(Y/N)'s POV

I could tell Harry wasn't satisfied. The four of us sat up that night restlessly, talking it over. Whatever this great weapon was, it was not good news. Not much really happened after that, we spent our days wandering about, playing jokes on each other, and in my case, avoiding Kreacher.

I don't know if you could go to Azkaban for killing a house elf, but I decided it would be better not to chance it. Besides, that wouldn't matter because Hermione would curse me into oblivion first, and probably take my S.P.E.W. badge, but I was still weighing my options.

"This is Harry, Kreacher," said Hermione tentatively. "Harry Potter." Kreacher's pale eyes widened and he muttered. "The Mudblood is talking to Kreacher as though she is my friend, if Kreacher's Mistress saw him in such company, oh what would she say —" "Don't call her a Mudblood!" said Ron and Ginny together, very angrily.

"YOU LITTLE-" George held me back before I managed to kick the house elf down a flight of stairs, Hermione quickly tried to calm me "It doesn't matter," Hermione whispered, "he's not in his right mind, he doesn't know what he's saying"

"Don't kid yourself, Hermione, he knows exactly what he's saying," said Fred, eyeing Kreacher with great dislike. Sirius soon arrived to shoo him away. "That's enough. Now go away, Kreacher."

It seemed that Kreacher did not dare disobey a direct order; nevertheless, the look he gave Sirius as he shuffled out past him was redolent of deepest loathing and he muttered all the way out of the room.

"— comes back from Azkaban ordering Kreacher around, oh my poor Mistress, what would she say if she saw the house now, scum living in it, her treasures thrown out, she swore he was no son of hers and he's back, they say he's a murderer too —"

"Keep muttering and I will be a murderer!" said Sirius irritably, and he slammed the door shut on the elf. "Sirius, he's not right in the head," said Hermione pleadingly, "I don't think he realises we can hear him."

"He's been alone too long," said Sirius, "taking mad orders from my mother's portrait and talking to himself, but he was always a foul little —" "If you just set him free," said Hermione hopefully, "maybe —"

"We can't set him free, he knows too much about the Order," said Sirius curtly. "And anyway, the shock would kill him. You suggest to him that he leaves this house, see how he takes it." "Don't tempt me" I spat, glaring at the spot Kreacher was just in. We quickly shuffled out the room to give Harry and Sirius some privacy.

After that we did anything we could to kill time, Mum would come and go, leaving early in the mornings for work and coming back very late, but she always made time to sit and have a chat with me.

It was almost always the highlight of my day, well, that, and secretly snogging Hermione. I was slowly trying to convince Mum to teach me some duelling spells, or at least something I could use when I was in trouble, finally, she caved.

"Ok, first off, I'm not a duelling master, and I wouldn't exactly call it 'duelling', it's more like, 'get them before they get me' so I don't know if I would be a good teacher" I nodded, "Honestly, I think that is better, real life stuff y'know" she frowned.

"Ohhh, can you teach me that disappearing thing Moody put on Harry?" She sighed, "Sure, you want chips with that?" "Yes" I smirked "I suppose I could try to teach you some stuff but-" she held up her fingers, "I'm not exactly perfect"

I nodded and held up my own injured hand "Like you said, strong, but not indestructible" she pursed her lips, "Are you sure?" I nodded, "Mum I got disarmed by Wormtail, I need all the help I can get" "but that doesn't mea-" "Wormtail!" I stressed.

She finally cracked a smile. "Ok, but I'm not going easy on you" "but I thought I was your baby?" she pouted "you are." We set up in an old dining room what was long enough to practice in, but old enough that we could get away with breaking stuff.

She taught me a lot, how to get to my feet quicker, draw my wand faster, a bunch of little tricks she'd picked up. It was brilliant. As we duelled, I noticed something on her belt I hadn't before, tucked away on her hip. After our session I decided to ask her.

"Is that..." she nodded slowly, holding up a wand that looked identical to mine, of course I knew its owner immediately "It's silly I know, but I always have it with me..." she trailed off. "No, it's not silly, I get it." I said. She smiled "I don't suppose it's a spare then" she shook her head, "I've never needed to use it" we sat in silence for a while, then her eyes lit up.

"That gives me an idea of what to teach you next, it is a bit tricky though, and it can go wrong in real life" I nodded. After that, she smiled, handing me the wand, "Mum, no, I couldn't" she shook her head, "No take it, you will get more use out of it then I will, you can give me it back later."

I looked at her tentatively "If you're sure" she nodded, I hugged her "Thanks' Mum" Before we knew it, it was the day before Harry's trial, the four of us where sat in Ron's room that night, trying to cheer Harry up, the topic came to Tonks somehow.

I was just saying that her ability to transform into anything made me kind of jealous and that I wish I could pull off pink hair that well when Hermione gasped. "Do you- Do you fancy her?!" said Hermione in shock.

"NO!!!" I protested, but the guys heard too, Harry started bellowing with laughter, Ron was howling and red faced, "No way Hermione, he likes Alicia Spinnet!" Ron laughed again wiping tears from his eyes.

I blushed crimson, "Shut up! You started that. Not me!" I turned back to Hermione, "All I'm saying is, she must be a very good Auror if Mum said she should be in the Order, you're jumping to conclusions again Hermione."

They all paused, looking at me with wide eyes, "Oh my god, YOU DO!" said Hermione pointing and giggling, her eyes sparkling evilly. I wanted to defend myself more, but I could hardly say, "No I don't Hermione, that's why I've been snogging you all summer."

I just left them to it, hoping it would cheer up Harry. "Bugger off, I've barely said two sentences to the woman, how can I fancy her?" "The heart wants what the heart wants (Y/N)" chuckled Harry, almost in tears.

"I don't fancy her!" I insisted "I bet you 100 galleons he's lying" Said Hermione, laughing hysterically, "Well, she's not wrong" I thought. I caved, finally bringing it up "Oh sorry, I always forget that if I so much as look in a girl's direction it means we already destined to have seven kids" "What?" They said.

"Well y'know, if I talk to Lavender Brown I'm apparently in love with her, if I mention Luna she's my girlfriend and if I even look at Alicia Spinnet I never hear the end of it" I ranted, "Careful Hermione, if we lock eyes for too long you might end up pregnant" she blushed so deeply I thought she might pass out.

Harry and Ron found it very funny, holding their ribs in pain as they rolled around on the floor. after I calmed down for a bit, I was a blushing mess too. "I didn't mean it like that!" I assured her, she nodded "I know"

Harry and Ron where dying of laughter, holding their ribs in pain. Only stopping when Mrs Weasley came in, looking terrifying and separated us, we went to bed after that. When I woke up, I went down to see Ginny smirking at me.

"What?" She giggled "Seven kids eh? Don't worry I'll avoid your eyes" I quickly left the room and rushed up the stairs to the bedroom, fearing the worst, but I was too late. Ron was in the middle of spilling the beans to the twins "-and then he said, 'careful Hermione'-"

I stopped him there by basically tackling him, but the damage was already done. The twins were already crying with laughter. But that wasn't what worried me, what did was the sound of my mother giggling from somewhere downstairs as she headed off to work, muttering about grandchildren. "Kill me now, my life's already over"

I made my way back to Ginny to collect breakfast and sulk some more when I saw Mrs Weasley fussing over Harry as he got ready to leave. "It'll all be over soon," Mr. Weasley said bracingly. "In a few hours' time you'll be cleared." Harry said nothing. "The hearings on my floor, in Amelia Bones's office. She's Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and she's the one who'll be questioning you."

"Amelia Bones is okay, Harry," said Tonks earnestly. "She's fair, she'll hear you out." Harry nodded. "Don't lose your temper," said Sirius abruptly. "Be polite and stick to the facts." Harry nodded again. "You know your allowed to talk right? the trial isn't in sign language. I think..." I added, he looked at me, smirked, and nodded. "Smartass."

"The laws on your side," said Lupin quietly. "Even underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations." I turned to collect my food, I turned back to see that Mrs. Weasley was attacking his hair with a wet comb. She pressed hard on the top of his head. "Doesn't it ever lie flat?" she said desperately. Harry shook his head.

Mr. Weasley checked his watch and looked up at Harry. "I think we'll go now," he said. "We're a bit early, but I think you'll be better off there than hanging around here." "Okay," said Harry, getting to his feet.

"You'll be all right, Harry," said Tonks, patting him on the arm. "Good luck," said Lupin. "I'm sure it will be fine." "And if it's not," said Sirius grimly, "I'll see to Amelia Bones for you. . . ." Harry smiled weakly.

I did my best to calm his nerves, "If it goes really bad, just remember, its pronounced "oh-BLI-vee-ate" I winked and pat him on the back, "Don't worry, you got this." Mrs. Weasley hugged him.

"We've all got our fingers crossed," she said. "All of them we have left at least." I smiled "Get it. Left" I smirked, holding my missing right hand. "Well . . . see you later then" said Harry, completely ignoring my quality joke.

As soon as the door closed Tonks turned to me. I expected her to say hello, but she didn't, instead she opened her mouth to speak, then looked to Lupin, blushed and went into a fit of giggles.

I knew why, I turned to Mrs Weasley, "Has he told everyone?" I asked, she nodded, her face going red as if she was trying not to laugh. I sighed, going upstairs to kill Ron, or at least curse his mouth shut, preferably forever.

After that utter embarrassment, we spent the time Harry was at his trial doing housework to cure our boredom, we dealt with Doxy eggs, scrubbed the skirting boards, watered the plants, everything.

But it was my task to deal with a boggart that was locked in a writing desk. It threw me off a bit when I encountered it. I was expecting the normal broken broomstick pile, but that's not what I got.

Instead I was faced with a gravestone, not my gravestone, not anyone I knew, but just an empty, blank gravestone. I didn't even know why. And that's what concerned me the most. I ended up having to delegate the task to Sirius. It took me a while, but I calmed down, what the hell was wrong with me, why is that what I'm afraid of?

Harry came back from his trial later that day. Explaining he had been cleared of all charges, he retold his story of the trial and how Dumbledore basically came to his rescue. Then he told us about his run in with Lucius Malfoy.

"I knew it!" yelled Ron, punching the air. "You always get away with stuff!" "They were bound to clear you," said Hermione, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry had entered the kitchen.

She was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes, even my attempts to 'calm her nerves' earlier didn't work. "There was no case against you, none at all. . . ." "Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering they all knew I'd get off," said Harry, smiling.

Mrs. Weasley was wiping her face on her apron, and Me, Fred, George, and Ginny were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went "He got off, he got off, he got off —" "That's enough, settle down!" shouted Mr. Weasley, though he too was smiling.

"Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry —" "What?" said Sirius sharply. "He got off, he got off, he got off —" "Be quiet, you four!" "Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on level nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."

"Just occurred to me, Bones? As in Susan Bones?" he shrugged, "Lucky it was you on trial and not me then" "Why?" he asked, "Don't mess with Susan Bones, she holds a grudge, apparently I shoved her out the way in first year, she's never forgiven me"

I paused, "Not that I've ever spoken to her to apologise... but still, it's on my to do list" As we were talking loud skittering across the floor we turned to see Bones the cat, who had come running upon hearing her name repeated.

"That is adorable" I thought, I knelt down to her, "Sorry, not you princess, just someone we know" Her eyes seemed to process this, then her face went into something closer to a pout then a scowl. Followed by a small hiss.

Bones turned on her paws and seemed to storm off, offended we had summoned her for no reason, her tail swishing my face as she did, then back and forth behind her dramatically. I turned to face Harry, "she's at that age, everything's a tantrum" I laughed.

As we got our book lists, George explained that finding a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was a real struggle for Dumbledore this year. "One sacked, one dead, one's memory removed, and one locked in a trunk for nine months," said Harry, counting them off on his fingers. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"What's up with you, Ron?" asked Fred. Ron did not answer. He was standing very still with his mouth slightly open, gaping at his letter from Hogwarts. "What's the matter?" said Fred impatiently, moving around Ron to look over his shoulder at the parchment. Fred's mouth fell open too.

"Prefect?" he said, staring incredulously at the letter. "Prefect?" George leapt forward, seized the envelope in Ron's other hand, and turned it upside down. There was a little knot in my stomach at the word. "No way," said George in a hushed voice. "There's been a mistake," said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron's grasp. "No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect."

The twins' heads turned in unison and both stared at Harry. "We thought you were a cert!" said Fred, "We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick you!" said George indignantly. "Winning the Triwizard and everything!" said Fred.

"I suppose all the mad stuff must've counted against him," said George to Fred. "Yeah," said Fred slowly. "Yeah, you've caused too much trouble, mate. Well, at least one of you's got their priorities right."

"Cheers guys" I said with a weak laugh, "I did it too... In case you forgot" they ignored me. "Prefect . . . ickle Ronnie the prefect . . ." "Oh, Mum's going to be revolting," groaned George, passing the badge to me, I gave it a once over and handed it to Harry for him to inspect.

The door banged open. Hermione came tearing into the room, her cheeks flushed and her hair flying. There was an envelope in her hand. "Did you...did you get -?" She spotted the badge in Harry's hand and let out a shriek.

"I knew it!" she said excitedly, brandishing her letter. "Me too, Harry, me too!" "No," said Harry quickly, she turned her eyes to me, I shook my head, pointing to a still open-mouthed Ron. "It's Ron, not me."

"It...what?" "Ron's prefect, not me," Harry said. "Ron?" said Hermione, her jaw dropping. "But...are you sure? I mean-" She turned red as Ron looked around at her with a defiant expression on his face. "It's my name on the letter," he said. "There's a thought, maybe it's a misprint" I smirked.

"I . . ." said Hermione, looking thoroughly bewildered. "I . . . well . . . wow! Well done, Ron! That's really-" "Unexpected," said George, nodding. "No," said Hermione, blushing, "no, it's not . . . Ron's done loads of . . . he's really . . ."

"Well I think Ron would be great, I wouldn't have anyone else." I lied. Hermione stopped stuttering and nodded; George argued. "Why's that then?" I shrugged "Everyone likes him, he's smart, popular, he tries hard and unlike me, he's not two bad jokes away from Azkaban, plus, I'm pretty sure I'd abuse my power"

I tried to sell the idea, "I'd have Pansy Parkinson dangling from her ankles in the dungeons by the end of the week" I was reasoning it off to myself more than anyone "prefects don't have that authority" reasoned Hermione quietly, "I know, but who would stop me? I know Filch would help" she frowned at me.

I pat Ron on the back, "Happy for you mate" he snapped out of it, smiling widely. I went up to my room, I was going to make a shopping list for mum, but I ended up just lying on the bed for a bit. I was never jealous of people, not really, but it did kind of hurt when I wasn't picked, at least for a second. Being a prefect would have been cool, but it wasn't really my thing.

The cynical voice in my head was poking and prodding at me again, "You're stronger then him... you get better grades... you were in the tri-wizard tournament...you saved his life...you deserve it more than him."

Jealous wasn't the right word, I wasn't even that upset, just a little disappointed, I still had a small knot in my stomach that I didn't expect to be there. There was a knock at the door, followed by a 'creak.'

I turned my face to see the two people I never would have guessed would check on me, the twins. "What do you two want?" I said, a bit sterner than I meant to. "Who were you expecting? Bushy hair and a SPEW badge?" I turned to face the pillow, "One can dream" I said into it, they smiled... I think.

"Alright there mate?" Said Fred, I nodded, "Yeah, not too bad it's just, y'know." I said eloquently, they nodded, "We get it, always being compared sucks" I smiled, "Was that a twin joke?" They chuckled, taking a seat beside my legs on the bed.

I continued "I'm happy for him..." I took a breath, "It's selfish, and stupid, and bitter...but... I hoped" "You'd get a fancy badge of your own" I nodded. "Well, it's not the end of the world, despite what Mum says, Prefect doesn't make you better then everyone"

I smiled, lifting my head, "Someone should tell Percy" "Trust me, it doesn't matter as much as you'd think" he put on a shrill voice to impersonate her "It's an excellent opportunity for not only your time at Hogwarts but your career afterwards" he chuckled, "Like anyone really cares, unless you want a nice little desk job like Percy"

"There are better things then being prefect, shiny badges and trophies aren't everything." "Well, I'm not making Quidditch Captain anytime soon so I'm not getting many of those anyway" they shrugged, "Don't worry, we've seen Ron play" "neither is he" they chuckled.

"Wasn't him I was worried about" I said quietly, they nodded. "Everyone forgets, Ron's not the only one in the shadow of Harry Potter" I sulked, but it helped, they were right, I didn't need a fancy title to be satisfied with my time at Hogwarts.

As they stood up, I thanked them, adding "Sometimes I forget how grown up you two can be" they frowned. "Grown up!" "You take that back" I raised my hands in defeat and then with a simultaneous "pop" they were gone.

I think I fell asleep soon after that, I was sat in a dark room, I saw flashes of images, Harry's Quidditch captain, Ron and Hermione are prefects, and I'm just sat here. Doing nothing as always.

Why was I just sat here? What was so special about this room, I looked around, but it wasn't a room. It was cold and dark, but the air was fresh, I was outside, grass beneath my feet, I turned around, there it was, a simple stone grave, I was in a graveyard. The Graveyard. I don't know why, but it filled me with dread. I woke up with a start.

I quickly ran over it again in my head, hoping to catch it while it was fresh, I tried my best to isolate the 'memory' in my head, then I used the trick I'd learnt from a book that Dumbledore had given me in St. Mungos, and extracted it, placing it in a vial.

I was going to try to use Dumbledore's Pensieve to show him when I got to Hogwarts, I'm sure he would know what was wrong with me. But as I did that, another memory jumped out at me, flashing in front of my eyes as they closed.

It was of Ron waking me up, I think it was back in first year, he was excitedly telling me about what he saw in the Mirror of Erised. "I was prefect! And Head Boy! And..." he spoke quickly, a grin plastered on his face, his eyes were lit up. He was so happy.

I'm such an idiot, he deserved it more than me, he had always wanted it, how could I even think about taking that from him, he was chosen, not me, that was all it was. I should be happy for him, not jealous. He's my friend, I had to support him. I found Harry and Ron in the hallway.

Harry was congratulating him "Listen — Ron — well done, mate." The smile faded off Ron's face. "I never thought it would be me!" he said, shaking his head, "I thought it would be you!" "Nah, I've caused too much trouble," Harry said, echoing Fred. "Yeah," said Ron, they saw me.

"(Y/N), you alright? you look a bit peaky" he said, "Cheers" he stuttered, "Its nothing, just trying to figure out how to have fun without you expelling me" he smiled, "don't tempt me" I smiled and looked down at the badge, which was still clutched tightly in his hand

"It is very shiny Ron. I'm getting jealous. Don't suppose you'd fight me for it, I like shiny stuff" "Nah, got to set a good example" he said proudly "Good point." I smiled at him, "You deserve it Ron, congrats, just go easy on me" he smiled, they shuffled awkwardly. "yeah, I suppose. . . . Well, we'd better get our trunks packed, hadn't we?" I nodded.

We had a party to celebrate later in the day. I spent most of my time joking about with Tonks and the twins, even roping Ginny into our pranks at the table, of course Harry, Ron and Hermione found it hilarious.