∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Y/N, are you alright?" asked a gentle voice from the entrance of her room.

Y/N sniffed loudly and lifted her head up to see Regulus standing by the doorway, looking concerned and sympathetic.

His locks of pitch-black hair hung a little eerily around his face.

"Fine- I'm fine," Y/N muffled, wiping the streams of tears from her face.

Once she was done, she lowered her head onto the table again and buried it deep into her arms.

"May I come in?" asked Regulus, carefully.

"Sure," Y/N mumbled.

She heard his soft footsteps emerge closer and heard the screech of a chair, as he sat down beside her.

"Do you... want to talk?" Regulus asked slowly. His voice was a few feet to her right, low but cautious.

"I don't know..." Y/N didn't want to say anything further, for tears might come out instead of words.

Regulus gazed at her trembling body for a moment.

"You've been so brave, Y/N," he said, finally, "I... I might not understand your situation, but you could try-"

"The thing is- you do understand," Y/N cut him off curtly. She lifted up her tear-glazed face and locked eyes with him. "Out of all people. How am I allowed to be upset when you've been in my shoes for more than ten years?"

"Y/N, you're allowed to upset no matter what situation you're in," Regulus said firmly.

"Yeah, but it's stupid," said Y/N, shaking her head. "You've been through all that, yet, you're- you're still sane, you're kind, you're so frustratingly patient-"

"Why, now you're just flattering me." Regulus smiled. Y/N scowled at him. "Alright, I might appear like I'm all that, now, but I didn't handle change that easily either."

"And that's totally fair," Y/N sniffed, attempting to dry her face again.

"And it's totally fair for you, as well," Regulus said comfortingly.

The way he spoke was so careful- like it was impossible for him to say anything wrong.

"So tell me, if you want to... what exactly is upsetting you?"

Where does she even start? What, exactly, is making her so anxious and stressed?

She didn't know. Everywhere she looked, every thought that came into her mind was negative.

She thought of Remus, Tonks, and Rolf. She was well aware of how much they cared for her. If only she could make them stop.

She thought of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

On one hand, Y/N knew how loyal these three were, and didn't doubt for a second that any of them would entirely abandon the thought of her.

On the other hand, the intrusive side of her mind took over her.

It was very possible they would find her departure a betrayal. All the evidence she left pointed to it.

It physically pained Y/N to think that any of her friends and family would believe that she intentionally betrayed them.

At the end of the day, that wasn't a priority. She only hoped they were all safe and weren't doing anything so typically risky, as they usually do.

At the end of the day, they could think as badly as they want of her, as long as they're safe, Y/N would be beyond thankful.

"Love," she mumbled under her breath, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"That's what's upsetting me." Y/N looked at Regulus with her bloodshot eyes.

She half expected him to laugh at her, or frown in confusion, but he nodded understandingly.

"That, we have in common." he smiled softly. His Sebastian smile was still there. "The heavy burden of love. And you know what? It's normal and it makes sense."

"I don't like it," Y/N scowled.

"I don't like it either," Regulu shrugged. "but that's the beauty of it. How can something be so bright and hopeful but ugly and messy at the same time?"

"The Dumbledore in you is showing," the corner of Y/N's lips jerked up slightly.

"Oh, I'm aware," Regulus grinned.

"And I feel... I don't know... guilty."

"What for?"

For something I didn't do.

"Regulus... do you think- do you think they believe the rumors?"

"That you're dead? Well, I thought you said they knew about the prophecy-"

"No- that I turned myself in."

"Oh, Y/N," Regulus smiled again. Why did he smile so much? "Why would they ever think that?"

"Because I literally left them," said Y/N, bitterly. "Harry knows I let go of him when we apparated."

"Y/N, if it was one of your friends that left, instead of yourself, would you ever suspect that they were working for the Dark Lord?"

"No! Of course not," said Y/N, suddenly feeling the need to be defensive. "They're my friends. I'd trust them with my life."

Regulus raised an eyebrow and gave her a 'see?' look.

Oh, alright. That did make her feel slightly less worried. But that was just a tiny part of all her other worries.

The stress of being so useless, so selfish.

The constant fear of never getting the chance to say goodbye to her family.

Not getting the chance to meet Tonks' child, or make sure that Rolf knew, despite their constant quarrels, that she loved him to death.

The fear of any of them leaving her before she could leave them.

"Do you want some hot chocolate?" Regulus asked her kindly. "To bring your mood up? You know, it's Christmas eve tomorrow."

"It is?" Y/N blinked, completely taken back.

She knew she's been living at Hog's Head for quite a while- too long for her liking- but to think that she's been away from her friends for that long.

And Rolf... she almost laughed at the memory of Rolf saying two weeks was the longest they've ever been apart.

"Yep, Dobby just put up a Christmas tree for us downstairs," said Regulus. "I tried to offer him some money but he very firmly refused. We don't deserve house-elves, you know."

"Oh, I know," Y/N agreed. She thought of Hermione and S.P.E.W., and how Regulus would've loved the idea.

"Sooo you want hot chocolate?" Regulus rubbed his hands together.

"I'm fine, thanks," Y/N mumbled.

"Sure, I'm making you one anyway." Regulus beamed and stood up, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

"Thank you, Reg... truly," Y/N gave him her best smile. God, it felt forced. "For everything."

"Don't worry about it," Regulus waved his hand. "No one took care of me when I was at my worst. I don't want you to feel the same."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

As Y/N took small sips from the enormous mug of hot chocolate Regulus made her, as she stared out of her bedroom window.

The sun was just setting behind the treetops of the Forbidden Forest.

She could see the upper tenth of Hogwarts castle. Something so close, yet so out of reach.

To think that Hogwarts has been the most beloved place to many children for so long, and now, according to Dobby, it was living hell.

How was it fair that innocent children had to go through all this? What had they done, for the world to be so vengeful?

Involuntarily, Y/N found her hand reaching for the heavy golden compass at the edge of the wooden desk.

It's become a habit, reaching for the compass every time she needed answers.

It was as if she trusted Dumbledore to have answers for her. But the compass had done nothing- absolutely nothing, since ever.

Even so, she lowered her mug of hot chocolate and held the bulky compass in her hands.

She pushed the lid open with her thumb and the heavy lid fell into her other hand.

As always, she started spinning the compass in her palm out of habit, just hoping some type of magic would reveal itself.

No matter how many times she'd hoped for it to help her, she'd be let down by its silence.

She looked down at it and spun it in her palm several times, the thin golden arrow firmly pointing ahead of her, where the sun settled slowly into the ground.

The sunset. It was pointing towards the sunset.

The north arrow was pointing towards the sunset.

Y/N blinked, her palms suddenly becoming sweaty.

She looked up and down between the compass and the sunset several times.

There was no mistaking it. The north arrow was pointing towards the west.

"That..." Y/N felt her heart pick up its pace in her chest.

It could mean nothing. Perhaps the compass was broken. Perhaps she didn't pay attention in class when she was younger. But she highly doubted it.

What does this mean? Should she tell Regulus or Aberforth? Should she ask Dobby for advice?

It seemed like the right thing to do. But then why was her gut telling her to follow the compass?

At that moment, there wasn't enough time. The sun was setting, which meant it was four o'clock, at the very least.

Curfew was at five. Alarms would go off if anyone was on the streets past five.

Curiosity and desperation took over her.

Y/N grabbed her warmest coat and threw it on. She grabbed her wand and the forsaken compass and left her room.

It wouldn't do any harm if she just... checked. She'd be back by five, and if she found nothing, she'd just forget about it entirely.

Y/N crept down the creaky stairs as quietly as possible and entered the bar of the inn.

She looked around and jumped slightly when she saw Aberforth slumped on one of the tables, fast asleep, with a drink still in his hand.

Y/N let out a shaky breath and made her way past him, looking back every two seconds.

She was beyond grateful Regulus wasn't there, nor Dobby.

She made it to the front door and hesitated. She hadn't set foot out of that place in months.

She took a deep breath and threw the hood of her coat over her head so that all that was visible of her was the bottom half of her face.

"Here goes nothing," she sighed and stepped into the icy air of Hogsmeade village.

Her boots sank through the thick snow and she quickly stomped through the difficult path.

She felt people move around her, but couldn't see them, for all she could see was her own feet and her compass.

What the hell am I doing here?

There wasn't time for hesitation.

She followed the direction of the compass, trying not to bump into anyone.

The compass was pointing towards the woods, between the village and Hogwarts.

Luckily, the path between Hog's Head and the woods was not far and not so populated.

Y/N felt oddly glad now that she was in the woods instead of the cozy village.

When she was about two hundred feet into the woods, she pulled off her hood.

She stopped and looked around. It was like the forbidden forest but with smaller trees and more light.

She looked down at the compass, which was still pointing west with its north arrow, and followed it, further into the woods.

Not long after, maybe three minutes or so, she came to an abrupt stop.

It wasn't for nothing. A few feet ahead of her was a big floating blue ball of light. She stared at it in awe.

She didn't know what to do. Did it have anything to do with her? Was it dangerous?

She tried to walk past it, but the compass pointed back at the blue ball of light once it was behind her.

It wasn't pointing west- or north, or south, or east- it was pointing towards a second chance.

She knew now, that this was the compass' purpose.

Y/N gulped and turned back to the ball of light. It seemed to be staring back.

Suddenly, the ball of light hovered forwards, towards her. Y/N took a step back and the ball picked up speed, shooting straight towards her.

Y/N gasped and, with panic and as a reflex, she closed the compass shut.

The blue ball of light vanished. Y/N stood there, breathing fast, clutching the compass in her hands.

Once her heavy breathing calmed down, she slowly opened the golden lid again, and the blue ball appeared in front of her.

She quickly closed it and the ball disappeared, once again.

She knew now, it wasn't going anywhere. She had an exit. She could leave.

But not now... not without letting Regulus and Aberforth know.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

'Reg, Aberforth, Dobby,

Thank you for everything. Thank you for the food, shelter, and trust. Regulus, you're secret is safe with me. You all have been nothing but kind to me, and if I survive this, I'll make sure to give you something in return. For now, it's a priority for me to help my friends and put an end to all this.

I can't tell you with confidence that I'll be fine, but I'll try my best to stay safe. Keep up with Potterwatch, they might mention me here and there.

Just don't worry.

Y/N Scamander.'

Y/N realized how sloppy her handwriting was, for she was shaking from head to toe.

She had arrived back at Hog's Head past five and no alarm went off, which confirmed her theory that as long as she had the compass, she'll be decently safe.

She made her way quietly past the sleeping Aberforth and slipped the jar label she'd written her goodbye letter on under his mug.

"Thank you," she whispered as quietly as possible to the old man. He snored in return.

Y/N took a deep breath and looked around the bar for the last time.

She didn't have much time. Regulus was probably upstairs and could come down any moment.

She tiptoed away from Aberforth and silently to the entrance.

The sky was the colour of watered-down ink and it was still snowing subtly.

She didn't glance back at the ricked building of Hog's Head as she made her way down the deserted streets of the village.

She saw nothing but the compass and her own feet as she marched swiftly through the snow, back towards the woods.

Still no alarm, she thought thankfully.

Not long after, she arrived back in the woods. She could tell by the abrupt darkness and the dirt path.

This time, the blue ball of light was not as far into the woods as it was, half an hour ago.

Just far enough that no one from the village could see, the ball of light appeared in front of Y/N.

She froze in her spot and lifted her hood up, so she could see it clearly.

"Well, do your thing," she spoke to it quietly. "take me to my friends."

At the word 'me', the blue ball came shooting towards her immediately.

Y/N gasped, as the ball passed through her chest, and almost screamed when she felt her body spin into darkness. She was Apparating.

She felt as though she was being pushed through a tiny tube, losing sense of everything but the golden compass and her wand.

After moments of suffocation, her feet finally slammed onto the hard ground.

She took in a big breath of air, clutching her chest with her hand.

The blue ball of light was hovering in front of her, and it was the only source of light in the darkness.

"Merlin, at least give me a warning," Y/N scowled at the floating ball, breathing heavily, the compass cold in her hand.

She looked around her, from left to right, front to back.

She was in a forest. But it was very different from the one she Apparated from.

The trees were taller, and her feet were ankle-deep in dried leaves. There were no paths.

"What now?" Y/N thought out loud. She looked at the blue ball. "Where are they, then?"

The ball did not respond. Not even a slight movement. It simply floated in front of her face tauntingly.

Y/N scoffed, as though she expected it to speak back. She pulled her wand from her pocket and held it in front of her.

"Lumos," she whispered. The tip of it lit up, but it was quite unnecessary, for the blue bulb gave her all the light she needed.

She looked around, cautiously but thoroughly, behind trees and even upwards, towards the sky, for a good five minutes.

As far as she could tell, a hundred feet down every direction, there was nothing but trees and leaves and snow.

Y/N swore under her breath and glared at the ball of light. She was so close to finding her friends.

"You were created by Dumbledore, you should do something!" she fussed hopelessly. "Take me to my friends, ball. Take me to Harry, Ron, and Her- AHHHHH-"

Again, the blue ball of light hurried towards her and collided with her chest, passing through her as if she was a ghost.

Y/N was yanked through space and time again.

This time, it was longer- farther... and noisier.

When she landed, she found her shoes greeted by a rush of icy seawater. It wasn't just any water.

She could feel and smell it before anything. It was seawater.

She yelped and jumped backward, almost landing herself in the water.

She was at a beach. It was still dark, but the blue ball provided her with enough light for her to be able to tell.

It was freezing, the liquid ice and the skin-piercing wind.

Y/N didn't hesitate to run back to shore, wherever she was, she wasn't going to freeze to death. The light ball followed her.

"You bring nothing but trouble, so far, ball." She shot at it. "Is this a joke? You think I have no friends so you bring me to absolutely nothing? Very funny..."

Her voice trailed away.

She had caught sight of a tiny cottage in the distance. It was perched on the hill in front of her, all by itself.

Its windows glowed in the darkness and there was smoke coming out of the chimney.

The blue ball of light was now heading towards the house.

"No- there's no way I'm going there, are you mental?" said Y/N, after the ball. It did not turn back. "Hey- hey, wait!"

She had no choice but to follow it. She couldn't lose it- not after all she's been through.

She jogged across the sand on her nastily drenched trainers and found herself walking in the grass not longer.

She was only ten yards away from the cottage, now, the ball still on her lead.

"I am not going in there, ball!" Y/N panted.

But what if Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in there? After all, she did ask the ball to lead her to her friends.

"Forget it, ball- I'm getting out of here- I'm going nowhere until I find something more useful than y-"

The door of the cottage banged open. The ball of light disappeared.

"Stop right there!" a rough voice demanded. "Whoever you are, you have a wand pointing at you!"

How they knew she was a witch, Y/N didn't know.

They'd probably spotted her at the beach. The damn floating light bulb again.

A figure emerged from the house. It was tall and lanky and sure did have a wand pointing directly at her.

Well, clearly it wasn't Harry, Ron, or Hermione.

Y/N's heart was racing fast. She didn't want to cause trouble just yet, but still had her hand ready at her wand.

"I'm so sorry!" she said hurriedly. "I got lost- I got lost from my group- I'm leaving now. I didn't mean to cause harm, I-"

"Y/N?"

"Huh?"

Y/N finally had the guts to look up and actually observe the figure in front of her.

That was when she realized the figure was no stranger, but a friend. Bill Weasley was looking at her with absolute confusion and disbelief.

"Bill?" Y/N exclaimed with pure delight. She wanted to run over there and hug him.

"Stay where you are!" Bill's intimidating tone returned, though this time his voice was shaking.

"What? Bill, it's Y/N! You just said my name," Y/N protested, but didn't move closer. "I know... I know about the rumors- but I can explain. I can tell you the whole story-"

"Tell me something only Y/N Scamander would know!" Bill interrupted her.

"I- you and Fleur- the last thing you said to me at your wedding was to go to my godparents and enjoy my night. Fleur lent me a black dress- she and her mum picked it out for me."

Bill's fierce expression softened. His mouth dropped into an 'O' and he slowly lowered his wand.

Y/N could now see his long bold red hair and his scarred face.

"Merlin, Y/N," he said faintly, his eyes not leaving her. "and they think you're dead."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Poor, poor girl, you must be freezing! Did they starve you? Did they hurt you? How did you escape? Don't scare me like that, Miss Balcony-"

"Fleur, Fleur, love," Bill put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Go easy on her."

"It's alright," Y/N smiled. "I'm fine really. And I have questions, too."

She was sat on a chair in front of their fireplace, a warm coat draped over her shoulders.

The warmth of the fire was incredibly welcoming.

Y/N couldn't help but notice that the cottage was really nice- decorated with shells and thoroughly lit with soft yellow light.

Fleur sat on a stool in front of her and was looking at her with her big terrified blue eyes, clutching Y/N's hands in hers.

Bill was standing right behind her, with a grim and concerned look plastered on his face.

Despite Bill and Fleur's looks of terror, Y/N was grinning like an idiot. She was so happy to see them.

"Many people said you were dead!" Fleur said, "I did not believe it! We didn't believe it. And we were right! Oh, was a stupid rumor..."

Y/N's grin dropped slightly.

"What about- what about the other rumor?" Y/N asked quietly. Fleur and Bill looked confused. "You know- people saying I turned against Harry and all that."

Fleur and Bill looked at each other for a few seconds, then back to Y/N, with similar expressions of sympathy.

Y/N mildly disliked how young and naive those looks made her feel.

"Was that really what you were worrying about this whole time?" Bill said gently, smiling. "Did you really think, Y/N, that any of us would lose trust in you, just for a split second?"

"No, it's just- maybe just a little... yeah, I did," Y/N admitted quietly.

"Never!" Fleur cried, pulling her into an embrace. "We would never think that! Don't be silly."

Y/N smiled softly and hugged her back, a rush of relief overflowing her. She missed the feeling of warmth and safety.

She caught Bill's gaze over Fleur's shoulder and he gave her a warm smile.

"It's good to know you're alright," he said delicately. "We've been worried."

"An understatement," said Fleur, finally releasing Y/N. "So tell us- how did you escape?"

So Y/N told them the story. And she found herself lying half the time.

The version of the story she told Bill and Fleur was only partially true.

In the story, there was no cruelty in Malfoy Manor. No breakdowns. There was no broken mirror, no Regulus Black, not even Sebastian Dumbledore.

Only a random house-elf that appeared out of nowhere to save her, a kind barman she didn't know the name of, and two months of shelter in an inn by the countryside.

"Thank goodness you've been safe this whole time," Fleur wiped away a tear or two from her eyes, once Y/N finished telling her story.

"And You-Know-Who wasn't there? At the manor?" Bill asked her.

"No. Lucius Malfoy said something about him being busy for a few days," Y/N replied. Bill nodded solemnly. "How is everyone? Are they fine? Is anyone hurt?"

"Yes. We're all quite alright. Your godparents are safe at Lupin Cottage," Bill assured. Y/N could cry of happiness. "but... you're brother-"

"What? What's wrong with Rolf?" Y/N demanded, her heart skipping a beat or two.

"He's alright, I can assure you..."

"But you said-?"

"Luna Lovegood was captured by the Death Eaters," Bill said sadly. "Only a few days ago. They took her right from the Hogwarts Express."

"No!" Y/N hand jumped to her mouth.

They had taken Luna to Malfoy Manor. Y/N remembered how dark and empty and miserable the place was... so unfitting for a soul like Luna's.

"Your brother was already worried about you," Bill continued. "And to have another person so special to him taken away... it's been rough for him."

"Nothing can happen to Luna," Y/N said firmly. "my brother- he can't- she has to be alright... right?"

"We know nothing,"

Silence took over the conversation. Y/N fell into thought.

They had no reason to do her any harm. But then again, they had no reason to kill the people they've killed.

Y/N bit her bottom lip in worry.

"Ron just left, yesterday." Bill broke the silence. Y/N looked up at him.

"They were here?" she asked. Of course. The ball of light didn't bring her here for no reason.

"Only Ron, yes," said Bill, nodding. Only Ron?

"But what about-"

"Apparently he took off on his own," said Bill grimly. Fleur huffed under her breath. "He said something about regretting- said he'd made a big mistake."

That could be anything. Y/N's head hurt from not knowing.

"He was here for a week or two," said Fleur, "He just would not stay. We tried persuading him but he said he had a mission to finish. Y/N, you are not allowed to follow-"

"Ron's right," Y/N said firmly, though it pained her to say it. "I shouldn't- and wouldn't stay here. I have to get going. Where did Ron leave to-?"

"Y/N, please reconsider this," Bill said patiently, his brows furrowed. "We're so glad that you're alright. And now you'll have a place to stay. You can see Remus, Tonks, and Rolf."

"As much as I really want to, Bill," Y/N said through gritted teeth. "It's not time for luxury. Not time for family bonding. I love my family and I do care for myself, but there's no time to waste."

Fleur crossed her arms and looked away, clearly in disagreement. Bill sighed and stepped closer to Y/N.

"Are you absolutely sure, Y/N?" he asked, his eyes glued to hers.

"Positive," Y/N nodded, as assuringly as possible. Two months was enough lingering for her. "So do you know where Ron is? Where he headed?"

"Not exactly," said Bill. "but... he did mention something about the item Dumbledore gave him. I don't know if he's going to exchange it for money, or-"

"That's all I need to know," Y/N nodded.

She knew that Dumbledore knew. He knew, somehow, that she and Ron would get separated from the others.

"I'm ready to leave," Y/N said finally, standing up and taking the thick coat off her shoulders.

"Now?" Fleur said, her eyes wide.

"Now," Y/N affirmed.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Just... food would be nice. And please don't tell anyone I was here. Not even Remus."

"I got you." Bill hurried into the kitchen to grab some food for her.

Fleur looked at Y/N and her determined look and pulled her into another long embrace.

"Thanks, Fleur," Y/N said to the witch, patting her back gently.

"Then I'll say what I said to Ron," Fleur sighed, "Just be careful. And it's OK if you don't end up saving the world."

"Sure," Y/N smiled.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

Y/N didn't know if it was some sort of mistake, but she was back in the forest the ball of light had taken her in the first place.

It was pitch black and no sound occurred apart from her own breathing and the crunches of leaves under her boots.

"This doesn't feel right," Y/N shivered, holding out her brightly lit wand in front of her. It was getting skin-piercing cold.

She was too afraid to call out Harry's name, or Hermione's, or Ron's.

For all she knew, Dumbledore's helping hand could make mistakes too.

Bill and Fleur had lent her their tent, gave her some food and warm clothes, and all that was heavy over Y/N's shoulders.

"Lumos Maxima!" Y/N whispered, and a bright light shot into the air hovered ten feet above her and stayed there.

She put her wand away, shut the lid of the golden compass, which made the blue ball of light disappear.

All she could do right now was camp. Surely, the ball of light brought her here for a reason.

And despite that reason seemingly being nothing, Y/N was to stay.

She removed the pack Bill and Fleur provided her from her shoulders and set it down.

She pulled the pop-up tent from the bag and set it up in less than a minute.

The air around her seemed to be mocking her with its iciness.

Finally, the tent was ready and she picked up the bag from the ground.

However, just as she was about to set up protection charms around her tent, there was a slight twig snap from the darkness, to her right.

Y/N jumped overwhelmingly. Despite her experiences, at the end of the day, she was just a girl in the dark, in the middle of nowhere.

She gripped her wand tightly and held it in front of her, wary of every little sound.

She couldn't even make up the courage to yell 'who's there'. But she knew.

She knew, at that moment, that she wasn't alone anymore, in that forest. Finally, her vocal cords reacted.

"Do not move," she shot into the darkness. "You have a wand pointed at you!" but what if it was a Muggle? "A knife, I meant."

Suddenly, the stranger- instead of stopping where they were- came stepping towards her. The leaves under their shoes told Y/N so.

"Stop!" Y/N bellowed, backing towards her tent. She almost tripped on a rock. "I warn you..."

"I'm dreaming, aren't I?"

Y/N almost dropped her wand- never mind, she actually dropped it. Her jaw, too.

It was dark, but the light from the stranger's wand made his identity clear.

The wizard in front of her had red flaming hair, a long nose, and a freckled face. Y/N's own shock reflected on his face.

At that point, Y/N didn't know who was more taken back.

"Is it really you?" Ron whispered, his voice weak.

Y/N almost forgot how he spoke. The way everything he said sounded sarcastic, the way his emotions showed so clearly on his face.

"Don't come any closer!" Y/N said suddenly, for Ron had stepped forwards. At that, he froze in his tracks.

"Oh. Right." said Ron, in realization. With his eyes still glued on her and his lips parted, he reached into his pocket.

"Easy," Y/N exclaimed, aiming the tip of her wand at his heart.

Slowly, Ron's hand traveled down to his pocket. He pulled out what looked like a very fancy cigarette lighter.

"Dumbledore left this for me," he said, not paying attention much to his own words. He was busy being disbelieved. "He left you a compass. It was gold, if I recall... really big- pretty useless, really. It really is me-"

He didn't get to finish his claim. Y/N had dashed forwards, dropped her wand on the forest ground, and flung her arms around his torso.

Ron jumped slightly by surprise, but once that surprise was gone,  he hugged her back immediately, dropping his things as well.

Over her head, Y/N couldn't tell if he was laughing or sobbing.

"It's you- it's really you-" he cried, rocking her in his lanky arms. "Bloody fucking hell, Y/N, you have no idea- no idea how worried we were."

"I'm alright... You're alright, thank Godric!" Y/N couldn't help but laugh as well. But then why were there tears on her cheeks.

"Don't do that- ever again-" said Ron, ruffling her hair. "I hate you so much, you know- for leaving us like that. Merlin, we've missed you, Y/N."

"So you're not upset," Y/N sighed in deep relief, as Ron let her go. He was beaming.

"Did you hear me? I hate you!" Ron grinned, shoving her lightly. "But only because I love you like my own sister and I'll kill everybody that dares to touch you. Does that make sense?"

"Perfect sense," Y/N smiled weakly, though she was still a little unconvinced. She felt the need to prove to him she was innocent. "Ron, please believe me. It was the only way- Yaxley was holding onto me-"

"Say no more," said Ron, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Hermione did all the calculating."

"You don't-"

"You let go of Harry because you knew that Yaxley wouldn't leave us unless you had to go too. Am I right or am I right?"

"Well... you're right." Y/N was so relieved that she laughed again.

"You really think we would think you betrayed us?"

"You wouldn't be the first," Y/N shrugged, bending down and picking up her wand and her pack. "I've been listening to this programme on the radio-"

"The Death Eaters let you listen to the radio?" Ron asked, baffled.

"Oh, Ron... I forgot how little you know," Y/N shook her head. "I was at Malfoy Manor for less than two hours."

"Come again?" Ron blinked.

"Long story." Y/N sighed. "What about you? Fleur and Bill said you were at Shell Cottage not long ago. Did you get separated from Harry and Hermione?"

"Long story," Ron said grimly, now looking down at his feet guiltily.

"Great, we have all night to catch up."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

"Not really original of Dumbledore, don't you think? Leaving both of us items that basically do the same thing."

"Ron-"

"Not the time to be ungrateful, I know..."

"Totally not the time..." Y/N said grimly, crossing her arms. "but- you know... at least yours is magical."

"That's the Y/N I know." Ron laughed and slammed her on the back, hard.

They were sitting across from each other, in the tent Bill and Fleur had given to Ron, which was more spacious than the one they gave Y/N.

The internally enlarged tent was lit dimly by Ron's Deluminator and the air inside was warmed by a charm.

They had just finished telling one another about their own journeys from August 20th until the present day.

Y/N was beyond shocked that Ron had left Hermione and Harry not long after her and has been wandering around Britain since.

Apparently, he's been attacked by Snatchers, chased by dementors, and spotted twice.

Ron was also equally interested in her story.

"Wait, wait, wait- so you're saying Aberforth Dumbledore took you in? That old bloke that hates joy?"

"Yep. He's not that bad once you get to know him." Y/N said truthfully.

"What about Sebastian?"

"Oh- um..." The usual 'Regulus Black chill' ran down her spine. "he's doing fine. Typical all-positive Sebastian."

"Brilliant."

Y/N suddenly became aware of how she'd purposely left Regulus and Aberforth, the people who did nothing but help her when she was at her lowest.

Ron glanced at her from across the folding camping table hesitantly.

"So the locket made you leave?" Y/N shook herself from the thought of Hog's Head.

"Well, I'm not trying to make excuses here," Ron said defensively. "but I would never say those things to Harry... the locket, the stress, the lack of- well, you,"

"I'm sorry," Y/N scratched her nose.

"You know, you didn't have to let go of Harry..."

"Ron-"

"I mean sure, it would've been a dangerous risk. But it's better than putting your life-"

"I don't regret it. And you can be mad at me all you want-"

"No, no, I'm not mad," Ron said quickly, putting a hand on her arm. "I just want you to know that we're willing to risk our lives by your side than be safe without you."

Y/N blinked at the redhead numbly. God, the way she needed that. She felt the anxiety in her decrease by a handful.

She showed her gratitude for him by giving him her best smile. It still felt awfully wrong and forced, but that was no surprise.

"Do you miss Harry?" Ron asked.

It was a childish question, he knew that, but he'd missed the warmth of his two best friends' relationship. He knew how much they cared for each other and couldn't wait to reunite them.

"Is he alright?" was Y/N's response.

"Define 'alright',"

"Not upset, not stressed, unharmed, thinking straight."

"Then he's not alright." said Ron, "you know, Hermione and I could barely mention your name around him. He'd always get all snappy and grim."

"Define 'snappy and grim',"

"Well, it wasn't just him that was snappy and grim, to be honest," Ron admitted. "We'd have a go at each other all the bloody time. Seeing each other- it reminded us that we were missing you."

"Oh, Ron... and you left them, knowing that?" Y/N sighed. She wasn't upset. She almost felt sympathetic.

"It was a mistake, I know," Ron said grimly. "I knew since the moment I Apparated from that tent. I knew it was wrong and selfish of me."

He looked down at his hands, unable to meet her eyes.

Y/N had left then because she had to. She was willing to sacrifice herself for them- to give them their best chance.

And then there was him. He'd left Harry and Hermione because of his own pettiness.

"Never mind that, we're here now, aren't we? Together?" Y/N tried to cheer him up. "Not to mention our shared obsession with Potterwatch. Please tell me you own a wireless."

Ron grinned and bent down to pull something from his bag.

He placed the portable radio on the camping table and Y/N smiled.

"A radio's a start," she said happily.

"To what?"

"To finding Harry and Hermione, of course."

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

The air was cold and dry. The rivers were solid ice.

It was the third time Y/N and Ron had Apparated to a different location, chasing after their frustrating blue balls of light, since the day they were reunited.

Y/N understood nothing. She had questions.

Why was Dumbledore guiding them to nowhere? Why would Dumbledore leave her and Ron these items if they were no use?

But then again, the compass and the deluminator did bring the two of them together again. That, Y/N was grateful for. So, so, grateful.

Because Ron felt like home. He was just Ron, but even Hog's Head couldn't give her the feeling of safety Ron radiated.

Here and there, Y/N found him treating her a lot like how Rolf treated her. Insufferable at times, but supportive. And protective. Always so protective.

"Y/N, you're walking too fast, don't leave my sight!"

"You can't cook for life, Y/N, but this is amazing salmon."

"Watch the last rock, here... No, you know what- stay there, I'm going back."

"Are you mental, Y/N? No, you can't go 'have a look'!"

Y/N couldn't complain. Not really. He had every right to worry, after what she'd done.

And now there they were, in the Forest of Dean. It was incredibly beautiful, Y/N couldn't help but notice.

As always, they've made it a routine, they searched around the area for any sign of Harry and Hermione.

And as always, they found nothing but snow and dead trees.

"It's OK, we'll just camp here, for the night. This place is pretty," said Y/N, refusing to be anything but optimistic.

So they set up their tents and put up protection charms.

They'd consult and plan and listen to the radio in Ron's wide tent, but rest separately in their own tents.

"-That's it for tonight, people of Potterwatch! We'll come back tomorrow with a very special guest. For now, stay safe and warm. The next password will be 'Mad-Eye'. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Ron," Y/N said, on her way out of his tent, that night.

"Merry Christmas, you," Ron yawned, making his way to his bed.

Y/N ducked out of the tent and into the freezing air of Christmas night. She walked a few steps through the snow and into her tent.

It was not as big as Ron's, but about five times bigger than how it appeared to be from the outside.

She kicked off her boots and removed her coat, replaced it with a warm jumper from Hog's Head, and climbed into her bed.

She didn't know how close they were to finding Harry and Hermione, didn't know their wellbeings.

She did know, however, that she'd do absolutely anything to make sure they were safe.

She'd let the Whomping Willow crush her into oblivion just to see Harry and Hermione all whole and unharmed.

Luckily for her, it didn't have to come to that.

Of course, she didn't know that, when she was shaken awake by Ron, a few days later, as he blabbered out something about a silver doe.

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A/N ~ Ah, I love reunions. And I love cliffhangers as well :))

Also, hope you enjoyed the Scamanley friendship appreciation <3 Can't wait to reunite them with the other two.

See u soon everybody x

-ScribblingQuills