Y/N spent that night and every night he could afterwards at the Hospital Wing with Hermione. Any night he couldn't, he at least made sure he visited her and kept her company for as long as he could before Madam Pomfrey shunted him out. He knew she appreciated it and so he wasn't going to stop.

A few weeks later and the rest of the school returned. Hermione's disappearance was immediately apparent, and rumours of another attack spread like wildfire. But Y/N crushed these as quickly as they began, making sure everyone knew she was still okay and simply healing from a bad illness she'd caught over Christmas in the Hospital Wing.

Once lessons started up again, the trio made sure to visit her every evening. Harry and Ron supplied the homework and chatted for a while before leaving and allowing Y/N to re-enact the days lessons to Hermione so she knew what they'd been taught.

One such evening however, they were just finishing up in Transfiguration. The bell rang signalling the end of lessons, but over the sudden bustle Professor McGonagall's voice rang out.

'Y/N! A word!'

'What have you done now, mate?' asked Harry quietly as everyone else left, but Y/N merely shrugged.

'Never know with her, could be something I didn't even know I did. You guys head down, I'll catch up.'

The two nodded and left. Y/N stepped forward towards McGonagall's desk as she placed the mix of Porcupines and Pin Cushions back into the box on her desk.

'How is Miss Granger?' she asked, once they were alone.

'Coping,' said Y/N. 'She's grateful to be getting help with it, but she's not enjoying it. Think she's going stir crazy in there.'

'Poppy tells me you've only left when she forces you out.'

'Well, yeah? 'Mione needs someone there with her. I'd hate to be stuck in there alone for weeks.'

'That's a good moral to have, Y/N. Dedication to our friends above all else is an admirable trait, and it is for that reason that I will not ask how Miss Granger came to be a cat. But know that if you're doing what I think you're doing, I will need to stop it,' Professor McGonagall's face was impassive, but he could hear the veiled threat within those words.

He bit his tongue from his retort and nodded.

'Don't worry mum, I know the teachers are better equipped than we are. We aren't chasing an ancient monster.'

'Good, now off you go. Hermione will be waiting for you.'

Y/N swept from the room and headed downstairs where he met Harry and Ron sat on Hermione's right side. Y/N took the seat on her left.

'What did she want?' said Ron before he'd even finished sitting down.

'Checking on 'Mione,' said Y/N, 'and threatening me to not go searching for the Chamber.'

'Threatening you?' asked Harry.

'Vaguely. Basically just said that if we're doing what she thinks we are, she'll have to stop us.'

'Oh yeah, like they stopped us last year with the Philosopher's stone,' said Ron grimly.

'I almost said the same thing,' said Y/N, 'but I've seen her angry. Not worth provoking. Just means we need to keep quieter about it.'

'If I'd sprouted whiskers, I'd take a break from work,' said Ron, his eyes now on Hermione as she flicked through their homework for the day.

'Don't be silly Ron, I've got to keep up,' replied Hermione. She was much happier these days, the fur was gone from her face and her eyes were steadily regaining their lovely brown.

'Guessing we've got no new leads?' she added in a whisper.

'Nothing,' muttered Harry.

'I was so sure it was Malfoy,' said Ron.

'I told you it wouldn't be him,' said Y/N. 'Would have to be a stronger wizard. Malfoy couldn't control some ancient evil beast.'

'What's that?' asked Harry, pointing to something sticking out of Hermione's pillow. She sighed as she withdrew it.

'I was hoping to show this just to Y/N when you two left, thought he deserved to know,' she passed it across to Y/N, who saw it was a card. He flipped it open and read.

'To Miss Granger, wishing you a speedy recovery, from your concerned teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award.'

'His signatures longer than the actual well-wish,' said Y/N disgusted. 'May I?' he added, looking at Hermione, and she nodded smiling slightly.

'Incendio!'

And Y/N watched in delight as the card caught a flame and fluttered down towards the floor in a small shower of ash.

Harry and Ron took their leave not long after, leaving Hermione and Y/N alone once again. He immediately shuffled his chair closer and began helping her with her homework.

'Did that help you get some frustration out?' Hermione asked around half an hour later, nodding at the pile of ash.

'A few of them,' smirked Y/N. 'Cheeky git. He'll be gloating about that tomorrow at breakfast, I guarantee it. Some great teacher he is.'

'The gestures sweet,' sighed Hermione, leaning back against her pillow, 'but I do wish it had been literally anyone else.'

'Even Malfoy?'

'Shut up Y/N.'

They continued studying together for a few more hours before Y/N sighed and got to his feet.

'You're leaving?' Hermione asked, her face falling.

'Afraid so,' he said, reaching out and squeezing her hand. 'I've got my own work I need to get through. I'll come down and stay with you tomorrow night yeah?'

'Okay,' said Hermione pretending to pout, but her face lightened when Y/N leant in and hugged her.

'Good night 'Mione. You've got the journal if you need me.'

'Of course, night Y/N.' And he took his leave.

He wandered slowly back up to the Gryffindor common room. He was in no particular rush to get his work done but knew he had to. He'd have rather stayed with Hermione, but sadly that was not an option right now.

'Hungarian,' he said as he approached the Fat Lady and she swung open. Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen, so he made his way over to the boys dormitory. But just before he could begin climbing, he felt someone grab his arm.

He turned, coming face to face with Ginny.

'Hey Gin!' he said brightly. 'What's up?'

'I… I got rid of it. The book, it's gone.'

'That's brilliant, honestly. What made you change your mind?'

'You,' she said simply. 'If you truly did sense evil, there's no reason you'd lie to me so I thought it'd be best to just ditch it where no one else can find it.'

'For what it's worth, I'm proud of you Gin, really I am. You did a brave thing today.'

Ginny smiled then, looking unsure, stepped forward and gently wrapped her arms around him. Y/N returned the gesture and when he did, she tightened her grip before stepping away.

'Thanks Y/N. I'll catch you later?'

'Of course. If you need anything, let me know yeah?' Ginny nodded and moved back off to join the twins, who both waved happily at Y/N. He returned the gesture and continued up the stairs to the boys dormitory. He'd only just opened the door when he staggered, a sense of dread overwhelming him.

'For Merlin's sake!' he cried, glaring at the black diary now in Harry's hands.

()()()()()()

Finally, at the beginning of February, Hermione was released from the Hospital Wing. Luckily, with the help she'd been receiving from Y/N, she managed to turn in all her due homework and keep up in lessons as if she'd never left. Which Y/N was grateful for, he was worried he hadn't been doing that good of a job.

The first evening she was back, they were all sitting in the common room, when Harry, looking cautiously at Y/N, spoke up.

'So, me and Ron found something, but I feel like I should ask Y/N first…'

'Still got that chocolate on you, 'Mione?'

'Not the same one but I've got some,' she said, reaching into her robes and handing a large piece to Y/N.

'Go on then,' he said darkly.

Harry withdrew the diary and Y/N involuntarily recoiled a little bit.

'Is it really that bad?' Hermione asked, looking down at him from her perch on the arm of his chair.

'Not exactly. It's powerful, not on the same level of the cloak, but it's strong magic, it's just the feeling that comes with it. Just like, infinite dread.'

'Well it definitely has hidden powers then,' said Hermione, standing to take the diary from Harry and placing herself down on the sofa instead of bringing the diary closer to Y/N.

'It's hiding them very well. Maybe it's shy, dunno why you don't just chuck it Harry. Especially with Y/N saying it's so bad,' said Ron.

'For once I agree with him, Harry. Nothing good will come from keeping that book, I guarantee it.'

'I want to know why someone did try to chuck it,' said Harry. 'I wouldn't mind knowing how Riddle got a special award for services to the school.'

'There are other ways to find out that don't involve messing with a cursed diary mate,' said Ron. 'Maybe he got thirty O.W.L.S or saved a teacher from the giant squid. Maybe he murdered Myrtle, that would've done everyone a favour.'

'Since when have you been so anti-adventure?' asked Harry.

'Since Y/N told us it was cursed. Dad always tells us not to trust an item if you can't see where it keeps its brain. It could already have a hold of you,' Ron responded. Hermione was looking at Y/N and, without words, he sighed.

'Yeah, it probably is 'Mione,' he said grimly.

'It would make sense, wouldn't it?' she replied happily.

'But if it's empty-' Y/N began.

'What are you two on about?' asked Harry.

'The Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago, this diary is fifty years old, Tom Riddle got an award for special services to the school fifty years ago,' said Hermione. 'What if Riddle got the award for catching the Heir of Slytherin? His diary would probably tell us everything, where the Chamber is, how to open it, what sort of creature lives in it. The person behind the attacks wouldn't want to leave this lying around, would they?'

Y/N felt like he'd been hit by a wrecking ball. Hermione was right, the diary probably did hold all that information. And it had been in Ginny's possession for months. Could Ginny have really…?

He shook his head, she was a first year, and a Gryffindor from a long line of Gryffindors. Any one of the Weasleys could be the heir of Slytherin and so by extension it was probably none. There was only meant to be one heir.

He zoned back in as Hermione was tapping her wand against the diary.

'Aparecium!' she called, but nothing happened. Undeterred however, she plunged her hand into her bag and withdrew a bright red eraser.

'It's a revealer!' she said brightly at Ron and Harry's sceptical faces. 'Y/N got it for me, it reveals invisible writing.'

She rubbed hard at the top of one of the pages, but nothing happened.

'I'm telling you, there's nothing to find in there,' said Ron. 'Riddle just got a diary for Christmas and couldn't be bothered filling it in. Just ditch it, Harry.'

'There's clearly something,' said Harry defensively, 'or Y/N wouldn't be getting such a strong reaction.'

'There being something, and there being something good, are two very different things, Harry,' said Y/N darkly.

A while later, Harry and Ron moved off to bed, but Y/N remained. He wanted to speak to Hermione. She could tell, and she patted the sofa next to her. Y/N moved over to join her.

'What's up?' she asked him.

'That diary. It's the thing Lucius Malfoy gave to Ginny in Diagon Alley.'

'Are you sure?' Hermione asked sharply and Y/N nodded.

'Positive, she even showed it to me that day I left you guys in Myrtle's bathroom. I told her about my ability and she asked me to look into it. I recognised it straight away and she confirmed it.'

'But didn't you say-?' Hermione began.

'Yeah, it's cursed. And has been in her possession for months. If it does hold any information, I really hope Harry finds it before anything else happens. I don't want to watch that item jump person to person.'

'Should we tell anyone?'

'Not yet, the teachers aren't on our side this year. They don't want students getting involved. And whilst I can see why, we're getting further than they are. If we hand it over, we'll never see it again. Let Harry learn what he can, then we'll deal with it.'

Hermione nodded and with a sigh got to her feet.

'We should be heading off to bed, Y/N.'

'Guess you're right, night 'Mione.'

And with a wave. Both moved off to their own dormitories.

Annoyingly however, Harry did not seem to be making any headway with the journal. Y/N felt the sense of dread most nights and knew that Harry was looking through it, but he'd never once heard him say he had found anything. He wanted to have a crack at it himself, but every part of his body was screaming at him to get away from the thing.

The day after their original conversation, they'd headed up to the Trophy Room to examine Riddle's award, but it had revealed nothing extra. They also found his name on a medal for magical merit and a list of old head boys.

'He sounds like Percy,' said Ron disgustedly. 'Prefect, Head boy, probably top of every class-'

'You say that like it's a bad thing,' said Hermione, sounding slightly hurt.

'No he didn't,' said Y/N, pulling her into a hug. 'He said it as if it's a truly impressive feat. Didn't you Ron?' he added with a glare.

'Yeah, yeah of course, exactly what I meant,' said Ron, looking worried.

()()()()()()

The next week or two passed with almost nothing bar rumours flying around the school. There had been no extra attacks since Justin and Nick, and Professor Sprout had even been able to happily announce that the Mandrakes were almost ready for repotting, once their acne cleared up.

Ernie and Peeves were still determined to spread that Harry was the heir, but most people had given up listening by now.

Lockhart however, seemed positive that it was his doing.

'I don't think there'll be any more trouble, Minerva,' he said to her as the second years were lined up waiting for Transfiguration. 'I think the Chamber has been locked for good this time. You know, what the school needs now is a morale-booster. Something to revitalise the castle. I won't say anymore just now, but I think I know just the thing…'

And with an annoying tap of his nose, he left.

What he had been planning became apparent on the morning of Valentine's Day. Ron, Y/N and Hermione made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry had overslept owing to a Quidditch Practice the night before that luckily, being only a reserve, Y/N had managed to dodge.

They wandered in and Ron and Y/N grimaced. The entire hall was bright pink, hundreds of flowers adorned the walls and heart shaped confetti fell from the ceiling. They wandered over to the Gryffindor table and Hermione wrapped her arm in Y/N's. She seemed ecstatic and was very giggly at everything.

'Glad you're enjoying yourself,' he muttered darkly.

'Come on Y/N! It's Valentine's,' she said brightly. 'Be happy with me! It's a wonderful time.'

'I'll try my best,' he grunted, glaring at Lockhart at the teacher's desk. He was wearing horrible pink robes that matched the room. On either side of him sat Professors McGonagall and Snape who both looked like they were inches away from murdering the man next to them. Y/N smiled a little at this.

Before long, Harry joined them, and Lockhart got to his feet.

'Happy Valentine's day!' he called beaming at everyone. 'And may I thank the forty-five people who have so far sent me cards! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all, and this isn't all!'

Lockhart clapped his hands and the Great Hall doors opened. In marched around a dozen dwarves, all wearing golden wings and equipped with harps. Y/N wretched.

'My friendly, card-carrying cupids!' Lockhart beamed. 'They will be roving around the school today delivering your valentines. And the fun doesn't stop here-'

But Y/N had stopped listening. He was stabbing moodily at his food.

'Please tell me you weren't one of the forty-five,' Ron asked Hermione as they left, and Hermione scoffed.

'Please. Him? My valentine?' she said.

'So, you have one then?' asked Harry slyly.

'None of your business, Potter,' she said as she grabbed Y/N's arm and stalked off.

The cupids kept bursting into all of their classes, serenading random students. All of the teachers got very angry when this happened, but Y/N manged to get lucky. He'd just been coming back from the bathroom when one caught him in a corridor alone.

'Oi! Y/N L/N!' the dwarf called as he moved up the corridor towards him. 'I've got a poem to give to you.'

'Make it quick then,' said Y/N, glancing carefully up the corridor to make sure they were alone.

"You've always been there for me, someone in whom I can confide

You've never missed a chance to give me back my stride

And even when life has begun down a slide

You've always been right there with me for the ride

So I know that no matter what, you'll always be my guide

You are the one who will always stand by my side."

Y/N was frozen still. The dwarf nodded and handed him the parchment with the poem before briskly moving off away up the corridor. He glanced down at the gyroscope hanging around his neck, his present from Hermione, and read the ancient runes engraved on it. Though he couldn't speak it himself, he knew what it said.

'To the one who I know will always stand by my side.'

It was obvious now, the reason for everything. The gyroscope, the kisses, the sadness when he left her at the Hospital Wing. He felt so dumb to have never seen it before. Hermione liked him too. That was probably what she wanted to ask him once he was less stressed. And this morning, when she'd dodged the question about having a valentine.

He suddenly realised he was very late for getting back to class and hurried back. He spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out exactly how to approach Hermione. She was as giggly as she had been that morning and didn't seem to notice that anything had changed in her best friend, but he was fighting a constant battle. Did he ask her? Or did he wait for the Chamber nonsense to clear up?

The lunch bell rang, and the quartet began to make their way down towards the Great Hall when Y/N made up his mind.

'Hey, 'Mione. Can I have a word quick?' She nodded and they waved Ron and Harry away. Y/N led her down into the grounds and down to the rock they had shared earlier that year, the day they'd first met Colin.

'What's up?' she asked, sitting herself down next to him and turning to look at him.

Y/N sighed and then withdrew the poem from his pocket and handed it to her. Hermione took it and read the first line; her face went extremely pink.

'Who- who did you get this off?' she lied unconvincingly.

'A dwarf,' said Y/N. 'One of Lockhart's. But you already know all about that don't you?'

'What do you-?'

'Look, I've been dense so far Hermione but not anymore. I've put two and two together finally. The flirting, the kisses, this poem. I just wanted to say, that I like you too. Yes, like that. I didn't want to say anything whilst all this Chamber of Secrets stuff was going on, but I've got a massive crush on you.'

Hermione was silent for a few moments, gazing at him before she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

'I've been waiting for you to say those words to me all year,' she said happily into his ear.

'All year?' he asked.

'I heard you in the carriage talking to Neville. You didn't even check to see if I had fallen asleep, I only put my head on your shoulder.' Y/N felt his face set alight.

'Oh no,' he said. 'That's why you've been winding me up all year. You've been trying to show me that you feel the same.'

'If the poem didn't give it away, I was going to ask you at the end of the year.'

'To be fair I was thinking about inviting you around again this summer and asking you then,' said Y/N, blushing slightly.

'Well, that wouldn't have worked. I'm going to France with my parents this summer, remember? I promised it last year so I could come stay with you.'

'Oh yeah, forgot about that.'

'What brought this on now, anyway? Was it the poem?' she asked him, finally looking into his eyes.

'I've been fighting the urge to tell you all year to be honest. I was going to wait till I had my feelings in check, make sure it wasn't just a spur of the moment thing and by the time I did, the attacks had started. Since the attacks have been going on, I've realised I care about you as more than just a friend or my best friend.'

'I've felt this way since last year, roughly around the time you kept coming with me to help me study. Obviously we had our journals, you were helping me excel whilst focusing on your own bits. Like you I wanted to know this was definitely how I felt. But that day with Quirrell…' Hermione shivered, and Y/N squeezed her. She smiled gently and pushed on.

'It hit me; I was prepared to rip this castle apart looking for you. Knowing I was coming to see you over the summer helped keep me going. It's why when you offered for longer, I jumped at the chance. I wanted to ask you but didn't know how you felt. Then we came back to Hogwarts and I heard you talking to Neville. I thought getting you to ask me would be easier but until recently, I'd realised it probably would have been easier the other way around.'

'What do you think then?' asked Y/N.

'I think there's too much stress going on for both of us at the moment,' said Hermione. 'Exams, lessons and this monster have us both on edge. Throwing a relationship in there is a recipe for disaster. How about we make it through this year, then we speak about it over the summer? If you still want to go ahead with it, then we can get together then?'

''Mione, I've waited all year for you. Another few months won't hurt me. I'll happily wait that long.'

'Well then, ask me over the summer holidays and we can start our third year together,' she said brightly. They sat there for a while longer staring into each other's eyes.

'Your eyes are such a lovely shade of brown, 'Mione,' said Y/N. Hermione's face grew scarlet.

'Yours are a very beautiful (E/C) too, Y/N. It's wonderful to look into them.' They stayed there for a moment longer before Hermione gasped.

'Lockhart!'

'Why've you gotta bring him up now,' said Y/N grumpily.

'That's why you're so angry at him! Cause I said he was handsome over the summer, isn't it? You got jealous?'

'I am not above jinxing you off this rock,' said Y/N sharply, but it was too late. Hermione's eyes had already gained a mischievous glint.

'Ohhhh you've signed yourself up for something here, Y/N,' she smirked.

'I've signed nothing yet; we need to get through this year first.'

'Doesn't mean I can't tease you.'

'Maybe I won't ask you then.'

'Fine, I'll ask you then, and unless you've forgotten, you just said you'd wait as long as you had to for me.'

The two best friends held each-others gazes for a moment longer before both broke down into fits of laughter.

'We're going to be a dangerous couple,' said Y/N as the two stood up and made their way back towards the castle, hand in hand.

'Only to people we don't like,' said Hermione. 'And Ron if he annoys us.'

And laughing once more, the two made their way back into the Great Hall.

Y/N spent the rest of the afternoon with a stupid great smile on his face, as did Hermione. Both were glad that they'd finally been able to get their feelings out into the air. Harry however, looked grim as the day progressed, and especially so once a dwarf elbowed its way through the crowd to reach him outside of Charms.

'Oy, you! 'Arry Potter!' the dwarf called as he barged his way through. Harry went immediately red and began trying to push his way through the crowd, but the dwarf moved through the crowd as if it was water.

'I've got a musical message to deliver to 'Arry Potter in person,' said the dwarf threateningly as he twanged his harp.

'Not here,' hissed Harry.

'Should we help him?' asked Hermione, smiling at the scene in front of her.

'Nope,' said Y/N happily. 'You know when we said about being a dangerous couple?'

The dwarf had now grabbed Harry's bag to stop him from escaping. Y/N pointed his wand at the seam on Harry's bag and muttered.

'Diffindo'

The bag split in two. Harry's books, wand and parchment fell towards the floor. Y/N saw his ink bottle fall too, and quickly caught it with a levitation charm.

'Thanks Y/N,' muttered Harry as he scrambled around picking everything up.

'Reparo!' said Y/N, now pointing his wand at Harry's bag which sealed shut. Harry began stuffing all his things inside as Hermione leant in and whispered.

'You split his bag then repair it to look innocent? You're too good at this.'

'I used to hang out with Fred and George' muttered Y/N 'You learn a few tricks'

Unfortunately however, his prank became a lot less harmless as a drawling voice rang over the crowd.

'What's going on here?'

'Oh no,' muttered Y/N. 'Wasn't expecting Malfoy to hear this.'

But no sooner had he finished this sentence when another voice rang through.

'What's all this commotion?'

Percy Weasley had now also arrived on the scene. Harry had finally finished shoving everything into his bag and made to get away, but the dwarf grabbed her round the ankles, sending him to the floor again and sat on him, to stop him from moving.

'Right. Here is your singing valentine,' said the dwarf before strumming his harp and beginning.

'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.'

The crowd rang with laughter. Both Hermione and Y/N were doing their best not to join in. It was proving difficult. Ron had already failed and was gasping for breath.

'Off you go, off you go, the bell rang five minutes ago, off to class now,' called Percy trying to break the crowd up 'And you Malfoy-'

But they glanced over in time to watch Malfoy to snatch something up, Y/N had been so focused on his good mood that he hadn't felt the dread. Even now, he only realised it was there because he was looking at the item, but it seemed to not affect him.

'Give that back,' said Harry quietly.

'Wonder what Potter's written in this?' called Malfoy, his eyes roaming over the crowd. Y/N glanced around hoping against hope-

And groaned, as he saw Ginny staring at the diary, her eyes wide with fear.

'That's not good,' he muttered. Hermione opened her mouth to question him further but was stopped as Percy spoke over all of them.

'Hand it over Malfoy!' he said sternly.

'When I've had a look,' said Malfoy, waving it at Harry. Y/N watched Harry draw his wand and smirked.

'Expelliarmus!'

The book went flying out of Malfoy's hands and Harry caught it. Percy looked beside himself.

'Harry! No magic in the corridors! I shall have to report this.'

Malfoy's face was a mask of anger and he decided to take it out on Ginny.

'I don't think Potter like your valentine much!' he snapped at her. Ginny covered her face and ran into class.

Ron reached for his wand, but Harry steadied his hand. Hermione however, made no move to stop Y/N as he raised his own.

'Diff-' he stopped himself mid spell. Sadly, that was enough for Percy to notice.

'Y/N! 5 points from Gryffindor, move. Now!'

'Why did you stop?' asked Ron angrily.

'I just said the first spell that came to mind, Diffindo was too dangerous. If my aim was slightly off, I could have killed him,' said Y/N bitterly. 'I should have gone for Flipendo.'

'Would have done everyone a favour if you had of killed him,' said Ron bitterly as they walked into charms.

'And I'd have wound up in Azkaban,' said Y/N as he and Hermione walked over to their desk.

Charms class passed without any other incident, it would appear as though most of the Dwarves had gotten their sonnets and poems out the way. The quartet made their way back up to the common room. Harry went to bed early, but Hermione, Y/N and Ron began on their Defence Against the Dark Arts homework, which turned out to be less of a homework sheet and more of 1001 reasons to love Gilderoy Lockhart.

'I'd burn it if I could get away with it,' muttered Ron darkly.

'I'll do it too; we'll pretend there was a fire,' said Y/N staring down at his essay, which currently said 'Gilderoy Lockhart is'.

They had been working on it for almost an hour.

'Oh yeah, 'is!',' said Ron, quickly noting down the third word onto his own essay. Hermione, who had already written almost two pages, scoffed at them.

'Please just let me copy this one, Hermione. I won't ask again for the rest of the year,' said Ron.

'As much as I know that's a lie,' said Hermione, and she tapped her wand against her parchment, creating a perfect duplicate, which she handed to Ron.

'What's got her in such a good mood?' Ron asked Y/N, looking dumbfounded.

'No idea mate,' said Y/N, smiling stupidly as he turned to look at his best friend.

'Riiiight,' said Ron. 'I'm going to go get Harry, he'll want to copy this too.'

Ron moved off and Y/N and Hermione turned to each other.

'They'll figure it out sooner or later,' she said with a smirk.

'There's nothing too figure out. Nothing's changed. Yet.'

'They'll notice something's up though.'

'You give them far too much credit, 'Mione. Ron couldn't see a tree if it was two inches in front of him.'

'I can't find Harry, he's not in the dormitory,' said Ron, reappearing at Y/N's shoulder.

'Case in point,' said Y/N, getting to his feet and following Ron up to the dormitory. There, lying on his bed, slightly out of breath, was Harry.

'Ron, seriously?' asked Y/N, turning to look at him.

'He genuinely wasn't there!' cried Ron, looking outraged. 'Where were you?' Ron asked Harry.

But Harry didn't seem to have heard the question. He turned to look at both of them, he was sweating and shaking.

'You alright mate?' asked Y/N.

'It was Hagrid,' said Harry. 'Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago.'