22/🇮🇹/big simp

It had all started years earlier, two to be exact.

Although thinking about it, with all that had happened, it seemed a lifetime earlier. Centuries and centuries of water had passed under the bridge.

So here is the story of how four times Y/n saved Fred, and how, for a change, the once he saved her.

1.         Hogwarts, February 1996

The Weasley twins were in the throes of another one of their exploits; at the height of dinner the corridors of the castle were always deserted. This was, surely, a great advantage for them; the perfect time to organize their pranks was definitely during mealtimes. When the professors, and the nosy students, would gather in the great hall, too busy looking after the food on their plates, to notice the absence of the two identical Weasley brothers.

This was something they had learned in their first year. And they had not forgotten it since.

The two of them had now developed the skill necessary to work in the most perfect silence, their shirt sleeves rolled up above the elbows so as not to soil them, their ties loosened to allow them to breathe with ease in the eagerness given by the adrenaline rush that the risk of being caught injected into their veins.

It had always been, besides the great satisfaction they felt at seeing a successful prank, one of their favourite moments this.

The one in which adrenaline releases discharges in the heart from the anxiety of being discovered, the blood pumps faster in the veins, the palms and forehead sweat slightly, and you feel alive as if riding a broomstick descending at full speed to the ground. A feeling of pure life.

Of course, the risk of getting caught was more concerning getting caught red-handed; they knew perfectly well that regardless, the blame would fall on their red heads, knowing that, in the school, no one was able to play left-handed shots equal to what their brilliant minds were capable of processing.

But, in any case, without evidence they were not going to face any consequences. Most of the time.

The silence of their hustling was interrupted by a voice humming in the hallway, quick footsteps approaching, clatter of heels against stone that would have made even a werewolf's hair stand on end.

"Shit." It was the first word that slipped out of George's lips, who in an instant was on his feet ready to make his escape. "Fred, it's Umbridge, we have to go."

"I've almost-" murmured the other, still on his knees, connecting god knows what to a small box placed against the woman's office door "done." He said exultantly, rising to his feet.

Time was short, they both knew, and the twins launched into a run, just far enough away from the office not to be caught right at the scene of the misdeed, but, possibly, close enough to hear the result of their prank.

They took refuge around a corner, one aisle over. Their robes under their arms and two identical smiles on their lips.

The explosion and the stinking cloud came like a melody to their ears.

The screams that followed it were the icing on the cake.

What made their laughter go sideways, however, were the voices that immediately began to squawk; the woman was not alone. And footsteps approached, swiftly.

A brief glance at the two was enough for them to turn around and start running at full speed as far away from there as possible, the Gryffindor common room an ideal place to hide after the stunt they had just pulled. That was the plan.

George, in the lead, was running at breakneck speed with his twin at his heels, his ears pounding from the blood pumping desperately from the adrenaline in his system, and from the possibility of actually getting caught this time.

It took him a few minutes to realize that his brother was no longer following him, when he almost reached the portrait that led to his common room, in truth.

Fred, who had fallen behind, had slipped taking a particularly bad turn, crashing to the ground and going crashing with a particularly loud thud against one of the wooden doors that littered the castle, one of the many unused storage rooms.

The boy had stood there, admittedly a few seconds too long, massaging his head, when the door had swung open and a hand grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, pulling him inside before said hand was pressed over his mouth.

From below Y/n, she looked at him for a few moments before smiling; a smile that in all honesty was rather shabby for being that of a young woman whom Fred had never seen behave in a way that was not adorably kind to everyone. Always with a ready answer in class and always with a kind smile for anyone, whether they deserved it or not.

In silence the young woman raised a finger bringing it to her lips and leaned it against herself before whispering.

"Be quiet Weasley, if we get caught we're both in trouble."

With a mixture of admiration and confusion he obeyed, pressing his back against the heavy wooden door, trying to escape the human heat the young Ravenclaw emanated, in the cramped space. He, who was already sweating with his heart pounding from the run, found himself blushing hard when she gently pushed him aside as far as she could before pressing his ear against the door to listen to the hallway, waiting until the way was sufficiently clear. They remained in that position, pressed against each other for an indefinite time, before she raised her kind eyes to his and with a smile announced that the way was clear. She even offered to accompany him to his common room, constituting a credible alibi for him.

2.         Diagon Halley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, September 1996

The store that day was almost deserted, the picture of tranquillity, with the students having left the week before for Hogwarts only a few mothers with their small children, still too young to follow their future classmates, entered the doors of the Weasley brothers' store. That, then, was a dull day.

George had disappeared almost an hour earlier to the workshop behind the store, leaving his twin alone to manage the area in front, which had soon translated into Fred, bored as few times in his life, almost lying on the bacon drumming his fingers on it as his gaze wandered lazily around the shelves of his empty business. He puffed for what seemed to him the thousandth time, searching, almost desperately for something to do. He already missed the throng of young students crowding inside those four walls ready to spend their money to buy a laugh, as the two notorious troublemakers liked to say.

Without those cheerful young heads, the world was too lazy.

He wondered again if they should not have opened in Hogsmeade, make a cheeky competition to Zonko. 

He drummed on the wooden counter once more as, yet another sigh left his lips.

He had to find something to do, or he would go crazy with boredom.

The best idea that occurred to him was to rearrange the tall shelves that reached from the base of the store almost to the ceiling, covered with objects with the most disparate uses and uses.

Yes. That was a good idea.

So he did, in an instant the boy rolled up his sleeves and began climbing up a ladder as narrow as it was rickety. He thought he could replace it later.

Lo and behold, suddenly his good humour was back, sitting on his hands was not really his thing, setting up the store, talking to customers, inventing new tricks, even cleaning up on the floor. Everything was preferable to having to, simply, wait for something to happen. That, surely, was the worst feeling he could be forced to experience. Of that, he was sure.

After all, he had already grown accustomed to the throngs in his store, to the cheerful shouts of young wizards and witches realizing that they had a need for something that until a few hours before they did not even know existed, or that they could buy. He had already grown accustomed to the grateful smiles of people who bought something from him, whether it was a potion of some sort, an explosive prank, or some candy that Honeydukes supplied to the twins at a favourable price, having been offered by them as a reseller for the candy store in the capital.

Yes, after all, their work was proceeding well, but those days, during office hours when people were working and not really buying, left him in low spirits.

These thoughts crowded his head as he absentmindedly slid the cardboard packages off the shelf in the wall, stacking them with less care than he should have had, under one arm. His head had always wandered to the most disparate places while he did simple manual labor, allowing him not to get bored by staying focused on what he was thinking, rather than what he was doing. Of course, this was not limited to introspective thoughts about boredom, but much more often traveled with imagination. He wondered if he and his brother might one day expand their business. It would have been nice to open more branches, perhaps around the world. Already he could see himself, him, a billionaire.

He was reminded of a drawing he had once seen while strolling through Muggle London with friends, a duck in a hat taking a bath, in a tub full of gold coins.

Sooner or later, he would have to try it, too.

He smiled to himself, absentmindedly stacking yet another box under his arm. The bombs that were contained inside were not powerful enough to cause serious damage to people and objects if taken individually. Of course, the thought that having six of them in one package, with already four packages under his arm plus one in his hand as he worked absent-mindedly was not a safe situation had not even crossed Fred Weasley's mind; in all honesty, it was George who was the more safety-conscious twin of the two. The one who weekly prevented both of them from blowing up irretrievably at the very least, obviously could not always prevent every trouble, or explosion.

So, when the bell set above the door rang Fred had no half-hearted qualms about leaning out of his already rickety stepladder to see who had walked through the door of his store. A toothy grin at the thought that, at last, a customer would snatch him from the day's deadly boredom.

This was just yet another in his long list of mistakes that morning, which began with not immediately fixing the stepladder, followed by absent-mindedly working with explosive material in hand, and ended with jumping like a puppy at the arrival of a customer.

Needless to say, he slipped ruefully from that ladder.

The ground beneath him approached at staggering speed, the boxes still more or less clutched in his hand the boy closed his eyes, bracing himself for impact with the lacquered wooden floor they had paid so much for when they had built the store.

Whether he died or survived, George would have killed him for ruining it, he was certain.

Instead, what he had not expected happened, a waving of wands, a gentle voice releasing the right spell at the right time. A perfectly executed Arresto Momentum, and, in front of him, Y/n smiling, while he remained stuck in midair like a subspecies of idiot.

"You should be more careful, Fred Weasley," smiled the former Ravenclaw, sweetly, "remember, they teach you that in first year. Stairs, they like to change."

3.         The Burrow, August 1997

The wedding was what one might have called a veritable daydream. Bill in his suit, with his new wife clutched at his side was the picture of utter and complete joy; Fleur shone as if emitting her own light. Fred, who, in his years, had seen even too many sappy, melancholy couplets for his liking, had had to admit to himself that the two of them, no matter how nauseous and/or diabetic they made him feel at intervals, were in perfect harmony together.

There was no denying it.

The air was imbued with joyous excitement, perhaps even a good dose of alcohol, as Fred thought advancing among the wedding guests. Sunlight filtered through the foliage of the trees, dancing on the elegant white curtains that adorned the garden of the Weasley mansion, the magical atmosphere was undeniable. For Fred's taste there were a few too many undeniable things that evening, he thought as the sun set over the horizon, one hand sunk into the pants pockets of the suit he had purchased for the occasion and a glass of wine in the other. And most of all, a huge sword of Damocles hanging right above his head, ready to fall on him should he attempt to pull one of his cheap shots on the day of his brother's wedding.

He was certain that his mother would kill him.

The laughter and cheerful voices of family and friends filled the air, mingling with the sweet sound of music coming from the band playing on the makeshift stage. Fred watched with a mixture of emotion and melancholy as his loved ones exchanged loving hugs and bright smiles.

The scene was alive with a multitude of colours, with the vibrant floral decorations adorning every corner of the garden. Garlands of fresh flowers wrapped the tree trunks, while scented candles that had lit the path to the altar were replaced by the tables that had welcomed guests for the banquet after the ceremony.

Despite the looming shadow of war, in that moment, Fred could not help but smile comforted by his family around him and the unassailable joy of such a festive day. Quietly he took a sip from his glass shifting his gaze to Ron dancing with Hermione, his brother’s-stricken look wringing an amused laugh from him, so busy was the little Weasley dancing carefully so as not to step on his friend's toes, that she surely would not forgive him the affront.

The guests' elegant dresses swayed lightly in the breeze, while the scent of the delicious banquets enticed those present to indulge in a feast for the senses. The plentiful and delicious food, served on tables adorned with white linen tablecloths, offered a wide selection of culinary delights that satisfied every taste and desire.

The happiness of that evening on interrupted not long after, when a patronus burst into the middle of the banquet, announcing the most terrible of news on such a cheerful day.

The minister of magic was dead, the ministry had fallen, and the Death Eaters were coming for them.

Immediately there was panic, people screaming, chairs toppling over. His family clutched at each other, but, while still remaining Gryffindors, each of them tried to do their best to help people escape, to protect as many guests as possible.

He saw with a distracted eye Ron pushing Hermione behind him, the wand clutched in his hand with such force that Fred for a moment feared he would break it. Bill, taking his bride and clutching her to his chest, his eyes promising fire and flame. His parents try to find each other, shaking hands, ready to give battle.

In the corner George and Ginny stood back-to-back, wands in hand and spells already flying, striking the firsts Death Eaters to arrive on the scene.

For an instant his head spun wildly, for an instant the ground missed under his feet.

But it was an instant too long because when he recovered, he found himself on the wrong side of a wand, pointing in his direction, and a spell being fired at him.

Nor did he know what to do, so he simply closed his eyes, trying to raise his arms to keep from getting hit, waiting for the pain that-which did not come.

A roar not far away brought him to his senses, moved by instinct he picked up his wand, opening his eyes again only to find the familiar figure of Y/n in front of him. The girl had her back to him, her wand raised; clearly the spell that would have otherwise affected him had been deflected by her, but... how?

He had only a few moments to look at her, briefly. Her hair was pulled back into a dishevelled tail still damp, she was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and her feet were bare.

Fred did not understood.

He was sure she was not at the wedding... how had she apparate there just in time to deflect that spell? At the exact moment when it should have hit him, she had appeared out of nowhere and, once again, saved him.

The only question was, how?

He naturally had no time to ask, because as soon as he could compose himself just enough to close the mouth that had been left open from surprise, the young woman turned around, barely looking at him from over her shoulder. After making sure the boy was all right, she gave him a smile and a wink, promising that "They would have talked about it later." And, she added, to the surprise of Fred, who came out rather red in the face that "That outfit looked really good on him."

The boy found himself momentarily speechless, still in disbelief at what had happened. He watched Y/n as she walked away as light as a feather amid the chaos of battle, her figure disappearing into the fighting crowd. A thrill of gratitude ran through him as he realized how lucky he was.

Or perhaps there was something else behind it, something eluding him, just beyond his fingertips.

He had no way of finding out that night.

4.         Hogwarts, May 1998

The battle had been raging for several hours now, in every corner it was possible to find Death Eaters clashing with members of the Order of the Phoenix, desperate students, Aurors, and Hogwarts allies who had been summoned from wherever they could be reached on short notice and in a great hurry. Fred, was following his brother through the chaos of battle. The roar of duels and the heat of explosions filled the air, mingling with the screams of rage and pain. He felt alive; charged with adrenaline, but at the same time worried for the safety of his friends and family.

The lifeless bodies lay scattered on the ground, and in each of them, for a moment the boy saw a friend, a family member, an acquaintance, someone he had loved. His wand moved with precision and determination as he cast spells against the approaching Death Eaters.

Every movement was quick and instinctive, but he knew he could never let his guard down, aware that a mistake could be fatal.

The smoke and dust obscured his vision, the heavy air scratched his throat forcing him to stop from time to time, and it was only when he rejoined with

Percy was beside him, fighting with the same ferocity and determination.

The two smiled as they saw Ron and Hermione arrive, while Percy, with an arrogance that was natural in him announced to the minister, that was being thrown against the wall, that he was resigning, while Fred laughed in amusement.

"Percy! You made a joke!" the boy burst out laughing, shifting his gaze to his brother "Did you really make a joke? The last one I heard you make was..."

But he could not finish the sentence, an explosion behind them carried away the rest of his amused comment.

Fred looked up, from the floor. His ears were ringing, perhaps an eardrum had ruptured. The dust from the wall that until a second before was behind him was still falling from the sky, and around him Harry, Ron, Hermione and Percy were also having trouble regaining control over their bodies, which had been thrown hard against the ground.

He grunted, sore, shifting his gaze to the wall, now reduced to rubble, and, to his enormous surprise, found a person standing just in front of him. Standing wide-legged, with her jeans broken in several places, covered with soot and dirt, her soft hair matted with blood, sweat and who knows what else. There, above him like a warrior angel, but pale as a corpse, was Y/n.

Once again, the girl had, seemingly, appeared out of nowhere, conjuring up a shield just in time to protect him and the rest of the group from the explosion that was sure to hit them.

The girl silhouetted before them with fierce determination in her eyes, her figure dirty and wounded but still standing and ready to fight, while he lying on the ground stared at her, incredulous, surprised by her timely presence and grateful at the same time. His heart was pounding in his chest as he tried to understand how it was possible that she was there, at that crucial moment, to protect them.

"Y/n..." whispered Fred, his voice cracked with emotion and astonishment. "Thank you."

Y/n looked at him with intense eyes, full of determination, before turning a tired yet satisfied smile on him, a reflection of the gratitude she felt for having arrived in time to protect the group.

"Save it. There is no time to stay here," she said with a firmness in her voice that did not belong to her, yet her voice like a fresh balm after the wounds of battle, "we must move."

With a nod, she indicated for them to follow her limping figure, she held out her hand to each of them, holding Fred's in hers, unable to let go as they moved through the rubble and chaos of battle.

Fred nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. There was no time to linger in thanks or questions.

They needed to focus on survival, on winning the war that had been going on all night, but caught up in a rush the boy leaned down, taking her face in his hands and planting a kiss on her lips, quick, almost a blink.

"Later, you'll explain how you always come at the right time." He murmured, taking her hand back in his, bringing his attention back to the rest of the group who had shifted their gaze in embarrassment.

The girl for her part was reduced to a smouldering heap, red in the face and downcast-eyed. A stupid smile on her lips.

The moment of truth came a few hours later, at the end of the battle the two found themselves in the great hall. In the rush of the last fight they had separated, both of them remaining so distressed that if they had not found each other again as soon as possible one of them would have had a heart attack.

Thus, when the girl crossed the threshold of the great hall it was the red-haired figure that was the first one she caught sight of, and he threw himself at her at the speed of sound, catching her in his arms with an emphasis that lifted her off the ground, and holding her so tightly that her bones creaked under the pressure of the boy's embrace. They stood like this, in the doorway, for a few minutes before he led her to a somewhat secluded table, retrieving from somewhere a clean handkerchief and some water to cleanse the conspicuous wound that the young woman wore on her forehead like a badge of honour, while he smiled with a split lip and a black eye so obvious that it would have been visible even from the other side of the castle.

"I believe you owe me some explanation now." He commented softly, gaining her attention as she moved from the bodies delicately arranged in the room with care and attention.

The blush grew on her cheeks as she blushed.

"I-oh, for merlin's panties. I'm going to sound really, really scary. Keep in mind that this is not something I control, please."

He, let out a laugh.

"I'm sure I can handle it. Tell me, come on."

“I’m a seer.” She blurted out, “I can see the future, really well in some cases. Accidentally, those cases involved you… getting hurt. Like, really hurt.”

She started blushing, her eyes low on the floor.

“And… and I could not allow it you know? I… I do care for you, really. So I was… not so accidentally always there when I knew you would have ended up… bad?”

The boy sat still, for quite a while, before exploding in a laugh.

“So, I was almost right, you are a guardian angel!”

5.         Hogwarts, september 1992

To say that she was insecure on that broom was, absolutely, an understatement. Although she was in her third year of school now, Y/n was still a mess when it came to matters pertaining to flying.

The thing, it troubled her.

So, she had gone to the quidditch pitch together with a few friends, hoping to get the hang of it, with all those flying brooms without, possibly, making a fool of herself in the eyes of her far more experienced classmates.

Needless to say, her plan had foundered within the first fifteen minutes.

In no time, she had gone from hardly being able to lift herself off the ground to darting through the sky holding onto her broom with the purest of terror in her eyes. Unable to control her vehicle, she had simply been stuck in the air with her eyes clenched shut and tears stinging. Certain that she would have died there.

So great was her terror that she had not even noticed a foreign body approaching her, two in fact. George and Fred Weasley could have many virtues, minding their own business was not one of them.

So when the sight of a trembling girl stuck in the air had struck their eyes neither of them had thought twice about approaching her, perhaps to tease her a little, perhaps to tell her to move out of the way because Gryffindor team practice was about to begin and she would be in danger of getting hurt.

The important thing is that, she, she expected anything but to hear someone's voice speaking into her ear a few dozen feet above the ground.

The terror was so great that she jerked, on her broom. Letting her go with a scream that would have made a banshee's blood run cold.

This, was her second mistake of the day.

Losing the, precarious, control of her broom, which was keeping her suspended in the air the girl simply plummeted.

The ground was approaching her at such a speed that the world around appeared only as a series of indistinct colors and flashes, so Y/n, simply closed her eyes, waiting for an impact that would break who knows how many bones.

But what she felt instead was two arms grabbing her so fiercely that they pushed all the air out of her lungs with an unladylike oof, and the smell of gunpowder and smoke from Fred, who had caught her on the fly and was now holding her pressed against his chest.

"You should be more careful," he said with a laugh, "Good thing I was here at the right time."

The quidditch pitch that morning was immaculate, Y/n had the time to think in the silence that characterised the morning before the matches. She launched a small look inside the tent where her companions were debating the formation, the tactics for the match. She just sent them a little smile, at which Leander answered with a grumpy look, and a gesture of his hand, calling the girl closer to listen.

She huffed, but eventually get closer to the team, sitting next to Garreth, which let an arm slip around her shoulder, squeezing her in a fraternal way.

She managed to remain focused enough to hear Leander say something along the lines of "this is the first match from after the Christmas holidays, AND against Slytherins, so..." before she drifted away in her own thoughts, which ran to that very morning, at breakfast.

She was sitting at her table, distracted, her stomach had just transformed into a nervous and nauseous mess. she watched in horror Garreth and Leander shout everything in their reach down their throats, like two starving men, and she asked herself how they won’t vomit all that food. But that became a question for another time, one where she didn't feel to throw up on the table right now and there. So, all she had to do in that moment, was remain dignified, possibly hiding the green on her cheeks.

Natty, next to her, passed her a mug with something in it, the only explanation offered wat that "it helps with the sickness." And Y/n trusted her enough to gulp down the liquid. It takes a moment, and for one instant the girl was sure she would have thrown it up here on the table; but it managed to calm her nerves enough to eat some bread, slowly.

"Don't overjoy" called Poppy "look who is coming to talk." spoke the girl, nodding in the direction of Sebastian, which was approaching Gryffindor's table with a smile that promised problems, behind him Ominis had just a relaxed smile on his lips.

"Maybe he just wants to give me a good luck, we are friends after all." chipped Y/n with a smile, getting up. "I'll go telling him to." and with that she trotted in the direction of the two boys.

"Y/n," they both greeted them when she got closer enough. "ready for the big match?" asked Sebastian, his hands shoved down his pockets, looking at her from above, slightly bent, a shine in his eyes.

"Yes, I really can't wait to see you play Sallow."

"Are we using surnames, now?" asked Sebastian, confused, behind him, Ominis snorted.

"Oh, sorry" she laughed, moving a hand as brushing something off "it's something Leander and Garreth insist is necessary, to build the competing, and to let the friendships outside of the quidditch pitch."

"Very well then, Granville," laughed Sebastian, bending even more, since he was towering above her "you anticipate what I wanted to tell you. I won’t go easy in spite of our friendship, remember this." he growled under his breath, locking his gaze into her eyes, sending a shivering down her spine. "Try to not get too hurt, little one."

She was nailed in her place, her eyes wide open, unable to respond, when she felt two people placing themself behind her, for a moment she thanked the gods for sending Natty and Penny to rescue her, but when a strong arm hugged her shoulders she looked surprised seeing Garreth moving himself between her and Sebastian, and at the other side Leander, sending fiery looks. She stood in the middle of that titan's clash, a head shorter than the three guys.

"Don't worry Sallow" spoke Garreth in a low tone, almost a growl, "I won't let anything happen to Y/n during the game."

"We'll see, Weasley." responded Sebastian, before giving Leander a challenging look too, "Prewett." he saluted, before turning around and walking away.

Ominis gave Y/n a sympathetic look "I just wanted to wish you luck." said before turning on his heels and follow Sebastian out of the Great hall, leaving the three Gryffindor to look at each other’s.

"That was..."

"I won't let that fucker win this match." snapped Garreth, "Even if this is the last thing I do."

"Good." Nodded Leander, before posing his own hand on Y/n shoulder. "We should go, the team need some encouragement before this match."

The other two nodded, before following their captain out of the Green Hall, Y/n sent a look over her shoulder, catching Natty and Poppy looking at her, trying to hide a smile on their lips.

And so she was, in the tent, the arm of Garret around her shoulders, and his anxious leg bouncing against her own, softly she placed her hand on her thigh, giving him a sympathetic look. “I didn’t thanked you for before.” She whispered. “You really handled Sebastian.”

“He was just trying to scare you.” Garreth answered with a little nervous smile, looking at her. “But really, if I have to focus on protecting you from the Bludgers I will, gladly.” 

“Oh, gosh Garreth no. Please, we know how much you like shoot those things against the Slytherins.” She whispered, smiling so softly.

“I like better know that you don’t fall off your broom.”

She blushed, softly, lowering his eyes.

“You two are disgusting.” Whispered Nellie Oggspire, the seeker of the squad, from their back, gaining a confused look from both. “And, I’m trying to listen on what Leander have to say.”

“Yes,” answered Garreth “because we beam on Leander sweet voice, don’t we Nellie?”

The girl blushed, causing Y/n to let go a muffled laugh. “Don’t worry Nellie, I saw him looking with extreme attention to you climb the mantelpiece.”

“Did he?”

Garreth lifted his shoulder. “Either case, this evening you will cheer with him or console him, both good moments to… make your move.” He whispered moving his eyebrows and in a silly voice, gaining another little laugh from the girl at his side.

“Ugh,” She smacked his arm “you are unsufferable, Weasley.”

“I think the world you were looking for wa… oh, Leander finished. We can go.” He rose, handing a hand at his friends, helping the two girls standing.

Y/n felt once again the sickness in her stomach, she had played all season with the Gryffindor team, Leander called her one of the best chasers he had ever seen, but this was the first time playing against someone she was close with. The girl had spent her summer playing with both Imelda and Sebastian, laughing while playing barefoot and after drinking butterbeer while looking at the starry sky. Seeing both Imelda and Sebastian looking at her like an enemy from the other side of the pitch make her stomach twirl. And that worsened when Garreth put his hand on her shoulder.

“You think about scoring, I’ll make sure no one touches you.”

“But Leander’s plans.”

“Fuck ‘em.” Was his honest answerer. “I won’t let Sallow play his stupid games.”

The girl lifted his eyes, to meet Garreth’s, but what she found was his gaze nailed into Sebastian’s, the two staring at each other. She felt like there was a war, happening right in front of her, and for some reason she felt cached in the middle of it.

The war actually started at the beginning of the year, near Halloween, when the students started to enjoy the festive decoration scattered around the castle, and the chill air that was permeating the world. Garreth was never a good friend of Sebastian, the two more or less used to ignore each other, but something snapped one day, during Defense against the dark arts, when answering a joke from Garreth, Sebastian had snapped against the Weasley boy. Since then, the two could not watch in each other direction without sparks forming in the air. She still wondered what caused the antipathy, and possibly, how to solve it, being caught in the middle as friend of both.

She was kind of lost in those thought when she saw Leander coming back from the handshake with the other captain, Imelda, and nodding his players to get on their brooms. He had a stern look on his face, preoccupied perhaps. Leander looked like that victory was the one who would have set his career as quidditch player, even though Y/n knew he wanted to be a curse breaker after Hogwarts, so she didn’t understand the nervousness of her captain. The starting whistle almost pushed Y/n down her broom, gaining her the understanding of her surroundings, the players flying around, and screaming at each other’s, the voice of Samantha Dale echoing in her head, commenting the action of the players on the first match after the Christmas break. Y/n was stunned, confused.

On the other side of the pitch Garreth had entered in a state of pure raging focus. He knew why, he knew how, he knew everything. He had always known. His gaze was focused on Y/n, not too distant from him, she looked around on her broom, the disoriented face was well visible from his perspective, she had the same problem than many others experienced after some time without playing. She needed some seconds to reconnect. But when she did Garreth looked at her in awe, started bolting around the quidditch pitch like she was some kind of lighting, even faster than the seeker team player, moving her hands and giving her teammates signals on what to do with her in her positions. On the other side, Sebastian Sallow was also looking at her, his bat kept between his hands with a strong grip. Garreth knew, as said before. He knew why Sebastian that day would ended up focusing on Y/n, and he knew why. Sallow needed to prove to the girl he was a better beater, and consequently protector, than Garreth. The rivalry between the two, now ended up being pure antipathy had started because the two on them pinned on the same girl, as cliché as that sounded. It didn’t matter to Sebastian that Y/n started to hang out with Garreth more, and more; as for Garreth it didn’t matter that Y/n used to sneak up with him to solve mysteries together, they had one spot where they could compete; and that was quidditch. None of them was willing to lose that match to the other, regarding on which team would have win.

The chilly air of the day was freezing Garreth lungs, and breaking his lips and skin of the face, but his focus was on the Slytherin beater, and on his chaser. He looked at Y/n flying around, Sallow follow her with his eyes, ahead of him, and he looked at them. It was like a cat mouse play. Y/n was the little mouse, Sebastian was the cat, and Garreth decided to be the dog. He just needed to keep him and his Buldgers away from the girl.

The game went fairly smoothly for the Gryffindor team, Leander that day was in his best shape, it was almost like the boy was able to cover all the three rings at the same time, being omnipresent, and even managing to throw some creative insults to Imelda and her team, who, on the other hand, was struggling to keep the pace of the Gryffindors. Garreth, on his little mission, at the end of the first hour had already managed to defend the girl from three bludgers shot by Sebastian, and even almost throw one of the opposite chasers off the broom. The green team was eating the dust of the Lion’s house.  

“Y/n takes the quaffle, ladies and gentlemen.” Screamed the voice of Samantha Dale “Look at her, she is not flying, that’s pure teleporting from one spot to another! Is this Regulatory? I really can’t tell!”

Garreth sent his friend an amazed look, after her little moment of confusion Y/n pull herself together, starting to fly around the pitch, doing tricks that he only saw on professionals, and scoring points on points. Right now she just, grabbed her broom, and rotate herself flying head down, to pass under an opposite chaser, and then returned steady with her butt on the broom. Garreth though she was a view.

“WHAT WAS THAT! Laies and Gentlemen, have you see the stunt? But, oh, who comes to chase down our beloved hero? IT’S SEBASTIAN SALLOW! Which today has something personal with Mewin, he make his move and, YES! He shoot her a Bluder with so fast that…”

Garreth saw in horror Sebastian take advantage from his little moment of distraction, shooting a Bludger to Y/n. The boy didn’t really had any time to think about what to do, it was risky, most probably useless. But he bolted forward hitting with his bat another Bludger and hoping that was enough…

“And, OH MY GODS, DID YOU SEE IT?” screamed Samantha Dale, looking at the Bludger shot by Garreth colliding with Sebastian’s one, deviating it. From under Garreth let himself go to a sigh of satisfaction. “WEASLEY JUST DEVIATED SALLOW’S BLUDGER WITH HIS OWN, THIS IS PURE MAESTRY.” Screamed Samantha “AND Y/N SCORE ANOTHER GOAL!”

Garreth lifted his face to smile at Y/n, which was flying some meters above him, greeting the cheering crown around them. She lowered her gaze on Garreth, gifting him a smile and a little kiss, gave on her hand and then sent to him. With a cocky smile the boy lifted his hand to grasp the imaginary kiss mid-air, and then pressed the hand containing it against his chest. Behind Y/n, Sebastian sent him a glare that could have killed him on the spot.

It didn’t take long before the game ended, with Gryffindor’s win, even with Imelda managing to catch the golden snitch before Nattie, the red team came out with the little but sufficient advantage of twenty points.

The common room was warm, even too warm with the help pf all the firewhisly the team had drink in the awe of the victory. That, at least, was Garreth’s perception. He smiled, as someone patted on his back, a laugh trilled in the air, making his own smile grow. On the entrance of the common room Y/n had just entered and was, patiently, listening to whatever Leander was, drunkly, explain to her. Just behind the pair Nellie was desperately trying to call Leander attention on her.

Garreth body moved nearly on his own, walking to the direction of Y/n to catch her under his arm and drag her away from the captain, which protested, but not for long; in an instant Nellie almost jumped on him.

The two looked at the pair with a little smile, before the boy put his hand on the back of the girl, heading to the table where the alcohol rested, now forget. In silence he observed her serving herself a glass of firewhisky and sipping it, her eyes low on the table and a little, sad smile, on her lips.

“Sebastian managed to not talk to you?”  demanded Garreth after a few seconds, his voice kept low to not call the attention.

She shook her head, and her lips tightened.

“He’ll get over it… can be kind of a bitch when he lose.”

A small laugh this time left her, while she moved her head nodding. “Thank you, for today I mean. You really did look out for me.”

“Of course I did, Y/n, I care for you.” He whispered moving behind her to adjust a streak of her hair that had fell out of place. “I really do.”

“Yes.” She answered in the same low tone. “I do care for you too”

The silence grew heavier, the lump in the throat of Garreth almost stop the words from coming out of his mouth, bolder than he meant, but the alcohol could be blamed for it. Perhaps it could be blamed for his sweaty hands too.

“Just… as a friend?” he demanded, almost chocking himself on those simple words.

He looked at Y/n, stiffing under his gaze and slowly turning around, now trapped between the body of the guy and the table behind her. She looked sheepishly at him, pushing her lower back against the table and giving Garreth the space to make a little step in her direction, resting his hands on the surface of the table behind her, caging her even more. He studied her face, while the redness on her cheeks grew, but in her eyes he didn’t see sorrow, or embarrassment, or nothing else. He saw affection.

“I… no, I do not care for you just as a friend.” She whispered, before biting softly her lower lip.

“Good,” Answered the bow in a whisper as well “because neither do I.”

His hand, big and warm moved on her waist while he bended, her scent making hi head turn and the softness of her waist under his hand making him want to squeeze and hug her so tight to fuse their two body into one another.

“Tell me to stop and I will.” Added Garreth, his lips mere inches from the girl’s “But allow me to plead you. Let me kiss you Y/n, even just once. Let me taste you, even for one night, let me stop torture myself because I can’t hold you and call you mine, and you call me yours.”

Demanded the boy with a low voice; his green, sweet eyes merged into hers, allowing her to see the desperation of the starving man, that he hid under the surface of his goofy and happy appearance. The sensation that from the start of the year had made her stomach twist every time he smiled at her now threatened to make her vomit right there on the spot, but she had the sensation that would have been butterflies that would have come out of her mouth in that disastrous scenario.

“Allow me.” he pleaded, once again, his tone soft like a caress from a mother to a scared child in a night of terror.

She stared in silence, before just tilting gently her head back, her eyes fluttering close allowing him to end the distance that separated the two of them. Garreth lips crushed on her, the hand on her waist moved to her back, pulling the girl closer to him, pressing her boy against his; while the other, free, hand moved to the back other her neck to support her head, merging inside her hairs.

Slowly the girl, unsure, moved her hands to hug Garreth neck, pulling herself closer to him, tasting his sweet lips, wetted by the whisky that she was sipping as well, one of her hand travelled to his copper locks that she started to eye the year prior, that had her became a campion in spotting Garreth everywhere in the castle at any given time. Sighing into his touch she felt him smiling against her lips, while his tongue caressed gently her lower lip, asking to access, to deepen the kiss, a pool of warmness rose in both of their chests, that…

Get interrupted by the cheering that in the common room recalled the attention of the whole house on them. Leander shouting that everyone owed him moneys for betting that his two friends would ended up kissing before the easter break. Natty, in an attempt to save her friend from dying from the embarrassment was trying to put her hands on Leander’s mouth, to shout him up, but to no use.

It only took a second, Y/n hand moved to her face, to cover the redness that was moving to her cheeks and ears, and to avoid the looks of her housemates; when the protective arm of Garreth hugged her shoulder to press the girl against his chest, to hide her from the looks of their peers, while a thunderous laughter left him, just before pressing a gentle kiss on the girl’s head, between her hairs.

The next morning Garreth sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great hall with a smile that screamed to the whole school that he had win something that none of them could take from him.

Y/n sat next to him was eating distractedly her breakfast, when something clicked in her head. She moved her gaze up to look at her brand-new boyfriend, that looked at her with a gentle smile.

“Did you fought with Sebastian because you were jealous of all the time I spent with him?”

“Obviously.”

“Garreth!”

“Wath?” he laughed “I’m a simple man, what can I say? I wear my emotion on my sleeves.” Added, with his goofy smile passing a hand on her waist to pull her closer to him, to press her a gentle kiss on her cheeks.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore, I won.”

“Garreth!”

She looked at the door from behind a column, two Slytherins were patrolling the entrance, she thought that was stupid, and that they looked weak enough to take them down. It did help the fact that the two in front of the door were Zabini and Nott, which notoriously weren’t two of the most battle hardened Slytherins, she was quite sure they were there only to scare everyone had the brilliant idea of doing something stupid. Luckly, she was stupid enough to not let the two of them scare her. The only thing keeping her from storming on the pair, hoping that the chaos would deconcentrate the other inside enough for her friends to attempt a run, was that Snape was inside; and she would not mess with him. So she waited, she waited hearing the Umbridge scream, and then Potter scream, and then… Snape came out, and passed right in front of her. He doesn’t even looked in her direction, but just give her a hand movement, a “Wait” not whispered, but just mimicked. Umbridge must have been a pain in the ass for him too, if he was down to help students mess around. She was marvelled, and so she listened. Waiting, she heard the screaming from inside the room growing, and growing, until the professor came out holding Harry and Hermione by their upper arms, but letting them guide her somewhere. The three of them, too agitated, passed in front of her, hidden in the shadows without noticing the silhouette of the girl. She counted until ten, and then decided it was her moment to unleash hell, or, to create enough chaos to give her friends the possibility to try to escape.

Y/n entered the classroom of Defence against the dark arts with her hands above her head. “Hello, gentlemen.” She greeted them, while the two of them pointed their wand at her. She didn’t move, smiling. “No need for those, I’m giving in, so I can be with my friends, and you will have some award or whatever from the professor Umbridge.”

The two lowered the wands, getting slowly closer. “Are you idiotic?” asked Theodore Nott, approaching her, at which she lifted her shoulders. “Are you really giving up like that?”

Zabini stood behind. “Gryffindors, truly are the dumbest in the school.” Commented, while his friend take her by her arm, at which she laughed.

“I would agree with you, but then we both be wrong, and that would be tragic.” Y/n answered with a smile, waiting just enough to be close to the both of them. Her heart was beating at a crazy peace in her chest, she knew that was the right time to act, the both of them had their guards off, so, in the exact second Blaize turned his shoulder to her to open the door of the office she turns herself, unleashing a scream and punching as hard as she could Theodore Nott in the face. The hit was just enough to make the boy loose the grip on the girl, which extracted her wand in a fluid movement and casted a Depulso spell on the other Slytherin boy, sending him crashing on the door. In a matter of seconds, the punched Nott rose and grabbed her from behind, trying to restrain her, but she pointed her feet on a desk, pushing like crazy, and using her full weight slammed him against the wall behind the two of them; freeing herself just in time to cast another spell on Blaize, an Expelliarmus, making his wand flying somewhere in the class. Another Depulso sending him flying into the office door, opening it, and inside she saw her friend taking down the other Slytherins, with magnificent efficiency. She on the other hand, not so clean lowered herself on Theodore Nott, punching his face another two or three times, just to be sure he wouldn’t get up. The little group found her sitting on the chest of the boy, the first still rose in the air, ready to punch more. Two solids hand grabbed her under her armpits to lift her and set the girl on her feet.

“You guys where magnificent there.” She smiled at them, not having time to congratulate properly as Ginny grabbed her by her wrist and started dragging her down the halls, looking for Harry and Hermione. They run till the forbitten forest, and immerged in that obscure pitch, keeping each other by hands, she in front of Neville and Luna, her wand up.

It didn’t take long before they found the two-missing part of the group.

“How did you get away?” asked Harry, amazed.

“Couple of stunners, a disarming charm, Neville bough of a really nice little impediment jinx.” Said Ron, airily, handing back the wands to Harry and Hermione “but Ginny was the best, she got Malfoy; bat-boogey hex, it was superb.”

Ginny had an instant were she gloat a little, but then elbowed Neville, which jumped, she gave him a look and the boy took the world. “But we could not have done nothing if it wasn’t for Y/n.” He fiercely mentioned, making the girl gain the eyes of the other two “she disarmed Zabini and punched Nott in the face till he passed.”

The girl smiled; a bit taken aback from the compliments. “Just, you know, handled it the muggle way.” She laughed softly, gaining a confused look by Hemione and Harry, the only two who really lived with muggles. She and the other pure blood laughed.

The small moment of light air was fast gone, when the group started arguing on how arrive to the ministry and on how none of them should go with them. 

Harry was bickering with Ginny on age, or something like that, when once again Neville took the word “We were all in the DA together” said quietly “it was supposed ato be about fighting You-know-who, wasn’t it? And this is the first chance to do something real, or was that just a game or something?”

“No…” answered Harry “of course it wasn’t…”

“Then we should come too,” said him simply “we want to help.”

The boy wo lived let go a defeated sigh, while Y/n gave Neville a little pat on his back, murmuring some compliments at the boy. It was for short, because in no time the bickering on how to fly to the ministry had resumed, until Luna pointed at two Thestrals, watching the group.

“Yes!” exulted Harry, spotting them.

“You must be fucking crazy.” Commented Y/n at the same time “Those are bad luck.” Luna sent her friend a surprised look, learning that she could see them too.

“Is it those mad horse things?” asked Ron, looking in the wrong direction “The one you can’t see unless you’ve watched someone snuff it?”

“Yes”

“How many?”

“Just enough.” answered Luna, pointing in the middle of the woods, where a group of Thestrals was approaching.

“All right.” Huffed Harry angrily “pick one and get on. We better move.”

The trip was the most terrifying experience she always had, reaching the ground, in London give her a sense of comfort that was only comparable with the one she experienced when as a little girl used to go into her parents’ bedroom after a bad dream. She kept the urge to get down and kiss the ground, not wanting to know what Ginny, Hermione and Ron had felt, flying at that speed while not being able to see their support. “Never again.” Shouted Ron, behind her, and she could agree with him. Ginny and Hermione, stoic as she, didn’t complain about the trip, but just followed Harry, squishing all together into the telephone box.

That, she decided, was the most unpleasant part till that moment, squished between Luna and Neville she huffed, trying to move just enough to get Luna’s elbow from her ribs, but doing so she pushed herself against Neville, which, without thinking passed an arm around her waist, leading her to lift her gaze to meet his. “Are you okay?” she asked, hoping he could read her lips, because no sound left her. But he nodded, and a little smile came out from her lips, while she lifted an arm to brush her hand against the bruise right above his right eyes. He smiled, lifting his shoulder, like to say it’s not big deal.

The descend was brief, and in no time all of them found themselves in another lift, getting even down in the Ministry, she eyed Hermione and Ron keeping each other hands, even if they didn’t looked aware, she furrowed her brows and elbowed Ginny, to make her look at them, at which she lifted her brows till they almost disappeared inside her red hair, the two young girls exchange a knowing look, before moving their gaze away. When the doors of the ‘Department of Mysteries’ opened she let the other go first, Harry followed by Luna and Ginny, while she kept a little distance, before grabbing Neville by the wrist, making him turn around, confused. She looked at him from below, seriously, “I’m gonna get all of us out of here.” He let go a little smile and moved his hand to held hers, giving a little squeeze.

“You already get us out from Umbridge office. I have no doubt.” He started walking, but stopped after not long “But… don’t do anything stupid. Please.”

The two followed the other inside an all-black circular room, black the floor, the walls, the ceiling, with blue candle sending their cool light every so often.

“Do they hire someone to make this place as terrifying as possible?” muttered Y/n, with half voice.

“Shout the door.” Said Harry at the same time, at which Neville obeyed. In a second all of the walls started moving around them, the circular room rotating on herself. Hermione let go a little screech grabbing at Harry’s shirt, while Ginny snatched Luna and Ron; leaving Neville grasp at Y/n’s hand, while she already had her wand in hand. After a few seconds the doors stopped moving.

“Was what that about?” asked Ron

“I think it was to stop us from knowing which door we came in through.” Answered Ginny.

It was no long before they decided to test all the doors, going into all of them and then stopping at the third one, struggling to open it, only after Harry take a knife out of his robe that they were able to go through.

“Who would have known,” commented Y/n ironically “Potter, the bad boy carries, a knife.” This earned her a small laugh from Neville and Ginny, as well as a stern look from Hermione, after which she moved her finger to her lips, telling her to be quiet while they all reached another door.

“That’s it.” Spoke Harry, leading immediately to all his friend to stiffen and grabbing their wands, now more serious than before. He softly pushed the door, that opened in what seemed to be another gigantic storage for little, opaque glass orbs. They walked in silence, especially after Harry told them to keep their wands ready, not the best inside a dark, cold and generally spooky place. Harry was first, followed by Hemione and Ron, which kept sending his sister worried looks, but Ginny was keeping tightly Luna’s hand. Closing the line Y/n and Neville had their hands interlocked, and their wands out, already set on the plan he protect, she attack.

The tension started to broke when Harry found a orb with his name on it, determined to take it nothing of what his friend said was useful to keep him from closing his fingers around it, Y/n later would have shout him “Not everything with your name on it must be your, idiot.” She was just about to scold him when a drawling voice spoke behind her, freezing her on the spot.

“Very good Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly and give that to me.”

In no time they were surrounded by Death eaters, Harry talking to Lucius Malfoy was clearly trying to buy them time, enough time to came out with a plan to run away. She panicked on the inside, only a tear and shaky hands to prove how terrified she was. She always tough she was a brave one, but in that moment al she wanted to do was return a little child, and run to her mothers stretched arms, to be cooed into a placid sleep, secure against her mother chest, with his father’s arms surrounding both of them, making her feel safe. She always thought she was brave, but when the female death eater, Bellatrix, spoke about grabbing the little girl one, she heard her heart skip a beat, not knowing which of the three fourteen years old was she talking about. Neville reacted faster than her, as an arm stretched to grab one of the girls he promptly pushed her behind him, shielding her with his body, while she found herself in the middle with Ginny and Luna, terrified.

She heard them whispering something and after some other seconds she saw Hermione moving her wands, as the four older screamed Reducto a hand grasped her wrist, and all of them started running. In no time she loose sight of Ginny and Luna, her hand attached to the Neville’s one, which was pulling her in the general direction of the door from which they came from, she was completely crying by that time, shouting every so often some spell that caused explosion that she hoped, served to confound their attackers. They crashed on Harry and Hermione, which sealed the door behind them, and, all-thogether started walking, looking for Ginny, Luna and Ron.

They all flew out of the first door, where two death eater waits for them, with marvel she looks at Neville use an almost perfect expelliarmus on both a death eater and Harry, and then slam a showcases full of hourglasses in the head of the man, which found himself with a head shrinking, until it became the one of a toddler, while Harry and Hermione took care of the other. Just before going over Harry rose his wand at the weird baby-man, just to be stopped by Hermione.

“Harry!” she cried “You can’t! It’s just a baby.” The boy looked at her, and then lowered his wand. Just to be surpassed from Y/n, which rotate on herself sending a kick right in the face of the baby-man, sending him on the floor, unconscious. “Unfortunately, I don’t have an Hermione who keeps me on the right path.” She muttered passing over “That was for trying to avada kedavra my friend, bitch.” She added, grabbing Neville by the hand, and leading him, now more confident. She had promised to keep him safe just to panic and force him to protect her, unacceptable. They flew into another corridor, where two more death eater were met, trying to deflect them into a office resulted useless, as the two stormed in before they manage to close the door. Hermione had the good idea to silence one of them, and Harry got the other, but then the first hit Hermione with a spell, and the three of them watched in horror her falling, motionless. The man pointed the wand at Harry’s face, while the boy had a step back. Y/n watched, with even more horror, Neville coming out from behind the desk where he was shouted from the death eater previous attack and receive a kick in the face that not only broke his nose, but made loose his wand, that was fast crushed under the man’s foot. As he moved back to Harry, and the boy lifted the prophecy she saw her moment, in a rush she moved her wand, screaming a “DEPULSO” that sent the man flying into the wall, and then down on the floor, unmoving. She lowered her wand while Harry and Neville got closer to Hermione, controlling her state, still alive.

In silence they shoved Hermione over Neville’s shoulders, and they came out, Harry first, Neville in the middle, and Y/n closing the line, ready to shout spells to everyone, friendly or not. They returned to the first room, and after some seconds one of the door bursts open, Ron falling out of it, followed by a white as a ghost Ginny and Luna who was… just confusing as always. “I think she broke her ankle.” Commented the blonde looking at Ginny’s foot while Ron babbled like he was drunk. “He is your best friend.” Commented Y/n surpassing the red boy and going to lift her friend, passing her arm around her shoulder. “Here, Gin, let me help.” The redhead let go a cry of protest, but in no time collapsed against her best friend, which looked at her with a little smile. “C’mon, I’m not letting you here to die. Don’t force me to carry you on my shoulders.” She laughed softly, having a moment of air, before other five death eater showed up, the group run though a door, leading back in the room of brains.

“The doors!” Harry screamed, and all the still useful persons in the group bolted to sigillate them, it didn’t took long before Luna gets shout down, and then Ginny. In the middle, back against Back stood Neville, Harry and Y/n, their wand pointed to the death eaters, while not away from them Ron were gasping for hair. The silence was terrifying, while the adults get closer and closer, Harry had a rush, bolting out of one of the doors with the prophecy firmly in his hand above his head.

“Harry!” screamed Neville

“Potter!” shouted her, as the two of them watched him being followed by the majority of death eaters, leaving the two of them alone. “Satay here.” Ordered the girl getting up. “help Ron, the other too. I go with him.”

“Do!” barfed him, difficult to understand with his broken nose and the mouth full of blood. “I go.”

“Don’t be ridiculus Neville,” she pointed at him “you don’t even have your wand. Just stay here.” She told him before rushing to the direction that harry had taken, she managed to do three steps or so when she heard Neville scream something, and her legs become stiffed. An impediment Jinx. She watched in horror Neville sending her a sad smile before surpassing her, while she remained on the floor screaming at him to come back, her hands stretched, but the legs as stiff as rocks. She moved, crawling, in the direction of Ron, on the floor that was losing against the brain. She looked at him, becoming purple and for a second or two the panic possessed her, asking herself what could she do, she pointed her wand coping the movement she had seen Professor McGonagall do and shouted “Evanesco.” Incredibly, that worked, the brain disappeared from Ron’s body, leaving the boy the possibility to breath. She then moved her wand pointing to her and casted a counter-jinks, smiling at herself, if Neville really though she didn’t knew the spell she must lecture him, as Y/n get up she sent a look at the girls preparing herself to reanimate them, being the daughter of two healers had taught her some tricks and tips, but an animalistic scream pierced her hears. The voice of Neville screaming make her turn her head, now forgetting about all her friends, unconscious on the floor; she bolted trough the door and down the steps, only thinking about coming to him, her wand tightly in her hand, when she emerged the chaos was unleash around her. Death eaters were fighting against two professors, Tonks, and another man she didn’t know. In an angle the death eater she had hit before was shaking Harry, Neville right under them lifted just enough to stick Hermione’s wand in his eyes, sending him back. And she watched in horror as another one lifted his wand aiming at him.

She bolted, her wand forgotten in her hand, and just tackled him, sending the both of them on the floor. Once again that evening she lifted her first to punch someone in the face and crashed down. The hand sent a bolt of pain up her arm, but she punched him once again, her eyes full of tears as she screamed. After one hit or two a hand grasped her by the scuff, lifting her, and she faced a wand, blurry behind the tears in her eyes. Without even thinking she sent a kick and moved her wand casting the first spell that came to mind. “INCENDIO!” She shouted sending the man in front of her burning, only in that moment a hand crashed on her shoulder, not vicious, but proud and protective. Tonks next to her sent her a smile. “Great work Kiddo. Your cousin will be proud.” Y/n let go a sigh an hugged her very briefly “Now grab the two idiots there and run, let us handle there.”

“Is she here? Emma? Is she here?” Tonks sent her a knowing look, before pointing a few meters to their left, where Emma, Y/n’s older cousin, was handling alone two death eaters. She was, in fact, handling the situation quite good enough without any help; but when Shaklebolt stood next to her, helping the fight was finished in a blink of eyes. It didn’t take long for Emma to spot her cousin, bolting from one side of the room to the other to hug the younger Gryffindor. “Oh, my! Y/n, what the hell are you doing here, darling?” she takes a step back, pressing her hand on the side of the girl face. “Oh, look at you, this will leave a mark I’m afraid.” The auror whispered caressing the cut next to the eyebrow of the girl. “And how have you grown since this summer,” she moved her wand, stopping a spell that was going in their direction. “I AM TALKING.” She shouted returning the spell, just before Tonks stood in the middle.

“Listen,” called the pink haired “we could use a hand if you had finished your family meeting.”

“Coming!” responded Emma, giving one last hug to her younger cousin, and passing a hand into her hair. “She’s right, it’s better if you kids go. Grab the other two and flew out of here, Y/n. Go upstairs we’ll came to catch you when we are done. Now go!”

The young girl sprinted trough the hall, to grasp at Neville wrist, starting to pull him in the direction of the stairs, his legs moving like crazy. She grasped her wand once again and moved over him, casting a “Finite incantatem” to stop the poor boy legs, which returned steady and firm.  He rose, thanking her and let her pulling him out of the battle, leaving Harry slightly behind, not caring enough to control if he was following them.

When she heard Harry shout she moved her head, to look at the boy. She cached a glimpse of him, turning away screaming the name of Sirius Black, before moving with the velocity of a lightning, chasing Bellatrix down a hall. “Harry no!” shouted Neville, ready to follow his friend. But this time she was more ready, in an instant she tightened the grasp on his hand and pointed her wand right to Neville’s neck. “Don’t you dare.” She hissed. “Don’t you dare try to follow him.” repeated tugging him from the hand. “The auror are here, Emma is here. They’ll handle the situation. We, must go and watch over our friend that YOU left.”

“I left them with you.”

“HOW could you think that was a good idea?” she asked, moving her hand to the sky; but starting running in the direction of their friends, without letting the boy go, unsure if he would have followed her.

“I would entrust you with anything,” he muttered “I know you would keep safe anything I would give you.  You care too much to let the other down.”

She stood on the door, her cheeks hot. Neville, now released, moved in the direction of Ron, looking at him with sad eyes, before going to check on Luna, Hermione and Ginny, his hands shoved in his pants, sighing every time he bowed to check on them. It took him a few minutes before turning his head to look at Y/n, still bowed next to Ginny.

“She’ll be okay.” she whispered, coming closer, checking the girl’s vital with expertise, Neville stared in silence, waiting for something more. “I check on the quidditch team all the time,” She grinned softly “you know, the twins looks like they only get sick when there aren’t matches, so I never actually play. I was relegated as a nurse time ago.” She explained, trying to move her thoughts from the battle below them. “They’ll be alright,” she moved brushing her fingers near Neville’s nose “you too, don’t worry. Your profile will remain untouched.”

He nodded, slowly, before turning his gaze on the door, that Emma was just now passing, followed by Tonks. The poor boy jumped back, while the two young women get closer. “Are you okay kids?” asked Emma, and Neville though that she was a carbon copy of Y/n; just some years older. Behind her Tonks sent him a look, and a little knowing smile. He blushed furiously.

“Yes, we are.” Responded Y/n getting up, brushing her broken and dirty jeans, trying to polishing them, not doing really much. The blood was already dry and the dust has settled. “But our friends, they’ll need to be transported.”

Emma just moved her hand, going to hug the two children, she kept them in her arms for a while, in silence before a question came out of her mouth.

“Darling… please tell me those aren’t two Weasley unconscious.”

“They sure are.” Commented Tonks

“Great. Now we have to explain this whole shit to Bill.”

Y/n didn’t set into the hospital wing with her friends, after the battle. She had run away in the moment they put foot in the castle, forcing half of the professors to look after her, and only in the end she let them drag her to the nurse, but just to fix the enormous bump on her cheekbone, and the broken rib she had. The girl had fought like a fury to not let anyone touch the flashy cut that had broken her left eyebrow, asking to let the body doing his own job, resulting in what will be a little scar, that, she joked, would have make her more badass. In the reality she felt to bad, to stay with her friends, seeing Hermione and Ron forced in the beds of the infirmary made her chest ache, and seeing Neville with his broken nose was even worse. So she flew.

When, some days after their return the group sat all together reading the Sunday Prophet she waited right outside the door, listening to her friends’ comments, but not daring joining them, her hands shoved inside her robes pockets. After half an hour she heard some steps, coming in her direction, and fast moved her behind one of the door, not wishing to be seen. Of course, that didn’t worked, Harry stood right outside the entrance to the hospital wing, his hands shoved as well in his robes pocket; he didn’t spare a look at her, just passing by, and she watched him, before moving herself, knowing that in no time the others as well would get up to return to whatever they had to do. She wandered alone in the castle, going up and down the stairs, the corridors, and, in the end, arrived at the astronomy tower.

The warm air of may caressed her face, chilled every now and then by a soft breeze, leaving her in a comfortable temperature, making room for thinking in the silence of the night. The girl extracted her wand, casting some spells making appear some little orbs of light that stayed floating around her, only being moved from time to time by her hand nudging on them.

“Those are beautiful.” Called a voice, making her jump on herself, startled. Behind her Neville offered a smile of sorrow, for the intromission. “I saw you leaving, just after Harry. Why didn’t you came inside? We would have been happy to have you with us, you know?”

She lifted her shoulder “Didn’t want to interrupt.” Is the dry answer she offered, while he came to sit next to her.

“I’ve barely saw you since we came back.”

She sent him an embarrassed look “I… I know, I’m sorry.” She muttered, bringing her legs against her chest, and posing her chin on top of her knees. “I feel the need to throw up when I see Ron and Hermione in those beds. It was worse though, when you all were there.”

Neville nodded, but stayed silent, leaving her the space to keep talking.

“I feel responsible. If I left you in that office…”

“Harry would have gone alone.”

“Perhaps not... Still, Ron will have scars for all his life, Hermione is still taking like ten potions a day.” She muttered “You faced Bellatrix Lestrange, Neville; after what she did to your parents... And I was so terrified that I was almost useless.”

He stood there in silence for a second, then in a feeble voice asked “How… how do you know… about Bellatrix?”

In that moment she knew she did a misstep, widening her eyes she moved her gaze to the boy next to her, which looked as pale as a ghost. “Oh, shit. I’m so sorry… I mean… no, I mean that I’m sorry… I… I swear Neville it was a… an accident.” She muttered, “I… its just that my father has their dossier in his study, and some years ago I found it. I’m sorry, if I knew I would have minded my business. I swear.”

He remained silent, for some time, then passed a hand into his hairs and sent her a nervous look. “It’s… no big deal, I’m just surprised that you didn’t came to tell me. When people discover it they come crying and… tell me how sorry they are.”

“I thought it was your right to keep something so personal hidden.” Muttered Y/n, posing her hand on his forearm. “I… didn’t want to force you to talk about it. If… you would have been comfortable you would have told me, so I just waited.”

He nodded, once again and then offered her a little smile. “For what count, I trust you. And would have trusted you even before, just… I didn’t want to see you cry.”

She remained stunned, “This… is kind of dumb,” Whispered “I’d like if you come to talk to me, about anything. I’ll promise I won’t cry.”

He let go a little laugh, scooting near to her, and she posed her head against his shoulder. “On another side,” he recalled her attention, gaining a ‘Mh?’ from the girl “I think that you fought like a master, at the ministry.”

She smiled a little, pointing her elbow against the boy’s ribs. “You did an amazing job too, but, jinx me another time and I’ll be sure to break your nose once again.”

He laughed softly, nodding “I’ll remember. Your sister scolded you much?”

“My… what?” she sent him a confused look “I… oh, Emma. Yea, no. She isn’t my sister. My older cousin, perhaps. She… yes, she scolded me like I was some kind of kid.”

“You two looked a lot alike.”

“Passing the fact that she is a legend and started working as an auror in a record time? Yes, we look similar.”

“You are a legend yourself, y’know? I’m sure that everyone in the school know how well you fight those death eaters.”

“They would have if you didn’t leave me behind.”

Neville let go a small laugh, at the joke.

“Seriously, though. If… there will be a next time, don’t leave me behind. That were the most terrifying minutes of my life.” She tugged on his shirt to make him look at her “Promise me, promise that you’ll permit me to look after you.”

His face flushed red, while he stared into her eyes, savouring the moment, focused on her lashes, the little spray of freckles on her nose and the curve of that; the shape of her lips. Then, after being sure of having printed in the back of his head the image, he moved his gaze once again on her eyes, that looked like the sky full of clouds before a storm, and, slowly, nodded. “But… you will too.” He answered, while she gets a little closer to him. With his heart that threaten to get out from his chest he closed his eyes, preparing himself for the moment.

The door opened in the loudest possible way behind them, on the entrance Ginny sent to both an angry look. “There you are!” she hissed, getting closer, followed by Luna. “Move, c’mon, dinner is in ten minutes, and you two hides on the damn tallest tower of this damn castle.”

Behind her Luna chuckled “I think we interrupted something.” Spoke in a soft voice.

“Did we?”

Both of them shook their head, red in face, and Ginny huffed annoyed.