The four first year Gryffindors had left the Great Hall and were heading towards Hagrid's Hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Y/N was tired but at the same time excited to see his good friend Hagrid again. As they were walking, Hermione asked:
"Y/N. When we got off the train Hagrid said welcome back to Hogwarts. What did he mean?"
Y/N chuckled.
"Part of my training was in the Forbidden Forest. I'd sneak over and visit Hagrid from time to time. Never went in the school though"
Hermione nodded as Ron, who overheard, freaked out.
"What? You were in the Forbidden Forest... but that's... forbidden!"
Y/N chuckled as he replied:
"Well spotted numbnuts. It's suicidal if you don't know what you're doing. If you do know what you're doing... well it's still dangerous but at least you have a fighting chance"
Hermione shivered at the thought and wrapped her arms around Y/N's arm as they walked, cuddling into him. Y/N looked down at her and smiled.
They walked the rest of the way in relative silence. As they arrived at the hut they saw a large man exiting. He had a youthful smiling handsome face, was about 6'3" but extremely broad and muscular. The other three were surprised when Y/N called out:
"What's up B?"
Y/N gently released from Hermione's grip and walked forward, shaking hands with the large man before he was pulled into a tight Bro hug. Y/N chuckled, slightly gasping:
"Tight! Too tight you big bastard"
Barnaby was built like a tank. He also didn't know his own strength. He laughed letting go:
"How are you little man. How's my little Bro enjoying Hogwarts?"
Y/N smiled.
"Yeah it's great so far B. Guys this is Barnaby Lee. B this is Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley".
Barnaby shook each of them by the hand and laughed as he got to Ron.
"Another Weasley how many of you are there?"
Ron blushed as Y/N laughed and replied: "Just one more to come B".
Barnaby smiled:
"I've gotta go but I just spoke to Hagrid about you helping out in the Reserve bro. He'll fill you in on the details".
Y/N smiled widely.
"Too easy thanks B. You seeing Newt and Tina soon?"
"Yeah I'm going to their place for dinner on Friday"
"Can you ask Newt to send me an owl? I've gotta ask him about something important?"
Barnaby smiled:
"Will do little bro. See you soon"
"Cheers B. Don't get eaten" Y/N smirked as the other three first years gasped. Barnaby laughed loudly and replied:
"That's the plan"
As the large man walked off the other three first years looked at Y/N who raised an eyebrow and asked:
"What?"
Hermione looked at Y/N slightly shocked, slightly bemused and asked:
"You can request an owl from THE Newt Scamander"
Y/N looked kind of sheepish as he replied:
"Yeah... I did tell you I knew him and his wife, they're really good people"
"You said you met him."
"Well I didn't want to sound arrogant you know, but I'm a L/N. I've moved in pretty influential circles before with Dean and Jacob".
Y/N could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. Hermione smiled at him while Ron wore a puzzled expression and asked:
"Isn't that Newt guy the one who wrote our text book?"
Y/N and Hermione both deadpanned the ginger as Harry quickly knocked on Hagrid's door.It was quickly opened by a happy Hagrid.
"-ello 'Arry, 'ermione Y/N and Ron. Thanks for coming ta see me come in come in".
The four entered and Y/N was almost bowled over by an extremely happy bloodhound. Y/N happily stroked the overexcited canine as Hagrid smiled:
"That's fang. Still got a way with animals I see Y/N. He missed ya a lot".
As Y/N continued to pat the overgrown pup, making goo goo good boy noises at him, the other four laughed. Y/N looked up and smirked:
"What? I like animals as much as they like me"
Hagrid offered the four first years a seat. Ron and Harry sat on a couch while Hermione and Y/N sat together on a large chair, they were almost on top of each other. Hagrid looked at the pair and smirked.
"Y/N you've grown since I seen ya. Wasn't even that long ago. 'Ow was your stay with the centaurs?"
Hermione and Ron gasped in shock as Y/N smiled.
"It was fantastic Hagrid. Centaurs are such noble people and they have an amazing culture. I was so fortunate to be able to stay with them and learn some of their divination practices."
Hagrid chuckled.
"Aye, it's lucky they think so highly of you and your brothers. Not too fond of wizards usually."
Y/N scowled.
"Can't blame them. It's disgusting the way the ministry has treated them. This policy of Fudge's to further limit their hunting grounds is fucking evil. Hopefully Jacob will do something about it when he takes the Lordship".
"Aye" Hagrid muttered. He appeared to be withholding something as he asked:
"Has Jacob spoken to you about the Lordship Y/N?"
Y/N shook his head as Harry asked puzzled:
"What Lordship?"
Y/N chuckled as Ron appeared to be miffed... possibly even jealous. Hagrid answered:
"You were raised in the muggle world 'Arry. Muggles have a Queen right"
Harry nodded.
"Well wizards have a King. We 'ave nobles too. The L/N family is the second 'ighest ranking family, behind the royal family. The lord of the 'Ouse is the Archduke of Magical Britain. The family 'as always represented Muggleborn and 'alfbreed rights, while the King represented Pure-Blood rights. We 'aven't 'ad an Archduke since.. since.."
"Since my father was murdered" Y/N answered sadly as Hermione hugged into him and Hagrid nodded.
"Aye. 'E was a good man your father Y/N. A good friend. I miss 'im a lot"
Y/N smiled.
"So since we 'avent got an Archduke, Pure-Bloods like Fudge have been stripping rights from 'alfbreeds like the Centaurs".
"Why?" Harry asked in confusion.
"The wizarding world is a pretty backwards and despicable place a lot of the time Harry" Y/N answered angrily.
"A lot of prejudices and xenophobia. Most positions of power are held by so called pure blood families, and they look down on everyone else".
"Like Malfoy?" Harry asked
"Yeah. Still turns my stomach that I'm related to that prick" Y/N said bitterly.
Hermione, Harry and Ron looked at Y/N with their eyes almost popping out of their heads.
"What?" The three gasped in unison.
Y/N sighed.
"Yeah. Through my... my mother. She was a Black, so is Malfuck's mother. Cousins".
"So that makes you?" Harry asked confused.
"Second cousins. Related to Crabb somehow as well. Probably quite a few others here. But enough about that, Hagrid- B said you were gonna hook me up?" Y/N asked Hagrid with an excited grin on his face, causing Hermione to giggle. Hagrid smiled.
"Yeah Y/N. I've spoken to Barnaby, Kettleburn and Dumbledore and next Wednesday at 2:00pm you are goin' ter be in third year Care for Magical Creatures. At the same time on Friday when they have their theory lesson you're gonna be in the Magical Creatures Reserve with Barnaby. You don't have ta worry about the class work, you're only in the third year class for the practical experience".
Y/N's eyes widened as a huge smile grew on his face:
"That sounds bloody amazing. Thanks Hagrid"
"That's sounds like an amazing opportunity Y/N. Well done" Hermione smiled at Y/N with a genuine kind smile. Her smile filled Y/N with a funny feeling. Not quite happiness but... similar. He smiled, feeling his cheeks warm as he replied quietly:
"Thanks 'Mione"
"Can we do it too?" Ron asked Hagrid loudly. Hagrid shook his head at the boy. "Definitely not. Far too dangerous for first years".
Steam was almost coming out of Ron's ears as he almost yelled:
"Well he's a first year", pointing at Y/N.
Y/N had had just about enough of Ron's petulant attitude and glared at him. Just as he was about to speak Hermione cut him off:
"Honestly Ronald. Do you think you can compare yourself to Y/N?"
Ron knew he couldn't argue the point, so instead he sat there quietly, sulking.
Harry and Hagrid chatted for a while about the school and it's goings on. Y/N though had zoned out, thinking of all the creatures he was going to get to see and work with. One of his happiest memories was when he got to stay with the Scamander's when Jacob needed a break and the Weasleys were busy. Newt would take Y/N down to their private reserve
and show Y/N all the different magical creatures they had. The Scamanders were also nice and kind, they were like the grandparents Y/N never had. Hermione smiled at her friend as he smiled into thin air.
"Excited?" she asked with a giggle, snapping Y/N out of his daydream.
"Yeah definitely" Y/N replied with the biggest smile on his face she had seen yet. Hermione felt a sense of warmness inside seeing her best friend this happy- almost giddy and childlike which was definitely out of character from his usual stoic and reserved self. The sight made her heart melt.
"My dream job would be a Magizoologist" Y/N said happily.
"That's amazing. You will be a great one." she replied. The smile on Y/N's face changed slightly, from beaming to sad as answered:
"Thanks 'Mione. But I'll never get to be one. There's a different plan for me".
Y/N's face dropped slightly, as much as he tried to hide it. It hurt Hermione seeing this- she just wanted her best friend to be happy. She wrapped him in a tight hug, her attempt at improving his mood. Y/N was momentarily caught off guard but smiled as he returned the hug, catching Hagrid's eye in the process. He smiled at the pair.
"Don't worry Hagrid they are always doing that" Harry chuckled with a mischievous grin as he added: "Going to be snogging any day now".
Hagrid laughed getting everyone's attention as he added: "Aye just like Dean and Penny used ter be".
The implication registered with Y/N and Hermione who stopped hugging and looked at each other briefly, their cheeks warming as they then looked down at the floor, embarrassed.
The group spend the rest of the afternoon talking with Hagrid about nothing in particular until they left for dinner in the Great Hall.
After an enjoyable meal they all headed back to the common room. Ron noticed a flier on the Gryffindor message board. He called out excitedly:
"Awesome, we have flying class at 3:30 tomorrow. It's... ohh great it's with the snakes".