she had for her. He buried his face into her neck and gave her a loving kiss.

Y/N's stomach did a backflip and she beamed and blushed into the night sky.

They stood there for a while until their legs got numb, then dragged their mat and blankets to the front of the railing.

They both sat down on the mat, wrapping themselves in each other's blankets and taking in the moment.

Harry then handed Y/N an opened bottle of butterbeer- which she assumed was also prepared by Dobby.

She got hold of it gladly and took a large sip, as Harry drank from his own bottle.

As they both sat in comforting silence, eyes glued to the glowing meteors and drinking bottled butterbeer, Y/N knew, surely, there really wasn't anything else she'd wish for.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The next day was a Sunday, and the Quartet spent it having one of their fun days together, Y/N and Harry being quieter and smilier than usual and Ron and Hermione bright and beaming.

"What's got you grinning like a clown today?" Hermione had asked Y/N at breakfast, with the hint of tease in her voice.

"Floating rocks," Y/N replied casually. Then, she and Harry spent half of their breakfast time sniggering at Ron and Hermione's confused expressions.

The day went by like a flash, and they all returned to the castle for dinner.

They laughed and talked about their fine day and enjoyed every moment of each other's presence, having absolutely no clue of what they were about to face, later that day...

"Harry?" said Jimmy Peakes. He had appeared behind Harry and Ron and was holding out a scroll of parchment. "This is for you," he handed Harry the scroll.

"Thanks, Jimmy... hey, it's from Dumbledore!" said Harry excitedly, unrolling the parchment and scanning it as Jimmy walked back to his friends. "He... wants me to go to his office as quick as I can."

The Quartet stared at each other.

"Now?" Y/N asked, puzzled. There was no reason for Dumbledore to call Harry to his office on a Sunday evening if it wasn't urgent.

"Blimey," whispered Ron. "You don't reckon... he hasn't found...?"

"Better go and see, hadn't I?" said Harry, jumping to his feet. "I'll be back to tell you all,"

He hurriedly scrambled to his feet and walked swiftly out of the Great Hall.

"Do you think it's good news?" asked Hermione in a low voice, after a few seconds of thoughtful silence.

"Yeah, I think. I reckon he found-" Ron quickly stopped himself, "one..."

"Who says that's good news?" Y/N said weakly. "Just another mini Voldemort to destroy." Ron flinched at the name.

"Oh, come off it, Ron, it's just a name," Hermione said with an eye roll. "The fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing, itself."

"Well, who wouldn't fear him?" Ron said heatedly.

"The point is, we shouldn't be giving him that sort of respect!" said Hermione.

"Wait... guys-"

"It's not respect, it's being cautious!" Ron snapped. "What if his name becomes a taboo one day-?"

"Ron-"

"That's just ridiculous!"

"Hermione-"

"It's possible-"

"GUYS!" Y/N said loudly. Ron and Hermione froze mid-argument and turned to her. "Do you reckon he'll need this?"

She held up Harry's wand in front of her. He had accidentally left it next to his bowl of mushroom soup.

"He left his wand?" Ron said, almost humorously. "What an idiot."

"Yes, I think so," Hermione said seriously, ignoring Ron. "If whatever Dumbledore called him for is urgent, it's probably important. If it's important, it's probably dangerous. If it's dangerous-"

"Right, got it," Y/N said grimly. She shoved the wand into her pocket and swung her legs over her seat, getting to her feet.

She strode across the hall in her fastest walk and out the double doors.

She made her way up the stairs that led to the seventh floor as fast as possible, passing nobody but Peeves, who floated along her side and threw pieces of chalk at her.

Once Peeves had vanished and Y/N reached the seventh floor, she finally caught up with Harry.

"Harry! Harry- wait," Y/N called, catching up with him, slightly out of breath.

Harry whirled around and stopped once he saw her.

"Y/N?"

"You- forgot- your wand..." Y/N panted, and pulled Harry's wand out from the pocket of her robes, and handed it over to him.

"Oh... that was stupid," said Harry. "thanks,"

Suddenly, a scream and a crash rang out horrifically. Y/N and Harry stopped in their tracks immediately, listening...

"How- dare- you- aaaaargh!"

The noise was coming from a corridor nearby.

Y/N and Harry met each other's eyes and both sprinted towards the source, their wands out and ready.

They hurtled around another corner and saw Professor Trelawney sprawled upon the floor, her eyes wide, with several sherry bottles lying beside her, one shattered.

"Professor-" Y/N hurried forwards and helped Professor Trelawney to her feet.

Her head was covered in one of her many shawls

Trelawny shook her head hysterically and hiccoughed loudly, patting her hair and pulling herself up on Y/N's helping arm.

"What happened, Professor?" Harry asked, looking around wildly.

"You may well ask!" the Divinations professor said shrilly. "I was strolling along, brooding upon certain Dark portents happen to have glimpsed..."

Y/N wasn't really listening. She just realized, as she looked around the corridor, they were right in front of the Room of Requirement.

"Professor, were you trying to get into the Room of Requirement?" Y/N asked.

"...omens I have been vouchsafed- what?" Trelawney looked suddenly shifty.

"The Room of Requirement," said Harry, also realizing their current location. "Were you trying to get in there?"

"I- well-" Professor Trelawney stuttered. "I didn't know students knew about it,"

"Not all of them do," said Harry.

"But what happened?" Y/N asked worriedly. "You screamed... it sounded like a bad scream."

"What's a good scream?" Harry asked humorously, smirking, though quickly fell silent when Y/N threw him a warning look.

"I- well," said Professor Trelawney, drawing her shawls around her defensively. "I wished to- um- deposit certain- uh- personal items in the room..."

"Right," said Harry, glancing down at the sherry bottles. "But you couldn't get in and hide them?"

Harry found this very odd. The Room had opened for him, after all, when he wished to hide the Half-Blood Prince's book.

"Oh, I got in all right," said Professor Trelawney, glaring at the wall. "But there was somebody already in there."

"Somebody in-? Who?" Y/N asked, a little too eagerly. Professor Trelawny looked taken aback. Y/N cleared her throat and calmed herself. "Er- who was in there, professor?"

"I have no idea," said Professor Trelawney. "I walked into the room and I heard a voice, which has never happened before..."

"A voice? Saying what?" asked Harry.

"I don't know that it was saying anything," said Professor Trelawney. "It was... whooping."

"Whooping?" Y/N frowned.

"Gleefully," Trelawny said, nodding.

Harry and Y/N stared at her.

"Was it male or female?" asked Harry.

"I would hazard a guess at male," said Professor Trelawney.

"And it sounded happy?"

"Very happy," said Professor Trelawney sniffily.

"As though it was celebrating?"

"Most definitely."

"And then-?"

"And then I called out, 'Who's there?'"

"You couldn't have found out who it was without asking?" Harry asked her, looking frustrated. Y/N out a hand on his shoulder to cool him down.

"The Inner Eye," said Professor Trelawney with dignity, "was fixed upon matters well outside the mundane realms of whooping voices."

"Right," said Y/N, understanding nothing. "And did the voice say who was there?"

"No, it did not," Trelawny said. "Everything went pitch black and the next thing I knew, I was being hurled headfirst out of the Room!"

"And you didn't see that coming?" said Harry, unable to help himself. Y/N scowled at him.

"No, I did not, as I say, it was pitch-" the professor stopped and glared at him suspiciously.

"I think you'd better tell Professor Dumbledore," said Y/N. "He ought to know Malfoy- I mean, that someone threw you out of the room."

"You think so?" Professor Trelawney seemed to consider the matter for a moment.

"I'm going to see him right now," said Harry. "I've got a meeting with him. We could go together."

"Oh, well, in that case," said Professor Trelawney with a smile.

She bent down, scooped up her sherry bottles, and dumped them into a large vase standing in a nearby niche.

"Y/N, you should come too," said the professor. "Another eyewitness never hurts."

"Oh- well..." Y/N glanced uncertainly at Harry, who gave her a small nod. "Alright, then. Let's go together."

They set off together down the corridor, Y/N still looking hesitant.

"I miss having you two in my class," said Professor Trelawney, soulfully, "You both were never much of a seer, but- you were a wonderful object..."

Harry did not reply, but Y/N gave her a warm smile.

"I am afraid," she went on, "that the centaur that replaced me knows nothing of cartomancy. But he seemed to find me almost comical. Yes, comical!"

Her voice rose rather hysterically and Y/N caught a powerful whiff of sherry even though the bottles had been left behind.

"I well remember my first interview with Dumbledore," went on Professor Trelawney, in throaty tones. "He was deeply impressed, of course, deeply impressed..."

Y/N listened carefully, quite intrigued by her story.

"I was staying at the Hog's Head, about twenty years ago. Dumbledore called upon me in my room at the inn. He questioned me...."

And now Harry was paying attention properly for the first time, for he knew that it was Professor Trelawney who had made the prophecy about him and Voldemort.

Y/N, whom Harry usually told everything to, also noticed this.

"...it was going fine, really, the prophecy," said Trelawney, "but then we were rudely interrupted by Severus Snape!"

"What?" said Y/N and Harry.

"Yes, there was a commotion outside the door and it flew open, and there was that barman standing with Snape, who was waffling about having come the wrong way up the stairs-"

Y/N's heart dropped for Harry. Even without looking, she knew what he was thinking and she was thinking it, too.

"-I myself rather thought he had been apprehended eavesdropping on my interview with Dumbledore, but I- Harry, dear?"

Professor Trelawney and Y/N looked back over their shoulders, realizing Harry was no longer walking by their side.

He had stopped walking and was now ten feet behind them.

"Harry?" Y/N said uncertainly.

Harry was standing rigid, looking pale, as waves of shock crashed over him, wave after wave.

It was Snape who had overheard the prophecy. It was Snape who had carried the news of the prophecy to Voldemort.

Snape and Peter Pettigrew together had sent Voldemort hunting after Lily and James and their son.

Nothing else mattered to Harry just now.

"Harry?" said Professor Trelawney again. "Harry- I thought we were going to see the Headmaster together?"

"You stay here," Harry told her through numb lips.

"Harry, I thought-"

"You go back to the common room, Niff," said Harry frimly.

"But, dear..." said Professor Trelawney. "I was going to tell him how I was assaulted in the Room of-"

"You stay here!" Harry repeated angrily.

The professor looked alarmed as he ran past her and Y/N, and disappeared behind a corner at the end of the corridor.

"Is he always like that?" asked Professor Trelawney, her voice heavy with confusion, once Harry had left.

"Uh... not typically," said Y/N, staring after him.

"Did I say something wrong?" Trelawny asked hesitantly, her magnified eyes looking larger than ever.

"I don't think you did," said Y/N, though it was obvious what Harry  was upset about.

"Well, dear," Trelawny said with a sigh, putting a hand on Y/N's shoulder. "Good luck having him as a partner...."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

Ron and Hermione were sitting together in the common room when Y/N came back.

She went over and sat down across them and told them what she'd just seen and heard.

Ron and Hermione didn't say a word and let her finish, nodding their heads and frowning thoughtfully.

"Do you think he's upset?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Of course, he is!" said Ron, with a tone of anger, himself. "It was Snape who told You-Know-Who about the prophecy."

"We don't know the whole story," Hermione said firmly, and Y/N and Ron looked at her unbelievably.

"Hermione, the prophecy completely wrecked his childhood!" Ron said furiously.

"He didn't even have a childhood," Y/N said quietly. "He has every right to be upset."

"Just give him a break, he's been through a handful," Ron added, sounding grim.

"Well... I guess that's true..." Hermione said shamefully. "What about the cheers Trelawny heard in the Room of Requirements?"

"It's Malfoy," Y/N said at once. Ron and Hermione stared at her. "I just know it. He's been up to no good all year. It's got to be him."

Ron and Hermione seemed to not have any counter-claim to argue against her, so they sat there, glancing at each other bleakly.

They stayed in silence for what seemed like barely a minute, then, suddenly, there was noise from the portrait hole and Harry came scrambling in.

Y/N, Hermione, and Ron stared as Harry rushed into the room, his face pale, his breath short, and his sleeves rolled up.

"What does Dumbledore want?" Hermione said at once.

"Harry, are you okay?" Y/N said anxiously, goggling at his expression.

"I'm fine," said Harry shortly, then raced past them, dashing up the stairs to his dormitory.

"Something's terribly wrong," Hermione squeaked, shrinking in her seat.

Moments later, Harry came hurtling back down the stairs and into the common room, skidding to a halt where Y/N, Ron, and Hermione sat, looking stunned.

"Godric, Harry, slow down," Y/N said, jumping to her feet. She walked over to him and pulling him into a quick comforting hug.

"I haven't got much time," Harry panted over her shoulder, squeezing her tight in his arms. "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen..."

He pulled away and told them where he was going, and why.

He did not pause either for Hermione's gasps of horror or for Ron's hasty questions and avoided looking at Y/N's eyes.

Dumbledore had found the location of one of Voldemort's Horcruxes and they were going to find it, tonight.

"So you see what this means?" Harry finished. "Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!"

Harry glared at both Ron and Hermione, for they showed every sign of interrupting.

"I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement," he said matter-of-factly.

"We know, Y/N told us," Hermione said quietly.

"Good," Harry  gave Y/N a thankful look, reached into his pocket, pulled out the Marauder's Map, and shoved it into her hand. "Watch him. Watch Snape, too. Gather as many DA members as you can. Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right?"

Hermione nodded, though she still looked completely dismayed.

Y/N was not sure if she should be afraid, nervous, or concerned. Perhaps all was the answer.

"Harry-" began Hermione, her eyes huge with fear.

"I haven't got time to argue," said Harry curtly. "Take this as well-" He thrust a lumpy sock into Y/N's hands.

"Thanks?" said Y/N. "Er- why do I need socks?"

"You need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis," said Harry. "Share it between yourselves. I'd better go. Dumbledore's waiting-"

"No you don't!" said Y/N, looking furious, shoving him back the sock-wrapped vial of Felix Felicis. "You take it- who knows what you're going to be facing?"

"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," said Harry, grabbing onto her shoulders and giving her his most assuring look. "I want to know you lot are okay..."

"You're the one doing the dangerous stuff," Y/N protested, glaring into his eyes.

"Y/N, I'm not arguing with you right now," Harry said in a low voice.

He clasped his hands around her face, pulled her in, and kissed her lips earnestly, not caring how angry she was with him at that moment.

"I love you..." he whispered, and forced himself to pull away from her. "but I have to go, now. I'll see you later..."

He gave her, Hermione, and Ron another assuring nod and was off, hurrying back through the portrait hole.

Y/N stood numbly in the middle of the room, her lips still lingering with his touch.

"Come on, Y/N," Ron said gently, squeezing her shoulder. "We've got things to do..."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"This is everyone we've got?" Ron asked Y/N and Hermione weakly.

In front of them stood Luna, Rolf, Neville, Ginny, all of them looking confused, yet, determined.

They were in the entrance hall, and it had been ten minutes after Harry's department, after Hermione had triggered the DA coins.

Y/N, Hermione, and Ron had taken a portion of Felix Felicis each, and ran down to the Entrance Hall in confidence, only to find that four people was all they could gather.

"Alright, everyone, I know this is crazy and abrupt," Y/N started, turning to face the people that turned up. "but Harry and Dumbledore are gone, tonight..."

She explained to them briefly about Malfoy and what Harry had left them to do, and avoided telling them any details and Harry and Dumbledore's absence.

Luckily, none of them questioned or said anything, and just nodded.

"Alright, we have to split into two groups," Hermione said with a heavy sigh, "One group will go watch over Malfoy, and the other will watch over Snape."

"Neville, Y/N, Ginny, you can come with me to the Room of Requirements," said Ron, looking down at the Marauder's Map. "His name isn't on the map, so I'm guessing he's there."

"Where's Snape?" Hermione asked him.

"In... his office," replied Ron, looking up from the map.

"Then that's where we'll be going," said Hermione, straightening herself. "Come on, Luna, Rolf,"

Luna and Rolf looked at each other for a split second but followed Hermione out of the Entrance Hall.

"We should get going, too," said Y/N, and the others nodded in agreement.

She, Ron, Neville, and Ginny, then hurried to the seventh floor, Ginny and Neville shooting Y/N and Ron questions along the way.

"How do you know Malfoy's up to something?" asked Ginny, jogging up the stairs after Y/N.

"It's quite a long story," Y/N said weakly.

"And why is Snape being watched, too?" asked Neville. "I thought Dumbledore trusted Snape."

"Also another long story," said Ron grimly.

After several answers being 'it's a long story' or 'I'll tell you later', Ginny and Neville gave up and just followed Y/N and Ron's lead silently.

They finally reached the front of the Room of Requirements, and Ron squinted his eyes at the Marauder's Map, making sure Malfoy's name was still unseen.

"He's definitely in there," he concluded, looking between the map and the wall in front of him.

"We don't have to try and break in," Y/N said quickly. "In fact, it's safer and smarter if we just guard the entrance."

No one objected, so they all went over and stood by at the end of the corridor. Ron kept his eyes on the Marauders Map at all times, laying it flat and visible on the floor.

Neville insisted on patrolling the other end of the corridor, and Y/N and Ginny sat with their backs against the wall, ready to swap duties or help out any of them.

Minutes passed, and not a single movement or sound occurred. No one even walked past the corridor.

"Hey, Ginny... d'you know where Pansy is?" Y/N suddenly asked, looking at Ginny briefly.

"Yeah, I just left her in the Great Hall," Ginny said casually. "we were about to... wait... you're not suspecting she's helping Malfoy are you?"

Ginny looked like she was ready to fight.

"No, nothing like that," Y/N said truthfully, shaking her head. "I just think- given how close you two have become- she could help us."

"What? Are you mad?" Ron whirled at her, his eyes leaving the map. "She can't help us- I don't know about you, Y/N, but I still don't trust her!"

"Your problem, then!" Ginny snapped, then turned back to Y/N. "But he's right, Y/N. Malfoy probably has her trust, and she's already been declared as a blood traitor after running away from her parents. It's too dangerous for her."

At this, Ron tutted bitterly and stood up, snatching the Marauder's Map from the ground.

"What's your problem?" Ginny shot.

"My problem is- my sister is hanging out with someone who could potentially be our enemy!" Ron bellowed, glaring at his sister.

Ginny stood up too and yanked out her wand, pointing it directly at Ron's chest. Y/N scrambled to her feet and got hold of Ginny's wrist.

"She's not our enemy-! Y/N, let go of me!"

"Yeah, let's see what you'd do to your own brother!" Ron said, his face red with fury.

"No!" Y/N said at once, louder than ever, and stood between the two siblings. "You both need to stop- we're not doing this right now!"

"You heard what he-"

"I know, Gin," Y/N said firmly. "And I'm completely on your side, but given the situation we're in right now, we can't turn against each other! It's horrible enough something terribly bad could happen tonight."

Ginny and Ron were still glaring at each other over Y/N's shoulder and were breathing heavily, but they remained put.

"You're right," Ginny said bluntly, still looking bothered. "Sorry,"

"That's alright," Y/N said stiffly, then turned to Ron. "It's best if you go help with Neville on the other side for now."

Ron still looked bitter but didn't argue, and strutted across the corridor with the map in his hand, to where Neville stood looking awkward.

Ginny grunted and slid back onto the floor again, crossing her arms.

Y/N sat back down, too, and took a few deep breaths to relax. She looked to her left and stared at Ginny, who was now playing with her shoelace. Then, she laughed.

"What?" demanded Ginny, gazing blankly at Y/N as she sniggered to herself.

"Nothing- it's just so stupid," Y/N said, grinning, and shook her head. "We all have been through so much together, yet we still fight over little things like this."

"I guess it is stupid," Ginny said, scoffing at herself. Y/N studied the redhead for a moment until Ginny caught her curious gaze. "What?"

"You fancy Pansy, don't you?" Y/N asked slowly and quietly, a smirk appearing on her face.

Ginny looked alarmed, though she quickly toned her expression down when she caught Y/N's teasing look.

"Of course not," she replied swiftly, avoiding Y/N's gaze. "She's just a- friend..."

"And Harry was just my friend," Y/N said casually. "It's OK, Ginny, I think Pansy's good for you."

"What makes you think that?" Ginny asked, so quickly that Y/N had to pause for a few seconds to understand what she'd said.

"Oh, Ginny," Y/N said quietly, giving her a warm smile. "I've seen you two since Slughorn's party- and friends don't look at friends that way."

Ginny turned away from her. Her red hair curtained her face, but Y/N could see the redness in her neck.

"Don't worry, I won't push it." Y/N smiled.

Ginny bit on her bottom lip, staring at the floor as if she was contemplating something.

Y/N drummed her wand on her own lap, waiting, as Ginny had a staring contest with the floor.

Finally, the redhead looked up and turned back to face her, looking threatening.

"Don't tell anyone, alright?" was the first thing she said. "I've mastered the Bat Boogey hex and I'm not afraid to use it-"

"Ginny, Ginny, I won't tell anyone," Y/N assured her, smiling brightly. "Godric, I knew it- I wasn't crazy! You two would make a beautiful couple."

"You also said that about Micheal Conner and I," Ginny said grimly.

"Screw Micheal, who's Micheal?" Y/N said broadly. "I only know Pansy Parkinson."

"Y/N, she doesn't like me back," Ginny said firmly, grabbing Y/N's wrist. "I don't think- I don't think she's into girls..."

"Ginny, don't be stupid," said Y/N, grinning, "the way she looks at you... she's never even looked at Malfoy like that!"

"Well, they're just friends."

"That proves my point, then, doesn't it?" Y/N shrugged, giving Ginny a nudge on the shoulder. "Does she give Zabini googly eyes? No. Does she send Daphne love letters while she's in class? No!"

"They're not love letters," Ginny rolled her eyes, but Y/N could see the red flush she had in her cheeks.

"But hey... I'm glad you told me, Ginny, I really am." Y/N put a hand on the youngest Weasley's shoulder, looking at her like a proud sister.

"I haven't told anyone else yet, actually," Ginny said quietly, then gave Y/N a smile. "You're like a sister to me, Y/N. And I'm also glad I told you."

Y/N smiled gladly and was about to go in and give her a hug, but was interrupted by a loud rumbling sound.

She and Ginny jumped to their feet and pulled out their wands, as the door of the Room of Requirements started to appear on the wall.

Y/N met Ron and Neville's gaze from across the corridor- they both looked alarmed, but had their wands out and ready.

Y/N turned back to the door and stared at its still wooden face, not blinking once... then, it creaked open.

Ginny bit her lip and Y/N sucked in her breath, as Draco Malfoy stepped out of the door, looking drained and guilty.

He immediately saw Y/N, Ginny, Ron, and Neville and froze in his spot, his pale face spread with fear.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed, looking directly at Y/N. "Go... go,"

"Draco, what's going on?" Asked a wicked snarling voice of a grown woman from inside the room.

Everyone stopped breathing.

The voice sent chills down Y/N's spine, and she realized, immediately, it belonged to Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Draco, are you still there?" Bellatrix shrieked, her voice piercing Y/N's eardrums like a blade.

Y/N stared at Malfoy with horror, unable to speak or let out any kind of sound. Fear ran through her, and so did fury. It was too late to run or call for help.

"Sorry about this," Malfoy said swiftly and pulled a familiar-looking object that looked like glitter-covered coal out from his pocket.

Y/N recognized why it looked familiar. It was Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, one of Fred and George's joke products she'd seen back in Diagon Alley.

Malfoy gulped and threw the powder into the middle of the corridor.

Y/N and Ginny ducked down just in time as the thing exploded loudly and they fell backward, right into the pit of darkness.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ Don't worry guys she's not dead☝️

Summer break has finally arrived for me, and I have many things planned in mind for The Boy Who Loved.

Forever thankful for all of your patience and support<3 Love you all and see you next week (or earlier) !!

-ScribblingQuills