Royals (Draco Malfoy x Reader)

Chapter 23

Basilisk 

We stood around Hermione's bed my hand grasped onto hers, cold to the touch I was telling her about how I busted my lip and Madame Pomfrey had given me some kind of ointment to heal it. As I finished Madame Pomfrey entered the room a small frown on her face. "There's no point in talking to a petrified person. She won't hear a word you're saying." she looked at me sadly and Ron and I shifted uncomfortably in our seats, I tried to speak but no words came out "We know that, Madam Pomfrey. It's just, well, you see, we thought, maybe, we could... be with her for a bit. She's our... friend, you see, and... even if she can't hear us... I mean, it can't hurt, can it?" Ron spoke for me a glint of sympathy flickers in the nurse's eyes, "Very well then. But be quick about it" she left the room and left us with Hermione. The two boys stepped up to where I sat beside Hermione.  Ron picks up the circular mirror that lies on the nightstand and Eyes Lockhart's Get Well card. "you don't think Lockheart is the heir of Slytherin" I looked at him "right forget I said anything!" Harry studied Hermione's face "Wish you were here, Hermione. We need you. Now more than ever..."  Just then, the mirror in Ron's hand catches the late afternoons sunlight and casts a jagged flame across Hermione's hand. I watch as the light dance over her fingers... then I look closer, there is paper clutched in her hand. I picked it up and handed it to Harry as we left the hospital wing.

We ducked into a small dark area, hidden by the shadows "'Of the many fearsome beasts that roam our land, none is more deadly than the Basilisk. Capable of living for hundreds of years, instant death awaits any who meet this giant serpent's eye. Spiders flee before it and only the crowing of the rooster can kill it.'" Harry readout and I gasped "This is it! The monster in the Chamber of Secrets is a basilisk. That's why we can hear it speak. It's a snake." I exclaimed Happily. "But it kills by looking people in the eye. Why is it no one's dead?" Ron questioned, "Because no one did look in its eyes! not directly at least!" Harry explained and I pondered for a moment. "Colin saw it through his camera. Justin -- Justin must've seen the Basilisk through Nearly HeadlessNick! Nick got the full blast of it, but he's a ghost -- he couldn't die again...... And Hermione... had the mirror! I bet you anything she was using it to look round corners, in case it came along." I revealed and Ron glanced at the two of us "what about Mrs Norris she didn't have a camera... or a mirror!" he looked suspiciously off into the distance. "The water... there was water on the floor that night. She only saw the Basilisk's reflection...The crowing of the rooster is fatal to it! That's why Hagrid'sroosters were killed! Spiders flee before it! It all fits!" Harry added shaking Ron's shoulders lightly. "But how's the Basilisk been getting around? A dirty great snake. Someone would have seen..." I looked at the walls "the pipes! it's travelling through the pipes!" It was all coming together now. "Pipes...? It's using the plumbing." Ron stared at the walls and shuddered, "Remember what Aragog said? About that girl fifty years ago? She died in a bathroom. What if she never left." I explained deep in thought and then it dawned on me. "Moaning Myrtle" Harry's eyes widen and we took off in the direction of the bathroom. 

{Authors Pov}

 Professor McGonagall stands before the desecrated wall, surrounded by the rest of the staff. Harry, (Name) and Ron creep up the stairwell. "As you can see, the Heir of Slytherin has left another message. Our worst fear has been realized. A student has been taken by the monster. Into the chamber itself." she announces and the teachers all gasp "I'm afraid we shall have to send the students home. I'm afraid...this is the end of Hogwarts. " she finished. "So sorry. Dozed off. What have I missed?" Lockheart burst in cheerily. "Just the man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, Lockhart. Your moment has come at last." Snape hissed at the man "My m-moment?" he stutters out "Weren't you saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is? " Snape glared trying to hide his smirk. "D-did I? I don't recall" Lockheart stammers, "That settles it. We'll leave it to you to deal with the monster, Gilderoy. Your skills, after all, are legend." McGonagall and Snape looked at each other slyly smiling. "V-very well. I'll -- I'll be in my office, getting -- getting ready" Lockheart ran off. Minerva looked at the staff "The rest of us should go and inform the students what has happened." she demanded. Professor sprout looked up "Who is it the monster's taken, Minerva?" She questioned "Ginny Weasley" she replied.  Ron's knees give way. As Harry and (Name) catches him, the staff scatters, revealing what is written on the wall: Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever. 

They were all upset as they walked. "She knew something, Harry. She'd found out something about the chamber of Secrets. That's why she was taken. I mean, she was --is -- a pure-blood. There can't be any other reason." Ron stuttered his face pale white "C'mon. Let's go see Lockhart. He may be a brainless git, but he is going to try and get into the chamber. We can tell him what we know...." Harry grabbed Ron's arm and they began to trek towards Lockhears office. (Name) stopped and let out a shaky sigh, guilt flowing through her veins she should have told someone, she should have helped Ginny more. "It's the diary" she whispered and the two boys looked at her "what?" "Its the diary, its cursed, Ginny took it from your room it belonged to her Harry. She told me she would destroy it! she promised" (Name)'s voice cracked and Ron glared at her "It's your fault! you should be in that chamber! not her!" He screamed and stormed off. Harry looked at her "its okay... come on..." (Name) followed after him silently. "Harry. D'you think there's any chance at all she's not, you know -" Ron began, he was giving (name) the silent treatment not as she blamed him, she deserved it. "We'll find her, Ron. Ginny'sgoing to be fine." Harry assured as they continued. Ron nods smiles shakily and looks away, As he does, Harry's face changes look troubled. Even he doesn't believe what he's just said to the Ginger.

They dash inside Lockheart's office "Professor, we've got some information for you --" Harry calls out but stops himself when he sees Lockhesarts office is stripped clean two large trunks stand open in the middle of the room. "Are you going somewhere?" (Name) questioned her hand slipping into the pocket of her robes gripping her wand tightly. "Um, well, yes. Urgent call. Unavoidable. Got to go..." The man stutters continuing to pack "what about my sister!" Ron shouts at the man, "Well, as to that -- most unfortunate. No one regrets more than I --" he turns to look at Ron "You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! You can't go now!" The ginger hissed at the DADA teacher who rubbed his neck sheepishly "I must say, when I took the job, nothing in the job description --" he panicked "so you're running away after all those things you done in your books" Harry glared at the man threateningly. "Books can be misleading." he retorted, "you wrote them! I told you guys he was a fraud!" (name) hissed and Lockheart rolled his eyes "My dear, do use your commonsense. My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didna think I'd done all those things.No one wants to read about some ugly old Armenian warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves. He'd look dreadful on the front cover. No dress sense at all..." Lockheart ranted "You're a fraud! (Name) was right! You've just been taking credit for what a load of other wizards have done!" Harry was absolutely fuming, you could practically see the steam coming from his ears. "Harry, Harry, Harry. There was work involved. I had to track these people down and ask them exactly how they managed to do what they did. No, it's not all book signings and publicity photos. You want fame, you have to be prepared for a long, hard slog." Lockheart tutted and Ron looked extremely desperate "Is there anything you can do?" he questioned. "Yes, now that you mention it. I'm rather gifted with Memory Charms. Otherwise, you see, all those wizards would've gone blabbing andI'd never have sold another book. I'm afraid I'll have to do the same to you guys." he lifted his wand but (Name) was quicker "Expelliarmus!" she points her wand at  Lockhart and he blasts backwards, toppling into one of the open trunks, his wand flying across the floor. "I guess those duelling classes did come in handy" Harry snickered and (Name) agreed. 

"let's go"