You were duelling in the courtyard with a Death Eater, all the while checking to see if your brother was anywhere near you. Your brother, Nico, was a year older than you, and had insisted that he fought in the war. Between the two of you, you had always been the best in jinxes and curses, and so, you couldn't help but be worried about his safety.
You disarmed the Death Eater you were duelling, finally catching sight of your brother battling another Death Eater. You ran to his direction, about to help him, when your eyes widened. Another Death Eater came behind your brother, and as Nico was occupied duelling the first Death Eater, the other raised their wand.
"Nico!" you yelled, running to him as fast as you could. Your yelling caught many people's attention, Death Eaters and not, but Nico did not take notice. The dreaded spell left the Death Eater's lips, a woman, by the sound of the voice. A flash of green light left her wand, hitting your brother at his back. A scream left your lips as your brother fell down on the ground, limp and lifeless.
"Nico!" you screamed, running to your brother. Your fury burned every other thought away, and you only wanted one thing; kill. Kill them all.
"Avada Kedavra!" you yelled, striking the woman on the chest, your aim true. The other Death Eater turned to you, and you were about to give him the fate of the other one when someone else got him first. You looked briefly at Ernie that stunned the Death Eater, his face pale as he looked at the limp body of your brother.
"Nico!" you yelled again, kneeling next to him, frantically searching for a pulse, even though you knew you wouldn't find one. "Nico, please come back!" you cried, your tears landing on your brother's face. Someone pulled you back, and you screamed, kicking the person holding you.
Ernie's voice reached your ear. He was calling your name. You let him drag you away, your eyes glued on your brother's body. "Can you continue?" Ernie asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm going to kill them all." you growled, an animalistic glint in your eyes. Ernie hesitated to let you free, and once he did, you ran straight to the place the battle was raging the worst, killing Death Eater after Death Eater, your fury giving you power, the power making you merciless.
You continued killing people until Voldemort got in your mind, making everyone stop to listen. You did what he instructed, getting all bodies in the Great Hall. When you reached the destroyed room, your brother's body was already there. You walked to his direction, kneeling next to his head. You closed his eyes, a tear slipping from your own eyes. You would gladly trade places with him.
A man's voice called your name from somewhere behind you, uncertainly. You knew that voice all too well.
"Ernie, it's alright, I am alright. Remember, the battle is not over yet, we have to stay strong." you said, turning to your friend with a small weak smile. Ernie frowned, he looked like he was about to cry himself. He pulled you in a hug, and you gladly accepted it, comfort was something you needed.
"What happened?" Millicent asked from behind Ernie. Your cousin braved a look at the body next to you, immediately closing her eyes, letting out a shaky breath, keeping her emotions inside, appearing strong, but you knew better than anyone that if the tiniest thing happened, her resolve would crumble. She's been strong for too long.
"I'm sorry." she whispered to you, and you smiled, nodding at her from your position on Ernie's arms. You stepped away from him and walked to Millicent, hugging her tightly.
"It's alright." you said, even though on the inside everything was wrong.
"It isn't." Millicent whispered back.
"You've been extremely brave fighting against your own." you whispered in Millicent's ear, and you felt her nodding against you. You pulled away, and the two of you smiled at each other. You would stay strong, you had to.
"They were your own too." Millicent mumbled, and you shook your head as you offered her a reassuring smile.
"They were your parents. I was just fighting my uncle and aunt." you said softly, and the woman nodded at your words.
"Sorry for interrupting." Ernie said from behind you, and you smiled, turning to him. "Someone called us in the courtyard." Ernie explained. You shared a look with him and Millicent, before the three of you walked to the courtyard.
"Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort grinned. Your eyes turned to the boy's corpse, feeling sick. You and Harry never were the best of friends, but you would talk to each other if needed. You turned to Ernie, burying your face in his shoulder, blocking Voldemort's words out. You only tuned everything in when Ernie shook you. You turned to your front, only to see Harry alive, jumping out of Hagrid's arms and aiming a shot at Voldemort. You smiled, as you took out your wand, starting killing Death Eaters once again, Ernie and Millicent by your side. You fought like that for some minutes, until a cheer was heard from inside the Great Hall, the remaining Death Eaters apparating away.
"We've won!"
You grinned at the news, pulling Ernie in for a hug. The man laughed joyously, your grin only widening as it settled in your mind that your brother had died, but he would live in the memory of a fallen hero.
You pulled back, hugging Millicent next.
"We've won!" she said, letting out a laugh, loud and free. You pulled back, your eyes smiling with your lips.
"Isn't it great?" Ernie asked from next to you, now relaxed. It's been a long time since you had last seen him so relaxed. The last year with the Carrows hadn't helped him relax, understandable in your opinion. You nodded in return to him, smiling at him and Millicent.
"We are finally free."
***
"Come on, Millicent, just tell me already!" you whined, and your cousin smirked as she looked at you.
"No." you groaned loudly at her words, attracting some looks from the rest of your housemates in the Hufflepuff table. With Millicent being a Slytherin and you a Hufflepuff, it had become a daily occurrence to see the young woman sitting with you in the table of the house of black and yellow. Today, she was talking to you about a man she had feelings about it. However, she did not seem to want to talk about this with anyone.
You stood up and left the Hufflepuff table, and Millicent chuckled before standing up as well and following after you. The both of you left the Great Hall, and you turned to her as the doors closed.
"You know you can trust me! Tell me who he is!" you pleaded, just as an arm snaked around your waist. You looked behind you curiously only to find Ernie, and the man smiled slightly before looking at Millicent.
"Hello." he greeted, and your cousin smiled fondly at him.
"Hey." she said, and you smiled as you turned your head to look at your fellow Hufflepuff.
"Good morning to you all." a new male voice cut in, and all three of you turned to the sound, only to find Harry, a bright smile on his face as he walked in your direction. The chosen one, after the battle was finished, had made it his top priority to speak with people from other houses. Out of your small group of three, he had approached you first. When you had told him conversationally of the fact that Millicent had fought in the war against her own, Harry started talking to her as well. It seemed they were now acquaintances, and from the small smile Millicent offered him, you guessed that she was quite fond of the boy.
"Hello Harry." Ernie said politely, not moving to take his hand away from your waist. The Gryffindor eyed his hand slightly before looking up at him and nodding, and his eyes then rested on you, and he sent a wink in your direction.
"Hello, chosen one." you said, a slight smirk on your features. The raven haired man rolled his eyes at you as he stopped directly next to Millicent.
"What are you not telling your cousin?" he asked the Slytherin, and the woman let out a sound of protest as the man took her arm and started leading her away.
"I'm simply not telling her whom I like, it's no big deal!" the woman exclaimed, and Harry smiled widely at her as he started leading her further away from you and Ernie.
"I get it you need advice then. I am an expert at giving advice!" the man said enthusiastically, and you heard Millicent let out a groan as she was led away by Harry.
You chuckled as you turned to Ernie, and the man smirked slightly before looking back down at you.
"Harry Potter, the Matchmaker." you muttered, and the Hufflepuff let out a laugh at your words.
"I don't know if that will work. Maybe he needs to find another profession." Ernie mused, and you giggled as he let his hand fall away from your waist. "Shall we go eat breakfast then?" he asked, and you smiled slightly at him.
"I have already eaten, but I can keep you company." you suggested, and Ernie smiled as he nodded.
"Sure. Company is nice." he said, and so, both of you made your way in the Great Hall.
***
You were sitting on an armchair in the Hufflepuff common room looking at the flames. Your thoughts were running elsewhere, a man all too clearly pictured in your mind. Ernie couldn't stop occupying every inch of your brain, all logic thoughts driven away at the mere call of his name. He had stood by you this last year, he had been all you could ever ask for. You had finally realised that you liked the man, because he was kind, helpful, and above all, he cared about you. He knew how to cheer you up, and that alone meant a lot to you.
You sighed, deciding to have a walk around the grounds. You sat up, leaving your common room and heading to the Black Lake. You sat down under a tree and closed your eyes, expecting to stay alone, but the next second, someone sat down next to you. You opened one eye, smiling at the man who invited himself next to you.
"To what do I own the pleasure, oh chosen one?" you asked, the raven haired man chuckling.
"I was just walking around alone, when I saw you and thought that I should maybe keep you some company." Harry said, shrugging lightly. You opened your eyes, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Why were you alone? Ron and Hermione? Ginny?" you asked, the man shrugging.
"Ron and Hermione are doing something I'm not interested in seeing, and Ginny is in class." Harry explained, and you let out a chuckle.
"Poor man, you are lonely." you said, bumping your shoulder to his. Harry raised an eyebrow at you.
"You are the one that came here alone." he tried to defend himself as you smirked.
"I chose to be alone, Harry, there is a difference." you explained. He frowned at your confession.
"Why would you want to be alone?" Harry asked. You sighed, before starting to explain.
"I wanted to clear my head off of things. There is a man, you know, I can't get him off my mind." you admitted with a sigh. Harry smiled, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly at you, and you giggled.
"Who is the man?" he asked, and you were about to answer when you saw Ernie heading to your direction.
"This one." you said, and Harry furrowed his eyebrows, before his gaze travelled to Ernie. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise, before he plastered a grin on his face.
"Ernie." he greeted, while you grinned at the man.
"Hello Ernie." you said, and the man smiled at you.
"Hello. What were you talking about?" Ernie asked. You were about to make up a lie to answer, when you caught Harry's eyes. He smirked at you, before answering Ernie's question.
"We were talking about the man your dear friend here, has feelings for." he said like it was no big deal. Your eyes widened, and you glared at Harry.
"Really?" Ernie asked, a somewhat dissapointed expression appearing on his face. "Who is he?"
"Oh, you know." Harry began, and you tried your best to make him shut up but he wouldn't obey. Stubborn Gryffindor. "He is a Hufflepuff in our year." Harry hinted. Your eyes widened, as you turned to Harry, horrified.
"There aren't many Hufflepuff boys in our year." Ernie said, slightly confused. He turned to you for an explanation, but you avoided his eyes.
"I'll be going." Harry said, standing up. "Ginny is propably finished by now." he said. You glared at him as he left.
"Break a leg." you grumbled, Harry hearing you and letting out a laugh. The previously occupied spot by Harry was replaced by Ernie, as he looked at you confused.
"Who do you like? I mean, I can set you up." he said, but you noticed he wasn't telling it with much enthusiasm.
"You know, Ernie, you can't really set me up with them." you said shyly. Merlin, why were you stupid enough to tell Harry?
"Why not? You are beautiful, there would be no problem in that." Ernie continued, blushing lightly, and you averted your gaze from his.
"I don't want any of the other Hufflepuff boys." you mumbled to yourself, expecting that he wouldn't hear you. Of course, he did.
"But that leaves only me." Ernie said out loud, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. His eyes widened as he said that, and he turned to you, but you wouldn't look up at him, your eyes instead looking down at your shoes. "Is it me?" Ernie asked softly. You refused to give him an answer. Slowly, Ernie placed a hand on your chin, tilting it towards him. "You have to tell me, so that I know how to go on. I'm not known for my Gryffindor courage." the man said softly, a small smile on his face. You refused to meet his gaze, but with another soft call of your name, you couldn't help but look up.
You looked up into his beautiful eyes, taking notice of how close the two of you were. Without even knowing what you were doing, you leaned in, and your lips met his. Your eyes widened immediately, and you pulled back, spluttering apologies, but your words were muffled when Ernie pressed his lips against yours. You made a sound of protest, but soon enough, your eyes fluttered closed and you kissed him back.
His lips were soft against yours, tasting of butterbeer, and you were tempted to smile at their taste, Ernie and butterbeer had a special relationship with the other. Ernie pressed his lips harder against yours, and you responded, tilting your head to the side, deepening your kiss. You raised your hand to his school robes, fisting it gently, pulling him closer to you. You were about to lick his bottom lip, asking for entrance, but you realised you were in a place anyone could come and see you, and you didn't want a first year or a second year scarred for life.
You pulled back slowly, a small shy smile on your face as you looked at Ernie. The man grinned, before pecking your lips again.
"Why couldn't I set you up?" he asked, a teasing glint in his eyes. In response, you rolled your eyes at him.
"How could you set me up with yourself, Ernie?" you asked, the boy throwing you a wink.
"It would be the easiest set up I would have ever done. I would have said yes immediately."
You couldn't help but laugh, as his rested his forehead against yours.
"You sound like I asked you to marry me." you said, letting out a small laugh, and the man rolled his eyes, but his smile did not fade.
"We could go on a date someday." he said, and you raised an eyebrow at him.
"Just a date?" you asked cheekily. Ernie smirked, before shaking his head.
"Can't call you my girlfriend without going on a date with you first, can I?"
***
Seven years later
You giggled as your seven-month-old son grabbed your pinky finger as he drank some of his milk.
"You have to thank me for this one." the famous chosen one said from the armchair next to you. You raised your gaze to his, rolling your eyes.
"It would have happened in some point anyway." you protested, not wanting to say to Harry that he was, indeed, correct.
"Please," he scoffed, "it might would have, it might would not. But if I hadn't interfered, you wouldn't have this little one now." the man said, making a funny face at your son who giggled, popping the bottle with his milk out of his mouth. He made grabbing motions to Harry, and you looked at the man before offering him your son to hold. Harry looked at you uncertainly, but took the baby carefully, his eyes full of adoration.
"You are the reason we are married." Ernie's voice came from the doorway, smiling at you and Harry. You looked back at Ernie as he walked closer to you and Harry, his smile remaining as he placed a hand on your shoulder. "That's why we decided you should be his godfather." your husband continued, Harry looking surprised up at you and then Ernie, as you raised your hand, resting it on top of Ernie's and squeezing it lightly.
"Are you sure? Don't you want any of your friends to be-"
"You are a friend, now, Harry. I don't forget those who did something to help me, and you, have helped me immensely. We both agree that it should be the fairest if you were the godfather." Ernie persisted. Harry nodded, smiling down at your son.
"Well, little one, seems like you are stuck with me, now." he said to your son, and you couldn't help but smirk.
"My poor son." you said, Harry glaring at you in return.