Her Chamber of Secrets
Chapter IX:
Forbidden
After what seemed like ages, dinner was finally over. You were free from the awkward tension Draco was causing.
Roaming the halls and corridors of Hogwarts always seemed to calm your nerves. You loved observing the haunting architecture.
Before long, you decided to head over to the Gryffindor common room to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Although it was breaking a school rule, they would sneak you in from time to time to catch up.
Ascending one of the staircases, you realized that it began to move. Before you knew it, the staircase had taken you off of your original path and placed you in one of the forbidden sections of the school.
"Oh bullocks." You whispered before looking for a way back. Your search was a waste, as the staircase had moved back to its previous location and seemed to not be returning any time soon.
Quickly, you looked about for a professor or even Filch to escort you back before finding yourself in trouble.
Hours passed before you finally gave up and accepted that you were lost and help was not coming. You pressed your back against the cold, stone wall and slid down until your bum had touched the floor.
As you rested your head against the cold surface, you heard your name being called. "Miss (L/N)? Miss (L/N) is that you?" Professor Snape called out to you. "What do you think you are doing?" He questioned.
"Professor!" You screeched as you saw him coming. Standing up abruptly, you ran over to him and gave him a hearty hug. "I thought I was going to be stuck up here forever!"
Snape cocked his head sideways in confusion when he realized that you had not come to the forbidden corridor willingly. "Professor Dumbledore noticed that a few of the staircases had been charmed, preventing them from moving, that wasn't your doing?"
"Of course not, Professor. I was on my way to the Gryffindor common room to wait for Harry and his friends." You explained.
A weak smiled found its way across his weathered face. "While I'm pleased that you were not the culprit, I'm afraid that you may have been set up. Miss (F/N), I assume you're aware that Hogwarts is holding the Triwizard Tournament this year. Correct?"
You nodded your head an agreeable fashion. "Yes sir."
"You're a smart girl (F/N), don't disappoint me by doing something foolish."
You didn't understand the professors concern. "You mean to put my name in the Goblet of Fire? Professor, I'm not even old enough."
Snape looked at you softly. "Of course, my apologies. I would warn you would watch yourself Miss (L/N), someone here wishes you harm.
Snape was referring to the charm placed on the moving staircases.
"Thank you professor." You said, smiling slightly. "I'll try to get to the bottom of this."
Professor Snape then ushered you back down to the Gryffindor common room. The Fat Lady glared at him the whole time he stood by you. A few moments passed before Harry, Ron, and Hermione came through the door the Fat Lady was hanging on. When Snape knew you were safe, he took his leave.
"(F/N)!" Hermione squealed as she leaped to hug you tightly. "We've looked for you everywhere!"
You looked at the three of them with confusion. Just how long were you stuck?
"You'll tell us what happened, won't you (F/N)?" Harry asked as he gestured to the common room door.
"Fortuna Major." Hermione spoke to the Fat Lady.
The woman in the painting winked at you before she opened the door, knowing to keep your visitation a secret.
Once you passed through the door and into their common room, you took a seat on the floor next to the fire. "Well, I was headed here to meet all of you when the staircase I was on started moving."
Ron, Harry, and Hermione all shared glances at each other, recalling their harrowing experience with the moving staircases.
"The professors said it was charmed." Harry pointed out. "They hadn't been moving for a while."
You scratched your head as you thought who might have tried to get you in trouble.
"Draco..." You sneered before quickly standing up and exiting the common room.
The Golden Trio tried to stop you from going, but you were set on confronting Draco about the situation.
A short time later, you found him near the Great Hall. "Draco Lucius!" You screamed as you tugged on his shoulder.
Draco turned around quickly and when he saw your face, his turned as white as a ghost.
"(F/N) forgive me. I never meant for you to be stranded up there. I did it so we could spend some time to ourselves."
You looked at him incredulously. "Some time to ourselves? You think I'd want to spend time alone with you? After everything you've done.."
His eyes quickly fell to the ground. "The spell went wrong. I was supposed to be on the staircase with you but I wasn't fast enough."
"Thank Merlin." You spat angrily.
Draco looked up at you in defeat, his stormy, grey eyes sparkled ever so slightly. "I'm sorry (F/N) I've just never felt this way about someone before. I'm not sure how to act."
You felt strong pings of guilt run through your body. "Well you don't trap them in a forbidden corridor." You said lowly. "I want you to tell Dumbledore that it was you."
"I can't do that, (F/N). Do you know how much trouble I will be in?" He was all but begging you not to make him do this.
"You should've thought about the consequences of your scheme before you acted on it." You said quietly before you turned and walked away from him.
Tears began to fall down onto your cheeks at a quickening pace. You rushed to the closest bathroom and ran into a stall.
You felt betrayed, you felt guilty, and you felt afraid. You were afraid of the lengths Draco would go to to gain your love, but mostly you felt confused. You were angry at Draco for what he had done but at the same time you were flattered that he risked a lot just to be with you.
The next couple of days were quiet. You hadn't seen Draco since the night outside of the Great Hall. He either turned himself in to the headmaster or he was completely avoiding you. Whatever it was, you felt lonely without him.
