A Young Wizard's Journey - Prisoner of Azkaban

The Heist

The next few weeks proceeded in much the same way for the quartet. Harry and Ron were trying their best to manage their new lessons and having whispered conversations about Sirius Black. Apparently, Seamus had told Harry in the same potions lesson he'd told Y/N, and Malfoy had immediately started talking about getting revenge on Black. The lesson had ended before he'd been able to get any more out of him, but Malfoy seemed sure that Harry should have some form of personal grudge against Black.

Y/N and Hermione meanwhile were popping up all over the castle to ensure that they could attend all their lessons. The remaining three that Y/N had taken had quickly eclipsed many of the default subjects to become his favourites. He had a fondness for Ancient Runes owing to the gifts he'd received from Hermione, they held a special place with him. Arithmancy remained as interesting as it had begun with it becoming Hermione's favourite almost overnight. It sat second for Y/N.

Because, despite his now more reserved teaching methods, Y/N couldn't help but adore Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lessons. Following the event with the Hippogriff, Hagrid had become a lot more reserved into what lessons he ran so they were simply doing revision on Gnomes at the moment, but it was still fascinating to compare the notes he made in class versus those from the book Hagrid had given him the year before. There were some nights he just wanted to walk straight into the Forbidden Forest.

And whilst it wasn't part of his default curriculum, Y/N still adored his lessons with Remus and Hermione. Hermione had kept joining them following the initial success, however Remus seemed tentative to use her. Apparently, he didn't want the 'feeling that it invokes to wear off'. Instead, Remus had taken to goading Y/N and begun firing spells back through the barrier. This was amplified by the fact that Remus knew far more annoying hexes and jinxes than Hermione did, and had even taken to stunning Y/N once or twice causing him to wake up sore and frustrated having hit the stone.

Between the classes, homework and private lessons, it was no wonder September 19th arrived almost overnight. Y/N awoke early and crept downstairs into the common room. To his great surprise however, upon arriving, he heard a faint meowing and watched a small ginger cat hop out of a nearby chair which seemed to have someone sitting in it.

'What are you doing up so early?' asked Y/N as he sat down on the arm of Hermione's chair, she looked up towards him and beamed.

'Couldn't tell you to be honest,' she smiled. 'I think it's cause it's my birthday. It's the first time I've felt like this about it though.'

'Any idea why?'

'To be honest, I think it's just because of you. I didn't expect anything in our first year and I don't think it had quite sunk in last year. But now that we're dating and stuff, it just feels more... real, y'know?'

'I'll get back to you in May,' he smirked. 'I haven't had a proper one for a couple of years, so I'll need to confirm for you.'

'Idiot,' she said, but she was smiling too.

'Rude, guess I'll keep this present.'

'Go ahead, don't need it as long as you're here.'

'Don't get mushy on me! Not till you've opened this at least' and he handed over the wrapped package. Hermione undid the ribbon tying it together and unwrapped it, out fell an over the shoulder bag, inscribed across the opening flap was a rather bandy-legged ginger cat.

'Oh my!' Hermione cried happily, looking at the inscription of Crookshanks. 'It's gorgeous!' she added, smiling at Y/N.

'I saw yours was struggling,' he said, pointing at Hermione's bag which had a few holes beginning to form along the seams, 'And that one's special.'