"No matter what happens...I'll be the first one who protects her"
~~~
3rd Person's POV
Y/n, Harry and Ron visited Hermione every evening when the term started. Y/n had her homework right away so Hermione could follow up what she left in the classes she couldn't attain.
At first, Madam Pomfrey was surprised why Hermione was covered in Cat hair. But Y/n managed to make her believe that Hermione ate something that was a part of someone's plan for pranking someone. Madam Pomfrey believed that it was understandable since alot of people prank eachother while the holidays.
After completing the piles of homework. Y/n, Harry and Ron were returning towards the Gryffindor Common Room while small talks.
"Have you spoken to Hermione?" Ron asked Y/n since she always went to visit Hermione everytime she got free time.
"Yes.. She should be out of hospital in a few days.....when she stops coughing up fur balls" Y/n replied and then three of them saw water all over the floor. There was only one person who could do that... well not a person, a ghost.
"What's this?" Harry asked not being a observant for the moment. They just followed the water and came in the corridor which was very close to Abandoned girl's bathroom.
"Yuck!" Ron said in disgust
"Looks like Moaning Myrtle flooded the bathroom" Y/n told the boys and they went to the bathroom where all this begun. They entered the bathroom with almost wet socks. They saw that all of the water taps were running with water overflowing in the basin. They heard a sob, Y/n signed and walked towards Myrtle
"Come to throw something else at me?" Myrtle asked and sniffed
"Why would we throw something at you?" Y/n replied with calm, comforting voice.
"Don't ask me. Here I am, minding my own business.. and someone think its funny to throw a book at me" Myrtle replied to her with a sob
"But it can't hurt if someone throws something at you" Ron said ignoring Y/n who was shaking at her head at him "I mean, it'll just go right through you". These words were enough to make Myrtle upset. She angrily flew towards Ron. Y/n grabbed Harry and pulled him away from Ron and Myrtle.
"Sure!!! Let's all throw books at Myrtle because she can't feel it.. Ten points if you get through her stomach!" Myrtle angrily said and shoved her ghostly arm in Ron's stomach and continued "Fifty points if it goes through her head!!" Myrtle yelled while shoving her hand at Ron's head
"But who threw it at you, anyway?" Harry asked trying to change Myrtle's mood
"I don't know, I didn't see them. I was just sitting in u-bend thinking about death" Myrtle signed while replying to Harry. "and it fell through the top of my head" Myrtle replied and broke in to tears while flying away from the three Gryffindors. Harry tapped Y/n's hand telling her to see the wet book on the ground. Harry walked towards the black book.
"Be careful--" Harry ignored Y/n's words and picked up the book without any caution. He walked backed to his friends and opened the book. It was blank.
"It has nothing written in it." Harry said.
"Here. cover it in this...we'll take it to Hermione" Y/n suggested and without wasting time, three of them hurried to Gryffindor common room to put their books in their dormitories and then they soon rushed to the hospital wing.
When they reached they saw Hermione waiting for them. They went towards her and showed her the diary while telling her what happened.
"There's a name in this diary" Hermione said while she examined the book. "Tom Marvolo Riddle" Hermione read aloud
"Tom Marvolo Riddle??? Hang On.. I know that name!!!" Ron said while taking the book from Hermione's hands "Why do I know that name???" Ron self-questioned himself and then soon remembered "of course!!! hat night I had detention.. My job was to polish the sliver in Trophy Room. I remember because I kept burping up slugs over Tom Riddle's Trophy" Ron told his friends and Y/n chuckled while Ron replied her smiling guiltily.
"What was the trophy for?" Harry asked
"He won an award 50 years years ago.. Special services to the school or something" Ron said and passed the dairy to Harry who extended his arm to grab the book.
"50 years ago?? Are you sure?" Hermione asked Ron
"Yeah, why?" Ron replied and Hermione looked at Y/n
"Don't you remember what Malfoy told us??? The last time the chamber was opened was 50 years ago" Y/n told the boys
"But that means--" Harry was cut off by Hermione and Y/n
"Tom Riddle was here at Hogwarts when it happened" The girls said together.
"What if he wrote about what he saw? Its possible he knew where the chamber was.. how to open it, even what sort of creature lives in it.. If so, whosever's behind these attacks wouldn't want this diary lying around, would they?" Hermione asked looking at Y/n
"That's a brilliant theory, Hermione.. but there's just one flaw.. there's nothing written in this diary." Harry told Hermione while showing her the empty pages.
After few more minutes, Madam Pomfrey shooed Y/n, Harry and Ron out of the hospital wing telling them that its time for dinner so they should go and eat it.
Harry, Y/n and Ron ate their dinner while not mentioning anything about the diary or Tom Riddle. The days flew very quickly. Hermione joined the others in the beginning of February. The attacks were not happening at all. Harry thought that the Heir of Slytherin lost their nerves. Since Hogwarts was increasing more and more security. It was hard to perform the dangerous act without getting caught or leaving any clues behind.
Harry came downstairs in the common room after getting ready for his classes. He saw Y/n waiting for him near a big window. She had kept her promise of being with Harry whenever he was alone. It was a point where Harry thought that nothing will be wrong if Y/n's around him. Both of them walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. But when they entered, Both of them felt like they walked into a wrong room.
The halls were covered with large, lurid flowers. But that was not the end of it, pink and red heart shaped confetti was falling from the blue ceiling above. Harry noticed Y/n's face turned like she was regretting coming here. Both of them walked towards Gryffindor table. Y/n sat between Harry and Jake, while Ron and Hermione were sitting next to each other. Ron looked sickened while Hermione was giggling once in a while.
"What's going on?" Harry asked. Ron pointed towards the teachers table. Harry and Y/n looked over to find Lockhart in very pink robes.
"Its about 14th February, isn't it??" Y/n asked Jake while eating her toast. Jake replied with 'yeah' in a boring tone. They heard someone clear their throat. They saw Lockhart standing in the middle of the teacher's table. Behind him, Y/n could see other teacher's reaction. They didn't looked very happy about this.
"Happy Valentine's Day!!!" Lockhart shouted showing his white teeth. "And may I thank the 46 people who have so far sent me cards!!! Yes, I have taken the liberty of arranging this little surprise for you all... But!!! It doesn't end here" Lockhart clapped his hands in the end and footsteps could be heard from the entrance of the Great Hall. Everyone turned their heads to see dozen of dwarfs. They weren't looking very happy, they were wearing golden wings behind their back and were carrying harps.
"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!!! They will be roving around the school today delivering your Valentines!!" Lockhart beamed
"This is dwarf-cruelty" Jake heard Y/n whispered, he laughed silently.
"And the fun doesn't ends here" Lockhart hushed the crowd
"What now?" Jake asked probably being annoyed with the situation
"I'm sure my colleagues will want to enter into the spirit of the occasion!! why not ask Professor Snape to show you how to whip up Love Potion!! And while you're at it, Professor Flitwick knows more about the entrancing enchantments than any wizard I've met, the sly old dog!!" Lockhart laughed.
Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands, embarrassedly while Professor Snape looked at Lockhart with disbelief then turned to students with a very cold glare.
"He doesn't know what he's saying, that man" Fred said to people around him.
"At least he's honest about Professor Flitwick" Y/n said munching her toast and the others agreed with her, Except Hermione and some other girls who heard her.
When they left the hall, Ron walked closer to Hermione and asked her. "Please, Hermione, tell me you weren't one of the 46" Instead of replying, Hermione seemed more focus on the walls beside her as she passed each of them. Harry thought it was good that Lockhart was trying to cheer everyone up. Y/n agreed with him.
Everyone knew that the day wasn't going to be any better. The dwarfs kept barging in the middle of the classes. 2nd years were taking Herbology when the first dwarf entered. All of the girls (Including Y/n) were very interested about who got the first letter of the day. Professor Sprout wasn't pleased with the dwarf interrupting her class but didn't said anything.
"What do you want?? Just get done with it and leave my class!!" Professor Sprout said annoyedly
"I'm here to deliver a letter given to" The dwarf looked at the letter for the name "Y/n Kim" Dwarf read aloud
Y/n stumbled in her place. The class broke into whispers. Y/n quickly looked at Hermione asking her what she should do but Hermione was smiling very widely.
"Go take the letter!!!" Hermione said shaking Y/n's wrists
"Well...She's there" Professor pointed at Y/n. And the dwarf walked towards her and gave her the letter. Y/n quickly hid it in her bag behind her. She looked back at her friends. Hermione was still smiling shamelessly. Harry was looking down at his pot, not making eye contact with her. When she looked at Ron, he smiled and shook his head telling her that noting is wrong.
After the first class, the second years were now taking Transfiguration class. it was going peaceful until the door burst open loudly and a dwarf came running inside with cheering voice
"Letter For Y/n Kim!!! Letter for Y/n Kim!!!!" The dwarf said happily as if he was enjoying he's job.
Y/n looked at Professor McGonagall apologetically, she was annoyed but gave Y/n the permission to take the letter. The dwarf came to Y/n and gave her the letter and left immediately. Y/n was looking very embarrassed, she couldn't look up from her book.
Later the same day, The dwarf kept barging in Y/n's classes. She started to get angry every letter. The dwarfs were not leaving her alone. It was no news for others that Y/n was pretty popular all over Hogwarts and her getting uncountable letters was given. Hermione looked really happy that her best friend was getting letters. Ron on the other side was clearly making fun of Y/n, he laughed every time she got letter. Harry first was little bothered by it but soon started to laugh along Ron. Because of them, Y/n's mood was alot better.
While they were eating lunch, a shy dwarf approached Y/n. He was having trouble telling that he's got a letter for Y/n. Y/n signed and bent down to Dwarfs level
"I really appreciate your work but.." Y/n looked puzzled "But...can you not disturb me while I'm on my schedule ??? You can me all the letters you have at the end of the day...Could you please do that??" Y/n raised her eyebrows
"I---I understand, Y/n Kim.. education is important... I- I won't disturb you" Dwarf replied while getting pink
"And....could you please tell that to your friends too?" Y/n asked. The dwarf nodded and ran away from her covering his face like he was hiding his blush.
"They have different personalities...that's impressive" Y/n said while she sat back.
"Why would you do that??? I was having so much fun!!"' Ron said teasing Y/n. She glared at him playfully.
After lunch, when they were walking towards the Charms Class. One of the dwarf approached Harry.
"Harry Potter!!!!" The dwarf shouted making his way out of the crowd. Harry finally felt what Y/n was feeling until now. He shuddered at the thought of being given a Valentine in front of other people which included the first years, as well. Instead of being calm like Y/n, Harry decided to escape but the dwarf wasn't going to make it easy. He grabbed Harry's robes.
"I've got a musical message to deliver to Harry Potter in person!!" The dwarf said panting.
"Not here" Harry said trying to escape.
"Stay still!!" The dwarf grunted while grabbing Harry's bag tightly, holding him back from running.
"Let me go!!!" Harry shouted while trying to get his bag back from the dwarf's grip.
Y/n and Ron were enjoying the view by leaning against the wall. They watched Harry's bad split into two making his books, wands, parchment paper, quill and ink pot fall all over the floor. Harry bent down to grab his things before the dwarf starts singing. Y/n got ready to help Harry but Ron grabbed her hand and made her stop.
"Don't... He didn't do anything when you were having Valentines... plus... its more fun in watching. Let him help himself" Ron smirked. Y/n smiled and stepped back to her place.
"What's going on??" A rough voice came behind the crowd. The person came front of the crowd. And it wasn't much surprise to find that it was Draco Malfoy.
"What's all this??? What's happening here?" another familiar voice came. Soon Percy Weasley arrived. Harry tried to run away from there but just them he felt someone hugging his legs very tightly that made him fall. He saw the Dwarf sitting on his ankles not letting Harry to get up.
"Right! Here's your singing Valentine!" The dwarf cleared his throat and begun singing.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was wine, He really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord."
When the dwarf ended the song, There was a long silence when someone suddenly burst into laughter. Soon another voice joined to laugh along. Harry was very aware who was laughing at him. He looked over the crowd and saw Y/n and Ron laughing while holding their stomach. Harry felt as if he'll give all his money to those two to stop them from laughing. Harry fought the embarrassment and stood up laughing awkwardly as well.
"You were right!!! This is Fun!!!!" Y/n said when she stopped laughing.
"Told you, so" Ron said wiping his tear from laughing. Harry looked at his friends with face that read 'Are you really my friend?'
"Off you go, the bell rang five minutes ago!! go now" Percy managed to shoo away the students and turned to Draco "You too, Malfoy"
Harry glanced over Malfoy and saw him with the black diary. He went there to grab the book out off Malfoy's hands but failed
"Give that back" Harry said quietly
"Wonder what Potter's written in this?" Malfoy said sarcastically not noticing the name behind the diary. Y/n watched Ginny staring at the diary, she was looking really terrified.
"Hand it over, Malfoy" Percy said sternly
"When I've had a look" Malfoy said waving the diary at Harry's direction.
"As a school, prefect--" Percy was cut off by furious Harry. He pulled out his wand and shouted
"Expelliarmus!!" Harry chanted just as Professor Snape. So Malfoy found the diary shoot out of his grip. Ron grinned and ran to grab it.
"Harry!! No magic in the corridors. I'll have to report this, you know?" Percy said loudly. But Harry, Ron and Y/n ignored him and ran to their classes.
"Don't you think its much better to do it than in front of a muggle??" Y/n said laughing while she ran away.
"She's not wrong, you know" A seventh year Ravenclaw boy said patting Percy's shoulder while passing him. Percy stood there dumbfounded.
Luckily, No other Dwarf came barging into the second year's classes. They had their class peacefully so did the teachers. After dinner, All of the Gryffindor were hanging out in the common room. When suddenly Y/n entered through the gate with bunch of letters.
"Make way!!" Y/n yelled while making her way out of the crowd. Many were surprised by the amount of letters. Y/n plopped all the letters on the table where Harry, Ron and Hermione sitting.
"What's all this?" Harry asked looking at the letters
"No wonder you weren't sorted into Ravenclaw" Y/n muttered while sitting on the couch in front of the table. Ron heard her, He chuckled leaving Harry and Hermione dumbfounded.
"These" Y/n's pointed at the piles of letters "Are the Valentine letters that were given to me. I told the dwarfs to give the letters to me by the end of the day. They gave me all of these"Â Y/n explained to Harry.
"Okay, what are you going with those?" Hermione asked
"I....will read them.. I mean these people went through so much trouble to make me this" Y/n shrugged
"I'll help you" A voice came from the stairs. Y/n peeked from the back of the couch to find the person was Jake.
"You'll help me......read my love letters?" Y/n asked grinning. Jake made an unreadable face and nodded.
"I'll write the names of the people you sent you these" Jake said sitting next to Y/n
"What good that will do?" Ron asked Jake
"Nothing....I just... wanted to do it" Jake said putting his parchment paper and inkpot on the table. Y/n, Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other. All of them were surprised at Jake's sudden interest. He usually was angry if a boy approached Y/n.
After few minutes, Ron and Hermione went to sleep. Harry separated from Y/n and Jake to examine Tom Riddle's diary once more. Y/n was reading all the letters with a smile on her face. Jake, meanwhile was very focused on the names of senders. The Common Room started to empty very soon. Not much students were left. Y/n closed the last letter on the table after she finished reading it. She stretched her hands and let out a deep sign.
"That's quite a amount of letter you've got there Y/n" Fred said coming down the stairs.
"And we were being worried what's taking the prince so long" George said and the twins approached the siblings.
"So, Out of 87 letters... 27 are anonyms" Jake said scanning his list. Fred and George looked at Y/n asking her what was Jake doing. But she was confused as well
"Why did you bother?? I mean.. what are you going to do with those name?" Y/n asked Jake. Fred and George curiously waited for Jake to reply.
"Murder them" Jake replied in a simple tone but with a very terrifying face. Y/n, Fred and George were staring at him.
"This.. was scary, right??? Don't tell me I'm the only one who found him scary" Y/n said looking up to Fred and George
"No....You certainly aren't the only one" Fred and George replied patting Y/n's shoulder on both sides. They watched Jake leave the room.
After an hour. Harry looked around the Common Room ,it was empty. He signed and looked at the diary again and opened it.
'What should I do?' Harry thought, He heard someone come downstairs. He closed the diary quickly. It was Jake.
"Oh, you're still here?" Jake said to Harry while walking in his direction.
"Yeah..but..what are you doing here....at this time?" Harry asked
"I could ask the same question" Jake grinned at Harry. He smiled back. "She's still here... I came to pick her up" Jake pointed at the couch. Harry followed the direction and saw Y/n sleeping near the fireplace with a book in her hand that said 'Naruto Volume : 15'.
"She was here all this time???" Harry asked surprised. He thought he was alone.
"Yeah.. its been few days. She sleeps while reading if she's tired. I mean.. who wouldn't" Jake said leaning against the couch Y/n was on.
"I didn't even notice" Harry said looking at Y/n who was sleeping peacefully.
"Did the Polyjuice Potion work for you?" Jake asked. Harry was stunned to speak
"W-what?? How-w d-did you know?" Harry asked stuttering.
"She told me.. I did tell her to tell me everything if she's upto something.. I feel happy she did" Jake smiled while looking at Y/n's sleeping figure
"We found that.. It isn't Malfoy... behind all this.. he doesn't really know who it is either." Harry replied shortly. And Jake nodded
"Promise me something Harry" Jake said in a serious tone.
"W-what?" Harry asked what Jake was talking about.
"Y/n, she puts her friendship she has with you before herself.... and that's what worries me.. I know, no matter what happens she'll be ready to help you right away" Jake chuckled and continue " But she does needs someone to help and protect her... So promise me Harry, If Uncle Eric and I are not around... you'll protect Y/n" Jake said. His worried expression melted Harry's heart.
"Sure... No matter what happens... I'll be the first one who protects her" Harry replied smiling. Jake smiled back.
"That keeps few loads off me.. well, I'll take her now.. she shouldn't sleep out here in cold" Jake said picking Y/n up in bridal style.
"are you going to drop her off in her dormitory?" Harry asked and Jake nodded. "I thought, It wasn't allowed for us to go in Girl's dormitories" Harry said and Jake chuckled
"Thank you for your concern. But.. I got the permission to enter Y/n's dorm from the Female prefect. Its been few days I've been doing this" Jake said and turned to walk away
"You can figure out all about the diary... I know you can" Jake said and left the common room.
Harry sat back in his chair and stared at the diary. Soon an idea popped in his mind.
Next Day
"It was Hagrid. Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago" Harry told the girls He had told Ron last night.
"It can't be Hagrid" Y/n said
"Yes! It just can't be!" Hermione said agreeing with Y/n
"We don't even know this Tom Riddle. He sounds like a dirty, rotten snitch to me" Ron said siding with the girls.
"The monster had killed someone, Ron. What would have any of us had done?" Harry said stopping his tracks making the others do the same
"Look. Hagrid's our friend. Why don't we just go and ask him about it?" Hermione suggested
"That would be a cheerful visit" Ron said sarcastically "Hello Hagrid! Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?"Â Ron continued
"Mad and Hairy? You wouldn't be talking about me, now, would you?" They heard someone behind them say. Four of turned to find Hagrid himself there.
"NO!!" Four of them replied in unison
'Way to go trying not-be-suspicious' Y/n thought and There was a silence between the five of them.
"What's there you've got, Hagrid?" Harry asked changing the topic.
"Oh...Its a Flesh-eating Slug Repellent. For the Mandrakes, you know..Now, According to Professor Sprout, they've still got a bit of growing up to do. But once their acne's cleared up, we'll be able to chop them up and stew them and then we'll get those people down at the hospital un-petrified" Hagrid told the four of them.
"In the meantime, though, you four had best be looking after yourselves. All right?" Hagrid said in slight worried tone. Harry, Y/n, Ron and Hermione nodded and Hagrid started walking away. The four of them were staring at Hagrid's back until they saw Neville running towards them.
"Harry, I don't know who did it, but you'd better come.... Come on!!!" Neville hurriedly said and four of them ran with him. They followed him to the boy's dormitories. It was a mess. Lamp was crushed on the ground. Parchment paper was all around the floor. There was bed lying mercilessly on the floor which Y/n assumed was Harry's. His clothes were also lying on the ground and his broken bed. Harry walked towards his trunk
"It had to be a Gryffindor..Nobody else knows our password" Y/n said
"Unless, it wasn't a student." Hermione said looking at the mess.
"Whoever it was, they must have been looking for something" Ron said glancing at girls.
"and they found it. Tom Riddle's diary's gone" Harry said looking at Y/n. She started back at him with worried expression.
The Next day, It was Gryffindor against Hufflepuff. Everyone was secretly looking forward to it since it was the first Quidditch match after the first attack. Everyone now was eating their breakfast.
Y/n was looking very worried and distracted. She was the type of hype everyone up before the match, but she wasn't this time. Hermione was concentrated on her book barely touching her food. Harry and Ron knew the girls were acting strange but they didn't say anything.
Wood called his team to changing room when the match was about to start. Suddenly, Hermione yelled 'OHHHH' loudly earning attention. Y/n looked at her worriedly.
"What??" Ron asked Hermione
"I think I got it!!!! I'll make a quick run to the library." Hermione replied smiling. Harry and Ron nodded their head. But Y/n opposed it.
"But the match is about to start...you can't go" Y/n said sternly
"Y/n, come on...try to understand.. I need to go their." Hermione said patting Y/n's shoulder
"I do understand...but.. can you wait until the match is over??? we'll go the library together" Y/n said grabbing Hermione's hand.
"Y/n...is something wrong?" Hermione asked Y/n. She knew Y/n was acting strange then usual.
"Not really.....just wait until the match over" Y/n looked down
"I can't... It'll be really quick.. believe me.. I'll come back before the match starts, okay?" Hermione said. Y/n was about to say something but Wood called for them
"Let's go everyone!!" Wood said taking his Nimbus 2000 that Y/n gave him last year.
"Let's go" Harry said grabbing Y/n's hand and dragged her with him. Y/n watched Hermione's figure hurrying towards Library.
"Don't worry.. Its no news that Hermione loves being in Library. She said she'll be back before the match" Harry said to Y/n. She nodded looking down.
When the Gryffindor Quidditch team reached the changing room. Wood explained them the strategy they had to follow today. Y/n didn't understand a word he said because her mind was somewhere else.
'Just what the hell am I doing?? I should've dragged her with me!!! If this is how it going to be. forget about saving everyone.. Just because of me, Hermione...she'll be--' Y/n's thought's were broke when Wood clapped his hands.
"All right, listen up...We play our game, Hufflepuff doesn't stand a chance" Wood said grabbing his broom. "We're stronger, quicker and smarter" Wood said encouraging his team
"Not to mention, they're dead scared that Y/n and Harry will petrify them if they fly near them" Fred said smiling to Y/n. She didn't listen
"Well, that too" Wood agreed. When They were about to enter the ground they saw Professor McGonagall approaching them. Y/n felt terrified but didn't showed. Jake stared at her knowing damn well she is hiding something
"Professor McGonagall?" Wood said not understanding why she is here.
"This match has been cancelled" McGonagall informed
"We can't cancel Quidditch" Wood said and McGonagall stared at him
"Silence, Wood. You and your teammates will go to Gryffindor Tower. Now. Potter, Kim.. You both and I will find Mr. Weasley" McGonagall stopped Harry and Y/n. Jake stopped as well.
"There's something the three of you have to see." McGonagall told them. Y/n turned to Jake who was still there. She threw her broomstick while walking away. Jake caught in right time.
They soon found Ron outside the ground waiting for his friends. He was confused where Professor was taking them. Three of them followed McGonagall to the hospital wing.
"I warn you. This could be a wee bit of a shock" McGonagall told them while looking somewhere. Three of them Followed her gaze to find Hermione on the bed with still posture and glassy eyes. Her expression like she saw something terrifying. She was Petrified.
"Hermione!" Ron whispered in disbelief
"She was sound near the library..along with this" McGonagall said while showing them a pocket mirror. "Does it mean anything to either of you?" She asked the three of them
"No" Harry replied while the other two shook their head. Y/n touched Hermione's still hand and grabbed it guiltily
'I'm sorry, Hermione'
~~~
A/n's note
Hiya everyone!! Its 12.1KKKK!!!!!!
Thank you very much for reading this chapter. And I want to tell you that story gets better and more understandable now. So look forward to it.
And If you liked this chapter, don't forget to vote. And Follow me if you would like to.
I'll see you in the next chapter, Until then
Stay Safe, Stay Potterhead.