The Chamber of Secrets (Hermione Granger X Male Reader Insert)

17. The Legend of the Chamber

(Y/N)'s POV

For the next few days, the only thing the school talked about was the attack on Mrs Norris. Unfortunately for (Y/N), after Filch's tantrum in front of the crowd, nearly the whole school was convinced he really had attacked her.

It didn't help that Slytherin had made up several more lies that turned into rumours that made their way around. Apparently he had pressed a piece of broken broom up to Malfoy's neck and threatened to stab him.

(Y/N) would only get a moment of peace if a teacher was escorting him or just near him. Anytime he was walking alone or without a teacher anywhere to be seen, he was the tester dummy for spells, target practice when people pelted stones at him, or just some regular old assault when people shoulder barged him to the floor.

He either found himself in his Common Room or in the back of the library just trying to get some peace and quiet. He felt like he had too much on his mind, so quiet really helped him process all the chaotic thoughts and feelings.

He sat in his new favourite armchair and felt the warmth of the fire as he stared out the window. It had also become Soot's favourite nap spot as she constantly curled up on (Y/N)'s lap.

Today he had sat in the armchair expecting peace as lunch had begun. (Y/N) avoided lunch regularly, he did eat breakfast and dinner but lunch was an opportunity to just relax in the Common Room.

However he soon heard the footsteps of someone who was walking through the portrait hole. (Y/N) looked out to the portrait hole passage and saw the pale face of Ginny Weasley. Nowadays, Ginny always had that sort of pale look. The attack on Mrs Norris had troubled her deeply, (Y/N) could tell she was a cat lover because of how she acted around Soot.

Luckily, Ginny knew that (Y/N) wouldn't do such a thing as every said he did, so she never tried to avoid him like other first years. Seeing her pale face, (Y/N) decided to call out to her. "Gin! You alright?"

Ginny looked toward (Y/N) and gave out a sigh. "Uhm, I'm alright. Do you mind if I sit?"

"Of course I don't mind." Ginny sat down on the armchair opposite and Soot immediately bounced off (Y/N)'s lap and onto Ginny's. "What a little traitor. Well, can't be helped. So Ginny, why aren't you at lunch?"

Ginny scratched Soot behind the ears and spoke in a timid voice. "Could say the same for you," (Y/N) did nothing but give Ginny a stern look and she just groaned. "Didn't really want to deal with all the noise. Not to mention everyone's awful attempts to cheer me up."

(Y/N) leaned forward in his armchair as he stretched his legs. "Ahh, you mean Ron. He really has a positive attitude on Mrs Norris doesn't he?"

"Then you've got Fred and George, they scare me more than they cheer me up. Always jumping around corners and pulling stupid faces. Not to mention Percy, he keeps telling me to stop thinking about it. Did you know he told me off because I didn't do my homework because I couldn't stop thinking about Mrs Norris? Kept saying I was going to give the Weasley's a bad reputation and that he didn't need that, over one piece of missing homework!"

(Y/N) gave Ginny a half-hearted smile while he spoke. "You know that you can talk to me. I like to think I'm better at handling cat related issues anyway. God knows that Soot's an issue."

Soot half/hissed, half-mewled while Ginny scratched her chin. "Oh he doesn't mean that,"Ginny said in a baby voice. "You're not an issue Sootie."