(Y/N)'s POV

To say the next few hours went by fast would be an understatement, Fawkes carried us out of the chamber, we went to McGonagall's office, once we arrived there was a cry of "GINNY!" I looked round to see Mrs Weasley hugging her daughter so tightly I thought she might suffocate her, Mr Weasley also ran and hugged her, unable to form words.

I looked over at McGonagall who was letting out a long sigh and beamed at her, that was when I noticed the other person in the room, Fawkes noticed as well and flew over our heads and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder with a happy noise.

"You saved her; you saved my baby!" "How did you do it?" shrieked Mrs Weasley in disbelief, she pulled us all into a bone crushing hug, I was quite surprised at her strength, my ribs hurt a bit, but it was a very nice moment.

"Yes, I think we would all like to know that" said McGonagall. I couldn't find the words, Harry simply walked over to the desk and placed the sword, the sorting hat, and Riddle's ruined diary, He proceeded to explain what had happened, for once I was silent.

I just sat down in a chair grinning from ear to ear, thinking very highly of myself, but to be honest who could blame me, I just stood toe to toe with Voldemort and survived, not many people could say that.

"Very well, you found out where the entrance was, breaking 100 school rules on the way, but how did you manage to make it out alive?" said McGonagall in disbelief as Harry paused his story. He hadn't mentioned the diary yet, or Ginny, to avoid getting her in trouble.

Luckily Dumbledore gave us an out, "What interests me is how Voldemort was able to possess Ginny, despite still being in hiding."

"It was the diary" I piped up "Riddle wrote in it as a student here, Ginny found it somehow, so it possessed her because she was the first person it could find, it wasn't her fault" I said, trying to stay vague so Ginny could not be accused of any wrongdoing.

"Brilliant" said Dumbledore as he admired the diary, "He was probably the most brilliant student Hogwarts has seen pass through its gates" he said in a strange tone that sounded a bit like admiration.

"So far" I said under my breath, he seemed to hear me and gave me a knowing smile. After we explained what happened next. He dismissed the Weasleys and called for a celebration feast but something Professor McGonagall said as she left shook me to the core.

"I'll leave you to deal with, Potter, Weasley and (L/N) shall I?" Dumbledore nodded "Certainly" he motioned for me to come closer and my heart was in my throat, I stood up and scrambled over to his desk, standing at attention like a soldier would.

Dumbledore looked at Harry and Ron first, "I do believe I told you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules" he turned his head to me. 

"As for you Mr (L/N) I believe Professor McGonagall made it clear that with another instance of rule breaking, you too, would be expelled?" I nodded slowly; a lump found its way to my throat.

"Which goes to show, even the best of us can eat our words" he smiled, the three of us shared quick glances, "Therefore it is only fitting that you all receive Special Awards for Services to the school"

"Now Mr Weasley, if you would, send this letter to Azkaban, I do believe our school would like its gamekeeper back" he said handing Ron a letter, as he rushed off Dumbledore spoke again, "Mr (L/N) if you would please wait outside, I will call you in momentarily"

I nodded, I sat outside waiting nervously, when Lucius Malfoy strutted past me, I just glared at him, there was a house elf beside him. Malfoy made him wait outside with me, "Hello" I said, waving at it cheerfully, it just looked at me awkwardly and let out a weak smile.

I was about to continue when Malfoy stormed out of the room, kicking the house elf for not following him, "Oi!" I shouted in disgust after him, he pretended not to notice. Harry ran out a second later, "You can go in now" he said as he hurried after Malfoy.

I approached Dumbledore's desk and he let me sit. "What is it professor?" "In the version of events that we heard, you found yourself in a dire situation, with no support, and still duelled the darkest wizard of our age" he said, not looking at me and stroking Fawkes.

"How do you think that was possible?" he said turning to face me and sitting across from me, looking deeply into my eyes. "Bad luck?" he smiled at this and continued. "I fear it is quite the opposite actually, you are an extremely gifted young man."

"Oh no, I'm nothing special sir, besides I wouldn't really call it a duel, it was me casting spells and him playing with me, I'm pretty sure he was weak anyway, otherwise I would be dead" I said a bit too fast.

"That is where I'm afraid I must again disagree with you my boy" I turned my head in confusion, "You are something truly special, perhaps something never seen before in the wizarding world.

"I think you have the wrong guy professor, Harry already left" I said, pointing a finger behind me, he chuckled but his tone suddenly changed as he spoke "Haven't you ever wondered how you can instantly tell how someone is feeling? How you can communicate with animals?"

"Not really, that's just normal wizard stuff, right? Like Harry with snakes." "I think not, I think this is a hidden aptitude for Legilimency, or the ability to interpret the mind, to read thoughts or memories" 

"After all the ability to read emotions of anything is quite the feat, and the ability to communicate with animals very rare trait" I just gave him a confused look. "To put simply my boy, I believe, you are a natural born Legilimens, and a powerful one at that."

"I don't understand" "It is quite simple my boy, when you fight a troll, wand in hand, what do you do?" "Cast a spell?" I said, confused as to his point. "Or do you throw something at it, a very troll like thing to do?" 

"When you find yourself face to face with an old, tired spider, you suddenly find yourself completely calm, able to talk faster and clearer despite the circumstance. As if you were the one in control."

"Yeah, until it tries to eat me" I said. He looked at me again with a steely gaze "When your friend is insulted and offended, you lash out violently, with more anger then anyone around you." "Perhaps more offended than anyone else" I finally caught on.

"I can't read minds professor; I think I would have realised if I could," "Of course, maybe not yet at least, but there is still time to grow. Feeling someone's emotions is very different to reading their mind." 

"It is my theory that you have understood the emotions around you, but done so unknowingly, so mistakenly thought them to be your own, amplifying your own feelings." I just sat there, dumbfounded.

"For example, your encounter with a troll, once it was rendered unconscious, you soon fell into unconsciousness yourself." "Yeah, because I'd just fought a troll" I said, he gave me a look as if to say, "Perhaps" so I continued.

"Surely I'd know if I could feel other people's emotions, I'd realise they weren't mine" I said, still not believing any of this. "Maybe, or maybe you have had this ability for so long, you now know no different? Maybe, this power you possess, is innate somehow?"

"What? This is a load of rubbish, even if I could do all this stuff, someone would notice" I said, finally getting frustrated. "Yes, you are right, under normal circumstances, that is why I believe you are something of a prodigy in the field" "What?" I said, giving up on formalities

"Normally, the use of Legilimency is felt by both parties, and can only be done with strict parameters, such as eye contact, and only access minds when intended, but for some reason, that is not the case with you" he gave me a look, it was kind of like he wanted to dissect me or something, to see how I ticked.

"True, with time you may be able to read the thoughts and minds of those around you, but up until this point you have been able to feel only someone's emotions, not invading their mind, not being drowned out by thoughts or mental barriers, It is quite extraordinary. Even for an extremely powerful wizard"

"Essentially, while most Legilimens would have to-" he paused as it thinking of an analogy "- break down the door, you, have to innate ability, to somehow, only look through the keyhole, but still access the contents of the room"

I just sat there in disbelief, ""I don't know professor, it might just be coincidence" I said, more to tell myself, but I couldn't help but think back to Aragog. The weird feeling that I kept getting, and what he had told me, "Enough mind games, good friend of Hagrid."

"Perhaps, but if my theory is correct, I have never seen it done unconsciously, and to this extent" he said tapping his chin as if thinking on it, I just blinked a few times in confusion "But that is not all"

"I find that you have a deeper understanding of magic then wizards who are twice as old and twice as studious as you." "That's not true, I bet I don't know a tenth of the spells you do professor."

"And yet, of the spells you do know, you are able to perform them next to flawlessly and with such power that you are able to hold back individuals, who by all accounts, should outclass you in every sense."

"Individuals? Sir I only fought one person, and even then, I barely scraped by" I asked, more confused than ever. 

"That is where you are wrong my boy, you see I have had these suspicions about your ability since you first found yourself in my office a year ago, In fact, I was quite certain of it when you spoke up on behalf of the Slytherins at the end of last year."

 "In fact, I have been testing my theory since you walked in this room today." There was a sinking feeling in my stomach, "What?" "You see, I am well versed in Legilimency myself, I have been attempting to invade your mind through the course of this conversation."

"Hence my rambling, nothing deep or personal, something simple, surface level if you would" he said as if stating a fact. "I had hoped catching you unaware would lead to better results, I'm sorry for any deception" "STOP IT!" I shouted suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

"That is what I find the most curious of all, there is nothing to stop" I paused in confusion, my anger gone, "Despite my best efforts, I was unable to determine anything from my attempts, anything at all, I couldn't even see how you were feeling about the weather this morning."

"So?" "So not only can you perform Legilimency, but you also have defences against it with Occlumency." "Uh, ok? Cool" he smiled at me "Or maybe Snape is right, I'm just empty headed" I chuckled.

"Yes, I think from Professor Snape's perspective, you may very well be" he chuckled. I just looked at him confused again but he waved me off. "Regardless of what you may think of yourself, with practice, you have the potential to be one of, if not the, greatest wizard to walk through these doors."

"I will take that as a challenge professor" he smiled, "As I hoped you would, you are free to go." "Before I do, could you do me a favour professor?" "If it is my power" he said, I handed him something that I hoped he could help me with.

"Oh, I see, should be simple enough", he waved his wand and problem solved, "Thanks Professor" I turned and left. "Bye Professor see you at the feast" I popped my head back in, "By the way, I think it's a bit chilly today" he laughed, and I left with a wave.

(Y/N)'s POV

As I made my way to the feast, I bumped into Harry, he introduced me to Dobby the house elf, who told me that he was just made a free elf, showing me a sock "Good for you" I said, not really knowing what else to say, with that he disappeared, much to my amazement, me and Harry made our way down to the feast together.

As we reached the table, we saw Ron, who was already stuffing his face, I looked around the room and caught some eyes, Luna's first, she smiled and waved at me, I waved back. Next was Nearly Headless Nick who was making his rounds, floating up and down the Gryffindor table, "Looking good Nick" I said, he smiled at me cheerfully "Never did get to say, loved the death day party."

"Then you shall be invited to the next one my boy" I nodded my head, "Looking forward to it" to be honest, I wasn't, but he didn't need to know that. Finally, I saw Justin Finch-Fletchly at the Hufflepuff table, I gave him a wave, he smiled at me and went back to chatting.

Ginny sat down beside us, I greeted her and asked her something I had been dying to know. "Ron said you knew something about the chamber, but he just told me Percy stopped you from telling, why was that?" The Weasley twins suddenly got much more interested in our conversation.

"It wasn't about the chamber, Percy has a girlfriend, the Ravenclaw prefect, Penelope Clearwater" she lowered her voice "The one who was petrified, I found out in the beginning of the year, he's been trying to keep it a secret"

"I wonder why" I said, eyeing the now smirking twins. Ginny caught on, "Oh, please, promise you won't tease him" "Us" said Fred looking shocked, "Never" said George confidently, then we all burst out laughing.

"Speaking of girlfriends" said Fred and George in unison, they started chuckling and nudging me with their elbows, at first, I thought this would be another joke about Alicia Spinnet, but then they pointed to the entrance, I spun round slowly and saw Hermione, she was beaming, I shook Harry and Ron, who stood up when they saw her, as did I.

She began to run at us as fast as she could, screaming "You solved it, you solved it", not slowing down when she reached us, hugging Harry, smiling widely as she did. She went to do the same for Ron but seemed to think better of it, instead going for a friendly handshake "Welcome back Hermione" he said as they shook.

Next she made a beeline for me "Not again" I thought as I wasn't sure if she was going to hug me or hurt me, either way I was afraid this time she might knock me unconscious. Luckily, I got the better end of the deal, she practically jumped into my arms, hugging me fiercely.

"I missed you" I said as she stopped hugging me. "I've missed Bones" she said quickly, giggling at the face I made. "I'm sure she missed you too", "Here, its chilly today" I said giggling, I wrapped the scarf round her head quickly, until all I could see through it was masses of brown hair. 

She quickly adjusted it, so it fit round her neck again but grinned at me as she did, "Good as new thanks to Dumbledore, told you there was a use for it, it probably saved my life." "Good." She smiled.

"I do have a bone to pick with you" she raised an eyebrow "After all that trouble you gave me for trying to ruin Lockhart's useless books and you go and rip a page out of a perfectly good one" I said tutting teasingly, she blushed, "That was different!"

"Honestly you're too smart for any of us, it took all three of us weeks to figure out what you did in like twenty minutes" she smiled, "What would you do without me?" she giggled "I don't want to know" I said.

"I'm just shocked you're not better at poetry is all" I said offhandedly, she let out a squeak, I winked at her and sat down, she was blushing so hard I could almost feel the heat from her cheeks. The twins were laughing at us the whole time, I was about to tell them to shut up when Dumbledore addressed the hall.

"Before we begin the feast, let us all have a round of applause for Professor Sprout, and Madam Pomfrey, as their mandrake draught had been administered to all those who have been petrified" The whole hall erupted into cheers. "And as a school treat, all exams have been cancelled!"

"How does that even work?" I thought, but I wasn't about to complain and cheered with the rest of the crowd. Just as the applause died down there was a large creaking sound as the wide doors of the great hall were pushed open.

"Sorry 'm late" said a loud booming voice, there were some collective gasps as Hagrid came strolling into the hall, "the owl deliverin' my papers got all lost and confused, some ruddy bird called Errol" there were a few snickers from across the hall as Ron blushed crimson.

On his way to the main table Hagrid stopped by where we were sitting. "I'd just like t' say thank you, if it wern' for you three" he motioned to us "And Hermione of course, I'd still be you know where"

"It wouldn't be Hogwarts without you Hagrid" said Harry, standing up, Dumbledore started clapping and was soon followed by the entire hall, everyone was cheering and clapping at the return of the Gamekeeper.

The rest of the year went by fast, with nothing very exciting happening of note, save for maybe all the times Percy told the twins to leave him alone and stormed off into his dorm in a huff. By the time the twins got bored of teasing him we were about to board the Hogwarts express.

All of us chatting about our summer plans. Bones was just about to fall asleep, she had been playing with Hermione non stop since her return, so she was absolutely exhausted; I was petting her in my lap as she dozed off.

As I looked around the station, I suddenly realised I was surrounded by all my friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione of course, but the rest of the Weasleys were here too. The twins were in the corner smirking at Percy who was holding hands with his girlfriend as she boarded.

Ginny was standing beside Ron and nervously staring at Harry, Luna had come up to say hello, even Hagrid had taken time out of his day to come and see us off. As we spoke, I saw a mousey haircut bobbing along through the crowd and got an idea.

"Hey Colin" I called, "Before we leave want to put that new film to good use?" I asked the boy who looked up at me, ecstatic and enthusiastically nodding. "Everyone. Come over here!" I called out, pointing at Colin, they caught on and stood around me to get in the photo. 

Just before Colin took the photo, I realised someone was missing, "One second" I said as I rushed off to find them, I came back with a very stunned looking Neville who I forced into the photo.

Colin took the photo, beaming as he did, "I think that might be your best picture yet Colin, send me an owl with it once you get it developed, I will make some copies to give to everyone after" "Of course, thanks (Y/N)" he said, scurrying off to be with his friends. Hermione was grinning like a madwoman and giggling every so often.

I kept asking her about it, every time I did, she would just laugh and say something along the lines of "You will see soon" or "Poetic Justice" it was driving me mental not knowing, It wasn't until weeks later that I received it and realised why, I opened it up excitedly and looked over it.

The twins were at the far left, surrounding their brother, either arm around Percy who looked very uncomfortable, they were making silly faces, Ginny was stood next to them laughing, Hagrid loomed over all of us in the middle of the photo, a wide smile on his face, but the top of his head was out of frame, just below his hairline.

Luna was on the right edge, looking happy as always, luckily wearing shoes, next to her was Ron who was standing there awkwardly and Harry in the process of trying to fix his hair as the photo was taken, in the very middle was Hermione who had a wide smile of her face.

She had her arm around me as I had to crouch down to her level because Neville was stood behind me, grinning nervously. Bones was in my arms in the very middle of the picture, looking like she was about to fall asleep.

After giving the photo another once over I saw why Hermione seemed so happy with herself, if I squinted, I could see it, she had put up bunny ears behind my head. "I think I'm rubbing off on her" I grinned widely and burst into laughter, pinning the original above my headboard after making copies to send to my friends.

All of them sent letters back, each of them showing their appreciation for their copy, but upon seeing Hedwig soaring through my bedroom window, I realised just how far we had come in such a short year.

I had successfully completed a prison break, punched my nemesis in the throat, duelled my best friend to a standstill, communed with a giant spider, solved an ancient mystery, broke a teachers nose, and fought the darkest wizard of our age, all without realising I was some sort of prodigy, and then to top it all off, I saved my friend from azkaban, and managed to find out who my secret admirer was, all within the space of one year.

Well one thing was certain, I'm sure next year will be just as exciting. I wonder what it has in store for me? Whatever it is, if it was as fun as this year, I couldn't wait.