A/N ~ Welcome, welcome, besties. You'll see why this chapter took so long.

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Hog's Head was one of the last places Y/N would think Dobby would take her to. Alas, there they were.

Though at that moment, she was too tired and light-headed to immediately notice.

Apparation was not good for the wound on her head.

The moment their feet met the floor of the old inn, Y/N stumbled a few feet. Dobby yelped in alarm and quickly hurried forward towards her.

The world swayed around Y/N, her vision focused and unfocused, as Dobby guided her to a chair. He was saying something.

"-Miss Girfend-! Miss- Miss has to stay still and awake while Dobby fixes Miss' wound!"

Y/N blinked at the elf's wide emerald eyes while clutching the table in front of her for support.

"Oh- OK..." she breathed, wiping the sweat mixed blood from her temple with the back of her hand.

She leaned down and lay the good side of her head on the table.

He twitched slightly when he saw the wound, but didn't say anything to scare Y/N.

The pain was growing worse and worse every second, and Y/N's eyelids were heavy.

She looked at Dobby and was about to tell him to just leave it, leave her. But Dobby's eyes were focused.

With a wave of his hand, his powers sealed the wound shut completely.

Y/N felt her head go cold and numb, then warm and painless.

She brought up her hand and felt the side of it. She stilled for a second. The pain had vanished completely.

"Dobby, I-" Y/N didn't know what to say. Dobby still looked concerned. "Thank you... so much. For everything."

"It is Dobby's pleasure to help friends and girfends of Harry Potter!" the elf replied. "But... how did Miss end up in Malfoy Manor?"

"It's a long story," Y/N sighed. Only a few hours ago, she was with her friends. It seemed like weeks. "I... well... I let them take me, because- it was the only way- the only way the others could escape."

"Dobby is not surprised that Miss is noble," said Dobby, shaking Y/N's hand admiringly. "but Miss Girfend has to save herself, too!"

"Thank you, Dobby," Y/N managed a small smile.

"You're most welcome, Miss," Dobby bowed low. "Harry Potter had told Dobby Miss is the most special thing to him. Dobby will always protect what is special to Harry Potter."

Y/N smiled sadly and finally gave herself a moment to look around.

Hog's Head was just as she remembered it to be, last time she was there. Though its fuzzy warm feeling was gone.

Because it was nighttime, it was empty and cold, and the walls creaked just slightly as wind beat against them.

Y/N had many questions.

"Dobby- how did you know where I was?" she asked first, turning back to Dobby, as the elf pushed himself onto a stool.

"Oh- Mr Dumbledore asked Dobby to bring Miss here," Dobby said cheerfully.

Y/N noticed he was now drinking from a mug of hot chocolate.

Of course... How did Y/N not realize- those pale blue eyes did not belong to the ghost of Albus Dumbledore or whatever she'd theorized.

"Where is Aberforth, Dobby?" she asked the elf.

"I'm here," said a deep, grunting voice.

Y/N turned around and relief flooded her, as Aberforth Dumbledore walked into the room with two big mugs in his hands.

He was a lot like his brother, though his beard was grey and his nose wasn't broken. He also didn't carry Albus' calm expression.

He came over to their table and set one of the mugs for Y/N, and the other for himself.

"I was here when you arrived," Aberforth started, sitting down on a chair next to Dobby. "I don't think you saw me. You were in too much pain to have noticed."

"Er- sorry?" Y/N blinked.

"You're all over the newspaper, kid," said Aberforth. "A stupid idea that was, breaking into the Ministry at this time."

The news traveled fast.

"They announced that they've captured you and that it was no longer necessary to search for you."

"But how- I saw you," Y/N didn't know what to say or ask. "You were in the broken mirror-"

"It's a two-way mirror," said Aberforth, taking a sip from his mug. "I'm guessing that boyfriend of yours gave it to you?"

"No, I found it. It was on the-" Y/N froze. Could it have been Harry's? She found it lying randomly on the ground. She thought it was litter. "Well shit. I accidentally stole it."

Aberforth let out a huff. Dobby was watching both of them in amusement.

"The two-way mirrors belonged to the Black family," Aberforth continued, "I bought one from the thief Mundingus a few months back."

He pointed to the table in front of a painting of a pale woman with a ghost-like smile.

On the table was a mirror- a complete one.

Y/N pulled out the broken piece of mirror from her pocket and stared into it. She looked up at Aberforth's mirror and saw a slice of her own reflection.

"How did you find out it was a two-way mirror?" She turned to Aberforth.

"Someone mentioned it," Aberforth mumbled. "So what's your plan?"

His narrowed blue eyes met hers and Y/N realized he was waiting for her to speak.

"I... I don't know what to do." That was a good start. "I don't know where to go, don't know who to contact..."

"Miss can go back to Hogwarts," Dobby suggested.

"Absolutely not," Aberforth said firmly.

"How did you two cross paths anyway?" Y/N asked, interested, looking between the elf and the barman.

Aberforth eyed her weirdly.

"You're an odd kid," he commented. "You just barely escaped death a few minutes ago, and now you're asking how an old man and an elf crossed paths?"

"I just don't know what to do!" Y/N said in exasperation.

She was confused and in shock, and didn't know if she wanted to be left alone or wanted to pour her heart out.

Aberforth continued to frown at her and Dobby took another sip from his mug, swinging his legs under the table.

"You'll be staying here," said Aberforth, as a statement.

"Absolutely not," Y/N huffed. "My friends are in danger, and we have a mission to do- if I can't find them, at least I'm going to continue the mission myself."

"It is too dangerous!" piped Dobby, his eyes wide. "Miss cannot!"

"It's a suicide mission, kid," Aberforth said, "Stay here or walk to your death. It's simple as that, you can't-"

"Where's Sebastian?" Y/N cut him off curtly. "He'll be able to understand me... better, anyway."

"Trust me, out of everyone else, Sebastian would understand." Aberforth said calmly, "And he would agree with me."

"Where is he?" Y/N repeated, her impatience starting to pick up.

Aberforth glanced at Dobby, who shook his head wildly, his ear slapping the sides of his face.

"What?" Y/N frowned. "What happened to him?"

There was a pause of silence. Dobby looked uneasy and Aberforth stared at the floor thoughtfully.

"He's a little sick," Aberforth said quietly. "He's resting in his room and he shouldn't be disturbed-"

"It's OK, Aberforth, no need to lie." said a voice from the end of the bar.

Y/N's heart jolted and she whirled around.

"Sebastian, there you are, I knew you were-"

Y/N's words died on her lips. Her heart double jolted.

The man that just entered the room was... Sebastian. But also, not Sebastian.

His soft brown locks of hair were pitch black and hung over his face in rigid curls.

His usual narrow face was now square, and his defined nose was larger and slightly crooked. And his eyes... his bright blue eyes... were replaced with ones of dark grey.

He also was no longer a young man. He looked like he'd aged at least ten years.

Y/N didn't even realize she'd stood up. Her eyes could not leave him, for the man in front of her couldn't be Sebastian Dumbledore.

"Who... there's no... who are you-?"

"Regulus Black," Sebastian smiled weakly. "It's good to see you again, Y/N."

The room echoed with silence.

Aberforth made a noise of disapproval and Dobby swung his legs faster anxiously. Y/N felt the room sway again, though her head was completely healed.

She didn't think her brain could handle this.

"Regulus Black- Regulus Black is dead," she managed to stay. Stage one: denial.

"Yet, here I stand." Sebastian- Regulus shrugged.

He made his way to the table and dragged a chair to sit beside Dobby. Y/N backed away, still standing and gaping at him.

Regulus' face dropped slightly.

"I'm still me, Y/N," he assured, his tone tinged with hurt. Even his voice was different, Y/N noticed. It was deeper and slightly raspier.

"Sit down, Miss Scamander," Aberforth advised.

"With a man who's supposed to be a Death Eater and dead?" Y/N almost laughed. The Death Eater part didn't even matter, at this point.

"I'll explain everything once you sit down," Regulus said calmly, his dark eyes fixed. "I promise."

Y/N stood still for a good minute until she could control her limbs again.

Slowly but cautiously, with her hand ready at her wand, Y/N moved forward and sat back on her chair.

Regulus' expression softened and he took a deep breath.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Quite," Y/N replied bluntly and swallowed. "You're... you're R.A.B..."

"You know about the locket?" Regulus raised his eyebrows but then relaxed them. "Oh, of course. Harry must've told you about the Horcruxes."

Y/N nodded, feeling as though she'd be sick if she uttered another word.

Aberforth and Dobby glanced at each other.

"How much do you know about me?" Regulus asked Y/N patiently.

"Not a lot," Y/N said quickly. "That you're Sirius' brother... a year younger. That you joined the Death Eaters at eighteen. That- that you found out about Vol-"

"NO!" Aberforth bellowed. Y/N jumped overwhelmingly. "His name is cursed! Speak it and we'll have Death Eaters at our front door in seconds!"

"Sorry!" Y/N said defensively.

"How much more do you know, Y/N?" asked Regulus, relentlessly. His dark grey eyes were the most intimidating thing ever.

"I know you found out about You-Know-Who's Horcruxes," said Y/N, "And that he forced Kreacher to that cave- and that you found out and went back to swap the locket for a fake one- and- and that you died."

She still couldn't believe who she was looking at. Sirius' brother. Now that 'Sebastian' was older and returned to his... real form... Y/N could see the resemblance.

"I want to know the truth," Y/N whispered.

"What you said was pretty much the truth," said Regulus, scratching the back of his neck. "Just not all of it."

"Then I want to know all of it," Y/N said firmly.

Regulus looked at her with his dark eyes and nodded, a little hesitantly.

"Do you remember, the first- or perhaps second time we met?" he started, "You asked me about the burn I had across my back?"

Y/N nodded wordlessly once again.

"I didn't get it from the fire that burnt down my house, or whatever I told you it was from," he said, almost a little too casually for Y/N's liking. "It was from fiendfire. Fiendfire was what I used to escape the inferi."

Y/N knew a little about fiendfire. Enchanted flames of immense size that can swallow up a whole castle, if used in the wrong hands.

"Wizards don't get scars from normal burns," Regulus explained. "But they do from fiendfire. I made it out with difficulty. The potion made me so weak... I was an inch near death."

"Does Kreacher know any of this?" Y/N asked in a hushed voice.

"You know Kreacher?" Regulus raised a brow. Y/N nodded once again. "He doesn't. No one knows except Abe and Dobby."

"He really cares for you," said Y/N. "Kreacher- you were nice to him."

"Oh, I know," Regulus laughed hollowly. "It was difficult, leaving him. But it was for the best."

"So what happened after you escaped?" Y/N asked curiously.

"Well, I managed out of the cave, then Apparated to a small town... The Muggles found me on the pavement. Unconscious, barely alive, flesh burnt... they sent me to a hospital."

"I'm guessing you escaped from there, too?"

"Yes, I did," Regulus admitted. "Imagine waking up with tubes sewn into your arms."

"I'm pretty sure they're not typically sewn," Y/N said grimly. Regulus smiled.

"Anyway," he continued, "I escaped the hospital and wandered around on the streets for a few days... then came the news that the young Death Eater, Regulus Black, has died."

Y/N frowned deeply in concentration.

"I knew that was my end," Regulus sighed. "As a wizard, anyway. So I used a curse to transform myself- it was Dark magic, but- it was the only permanent curse."

"Apparently not," said Y/N, looking at his very much un-Sebastian-like hair.

"For a while," Regulus smiled. "After that, I stole a handful of Muggle money- you'd be surprised how easy it was, then I snapped my wand."

"You what?" Y/N blinked.

"It was the only way to be sure they would never track me down... it took me about a year, but I finally managed to adjust to the Muggle world."

"That must've been hard for you," Y/N said slowly, "given your family's... you know... view on Muggles."

"Well, I was never like my parents. But I wasn't like Sirius either. I wasn't brave enough to turn against them, so there I was, hating my family in silence."

Y/N felt pity for him. She felt so many things. Confusion, mostly, but she found herself admiring Regulus as well.

"Within three years, I'd basically become a Muggle." Regulus continued. "I had a job- I liked it, too. I had a small apartment, a few friends... I have to admit, I really miss it. I wish I could live like that until the day I die."

But why didn't he? Why did he choose to come back to the Wizarding World?

"After almost three years," Regulus sighed, "I heard that the Dark Lord was dead- A part of me, deep down, didn't believe it. Because I knew about the Horcruxes."

"So you came back?" Y/N asked.

"No. I made myself believe that maybe... just maybe, someone had found out about the Horcruxes and the Dark Lord was really gone."

"How naively ," huffed Aberforth. "No one with the name 'Dark Lord' would've died that easily."

"Thank you for that," Regulus mumbled bitterly. "Perhaps I was naive. I waited. I waited for fourteen years, despite my gut telling me he was still alive."

"What made you come back?" asked Y/N.

"Harry did," said Regulus. "Three years ago, while I was on my way to work, I saw a copy of the Daily Prophet in a trash bin. I was surprised how overwhelming it was, seeing the moving pictures, actually."

"And by then you hadn't done magic in... seventeen years?"

"Not a single spell," replied Regulus. "I'd see wizards on the streets, occasionally, but that was the closest I got to magic."

Y/N could not imagine how a boy who was raised in a strictly proud wizard household would have lived like a Muggle for years.

"I hesitated, at first, but I saw the name 'You-Know-Who' on the headline. It said things about how Harry claimed You-Know-Who was back. I believed it."

"You did?"

"There was a lot more evidence, but that sealed it." said Regulus, "So I did it. I took off, one night, from my Muggle apartment. Didn't even say goodbye to my friends..."

"I'm sorry," said Y/N, and looked between him and Aberforth. "So... you came to Hogsmeade right away?"

"It wasn't my original plan," said Regulus, "I hunted for the Horcruxes for a few months, but it was no use. I knew Kreacher would never lose the locket, so I wasn't worried about that."

"Actually..." Y/N considered, but decided she'd tell him the story another day. "Nevermind, continue, please,"

"Well, I went to practically every location associated with the Dark Lord," Regulus shrugged. "Then one day, I decided I wanted to check Hogwarts."

"Barbaric," Aberforth mumbled.

"I stopped by at Hog's Head, first, hoping for a hot mug of chocolate before the break-in, but Aberforth- Aberforth recognized me."

"What?" Y/N frowned. "But you changed your appearance, didn't you?"

"Just some features," said Regulus. "but it wasn't enough, apparently."

"So you knew each other before all this?" Y/N questioned.

"Yeah, well, see, when I was a student in Hogwarts, I didn't really have any friends." Admitted Regulus. "Wasn't popular like Sirius. In fact, I was the opposite. So whenever there was a Hogsmeade trip, I'd come here instead of-"

"Are you saying my place is only suitable for loners?" Aberforth accused.

"I didn't mean that, Abe," Regulus said calmly, giving him a look. "But everyone would go to The Three Broomsticks- they were missing out, they were,"

He quickly added, catching Aberforth's glare.

"So I was, dare say, Abe's favourite customer."

"The only tolerable one," Aberforth said swiftly.

"So when I returned, he offered to help," Regulus said loudly. "He transformed me further and aged me down so I looked freshly of age. That way, people wouldn't even suspect my real identity."

Y/N nodded, as though that was a story she'd heard many times. It wasn't. And she was still beyond baffled and shocked.

"No one's ever recognized you?" She asked quietly.

"I don't think so," Regulus shrugged. "I wasn't so much of a people person when I was alive."

"Wait- that's- that's why Aberforth wouldn't let you go anywhere!" Y/N gasped with realization. "He didn't want to risk people recognizing you!"

"It was a difficult job, keeping him in," Aberforth said.

"I could only speak to customers," Regulus huffed. "That's why I was so excited when you and Harry Potter came in on Valentine's."

Y/N felt herself blush, and quickly changed the topic.

"Why were you always wandering around Hogwarts, then?"

"To try to find the remaining Horcruxes, of course," said Regulus.

"How did you get in?"

"My brother was Sirius Black. Though we weren't the lovey-dovey type, he told me his secrets. One of them was the passageway from Honeyduke's to Hogwarts."

Y/N knew exactly which passageway he was talking about.

"Hermione owled me about the Quidditch matches, and I took the opportunity- went in when everyone was down at the Quidditch pitch."

"Clever," Y/N nodded. Everything made sense now. "So... have you found anything? Any Horcruxes?"

"Unfortunately, no." Regulus' dark eyes set on Aberforth and Dobby. "If you could, Abe, Dobby, can Y/N and I have a talk? In private?"

To Y/N's surprise, they both nodded understandingly and stood up from their seats, before disappearing out the door.

Y/N turned back to Regulus and felt a chill run up her arm.

She was talking to Regulus Black. Regulus Black was talking to her, alive, healthy, not evil.

"Dumbledore knew about the Horcruxes, didn't he?" Regulus asked.

"Yeah- I- he was the one who told Harry about them," Y/N replied. "How'd you know?"

"When I was at the funeral, I saw the fake locket in Harry's hand." Regulus' voice was low and he sounded... guilty. "I knew they went to the cave. That was why- that was why Dumbledore was so weak when they killed him, wasn't it?"

Y/N gulped.

"Yes."

"It's all my fault." Regulus said quietly, his eyes cast down on the floor.

"If I told him who I was, and about the locket- if I went to him- he wouldn't have gone to the cave. And he would have survived..."

"Don't say that, Seb-" Y/N stopped hesitantly. "Mr Black."

"Just call me Reg," The man smiled weakly.

"Right... well... it isn't your fault, Reg," Y/N said carefully. "Snape would've still killed him. One way or another."

"I guess so," Regulus muttered. He looked up and her. "What do you know about the Horcruxes, Y/N?"

"Well... I know that he- he has seven," Y/N started. "Two of them are destroyed, four of them are unknown, and the locket... Harry, Hermione, and Ron have the locket."

"Kreacher gave it to them?"

"Well... something like that. But that's a story for another-" Y/N yawned wildly, "day..."

Regulus nodded.

"That's enough for today," he said firmly, "You should go get some rest. After breaking into the Ministry and getting kidnapped- I think you could use some sleep."

"I still have questions," Y/N inquired.

"Which will be answered tomorrow." Regulus got up and went to the counter of the bar, before grabbing a bulky old from the wall of keys.

"Thanks, I think I'll be staying here for only a few nights-"

"And where will you go?" Regulus crossed his arms.

"I don't- just anywhere. I can't just hide here while my friends go around risking their lives-"

"Why not?"

"Because I need to help them!" said Y/N. "And what if they decide to go rescue me and waste their time- hell, waste their lives!"

"OK, and do you have any clue where they are?" Regulus asked in a frustratingly calm tone.

"I... n- well..." She had no clue. If the Ministry and Death Eaters can't find them, she sure as hell can't either.

"Didn't think so," Regulus smiled, and threw her the key. Y/N caught it and scowled at him. "First room to your left on the second floor."

Y/N tried to find an excuse. She really hated the idea of staying in a decently safe place while her friends are out there teasing death like an acrobat.

It was pitch black outside, and she was sure it would be cold soon, as September came.

"I'll think about it," she finally said. "But if I disappear one day, don't be so surprised."

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What Y/N didn't know, was that it was nearly impossible to exit or enter Hogsmeade village.

She found out, a few days after her horrific birthday, Death Eaters were assigned to patrol the streets during the day, and alarms were planted at night.

The room Aberforth and Regulus provided her with was small but cozy, much more than what she had expected. Much more than she deserved.

It had a single bed and a fireplace, along with a closet, which was empty apart from a few sweaters and pants they were able to get her.

Dobby had returned to Hogwarts to do his job but would visit Hog's Head at the end of every day to check on Y/N.

The Inn was absolutely deserted most of the time. They had no customers apart from a few old wizards from the village who weren't so good in the head.

Y/N had to hide in her room most of the day, for the Death Eaters were great at their job.

Y/N noticed how guilty Regulus looked every time she was around, and he made sure to frequently talk to her to gain her trust back.

It took a whole week for both sides to fill in each other on their own journey, and for Y/N to finally not jump every time Regulus entered the room.

For one, he resembled Sirius quite a bit, and he also still looked a tinge bit like Sebastian.

"It's alright, I'm trying to get used to it as well," he said, one day when Y/N absolutely turned her mug over when he walked in.

"I'm sorry- I don't mean to be rude," Y/N said, her cheeks flushing. "Remind me why you decided to switch back to Regulus Black again? After all those years?"

"Permanent charms and curses exist, Y/N, but they never live by their name."

"Everything's just so confusing."

Her goal was to leave the place, somehow.

Even though she was grateful for Aberforth and Regulus' generosity, she just couldn't stay.

Waking up every morning and doing the same routine over and over was driving her mad. Again, she felt useless.

She'd wake up around ten o'clock, go down to the bar to have breakfast, go back to hide in her room, then do the same for lunch, and finally for dinner, which was better, for she could eat in the bar with Aberforth, Regulus, and Dobby.

It was the only time there weren't any Death Eaters around.

Y/N, Regulus, and Dobby would engage in a conversation while Aberforth rolled his eyes, or they'd listen to the radio and eat in silence.

"How are Ginny, Pansy, Luna, and Neville?" Y/N had asked Dobby.

"They seem alright, Miss," Dobby replied thoughtfully. "They are really nice to Dobby and his friends."

"And Snape?"

"Dobby never sees the Headmaster," said Dobby. "Professor Snape does not trust Dobby, cuz he knows Dobby is a free elf and Harry Potter's friend."

"Can you at least slip poison into his pumpkin juice?"

Regulus snorted and Dobby shivered.

"Dobby doesn't think so, Miss!" He squeaked.

"I'm just kidding," Y/N gave the elf a smile. Though, she really wasn't.

Days passed, and Y/N got bored and uneasy. Those weren't good combinations.

Regulus let her have a wireless radio in her room and she had to admit, she'd become obsessive over it.

It was the only source of news from the outside world (apart from Dobby) she had.

She'd listen to Potterwatch for hours, which was a secret programme she was sure was run by a Hogwarts student.

Dobby said he had heard Ginny and Pansy listening to the programme and saying it was the only reliable source.

He had provided her with the first password to the channel, and the other passwords were told at the end of every day.

The channel kept updates on the school, on the events and attacks, but mainly theories and news about Harry. Hence the name Potterwatch.

"Villagers claim they've spotted Harry Potter..."

"More Death Eaters were sent to the north to search for Harry Potter and Hermione Granger..."

And then, one day, when she and Regulus were listening to the radio while Aberforth and Dobby made dinner, her name came up.

"... weeks after her capture, sources say that Y/N Scamander has been executed for her association with Undesirable No.1..."

"No, no, no, no," Y/N clutched her hair in her fists, shaking her head. "This can't be happening, this can't be-"

"Who says it's a bad thing, though?" Regulus nudged her arm. "I've been dead for seventeen years."

"... other sources have reported that Scamander has turned herself in willingly, and is now working with You-Know-Who. What do you think about this, Auvior?"

"I think it may be possible..." Auvior said, in the voice of Zacharias Smith. "I'm friends with some of Scamander's friends, they say it's bull-crap, but I dunno... she always seemed like the secretly evil type, when she was at school."

Regulus was now laughing at Y/N's agape mouth and her look of fury. Offense taken.

"You're lucky," Regulus chortled, "There were no rumors like this about me when I died,"

"You wouldn't know, you were taken to a Muggle hospital!"

Y/N wasn't going to lie, the first ten or so days at Hog's Head have been good for her.

It was good to have a break, after the birthday incident. She felt safe there.

But those days slowly crept into weeks, then those weeks turned into months.

Most people thought she was dead, so she didn't have to worry much about getting caught.

She was reported with news from the castle, daily, by Dobby and the radio.

She'd found some reliable programmes and channels with good songs.

She wondered every hour she was awake, where her friends were.

They had to be alright. The entire world would know if they were caught.

Have they found more Horcruxes? Were they trying to find her?

Y/N couldn't help but feel just slightly curious how they were taking her absence.

They should be worried- they probably were, at first.

But as the months went on... Y/N assumed they'd realized finding the Horcruxes was a priority.

She wasn't mad about it. Her heart felt slightly hollow, but of course she knew how important the Horcruxes were.

"Can't I at least let my friends at school know I'm here?" She'd asked Aberforth.

"Absolutely not," Aberforth affirmed. "I know it's hard, kid, but it's best for you. It's best for everyone to think that you're dead."

"I can confirm," Regulus chimed in.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

It was the first day of December. A little more than two months after Y/N Scamander had appeared in Hog's Head, half-conscious.

Y/N was listening to the radio in her room as it snowed outside. Her eyes were closed and her head was rested on the tiny wooden desk by her bed.

She looked as though she was sleeping, but she was simply listening to Potterwatch very carefully.

She came to realize that the host of the programme was Lee Jordan, a couple of days after she first found out about it.

His voice has changed quite a bit, but his four years of Quidditch-commentating had still stuck with Y/N.

A daily theme that Y/N dreaded, however, was the death reports. There'd be a whole list of names every. Single. Day.

Y/N would close her eyes and wish with every bit of her body not to hear any names she recognized.

She would be completely destroyed if any of her friends were mentioned.

Regulus and Aberforth had been really nice to her. She was surprised to see how much Aberforth warmed up to her once she got to know him.

Sure, his goat jokes were quite bizarre, but Y/N and Regulus would just laugh along.

He also made sure with her, every day, that she didn't feel imprisoned.

"It's for your best, it really is," he'd say in a grim tone. "but if you must leave, leave. We're not gonna force you to stay."

Truth was, Y/N had nowhere to go. She could go back home- oh, how she'd love to be home.

With Remus and Tonks- pregnant Tonks- just forget about everything until something happens.

She couldn't help but think- her friends really didn't need her help. They were completely alright without her, as far as she knew.

"... we don't know when we will be able to broadcast again, but we will be back. Keep twiddling those dials. The next password will be 'Scamander'!"

Y/N physically jumped as she heard her name. She stared at the radio and caught herself smiling.

Most people thought she was dead, some knew she was alive, though her whereabouts were unknown. Some even thought she'd joined the Death Eaters.

And to think that these people still had hope in her. People she hadn't seen for years. 

"Keep each other safe, fellas! Keep faith. Good night."

Lee's voice cut off and Y/N was greeted with a crackling silence.

She felt like sleeping. But if she slept, it would mean waking up to another useless, guilty, self-isolating day.

The radio crackled noisily on the table, beside her.

Her fingers roamed and felt the surface of the wireless, and she changed to a different channel. It was playing a song.

As the music faded in, Y/N lifted up her head in surprise. She stared at the radio as the chorus came and felt her throat tighten.

She hadn't listened to Good Old-fashioned Loverboy in over a year.

She remembered the smiles this song brought to her last year and was dismayed when she realized it didn't have the same effect anymore.

It just reminded her that those moments- those moments with Harry were long gone.

She was just a hopeless girl, barely of age, hiding in a place she didn't feel she deserved.

Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were out there, probably starving.

What did Harry think of her? Has he thought of her much, after that day?

For once, she could not guess. Was he mad at her? Scared for her? Has he forgotten about her, or at least tried to forget?

Y/N hoped so. They were on a mission to save the world, he wouldn't be worrying about her- in fact, he shouldn't.

But she just wanted to see him again. Maybe he didn't need her, but she needed him. She needed all of them.

She wanted to tell him she was alive and not evil, and perhaps they could listen to this excruciatingly nostalgic song together.

She wanted his warm hugs, she wanted him to walk through the door of her room and smile and tell her it was all a dream.

He would call her 'Niff', and she wouldn't even complain.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

It has been 102 days since he'd last seen Y/N. 40 days after Ron had left.

Harry still remembered the shock and fear he felt, that day, when they arrived in the forest and Y/N was gone.

Hermione had broken down crying, Ron was pulling onto his red hair like mad, and Harry just felt nothing.

Or more like, everything... but it was so overwhelming that it felt like nothing.

He tossed and turned at night, days after. They fought a lot, the three of them. Plus the pressure of destroying the locket.

Ron left because of it. Harry didn't blame him, he'd leave himself too.

Now, he and Hermione barely talked. It would be a few words over breakfast, or while switching patrols, but nothing more.

They were missing Ron's humor, missing Y/N's sarcasm. The absence of their presence was like missing two limbs.

Harry knew Hermione felt it too. Sometimes, when he heard her crying at night, from the other side of the enlarged tent, he'd cry too.

She didn't know though. Harry's sobs were as silent as the night.

That night, it was especially cold. Harry assumed it must've been the end of November, or perhaps it was already December.

He was in his bed, buried under the blankets Hermione had charmed to keep him warm. Y/N's navy blue scarf was curled around his neck.

He didn't realize he was clutching it. Didn't realize there were tears on his cheeks again.

He sniffed and wiped them away with the back of his hand.

He was so tired, extremely hungry, and his worry was killing him entirely. 102 days, he'd become as anxious as ever.

He didn't know where Ron was but had hoped that he'd gone back home. It'd be good for Ron.

He loved his family to death and he deserved to be with them.

Meanwhile... he knew exactly where Y/N was. Not exactly, per se, but he knew that they took her. His Y/N.

Sure, they wouldn't kill her, but Harry doubted they were treating her like a princess either.

The thought of what Bellatrix would do to her. The thought of her being chained up, probably starved, tortured. Who knows.

Harry made a promise to himself, from the very first day without her, he'd make everyone that made her suffer regret it.

When he had all the Horcruxes and got her back, he'd make sure they paid for it.

Harry's insides burned and his fists clenched at the thought of it.

He thought about her every day, every hour of the day, every time he wondered why he felt so incomplete.

Y/N was brave, yes- but she wasn't fearless. She was the strongest person Harry had ever met, but she had every right to break.

He wanted to let her know he was going to get her back. And that she didn't have to be scared, or worried.

He thought of wrapping her body in his arms and hearing her relieved sigh.

He thought of holding her while she slept, her body warm and her face peaceful.

He held tight onto the soft material of his scarf and let out a shaky breath, his eyes closed and his chest aching.

"Be safe, Y/N," he whispered. Even he, himself, barely heard it. "We love you. We love you so much. We'll get you back."

The Boy Who Lived fell asleep that night, to his own lullaby of tears.

Time after time, he had survived and lived. And he'd live a thousand more times just to make sure his other half was safe.

∞ ϟ 9¾ ♔ ⚯͛ △r⃒⃘ ➵ ♆

A/N ~ Surprise ! Sebastian has a new (but old) name. Yes, I've planned this since creating his character and yes, that was why I cast Mr Chalamet for his role.

(Please put spoiler warnings if u want to talk about it outside this chapter)

Anyways, u guys wanted Harry's perspective so I provided. Stay tuned for more :)

-ScribblingQuills