Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It belongs to J.K.
A/N - So it has been a very long time since i have updated! I apologise for breaking my promise, but i have found all my old notes on this story and i am determined to finish it :) So here we are, Chapter 23.
Draco landed on something that appeared to be crunching under his feet. It was freezing and there was a horrific smell that reminded him of something rotting. Pushing himself up and coughing he looked around him. Professor Lockhart was standing near a tunnel looking skittish. Quickly the other two boys landed behind him. Looking down he suddenly realised what he was standing on, skeletons. Something stirred inside his stomach but he forced himself to look away and focus on the task at hand.
"Ugh." Ron muttered looking at what he just landed on, the sound caused Draco to turn.
"Now remember any sound of movement, close your eyes straight away." Harry told them.
what a great idea close your eyes and just wait for it to eat you...genius Draco thought to himself, shaking his head as they started to move down the tunnel.
"This way!" Harry called a few meters in front, Draco followed at the back making sure Lockhart didn't try and make a run for it.
"woah what's this" Ron exclaimed, stopping abruptly causing Draco to slam into the back of the Professor.
"Well it looks like a snake" Draco muttered
"It is a Snake Skin," Harry replied using his wand to light the way, he followed the the long creatures skin further down the tunnel.
"Blood Hell!" Ron practically shouted, as he moved slowly, Draco could see him shaking and turning even paler than normal.
"Don't worry Weasel, it cant bite you." Draco laughed, but he knew even his voice gave away how on edge he was feeling.
He couldn't help but have an unsettling feeling just thinking that Hermione has been down here ... alone.
Suddenly Professor Lockhart fell to the ground making everyone turn towards him. Draco looked at his feet. "Was it something i said?" he mocked.
"Heart of a Lion this one..." The Red head muttered sarcastically.
Suddenly the Professor jumped up knocking Weasley over and turned to the all, pointing the broken wand, still wrapped in celotape at all three boys. Draco starred in confusion wondering if the man in front of him had gone completely mad!
"The adventure ends here boys!" The professor droned at them. His hair all over the place making him look even more insane as he panted heavily. "But don't fret...the world will know our story ... how i was too late to safe the girl ... how you three tragically lost your minds... at the sight of her mangled body ... " He spat towards them, something about his eyes seemed glassed over and he was now sweating. "So ...you first Mr. Potter, say goodbye to your memories!"
"Remind me why we brought this tragic excuse of a wizard with us again...?" Draco called, hoping to take Lockharts attention off the the raven haired boy. As he turned his eyes grew large and raising the gingers wand towards Malfoy he yelled; "OBLIVIATE"
Draco winced and lunged towards the floor, however, the Professor was thrown towards the ceiling of the tunnel in a halo of blue light, crashing against the rocks before knocking himself out on the ground.
The tunnel began to shake and rocks started crumbling down to the ground, blocking their way.
"HARRY RUN, SAVE HERMIONE!" Draco yelled as he scrambled to his feet, pulling Weasley out of the way of a boulder.
It felt like a minuet had passed before the shaking had stopped and the tunnel was well and truly blocked. "Weasley i'm not being funny but it is time to man up and help me unblock this tunnel before anyone ends up dead." Malfoy said harshly, adrenaline kicking in.
As the two boys moved forward Lockhart sat up "It is an odd sort of place this isn't it. Do you live here?"
Hermione couldn't work out if she was freezing or burning but she felt wet. Shivering against the damp stone floor, her head feeling like it was going to split in two. A mist surrounded her visions and thoughts and faintly every so often she thought she could hear voices or footsteps. It felt like forever until the pain started to drift away and as she awoke she sat up coughing and shaking, trying to catch her breath as she looked around realising where she was. He body felt like it had gone into shock and she couldn't move her legs. Memories of the past year started flooding back as she realised what had happened. Letting out a squeal she turned over trying to figure out what just happened. The Chamber of Secrets. she realised as she caught the sight of the lark snake statues and water gently licking at her legs. She finally turned to the sound of heavy breathing.
"Harry?!" She croaked towards him, he met her eye and she could see he was in pain. "you're hurt!"
Suddenly Fawkes flew above her and landed by Harry's side. They both watch as little droplets landed on his wound "Of course! Pheonix tears have healing powers!" Harry said, looking up and meeting Hermiones eyes.
"Harry i am so sorry..." She began but he stopped her by pulling her into a hug.
"Don't be silly Hermione, now come on Ron and Draco are at the end of the tunnel!"
"Draco?" She whispered but it was two low for him to hear. Hermione stood up and saw the basilisk fang stabbed into the diary. "we need to take some of these with us!"
"What?!"
"Don't worry it is a log story, but very rarely do we come across a basilisk that we can take its fangs! They have so many properties Harry, Look what happened to the Diary! If Voldemort is back...we need to be prepared!"
After nervously pulling out five fangs they moved back through the tunnel. Hermiones head was feeling faint and they tried their best to hold eachother up. Soon enough, through all the dust and the dark they saw the boys, she tried to move quickly and before she knew it cold arms that belonged to a blonde haired slytherin had wrapped themselves around her body.
"You Stupid Bitch! I Was worried SICK!" He voice shouted in her ear, making her wince.
"Malfoy i-" but before she could say anything they were interrupted by Fawkes calling out gesturing for them to hold on and within 5 minutes they were out of the tunnels, where Professor McGonagal, Snape and Dumbledore stood, a mixture of emotions plastered on their faces.