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Y/N awoke the next morning feeling a little bit more tired than usual, though it wasn't difficult to know why. The memories of last night came creeping back into his mind.

He rolled over and stared happily at his still-sleeping girlfriend. Her hair had settled back into its bushy nature now, and her chest rose and fell slowly, a happy look across her face as she lay there.

'I can feel you staring you know,' she said, a smirk curling up her face.

'Well excuse me for thinking you're beautiful.'

'I know you do, you told me several times last night,' she said, opening one eye and giggling at him.

'And unless I'm mistaken, you returned the sentiment just as often, if not more so, did you not?'

'Maybe, I dunno, it was all such a blur,' she giggled again and settled herself back into the bed. 'We aren't getting up yet though, too tired.' she stifled a yawn.

'Did I really tire you out that much?' asked Y/N.

'Oh, hush you, now are you going to cuddle me, or do I have to pout?'

'Yeah yeah, come here.'

Y/N scooped Hermione up, pulling her into his chest as she let out a contented sigh, letting her body sprawl out across his and humming softly.

'Jokes aside though, last night was nice... I'm glad we finally got to share... well... each other.'

'Me too love, it was nice being so close to you.'

The two of them fell into another contended silence, simply enjoying the morning glow together before finally, with a grumble from his girlfriend, Y/N detached himself and stood.

'Come on, we need to get ready.'

Hermione grumbled again.

'I will pull those covers off you.'

'You just want to see me naked again!'

'Well, that's a nice bonus.'

Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, lifting herself up to stretch but purposefully ensuring the bedding still covered all of her private areas, before looking over at him, glancing him up and down.

'Enjoying the show?' asked Y/N.

'Just getting a last look in.'

Before she heaved herself out of the bed.

The two of them dressed and began packing up the remainder of their belongings, still throwing the odd flirty quip back and forth. Once they were done, they took their trunks and heaved them down into the Common Room.

They were due to wait here until Minerva arrived.

And so the two waited, chatting happily about their plans for Christmas, and after around half an hour, the portrait hole swung open and Minerva made her way inside.

'Excellent! You're both awake. Miss Granger, you are to head down to my office, where you shall be sent via Floo Powder to the Burrow. I shall send your trunks along in advance.'

Hermione nodded as Minerva turned to Y/N.

'You are to head to Grimmauld Place to get your orders for over the holidays. People will be going in shifts to guard Azkaban, there will be a few days between each, but you will also be there for around four to six hours from what I know. Be ready, Y/N.'

'I'll see you soon,' said Y/N, leaning in to kiss Hermione, who nodded and moved past Minerva, out of the Common Room. The moment she'd left, Minerva turned to Y/N.

'It goes without saying Y/N, but if Voldemort can break his followers out-'

'I won't let that happen, mum,' said Y/N. 'I'll stop him.'

Minerva gave him a stern nod, and then turned, moving to follow Hermione, waving her wand as she went and causing their trunks to vanish.

'Eternus!' the phoenix materialised, circling overhead and Y/N caught their talon, vanishing in a pillar of smoke, before reappearing within the meeting room of Grimmauld Place.

Seven people were already present.

Moody, Kingsley, Hestia, Dedalus, Remus, Bill and Dumbledore, the latter of whom gestured for Y/N to sit.

'Well, now that Y/N has joined us, we can begin,' said Dumbledore. 'Lord Voldemort is intending to breakout those who we captured in June. It is of the upmost importance that we stop him. As of right now, Rufus and the rest of the Ministry are keen to work with us, which means asking us for help in moments such as this. If we can hold Lord Voldemort off, we may stand a better chance of the Ministry holding together this time.'

'An auror leading them has to be a boon though?' asked Y/N.

'It is and it isn't,' said Remus. 'Rufus is clever, far cleverer than Fudge ever was.'

'But he's stubborn,' growled Moody, 'and keen to believe he can protect us so long as he has the support of the masses. The support of you and Potter.'

'I am afraid for us to be allowed to intervene here, I have had to strike a deal with Rufus,' said Dumbledore. 'That I shall grant him one audience with yourself and Harry over the Christmas holidays.'

'Second times the charm I suppose,' said Y/N. 'Seems a bit ridiculous though, striking a deal over us stopping wanted Death Eaters getting out.'

'Rufus is shrewd,' said Remus. 'Always has been, he would have let Dumbledore defend Azkaban either way most likely, but he certainly made it seem as though the cards were in his favour. Dumbledore didn't think we could take the even slim risk that he would refuse.'

'Rufus is aware that you have no interest nor love for the Ministry,' said Dumbledore. 'And I'm sure he suspects Harry retains much of the same sentiment, his trip will most likely be quick and whilst rowdy, uneventful. I hope you can forgive me for volunteering you like that.'

Y/N had to stop himself.

It was for the right reasons, and it was hardly on the level that Dumbledore had previously dropped stuff on him. So why had he almost responded "No"?

'You shall take turns on shift,' continued Dumbledore, 'a few days between each of you and you shall merely soar around the prison on a broom for a few hours at a time. Just keep watch, if something were to happen, call for backup immediately. I will do my best to pair you up where possible, but our numbers aren't great at the moment. I shall cover it on Christmas day.'

'Sir... how do we approach this? I feel like it'll be obvious where we got the intel from-' began Y/N.

'Ah, Severus did not bring us this little bit,' said Dumbledore, 'Remus did.'

Y/N turned to look at him.

'My time with my people has garnered very little,' he said. 'I am glad that one decided to trust me in a way that Fenrir Greyback had trusted them, in an attempt to make them side with Lord Voldemort no doubt. He told us of the plan to break the imprisoned Dominators out of Azkaban.'

'And do we not think it's a bit dodgy that Fenrir felt it right to tell someone of this plan just off the cuff?' asked Y/N. 'I mean, how does he even know?'

'Fenrir is one of the Dominators now Y/N, remember that,' said Bill. 'He's as privy to information as the rest of them.'

'From what I know, the man in question has a relative locked inside of Azkaban. Fenrir no doubt thought he could win the man's favour by offering his relative freedom. Unfortunately for Fenrir, the man thinks very poorly of this relative and actually wants him to remain incarcerated.'

Y/N nodded along, but it still didn't seem right to him. A bit too convenient of a path for them to find it out through...

No one else seemed to share this sentiment, however, and Dumbledore now turned to him.

'I would like you to go on Boxing Day Y/N, enjoy your Christmas break for a while. I'm afraid you will be watching alone, no one else can be spared, I hope that's okay?'

'Yeah, yeah of course,' said Y/N. Though he wasn't fully listening, his eyes were locked on Hestia and Kingsley, who he could have sworn had just shared a look.

The rest of the meeting was much of the same. Disappearances, deaths, updates as to where basically everyone bar Maria was up to and then they began to filter out.

Kingsley and Hestia however, remained, staring pointedly at Y/N. He waited until the others had left and then moved over.

'What's up?'

'You don't trust this?' asked Kingsley.

'No, should I?'

'No,' said Hestia. 'And we don't know why Mad-Eye or Dumbledore are either. Every part of this screams a potential trap. And we didn't think much of it until Dumbledore told you specifically and that you'd be alone because we were "busy".'

'You aren't busy?'

'Not as far as I know,' said Hestia, as Kingsley shook his head. 'He has told none of the rest of us days or schedules, the only one he mentioned was you. I don't like it, Y/N. We already have... misgivings about all of this.'

'You do?' asked Y/N.

'It's Emmeline,' said Kingsley. 'Dumbledore did a very good job of hushing up her death. Not to the point of it not happening, but your story contradicts what he's telling us. We don't know how they know you were there, who the fourth person you mention is, and the way she was struck just doesn't make sense. Emmeline would never leave herself open like that.'

'Do you think there's a traitor within our midst then or?'

'It wouldn't be the first time,' muttered Hestia darkly.

'No it wouldn't, but it's nothing more than a theory right now, Y/N. However. Emmeline fell whilst out on patrol with you, and I'm not saying it's your fault by any means. But after that, your next job is alone out at Azkaban when Voldemort is planning a break-in with no one else to support you? It doesn't add up. These are foolish risks and even more dangerous conscious decisions.'

Y/N felt his heart rate quicken a bit.

Could this really be a trap? And if it was... who was trying to lure him into it. It wasn't Remus. Remus cared for Y/N, and could definitely resist the Imperius curse... but then who?

'It could all be wild accusations,' said Hestia, watching Y/N's face cautiously. 'But just be on your guard, Y/N. If this is a trap, we can't afford to lose you. Get out of there, get back to one of us two, call for backup. Screw Dumbledore's orders, let us help.'

Y/N nodded.

'Yeah, I'll be careful. Thanks guys, and if I don't see you before, Merry Christmas.'

And as their echoed sentiments rang out behind him, Y/N stepped out of the meeting room, his mind racing.

()()()()()()

'So Snape was offering to help him? He was definitely offering to help him?'

'If you ask that once more,' said Harry, 'I'm going to stick this sprout-'

'I'm only checking!' said Ron.

The two of them were stood over by the sink, peeling a mountain of sprouts for Mrs Weasley. Whilst Y/N and Hermione sat at the table, Hermione steadily knitting a jumper whilst Y/N turned over a muggle incense burner that Mr Weasley had asked him to check over, having collected it from a known Dark Wizard's house.

The burner didn't seem dangerous on the outside, but a thin enchantment lay laced within the woodwork itself and Y/N was having a hard time getting a hold of it. Especially with Harry yammering on about the previous evening.

For when Malfoy had gone walking off with Snape, Harry had of course followed on. And had found out that Malfoy was definitely up to something, and that Snape was trying to help. He also discovered that Snape had made an unbreakable vow to Malfoy's mother, promising that he would help Draco with... whatever he was doing. A vow that, if broken, spelt death for the party who agreed. On this occasion, Snape.

Malfoy had insisted whatever he was doing, he wasn't doing it alone. Nor that he had had anything to do with Katie Bell's incident, something Y/N had already figured out. Even if he'd bought that necklace, he'd been in the castle at the time of the incident, an airtight alibi if there ever was one.

Harry continued his discussion, keeping his voice loud enough to make sure the two sat at the table could hear him.

'Yes, Snape was offering to help him!' said Harry. 'He said he'd promised Malfoy's mother to protect him, that he'd made an Unbreakable Oath or something-'

'An Unbreakable Vow?' said Ron, looking stunned. 'Nah, he can't have. Are you sure?'

'Yes, I'm sure,' said Harry. 'Why, what does it mean?'

'Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow.'

Y/N snorted.

'Always with the words of wisdom, Ron.'

'I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough. What happens if you break it, then?' asked Harry.

'You die,' said Ron simply.

Hermione looked alarmed and raised an eyebrow at Y/N. He nodded to say that it was true.

'Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five,' continued Ron. 'I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us. He went mental,' said Ron, with a reminiscent gleam in his eyes. 'Only time I've ever seen Dad as angry as Mum. Fred reckons his left buttock has never been the same since.'

'Yeah, well, passing over Fred's left buttock-'

'I beg your pardon?' said Fred's voice as the twins entered the kitchen.

'Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything. Bless them.'

'I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time,' said Ron grumpily, 'and then I'll be able to do it by magic!'

'But meanwhile,' said George, sitting down at the kitchen table and putting his feet up on it before throwing a nod of greeting at the couple, 'we can enjoy watching you demonstrate the correct use of a- whoops-a-daisy.'

'You made me do that!' said Ron angrily, sucking his cut thumb. 'You wait, when I'm seventeen-'

'I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills,' yawned Fred.

'And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald,' said George, 'what is this we hear from Ginny about you and a young lady called, unless our information is faulty, Lavender Brown?'

Y/N shook his head, trying to hide his smirk just as Ron turned a little pink, but he did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts.

'Mind your own business.'

'What a snappy retort,' said Fred. 'I really don't know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was... how did it happen?' he aimed the second part at Y/N and Hermione.

'We're not sure ourselves you know. I think Lavender just got sick of waiting for him to do something,' said Y/N

'Hm, maybe that lends credit to our theory then. Figured she must have had an accident or something,' said George.

'What?' asked Ron.

'Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!'

Mrs Weasley entered the room just in time to see Ron throw the sprout knife at Fred, who had turned it into a paper airplane with one lazy flick of his wand.

'Ron!' she said furiously. 'Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!'

'I won't,' said Ron, 'let you see,' he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain.

'Fred, George, I'm sorry, dears, but Remus is arriving tonight, so Bill will have to squeeze in with you two.'

'No problem,' said George.

'Then, as Charlie isn't coming home, that just leaves Harry and Ron in the attic, Y/N and Hermione in Percy's old room, and if Fleur shares with Ginny-'

'-that'll make Ginny's Christmas-' muttered Fred.

'-everyone should be comfortable. Well, they'll have a bed, anyway,' said Mrs Weasley, sounding slightly harassed.

'Percy definitely not showing his ugly face, then?' asked Fred.

Mrs Weasley turned away before she answered. 'No, he's busy, I expect, at the Ministry.'

'Or he's the world's biggest prat,' said Fred, as Mrs Weasley left the kitchen. 'One of the two. Well, let's get going, then, George.'

'What are you two up to?' asked Ron. 'Can't you help us with these sprouts? You could just use your wand and then we'll be free too!'

'No, I don't think we can do that,' said Fred seriously. 'It's very character-building stuff, learning to peel sprouts without magic, makes you appreciate how difficult it is for muggles and squibs. I assume that's why neither of you have helped them?' he asked the couple.

'They haven't asked us to be fair,' said Y/N, still twirling the burner in his fingers. 'I think they forget sometimes. Especially the fact that Hermione is now of age as well.'

Ron looked mildly annoyed.

'-and if you want people to help you, Ron,' added George, throwing the paper aeroplane at him, 'I wouldn't chuck knives at them. Just a little hint. We're off to the village, there's a very pretty girl working in the paper shop who thinks my card tricks are something marvellous, almost like real magic.'

'Gits,' said Ron darkly, watching Fred and George setting off across the snowy yard. 'Would've only taken them ten seconds and then we could've gone too.'

'I couldn't,' said Harry. 'I promised Dumbledore I wouldn't wander off while I'm staying here.'

'Oh yeah,' said Ron. 'We've got Y/N though!'

'My job is the defence of Harry unless called in for anything else,' said Y/N, now turning back to the burner. 'If he's been told to stay put, that means I stay put.'

Ron peeled a few more sprouts and then said, 'Are you going to tell Dumbledore what you heard Snape and Malfoy saying to each other?'

'Yep,' said Harry. 'I'm going to tell anyone who can put a stop to it, and Dumbledore's top of the list. I might have another word with your dad too.'

'Pity you didn't hear what Malfoy's actually doing, though.'

'I couldn't have done, could I? That was the whole point, he was refusing to tell Snape.'

There was silence for a moment or two, then Ron said, ''Course, you know what they'll all say? Dad and Dumbledore and all of them? They'll say Snape isn't really trying to help Malfoy, he was just trying to find out what Malfoy's up to.'

'I'm also included in that "all of them",' said Y/N.

'Yes, but you didn't hear him,' said Harry flatly. 'No one's that good an actor, not even Snape.'

'Look, Harry, Snape was a double agent once upon a time. There's no reason to believe his allegiance has changed now. And to be a double agent against someone like Voldemort you need to be a damn good actor. I know, my mother did the same. Admittedly I didn't hear him. But if he is sworn to an unbreakable vow, then it makes sense he'd bring out his A game. Especially against a boy who thinks he's fighting for the glory and favour of the most powerful dark wizard alive.'

'But you have to admit that Malfoy is planning something, don't you?' asked Harry.

'Yes, yes I do,' conceded Y/N. 'But I still don't know if it's something to be concerned about. Especially not from both of them. Malfoy, maybe. Snape, probably not, especially with your previous warning to Dumbledore. I wouldn't be surprised if he put Snape in charge of watching over Malfoy.'

'I think the Order trusts Snape a little bit too much sometimes,' said Harry darkly.

'I know you do Harry, but we have our reasons,' said Y/N. 'Believe me, we have reason for believing that he's on our side. And from what you've told me, there's reason to be on alert, but not scared.'

Harry did not seem to be able to argue his point anymore, or at least didn't want to, as Mrs Weasley returned to ask Y/N how he had been getting along with the burner.

He explained to her the nature of the curse. It empowered the incense, making anyone who smelt is extremely susceptible to suggestions and persuasive words, and then they continued helping out around the Burrow in the build-up to Christmas.

That evening when Remus arrived, he and Y/N shared stories as to what they'd both been up to. Remus recounting his time with the werewolves and Y/N his foray into the tomb and Snow's spectral existence.

Remus shared much of the same sentiment as his own. Snow being there, even as a ghost, was cause for concern, but the Auctor was too good to pass up on. And the two of them rounded off the evening with another short duel which all of the other inhabitants of the Burrow came to watch.

Remus fought fiercely, his spells battering Y/N giving him several new bruises and even a fresh cut along his leg, but in the end, it was Remus' own trick that beat him as Y/N's stunning spell was repelled off a shield charm, before he redirected it back, hitting his old tutor right as he was due to cast a spell at Y/N.

Y/N cast the spell to wake him up and then helped him to his feet.

'Each time we duel, the gap between us grows larger,' he said, the smile on his face almost radiant. 'You truly are a great wizard, Y/N.'

And it was with high spirits that Y/N went to sleep that night.

Over the next few days, the Burrow was decorated, chores were performed, and Remus taught Y/N how to maintain his Patronus, allowing it to exist and patrol around him instead of just vanishing in preparation for his watch of Azkaban. Finally, Y/N found himself sat on a chair near Mr Weasley, Remus and Harry, the night of Christmas eve, Hermione sprawled out and asleep in his lap, as Celestina Warbeck sang lazily around the room.

Oh, come and stir my cauldron,

And if you do it right,

I'll boil you up some hot strong love

To keep you warm tonight.

Fleur, who didn't like Celstina, was talking very loudly in a corner, so much so that Mrs Weasley kept pointing her wand at the volume control so that the music got steadily louder.

'We danced to this when we were eighteen!' said Mrs Weasley, wiping her eyes on her knitting. 'Do you remember, Arthur?'

'Mphf?' said Mr Weasley, whose head had been nodding over the satsuma he was peeling. 'Oh yes. marvelous tune.'

With an effort, he sat up a little straighter and looked around at Harry and Y/N.

'Sorry about this,' he said, jerking his head toward the wireless as Celestina broke into the chorus. 'Be over soon.'

'I think Hermione's enjoying it.' Said Y/N, glancing down at his girlfriend, whose breathing was now slow and heavy, her chest steadily rising and falling. 'Or she was, think she's as tired as you are.'

'Has it been busy at the Ministry?' asked Harry.

'Very.' said Mr Weasley. 'I wouldn't mind if we were getting anywhere, but of the three arrests we've made in the last couple of months, I doubt that one of them is a genuine Death Eater, just people playing with dangerous toys, only don't repeat that,' he added quickly, looking much more awake all of a sudden.

'They're not still holding Stan Shunpike, are they?' asked Harry.

'I'm afraid so,' said Mr Weasley. 'I know Dumbledore's tried appealing directly to Scrimgeour about Stan. I mean, anybody who has actually interviewed him agrees that he's about as much a Death Eater as this satsuma, but the top levels want to look as though they're making some progress, and 'three arrests' sounds better than 'three mistaken arrests and releases', but again, this is all top secret.'

'I said much the same when we first read the article,' said Y/N. 'Scapegoats and placeholders. They want to look like they're achieving something. Don't worry, our lips are sealed.'

The three of them fell into silence for a while, just as Celestina drifted into "You Charmed the Heart Right Out of Me", though Y/N could see on Harry's face that he still had more to say.

'Mr Weasley, you know what I told you at the station when we were setting off for school?'

'I checked, Harry,' said Mr Weasley at once. 'I went and searched the Malfoys' house. There was nothing, either broken or whole, that shouldn't have been there.'

'Yeah, I know, I saw in the Prophet that you'd looked, but this is something different. Well, something more.'

And he told Mr Weasley everything he had overheard between Malfoy and Snape. As Harry spoke, Y/N saw Remus' head turn a little toward Harry, taking in every word. When he had finished, there was silence, except for Celestina's crooning.

Oh, my poor heart, where has it gone?

It's left me for a spell...

'Has it occurred to you, Harry,' said Mr Weasley, 'that Snape was simply pretending-?'

'Pretending to offer help, so that he could find out what Malfoy's up to?' said Harry quickly. 'Yeah, Y/N said the same. But how do we know?'

'It isn't our business to know,' said Remus. He had turned his back on the fire now and faced Harry across Mr Weasley. 'It's Dumbledore's business. Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us.'

Y/N scoffed in spite of himself and the other three turned towards him. He passed it off as a small cough.

Isn't our business to know. With his trip to Azkaban only two days away, Y/N couldn't hate this combination of words more.

'But,' continued Harry, 'just say- just say Dumbledore's wrong about Snape-'

'People have said it, many times. It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgment. I do; therefore, I trust Severus.'

Again, Y/N felt his stomach bubble. This burning resentment didn't seem to want to leave him alone... what was going on?

'But Dumbledore can make mistakes,' argued Harry. 'He says it himself. And you' he looked Remus straight in the eye, 'do you honestly like Snape?'

'I neither like nor dislike Severus,' said Remus. 'No, Harry, I am speaking the truth,' he added, as Harry pulled a sceptical expression. 'We shall never be bosom friends, perhaps; after all that happened between James and Sirius and Severus, there is too much bitterness there. But I do not forget that during the year I taught at Hogwarts, Severus made the Wolfsbane Potion for me every month, made it perfectly, so that I did not have to suffer as I usually do at the full moon.'

'But he "accidentally" let it slip that you're a werewolf, so you had to leave!' said Harry angrily.

Lupin shrugged.

'The news would have leaked out anyway. Y/N and Hermione found out long before he revealed it just from the patterns emerging. And we all know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much worse damage on me by tampering with the potion. He kept me healthy. I must be grateful.'

'Maybe he didn't dare mess with the potion with Dumbledore watching him!' said Harry.

'You are determined to hate him, Harry,' said Remus with a faint smile. 'And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore's orders that Severus questioned Draco.'

'Y/N said that too...' muttered Harry.

...and now you've torn it quite apart.

I'll thank you to give back my heart!

Celestina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note and loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs Weasley joined in with enthusiastically.

'Eez eet over?' said Fleur loudly. 'Thank goodness, what an 'orrible—'

'Shall we have a nightcap, then?' asked Mr Weasley loudly, leaping to his feet. 'Who wants eggnog?'

'What have you been up to lately?' Harry asked Remus, as Mr Weasley bustled off to fetch the eggnog, and everybody else stretched and broke into conversation. Hermione still dozed on Y/N's lap though she did pull herself in closer to him, and with a faint smile, he began running his hand through her hair.

'Oh, I've been underground,' said Remus. 'Almost literally. That's why I haven't been able to write, Harry; sending letters to you would have been something of a giveaway.'

'What do you mean?'

'I've been living among my fellows, my equals,' said Remus. 'Werewolves,' he added, at Harry's look of incomprehension. 'Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side. Dumbledore wanted a spy and here I was, ready-made.'

He sounded a little bitter, and perhaps realized it, for he smiled more warmly as he went on, 'I am not complaining; it is necessary work and who can do it better than I? However, it has been difficult gaining their trust. I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing, and sometimes killing, to eat.'

Y/N knew the first part of this was a lie, he'd mentioned as much during their conversation the night he'd arrived at the Burrow. Whilst Remus had signed himself up for the job to attempt to sever the feelings him and Tonks felt for each other, his resentment towards the position was growing. Remus' hated being around other werewolves, a reminder to him of what he was despite his burning hatred of it. He knew what he had to do, but that didn't mean he liked it.

'How come they like Voldemort?'

'They think that, under his rule, they will have a better life,' said Remus. 'And it is hard to argue with Greyback out there.'

'I've heard Y/N mention him a few times,' said Harry.

Y/N grimaced, even hearing the name made his blood boil.

'I am not surprised.' Remus' hands closed convulsively in his lap. 'Fenrir Greyback is, perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it as his mission in life to bite and to contaminate as many people as possible; he wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards. Voldemort has promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback specializes in children. Bite them young, he says, and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards. Voldemort has threatened to unleash him upon people's sons and daughters; it is a threat that usually produces good results. Results so good that Voldemort has named him one of the Dominators now that they have been reformed.'

Lupin paused and then said, 'It was Greyback who bit me.'

'What?' said Harry, astonished. 'When- when you were a kid, you mean?'

'Yes. My father had offended him. I did not know, for a very long time, the identity of the werewolf who had attacked me; I even felt pity for him, thinking that he had had no control, knowing by then how it felt to transform. But Greyback is not like that. At the full moon, he positions himself close to victims, ensuring that he is near enough to strike. He plans it all. And this is the man Voldemort is using to marshal the werewolves. I cannot pretend that my particular brand of reasoned argument is making much headway against Greyback's insistence that we werewolves deserve blood, that we ought to revenge ourselves on normal people.'

'But you are normal!' said Harry fiercely. 'You've just got a- a problem-'

Lupin burst out laughing. 'Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. He called it my "furry little problem" in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit.'

He accepted a glass of eggnog from Mr Weasley with a word of thanks, looking slightly more cheerful. And Harry chose a different thread of conversation to follow.

'Have you ever heard of someone called the Half-Blood Prince?'

Y/N tuned in. He'd only been half listening to the previous conversation. He'd known about Remus' exploits for a while and had heard the story of him being bitten all the way back in third-year. But his curiosity as to whoever this prince was had been peaked by the spell Levicorpus. It was useful, and he wanted to know who'd made it.

'The Half-Blood what?'

'Prince,' said Harry, watching him closely for signs of recognition.

'There are no Wizarding princes,' said Remus, now smiling. 'Is this a title you're thinking of adopting? I should have thought being "the Chosen One" would be enough.'

Y/N laughed heartily as Harry glared at him.

'It's nothing to do with me!' said Harry indignantly. 'The Half-Blood Prince is someone who used to go to Hogwarts, I've got his old Potions book. He wrote spells all over it, spells he invented. One of them was Levicorpus-'

'Oh, that one had a great vogue during my time at Hogwarts,' said Remus reminiscently. 'There were a few months in my fifth year when you couldn't move for being hoisted into the air by your ankle.'

'I almost used it on you the other night,' said Y/N. 'After your reductor curse.'

'Funnily enough, I thought you were going to try something similar, and then you hesitated,' said Remus. 'I think your instincts told you I would be prepared for it.'

'My dad used it,' said Harry. 'I saw him in the Pensieve, he used it on Snape.'

He'd tried to sound casual, as though this was a throwaway comment of no real importance, but Y/N could sense the deeper meaning beneath it; and Remus' smile was a little too understanding.

'Yes,' he said, 'but he wasn't the only one. As I say, it was very popular. You know how these spells come and go.'

'But it sounds like it was invented while you were at school,' Harry persisted.

'Not necessarily,' said Remus. 'Jinxes go in and out of fashion like everything else.'

He looked into Harry's face and then said quietly, 'James was a pureblood, Harry, and I promise you, he never asked us to call him "Prince."'

Abandoning pretense, Harry said, 'And it wasn't Sirius? Or you?'

'Definitely not.'

'Oh,' Harry stared into the fire. 'I just thought- well, he's helped me out a lot in Potions classes, the Prince has.'

'How old is this book, Harry?'

'I dunno, I've never checked.'

'Well, perhaps that will give you some clue as to when the Prince was at Hogwarts,' said Remus.

Shortly after this, Fleur decided to imitate Celestina singing "A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love," which was taken by everyone, once they had glimpsed Mrs. Weasley's expression, to be the cue to go to bed.

Y/N heaved Hermione up, carrying her bridal style towards the stairs. In response, she merely snaked her arms around his neck with a murmured, 'Love you.'

'Do you not share Harry's interest in who the Half-Blood Prince is, Y/N?' asked Remus as they ascended the stairs.

'Not to the same degree he does,' said Y/N. 'I'm curious to know who else is inventing spells, especially as the last two I knew who could were Dolohov and Snow, both of whom are very dangerous. But he's almost obsessed, it's a bit weird, to be honest.'

'Well, Harry seems to be doing a lot of digging on his own at the moment,' breathed Remus, as the two of them stepped slightly to the side. 'Between the Malfoy business and this prince, he seems fascinated by things we don't yet fully know about, and we both know how that can end.'

'I'll keep an eye on him Remus, I always do,' said Y/N. 'Goodnight.'

He carried Hermione into their bedroom and laid her out on the bed, she'd luckily gotten changed into her pyjamas before they all gathered in the living room or it'd be a job getting her to do it now.

Instead, he climbed into the other side of the bed, and felt her roll over, immediately attaching herself to him and pulling them in close.

'loveyou,' she murmured, even quieter and more subdued than the first time.

And with a soft laugh and a 'I love you too,' Y/N drifted off to sleep.

The couple woke early the following morning, not least of all because of the knock they got from Ginny who wanted to come in and wish them a Merry Christmas, along with seeing the reactions to the presents she'd gotten them.

Ginny had been working exceptionally hard to save up what little change her parents could give her, and normally blew most of it on presents for Y/N and Hermione. So even if they were what some people would consider small, or even in certain cases handmade, that only added to the feeling for Y/N. Knowing that she was prepared to spend her hard saved time and money on him was a blessing.

Eventually, the couple donned their Weasley jumpers and the three of them made their way downstairs to find Harry trying to hide his smirk, and Ron looking mildly revolted.

'What happened to him?' asked Y/N, nodding towards Ron as they passed Harry.

'Lavender got him a heart locket, says "my sweetheart" in it, he hates it.'

'Awwww, but why! That's really cute!' said Hermione.

'Yeah, if you don't have Fred or George as brothers,' said Ron moodily.

Over the next few hours, everyone gathered within the kitchen ready for Christmas Lunch.

Everybody was wearing new sweaters, everyone except Fleur (on whom, it appeared, Mrs Weasley had not wanted to waste one) and Mrs Weasley herself, who was sporting a brand-new midnight blue witch's hat glittering with what looked like tiny starlike diamonds, and a spectacular golden necklace.

'Fred and George gave them to me! Aren't they beautiful?'

'Well, we find we appreciate you more and more, Mum, now we're washing our own socks,' said George, waving an airy hand. 'Parsnips, Remus?'

'Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair,' said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out.

'How the fuck-?' breathed Y/N.

''Ow 'orrible,' said Fleur, with an affected little shudder.

'Yes, isn't it?' said Ron. 'Gravy, Fleur?'

In his eagerness to help her, he knocked the gravy boat flying; Bill waved his wand and the gravy soared up in the air and returned meekly to the boat. Y/N and Hermione had to look away from each other quickly, so as to not laugh at him.

'You are as bad as zat Tonks,' said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. 'She is always knocking-'

'I invited dear Tonks to come along today,' said Mrs Weasley, setting down the carrots with unnecessary force and glaring at Fleur. 'But she wouldn't come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?'

'No, I haven't been in contact with anybody very much,' said Remus. 'But Tonks has got her own family to go to, hasn't she?'

'Hmmm,' said Mrs Weasley. 'Maybe. I got the impression she was planning to spend Christmas alone, actually.'

She gave Remus an annoyed look, and Y/N knew exactly why. Tonks didn't feel welcome at the Burrow whilst Remus was there. Not in a horrible way or anything, but she knew that he was trying to avoid her, and Remus was currently under Dumbledore's orders to remain nearby to help defend Azkaban. Tonks, who had not been in that meeting, was trying very hard to keep her distance, lest feelings that she was unsure about spring forth.

It was a rather messy situation.

'Tonks's Patronus has changed its form,' Harry said, turning towards Remus. 'Snape said so anyway. I didn't know that could happen. Why would your Patronus change?'

Remus took his time chewing his turkey and swallowing before saying slowly, 'Well that depends, you've already seen that Y/N's can change shape somewhat based upon the memory he calls from. Sometimes a great shock or an emotional upheaval.'

'It looked big, and it had four legs,' said Harry, before lowering his voice. 'Hey, it couldn't be-?'

Y/N knew Harry was thinking about it being Sirius. Luckily, the truth as to what it was, a werewolf, wouldn't be revealed to Harry, just yet.

'Arthur!' said Mrs Weasley suddenly. She had risen from her chair; her hand was pressed over her heart and she was staring out of the kitchen window. 'Arthur- it's Percy!'

'What?'

Mr Weasley looked around. Everybody looked quickly at the window; Ginny stood up for a better look. There, sure enough, was Percy Weasley, striding across the snowy yard, his horn-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight. He was not, however, alone.

'Arthur, he's- he's with the Minister!'

And sure enough, the man Harry had seen in the Daily Prophet was following along in Percy's wake, limping slightly, his mane of greying hair and his black cloak flecked with snow. Before any of them could say anything, before Mr and Mrs Weasley could do more than exchange stunned looks, the back door opened and there stood Percy.

There was a moment's painful silence. Then Percy said rather stiffly, 'Merry Christmas, Mother.'

'Oh, Percy!' said Mrs Weasley, and she threw herself into his arms.

Rufus Scrimgeour paused in the doorway, leaning on his walking stick, and smiling as he observed this affecting scene.

'You must forgive this intrusion,' he said, when Mrs Weasley looked around at him, beaming and wiping her eyes. 'Percy and I were in the vicinity, working, you know, and he couldn't resist dropping in and seeing you all.'

But Percy showed no sign of wanting to greet any of the rest of the family. He stood, poker-straight and awkward-looking, and stared over everybody else's heads. Mr Weasley, Fred, and George were all observing him, stony-faced.

Y/N meanwhile sighed and stood, throwing his napkin down onto the table and turning to face the Minister.

'You're a terrible liar, Rufus.'

Scrimgeour's smile fell away.

'I assume Dumbledore has already informed you of my visit and the conditions to which-'

'Yes I know why you're here, as if last time didn't go poorly enough for you,' said Y/N. 'Come on Harry, he wants to speak to you as well.'

Mr Weasley made to stand as Harry did, but Y/N shook his head at him.

'It's okay Mr Weasley, we'll sort it.'

Mr Weasley threw Y/N a cautious look and then, with a small nod, sank back into his seat.

The Minister turned, limping steadily out of the house as Y/N and Harry followed. It was silent until Y/N closed the door behind him, and the three of them, set off across the snow-covered garden.

'I would ask, that you permit me to speak to Mr Potter before you say anymore, Mr L/N' said Scrimgeour.

Y/N shrugged.

'Charming,' said Scrimgeour, stopping at the garden fence and looking out over the snowy lawn and the indistinguishable plants. 'Charming.'

The two of them said nothing. Y/N could tell that Scrimgeour was watching Harry very closely.

'I've wanted to meet you for a very long time,' said Scrimgeour, after a few moments. 'Did you know that?'

'No,' said Harry.

'Oh yes, for a very long time. But Dumbledore has been very protective of you,' said Scrimgeour. 'Far more so than Mr L/N. But it's natural, of course, natural, after what you've been through. Especially what happened at the Ministry.'

He waited for Harry to say something, but Harry did not oblige, so he went on, 'I have been hoping for an occasion to talk to you ever since I gained office, but Dumbledore has, most understandably, as I say, prevented this.'

Still, Harry said nothing, waiting.

'The rumours that have flown around!' said Scrimgeour. 'Well, of course, we both know how these stories get distorted, all these whispers of a prophecy, of you being "the Chosen One".'

Scrimgeour was beating around the bush, but evidently also noticing that Harry did not wish to play along, he forged on.

'I assume that Dumbledore has discussed these matters with you?'

Harry seemed to be thinking hard about something.

He stared at the little gnome prints all around the flowerbeds, and the scuffed-up patch that marked the spot where Fred had caught the gnome now wearing the tutu at the top of the Christmas tree, before saying.

'Yeah, we've discussed it.'

'Have you, have you...' said Scrimgeour. Scrimgeour was squinting at him as though trying to read his expression, so Harry began pretending to be very interested in a gnome that had just poked its head out from underneath a frozen rhododendron. 'And what has Dumbledore told you, Harry?'

'Sorry, but that's between us,' said Harry.

He was keeping his voice as pleasant as he could and Y/N was surprised. He'd expected Harry to lose his temper far quicker than this when faced with the Minister, but he was handling him quite well. Scrimgeour's tone, too, was light and friendly as he said,

'Oh, of course, if it's a question of confidences, I wouldn't want you to divulge, no, no, and in any case, does it really matter whether you are "the Chosen One" or not?'

Y/N knew what Scrimgeour was getting at. Chosen One or not, he wanted an icon, a hero, someone the public could look up to, especially if he was a known ally of the Ministry. It was the same thing he'd wanted with Y/N.

Harry however, didn't quite seem to have clicked with the Minister's true intentions just yet.

'I don't really know what you mean, Minister.'

'Well, of course, to you it will matter enormously,' said Scrimgeour with a laugh. 'But to the Wizarding community at large... it's all perception, isn't it? It's what people believe that's important.'

Harry didn't answer, so Scrimgeour ploughed on.

'People believe you are "the Chosen One," you see, much as your friend is this "Rising Phoenix" They see you both as quite the heroes, which, of course, you are, chosen or not! How many times have you faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named now? Well, anyway,' he pressed on, without waiting for a reply, 'the point is, you two are a symbol of hope for many. The idea that there are people out there who might be able, who might even be destined, to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, well, naturally, it gives people a lift. And I can't help but feel that, once you realise this, you might consider it, well, almost a duty, to stand alongside the Ministry, and give everyone a boost.'

Y/N fought very hard to not snort with laughter. "Consider it a duty", the Minister's patriotism truly knew no bounds.

Harry was silent so long that Scrimgeour said, looking from Harry to the gnome he was watching, 'Funny little chaps, aren't they? But what say you, Harry?'

'I don't exactly understand what you want,' said Harry slowly. '"Stand alongside the Ministry". What does that mean?'

'Oh, well, nothing at all onerous, I assure you,' said Scrimgeour. 'If you were to be seen popping in and out of the Ministry from time to time, for instance, that would give the right impression. And of course, while you were there, you would have ample opportunity to speak to Gawain Robards, my successor as Head of the Auror office. Dolores Umbridge has told me that you cherish an ambition to become an Auror. Well, that could be arranged very easily.'

'Excuse me?' said Y/N. 'That woman is still employed after what she did to me?'

'There is no evidence-' began Scrimgeour.

'THERE WERE FOUR EYE-WITNESSES!' yelled Y/N.

Harry raised a hand to Y/N and then,

'So basically,' he said, as though he just wanted to clarify a few points, 'you'd like us to give the impression that we're working for the Ministry?'

'It would give everyone a lift to think you were more involved,' said Scrimgeour, sounding relieved that Harry had cottoned on so quickly. '"The Chosen One," and "Rising Phoenix" you know, it's all about giving people hope, the feeling that exciting things are happening.'

'But if we keep running in and out of the Ministry,' said Harry, still endeavouring to keep his voice friendly, 'won't that seem as though we approve of what the Ministry's up to?'

Y/N felt the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

'Well,' said Scrimgeour, frowning slightly, 'well, yes, that's partly why we'd like-'

'No, I don't think that'll work,' said Harry pleasantly. 'You see, I don't like some of the things the Ministry's doing. And I don't think Y/N does either, do you?' Y/N shook his head, still trying to fight down the smirk. 'Locking up Stan Shunpike, for instance.'

Scrimgeour did not speak for a moment but his expression hardened instantly. 'I would not expect you to understand,' he said, a twinge of anger lining his voice now. 'These are dangerous times, and certain measures need to be taken. You are sixteen years old-'

'Ah yes, the age card,' said Y/N. 'And how many official Death Eaters have you put away since taking office, Minister? Because my count is at about fifteen at the moment, give or take some Tonks took credit for. But I forget... we're only sixteen.'

'And besides, Dumbledore's a lot older than sixteen, and he doesn't think Stan should be in Azkaban either,' said Harry. 'You're making Stan a scapegoat, just like you want to make us a mascot.'

They looked at each other, long and hard. Finally Scrimgeour said, with no pretense at warmth, 'I see. You prefer, like your hero Dumbledore and your good friend here, to disassociate yourself from the Ministry?'

'I don't want to be used,' said Harry.

'Some would say it's your duty to be used by the Ministry!'

'Yeah, and others might say it's your duty to check that people really are Death Eaters before you chuck them in prison,' said Harry, his evidently temper rising now. 'You're doing what Barty Crouch did. You never get it right, you people, do you? Either we've got Fudge, pretending everything's lovely while people get murdered right under his nose, or we've got you, chucking the wrong people into jail and trying to pretend you've got "the Chosen One" working for you!'

'So you're not "the Chosen One"?' said Scrimgeour.

'I thought you said it didn't matter either way?' said Harry, with a bitter laugh. 'Not to you anyway.'

'I shouldn't have said that,' said Scrimgeour quickly. 'It was tactless-'

'I disagree Minister,' said Y/N. 'Saying that told us exactly why you're here and what you were after. It told us that you didn't care whether we were special or not. Or whether we are actually the ones destined to defeat Lord Voldemort or not. Well, Harry rather, I'm just good at what I do. It told us that all you care about is how the public see you.'

'I haven't forgotten, Minister,' said Harry, and he raised his right fist. There, shining white on the back of his cold hand, were the scars which Dolores Umbridge had forced him to carve into his own flesh: I must not tell lies.

'I don't remember you rushing to our defence when we were trying to tell everyone Voldemort was back. The Ministry wasn't so keen to be pals last year.'

They stood in silence as icy as the ground beneath their feet.

'What is Dumbledore up to?' said Scrimgeour brusquely. 'Where does he go when he is absent from Hogwarts?'

'No idea,' said Harry.

Scrimgeour turned to Y/N.

'Don't look at me, even if I did know I wouldn't tell you, you should have figured that out after the way this went last time.'

'Well, then, I shall have to see whether I can't find out by other means,' said Scrimgeour.

'You can try,' said Harry indifferently. 'But you seem cleverer than Fudge, so I'd have thought you'd have learned from his mistakes. He tried interfering at Hogwarts. You might have noticed he's not Minister anymore, but Dumbledore's still headmaster. I'd leave Dumbledore alone if I were you.'

There was a long pause.

'Well, it is clear to me that he has done a very good job on you both,' said Scrimgeour, his eyes cold and hard behind his wire-rimmed glasses. 'Dumbledore's men through and through, aren't you?'

'No,' said Y/N, before Harry could even respond, and both looked at him in surprise. 'I am my own man; my goals just happen to align with Dumbledore's. He wants to get something done and deal with the Dark Wizard terrorising our streets. You want to look good for the camera. It's not difficult to know which one I side with.'

'We are not enemies-' began Scrimgeour.

'Then stop acting like it.'

And Y/N turned, striding back towards the Burrow, Harry following along behind him, leaving Scrimgeour alone by the fence, glaring after them.

(A/N: Hi all!

Super quick on this one. There may be a few mistakes and weird formatting mishaps, not quite sure what state I was in when this chapter was written but I found an abnormally large amount during my proofreading, hence this coming in so late. If you see any feel free to flag and I'll fix it if it needs fixing

Otherwise hope you're all doing well and enjoying the story so far! We're going to take a detour over the next few chapters, and I ask you just to stick with me, it'll seem a bit out of left field at first but it'll make sense with time, I promise.

Speak soon!)