Strange Beginnings

Chapter VI

Y/N miraculously made it to the gargoyle statue they had visited once before without any run ins with professors, Filch, or even Mrs. Norris. However, a slight problem arose since they couldn't remember the passcode they had heard Snape give the last they were here. 

"Snickerdoodle?" nothing, "Honey sticks?" still nothing, "Candy Crush??" they said with more exasperation but it didn't help in moving the statue. "Ugh! It's probably something stupid like chocolate frog or sherbet lemon."

The stone figure began to rotate, startling the student at first, and the stairs soon came into view. Before the steps had even settled Y/N was taking two at a time. As they reached the top they weren't surprised to see the headmaster awake but they were however nervous since professor Snape was there talking to him. The two men turned to look at their unexpected guest as Y/N seemed to forget their entire reason for coming. 

"Good evening Y/N, what can we do for you?" Dumbledore asked with a smile (which confused Snape as to why his first question wasn't 'what are you doing out past curfew?').

"Um..." they tried to gather their composure and took a deep breath in, "I was only going to the third corridor to meet Fluffy because, well, I love dogs and Hagrid told me he was on the third floor but I knew I couldn't go see him, er them? Because Hagrid said that I shouldn't tell anyone about Fluffy so I snuck out after curfew but when I found the room professor Quirrell was already there and he put Fluffy to sleep with an enchanted harp and went down a hatch in the floor. So then I went in thinking nothing of it and using the opportunity to pet Fluffy but then Harry, Ron, and Hermione came in and they were saying Snape was trying to get some sort of stone and I kept telling them it was professor Quirrell but they wouldn't believe me and then I told Hermione she was stubborn after she called me a coward and then Fluffy woke up and they went down the hatch and I got out but I couldn't just leave knowing they're probably in danger so I came here."

Y/N took a deep breath to replace the long winded one they had just let out during their explanation. The professors were astonished by the sudden rush of information. Snape whipped his head around to the headmaster, waiting for his response.

"Well I suppose we should go and help our friends." he calmly said, walking towards the door and gesturing for Y/N to follow.

Soon they were back at Fluffy's door, the headmaster confidently strolled in without second thought to the snarling three heads that questioned his entrance. He enchanted the harp to resume its peaceful tune and shortly after Fluffy was fast asleep once again. Dumbledore lead the small group through the first couple obstacles. Y/N was glad he seemed to have all the cheat sheets for each room and wondered how in Godric's name the three Gryffindors had made it through unscathed. However, once they reached a room with the largest chessboard Y/N had ever seen perhaps the young students didn't make it totally unharmed.

Y/N meet Hermione's gaze but was perplexed as to what the expression on her face communicated. Was it gratitude? Annoyance? Relief? Humility? Disappointment? It frustrated Y/N that they could never get a grasp on the girl. The professors checked on Ronald who was still knocked out while Hermione explained everything. She even mumbled out the part about Y/N apparently being correct about Quirrell since Snape was with them. That didn't fail to bring a smirk to Y/N's face. Dumbledore instructed the students to stay put as he and Snape continued on to find Harry. 

The torches crackled loudly against the silence that overtook the room. Avoiding gazes and conversation the two conscious students distracted themselves by admiring the craftsmanship of the broken chess pieces strewn all along the floor. It wasn't that there was nothing to say but Y/N bit back their tongue with the words festering at the tip. To their great astonishment, Hermione disturbed the unspoken barrier between them first.