The end of the summer holiday went rather well. Y/N was pleased to say the last, with staying with the Weasley family, especially with Harry and Ron.

Unfortunately the time came when he had to leave with his father just the day before the start of the new year. The two of them had returned home to the farm to collect any and all items and necessities needed, including... Lockhart books in which he had to buy... again, at a cost of his pride... much to the boy's disagreement.

They had finally packed everything ready and were about to the leave the house to travel to King Cross's station but beforehand, Y/N's father stopped him at the exit to their home, holding his arm out in front him.

"Yes?" Y/N asked his father, interested in what older man wanted of him this time. If it wasn't 'don't get into trouble' or 'do your homework' speech then it'd be another thing he'd be lectured on.

The older man kneeled down to his son's level, looking sincere as he looked into his dark brown eyes. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a ring, it was rather expensive looking one as well, silver lining and a green gem clasped into it.

"Sorry Dad, but I'm already taken." Y/N joked to which the older man shared a brief chuckle.

"Oh I know, Y/N." The man held a teasing smirk as the younger boy flustered at what he was meaning. But then the softened expression changed into one of a serious look.

"This ring belonged to you're mother and her mother before her, And I want you to have it." Daniel L/N spoke to his son kindly and less than the hardened persona that he usually faired. He brought it into the younger boy's palm, grasping it tightly and let go.

Y/N took the ring in his hand, carefully guiding his index finger across outskirts of the silver material. He flipped it over and saw that there was message or rather a quote engraved just below the gem:

When you're lost in the darkness, look for the light.

It was ominous and mysterious, even for him. He placed it on his left index finger, observing it while moving around and it looked good on him.

"Thanks." Y/N murmured, casting a glance towards his father who was looking directing at him, his eyes almost baring into his soul.

"I know I haven't been completely truthfully with you." He told his younger son, to which he scoffed.

"You can say that again." Y/N replied, rolling his eyes at his father.

"I promise to be completely honest with you from now on." His father promised yet it would be fun to see how long such a promise would last.

"Don't make promises you can't keep." Y/N replied cooly to his father as he pushed passed him, grabbing the doorknob and walking out onto the front porch, leaving his father behind and ready to depart.

—

The ride there was... "eventful" it was rather quiet for sure, with Y/N's father asking questions about Hogwarts and about his friends. The younger boy merely replied with "okay" and "yes" not interested in his father's small talk.

They both arrived at platform nine and three quarters, Y/N had Midnight slumped on his shoulders, hanging tightly around him for safety of falling off. Y/N said goodbye to his father, if it could even be called that, he simply muttered a goodbye and left.

Y/N walked through portal in the wall and before him parked was the Hogwarts Express, many students were boarding and saying goodbye to their parents. Y/N boarded and walked through the train, coming across many full compartments.

Until he finally found one which he was both excited and furious to who it contained. There was Hermione sat down in a seat and she looked pretty uncomfortable, he knew why as he peered in more through the open door, hiding.

Malfoy was in fact there, no doubt harassing Hermione. Y/N was about to step in and confront him but something the blonde boy had just said made him burst into a fit of pure rage.

"Mudblood." Malfoy hissed at the bushy haired girl as she backed away from the boy, almost close to tears but she held in well

So immediately Y/N lurched in, grabbing the boy by his neck and shoving him harshly into the wall, enough to crack the glass frame attached to it, so much that Y/N hadn't even noticed the damage he had done.

He wasn't a fan of people being regraded as... such... low standard.

"What was that MalfBOY." Y/N hissed as he slammed the scared boy into the wall.

"Y/N." Hermione cried, pleading for her best friend to stop.

"That's not my name." Malfoy managed to choke out. "It's MalFOY." the kid had the nerves to talk back, oh how wrong he was.

"Is it? I don't care." Y/N replied snarly.

Hermione stepped closer to Y/N, she decided to press her hand against Y/N's own bare hands, which was currently holding Malfoy's neck, tightly.

It sent sparks throughout the both of them but they ignored it, but it was enough to get Y/N to release Malfoy, but roughly mind you.

"You ever call her that name again." Y/N said coldly yet calm as he stared daggers into the frightened boy's eyes. "I'll make Jack The Ripper's killings look like child's play." Unknown to Y/N or Hermione, his eyes turned into an amber colour. One of hatred and strength that would frighten even the most evilest of men.

Malfoy let a fright of terror as he ran off, tripping over a few times as he fled to his friends no doubt.

Midnight, who had jumped down before
Y/N's... confrontation with Malfoy, had jumped back up onto his shoulders, her eyes omitting with a strange glow.

"Y/N." Hermione said in a small voice, he turned to look at her and saw something that he never thought he'd ever witness... a slight bit of fear showed in her eyes.

"Hermione." Y/N breathed out as he stared at her, his once hatred expression soon turned into one of soft and bright, a smile making its way to his lips. "Sorry you had to witness such cruelty." He apologised as he stepped closer, her attention now fully on the boy in front of her.

"It's fine, Y/N." Her frightened expression soon turned to one of a somewhat relieved and happy look, she suddenly hugged him, leaving the boy stunned at her sudden approach.

He embraced her just the same and soon let go, they both sat together, Y/N sat on the left facing the window while Hermione sat to his right.

"Y- you're looking good." The boy managed to stammer out as he looked at the girl, admiring her, who he considered one of his closest friends, as a slight blush appeared.

"T-thank you." Hermione replied, feeling flustered at the compliment. "You don't look t-too bad yourself." She complimented back to which the boy blushed even further.

He decided to take his eyes off of her and stare out the window. A few minutes of awkward silence passed and Hermione broke the ice. "Where's Harry and Ron." She asked the boy to her side as she also stared out the window, wondering where their closest friends were.

"I dunno, perhaps their late?" Y/N suggested to her but soon after, the train departed and Harry and Ron were nowhere to be found. So the two of slumped back in their sets, thinking that there friends would soon turn up at the school.

A couple of hours passed by and the two were talking quite a bit, books, what they did over the summer, you know the usual.

Hermione was sat reading a book and how she didn't notice at first is beyond me, but Midnight, Y/N's cat had appeared on his shoulder again, from thin air, Almost like had she teleported.

It caused Hermione to let out a gasp and a quiet shriek but as soon as she spotted the sight of the adorable and cuteness... not just talking about the cat, Midnight.

"Oh my god!" The girl squeaked at the cat as she wanted to pet her but gave Y/N a look first to which he nodded. Hermione petted the cat and sure enough she purred causing Hermione to giggle. Y/N couldn't help but admire the scene.

Few minutes after, Midnight did something quite unexpected for the both of them. She leapt off of Y/N's shoulder and curled up in ball in Hermione's lap, only causing more awww's and giggles.

"You're such a cutie aren't you? Yes you are" Hermione cooed to the female cat, the one who practically looked like a newborn kitten... such an advantage.

Y/N felt something bubble up in his stomach a the sight, something knitting inside that he couldn't pinpoint as to what it was. He shrugged it off as the two played.

Soon after, considerable amount of time had passed and got quickly bored so the two of them decided to play a game of sorts.

"What do you see out there." She asked, while she gazed at Midnight, almost like she was in a trance.

Y/N lazily moved his head up from window he was resting on started naming things he saw.

"Well... the sun is shining, the clouds are floating, the grass is green," Hs kept naming things off what he saw, it wasn't really a game, just a way to pass the time.

What he saw next was something he was not expecting. He saw a blue car flying pass the Hogwarts express, gliding in the air to their destination. Y/N mouth fell open in a gasp and his eyes widened at the sudden revelation, Harry was hanging outside the car, as Ron held onto him. Trying not to let him fall as he pulled him up.

""Well... the sun is shining, the clouds are floating, the grass is green, Harry and Ron are flying a car in the sky, the birds are chirping-" Y/N said it as if it was a common thing, something that just happens regularly and judging by Hermione's sudden reaction... she wasn't pleased... Not. One. Bit.

"WHAT!" The bushy haired girl exclaimed, jumping out of her seat frantically, lunging to the windows to get a better view.

"Yeah that was about my reaction too."

Hermione looked like she was about to burst, her forehead creased and vines were showing. "Those Idiots! What were they thinking!" She exclaimed much louder now, almost causing Y/N to drop the Transfiguration's book he was holding.

"Something stupid" He shrugged off as he picked up the book and turned over another page, not even taking his eyes away from the book in front of him.

"When I get my hands on them, they're gonna be wishing they-" The sound became muffled as she started giving off a bunch of reasons as to why they shouldn't be doing what they were doing.

Y/N... well he was silencing agreeing but was more interested in his book... probably more than he should be.

"Y/N! Are you listening to me?" She asked impatiently, as a scowl made its way to her face.

"What?- I mean yes, of course" he told her as chuckled nervously.

"Unbelievable" Hermione muttered as she sat back in her seat.

"Honestly, if we weren't here to teach them any better then they'd probably be headless chickens" Hermione rambled, an annoyed sigh leaving her lips.

"You're right, Hermione" Y/N told her as he finished his book for the day. Not soon after, the train came to a stop and all the students, including Hermione and Y/N stepped out.

As usual they were guided into the school by a teacher and were brought to the great hall. Many students sat down at their seats from last year. Y/N and Hermione sat down at their seats, side by side.

Only minutes afterwards, Professor Dumbledore arrived and gave them a speech, the sorting hat sang a song and newly first years arrived to bask in the glory of the finest wizard and witch school in the country.

Then food magically appeared on the tables and they all started tucking in, Y/N grabbing as much he could hold, he was channeling his inner Ron, while Hermione only took a small portion.

Time passed very fast, Harry and Ron had yet to turn up, so the two of the decide to head out after the feast to the Gryffindor's common, and to their surprise, Harry and Ron were trying to open the door in which a painting sat.

"There you are!" Hermione screeched as they saw the other two, guilty looking, party members. "Do you know how stupid that was!" She told them, sounding almost as severe as Professor McGonagall.

"Well, we haven't been expelled," Harry assured her.

"You could've gotten yourselves killed." Y/N told the two but was more laid back about it.

"Skip the lecture," said Ron impatiently, "and tell us the new password."

"It's 'wattlebird,'" said Hermione impatiently, "but that's not the point—"

Her words were cut short, however, as the portrait of the fat lady swung open and there was a sudden storm of clapping. It looked as though the whole of Gryffindor House was still awake, packed into the circular common room, standing on the lopsided tables and squashy armchairs, waiting for them to arrive. Arms reached through the portrait hole to pull Harry and Ron inside, leaving Y/N and Hermione to scramble in after them.

"Brilliant!" Yelled Lee Jordan. "Inspired! What an entrance! Flying a car right into the Whomping Willow, people'll be talking about that one for years—"

"Good for you," said a fifth year Harry had never spoken to; someone was patting him on the back as though he'd just won a marathon; Fred and George pushed their way to the front of the crowd and said together, "Why couldn't we've come in the car, eh?" Ron was scarlet in the face, grinning embarrassedly.

"Yeah next time let me know, I wouldn't mind flying." Y/N said to the two boys, rather excitedly.

'Ouch'

Hermione had lightly punched him in the ribs, she seems to have gotten... stronger? Over the past summer. "You will not!" She told Y/N sternly.

"I was only joking." Y/N spoke to her as others congratulated Harry and Ron.

"Yeah you seem to be doing that a lot these days." Hermione said as they both watched the scene unfold.

Y/N could see Percy, he was visible over the heads of some excited first years, and he seemed to be trying to get near enough to start telling them off. Harry nudged Ron in the ribs and nodded in Percy's direction. Ron got the point at once.

"Got to get upstairs—bit tired," He said, and the two of them started pushing their way toward the door on the other side of the room, which led to a spiral staircase and the dormitories.

"Night," Harry called back to Y/N and Hermione, she was wearing a scowl just like Percy's and Y/N just had an amused smile on his face. "Night" he called back to them.

Hermione very lightly snacked him on the arm "Don't talk to him." To which he grumbled and decided to head to sleep, he didn't want to wake the dragon as one would say.

"Night beautiful." He teased her, causing her to fluster, she stormed off to bed, leaving Y/N to chuckle.

He arrived in his room and found that all of his things had been placed down. He changed into some more comfortable clothing and jumped into bed as Harry and Ron also followed suite.

"What a hell of a day" Y/N mussed as Midnight curled up on his side, hugging her owner ever so tightly.

—

The next day came around in a quick flash,
Y/N, who had just woken up pretty early. Decided to head down into the common room for some much needed space.

It's become a regular occurrence for Y/N to get up earlier than normal, always waking at 6:00 in the morning rather than later. Most possible trying to seek time for thoughts or he maybe just simply wanted alone time, but it wouldn't be that easy.

Y/N sat down on a nearby sofa, slumping into his sit and watched the flames flicker in the hearth in front of him, who knew staring into flames could feel like paradise, it calmed him.

Like what was said before though, alone time would cease to exist with... others around. Hermione had awoken long after, lazily entering into the room, step by step as she too slumped down into a seat next to Y/N.

He was so out of it that he didn't even notice her at first, until she called his name out.

"Y/N?"

The voice startled him slightly but as soon as his eyes laid on hers, it all but vanished. He smiled her way and she too joined in.

"Hi, 'Mione" Y/N said, joy in his voice as he talked to his closest friend as he slowly turned back to the fireplace.

"We didn't get to talk much yesterday, how are you doing?" She asked the boy as she brought her knees up to her chest.

"That entire train ride alone not enough for you." He teased her, considering they had a full nine hour (Not kidding) train ride to talk about amongst themselves.

Hermione flustered slightly, her knees now blocking her eye sight as she brought them up closer. "Yes." She nodded, she quite enjoyed the train ride, especially since they had it for themselves. But she wanted to know how HE was doing specifically, which she hadn't asked before. "But I didn't get to ask you..." But she trailed off before she could finish, averting her eyes from him.

Y/N sighed, before returning his attention to the fire hearth. "I'm doing fine." He lied, not even taking his eyes away from the hearth of his salvation, the truth is he wasn't fine, a lot happened last year and much of it he didn't talk about, it's not like he had anyone to talk to about it all.

Hermione's face soon turned into a frown, she searched every sign of him and she just knew he was lying, he was always joking or carefree when truthful but whenever it came to lying he would be... detached, his mood would rigid and he was showing each of those signs. Simply putting, a year with him and she already knew him better than most, better than his own father if to be believed.

"You know I can tell when you're lying Y/N, no need to hide yourself." She informed him, his lips started curling into what would undoubtedly be a grin.

"How are you really?" Hermione asked her friend, concern visible in her every move, the way she looked at him, the way she moved her hands nervously and all others.

Y/N sighed heavily, he wasn't getting out of this he knew that much, so he had no choice but to go through with it.

"Fine." He sighed. "I'm not okay, far from it"
Y/N told her truthfully, as he turned to face her for the second time. "I've had better days" He sadly joked.

'He's back to normal' She thought, a small smile making ways to her lips.

"So what's bothering you?" Hermione repeated as she sat closer to him, interested in what he had to say.

"You mean the part where my mum was killed by Voldermort or the fact that my dad had the nerve to hide it from me?" He spoke bitterly, truthfully he could forgive his dad for such a thing but it would take him time, the other part though... that worried him.

"The first one"

"Well, for the last eleven years I believed she died while in child birth, that I was the cause of her death, if it wasn't for me she'd still be alive. Only to find out later that she was killed by Voldermort... and that it was still my fault, she was protecting me, if it wasn't for me she'd be alive right now." Y/N explained to her, his breath hitched but showed no sign of emotions, it was good for him to let loose, to unload such burdens he had and Hermione proved to be an excellent listener.

Hermione watched him closely, observing his every move. "You blame yourself." it wasn't a question but actually a statement. Y/N nodded, she was correct. "It wasn't you're fault, Y/N." She pleaded him, her eyes speaking such volumes that words couldn't even begin to think.

"The hell it wasn't!" Y/N exclaimed, his eyes now matching the description of someone severely pissed off. "She wouldn't of died if I was there." he argued while Hermione tried to convinced him otherwise.

"You don't know that, Y/N! For all you know he could've gone after her all the same. It wasn't you're fault, it really wasn't." she argued and she was right in a sense, Voldermort could've killed her either way but Y/N was stubborn.

"Yeah, okay." Y/N answered, still unsure, he looked emotionless, like he was hiding how he actually wanted to feel.

Hermione placed her hand on Y/N's own, causing a small amount of sparks to ignite between them, and heat to reach their cheeks but they simple ignored it again, against their better judgement.

She looked into his hazel eyes, hints of brown and green seething through, and spoke softly.

"It wasn't you're fault"

Her voice was soothing, comfortable, it calmed him like no other. Y/N knew then and there, that she was right. Suddenly the emotions that he hid so well began pouring out, like somebody had opened the flood gates to a dam and all that emotion came flooding through.

His eyes suddenly became glassy and soon it broke out into quite sobs, Hermione pulled him into a deep hug, holding him close as if to never let him go.

She was the only one who could make him so vulnerable, the way her words echoed in his mind. He knew she was the only one who could pull him from the dark abyss, the one he could trust the most.

A few minutes later, the tears stopped and they both departed from their embrace, much to their dislike. His eyes were red and puffy as he rubbed them with his bare hands, of fresh tears of his own sadness and long locked away emotions.

He looked towards the one person who so gracefully helped him in his most desperate state.

"Thank you." The young boy managed to croak out, his voice hoarse from the sobbing that took place, a sad smile etched on his face.

"No problem." She too held a sad smile but it was more of a sympathetic smile, to see her friend is such a state pained her but she knew he'd be alright, that they would be alright.

It soon broke out into small chatter of small talk and carried on for a while until Hermione asked another important question, which Y/N wish he wouldn't have to answer.

"How's your dad doing?" She asked, her voice filled with curiosity as she gazed at him. "You didn't kill him did you?"

It was a fair question.

She had joked but somehow the joke itself was serious as Y/N's chuckling stopped when he saw the look on her face. His dad had left on, yet another hunting mission for the Ministry.

"No, he wasn't around enough to act out my murder plan." Y/N said, looking off to the side bride returning to his friend's hot gaze. "Well... there's always next year." He joked, causing Hermione to roll her eyes.

"Really, Y/N?" Hermione said, her cute eyes narrowed and stern enough to put him down.

"He's okay, I guess. I'm still pissed at him." Y/N admitted, sighing as his mind wondered else where, until Hermione shook him out of it.

"You can't hate him forever."

"I know..." Y/N trailed off slightly again but decided to tease her. "You gotta admit though it was a good joke." He boasted to which she groaned.

"I still can't believe you did that." Hermione groaned as she brought up another pillow to her face.

Y/N laughed at her response. "I did, what you gonna do about it." He teased her to which he regretted straight away, Hermione brought down her pillow and faced him with what could only be identified as an evil smirk.

'Oh god' Y/N thought as he ran out of the room, only for Hermione to start throwing things at him, pillows, books, etc...

Well looks like things were starting off great.

—

Sometime after the two finished their conversation and decided to get ready, dressing into their Gryffindor robes and heading down to the great hall only to find Harry and Ron already there, Ron of was course was stuffing his face full of food.

Midnight was sat on Y/N's lap and eating anything he passed her way, purring at the delicious food being delivered at her request.

Y/N and Hermione both greeted them with a disapproving tone... well Hermione did as they sat down.

"Mail's due any minute—I think Gran's sending a few things I forgot."

Just as Y/N was munching a bacon sandwich he had just acquired from across, rushing sounds overhead and a hundred or so owls streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters and packages into the chattering crowd. A big, lumpy package bounced off Neville's head and, a second later, something large and gray fell into Hermione's jug, spraying them all with milk and feathers.

"Great, just great." Y/N muttered as he tried to get milk off his newly cleaned robes.

"Errol!" said Ron, pulling the bedraggled owl out by the feet. Errol slumped, unconscious, onto the table, his legs in the air and a damp red envelope in his beak.

"Oh, no—" Ron gasped.

"It's all right, he's still alive," said Hermione, prodding Errol gently with the tip of her finger.

"I don't think he's talking about the owl, 'Mione." Y/N told her as he gestured towards Ron.

"It's not that—it's that."

Ron was pointing at the red envelope. It looked quite ordinary, but Ron and Neville were both looking at it as though they expected it to explode.

"What's the matter?" said Harry.

"She's—she's sent me a Howler," said Ron faintly.

"Yep, it's been nice knowing you, Ron." Y/N joked to which was greeted with a slight glare from the girl next to him.

"You'd better open it, Ron," said Neville in a timid whisper. "It'll be worse if you don't. My gran sent me one once, and I ignored it and"—he gulped—"it was horrible."

Harry looked from their petrified faces to the red envelope. "What's a Howler?" he said.

"You don't wanna know." Y/N told him.

Ron stretched out a shaking hand, eased the envelope from Errol's beak, and slit it open. Neville stuffed his fingers in his ears. A split second later, Harry found out why. He thought for a moment it had exploded; a roar of sound filled the huge hall, shaking dust from the ceiling. But like Y/N said, it was best not knowing and he was right for sure.

"—STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE—"

Mrs. Weasley's yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. Y/N could only pinch the bridge of his nose at the pure embarrassment his friend was experiencing. People throughout the hall were swiveling around to see who had received the Howler, and Ron sank so low in his chair that only his crimson forehead could be seen.

"—LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED—"

Harry had been wondering when his name was going to crop up. He tried very hard to look as though he couldn't hear the voice that was making his eardrums throb. While Y/N and Hermione were just avoiding the thing all together, trying not to be too involved.

"—ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED—YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."

A ringing silence fell. The red envelope, which had dropped from Ron's hand, burst into flames and curled into ashes. Harry and Ron sat stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed over them. A few people laughed and, gradually, a babble of talk broke out again.

"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so." Y/N said to Ron as the boy sunk even lower into his seat, if it was even more possible.

Hermione closed Voyages with Vampires and looked down at the top of Ron's head.

"Well, I don't know what you expected, Ron, but you—"

"Don't tell me I deserved it," snapped Ron.

Y/N notice Harry pushing his porridge away. He imagined he was feeling so well after such a... revelation. Mr. Weasley was facing an inquiry at work. After all Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had done for Harry over the summer...

But they had no time to dwell on this; Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out course schedules. They took theirs and saw that they had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first.

Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the castle together, crossed the vegetable patch, and made for the greenhouses, where the magical plants were kept. At least the Howler had done one good thing: Hermione seemed to think that the two boys had now been punished enough and was being perfectly friendly again, while Y/N only felt sympathy for them.

As they neared the greenhouses they saw the rest of the class standing outside, waiting for Professor Sprout. Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had only just joined them when she came striding into view across the lawn, accompanied by Gilderoy Lockhart. Professor Sprout's arms were full of bandages.

Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a patched hat over her flyaway hair; there was usually a large amount of earth on her clothes and her fingernails would have made Harry's Aunt faint. Gilderoy Lockhart, however, was immaculate in sweeping robes of turquoise, his golden hair shining under a perfectly positioned turquoise hat with gold trimming.

"Oh, hello there!" he called, beaming around at the assembled students.

"Oh you gotta be kidding me." Y/N groaned as he watched the new DATDA teacher, who was currently speaking nonsense.

"Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels..."

"Oh yeah professor? Well then how do you doctor a Whomping Willow?" Y/N asked him, he wasn't surprised at Lockhart's reaction, he started becoming flustered with embarrassment at the question.

"Well I- you- Well that isn't for me to determine is it Y/N, now if you excuse me I must go meet with the headmaster, he asked for my help on the eighth floor." replied timely as he strolled away.

"There is no "eighth floor" Professor. There's only seven floors here at Hogwarts and many towers as well, I could give you a tour if you happen to get lost." Y/N told the much older man, his voice dripping in sincerity but was actually a mask for his anger.

"Ah no thank you Y/N, it would be a pleasure unfortunately I cannot, perhaps another time?" Lockhart said as the rest of students went in besides Y/N and Harry.

He gave Harry and Y/N a hearty wink and strode off. They both stood stunned for a few seconds, looking between themselves, then, remembering they was supposed to be in the greenhouse, Harry opened the door for the two and slid inside.

Professor Sprout was standing behind a trestle bench in the center of the greenhouse.

"He's such an fraud." Y/N muttered as they sat down, "See I told you." he gestured to Hermione who sat next to him, she only spoke back with naivety.

"His field isn't in Herbology Y/N, you can't expect him to know everything." Hermione argued as Professor Sprout led them in to Greenhouse three.

"Funny, same thing can be said about a lot of Lockhart." The last word was laced in venom, he disliked the man very much as you can tell.

About twenty pairs of different colored ear muffs were lying on the bench. When Harry had taken his place between Ron and Hermione, she said, "We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"

To nobody's surprise, Hermione and Y/N's hands were first into the air.

"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," said Hermione, sounding as usual as though she had swallowed the textbook.

"It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state." Y/N explained to which they both shared a grin.

"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor," said Professor Sprout. "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. It is also, however, dangerous. Who can tell me why?"

Hermione's hand narrowly missed Harry's glasses as it shot up again.

"The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it," she said promptly.

"Precisely. Take another ten points," said Professor Sprout. "Now, the Mandrakes we have here are still very young."

She pointed to a row of deep trays as she spoke, and everyone shuffled forward for a better look. A hundred or so tufty little plants, purplish green in color, were growing there in rows. They looked quite unremarkable to Harry, who didn't have the slightest idea what Hermione meant by the "cry" of the Mandrake.

"Everyone take a pair of earmuffs," said Professor Sprout.

There was a scramble as everyone tried to seize a pair that wasn't pink and fluffy.

"When I tell you to put them on, make sure your ears are completely covered," said Professor Sprout. "When it is safe to remove them, I will give you the thumbs up. Right—earmuffs on."

Y/N snapped the earmuffs over his ears. They shut out sound completely. Professor Sprout put the pink, fluffy pair over her own ears, rolled up the sleeves of her robes, grasped one of the tufty plants firmly, and pulled hard.

Professor Sprout took a large plant pot from under the table and plunged the Mandrake into it, burying him in dark, damp compost until only the tufted leaves were visible. Professor Sprout dusted off her hands, gave them all the thumbs up, and removed her own earmuffs.

"As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill yet," she said calmly as though she'd just done nothing more exciting than water a begonia. "However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I'm sure none of you want to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work. I will attract your attention when it is time to pack up.

"Four to a tray—there is a large supply of pots here—compost in the sacks over there—and be careful of the Venomous Tentacula, it's teething."

She gave a sharp slap to a spiky, dark red plant as she spoke, making it draw in the long feelers that had been inching sneakily over her shoulder.

Y/N, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were joined at their tray by a curly haired Hufflepuff boy that Harry knew by sight but had never spoken to.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley," he said brightly, shaking Harry by the hand. "Know who you are, of course, the famous Harry Potter... And you're Hermione Granger—always top in everything..." Hermione beamed as she had her hand shaken too "You're Y/N L/N, everyone's talking about you, your music famous, especially 'round here. Heard you're just as smart as Hermione." he beamed at the boy causing Y/N to feel flustered at the compliment as much as the others were. He could smile back. "and Ron Weasley. Wasn't that your flying car?" Ron didn't smile. The Howler was obviously still on his mind.

"That Lockhart's something, isn't he?" said Justin happily as they began filling their plant pots with dragon dung compost. "Awfully brave chap. Have you read his books? I'd have died of fear if I'd been cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool and—zap—just fantastic."

"His books are a load of crap." Y/N whispered but luckily no one heard him.

"My name was down for Eton, you know. I can't tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course, Mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart's books I think she's begun to see how useful it'll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family..."

After that they didn't have much chance to talk. Their earmuffs were back on and they needed to concentrate on the Mandrakes. Professor Sprout had made it look extremely easy, but it wasn't. The Mandrakes didn't like coming out of the earth, but didn't seem to want to go back into it either. They squirmed, kicked, flailed their sharp little fists, and gnashed their teeth; Y/N spent five whole minutes trying to squash a particularly fat one into a pot.

By the end of the class, Y/N, like everyone else, was sweaty, aching, and covered in earth. Everyone traipsed back to the castle for a quick wash and then the Gryffindors hurried off to Transfiguration.

The next lesson would prove to be just as fun.