'All students to return to their House dormitories at once. All teachers return to the staffroom. Immediately, please.'

Y/N did not move, he continued staring at the text on the wall before stepping into the bathroom. Moaning Myrtle was sitting on top of one of the toilet stalls and glanced around when he entered.

'Oh, hello,' she said solemnly. 'What do you want this time?'

'I want to know how you died, Myrtle,' he said, gesturing her down to join him.

Myrtle's face lit up, as though this was the best question she could have possibly been asked, and she swooped down to stand in front of him with a sort of spectral swagger.

'It was dreadful!' she called, looking as though she couldn't wait to relive it. 'It happened right here, in that very stall,' she pointed towards the one she had been sat on, 'I remember it so well. I had been hiding because Olive Hornby had teased me about my glasses. The door was locked and I was crying, then I heard someone come in. They said something, a different language I think. Must have been cause I didn't recognise it. But what really got me was that it was a boy who was speaking, so I unlocked the door to tell him to go and use his own toilet, and then-'

Myrtle's entire body swelled as though she was a balloon.

'- I died,' she finished, somewhat lamely.

'How?' asked Y/N.

'No idea,' said Myrtle. 'I just remember seeing a pair of great big yellow eyes. My whole body seized up and then I was floating away... And then I came back, I was determined to haunt Olive Hornby. Make her regret ever making fun of my glasses.'

'Where did you see the eyes?' asked Y/N and Myrtle pointed at the sink next to them, the same one Y/N had tried to use previously that had produced no water, he got up and began examining the sink. Noticing that the taps resembled coiled Serpents, he checked the ones next to it, they were completely normal.

'Myrtle you wonderful, wonderful girl,' yelled Y/N, turning to face her. Myrtle looked shocked, but then seemed to blush a little and started twirling her hair around her finger.

'You really think so?' she cooed.

'Absolutely,' said Y/N. 'Look. I've got to go and get Ron and Harry but do me a favour, keep an eye out, if anyone comes in or out let me know when we come back okay?' Myrtle gave a sort of fake salute and nodded excitedly and Y/N sprinted out of the bathroom and back up towards Gryffindor common room.

It was a testament to how hard the news had hit the school that no one was in the corridors, and he got back to the common room without incident. He gave the Fat Lady the password and sprinted across to Harry and Ron, ignoring the perplexed looks he got from the rest of the room.

'Ginny's-' began Ron, but Y/N cut across him.

'I know, I've found it. The Chamber.' Both boys bolted upright in their seats.

'You sure?' asked Harry and Y/N nodded.

'What are we waiting for then?' called Ron and together the three of them left the common room, moving back down towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

'Wait!' said Harry. 'Lockhart's looking for it too, having a fully grown wizard could help! We should tell him what we know.'

'As much as I disagree with calling him fully grown, I think you might be right,' said Y/N. 'Let's grab him and go.'

So the trio changed course, moving instead now towards Lockhart's classroom. They were just coming to a halt outside of it when they heard a lot of noise coming from inside, hurried footsteps, banging, and clattering.

Harry knocked on the door and the noise stopped immediately. There was silence for a moment before the door crept the tiniest inch open. Y/N stepped out of sight.

'Ah Mr Weasley, Mr Potter,' said Lockhart as he opened the door wider. 'I'm rather busy at the moment, if you would be quick-'

'We've got some information for you. We think it'll help you,' said Harry.

'Er, well, it's not terribly, I mean-' Lockhart looked very uncomfortable.

'Flipendo,' said Y/N lazily and Lockhart's door flew open sending him backwards. Y/N pushed Ron and Harry in and followed after them, closing the door behind him. 'We aren't here to chit chat Lockhart. Listen to what we've got.'

'Ah. Hello L/N, should have known you wouldn't be far,' said Lockhart coldly.

'Yeah, hate you too, now shut up and listen-' but Y/N went quiet as he looked around. Two large trunks stood open and most of Lockhart's possessions were crammed inside, his photographs were stuffed into boxes on the desk.

Harry had noticed too.

'Going somewhere?' asked Harry.

'Er, well, yes. Urgent call, got to go,' said Lockhart as he ripped a poster of himself from the back of his door and began rolling it up.

'What about my sister?' said Ron angrily.

'Well as to that, most unfortunate-' his eyes fell on Y/N and he stopped dead, looking worried.

'You're the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher! This is your job!' yelled Harry.

'Yeah Lockhart,' said Y/N slowly. 'Come on, if you're so great, show us what you can do. All those amazing things you did in those books.'

'Books... can be... misleading,' said Lockhart slowly.

'I knew it,' growled Y/N.

'What?' asked Harry, looking between them.

'He's a liar, none of the stories are true,' said Y/N.

Harry turned to look at Lockhart, who merely grimaced.

'Now, 'not true' is a strong phrase. Twisted possibly, but there is only truth to them,' said Lockhart defensively.

'You didn't do any of it, did you?' asked Harry, drawing his wand.

'My dear boy,' Lockhart said, looking at Harry. 'Use your common sense. My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I'd done all those things. No one wants to read about some 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. And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a hairy chin, I mean, come on-' Lockhart slowed his rant and eventually stopped glaring at Y/N who was doubled over, howling with savage laughter.

'No wonder you couldn't stop that chair,' he said through teary eyes. 'Doubt you've ever cast a spell for yourself. Just taking credit for things other people do.'

'There was more involved than that!' said Lockhart indignantly. 'I had to track these people down, ask them exactly how they managed to do what they did. Then I had to put a Memory Charm on them so they wouldn't remember doing it. If there's one thing I pride myself on, it's my Memory Charm.'

'Not that stupid wig?' asked Y/N, smirking as he pointed at the two headdresses still perched on Lockhart's desk.

Lockhart drew his wand and turned to face the three of them, Y/N raised his own as well, the smile dropping from his face immediately.

'I've had enough of you slandering my name L/N. And I can't exactly have you all blabbing my secrets everywhere.'

'I've been waiting a long time for this Lockhart, all year in fact. Let's go.'

'Expelliarmus!' yelled Harry. Lockhart's wand went flying out of his hand and Harry caught it.

'Harry!' called Y/N lowering his own wand. 'He was mine!'

'You took too long,' shrugged Harry.

They both turned to face Lockhart who immediately went scrabbling backwards, tripped over his own trunk and fell. Harry and Y/N both raised their wands, pointing them at him.

'Very useful trick that Professor Snape taught us. Probably should have stopped him,' said Harry savagely. He looked as angry as Y/N felt.

'What d'you want me to do?' asked Lockhart weakly. 'I don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is. There's nothing I can do.'

'Good news,' said Harry, pulling Lockhart to his feet 'Y/N here does, and what's inside it. Let's go.'

Y/N and Harry pushed Lockhart out of his office and down towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they sent him in first and Y/N could see that he was shaking. They followed him inside and Myrtle giggled before soaring over.

'See anyone?' Y/N asked her and she shook her head. 'Brilliant, thanks Myrtle, I owe you one.'

'Just promise to come and see me more?'

'I'll see what I can do,' he said with a slight smile at her before turning back to Harry. 'Myrtle told me that someone came in here the night she died and said something in a different language, then she saw a pair of eyes from there,' he pointed at the sink. 'It's got some snakes on it, I think the heir might have spoken Parseltongue.'

Harry walked forward and Y/N pressed his wand into Lockhart's back, pushing him to follow.

'But-' Harry began as he glanced across the taps on the sink, 'open up' he added. He looked around at them and Ron shook his head.

'English, mate.'

Harry turned his attention back to the tap and began slowly moving his head side to side as though trying to track something wriggling and this time when he spoke the semi-familiar hissing and spitting noise left his lips. The tap glowed an almost blinding white and began to spin. A moment later and the entire sink sank into the floor revealing a pipe large enough for any of them to look into.

Ron gasped.

'Watch Lockhart,' said Y/N at once stepping forward. 'Grab some other teachers if you can, I'm going down there.'

'Not alone you aren't,' said Harry immediately. 'We're both going.'

'Both?' said Ron. 'You're hardly going down there without me.'

Y/N breathed a sigh and smiled around at his two friends. 'Afraid that means you're coming too, Lockhart,' he added. Lockhart started spluttering, but Y/N seized his arm and threw him towards the pipe. He staggered at the edge, wobbling before slipping down it and disappearing from view.

Y/N hopped in after him and he heard Harry and Ron follow along. The trip down was not pleasant, it was almost like an extremely slimy slide. Y/N kept his arms as close to his chest as he could whilst still keeping his wand ready. Wandless or not, he didn't trust Lockhart.

He had little reason to worry however as a moment later, he slid out of the pipe directly onto the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He took a little bit longer getting up than he usually would have done.

Ron and Harry landed nearby, both looking pale but determined. Lockhart however looked as though the snake had already killed him.

'We must be miles under the school,' said Harry, his voice echoing through the chamber.

'Under the lake probably,' said Ron, glancing around at the slimy walls.

'Not the most welcoming of sights,' added Y/N. 'Lumos!' his wand tip ignited, and Harry followed suit. Ron drew his wand, however he didn't seem to want to risk casting a spell.

Y/N pointed his wand at Lockhart then flicked it up towards the tunnel, gesturing him to go ahead. Lockhart crawled to his feet and moved off, the other three boys following close behind. Even with the wands lit, the tunnel was almost completely dark, their reflections cast long shadows along the wall and more than once Y/N jumped as one of them seemed to move erratically.

'Remember,' Harry whispered. 'Any sign of movement and close your eyes, straight away.'

But they heard nothing as they continued on bar their own breathing and footsteps, echoing dimly throughout the tunnel. Then suddenly, all of them jumped as a loud crunch sounded around them.

'Was just me,' said Ron. 'I stepped on... wait...'

Both Y/N and Harry turned their wands downwards to see what looked to be hundreds of small animal bones and carcasses strewn around the floor.

'Lovely,' muttered Y/N as he kicked what was definitely a rat's skull away from him. 'Glad to see we've found its feeding ground.'

'Do you think-?' began Harry.

'No,' said Y/N firmly. 'She's not dead.'

'She can't be,' Y/N thought as they pushed on, 'I'm not about to break my promise to two of my friends.'

They rounded a corner and stopped dead, squinting into the darkness ahead of them. Something huge and curved lay right across the tunnel in front of them. It wasn't moving.

'There's something up there,' said Ron weakly.

'Maybe it's asleep,' muttered Harry.

'Don't suppose Hagrid's book tells you how to kill a basilisk, Y/N?' said Ron, his voice a little higher than usual.

'Not a word,' said Y/N, 'Be ready,' and he pointed his wand at a nearby loose bone. 'Wingardium Leviosa.' The bone levitated into the air and Y/N knocked it lightly against the side of the tunnel, a dull echoing thud rang out and the snake did not move.

Harry crept forward slowly his wand held high and, as the long, vivid, poisonous green skin came into view, it was revealed to be empty. Shed skin, by a creature that was at least twenty foot long.

'Brilliant,' croaked Y/N, stepping forward too. Ron made to follow, Lockhart however collapsed to the floor.

'Get up,' snarled Ron turning his wand on Lockhart. Lockhart stumbled up and then dived at Ron, knocking him to the ground. Y/N and Harry span around their wands raised, but it was too late. Lockhart straightened up, clutching Ron's wand, and pointing it between them.

'The adventure ends here boys!' he said. 'I shall take some of this skin back up to the school, tell them I was too late to save the girl and that all of you tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body.'

'And what about when the attacks continue?' snarled Y/N.

'I'll be long gone' said Lockhart, a dark smile curling his lips. 'I'm going to enjoy this, L/N. Obliviate!'

'Protego!' yelled Y/N, the familiar shield formed around him, but it was unnecessary.

Ron's wand exploded like a cannon and Lockhart was sent flying backwards. The entire tunnel began to shake and tremble. Harry and Y/N threw their arms over their head and staggered backwards as the ceiling began to come crashing down to the floor.

Both ran and climbed over the loose snakeskin just as the rumbling came to a halt, both turned to be faced with a solid wall of debris.

'Ron!' Harry shouted, running forward. 'Are you okay Ron?'

'I'm here!' came Ron's voice from the other side of the rock wall, and Y/N let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. 'I'm okay, this git's not though' he added, and they heard a dull thud followed by a moan of pain. 'Think he got blasted by Y/N.'

'I didn't do anything,' called Y/N. 'Mine was just a shield charm to block his spell. Your wand backfired, he hit himself.'

Ron laughed savagely which was followed by another 'ow!' as he apparently kicked Lockhart again.

'What now?' Ron called, 'We can't get through. It'll take ages to move all this.'

Harry and Y/N looked around. Harry up at the ceiling and Y/N further down the corridor.

'I'm going,' Y/N said, turning to Harry. 'We can't leave Ginny, stay here. Help him clear the tunnel.' but Harry shook his head.

'Wait there,' Harry called through to Ron. 'Wait with Lockhart, we'll go on. If we aren't back in an hour-' he trailed off into an uncomfortable silence.

'I'll try to move some of this rock,' called Ron in an oddly shaky voice, 'So you can get back through, stay safe. Both of you.'

'See you in a bit,' called Harry and, with a nod to Y/N, the two set off further into the tunnel.

Before long, the sound of Ron moving rocks aside was gone and the tunnel curved upwards. Y/N's body was shaking. He couldn't figure out whether it was fear or adrenaline but whatever it was, he was glad Harry was with him. Having someone else there made it easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

They crept around another bend and came face to face with a solid wall containing two intertwined serpents. Their eyes glistening with emeralds.

'You know what to do, Harry,' said Y/N, before turning his back on the door and watching up the tunnel behind them. Harry stepped forward and Y/N heard the faint hissing sound followed by the sound of cracking stone.

He turned back in time to watch the two serpents uncoil and pull away from the door as it shifted and slipped open, and Y/N and Harry stepped inside.