A Young Wizard's Journey - The Chamber of Secrets

The Welcoming Crew

The final few weeks of the summer holidays was a very odd time for Y/N. It was one of the few times that he was reading books that he knew he had to, but he really didn't want to. Every line he read made him hate Lockhart even more.

'They're very strange,' said Hermione, not long after they'd started. 'They definitely seem realistic, but his talks about himself always seem so enlarged. The people he speaks to are so lifelike, but then he talks about himself and says that his magnificent smile strengthens his spell.'

'Also noticed how he doesn't describe what the spell is,' said Y/N. 'He says he's used it many times before but skips what the incantation or spell actually is.'

'Hopefully he's saving it for his classes,' said Hermione.

'He didn't know he was going to be teaching when he was writing them. I just don't think he actually did any of it. Suppose we'll see from his classes.'

'To be honest, if he even teaches us one spell he'll be a step ahead of Quirrell.'

'If he doesn't try to kill me and Harry, he'll be several steps ahead of Quirrell,' said Y/N

'Sorry...' said Hermione weakly and Y/N shook his head at her.

'Not your fault, we were just talking. Just-' his mind wandered back to the Cruciatus curse.

'I should have been there,' said Hermione suddenly, snapping Y/N out of his thoughts. 'You needed me. I should have been with you. We're meant to be best friends, we're a team, I shouldn't have let Harry go.'

''Mione,' said Y/N, moving over and pulling her into a one-armed hug. 'What could you have done? Quirrell was much stronger than any of us. He was stronger than me and Harry. The only reason we survived is because Harry touching him made him burn, and then luckily Dumbledore appeared. You couldn't have stopped him.'

'No, but I could have been there for you,' she said, her eyes were swimming with tears. It hurt Y/N to see her like this. He thought she'd been doing okay with it. He pulled her tight, wrapping his other arm around her as she began to sob into his chest.

'It's okay, it's okay,' he repeated quietly as he ran his hand through her hair. They stayed that for a while, even after Hermione had finished crying, until she eventually pulled away, rubbing her eyes.

'Sorry,' she whimpered.

'No apologies,' said Y/N. 'I didn't realise it was bothering you so much still.'

'It comes in bursts. For the most part I'm okay, but I've read about that curse. It's horrible. I've seen pictures and stories about what happens to people hit by it. It's horrible. I asked Harry too, he said he'd never heard anyone in as much pain as you sounded like you were.'

'It was like.... thousands of knives,' said Y/N before he could stop himself. 'All red hot and just stabbing, sitting and then more and more. My entire body was on fire. After he hit me the second time, when Harry arrived, I was knocked senseless. It took me a few moments to remember where I was,' he looked up into Hermione's face to see her horrified.

'Y/N...'

He held his arms out for another hug and she moved into them.

'Sorry,' he murmured into her hair. 'I didn't realise how much I needed to talk about it till I started. I didn't mean to upset you,' but he felt her shake her head against his chest.

'I'm glad you feel like you can tell me. I don't want you to feel like you can't trust me. No matter what happens this year, we stick together, yeah?'

'Always,' said Y/N.